Upper School Play: Dec. 15-16, 2023

This fall, the Upper School will stage Bertolt Brecht's "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" on Fri., Dec. 15 at 7:00 PM, and on Sat., Dec. 16 at 2:00 PM and at 7:00 PM in the Performing Arts Center (PAC). Friday and Saturday night performances will be followed by an audience Q&A with the cast.

​Based on an ancient Chinese folktale, "Chalk Circle" follows a young servant girl, Grusha, as she rescues the abandoned child of the Governor's Wife and flees a coup. We watch Gursha struggle to stay safe and take care of the child while soldiers hunt her down. The Governor's Wife is also looking for her child, and the play ends with each woman challenged to prove who is the true mother.

The show is appropriate for children 12 and older, with some adult themes and language, mild violence, and discussions of war. Ticket purchase is not required, but donations are strongly encouraged.

Considered a Brecht masterpiece, Chalk Circle examines how the rich and powerful exploit the poor during war and peace times. It's striking how many themes in this 1944 play are relevant today. It is also a quintessential example of “Epic Theatre,” a theatrical style developed and practiced by Brecht’s Berliner Ensemble.