Michael Donald News

Asolo Repertory Theatre's sizzling summer production of I LOVED, I LOST, I MADE SPAGHETTI opens Wednesday, May 21 at 8pm and will run through Sunday, June 15 in Asolo Rep's Cook Theatre. Starring Antoinette LaVecchia, who originated the role of Giulia at TheaterWorks in Connecticut in 2012, previews for the 2012 Broadwayworld.com winner for Best Original/New Work will be Sunday, May 18 at 8pm and Tuesday, May 20 at 7:30pm. The play will be directed by Rob Ruggiero (Asolo Rep's Show Boat). Asolo Rep's production transfers from a highly successful April 2014 run at George Street Playhouse in New Jersey where it received both critical and public acclaim.

The Hermitage Artist Retreat and the Philadelphia-based Greenfield Foundation have presented Nilo Cruz with the 2014 Greenfield Prize in drama at a celebration dinner in Sarasota, FL.

On the heels of its celebrated production of The Grapes of Wrath, Asolo Rep's Producing Artistic Director/Director of The Grapes of Wrath Michael Donald Edwards and the play's Tony Award-winning adapter Frank Galati will be featured speakers in a special panel entitled Steinbeck on Stage, presented by Smithsonian Associates and the National Steinbeck Center. Select scenes from Asolo Rep's production of The Grapes of Wrath will be performed by Asolo Rep actors Christian Conn (Tom Joad), Peggy Roeder (Ma Joad), and Andrew Sellon (Jim Casy). The panel will be Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 7pm at the National Museum of Natural History Baird Auditorium in Washington, D.C.

In celebration of the richly diverse American melting pot, Asolo Rep will host its second annual documentary theatre project Faces of Change: Growing America. The original play will explore the experiences of local immigrants - their arduous journeys, daily struggles and triumphs, and what it truly means to be an American immigrant in 2014. Faces of Change will be tonight and tomorrow, March 21 and 22 at 7:30pm in Asolo Rep's Cook Theatre.

On Tuesday, March 18, 2014, Asolo Repertory Theatre announced its 2014-2015 season and the third season of its ambitious five-year American Character Project, an in-depth exploration of the soul of this country's people, past and present. Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards and FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training Director/Asolo Rep Associate Artistic Director Rep Greg Leaming presented both season line-ups to more than 350 patrons in Asolo Rep's Mertz Theatre.

Be the first to hear about Asolo Rep's 2014-15 season! Asolo Repertory Theatre, and the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training will announce their exciting 2014-15 season today, March 18, 2014 at 3pm in the Mertz Theatre.

Be among the first to hear the innovative new plays penned by today's freshest playwrights. Beginning Sunday, March 23 and continuing each consecutive Sunday through April 13, Asolo Rep will present its fifth annual Unplugged play festival. The 2014 festival will feature four specially selected new plays. All four performances will begin at 7pm in Asolo Rep's rehearsal hall, located at 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, in Sarasota. Festival passes are $21 and include admission to all four plays. Tickets for each individual reading are $7. Festival passes and tickets are available by visiting Asolo Rep's Box Office, located in the lobby of the theatre, or by calling the box office at 941.351.8000 or 800.361.8388, or online at www.asolorep.org.

In celebration of the richly diverse American melting pot, Asolo Rep will host its second annual documentary theatre project Faces of Change: Growing America. The original play will explore the experiences of local immigrants - their arduous journeys, daily struggles and triumphs, and what it truly means to be an American immigrant in 2014. Faces of Change will be March 21 and 22 at 7:30pm in Asolo Rep's Cook Theatre. Each performance will be followed by a question and answer session with the cast and creators. Admission is free, however tickets are required. Tickets are available by visiting Asolo Rep's Box Office, located in the lobby of the theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, by visiting www.asolorep.org or calling 947-351-8000 or 800.361.8388.

'Inside Asolo Rep: The Grapes of Wrath' will be held today, February 26, 2014 at 11 a.m.

