9 Circles
by The Surround Project
Jan. 14 - Jan. 15 (2017)
The play is a fictional story based on the real military career and subsequent civilian trial of Steven Dale Green.
Green was the first American soldier charged and convicted under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act. Signed in 2000, that law gives the federal government jurisdiction to pursue criminal cases against U.S. citizens and soldiers for acts committed in foreign lands.
Green and three other soldiers went to the home of an Iraqi family in Mahmoudiya, near a traffic checkpoint in March 2006. At the home, Green shot and killed three members of the al-Janabi family before becoming the third soldier to rape 14-year-old Abeer Qassim al-Janabi before killing her. He was convicted and sentenced in 2009.
Three other soldiers - Jesse Spielman, Paul Cortez and James Barker - are serving lengthy sentences in the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., for their roles in the attack.
Green committed suicide in February, 2014.
Directed by Eva Laporte, produced by EZL - The Surround Project in partnership with The Classic Theatre of San Antonio
From Wikipedia:
9 Circles is a play by Bill Cain based on the military career and subsequent civilian trial of murderer Steven Dale Green.
Cain is a Jesuit priest. The play's title refers to Dante Alighieri's Inferno—in which Dante navigates a descent into the "nine circles of hell". In Cain's play, Green passes through his discharge from the Army and various judicial and administrative procedures, roughly paralleling the nine circles of Dante's Inferno. Cain structured the play so other cast members would return to play multiple characters, at each different circle.
The play won praise for being nuanced, and not taking the easy path of demonizing the protagonist. However, Chris Jones, reviewing a Chicago production of the play, reported that audience members concluded the play meant to imply that Green, who was originally from Midland, Texas, which had been United States President George W. Bush's primary home, had the assistance of the President himself in clearing his entry into the Army in spite of his criminal record.
Auditions January 14 & 15, 2017
Tentative Performance Dates: Thursdays through Sundays, June 15-25
Producers Eva Laporte and Zach Lewis, in partnership with The Classic Theatre of San Antonio, will host auditions for 9 Circles, a play by Bill Cain, on Saturday January 14 and Sunday January 15. The main character of Daniel Reeves will be played by Zach Lewis, and roles for 2 to 4 additional actors are open.
Actors wishing to audition should prepare a one-minute dramatic monologue and sign up for an audition time on Saturday January 14 between 2 – 6 pm. To sign up for an audition, please email your name, contact information, and a headshot or resume, if you have one, to EZL.surround@gmail.com.
Roles available:(Casting is inclusive of any actor regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, and/or disability)
Lieutenant, Army attorney, Pastor, Lawyer, Defense
Young Female lawyer, Shrink, Prosecution
Invited call backs will take place on Sunday January 15th. Actors who are invited to call backs will be sent scene selections to prepare.
9 Circles will have some readings and table work in February and March, and will begin rehearsals in May 2017. Performance dates will be announced for June 2017. This is a paid project.
Contact: Eva Laporte, Director
EZL - The Surround Project - in partnership with The Classic Theatre of San Antonio
M. 210.562.0736
EZL.surround@gmail.com
