Hi everyone! It’s another opening of another show and here I am blogging about it. Despite the new fabulous digs and opportunity as Resident Theatre Company at La Jolla Playhouse, our fans can expect lots of things to be the same about this opening and the show run. Our beloved audiences can still anticipate:
-Original home-grown art based on the stories and opinions of community members- this time reflective of a handful of Astrophysicists and Space Engineers from the School of Earth and Space Exploration from ASU.
-A unique and creative outlet of story-telling that reflects collaboration between community members, company members, and artists involved in the production.
-Some of the most talented people in San Diego giving their guts to the stage.
-And as always, fun. CCdd-specific fun.
Photo by Rich Soublet
In regards to that fun, some people have asked me ‘how will Circle change because of your residency at La Jolla Playhouse’? And the truth is we are changing a little. Here are some of the new things you can anticipate when you attend the show:
-A higher production value. Between the design team from Arizona and San Diego, to the beautiful Mandell Weiss Forum theatre itself- CCdd has taken a big step forward with what we’ve been able to develop in terms of what is on our stage. We reserve the right to return to our scrappy previous production value (something we’re incredibly proud of), however we think you’ll enjoy the fruits of our residency, and we know you’ll be able to experience what we are capable of with a little more than we usually have.
-A more evolved script. While we never really consider CCdd’s pieces “finished”, this particular script has had a lot of hands, eyes, and ears on it since its inception at ASU in January. The script has been through the ringer and back, and this particular production reflects feedback from, and perspective of the original staging and beyond. We had the time to fine-tune, and we believe the outcome of this time and consideration is a fabulous one.
-A little more street cred, and a little more support. This residency has brought new attention to our company, and that energy has definitely put a big fire under our butts. We recognize this is a big opportunity for us, so we are charged to impress, and do our best to live up to any hype we’ve encountered through the reception of this Residency opportunity.
Photo by Rich Soublet
Even though all of these new developments are fabulous ones- we want our audiences to know that we will always remain true to ourselves. Our goal- above critical acclaim and financial reward is to serve the community that was brave enough to open their doors, and their minds to our experience. Our job is to bridge gaps in communication, to provide perspective from a different standpoint- and to inspire our audiences to open their minds and hearts to the rest of the world, and in this particular case, the universe around them. I promise you, that our shows will never stop doing that. I will always choose the community voice over popularity, and sometimes the acclaim that we could potentially receive if we “played by the rules of traditional theatre”. We will always work to make the best possible productions you could spend your money on- and you can always know that the piece is rooted in honesty, perspective, humanity, and a community that deserves to be heard.
So come listen. Come see. Come experience this new ride. See what we do with this opportunity, and root us on. Because we can’t do it without you. I say this every time, and I mean it with my whole heart. Even now, especially now we need you. This is a huge moment in our history, and we need you to be part of it.
Thanks for reading, supporting, and sharing the news about who we are and what we do. I can’t wait to see you at the show.
-Katie Harroff. Artistic Director of CCdd, Playwright/Director of ‘Red Planet Respite’.
Photo by Rich Soublet