Asolo Rep continues its 2013-2014 season with Frank Galati's triumphant adaptation of John Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel THE GRAPES OF WRATH, directed by Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards. Frank Galati's adaptation premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre of Chicago in 1988. The Broadway production won the Tony award for Best Play and Best Direction of a Play in 1990 and was nominated for six additional Tony Awards. Galati also won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director in 1990 and the play was nominated for four additional Drama Desk Awards. Previews will be March 12 - 13, opening night will be on March 14 at 8pm and the play will run through April 19.

Asolo Repertory Theatre's 2013-14 season will go out with the booming sounds of BARITONES UNBOUND: Celebrating the UnCommon Voice of the Common Man. The classic baritone voice is back and bolder than ever in this momentous musical event featuring three dynamic singers. The show's preview will be Friday, June 6, opening night will be Saturday, June 7 at 8pm and the show will run through Sunday, June 29 in the Mertz Theatre. Creator and three-time Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch will star in this charming musical journey, which was developed at ArtsEmerson with Director of Artistic Programs David Dower, and had its world premiere at Boston's Paramount Center Mainstage last October.

'Inside Asolo Rep: The Grapes of Wrath' will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 11 a.m.

Be the first to hear about Asolo Rep's 2014-15 season! Asolo Repertory Theatre, and the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training will announce their exciting 2014-15 seasons on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at 3pm in the Mertz Theatre. Asolo Rep's Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards and FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training Director/Asolo Rep Associate Artistic Director Greg Leaming will lead the presentation. This will replace the previously scheduled Season Announcement event on Monday, March 17, 2014. The Season Announcement event is free and open to the public, however tickets are required. Asolo Rep subscribers and donors at the Angels level or higher will receive preferred seating.

'Thicker Than Water: Exploring the American Family,' a special interactive evening of live theatre and discussion, will explore these questions as well as the second season of Asolo Rep's American Character Project. The one-night-only event will be held on Monday, March 3, 2014 at 7pm in Asolo Rep's Cook Theatre, located at 5555 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243.

VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE, the hysterically twisted, Chekhov-inspired 2013 Tony Award winner for Best Play, continues Asolo Rep's 2013-14 season. Directed by Peter Amster, previews for this laugh-out-loud comedy will be held January 22-23, opening night will be tonight, January 24 at 8pm, and the show will run through April 13.

The politically divided and emotionally stunted Wyeth family puts the 'fun' in dysfunctional in Jon Robin Baitz's OTHER DESERT CITIES. Opening night will be tonight, January 17 at 8pm, and the show will run through February 27.

VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE, the hysterically twisted, Chekhov-inspired 2013 Tony Award winner for Best Play, continues Asolo Rep's 2013-14 season. Directed by Peter Amster, previews for this laugh-out-loud comedy will be held January 22-23, opening night will be on Friday, January 24 at 8pm, and the show will run through April 13.

The politically divided and emotionally stunted Wyeth family puts the 'fun' in dysfunctional in Jon Robin Baitz's OTHER DESERT CITIES. Previews for this ferocious production will be held January 15 - 16, opening night will be on January 17 at 8pm, and the show will run through February 27. FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training Director/Associate Artistic Director of Asolo Rep Greg Leaming will be at the helm of this five-time 2012 Tony Award-nominated production. OTHER DESERT CITIES, a 2012 Pulitzer Prize Finalist, had its Off Broadway premiere in January 2011 and transferred to Broadway in November 2011.

Asolo Repertory Theatre opens its 2013-14 rep season with PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME! Directed by Academy Award nominee and two-time Tony Award winner Frank Galati, previews for the show will be held January 7 - 9 and the production will run from January 10 - April 12.

Asolo Repertory Theatre will open its 2013-2014 season with SHOW BOAT, based on the novel by Edna Ferber, music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. This winner of the 1994 Tony Award for best revival features a score of timeless classics, including 'Ol' Man River, 'Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man' and 'Make Believe.' Previews will be held tonight, November 12 - 14 and the show will run from November 15 - December 29. Opening night will be held on Friday, November 15 at 8pm.