On September 30th, 2015, Articulate Theatre hosted "Circling Back - A Celebration of Circle Rep Company." There were a great many people there, including many Circle Rep members. Unfortunately, not all of them could make it, so they sent us some words to share with the colleagues and friends. Here are those words, and at the end, a special video visit as well!
Joyce Reehling, read by Jamie Neumann:
It is hard to talk about Circle without feeling a bit special. We were all either auditioned or invited to join and it was the most sought after invitation one could get. I met Marshall and Lanford when I auditioned to take over in Hot L Baltimore for an actress who was going on vacation. Walking into the theatre to read for these two men was a frightening experience for a newish actor. I did well enough to get the role for about a week or two...and later to take over the last 6 months or so of the run. Marshall pulled me out one night and said that they were starting a company and would I like to join it. Good God! A Life In the Theatre! Yes, dear God, yes! What was so very unique was that we were a company. Actors, directors, writers, seeing one another on a daily basis. We did class work in the morning, rehearsed anything we were doing in the afternoon and played a show at night. Friday readings meant that a playwright could have a scene..hell, half a scene and ask you to read it for him...everyone available attended and we had wonderful discussions about the the direction in which the playwright would be going. I read the role of June in The fifth of July one afternoon ..the first act only. I went on to play it in NYC, LA and on Broadway...years of working with Lance and Marshall followed. Then came Talley and Son and I had the pleasure of playing June's mother Olive, long before there was a June...and later, I played Aunt Lottie as well. I have a genuine Talley Family Tree. My artistic life was framed and bounded by Circle. There is not a day I do not miss being in that Company. At Lanford's memorial, Swoozie Kurtz and I were sitting in the back and saying that this sort of group happens once in a lifetime...a company of people all bent on being in creative harness together, playwrights, actors, crew, designers and directors, THAT comes along once....if you are very, very lucky.
I hope that a company like Circle can happen and thrive and give the same artistic home to artists that we did. I don't know if it is possible now in the same way. We none of us were stars when we started, some went on to be, some of us just had a life in the theatre, but we all worked at being true on stage and always faithful to the text. We struggled for money for Circle to exist.... Somehow we survived, if only by a thread. But that thread has reached clear to you tonight, woven into the fabric of American theatre. My hope is that someone adds to it with the same devotion and with the same sense of love for the art of theatre that we had then. There is no greater joy than to be an American Actor who gets to ply the trade with the likes of my friends who are with you tonight. I am on an island 14 miles off the shore of Rhode Island as you meet but my heart is there with my splendid friends and my eyes will be on the stars tonight thinking of the ones who are gone now. We were a company of like minds and hearts, of talent and devotion to the goals of Circle Rep. Devotion to text and to theatrical truth. And there is no rarer thing. Thank you for the recognition that this venture so richly deserves. With much love to my beloved Company and those attending, Joyce Reehling
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Caroline Kava, read by Bob Verlaque:
Caroline sends regards from the great state of North Carolina where she is in residence as Master Acting teacher at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Her heart is with us this evening, and she sends love and congratulations. And yes, she is second guessing her decision to move to the Tarheel State.
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Casey Childs, founding Artistic Director of Primary Stages Company, read by Bob Verlauqe
Casey is directing a tv-show out in Los Angeles. I quote “I would LOVE to attend as I was a big fan of Circle Rep's. Alas, I will be in Los Angeles keeping the World safe for soap opera on Wednesday!” He wishes you all congratulations and thanks for paving the way.
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The lovely Lily Knight, as read by Bob Verlaque:
Lily writes us from Altadena California where she is recovering from a hip replacement. She and her love slave Steve Hofvendahl live on a small ranch with chickens and goats and 200 exotic fruit trees with which they supply local restaurants, and between film and tv commitments, are part of an award winning company staging the classics and bringing culture to the infidels west of the Pecos.
