Circle Mirror Transformation
June 11-20, 2026 at 7 Stages
Annie Baker’s Circle Mirror Transformation is a gently comic, deeply human portrait of five strangers who gather for a six‑week community‑center drama class and end up transforming one another in unexpected ways. Set in the fictional town of Shirley, Vermont, the play follows a well‑meaning instructor and her eclectic group of students as they navigate a series of quirky theatre games—exercises that begin as playful icebreakers but gradually peel back layers of vulnerability, longing, and connection. What starts as awkward fun becomes a moving exploration of how people reveal themselves when they feel seen.
Audiences are invited into an intimate, quietly hilarious world where small moments carry surprising emotional weight. Baker’s signature naturalism—full of pauses, overlaps, and everyday rhythms—creates a sense of authenticity that makes each interaction feel both familiar and profound. As relationships shift and secrets surface, the class becomes a place where these ordinary people confront who they are and who they hope to become.
Warm, witty, and full of heart, Circle Mirror Transformation celebrates the courage it takes to open up to others. It’s a tender reminder that even the simplest encounters can change us, and that community can be found in the most unlikely places.
