The Caucasian Chalk Circle performance breakdown: October 15- October 24, 2010 Friday 8 p.m.: October 15 and 22 Saturday 8 p.m.: October 16 and 23 Sunday 2 p.m.: October 17 and 24

Detroit, MI - The Wayne State University Department of Theatre opens its 60th season at the Historic Bonstelle Theatre with Bertolt Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle from October 15 to October 24, 2010. Advance ticket sales are available at the Wayne State Theatre Box Office, located at 4743 Cass (corner of Hancock), or by phone at (313) 577-2960. Tickets may be purchased online at www.wsushows.com.

The Caucasian Chalk Circle borrows an ancient Chinese tale echoed in the biblical story of the judgment of King Solomon, in which two women both claim the same child. Brecht's tale also includes a parable of a land dispute between two communes of people, the fruit growers and the goat farmers. In the end the land is awarded to the group which is believed to be able to do the most good.

A politically charged piece of theatre, "Chalk Circle ultimately asks questions about how resources are used for the common good of society," according to Director Jesse Merz. Merz sees parallels between the play and America in the early twenty-first century because it asks a crucial question: "What is our responsibility to humanity in times of crisis?"

One person who can speak to the play's ongoing relevance is Wayne State University Theatre alumnus Phyllis Somerville, who performed the role of Grusha as a member of the fledgling Hilberry Company in 1966. Ms. Somerville has worked consistently on Broadway, in television and film since leaving Wayne State. She was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role as Grandma Fuller in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

"When I was younger, before coming to Wayne State, I saw The Caucasian Chalk Circle at the Guthrie Theatre and I fell in love with the show. I knew then that I wanted to perform Brecht's work. When I came to the Hilberry, Leonard Leone [founder of the Hilberry] cast me as Grusha in that production. I was thrilled!" says Somerville. She is pleased that Wayne State continues its tradition of presenting excellent theatre to the community. "Brecht is important and this play is important. It speaks of social justice and the needs of humanity as a whole. It is as relevant today as it was when we first performed it at the Hilberry," adds Somerville.

According to Merz, "Brecht was against sentimentality. He wanted theatre to make you think, not just leave you with an emotional catharsis." In the Bonstelle production the audience will be keenly aware that they are in a theatre in Detroit in 2010. The production will expose the bare walls of the stage so the audience will not forget where they are. "Brecht was all about breaking rules and so are we," stated Merz.

The cast includes

Sienna Hassett (Grosse Pointe Park, MI) as Grusha, Patrick Loos (Highland, MI) as Azdak, the Judge, Colin Mallory (East Lansing, MI) as Governor Georgi Abashvili, Kerianne Fergurson (Detroit, MI) as Natella, Dave Cowan (Detroit, MI) as Simon, Cal M. Schwartz (Dearborn, MI) as The Singer, Andrick Siegmund (Ferndale, MI ) as Lavrenti, Alexander Trice (Oxfordshire, UK), as Yussup, Derrell Jones (Detroit, MI), as Arsen Kazbecki, Celeste Shropshire (Detroit, MI) as The Sister-in-law, Jacquie Michnuk (Dearborn, MI) as The Expert, Kelli Sarakun (Grosse Pointe Park, MI) as The Mother-in-law, and Steve Carson (Grosse Pointe, MI) as The First Ironshirt.

The cast is accentuated by a large ensemble, consisting of Alyssa Lucas (Garden City, MI), Annabelle Young (Dearborn, MI), Anthony Scamihorn (Marshall, MI), Britta Peele (Harrison Twp.), Caitlin Morrison (Romeo, MI), Jackson McLaskey (Mount Clemens, MI), Joanne Nelson (Detroit, MI), Kara Frizzell (Garden City, MI), Kelsey Lusch (Clinton Twp., MI), Billy Dean (Wyandotte, MI), Taurean Hogan (Detroit, MI), Mackenzie Conn (Walled Lake, MI), Matthew Kurtz (Detroit, MI), Megan Fuller (Warren, MI), Nancy Florkowski (Redford, MI), Sarah Kline (Royal Oak, MI), Sharayah Johnson (Birch Run, MI), William Turbett (Dearborn, MI), and Yasmeen Mikhail (Wyandotte, MI), George Abud (Grosse Pointe, MI), and Robbie Dwight (Detroit, MI).

The creative team includes

Jesse Merz (Director), Mark Nichols (Composer), Becky Garcia (Production Stage Manager), Caitlin Morrison (Choreographer), George Abud (Musical Director), Fred Florkowski (Scenic Designer and Technical Director), Mary Copenhagen (Costume Designer), Donald Fox (Lighting Designer), Michael Thomas (Sound Designer), Anthony Karpinski (Properties Master) and Nikki Allen (Production Publicity Manager).

The Wayne State box office is open Tuesday - Saturday from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., at the Hilberry Theatre. Tickets may be purchased at the door at the Bonstelle Theatre (3434 Woodward Ave.) one hour prior to performances. Regular tickets are available for $15, and $12 discounted tickets are available to seniors ages 62+ and Wayne State University faculty, staff, and Alumni Association members. Group discounts are also available. For more information, please visit the theatre's website at www.bonstelle.com.  

Season sponsored by CBS Outdoor, Between the Lines, and Encore Michigan.

Top photo: Sienna Hassett as Grusha 
Bottom-left photo: Patrick Loos as Azdak
Bottom-right photo: Left to right: Patrick Loos as Azdak and Sienna Hassett as Grusha
Photo credits: Bobby Lima