Circle Theatre Company's story began in the hearts of two moms. Two moms who desired to see nine little thespians continue to grow in their creative gifts, two moms who were following their hearts, two moms who had just enough courage to step out of their comfort zones, two moms who began following a shared dream. A dream that started the incredible journey known as Circle Theatre Company.
During the summer of 2004 we were introduced to Allen McCoy, Tracy McCoy, and Morgan Russell. Three talented artists, teachers, and directors. Tracy McCoy joined us as our first teacher/director. The nine thespians grew to thirty. Mrs. McCoy's passion for theatre, her enthusiasm, and her desire for excellence was infectious to the creative team. Circle Theatre produced its first fully mounted musical, Oklahoma! to the awe of the students, the parents, and the community.
In the fall of 2005, Circle Theatre offered one semester classes in Movement, Voice Articulation, Improv, Character Development, Musical Theatre, and Shakespeare. Allen McCoy and Amy Michelle Smith joined our team. Rejoice, a show written by the cast and based on their favorite memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas, was produced. The season ended with our highly acclaimed production of Hello, Dolly! at The Orlando Repertory Universal Theatre.
The dream had become a reality as our 2006-2007 season began our commitment to arts education with the development of our core theatre classes: Drama I, Drama II, Drama III, and Drama IV; and the addition of Circle Theatre Kids, production classes for kindergarten through fifth graders. Christi Griffith joined us as our musical director for Annie Get Your Gun performed in the Edyth Bush Theatre of The Orlando Repertory Theatre.
During our 2007-2008 season, Anna Fisher, Nathanael Fisher, and Christi Griffith joined Tracy McCoy and Circle Theatre Company grew from producing two shows to five shows in a single season. Circle Studio Players was birthed as a first semester, introductory production class for seventh through twelfth graders. Our first school wide production, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was directed by Tracy McCoy as Studio Players were joined by our Munchkin Players (K-2) and First Stage Players (3-5). Company members had the opportunity to perform our first tragedy, The Women of Troy and our first Shakespearean comedy, The Taming of the Shrew under the direction of Christi Griffith. The spring of 2008 found us returning to the Edyth Bush Theatre for the amusing and absurd musical, Once Upon A Mattress.
We started our 2008-2009 season with the largest enrollment in our history and the largest enrollment of boys -- 15 boys in Company! Morgan Russell joined us in the fall to direct Company members in A Midsummer Night's Dream while Cathy Cox and Nathanael Fisher directed Studio Players in the somewhat true Canterbury Tales. Christi Griffith directed our spring musical of Guys and Dolls with Lee Monroe as our musical director.
In 2009-2010, the dream grew bigger with Circle Theatre Company's launching the Family Series in addition to our regular season of shows. Allen McCoy joined us as our Artistic Director and Tracy McCoy returned as our Company director. The Family Series provided four additional productions for Company members to continue to grow in their craft while providing family friendly entertainment to the Central Florida community. You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (directed by Tracy McCoy); A Tuna Christmas (directed by Allen McCoy); Romeo and Juliet (directed by Morgan Russell); and The Glass Menagerie (directed by Allen McCoy) were all performed in the the intimate Black Box Theatre at The Orlando Rep. Our season ended with not just one, but two sold-out performances during our run of Bye Bye Birdie under the direction Tracy McCoy, musical direction of Lee Monroe, and choreography by Mary Cole.
As we enter our seventh season we feel extremely blessed to be able to provide extraordinary opportunities for students and our community. With over one hundred eighty students enrolled for 2010-2011, Circle Theatre Company is committed to educating the next generation of young artists and enriching their lives and our community by providing the very best in family friendly entertainment. All as a result of two moms whose greatest desire was to provide a place where children could experience the beauty of theatre, to discover their God-given talents, and to develop relationships with other like-minded artists.
Two moms. One dream. One journey.
PRODUCTION HISTORY
2009-2010 Bye Bye Birdie Disney's Aladdin Jr. (FSP) The Glass Menagerie Romeo and Juliet A Tuna Christmas A Fairy Tale Courtroom (SP) The Legend of Sleepy Hollow You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown
2008-2009 Guys and Dolls Little Red Riding Hood (FSP) The Canterbury Tales (SP) A Midsummer Nights Dream
2007-2008 Once Upon A Mattress Disney's Aristocats Kids (FSP) The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (SP) The Taming of the Shrew The Women of Troy
2006-2007 Annie Get Your Gun Disney's The Jungle Book Kids (FSP) Applause