9 Circles

War is everywhere. It’s so ingrained in today’s society that we’ve become numb to it and just scroll on. Bill Cain’s 9 Circles is a modern morality play that compels audiences to listen to untold stories of war and witness its psychological effects on members of the U.S. military. Coming to the stage courtesy of the Classic Theater of San Antonio, 9 Circles is a captivating theatrical production based on the military career and conviction of murderer Steven Dale Green. Pulling inspiration from Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, 9 Circles navigates the 19-year-old grunt’s discharge, paralleling Dante’s navigation to hell. Green wakes up in a holding cell with no recollection as to how he got there, and is charged with rape and the murder of an Iraqi family. During his trial Green details the violence of war and its lasting consequences, showing that even after leaving the front lines, soldiers are still faced with an internal emotional battle. This adults-only performance challenges theater-goers to recognize the various tragedies and turmoil caused by war.