Years ago, steamers carrying immigrants to America landed on Ellis Island in New York. These people arrived with hopes of making their homes in the new world. A world of promise lay before them, where their voices would be heard and their dreams would be realized.

Upon their arrival, island officials marked their clothes with chalk symbols to categorize them for easy identification. Immigrants with a suspected mental defect were marked with an X. Doctors who observed a definite mental defect circled the X and the immigrants were immediately scheduled for deportation. Families were divided. Dreams were deferred. Hopes were left unrealized.

The circled "X" has been our moniker since 1996. It represents those who are misunderstood, ostracized or marked as "unfit for this world" before they have been granted a voice. The Circle X founders had a vision of producing high-quality theatre for theatre's sake in Los Angeles. We know anyone foolish enough to form and embrace such an ensemble in L.A. has a definite mental defect. Circle X is Los Angeles' home for theatre artists craving innovation, intelligence and professionalism.