To date, Circle Theatre has received generous contributions from: the Amon G. Carter Foundation; The Adeline and George McQueen Foundation – JP Morgan Bank NA; Virginia T. Hobbs Trust – Wells Fargo NA; Crystelle Waggoner Trust – Bank of America NA; The Arts Council of Fort Worth & Tarrant County; and Bates Container, plus community support from individual donations. Circle Theatre moved into the basement space in the historic Sanger Lofts building in March 1994.
The Capital Campaign Makeover Project includes the following improvements:
- New exterior signage designed by Intaglio Composites
- New lighting equipment and curtains by PRG
- New theatre seats manufactured and installed by Irwin Seating Company
- New flooring, paint, furniture, and office equipment
- New box office and lobby
- Cosmetic improvements
- Additional storage areas adjoining its current space
“I am grateful that Circle Theatre has had such a successful capital campaign drive, thanks to the generosity of our community,” said Rose Pearson, co-founder and executive director. “After 15 years of producing plays in our Sundance Square location, the Theatre was badly in need of repair. We are blessed to be able to move ahead with this project, despite today’s uneasy economic environment. Our staff, board and artists look forward to producing our upcoming 28th season in a greatly improved theatre space!”
The majority of Circle’s makeover should be completed in time for the opening of the Theatre’s first show of the 2009 season on March 21. Circle Theatre’s outdoor signage will be installed a few months later. Circle Theatre plans to produce a full season of five shows this year. The 2009 line-up will be unveiled in coming weeks.
Anyone wishing to contribute to Circle’s Capital Campaign can visit their website to make an online donation and view a photo gallery showing the campaign’s progress. Contributions are also accepted over the phone. Call Circle’s box office at 817.877.3040, Tuesday – Friday, 1:00pm – 6:00pm.
About Circle Theatre
Circle Theatre is a non-profit regional theatre, founded in 1981 by Rose Pearson and Bill Newberry. Circle brings contemporary plays, not yet produced in the community, to the Fort Worth area. The Theatre’s mission is to present professional, innovative productions in its intimate 125-seat setting. As an equity theatre, Circle offers salaries and benefits to professional artists who wish to continue pursuing their careers, while living in Texas. During the Theatre’s unscheduled times in its main stage season, Circle hosts a resident emerging theatre company (FireStarter Productions). Circle Theatre strongly supports the role education plays in the future of all arts organizations and collaborates with local university theatre departments to give students the experience of working in a professional theatre environment. In 2008, Circle Theatre’s production of A Snake in the Grass by Alan Ayckbourn was selected as Best Play of the year by the Fort Worth Weekly. The Dallas-Fort Worth Critics’ Forum acknowledged actor, Jakie Cabe, for his Outstanding Solo Performance in Circle’s production of Chesapeake by Lee Blessing. Circle Theatre provides a place for emerging playwrights, directors, designers and actors to hone their craft. The Theatre welcomes approximately 10,000-15,000 patrons to its musicals, comedies and dramas each year.
