The University of Puget Sound’s Department of Theatre Arts will present Bertolt Brecht’s classic drama, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, this fall, exploring themes of justice and morality.
Directed by Associate Professor Wind Woods and Assistant Director Ashlyne Collado ’26, the play tells the story of Grusha, a servant who risks her safety and happiness to raise an abandoned child during a fictional civil war. When the boy’s biological mother returns to claim him, the dispute is brought before an unorthodox judge whose courtroom exposes the corrupt nature of power.
“This is an incredibly complex piece,” Collado said. “It’s not a story with one clear heroine and one clear villain. You might find yourself conflicted.”
Collado, who is double-majoring in theater arts and computer science, has been in theater since she was 7 years old. Drawing on her experience, she said the production leans into the complexity of the story with an abstract set design intended to evoke what Collado calls a “time explosion,” pulling from many different historical periods at once.
“A common theme in all of Brecht’s works is this idea of playing with contradictions,” Collado said. “And there are so many contradictions in this show. This is a piece that asks you to grapple with the many different things being thrown at you at once. It’s OK to walk away feeling confused about it.”
Woods says the play reflects the kind of interdisciplinary and socially engaged learning that defines a Puget Sound education.
“I chose this play because it is topical, but not in the easy sense of topicality,” Woods said. “We are living in a time of deep division, where notions of ownership, belonging, and justice are contested on every front: from borders to classrooms, from the environment to our digital lives. The Caucasian Chalk Circle restages these fractures with both precision and playfulness.”
Woods added that experiences like this one help students develop the critical and creative skills needed to navigate complex social issues — skills that will serve them well beyond the stage.
The Caucasian Chalk Circle will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, Nov. 1, Nov. 6, Nov. 7, and Nov. 8, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 8. The cast includes Isa Fitzgibbons ’26, Tyler Griswold ’28, William Jensen ’29, Erinne Kellogg ’27, Riley Minkowski ’26, Sydney Pederson ’28, David Peterson ’29, Millie Rohdenburg ’27, Athena Schaefer ’26, Skye Sheehy ’28, McKenna Sinclair ’29, Hannah Taylor ’28, and Jacob Zwiernikowski ’28. Tickets are available at ups.universitytickets.com.
