Casting Announced for Asolo Rep's MORNING AFTER GRACE

Asolo Rep continues its repertory season withMORNING AFTER GRACE, a poignant comedy about new love for the older set. Penned by playwright Carey Crim, a fresh voice for the American stage, and directed by Asolo Rep Associate Artist Peter Amster (Asolo Rep: Born Yesterday, Living on Love, The Matchmaker, and more), MORNING AFTER GRACE previews January 17 and 18, opens January 19 and runs in rotating repertory through March 4 in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

The morning after a funeral, Abigail and Angus awake from a whirlwind, booze-fueled one-night-stand on Angus' couch. And so begins this unconventional comedy, set in a not-so-distant Florida retirement community. As Abigail and Angus uncover the meaning of their hook-up and future, Abigail's neighbor Ollie, a retired baseball pro, struggles to find a way to make sense of his past and the secret he's hidden for decades. Hilarious and heart-warming, MORNING AFTER GRACE reminds us that it is never too late to rediscover love, and yourself, again.

MORNING AFTER GRACE premiered at the Purple Rose Theatre Company in 2016. Asolo Rep's production of the play has provided an exciting opportunity for Carey Crim to be in rehearsals and work with Peter Amster to hone and fine tune the play even further.

"Carey Crim, an exciting new playwright for Asolo Rep, and Peter Amster, a much-beloved associate artist, could not be a better match," said Asolo Rep Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards. "They both possess this instinctual understanding of great comedy and its ability to produce much more than laughter, but also empathy and understanding. MORNING AFTER GRACE is one of those rare comedies that uses its humor to reveal real truths about love, aging and relationships."

Catherine Smitko plays Abigail. Smitko, who also plays the Nurse in Shakespeare in Love at Asolo Rep this season, is a Chicago-based actor who has performed at The Goodman Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Marriott Theatre, and more. Jack Wetherall plays Angus. Wetherall, who plays Henslowe in Shakespeare in Love, appeared on Broadway in the title role in The Elephant Man. He also played Vic in Queer as Folk on Showtime. David Alan Anderson rounds out the cast as Ollie. Anderson's credits include more than 20 years at Indiana Repertory Theatre, as well as the Guthrie, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Cleveland Play House and more.

Peter Amster, who celebrates his tenth season as an associate artist at Asolo Rep, has previously directed Born Yesterday [2017], Living on Love [2016], The Matchmaker [2015], Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike [2014], and more at the theatre. His work has been seen at Steppenwolf, The Goodman, The Court, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Utah Shakespeare Festival, ACT, Syracuse Stage, Geva Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, American Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and more.

"When I pick up a script I've never read before and start to laugh on page one, it's usually a good sign," said Amster. "With MORNING AFTER GRACE, it was giggle at first sight. At first it read like a very well-written sitcom from an earlier age, but as the play unfolded I started to fall in love with all three characters, especially when they began describing their experiences of being 'of a certain age.'"

Award-winning playwright Carey Crim's newest play, Never Not Once, received the 2017 Chambers Award. Her critically acclaimed play Conviction, premiered at Bay Street Theater, starring Sarah Paulson, Garret Dillahunt, and Elizabeth Reaser. Her other works also include Growing Pretty, Wake, and Some Couples May...

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