Michael Donald Edwards News

World-renowned playwright and Tony Award® nominee Ken Ludwig (Murder on the Orient Express, Crazy for You, Lend Me a Tenor), will be in residence at Asolo Repertory Theatre February 19-21. On Wednesday, February 19, following the performance of his adaptation of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, Mr. Ludwig will take part in a post-show talk back with Asolo Rep Dramaturg and Literary Manager, James Monaghan. Actor James DeVita, who plays the role of Hercule Poirot, will also be part of the discussion. The talk back is open to all ticket holders for that performance; limited seating will be available to the public, based on availability. In addition, on Friday, February 21, Mr. Ludwig will be the guest speaker at Asolo Rep's Board of Directors Advance at the Embassy Suites in downtown Sarasota.

Who isn't infatuated with trains - such a unique and even elegant way to travel. Although these coaches aren't leaving from Platform 9 ¾ for Hogwarts and your fellow passengers won't be Harry Potter and his curious classmates, the ride will be just as thrilling, if not more so. You'll be joining the infamous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and a host of very cleverly enigmatic travelers aboard a train filled with mystery and a touch of mayhem. You may have taken this ride before but not quite like this. Asolo Repertory starts its winter season on the fast track with Agatha Christie's MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, featuring a new off the rails adaptation by two-time Tony Award-winner Ken Ludwig and pushing full steam ahead with direction by Asolo Rep Associate Artist Peter Amster.

Asolo Repertory Theatre's ambitious capital and endowment campaign, Staging Our Future, has made a significant leap forward with the awarding of a challenge grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation.

Asolo Rep continues its winter repertory season with the recent Broadway sizzling hit dramedy THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT, by Jeremy Kareken & David Murrell and Gordon Farrell. Directed by Asolo Rep Associate Artistic Director Celine Rosenthal, THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT previews January 22 and 23, opens January 24 and runs through March 19 in rotating repertory in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

Asolo Repertory Theatre proudly kicks off its highly anticipated 2019-20 season with Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved classic THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

Asolo Repertory Theatre announces that it is the first regional theatre in the Southeastern United States to implement the GalaPro accessible captioning and translation technology. GalaPro is a free smartphone-enabled (iOS and Android) app that allows patrons to read captions of a performance in real time. The captions are activated by the voice of the actors on stage, providing an authentic, live theatrical experience. The app can only be used when the device is in airplane mode and automatically dims the smartphone's screen as to not disturb the experience of surrounding patrons.

Asolo Rep proudly presents an FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training touring production of one of the greatest love stories of all time: William Shakespeare's ROMEO & JULIET. This fresh and fast 45-minute adaptation will be adapted and directed by Tyler Dobrowsky, who streamlined past touring production of The Tempest and Julius Caesar. The 10th annual educational touring production will travel to schools and community venues throughout the state of Florida from September 24 through November 24. There will also be a special performance for educators and press on Friday, September 27 at 6pm in the Cook Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

Get Your Passport Stamped at the Asolo for a Whimsical Romp Around the Globe

Asolo Repertory Theatre proudly presents the final production of its 60th season: AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS. This highly imaginative adaptation of Jules Verne's timeless story will be brought to life by the creators of Hetty Feather, adapted by Emmy® nominee Laura Eason (House of Cards, Sex with Strangers, Blue Night) and directed by Theresa Heskins (Snow Queen, 2017 UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People). Recommended for everyone 7+, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS previews June 6, opens June 7 and runs through June 23.

Asolo Repertory Theatre and The Sarasota Ballet proudly announce the installation of brand new seating in the Harold and Esther Mertz Theatre, the main performing space for Asolo Repertory Theatre and the home of The Sarasota Ballet. Located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, which is also home to the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, the exquisite Mertz Theatre is one of Sarasota's most populated and significant cultural venues.

Asolo Repertory Theatre proudly continues its 60th season with SWEENEY TODD: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It will be directed and choreographed by Peter Rothstein, who helmed the theatre's critically acclaimed 2018 production of Ragtime. Featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, a book by Hugh Wheeler and from an adaptation by Christopher Bond, this musical masterwork and global phenomenon previews May 1 - 3, opens May 4 and runs through June 1 in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

Asolo Repertory Theatre proudly presents THE CAKE, written by Bekah Brunstetter, the Emmy Award-winning writer and producer of the hit TV series This is Us. Directed by Lavina Jadhwani, this heartfelt new comedy shines a bright light on both sides of the marriage equality debate.

Syracuse Stage announced the shows that will make up the 2019/2020 season: six plays and musicals on subscription plus a special world premiere directed by TV, stage and film actor Taye Diggs. 

Asolo Rep continues its celebration of 60 years on stage with Tony Award-winner Michael Frayn's rip-roaringly hilarious play NOISES OFF, one of the most celebrated farces of all time. Directed by comedic Broadway veteran Don Stephenson, NOISES OFF previews March 20 and 21, opens March 22 and runs through April 20 in rotating repertory in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

Asolo Repertory Theatre will proudly present the world premiere of KNOXVILLE in spring 2020. This moving and innovative musical will feature lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty and will be adapted and directed by Frank Galati, reuniting the dynamic Tony Award-winning creative team behind Ragtime, one of the most beloved musicals of all time. KNOXVILLE is based on James Agee's Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiographical novel A Death in the Family and based, in part, on the play All The Way Home by Tad Mosel.  

Asolo Repertory Theatre proudly continues its 60th season with Lucas Hnath's A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2.  The 2017 Broadway premiere was nominated for 8 Tony Awards, including Best Play, and garnered a Best Actress Tony Award for Laurie Metcalf. Helmed by longtime Asolo Rep favorite Peter Amster, this hilariously imagined sequel to the Ibsen classic previews January 16 and 17, opens January 18 and runs through March 31 in rotating repertory in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

Asolo Repertory Theatre proudly continues its 60th season with Lucas Hnath's A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2.  The 2017 Broadway premiere was nominated for 8 Tony Awards, including Best Play, and garnered a Best Actress Tony Award for Laurie Metcalf. Helmed by longtime Asolo Rep favorite Peter Amster, this hilariously imagined sequel to the Ibsen classic previews January 16 and 17, opens January 18 and runs through March 31 in rotating repertory in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

Asolo Offers Sobering Drama in The Crucible

Asolo Repertory Theatre proudly presents the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner and Tony nominee for Best Play: SWEAT, penned by one of today's foremost playwrights, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage. Directed by Nicole A. Watson, this poignant new drama humanizes the U.S. labor crisis and its impact on Reading, Pennsylvania. SWEAT previews February 6 and 7, opens February 8 and runs through April 13 in rotating repertory in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts. 

Asolo Repertory Theatre proudly continues its 60th season with Lucas Hnath's A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2.  The 2017 Broadway premiere was nominated for 8 Tony Awards, including Best Play, and garnered a Best Actress Tony Award for Laurie Metcalf. Helmed by longtime Asolo Rep favorite Peter Amster, this hilariously imagined sequel to the Ibsen classic previews January 16 and 17, opens January 18 and runs through March 31 in rotating repertory in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.