“Circle Mirror Transformation,” Annie Baker’s 2009 Obie award–winning play, will be presented March 15-18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Marshall Theatre in Ford Hall at Linfield College.
When four lost New Englanders enroll in Marty’s community center drama class and begin to experiment with harmless theatre games, hearts are quietly torn apart and tiny wars of epic proportions are waged and won. The eclectic assortment of characters include Marty, the teacher, her husband James, a recently divorced carpenter, a reticent high schooler and a former actress. This is a beautifully crafted diorama, a petri dish in which we see, with hilarious detail and clarity, the antic sadness of a motley quintet.
Stephanie Mulligan, a 2013 Linfield graduate, is the guest director. She is a stage director in both the professional and educational arenas. Based in the Pacific Northwest, she has been a frequent participant in international programming, through which she has collaborated with theatre artists in India, Vietnam and Australia. She returns to Vietnam this summer as an Arts Envoy of the U.S. Department of State.
Cast members include Ben Bartu, Joella Cordell, Antoine Johnson, Bailey Sipila and Arianna Strong, with scenic and lighting design by Ty Marshall, costume design by Laurel Peterson and sound design by Rob Vaughn. Alyssa Lawrence is stage manager.
Tickets are $9 for full price; $7 for seniors and Linfield faculty and staff; and $5 for students; with a $2 discount on all tickets on opening night. Seating is reserved. Tickets are available at http://tinyurl.com/zpuceos. Tickets will be available at the Marshall Theatre Box Office beginning Tuesday, March 7. Located in Ford Hall, the box office is open Monday through Friday from 3 to 5 p.m., and from 3 to 7:30 p.m. on performance days.
For more information, call 503-883-2292. The Marshall Theatre is fully accessible. It is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service Inc., New York.

