News and Updates
This summer a group of alumni raised their voices to call attention to racial inequalities and administrative negligence at Circle in the Square. We are grateful for their bravery in standing up and speaking out, and we honor the incredible effort it took to do this work.
The Theatre School fully recognizes that we have been complicit in the systematic racism that plagues both the business of theatre and the educational system that feeds it. We are committed to becoming a diverse, inclusive, staunchly anti-racist institution and are determined to educate our students in a way that will allow them to become agents of change in the larger artistic community.
With this goal as our focus, Circle has instituted significant change in all areas of our school including leadership, staff, faculty, curriculum, hiring practices, casting practices and communication practices. To hold ourselves accountable to continued change, and to enable us to keep our alumni community and the public up to date on what is being done, we’ve created an Alumni Callboard on the website which will be updated regularly.
CHANGES TO DATE
ADMINISTRATION:
The role of the Executive Director has been divided into two positions: Artistic Director and Administrative Director. This allows for a redistribution of responsibilities to enable better efficiency and communication among our students, faculty and administration.
Interim Artistic Director – Jeanne Slater
Administrative Director – Erica Moore
Communications Director/Administrative Assistant – Taylor Rivera
Please see the Administration section of this website for biographies.
FACULTY:
We’re pleased to welcome the following teachers to our Faculty:
Benny Sato Ambush – 1st Year Scene Study
Nemuna Ceesay – Broadening the Canon Connor Coughlin – Ballet & Advanced Dance Alvin Crawford – 1st Year Scene Study & Private Voice |
Pricilla Greco – Contemporary/Hip Hop
T.J. Mannix – On-Camera Geeta Novotny – Mindfulness and Meditation Joshua Spencer – Tap & Advanced Dance |
Please see the Faculty section of the website for biographies.
RETURNING FACULTY:
Joseph Baker – Music Direction Edward Berkeley – Shakespeare Dianna Cortez – Speech and Voice Shan Y. Chuang – Vocal Studio Lab, Private Voice & Advanced Dance Christine DeFrece – Vocal Studio Lab, Private Voice Patrick Horn – Character Mask Alan Langdon – 2nd Year Scene Study & 2nd Year Musical Scene Study |
Jacqueline Jacobus – The Actor’s Instrument Sara Louis Lazarus – Musical Performance 1 & 2 Brad Lemons – 2nd Year Combat Dan Renkin – 1st Year Combat Christine Sang – Physical Acting Nancy Smithner – Clown, Comedy & Improvisation Natalie Wilson – Music Theory & Private Voice Shelley Wyant – Neutral Mask |
Please see the faculty section of this website for biographies.
ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY AND STUDENT EDUCATION:
This week we will begin a 3-Part educational workshop series for Faculty, Staff & Students – which will include:
– Theatre, Race, Performance and Education – Dennis Hilton-Reid (Actor, Director, Educator)
– Communication in the Classroom – Edy Nathan (MA-Drama Therapy & Sociology, LCSW)
– Understanding Racism in Theatre Education – Brandon Nase (Founder/Executive Director of Broadway For Racial Justice)
NEW ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEES:
Steering: This committee is made up of a small number of Faculty and Administration whose purpose is to discuss and redefine policy and guide the future of Circle in the Square Theatre School. Importantly, the committee is charged with confronting racism and allegations of abuse of any kind.
Department Chair: Each department will have a chair to enable communication among the Faculty and act as a liaison to the Administration.
This year’s Department Chairs are:
Voice & Speech – Dianna Cortez
Vocal Performance – Christine DeFrece Acting – Jacqueline Jacobus |
Musical Theatre – Sara Louis Lazarus
Movement – Brad Lemons & Nancy Smithner
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CURRICULUM:
New classes this year
Ballet Broadening the Canon Beyond Shakespeare |
Contemporary/Hip Hop/Latin
Mindfulness and Meditation Private Voice Lessons Tap |
All returning Faculty have modernized, diversified and updated their classes.
HIRING:
All hiring will be done by Administration in consultation with the current Faculty of the relevant department. |
ADMISSIONS:
A joint Administration/Faculty committee will review all applications and auditions. |
CHILDREN’S THEATRE:
Auditions for the Children’s Shows will now be conducted by a panel of current Faculty and Guest Artists. All alumni are eligible to audition for the company of 5, who will perform in all 3 productions. Playwright-in-Residence Aaron Coleman will write one of these plays specifically for this cast.
Please see the faculty section of this website for biographies.
IN-PROCESS
EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION DIRECTOR:
We are currently exploring ways in which we can hire someone in this position in a part-time capacity or potentially share this position with another school. It is possible that the person in this position could act as a moderator in situations in which one might be required. We will continue to update as progress is made.
OFF-SITE COUNSELING:
We are in talks with the Actor’s Fund about providing off-site counseling at an affordable price for our students. Additionally, we are continuing to explore alternative avenues of sliding-scale counseling; we will continue to update as progress is made.
STUDIO RENOVATIONS:
We are redesigning and renovating our studios to better serve Circle’s Students and Faculty. We will post pictures as the renovations progress!
TO CONCLUDE: While facing the issues of the past, we are now looking to the future of Circle in the Square Theatre School. We are determined to create a diverse, inclusive and equitable space in which every student and faculty feels seen, heard, valued and safe. |