Given Circumstance: New Plays at Mile Square Theatre

According to Chris O’Connor, founder and artistic director of Mile Square Theatre , in acting, “given circumstance” means the conditions affecting a scene. For instance, is a play taking place during a deadly pandemic? A given circumstance for theatre right now is that it usually takes place on Zoom. Given Circumstance: New Plays in the Virtual World is an ambitious project: seven new plays—at turns comic, dramatic, and touching—written specifically for the Zoom format. The first,“Sitting and Talking” by Lia Romeo, premieres September 18. It stars Wendie Malick (“Just Shoot Me!”) and Dan Lauria (“The Wonder Years”). The series runs through October 11. O’Connor talked to producer Susan Wallner about the challenges and rewards of creating fully produced plays for Zoom.