CIRCLE THEATRE
Circle Theatre - The Mountaintop
Performance: March 30 - April 15, 2023 | By Katori Hall | Directed by D. Wambui Richardson
The Mountaintop is a bold and imaginative visit into the mind and experiences of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by powerhouse playwright, Katori Hall. Through compelling and vulnerable storytelling, The Mountaintop
shares a glimpse into the human whose legacy continues to leave a spirit of hope in generations today. Circle Theatre is thrilled
to be presenting this gripping piece of theatre, featuring two incredible actors, Sydney Hewitt and Davayun Chase, with Director
D. Wambui Richardson at the helm. With sharp wit, beautiful dialogue, magical realism, and stark honesty, The Mountaintop is sure
to be an event you don't want to miss.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On April 3, 1968, after delivering one of his most memorable speeches,
an exhausted Dr. King retires to his room at the Lorraine Motel while a storm rages outside. When a
mysterious stranger arrives with some surprising news, King is forced to confront his destiny and his
legacy to his people.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
KATORI HALL is a playwright and performer hailing from Memphis, Tennessee. Her
award-winning play HooDoo Love premiered at the Cherry Lane Theatre in 2007. It
was developed under Lynn Nottage as part of the theatre's 2006 Mentor Project.
HooDoo Love received three AUDELCO nominations (Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress,
August Wilson Playwright Award). Her other plays include: Remembrance, Hurt Village,
Saturday Night/Sunday orning, The Mountaintop, on the Chitlin' Circuit, and Freedom
Train (KCACTF ten minute play national finalist). Her work has been developed and
presented at the following venues: the American Repertory Theatre, Kennedy Center,
Cherry Lane Theatre, Classical Theatre of Harlem, Schomburg Center, BRICLab, Women's
Project, World Financial Center, Lark Play Development Center, New Professional Theatre,
The O'Neill, the Juilliard School, Stanford University, and Columbia University. She is
the recipient of numerous awards, including the Lecompte du Nouy Prize, North Manhattan
Arts Alliance Fellowship, New York State Council on the Arts Commission Grant, New
Professional Theatre's Writers' Festival award, Fellowship of Southern Writers Bryan
Family Award in Drama, New York Foundation of the Arts Fellowship in Playwriting and
Screenwriting, Royal Court Theatre Residency, and the Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting
Award. She has also been a Kennedy Center Playwriting Fellow. As an actor, her credits
include "Law & Order: SVU," The President's Puppets (The Public), Growing Up a Slave
(American Place Theatre), Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (American Place Theatre),
the world premiere of Amerika (Theatre de la Jeune Lune/American Repertory Theatre),
Spring Awakening (Moscow Art Theatre School), Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death
(Classical Theatre of Harlem), Schooled (WOW Café Theatre), and Black Girl (Sande Shurin
Theatre). As a journalist, her work has been published in "The Boston Globe," "Essence,"
"Newsweek," and "The Commercial Appeal." She graduated from Columbia University in 2003
with a major in African-American Studies and Creative Writing. She was awarded top
departmental honors from the university's Institute for Research in African-American
Studies (IRAAS). In 2005, she graduated from the American Repertory Theatre Institute
for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University, receiving a Master of Fine Arts
in Acting. She is now a student in the Juilliard School's Lila Acheson Wallace American
Playwrights Program. She is a proud member of the Women's Project Playwrights' Lab, the
Lark Playwrights' Workshop, and the Dramatists Guild.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
D. WAMBUI RICHARDSON is the Artistic Director of Jubilee Theatre. Richardson brings to
Jubilee Theatre and the DFW area more than 20 years of experience in all levels of the
Black theatre community, as well as in the theatre industry in general, having served
as a director, playwright, art's educator, and executive leader. Formerly residing in
Baltimore, and a native of New Orleans, Richardson was a freelance director, resident
teaching Artist for Baltimore Center Stage, and the executive director of academies for
the National Academy Foundation School of Baltimore. He has also worked with the St.
Louis Black Repertory Theatre, WordBridge Playwright's Laboratory, Syracuse Stage,
Abington Theatre (Off-Off Broadway), and Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre (Off-Broadway)
and is a proud member of the Drama League. Some of Richardson's directorial credits
include: Sugar Mouth Sam Don't Dance Here No More (Off Broadway) Les Liaisons Dangereuse
(Syracuse Stage), A Stronger Soul Within a Finer Frame (Touring Production for St. Louis
Black), F.E.M.A 1603 (world premiere), Zooman & the Sign, In the Blood, Every Tongue
Confess, The Seagull, Measure for Measure, Truth Stands (East Coast Premiere), The Face
of Emmett Till. Richardson's Jubilee credits include: Sistas, The Musical, N, Berta,
Berta, Southern Boys, To Be Young Gifted & Black, Hoo Doo Love, Over 40, and Dreamgirls.
Circle Theatre - Season 2023
"Real people. Real stories. Circle Theatre's new season features a true-to-life
protagonist for each production that exemplifies the theatre's values of innovation,
integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, and service. Blind Lemon Jefferson, Martin Luther
King, Jr., Dear Sugar, the real Josh Cohen, and Mr. Rogers. These delightful and
inspiring stories will spark curiosity, empathy, and joy in our patrons.In a time
where we crave authenticity, Circle Theatre is keeping it real for 2023."
— Executive Director, Tim Long
About Circle Theatre
Circle Theatre is an established regional theatre in Fort Worth dedicated to
presenting professional, innovative theatre in an intimate space. Founded in
1981 by Rose Pearson and Bill Newberry, Circle has premiered over 130 plays to
the city in its 36 seasons.
The Theatre's name is derived from its original location on Bluebonnet Circle.
An interim move to Fort Worth's historic Southside took place in 1987. Seven
years later, Circle renovated and moved into its present home, the basement
space of the Sanger Building in Fort Worth's Sundance Square entertainment
district. Patrons enjoy the Theatre's cozy atmosphere and often comment on the
added benefit of being close to the action on the 125-seat thrust stage.
As a Small Professional Theatre (SPT) with Actors' Equity, Circle Theatre is
committed to providing employment for artists pursuing careers in Texas. The
Theatre also extends opportunities for actors and stage managers to join the
Equity Membership Candidacy Program. Circle serves as an insured umbrella
paymaster for other theatres in Texas that employ Equity actors as guest artists.
A year-round main stage season of five plays with an average run of 20
performances each, Circle's shows are often regional premieres or second or
third staging's of new scripts. The Theatre co-sponsors an annual High School
Playwriting Project, which ends with a public presentation by experienced
actors reading finalist scripts by area students.
Circle Theatre's plays and performances have received many accolades over the
years and been included on multiple Best of Year lists. "Circle Theatre, had
the best batting average on the stage. Circle was the most-cited theater in my
Top Ten lists each year from the Aughts, with 12 shows mentioned" wrote Mark
Lowry, critic for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and TheatreJones.com.
In August of 2016, Circle suffered the loss of Rose Pearson, Co-founder and
Executive Director. She worked tirelessly to ensure the Theatre's future. Upon
her passing, Bill Newberry, her husband and Circle Co-founder, became the
Executive Director and retired in 2017. Tim Long, who has been a part of the
theatre for the past 18 years, is the new Executive Director. Circle Theatre
is proudly carrying on Rose's legacy by playing an active role in today's
regional theatre movement, here in the city of Fort Worth!
Circle Theatre
230 W. Fourth Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Sundance Square Entertainment District
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