The American Conservatory Theatre (A.C.T.) staging of a new translation by A.C.T. associate artist Domenique Lozano will play Feb. 18–March 14 at the American Conservatory Theater, 415 Geary Street. Opening night is Feb. 24.
As in Doyle's rethinking of Sweeney Todd, for which Doyle won the Best Direction Tony Award, the entire score of this revival of the 1944 play will be performed by the cast. The new music is by acclaimed San Francisco composer Nathaniel Stookey. "As with Stookey’s earlier work, the score incorporates objects scavenged from the San Francisco Dump alongside more conventional instruments and voices," according to a production note.
Felciano played Toby in Doyle's Sweeney Todd, and was Tony-nominated for his turn. He has since become a permanent company member with A.C.T. Doyle will also design sets and costumes for The Caucasian Chalk Circle.
According to A.C.T., "The play follows the story of a servant girl who saves the life of an abandoned baby boy in wartime. When the wealthy mother returns to claim him, however, their fates lie in the hands of a wily, unpredictable judge whose concern for the poor is rivaled only by his concern for saving his own hide."
The cast will also feature René Augesen, Nick Childress, Anthony Fusco, Rod Gnapp, Caroline Hewitt, Omozé Idehenre, Gregory Wallace and Jack Willis. Doyle (Broadway's Company and A Catered Affair) is creating the ensemble of The Caucasian Chalk Circle exclusively from A.C.T. core acting company members, A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts Program students, and graduates. "I am always attracted to venues that have resident companies, very much an ethos I grew up with in the U.K. I was interested in doing this production with the company members and with graduating students, as such ways of working make me feel very 'at home.'"
The creative team of A.C.T.'s production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle also includes Jane Cox (lighting designer).
For tickets and information, call (415) 749-2228 or visit www.act-sf.org.