Following an acclaimed original sold-out run, Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) proudly announces a limited return engagement of the company's recent World Premiere production of CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, the new hit play by Annie Baker ("An original voice" - Daily News; "A playwright to know" - Newsday). Directed by Sam Gold ("A magic-fingered director" - Variety; "An uncommonly observant eye and ear" - The New York Times), the original engagement opened Tuesday, October 13 to across-the-board rave reviews and was ultimately extended twice by critical and audience demand through Saturday, November 21. The return limited engagement will begin performances Tuesday, December 15 at Playwrights Horizons' Peter Jay Sharp Theater with tickets on sale through Sunday, January 17, 2010.
Charles Isherwood raved in The New York Times, calling the play, "Rich, unforgettable theater. The kind of unheralded gem that sends people into the streets babbling and bright-eyed with the desire to spread the word. I emerged with the same giddy sense of discovery, the same almost proprietary need to ensure that this small, quirky, immensely lovable new play does not go unnoticed by theatergoers in perennial search of fresh voices and boundary-bending experiments. For lovers of real acting, Ms. Baker's play is an absolute feast."
Other critics hailed the play as "Absorbing, unblinking and sharply funny" (Anita Gates, The New York Times), "Humorous and heartbreaking" (Jennifer Farrar, Associated Press), "Beguiling" (David Rooney, Variety), "Unusual and absorbing" (Adam Feldman, Time Out-New York), "Bold and engrossing storytelling" (Linda Winer, Newsday) and representing the work of "An original voice" (Joe Dziemianowicz, Daily News) with a cast that's giving "A master class" (Alexis Soloski, Village Voice). Variety also called it "A fine example of a writer, director and cast delivering substantial yield." In addition, The New York Times, Time Out and Back Stage all named it a Critic's Pick and Time Out gave it Four Stars.
The entire original and "exceptional cast of five will all return for the engagement. The cast features Obie Award winner Reed Birney, Tony Award nominee Peter Friedman, Obie Award winner Deirdre O'Connell, Tracee Chimo, and Obie Award winner Heidi Schreck.
In CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, when four lost New Englanders enrolled in a Shirley, Vermont community center drama class experiment with harmless games, hearts are quietly torn and tiny wars of epic proportions are waged and won. Annie Baker's new comedy is a beautifully crafted diorama, a petri dish in which we see, with hilarious detail and clarity, the sweet sadness of a motley quintet.
The production features scenic and costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by Mark Barton and sound design by Leah Gelpe. Production Stage Manager is Alaina Taylor.
CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION has received generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Jerome Foundation, Tiger Baron Foundation, The Carter Fund and Peter Jay Sharp Foundation.
Playwrights Horizons' season productions are generously supported by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust.
Playwrights Horizons is supported in part by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate. In addition, Playwrights Horizons receives major support from Carnegie Corporation of New York, Charina Endowment Fund, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Shubert Foundation and Time Warner Inc.
