9 Circles
By Bill Cain
Directed by Kent Nicholson
Originally produced at Marin Theatre Company, Mill Valley, CA.
October 14, 2010 through November 7, 2010
About the Premiere Production: The newest play by Equivocation playwright Bill Cain, 9 Circles, is the riveting story of a young American soldier on trial for his life. After being honorably discharged, Daniel Reeves is arrested and prosecuted for acts that he may have committed during the war. Thrown into a labyrinth of military bureaucracy, the confused and troubled teenager tries to navigate through layers of commanding officers, public defenders, lawyers, preachers, and army psychiatrists. It is a dramatic, compelling and visceral thriller inspired by actual events.
Artistic Statement: 9 Circles, winner of MTC’s 2010 Sky Cooper New American Play Prize, is a startling, penetrating look at the cost of war on the young soldiers who fight it. The play encompasses the entire spectrum of emotions; finding surprising humor and compassion in a very dark story. After producing Mr. Cain’s previous award-winning and critically acclaimed play Equivocation, we are eager to continue our relationship with him. Producing his latest work will deepen our working relationship with him. 9 Circles is an urgent story about a critical subject matter relevant to our audiences and our country, as the war and its consequences continue. We are excited produce Bill Cain’s brilliant, imaginative writing, and feel that this play will be an important addition to the American canon.
What this grant will allow us to do: The grant from the Edgerton Foundation will allow MTC to extend rehearsals for an extra week. Since this is a world premiere and the playwright will be in residence throughout the rehearsal process, the additional time will enable Mr. Cain and director Kent Nicholson to continue to develop and hone the script and have additional rehearsal time with the cast. Mr. Cain has a very collaborative working style as a playwright. He encourages the director, the actors, indeed all the artists working on the project to intensely question the writing. He empowers all collaborators to bring their own experiences to both the rehearsal room and the writing. Such a collaborative style of working requires more than the usual rehearsal hours and we are extremely grateful to the Edgerton Foundation for making this possible.
Director: Kent Nicholson
Additional Funders: Bellebyron Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Marin Community Foundation, Shubert Foundation, Individual Producers (2)
News
Bill Cain Takes Steinberg/ATCA Award for Second Consecutive Year
Playbill, April 4, 2011
MTC's '9 Circles' probes war, killing, forgiveness
Marinscope, October 27, 2010
Theater review: Provocative '9 Circles'
San Francisco Chronicle, October 21, 2010
Marin ignites an inferno with extraordinary 9 Circles
Theater Dogs, October 20, 2010