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Craig Lucas, as read by Eric Percival:
Dear Friends, I wish I were there to thank each of you personally for the years of astonishing and original work and for the even more astonishing and original spirits who gave life to Circle Rep for so long. I miss Circle Rep more and more each passing year. Please forgive me for having to attend to an absurd family matter when you are my artistic family and I’d rather be absurd with you, and also know that I will remain grateful to Marshall and Tanya and Lanford and Rob for their vision always. And for all of your ongoing efforts to make the theater a place of joy, depth and grace.
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John Rando was to be one of our speakers this evening but in a fluke schedule change is in production meetings in Chicago for his Off-Broadway hit, David Ives “The Heir Apparent.” No stranger to off-off and Off Broadway, John nurtured “Urinetown from its beginnings at the Fringe festival to a Tony award, and last year was again nominated for “On the Town,” that came from way off-off Broadway’s Barrington Stage. John sends his love, and thanks, Circle Rep.
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David Potts, read by Dennis Parichy.
"I was hoping I might be able to get to NYC to join you, but couldn’t make it happen. Which is a bummer since revisiting my years working with such a talented group would be such a joy. Those were wonderful, exciting, and enriching years. It was exhilarating! Circle Rep was the people who worked there. In every department. I loved them all. Have a great great evening! Send pics!"
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Richard Seff, read by ______:
"I'll be out of the country on Sept. 30, returning October 4 so I can't be there, and I'm so very sorry about that. I'd just like to say "Thank you Marshall, Tanya, Danny and everyone who shared my time there with me, for fourteen fulfilling years from 1981 with Childe Byron to 1995 with The Truth Teller with a dozen happy experiences in between. I wanted so much to be part of this company, and being allowed to live that dream is one of my most cherished memories. You are a delightful bunch of gifted coconuts. Have fun!”
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Lindsey Ginter, read by ______:
"Thanks to Andrew Mishkin who as an intern at Circle Rep got me an audition for an understudy role in Fifth of July at Circle Rep, which I got, and in which Lanford Wilson saw me rehearsing, resulting in his recommending me to the Cricket Theater in Minneapolis that was doing the 5th of July — I got my Actor’s Equity card, which started my professional career as an actor. Thank you Andrew, Lanford, Marshall, Tanya and Rob for all the laughs and exciting times on stage. Love you all ! Thanks for the experience."
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Earl Hughes, read by ________:
"Circle Rep gave me a true understanding of the art of theatre and, also, my career in the performing arts. It was 1973 and I was a kid from Arkansas, having spent one summer of summer stock where I met a guy by the name of Peter Schneider, who convinced me to go to New York where he could help me get a job. So off to NY I went looking for Peter who, fortunately, was not there. Not knowing what to do, I decided to make a go of it anyway and found a place to live on the Upper West Side. After a week or so, I was roaming down Broadway and came across a little theatre located in a second story loft called Circle Theatre. Climbing up those stairs on a whim was the best decision I ever made. That is when I first met Marshall. Not having anything to do, I volunteered to help them finish building the set for When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?. Marshall recognized I had technical abilities and got me my first paying job, which was to do maintenance on the set of Hot l Baltimore in the Village. He, then gave me my first permanent job as Technical Director. For whatever reason, I seemed to fit right in with the likes of Marshall, Lance, Tanya, Rob, Sharon and Marshall O as the new resident technician among these great theatre artists.
The five years I was associated with Circle were the most memorable and enlightening time I have ever had in the theatre. From my first real theatre experience seeing Hot l, then watching Kevin Conway and Brad Dourif work magic in Red Ryder, to Chatty and Ed More come alive in the bar I built for The Sea Horse, or sitting behind Tennessee Williams during the tech of Battle of Angles. Of course, the greatest of my joy in the theatre was watching Marshall and Lance collaborate, especially, on The Mound Builders as John Lee picked up a jig saw to help me build his insanely geometrically designed set, and finally being a part of The 5th of July, before I ran off to expand my career into management and producing at the encouragement of Marshall. All those sets, all those great people and all that fun. For me, climbing those stairs up to that second story loft space in 1973 has given me a 43 year career in the performing arts. I wish I could be there to celebrate with you all, but I have 2 shows in rehearsal and one in tech and seem to still be relevant."
