General Information

Approximately fifty-four (54) total students are accepted into our Two-Year programs annually, selected from hundreds of applicants each year. The average student age is early to mid-twenties. Circle's diverse group of students comes from across the country and around the world. For our Summer Workshops, we often have a much larger class, opening up the minimum age for applicants to 15. Often during the Summer Workshops, we can have nearly 90 students with an age range from 15 to 50.

Individual teachers continually critique students' classroom participation. This critique is an integral component of the program and is the process by which each student is kept fully informed of his or her progress in each classroom exercise or setting. The Director of the School, E. Colin O'Leary, is available for consultation and counseling, along with the rest of the administrative staff. Circle in the Square does not use a letter grade format, however, the Administration holds a minimum of four formal meetings with the Faculty over the course of the school year to discuss each student's progress.

Students periodically have individual meetings with the Director of the School to discuss the Faculty's written evaluations of the student's work and to express any concerns either the student or the administration may have. At these conferences, mid-year warnings and/or probation may be issued to those students whose work or behavior is not satisfactory.

Re-admission to the Second Year of either program is based on a review of individual progress and motivation at the end of the First Year. Participation in Scene Night, Cabaret presentations and Performance Projects is dependent on the student making satisfactory progress.

All students who have successfully completed all the requirements of their specified program will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.

Students are expected to familiarize themselves and to comply with the rules and regulations, standards of conduct, attendance and satisfactory progress of Circle in the Square Theatre School. If pursuant to such rules, regulations and standards, the withdrawal of a student is required before the end of the term, a refund will be made according to the standard schedule for refunds.

If a student's work or conduct has fallen below the prescribed standards, he or she may be placed on probation for the upcoming term or the remainder of the current term. A student is placed on probation by the School Administration upon the recommendation of the Faculty. Students who are placed on probation meet with the School Director, where reasons for their probation are discussed. At that time, the student my be required to appear before a panel of the Faculty where they are given guidelines for the requested changes in class work and/or behavior, as well as the amount of time these changes must be maintained before they are taken off probation. During the time a student is on probation, if he or she does not maintain the requested changes, it will be considered grounds for dismissal.

The Faculty and Administration reserve the right to dismiss any individual student after a thorough evaluation of the student's progress or lack thereof. In the event of a student's dismissal, the reasons for the dismissal and the criteria used are fully explained to the student in a personal interview with the School Director. If the student wishes to appeal his or her case, they may do so, in writing to the School Director. After a review period in which the Director further consults the Faculty, the student will be notified as to the disposition of their appeal.