Theater Arts Productions

1 - 2 minute contemporary monologue

Four lost New Englanders  enroll in Marty’s six-week-long community-center drama class. The group moves through a series of acting exercises, ranging from the heartbreaking to the ridiculous. In this one small room, through these few seemingly trivial games, quiet wars are waged, emotional wounds are nursed, and healing is finally, slowly, able to begin. In Annie Baker’s quiet masterpiece, Circle Mirror Transformation, the audience takes a transcendent journey through the mundane into the profound.

CHARACTERS

Marty, their free-spirited and supportive leader

Schultz, a recently divorced, emotionally vulnerable carpenter

Teresa, an earnest and vibrant former actress

James, Marty’s quiet and genial husband

Lauren, a reserved and self-conscious high schooler

Department Information and Conflict Acknowledgement

In consultation with the Center for Spiritual Life at Brandeis, the Department of Theater Arts has updated its auditions and casting with regards to religious observance and our production season. The Department invites and encourages all students to audition, including students who have religious observances which may have previously prevented them from participating as actors in our productions. Requests for religious observances will not adversely affect casting decisions. Please know that accommodations for religious observances – such as but not limited to Shabbat observance, religious services and prayer times, private spaces for prayer, private bathroom space, clothing/costume adjustments, and dressing room assignments – will be made to the best of our abilities. In a situation where additional expertise is needed about a student’s request for a religious accommodation, the Department will consult with the Center for Spiritual Life.

Conflict Policy

Students cast in a production with the Department of Theater Arts are expected to attend all rehearsals unless they have an academic conflict or an accommodation as detailed above. In general, rehearsals are held weekday evenings and weekend days. Cast members are expected to arrive on time to all rehearsals and performances. At the beginning of the rehearsal process, all academic conflicts must be communicated to the Stage Manager. Should other conflicts arise, the Stage Manager and the Director have the discretion to decide upon conflict approval on a case-by-case basis, based on the size of the actor’s role, nature of the conflict, and timing in regards to the rehearsal schedule. Tech Week conflicts, other than academic or accommodation-related, are not permitted. While it may be that a weekly schedule is utilized, the Daily Call (your daily specific schedule) will be sent out each night with 24 hours’ notice.

Any questions or concerns regarding the conflict decisions of the Stage Manager and Director should be brought to Cameron Anderson, Chair of the department.