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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.
We found ourseleves with the largest group of students for the 2010-2011 season and producing the largest musical in our history. For the first time ever, Studio Players had the opportunity to perform their fall production at the Orlando Repertory Theatre. Their production of The Orphan Train under the direction of Allen McCoy received rave reviews for our first time theatre students. Company continued the fall tradition of performing in the Black Box Theatre at the Orlando Repertory Theatre. The melodrama, The Rogue of the Railway had audiences in stitches under the vision and direction of Tracy McCoy. In January of 2011, Joe and Janette Obermueller, joined our creative team as directors, along with Susan Eiselle, Musical Director, and Circle Theatre Alumni/Choreographer Olivia Richardson for our spring musical, The Music Man. With a cast of 52, a crew of 30, an orchestra of 10, and numerous parent volunteers, The Music Man became our most attended show in our history! What a way to end our 10th season!
As we enter our eleventh season we feel extremely blessed to be able to provide extraordinary opportunities for students and our community. Another dream has been realized as Circle School of the Arts will open in the fall of 2011. CSA will provide students with even more opportunities to learn their craft under the mentoring and leadership of professionals.
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.
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Copyright © Circle Theatre Company 2009, 2010, 2011
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