Hello!

My name is Maria Celeste Overton and I am an apprentice with Circle Theater in the role of Education Outreach Assistant. I am thrilled to be able to share my experience in this position with you all!

To start, I’ll give a little bit of my background with Circle for context. In 2023, I joined the team as an intern at 15. My first show was “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” and I had the privilege of being a part of the rehearsal process for the mainstage cast of that show. The following season, I started working with our outreach groups at QLI and VODEC, seeing how we can incorporate outside actors into our mainstage shows. That season, I was involved in the spring production of “The Little Prince.” In my third season, I started heading to different adult transition and ACP/high school programs throughout the Omaha Metro area, adapting music and movement for our actors. I was also heavily involved in our fall play of “Capture the Moon.” In the spring, I did both outreach and got the opportunity to perform in the musical “The Wizard of Oz.” It was such a wonderful experience sharing the stage with actors that I worked with during the daytime. It is now my fourth season with Circle! This fall, I assisted with our musical “Momotaro: The Peach Boy of Japan” and I’m beyond excited to choreograph for our musical “Disney’s Descendants” this spring!

I’d love to share some of my favorite parts of the rehearsal process with you!

I absolutely adore seeing each actor grow throughout the rehearsal process. From the very first read-through to our final dress rehearsal onstage, I see each person grow in their confidence and ability to carry the production.
When all choreography for a specific dance is taught and actors start getting the movement memorized, they begin to add elements of their own personality into the numbers. I adore seeing how each person interprets the same movement differently.

During tech week, seeing my work with our outreach groups come together with the mainstage cast is a really magical experience.

Thank you all for letting me share a little bit about myself, my history with Circle Theater, and what I’m looking forward to during the spring semester of this season!

Much love,
Maria Celeste Overton