Asolo Rep Announces Evening With Frank Wildhorn 12/21

Asolo Repertory Theatre today announced adding a new title to its Asolo Rep Extras series, An Intimate Evening with Frank Wildhorn & Friends. The starry concert features composer Frank Wildhorn at the piano along with some of Broadway's finest voices. Further details will be announced soon. The show, to be held on December 21st at 8 p.m. in the Mertz Theatre, replaces the Holiday concert originally scheduled. Details and prices will soon be released latter this month. Call the box office for more information at 941-351-8000; toll free 800-361-8366, or go online at www.asolorep.org.

Returning to his musical roots in Florida where his production of SVENGALI appeared on the Asolo Rep stage in 1992, Wildhorn comes back to Sarasota for this concert after a great run of BONNIE AND CLYDE and as rehearsals for Wonderland start at the Straz Center in Tampa. Multi-Grammy and Tony Award nominated composer/producer Frank Wildhorn's works span the worlds of popular, theatrical, and classical music. In 1999, Frank became the first American composer in 22 years to have three shows running simultaneously on Broadway: JEKYLL & HYDE, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, THE CIVIL WAR. Also for Broadway: DRACULA and VICTOR/VICTORIA. Frank produced HARLEM SONG the famed Apollo Theatre. International: CYRANO, THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, CARMEN, RUDOLF, MITSUKO, NEVER SAY GOODBYE, CAMILLE CLAUDEL, and TEARS OF HEAVEN.

Television: produced Broadway's Best and Linda Eder's Christmas concert special, both for Bravo TV. Frank created and ran Atlantic Theatre, a division of Atlantic Records. He currently has his own label deal (Soul Bear Records) with Sony Masterworks. International recording partnership, MWB (Music Without Borders), with MG-Sound/Vienna. Frank served as music director for the Goodwill Games in New York City (1998). He wrote the song "Gold", the opening number for the 2002 Winter Olympics, sung by Linda Eder. Received the prestigious Charles Dickens Award from USC, where there is a scholarship under his name. Over 65 million records sold: Whitney Houston's international #1 hit "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?", Natalie Cole, Kenny Rogers, Sammy Davis, Jr., Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews, Hootie & the Blowfish, The Moody Blues, Johnny Mathis, Linda Eder, FrEddie Jackson, Trisha Yearwood, Stacy Lattisaw, Molly Hatchet, Blues Traveler, Trace Adkins, Patti LaBelle, Jeffrey Osborne, BeBe Winans, Stanley Turrentine, Amy Grant, Anthony Warlow, to name a few. Associate artist at the Alley Theatre in Houston. Upcoming projects: Havana, Casanova, Excalibur, Mata Hari, Ali, Zelda, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and Wonderland (opening on Broadway in April 2011). Father to Justin Samuel and Jake Ryan.

Asolo Repertory Theatre is Florida's premier professional theatre and one of the most important cultural forces in the Southeastern United States. As a center for theatrical excellence, Asolo Rep crafts the highest quality productions of classical, contemporary and newly commissioned work all performed in the rarest form of rotating repertory. Featuring an accomplished resident company - complemented by distinguished guest artists - Asolo Rep offers audiences a unique and dynamic theatre experience. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards and Managing Director Linda DiGabriele, this world-class institution has taken bold steps toward the future, building landmark partnerships and collaborations which will add to its success for generations to come.

Asolo Rep Extras is a special series of one or two performance shows featuring some of the most talented acts in the U.S. The shows enhance Asolo Rep's 2010-11 season of full run productions already announced.

"Asolo Rep is not simply a theatre; we are a theatre district with a truly staggering range of shows which promises something for everyone. The 2010-2011 season is already filled with ambitious productions that will be developed and produced by Asolo Rep; and provide a rich, varied theatrical experience to audiences. Asolo Rep Extras has a different vibe. We're bringing in some very entertaining artists that appeal to an even wider audience, perhaps people who've never experienced theatre before. This kind of diversity and outreach is at the core of our mission. We're also keen to develop relationships with as many different artists as possible and each of these could ignite further ideas and future projects." - Producing Artistic Director, Michael Donald Edwards.

December 21, 2010, 8 p.m.
An Intimate Evening with Frank Wildhorn & Friends
(Replaces holiday concert)

December 28-29, 2010, 5 & 8 p.m.
ONE- MAN STAR WARS TRILOGY featuring Charles Ross

Valentines, February 14, 2011, 8 p.m.
THE BEST OF BROADWAY, a concert with Barbara Russell and Ron Sharpe

April 17-18, 2011, 4 and 8 p.m.
Second City presents FAIR AND UNBALANCED

May 9, 2011, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.
John Epperson as Lypskinka as Joan Crawford in THE PASSION OF THE CRAWFORD

Asolo Theatre, Inc. (AKA: Asolo Repertory Theatre) is funded in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and is paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice and the Shubert Foundation, Inc. Funding is also received through the efforts of various support groups and the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations.