Circle Theatre



CIRCLE THEATRE


The Mountaintop

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

Season 2023

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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