Circle Theatre to Stage LOVERS AND EXECUTIONERS, 8/20-9/19

Circle Theatre will present Lovers and Executioners from August 20 through September 19, 2015 at the Circle Theatre, located at 230 W. 4th Street in Fort Worth, TX 76102, Sundance Square Entertainment District.

In this comic battle of the sexes, Bernard suspects his wife, Julie, of infidelity. With an over-reaction only possible in the realm of French farce, Bernard deposits Julie on a desert island, expecting never to see her again. She makes her way back and, disguised as a man, wreaks havoc on her husband's new life. Strand's adaptation of Montfleury's 17th-century poetry into 20th-century verse is like the best farce, wild yet precise.

Circle's production is directed by Robin Armstrong and features Eric Dobbins** (Don Lope), Amber Marie Flores** (Constance), Suzanna Catherine Fox* (Beatrice), Marianne Galloway** (Julie / Frederic), Chad Spear (Bernard), Shane Strawbridge* (Guzman), and Richard Stubblefield* (Octavius). Circle Theatre's production team members include Sara Harris* (Stage Manager), Clare Floyd DeVries (Set Design), John Leach (Lighting Design), Richard Frohlich (Sound Design), Robin Armstrong (Costume Design) and Sarahi Salazar* and Kyle Montgomery** (Props). *Member of Actors' Equity Association **Equity Membership Candidate

Many years ago, a friend sent a copy of Lovers and Executioners to Rose Pearson to peruse for an upcoming season of plays. Rose loved the show and the search was on for that perfect director and cast. Rose states, "It has taken time and patience, but the result is worth the wait. Triple threat, Robin Armstrong, an award-winning director, costume designer, and fight choreographer, agreed to helm the ship for Circle Theatre's Lovers and Executioners. I am proud to report we have assembled an astounding company of actors on board! Rose further states, "As it turned out, another friend sent a copy of Lincolnesque, also by John Strand, which we were able to produce right away. When we were finally able to bring Lovers and Executioners to Circle, we held an invigorating Skype session at our first read-through, to introduce everyone to John and talk to him about his show."

Lovers and Executioners is produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois. Visit circletheatre.com/shows/lovers for more information.

The play runs approximately 120 minutes with a 15-minute intermission. Shows: Previews - Thursday, August 20, 7:30 pm ($10) Friday, August 21, 8:00 pm ($15) Saturday, August 22, 3:00 pm ($10); Opening Night - Saturday, August 22, 8:00 pm ($35); School Night - Friday, August 28, 8:00 pm ($5 students - $10 faculty & staff); Regular Shows - Thursday at 7:30pm ($20-$30) Fridays at 8:00 pm ($25 - $35) Saturdays at 3:00 pm ($20 - $30) Saturdays at 8:00 pm ($25 - $35).

Reservations can be made online at www.circletheatre.com by calling 817.877.3040, or at the Circle Theatre Box Office, 230 West Fourth Street between Houston and Throckmorton, in downtown Fort Worth. Senior, Student, Military, KERA, Press Pass, S.T.A.G.E., and Group discounts are available. Half-price tickets for students are sold 30 minutes before show time, subject to availability. Complimentary valet parking is available for evening performances. Patrons with special needs should contact our box office.

About the Playwright - John Strand is a winner of the Charles MacArthur Award for playwriting and was named Playwright of the Year by Broadway Play Publishing. He is the author of 12 plays and libretti, including Otabenga, Lovers and Executioners, Three Nights in Tehran, Tom Walker, The Highest Yellow, Lincolnesque, Hat! A Vaudeville, and an adaptation of Alfred de Musset's Lorenzaccio. He has received multiple commissions from South Coast Repertory, Arena Stage, Signature Theater, and Shakespeare Theater Company. John spent 10 years in Paris, where he worked as a journalist and drama critic, writing in English and French. While there, he was director of New York University's Experimental Theater Wing in Paris. Dramatic Publishing, Inc., Chicago, publishes his plays. He currently lives in the Washington, DC area with his wife and four children.

About the Director - Robin Armstrong returns to Circle Theatre after directing last season's Stella & Lou. Previous directing credits at Circle include Too Many Cooks, God of Carnage; Ghost-Writer; See How They Run; Seven in One Blow; Becky's New Car and Boeing-Boeing. Robin directed Circle Theatre's critically acclaimed production of Bach at Leipzig, which garnered multiple Dallas Critics' Forum Awards for Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Creative Contribution (for fight choreography and costume design), and Outstanding

Performance by an Ensemble Cast. Bach at Leipzig was also cited on the "Year in Review Top Ten List" for Dallas Voice, Critical Rant and Rave, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Dallas Observer, Theater Jones, and D Magazine. Robin earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Directing from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Theatre from Louisiana State University.

About Circle Theatre - Founded in 1981 by Rose Pearson and Bill Newberry, Circle Theatre is currently producing its 34th season of live theatre in Fort Worth. Circle Theatre's mission is the advocacy of contemporary plays rarely seen in this community. Circle is committed to presenting professional, innovative theatre in an intimate setting. The Theatre is partially supported by the City of Fort Worth; the Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County; the Texas Commission on the Arts; and the National Endowment for the Arts. Further support comes from the Amon G. Carter Foundation; Communities Foundation of Texas; Fifth Avenue Foundation; Ann L. and Carol Green Rhodes Charitable Trust - Bank of America, NA; the Sid W. Richardson Foundation; Shubert Foundation; Crystelle Waggoner Charitable Trust - Bank of America, NA; Wells Fargo and WGG Foundation. To read Circle Theatre's full history visit circletheatre.com/about/history.

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