'9 Circles'

Montana Actors' Theatre's latest production, "9 Circles," will have its opening night Friday.

"9 Circles" is based on true events and tells the story of Pvt. Daniel Reeves, who has been honorably discharged from the military and, in coming home, finds himself prosecuted for war crimes.

"Maybe he did or maybe he didn't commit some atrocities in Iraq," said Jay Pyette, the director of the production. "Really, it's his story - his journey through the trial and the people he encounters as he moves toward the end."

The play is split into nine acts and the title is reminiscent of the nine circles of Hell in Dante's "Divine Comedy," though the acts are not very tied to "Inferno." Reeves, who is played by Chad Zuelke, never leaves the stage and most of the rest of the cast are never on the stage at the same time.

"It's really an interesting script," Pyette said. "As we get to know Private Reeves, the line gets blurred. Is he also a victim - a victim of the circumstance he was put in? There are a lot of questions that get brought up throughout the course of the play."

A portion of the ticket sales for the production will be donated to Montana Wounded Warriors Project under the play sponsors' names. Each show night has a sponsor and a portion of the sales from that night will be donated under their name.

"We were looking at the social issues of this piece and realized there are broader-reaching aspects to this show than just people coming to watch it," Pyette said. "We have a social responsibility. We can present the feel-good comedy shows, but there's other show we need to do as well."

He said this show was the perfect one to tie into a group like Wounded Warrior.

"We just wanted to do more good with the show," he said.

In the backstage lounge, they are also selling "Dog Tag Beer," which is a brand of beer that donates some of their sales to veteran's groups around the country.

Pyette said he thinks the show will be thought-provoking.

"I hope what happens when people leave is I hope that they're questioning things," he said. "That's always the purpose of a show like this. ... I'm not looking for the audience to have this huge emotional reaction, but I do want them to be intrigued and see the progression of this character."

"9 Circles" will be performed Friday and Saturday, Jan. 22-24 and Jan. 29-31.

The doors and backstage lounge open each day at 7:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8.

Tickets to the play are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors and free to MSU-Northern students with a current identification card.