Circle Theatre Announces Season Change In The Wake Of The #metoo And Time's Up Movement

In light of the current dialogue around sexual misconduct and harassment, the Circle Theatre staff and board have decided to remove Woody Allen's "Bullets Over Broadway" from their season and produce "On the Town" in its place.

Dear friends of Circle Theatre,

In light of recent developments, we present to you - our community, our friends, our family, our volunteers and every member of our Circle - a change to Circle Theatre's 66th Main Stage Season. Rather than closing our season with the previously announced Bullets Over Broadway, we have made the decision to produce the Tony-nominated classic musical On The Town in its place. A change to the season is a rare occurrence in the history of Circle Theatre, and it is not a decision we take lightly.

With the support of our Board of Directors, we at Circle Theatre have chosen to examine, and follow, both our conscience as well as our responsibility to the community. When we originally announced our 66th season Bullets Over Broadway fell in line as the perfect finale to our diverse selection of shows. In light of the current dialogue of sexual misconduct and harassment, Bullets Over Broadway author Woody Allen has come under intense scrutiny, which has lead us to reconsider producing this show at Circle Theatre. In support of the #metoo and Time's Up movement, we are equally proud and humbled to present this change in our season.

Circle Theatre's mission has always been to enrich, entertain, and educate our audience. To enrich quite simply means to 'improve or enhance the quality or value of.' By making this alteration to our 66th season, we at Circle believe that we are truly fulfilling our charge in a way that we believe both our present patrons as well as our founders would be proud of. We find ourselves in a place in time where the landscape of the arts and entertainment is changing rapidly and deserves our continued attention and thought. It's an honor not only stand in solidarity with those who demand change, but to be a part of that, right here in West Michigan.

While we acknowledge that many of our Circle family were excited for the presentation of Bullets Over Broadway, we believe that On The Town can certainly match that excitement! This energetic wartime musical about Three Sailors seeking romance and adventure on a 24-hour leave in New York City, features thrilling music by Leonard Bernstein with playful lyrics and book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The show's celebrated score includes a number of musical theatre standards, including "New York, New York." Circle Theatre will be the first theatre in Grand Rapids to produce this classic work, making it a community premiere. The name of this show may already be familiar to you, due to the classic film (starring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Ann Miller), its recent Broadway revival, or its appearance on a recent Circle Theatre Audience Choice ballot.

To those of you who have already purchased tickets, you needn't take any action at this time. Your tickets will be automatically transferred to On The Town, for the same date and time of your previously scheduled performance. Beginning Monday, February 5th, if you wish to cancel or reschedule your tickets, you may call Michelle Matson, Circle Box Office Manager, on her direct line at 616 632 2997, Monday-Friday between noon and 5:00PM. You will soon see this change reflected on Circle's website and our social media outlets. Simply put, we're working as hard as possible as we strive to bring you a quality experience at Circle Theatre, and we greatly appreciate your patience and support.

We have full confidence that you will enjoy the magic and delight of On The Town, and we look forward to you joining us, this September 6-22 (the same dates as the previously scheduled Bullets Over Broadway) in closing out our season with this very special production.

Lynne Brown Tepper Derek Call
Executive and Artistic Director President, Board of Directors

About Circle Theatre

For 66 years, Circle Theatre has enriched, entertained and educated the community through exceptional theatrical arts in an intimate setting. Located in the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Aquinas College, Circle Theatre presents innovative and entertaining theatre while fostering an enthusiastic and hard working corp of individuals who serve as staff, volunteers and board members. Through the Main Stage season, unique Summer Concert Series and Magic Circle family productions, Circle Theatre engages close to 30,000 people each season. Circle Theatre also values and creates effective collaborations with various community organizations in and around Grand Rapids.
More at circletheatre.org.

About Circle Theatre's 66th Season

Opening the Main Stage Season is a beloved classic, Into the Woods (May 3-19). Circle will present a fresh twist on a rare modern classic for adults; a timeless yet relevant piece, James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone's favorite storybook characters and bring them together for both predictable and surprising adventures. Next up, Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men ( May 21-June 16). A hit Broadway play penned by Aaron Sorkin about the trial of two Marines for complicity in the death of a fellow Marine at Guantanamo Bay sizzles on stage. In July, Circle is proud to present the Grand Rapids Community Premiere of the 2015 Tony Award-Winning Musical, Fun Home (July 12-28), this refreshingly honest, wholly original musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes tells the tale of lesbian graphic novelist Alison Bechdel and her relationship with her father who dies unexpectedly. Circle continues its 2018 Season with a play chosen by audience vote, Leading Ladies (August 9-25) is a hilarious comedy by Ken Ludwig about two Shakespearean actors who find themselves down on their luck. Rounding out the season is the newly-announced classic musical On The Town (September 6-22).

Running July 27-30 Magic Circle will continue the tradition of bringing the best of family entertainment to Grand Rapids with Snow White: The Queen's Fair Daughter. Based on the oral story as it was told to The Brothers Grimm in 1808, adventures abound with near-death experiences and new friends made as a part of Snow White's curious time in the woods.

Circle's acclaimed Summer Concert Series will bring the best West Michigan vocalists and musicians back to the Circle stage once again in 2018 with Bringing Sexy Back: Male Pop/Rock Icons (May 7, July 16, September 10), Silver Screen: Academy Award-Winning Songs (May 14, July 23, September 17), Broadway Babes: Dames of the Stage (June 4, August 13), and We'll Take You There: Classic R&B (June 11, August 20).

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