Michael Donald News

Compassion Theater Company, sponsored by Primary Research Group, will stage Ibsen's classic play A Doll's House, July 23-July 26 at Shetler Studios in Manhattan.

Asolo Repertory Theater celebrates the diva in each of us with the hilarious musical - Souvenir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins by Stephen Temperley. Real life Tony Award winning Broadway diva Judy Kaye (Phantom of the Opera & Mamma Mia!) makes a rare appearance in Sarasota in the lead role. Donald Corren (Torch Song Trilogy) plays her accompanist, the man who chronicles Florence's unlikely rise to cult status and unexpected success.

Back with Asolo Repertory Theatre for a second World Premiere production, critically acclaimed playwright Jason Wells tackles controversy and political intrigue with his new play Perfect Mendacity, opening in Sarasota on May 15, 2009.

Obie Award-winning playwright Craig Lucas ('Prelude to a Kiss,' 'Light in the Piazza') and internationally acclaimed composer EveBeglarian are the inaugural recipients of the Hermitage Artist Retreat's Greenfield Prize announced Hermitage Executive Director Bruce Rodgers.Lucas and Beglarian will accept their prizes in Sarasota at the GreenfieldPrize banquet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 at Michael's on East.

Asolo Repertory Theatre announces Tome' Cousin as Director/Choreographer for its 09-10 season production of Susan Stroman's Tony winning musical, Contact. Cousin performed in and helped to develop Contact as part of the original Lincoln Center ensemble, both off-Broadway and on, from 1999-2002. As Supervising Director for Susan Stroman Productions of Contact, he is the only person sanctioned by Stroman to direct the production.

Obie Award-winning playwright Craig Lucas ('Prelude to a Kiss,' 'Light in the Piazza') and internationally acclaimed composer EveBeglarian are the inaugural recipients of the Hermitage Artist Retreat's Greenfield Prize announced Hermitage Executive Director Bruce Rodgers.Lucas and Beglarian will accept their prizes in Sarasota at the GreenfieldPrize banquet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 at Michael's on East.

Playwright Jeffrey Hatcher's MURDERERS, takes the mainstage as Asolo Rep's ninth production this season - the fifth to open in repertory for 2009. The offbeat, killer comedy opens on March 13 and continues through May 23, 2009. Tickets are available through the Asolo Rep box office at (941) 351-8000, toll-free at (800) 361-8388, as well as online at www.asolo.org.

Michael Donald Edwards, Asolo Repertory Theatre's producing artistic director, announced today his selections for the 2009-2010 season of plays, his fourth season with the company. Asolo Rep's 51ST season kicks off in October with CONTACT, an exciting new musical produced by Asolo Rep in collaboration with the Sarasota Ballet. Other titles on the schedule are THE PERFUME SHOP, SEARCHING FOR EDEN: THE DIARIES OF ADAM AND EVE, THE LIFE OF GALILEO, HEARTS, MANAGING MAXINE, DANCING BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS: THE GINGER MUSICAL, and THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

Asolo Repertory Theatre's Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards and Managing Director Linda DiGabriele will announce the 2009-2010 season of plays on MONDAY, March 9, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. Greg Leaming, director of the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, will also announce his selections for the next Conservatory Season.

Playwright Jeffrey Hatcher's MURDERERS, takes the mainstage as Asolo Rep's ninth production this season - the fifth to open in repertory for 2009. The offbeat, killer comedy opens on March 13 and continues through May 23, 2009. Tickets are available through the Asolo Rep box office at (941) 351-8000, toll-free at (800) 361-8388, as well as online at www.asolo.org.

Asolo Repertory Theatre's Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards and Managing Director Linda DiGabriele will announce the 2009-2010 season of plays on MONDAY, March 9, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. Greg Leaming, director of the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, will also announce his selections for the next Conservatory Season.

Asolo Rep unveils the cast for the rest of our season at a Town Hall event on December 2, 2008 at 5:00 pm. Asolo Rep's Town Hall events have become a tradition in Sarasota where new and loyal audiences come together to meet the cast and creative teams of each production and to hear Asolo Rep Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards address the themes and highlights of each production and special events of the year.

Asolo Rep unveils the cast for the rest of our season at a Town Hall event on December 2, 2008 at 5:00 pm. Asolo Rep's Town Hall events have become a tradition in Sarasota where new and loyal audiences come together to meet the cast and creative teams of each production and to hear Asolo Rep Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards address the themes and highlights of each production and special events of the year.

Asolo Rep presents an innovative collaboration enhancing the art of learning. On the cusp of its 50th anniversary season, Asolo Rep is launching New Stages, is an extension of Asolo Rep's acclaimed Access to the Arts program that has been serving school children in the community for decades.

Asolo Repertory Theatre's Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards announces the full cast for the theatre's upcoming production of Barnum the musical.

Asolo Rep presents an innovative collaboration enhancing the art of learning. On the cusp of its 50th anniversary season, Asolo Rep is launching New Stages, is an extension of Asolo Rep's acclaimed Access to the Arts program that has been serving school children in the community for decades.

Asolo Repertory Theatre's Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards announces the creative team for the theatre's upcoming production of Barnum the musical and names Brad Oscar in the title role.

BroadwayWorld.com has learned the the Jill Santoriello penned A Tale of Two Cities, which played the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida in the Fall of 2007 will open on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on September 18, 2008.

Producers of the new big-budget musical A Tale of Two Cities, which had its world premiere in Sarasota, Florida in October 2007, reportedly do not have plans on dropping James Barbour from his lead role - despite his recent guilty-plea for sexually-abusing a minor.

Currently making its world premiere pre-Broadway debut at Sarasota's Asolo Repertory Theatre, Jill Santoriello's musical epic A Tale of Two Cities, is playing to sold-out audiences through November 18, after opening October 26 & 27. BroadwayWorld.com brings you special sneak preview of this sweeping production!