We are excited to announce a new endeavor for our company: an association with the planning of the first-annual San Diego Fringe Festival!
Stay connected to the start of something great:
Website: http://www.sdfringe.org/index.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sdfringe
We obviously have much to talk about, but we are still in recovery-mode since 'Deconstruction' closed. More soon!
Brendan Cavalier, Areta Mackelvie and Soroya Rowley paiting a cage.
On April 19th, 2011 we launched this website that you are viewing now. Between then and today, April 20th, 2012, we have created and produced 3 world premiere full-length shows, hosted many fundraising nights at the wonderful Jakes on sixth as well as a wacky and exciting Morp at the glorious Space 4 Art. We had the opportunity to work with the San Diego Dance Theater on ‘Trolley Dances 2011’, and created the collaborative ‘Love Roulette’ event that allowed other writers in town to showcase their original works about love. All this has been done amidst day time jobs, personal struggles, and sneaking in some time to work with other fantastic companies in town. How do we do this? With a lot of help from our friends.
Over this last year we have found ourselves in the loving arms of the San Diego community. In the picture to your left you will see our Lighting designer, Areta Mackelvie, lending a hand to paint a 6 foot tall cage along with 2 of our 8 company members Brendan and Soroya. As a low-budget start-up company it takes everyone doing everything to put up our pieces. This means actors sewing, grid monkeys painting, and carpenters running the box office. But these helping hands go beyond those immediately involved in the piece. They also come from all over the Local theater community.
Below is a picture of the set, designed by Patrick Kelly for 'Deconstruction of a Drag Queen', which could not have been possible without the help of everyone in the project and the generosity of many companies we love and admire.
Kevane La'Marr Colmen about to work it out!
Let’s break down some of the loans that made the world of Stiletto's possible.
1) Vanity: This piece was loaned by our good friends at Cygnet Theatre and was used previously in their stellar production of 'Cabaret' on the wonderful set of Sean Fanning.
2) Club table and chairs: The table was loaned by Cygnet Theatre as well and the chairs by Diversionary. Little known fact: these pieces have been used in all three of our shows!
3) Mannequin parts: This beautifully painted mannequin pieces were loaned by The San Diego Rep and painted a few years ago by the talented Kristine Flores who did the set design for our last show ‘Ragnarok’.
4) The Stage: This fantastic 3-foot tall platform was loaned to us by David Weiner and the La Jolla Playhouse. This allowed us to save time and a lot of money building the right stage for our girls.
This does not even scratch the surface of items that people have been lent or gifted to us for this show, from costumes and jewelry to large stiletto shaped chairs to small toy instruments to time, energy and know how. WE are lucky to live and work in such an amazing Community of artist and to have so many art lovers coming out to see our work. THANK YOU for being with us on this 1st leg of the journey, we hope you’re excited about what is to come as we are.
Don't forget that there are still 2 performances of Deconstruction of a Drag Queen left. Tonight at 8pm and tomorrow at 8pm. Don't miss your chance to see this beautifully heart-warming piece!
The Duke D'Lux wants you to see 'Deconstruction! Photo by Daren Scott
We at Circle believe everyone should have the opportunity to see our shows and be part of our Community. Because of this belief we try to have special days for our shows where our fans can get discounts and can take advantage of some of the fun lifestyles that are involved in our productions. Check out some upcoming discounts/fun nights you can take advantage of:
4/13: Freaky Fan Friday! If you e-mail us at circle@circle2dot2.com we will give you a code for either 2-for-1 tickets or $5 off single priced tickets that can only be used on this Friday's performance, and only while supplies last. In return we ask that you are already a fan on Circle's facebook page HERE. E-mail us to take advantage of this offer today!
The Duchess Hunny Mustard loves a deal! Photo by Daren Scott
4/14: Dress in Drag night! If you come to our box office Dressed in Drag the night of the show, we will take $10 off your ticket price AND enter you into a contest for the best Drag Queen and King look for the evening! Lots of our audiences have come dressed in drag and we want to celebrate the fabulousness with you! *If you plan on taking advantage of this offer and would like a confirmed seat in the audience, e-mail us at circle@circle2dot2.com and we will reserve you special 'Drag' tickets that may be redeemed in person on the day of the performance.*
Cynthia needs her damn money- and you do too! Photo by Daren Scott
4/15: Mimosa day is back! Buy a ticket to this Sunday's show and get a free Mimosa! We will also be selling wine & beer so your fun at brunch doesn't have to stop!
