KINGSTON, R.I. – November 19, 2015 — The University of Rhode Island Theatre Department announces the opening of “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” by Bertolt Brecht, a version by Frank McGuinness.

Written near the end of WWII and decidedly anti-Nazi, “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” is a play about politics, law, justice, parenthood and more. What defines a family? Who is responsible for taking care of mother earth? Of each other? Of society? Brecht weaves comedy and drama throughout the play as his characters dance to life’s song. These characters are archetypes and larger than life, thereby allowing the audience a mirror in which to view the choices we make, compared to the choices the characters make. Whose side are we on? In Brecht’s theater the audience is expected to think as well as be entertained. He believed that unless an actor is having fun, the audience can’t. Moving, funny, thought provoking, challenging — what more could an audience want?

Performances of “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” will run Dec. 3 through Dec. 5 and Dec. 10 through Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m., with additional performances Dec. 6 and Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. in J Studio in the URI Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Road on the Kingston Campus. General Admission is $20, while tickets cost $15 for seniors and URI faculty and staff, and $12 for students. To purchase tickets online, visit web.uri.edu/theatre, or call (401) 874-5843 beginning Nov. 23.

Guest artist Vince Petronio, URI assistant professor of Communication Studies, directs the production. Petronio most recently directed “The Philadelphia Story” at The Barker Playhouse and “4000 Miles” at Second Story Theatre. Costume Design is by Jillian Eddy, URI theatre senior design major, while scenic design is by resident URI associate professor Christian Wittwer, lighting design is by Jen Rock, guest artist, and sound design is by Mike Hyde, guest artist.

CAST

Actor, Character, Hometown

Diego Guevara, (Fat Prince/Lavrenti), Central Falls

Rebecca Magnotta, (Corporal), South Kingstown

Raymond Fournier, (Simon), East Providence

Daraja Hinds, (Azdak), Pawtucket

Cassidy McCartan, (Natella), Stewartville, Minn.

Celine Montaudy, (Nanny, Old Woman, Innkeeper), Norwalk, Conn.

Meriel Borowko, (Peasant/Farmer/Ensemble), Oxford, Mass.

Laura Kennedy, (Mother, The Bandit, Young Lady), South Kingstown

Steven Carvalho, (Governor, Soldier, Old Man), Pawtucket

Brandon Lovejoy, (Shauva, Ensemble), Littleton, Colo.

Benjamin Church, (Singer), East Providence

Rachel Marshall, (Musician, Featured Ensemble), Littleton, Mass.

Anya Fox, (Grusha), Richmond

Abigail Dufresne, (Ensemble), North Kingstown

Daniel Greene, (The Adjutant), Easton, Mass.

Sydney Rosenberg, (Aniko, 2nd Lawyer, 2nd Doctor), Springfield, N.J.

Christopher Morris, (Jessup), Harrison, N.Y.

Pictured above:

Benjamin Church, of East Providence, left, plays Singer, while Anya Fox, of Richmond, portrays Grusha, in URI Theatre’s production of “The Caucasian Chalk Circle,” by Bertolt Brecht. Performances of this anti-Nazi play about politics, law, justice, parenthood and more begin Dec. 3 in J Studio in the URI Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Road on the Kingston Campus

Ray Fournier, of East Providence, left, plays Simon, while Anya Fox, of Richmond, portrays Grusha in URI Theatre’s production of “The Caucasian Chalk Circle,” by Bertolt Brecht. Performances of this anti-Nazi play about politics, law, justice, parenthood and more begin Dec. 3 in J Studio in the URI Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Road on the Kingston Campus.

From left, Celine Montaudy, of Norwalk, Conn., plays Nanny, while Cassidy McCartan, of Stewartville, Minn., portrays Natella and Anya Fox, of Richmond, plays Grusha in URI Theatre’s production of “The Caucasian Chalk Circle,” by Bertolt Brecht. Performances of this anti-Nazi play about politics, law, justice, parenthood and more begin Dec. 3 in J Studio in the URI Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Road on the Kingston Campus.

Photos by Randy Osga