*********************************************************************************************************************************
It is hard to talk about Circle without feeling a bit special. We were all either auditioned or invited to join and it was the most sought after invitation one could get. I met Marshall and Lanford when I auditioned to take over in Hot L Baltimore for an actress who was going on vacation. Walking into the theatre to read for these two men was a frightening experience for a newish actor. I did well enough to get the role for about a week or two...and later to take over the last 6 months or so of the run. Marshall pulled me out one night and said that they were starting a company and would I like to join it. Good God! A Life In the Theatre! Yes, dear God, yes! What was so very unique was that we were a company. Actors, directors, writers, seeing one another on a daily basis. We did class work in the morning, rehearsed anything we were doing in the afternoon and played a show at night. Friday readings meant that a playwright could have a scene..hell, half a scene and ask you to read it for him...everyone available attended and we had wonderful discussions about the the direction in which the playwright would be going. I read the role of June in The fifth of July one afternoon ..the first act only. I went on to play it in NYC, LA and on Broadway...years of working with Lance and Marshall followed. Then came Talley and Son and I had the pleasure of playing June's mother Olive, long before there was a June...and later, I played Aunt Lottie as well. I have a genuine Talley Family Tree. My artistic life was framed and bounded by Circle. There is not a day I do not miss being in that Company. At Lanford's memorial, Swoozie Kurtz and I were sitting in the back and saying that this sort of group happens once in a lifetime...a company of people all bent on being in creative harness together, playwrights, actors, crew, designers and directors, THAT comes along once....if you are very, very lucky.
I hope that a company like Circle can happen and thrive and give the same artistic home to artists that we did. I don't know if it is possible now in the same way. We none of us were stars when we started, some went on to be, some of us just had a life in the theatre, but we all worked at being true on stage and always faithful to the text. We struggled for money for Circle to exist.... Somehow we survived, if only by a thread. But that thread has reached clear to you tonight, woven into the fabric of American theatre. My hope is that someone adds to it with the same devotion and with the same sense of love for the art of theatre that we had then. There is no greater joy than to be an American Actor who gets to ply the trade with the likes of my friends who are with you tonight. I am on an island 14 miles off the shore of Rhode Island as you meet but my heart is there with my splendid friends and my eyes will be on the stars tonight thinking of the ones who are gone now. We were a company of like minds and hearts, of talent and devotion to the goals of Circle Rep. Devotion to text and to theatrical truth. And there is no rarer thing. Thank you for the recognition that this venture so richly deserves. With much love to my beloved Company and those attending, Joyce Reehling
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Caroline Kava, read by Bob Verlaque:
Caroline sends regards from the great state of North Carolina where she is in residence as Master Acting teacher at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Her heart is with us this evening, and she sends love and congratulations. And yes, she is second guessing her decision to move to the Tarheel State.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Casey Childs, founding Artistic Director of Primary Stages Company, read by Bob Verlauqe
Casey is directing a tv-show out in Los Angeles. I quote “I would LOVE to attend as I was a big fan of Circle Rep's. Alas, I will be in Los Angeles keeping the World safe for soap opera on Wednesday!” He wishes you all congratulations and thanks for paving the way.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
The lovely Lily Knight, as read by Bob Verlaque:
Lily writes us from Altadena California where she is recovering from a hip replacement. She and her love slave Steve Hofvendahl live on a small ranch with chickens and goats and 200 exotic fruit trees with which they supply local restaurants, and between film and tv commitments, are part of an award winning company staging the classics and bringing culture to the infidels west of the Pecos.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Craig Lucas, as read by Eric Percival:
Dear Friends, I wish I were there to thank each of you personally for the years of astonishing and original work and for the even more astonishing and original spirits who gave life to Circle Rep for so long. I miss Circle Rep more and more each passing year. Please forgive me for having to attend to an absurd family matter when you are my artistic family and I’d rather be absurd with you, and also know that I will remain grateful to Marshall and Tanya and Lanford and Rob for their vision always. And for all of your ongoing efforts to make the theater a place of joy, depth and grace.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
John Rando was to be one of our speakers this evening but in a fluke schedule change is in production meetings in Chicago for his Off-Broadway hit, David Ives “The Heir Apparent.” No stranger to off-off and Off Broadway, John nurtured “Urinetown from its beginnings at the Fringe festival to a Tony award, and last year was again nominated for “On the Town,” that came from way off-off Broadway’s Barrington Stage. John sends his love, and thanks, Circle Rep.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
David Potts, read by Dennis Parichy.
