Jill Santoriello's sweeping new musical epic world premiere
pre-Broadway try-out of A Tale of Two
Cities opens October 26 and October 27 at the Asolo Repertory Theatre's mainstage, The Harold E. and
Esther M. Mertz Theatre in Sarasota, Florida (5555 North Tamiami Trail), with
performances through November 18.
A Tale of Two Cities features a book, music and lyrics
by Santoriello; directed by Michael Donald Edwards, choreographed by Warren Carlyle
and designed by Tony Walton
(scenery), David Zinn (costumes), Richard Pilbrow (lights), Carl Casella and
Domonic Sack (sound). Musical direction is by Jerry Steichen and
orchestrations by Edward B. Kessel and Bob Krogstad.
"Set against the
epic backdrop of the French Revolution and based on the classic Dickens novel, A Tale of Two Cities is a musical about
injustice, vengeance and the redemptive power of love," describe press
notes, "When Dr. Manette is released from the French Bastille after 17
years, he must be resurrected from the brink of madness by his daughter, Lucie.
In England
they meet two very different men: the exiled French aristocrat, Charles Darnay,
whom Lucie marries, and the drunken cynic, Sydney Carton. Soon family secrets
and political intrigue combine to draw Lucie and her family back to Paris. At the height of
the Reign of Terror, the musical finds an unlikely hero in Carton, inspired by love
to make an extraordinary sacrifice."
The cast stars James Barbour (Sydney
Carton), Craig Bennett (Jerry Cruncher), Joe Cassidy (Ernest
Defarge), Janine Divita (Young French Woman), Kevin Greene (Gabelle),
Tim Hartman (The Turnkey), Michael Hayward-Jones (Jarvis Lorry), Derek Keeling (Charles
Darnay), Jodie Langel (Mrs.
Cruncher), Jay Lusteck (Attorney General), Katherine McGrath (Miss
Pross), Les Minski (Marquis St. Evremonde), Walter Winston Oneil (Cronie), Rob
Richardson (Gaspard), Rebecca Robbins (Vengeance), Jessica Rush (Lucie
Manette), Alex Santoriello (Dr. Manette), Wayne Schroder (C.J. Stryver), Natalie Toro (Madame
Defarge) and Nick Wyman (John
Barsad), and Alex Howley, Kim Fanok, Karis Danish, Amy E. Gray, Marcus Denard
Johnson, Heather Kopp, , Julie Lachance, Jennifer Logue, Bruce Merkle, Catherine
Missal, Stephen Missal and Owen Teague.
Tickets are $18-$56, or
Gala Premiere tickets are $130. For tickets call 941-351-8000 or
800-361-8388 or visit www.asolo.org
Performances are Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8PM; and Sundays at
2PM. Other 2PM matinees are October 25 & 31; November 3, 7, 10, 14
& 17. For more information visit www.ATaleof2Cities.com
Photos by Carol Rosegg
James Barbour
James Barbour
James Barbour
James Barbour
l-r: Derek Keeling, James Barbour and Wayne Schroder
The cast singing "Round and Round"
l-r: Derek Keeling, Les Minski and Kevin Greene
l-r: James Barbour, Michael Hayward-Jones, Wayne Schroder, Jessica Rush, Catherine Missal, Katherine McGrath, Alex Santoriello and Derek Keeling
l-r: Natalie Toro, Juan Javier Cardenas, Joe Cassidy, Owen Teague, Nick Wyman and Rob Richardson
James Barbour and Derek Keeling
Jessica Rush and Katherine McGrath
Alex Santoriello and Derek Keeling
Derek Keeling and Les Minski
Alex Santoriello and Jessica Rush
l-r: James Barbour, Nick Wyman and Craig Bennett
l-r: Joe Cassidy, Alex Santoriello and Natalie Toro
The cast in the famous court-room scene
The cast performs song "Everything Stays The Same"
The cast performs song "Everything Stays The Same"
Derek Keeling and Jessica Rush
Natalie Toro
Natalie Toro
Jessica Rush
Derek Keeling
Natalie Toro and Joe Cassidy (center) with the cast of A Tale of Two Cities
Natalie Toro and Joe Cassidy
The cast of A Tale of Two Cities
The cast of A Tale of Two Cities
The cast of A Tale of Two Cities
