In 1996, after 27 years of producing, Off-Broadway's Circle Repertory Theatre Company closed, due to financial difficulties. But perhaps they’ve come full circle...

The company is now being reborn in a way, as the new troupe Circle East, which is presenting its inaugural production Solace at Center Stage, Off Off Broadway, Dec. 1-17.

Written by Glenn Alterman, Solace follows a professor of Judaism who happens to be gay. The play spans 35 years of his turbulent life. Guy Giarrizzo directs the production that includes a cast of Andrew Polk, Maggie Burke, William Wise and Janet Sarno.

Circle East is comprised of around 300 members, many of them who were original Circle Rep members. Included among them are the playwright-director team and Circle Rep co-founders Lanford Wilson and Marshall W. Mason. Though they are ready to present their full production, they are still looking for a permanent home, according to producer Donna LaStella.

The original Circle Rep company was responsible for such productions as Lanford Wilson's Burn This and his Pulitzer-winning Talley's Folly as well as Craig Lucas' Prelude To A Kiss, Sam Shepard's Fool For Love and Paula Vogel's The Baltimore Waltz. For tickets to Solace at Center Stage, 48 West 21st St., call (212) 501-2666.

— by Ernio Hernandez