CIRCLE PLAYERS Reveals 2015-16 Season Opening with AMERICAN IDIOT

Circle Players will kick-off its 2015-2016 season with the regional premiere of the Bradley Moore-directed rock musical American Idiot, running in August at Tennessee State University's Performing Arts Center.

American Idiot will be the first of five productions, one more than last season, as Circle expands its relationship with Tennessee State University Theater Program and returns to past venue partner Z. Alexander Looby Theater.

"This will be season 66 for Circle Players, and double sixes are considered lucky by many. Circle's Board believes its lineup of shows and venue partnerships will make for a successful and highly-entertaining season for audiences and Artists Members (the volunteers who are directly involved in staging the productions)," according to a press release trumpeting the new season.

Along with American Idiot (based on the music of the rock group Green Day), Circle offers a lineup of three more musicals and one dramatic play: Of Mice and Men, Children of Eden, Bonnie and Clyde and Sister Act, the hit Broadway musical comedy which recently ended its national tour.

"Five fabulous shows - not four - directed by some of the most committed and capable artists in this area." says Dara Talibah, chair of Circle's Play Selection Committee and vice president of the board. "Our veteran Circle directors and other newcomers who bring great credentials were selected to make our return to a five-show season a phenomenal one!"

American Idiot runs August 20-30, and will be directed by Moore, a newcomer to Circle Players but with strong credentials as a director and performer for local theatre productions. The show also marks the expansion of Circle's collaboration with TSU - from one to two productions this season. American Idiot is the Tony Award-winning hit musical based on Green Day's multi-platinum album.

"I couldn't be more excited to bring American Idiot to the stage here in Nashville and start this wonderful journey with Circle Players," says Moore. "This show is everything: powerful, moving, deep, edgy but poignant. It has guts. Once you throw in all the music by Green Day, you have a really amazing musical...This show is raw and will need fearless performers who leave it all on the stage."

Next in the lineup from October 30-November 15 is Of Mice and Men, directed by Heather Alexander-a familiar actress in community theatre as well as an experienced director, including Circle's 2014 production of bare, A Pop Opera. Of Mice and Men, written by Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck and published in 1937, tells the story of George and Lennie, two displaced migrant ranch workers, who move from place to place in search of new job opportunities during the Great Depression. An incident with a young girl leads to a tragic end for this classic American tale.

The first show of 2016 - running January 15-31 - Sister Act will be presented at TSU under the creative helm of veteran Circle director Tim Larson (Ragtime the Musical, Titanic the Musical and more). Sister Act just completed its national tour and Circle Players is among the first community theatres in the country to be granted performance rights by the licensing company, Music Theatre International. Sister Act is a musical comedy based on the 1992 film of the same name, in which disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder and is put in protective custody in a convent where she helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she rediscovers her own.

"I am divinely overjoyed to be directing Sister Act," says Larson. "Especially with the heavenly team of John Kennerly as Music Director and LaTonya Turner, Executive Producer. Do not miss this joyous and fun musical!"

Children of Eden runs March 18 - April 3, 2016, under the direction of Joshua Waldrep, another Circle regular both on stage and as a director (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Dreamgirls). Children of Eden is based on the story of Genesis, the age-old conflict of parents and children takes the stage in this epic, heartfelt musical by Stephen Schwartz.

"This show is about the struggles and consequences we make in life and how that defines our destiny," explains Waldrep. "It's also about learning from our past and never forgetting the lessons it has taught us."

The 66th season concludes June 3-19, 2016, with Bonnie and Clyde. Brittany Blaire Andersen, another newcomer to Circle Players, will direct the musical about America's most notorious lovers and bank robbers. Bonnie and Clyde is the electrifying story of love, adventure and crime that captured the attention of an entire country.

"The music in this show provides a perfect setting for not only the time period but of the catastrophic relationship of these two historical figures. I love bringing a fresh edge to the community and this production does that.

"I'm honored to join such a great theatre company as part of their creative team," says Andersen.

Season Flex Passes for 2015-2016 are now available at www.circleplayers.net. The set of 5 Flex Passes can be used at any performance during the season and offers a discount of 25% or more off individual show ticket prices. For mail order Flex Pass forms, email boxoffice@circleplayers.net or call (615) 332- 7529.

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