4/16: INDUSTRY NIGHT! A lot of our friends are performers, and have been asking us about a special off-night showing of this performance, so you got it! Monday the 16th is our Industry Night! Tickets will only be sold at the door- so plan on coming early to grab yours!
So come on out this weekend! Tickets are going fast, but as a young/broke theatre company we know what it's like out there! Come enjoy some critically-acclaimed theatre fun for cheap. Circle Circle dot dot wants EVERYONE to see this show.
*Please note all sales up to this point are final. These are last-minute discounts and are on a first-come/first-serve basis. The special Friday codes can be used online or in person, but we strongly suggest that our audiences plan ahead.
Hello Circle Friends!
We are about to embark on the presentation of our third production ‘Deconstruction of a Drag Queen’! Opening Night is tonight- and we are sold out! This is the first time in Circle Circle dot dot history that we sold-out a show before the night. We couldn’t be more excited. Seriously. We are on excitement overload and it’s pretty out of control.
All of Circle’s shows have been special. But there has been just something about this one. And I’ve been trying for the past week to put my finger on why. Here are some conclusions I’ve come to on why this production has dug a hole into my heart in the manner it has:
- The cast. I’ve never quite experienced a group of artists so incredibly invested in a piece. From day one our group has gone out and spent their time, energy, and money into perfecting and understanding their Drag roles. They’ve bought shoes, make-up, and wigs. They’ve watched hours of make-up tutorials and of course ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ on repeat. They worked so hard, so ridiculously hard to make this piece breathe honest life and every time I watch them they take my breath away.
- My Choreographers- Anne Gehman and Anthony Diaz are two of the most incredible artists I have ever met.
- The Designers are the loves of my life. Literally, in one case- Patrick Kelly has created such a beautiful world for our Queens and King to play on. He has worked relentlessly in making the set perfect, right until the end. Matt Lescault-Wood and Areta MacKelvie returned as the power sound & lights duo that Circle has come to love and respect for their integrity and compassion to our projects. Melissa Coleman-Reed and Soroya Rowley have spent hours in local thrift stores, beauty supply shops and more to make sure that the authenticity of the drag looks were achieved- and boy did they succeed. Amazing.
- The crew is nothing to sneeze at. Brendan Cavalier is calling a beast of a show, and he is doing it with stride. Crystal Brandon has her hands full and covered in glitter as our amazing ASM.
With this team it’s hard not to feel moved. But this team with the addition of one key element has made this particularly important to me: the Drag Community that has helped us on this production is amazing. They are. The stories I’ve heard of bravery, perseverance, and love have changed my life forever.
The show’s main source of inspiration, Grace Towers, is one of the most amazing human beings I have ever met. She is pure strength, talent, and heart- topped with insane heels, and glamorous hair. Being around Grace has showed me the fearless person I aspire to be. And that is why this show is special. And that is why I know this show will be special for you.
Opening Night is indeed sold out, but we have tickets available for both Saturday and Sunday, and this is the best weekend to go! Saturday is a fundraiser for the LGBT Center. So with your ticket price you are helping your community- and what could be better than that?
Or- after you’re done searching for eggs or consuming ham on Sunday, you can head to our show and enjoy the production with a free mimosa!
You just don’t want to miss this one friends. It’s special. Everyone can feel it- and we want you to as well. Get your tickets HERE!
See you at the show!
Katherine Harroff
We are 1 week away from Opening Night- which is very close to selling out. If you plan on joining us at the Drag ball get your tickets ladies and germs! (You can do so HERE by the way).
For those that haven't decided which night to attend yet, we strongly encourage you to consider our April 7th production. As you might have heard, we are donating a large portion of the ticket sales of that evening to the amazing Non-Profit, the LGBT Center in Hillcrest- and this amazing group deserves all the support it can get!
On Monday one of our interviewees from the San Diego Drag Community, Fernando Lara (who you might know as Fifi from 'Lips') came to the theatre give our actors some wonderful tips on applying Drag make-up- a very difficult task. Check out the amazing Drag-transformation he applied to our Duchess Hunny Mustard- played by Julio Jacobo.
We love normal Julio, but normal Julio is not a Drag Queen. Let's get to work!
Ladies don't have bushy eyebrows!
Better...but we need some finishing details. She is a Duchess after all!
Fifi is hard at work!
Almost ready! Get this girl in a dress, some heels and a wig and have her hit the stage! You're beautiful Julio!
Stay tuned for transformation images from the entire cast early next week! Have a great weekend San Diego!
