Are there any pictures of the CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE theater?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 5:56pm

Any of the inside? I've always wanted to see inside this theater. Either this one or the Gershwin, since I know they're the newest ones. Just wondering if they were ornate like the others or more "modern."

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 5:58pm

Modern. I find them both rather boring inside.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 6:01pm

Well I'd like to see. Just wondering. I've also heard the Minksoff is rather "bland" / "Modern" inside. Just interested if there are any pictures.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 6:03pm

The inside of the Circle in the Square when Rocky Horror Show was there was amazing.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 6:07pm

How so? has it always been named Circle in the Square? And why is it named that?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 6:09pm

Because it is an oval inside a rectangular theatre.

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 6:12pm

Or that its near TIMES SQUARE?
Or maybe not.
Idk.
Not. Ooops.
It looks like a stadium inside, all decorated for spelling bee, everyhting has little putnam advertisements, they also have pictures of famous people all over the 1st floor walls.

Updated On: 4/12/06 at 06:12 PM

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 6:14pm

Yea...it's definitely NOT in Times Square.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 6:27pm

"Or that its near TIMES SQUARE?"

hehehe that made me giggle .

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 6:36pm

Sigh. Circle in the Square was one of the companies that was credited with beginning what we now know as Off-broadway (the Geraldine Page "Summer and Smoke," the premiere of Genet's "The Balcony" and Jason Robards' "Iceman Cometh" were some of their early landmark productions). They were one of the most respected theatre companies in New York for several decades notable for its stagings of the classics and supporting the careers of several actors, playwrights and directors who went on to become famous (it was Landford Wilson's main company for decades and where he created most of his greatest works). They originally were just in the Village, but then opened the current Broadway space in the early 70s. Financial problems led to the company's bankruptcy and disbanding less than a decade ago (though the Circle in the Square School for Actors still exists).

The name comes from the fact that most productions were staged in the round (though the building itself -- as most buildings are -- is square).

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 7:24pm

This is why I love Margo.

[Jon]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 10:19pm

Margo left out the fact that the original Circle in the Square theate was located in the Village - near either Sheridan Square or Washington Square - can't remember which. And yes, the original was "theatre-in-the-round" with a round stage - hence the name.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 10:41pm

I did mention they were in the Village, but perhaps I wasn't clear. The original theatre -- which continued to exist after the Broadway house opened and produce off-Broadway plays through the mid-90s or so, I believe -- was on Bleeker. I remember seeing "Riff Raff" with Larry Fishburne and the rapper Heavy D there and John Patrick Shanley's "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea" back in the 80s.

It was sad day when the company folded. So much history and tradition lost. I don't remember the details other than they had somehow dug themselves a hole -- a $2 - 3 million deficit, if I remember correctly -- that they realized they could never get out of, so they were forced to close. Very sad.

[stage_door76]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 12:46am

What type of reputation does the acting school maintain? I haven't heard much about it over the last little while, but from what I have heard, the school has lost a LOT of credibility??

[dReAmiNgAwAkE]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 12:47am

I'm actually a student there @ circle....M.Theater major and thank goodnes that a hit show is now in the theater so financially they are doing very very well....also Akeela and the Bee are promoting through Spelling Bee and visa versa so that will help tickets sells on both ends once the movie comes out.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/13/06 at 4:33pm

Movie?


Oh okay. It seems like such a small intimdate place on Broadway. Is it the only theater on Broadway that doesn't have a mezz/balcony?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/14/06 at 2:01am

Hm...

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/14/06 at 2:10am

It is indeed a very small venue compared to other Broadway theatres.

Would this the smallest Broadway theatre?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/14/06 at 2:15am

No balcony?

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/14/06 at 4:26am

No, I don't remember it having a balcony.

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 4/14/06 at 10:36am

No there is no balcony. The stage is a severe thrust and is on the ground level while the seats are stadium style and rise from the fround level up. It isn't the smallest theater, that is the Helen Hayes which has just the bare minimum of 500 seats to amke it a Broadway theater. Circle has closer to, I believe, 700. I ushered there for several months when ROCKY played there and again for a coupla months when Metamorpheses was there (what a beautiful show that was.) As for the decor, it normally is VERY bland, but was punked/night clubbed out when ROCKY was there. It was beautiful. It truly is an exceptional space and I persoanlly wish the LITTLE SHOP revival would have played there. The Viriginia was just too big for that little show and Circly would've been perfect!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/14/06 at 10:45am

The Helen Hayes has 586 seats.

For Spelling Bee (and the seating configuration of Circle in the Square changes show to show), the capacity is 684.

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 4/14/06 at 10:49am

The Helen Hayes has 586 seats

That's a shame. The official Broadway rule used to be 499, because the Little Theatre (now the Helen Hayes) had 499 seats, then the rule changed to 500 seats, but the Hayes was grandfathered in. I saw a coupla shows there and it was already cramped. It's sad that they would cram in more seats like that. But anyway, thanks for the info Margo, you are AMAZING!!

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 4/14/06 at 10:54am

if you PM me rentboy, i can send you some pics of the circle in the square lobby if you want...

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 4/14/06 at 12:35pm

Circle in the Square is currently awesome on the inside, I love it.

The Gershwin is very decorated and ornate, in a modern way. And the Hall of Fame is awesome to look at.

THe Miskoff was bland despite the view of Times Square.