"I was hoping I might be able to get to NYC to join you, but couldn’t make it happen. Which is a bummer since revisiting my years working with such a talented group would be such a joy. Those were wonderful, exciting, and enriching years. It was exhilarating! Circle Rep was the people who worked there. In every department. I loved them all. Have a great great evening! Send pics!"
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Richard Seff, read by ______:
"I'll be out of the country on Sept. 30, returning October 4 so I can't be there, and I'm so very sorry about that. I'd just like to say "Thank you Marshall, Tanya, Danny and everyone who shared my time there with me, for fourteen fulfilling years from 1981 with Childe Byron to 1995 with The Truth Teller with a dozen happy experiences in between. I wanted so much to be part of this company, and being allowed to live that dream is one of my most cherished memories. You are a delightful bunch of gifted coconuts. Have fun!”
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Lindsey Ginter, read by ______:
"Thanks to Andrew Mishkin who as an intern at Circle Rep got me an audition for an understudy role in Fifth of July at Circle Rep, which I got, and in which Lanford Wilson saw me rehearsing, resulting in his recommending me to the Cricket Theater in Minneapolis that was doing the 5th of July — I got my Actor’s Equity card, which started my professional career as an actor. Thank you Andrew, Lanford, Marshall, Tanya and Rob for all the laughs and exciting times on stage. Love you all ! Thanks for the experience."
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Earl Hughes, read by ________:
"Circle Rep gave me a true understanding of the art of theatre and, also, my career in the performing arts. It was 1973 and I was a kid from Arkansas, having spent one summer of summer stock where I met a guy by the name of Peter Schneider, who convinced me to go to New York where he could help me get a job. So off to NY I went looking for Peter who, fortunately, was not there. Not knowing what to do, I decided to make a go of it anyway and found a place to live on the Upper West Side. After a week or so, I was roaming down Broadway and came across a little theatre located in a second story loft called Circle Theatre. Climbing up those stairs on a whim was the best decision I ever made. That is when I first met Marshall. Not having anything to do, I volunteered to help them finish building the set for When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?. Marshall recognized I had technical abilities and got me my first paying job, which was to do maintenance on the set of Hot l Baltimore in the Village. He, then gave me my first permanent job as Technical Director. For whatever reason, I seemed to fit right in with the likes of Marshall, Lance, Tanya, Rob, Sharon and Marshall O as the new resident technician among these great theatre artists.
The five years I was associated with Circle were the most memorable and enlightening time I have ever had in the theatre. From my first real theatre experience seeing Hot l, then watching Kevin Conway and Brad Dourif work magic in Red Ryder, to Chatty and Ed More come alive in the bar I built for The Sea Horse, or sitting behind Tennessee Williams during the tech of Battle of Angles. Of course, the greatest of my joy in the theatre was watching Marshall and Lance collaborate, especially, on The Mound Builders as John Lee picked up a jig saw to help me build his insanely geometrically designed set, and finally being a part of The 5th of July, before I ran off to expand my career into management and producing at the encouragement of Marshall. All those sets, all those great people and all that fun. For me, climbing those stairs up to that second story loft space in 1973 has given me a 43 year career in the performing arts. I wish I could be there to celebrate with you all, but I have 2 shows in rehearsal and one in tech and seem to still be relevant."
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