Asolo Rep to Host Behind-the-Scenes Events for THE GREAT SOCIETY and THE ORIGINALIST

Get rare insights into the artistic process, hear directly from the people responsible for producing Asolo Repertory Theatre's THE GREAT SOCIETY and THE ORIGINALIST, and engage in stimulating discussion inspired by the plays' themes and issues.

The January 25th panel features Asolo Rep actors Ed Gero (Justice Antonin Scalia, THE ORIGINALIST) and A.K. Murtadha (Rev. DR. Martin Luther King, Jr., THE GREAT SOCIETY), and Directing Fellows Natalie Novacek (THE GREAT SOCIETY) and Celine Rosenthal (THE ORIGINALIST). Guests are invited to arrive early to enjoy coffee and pastries in the lobby.

MEET THE PANELISTS:

Edward Gero* (Antonin Scalia, THE ORIGINALIST) is the recipient of four Helen Hayes awards and 16 nominations, including Justice Scalia. Other: Mark Rothko - RED, Goodman Theatre/Arena Stage; Gloucester (King Lear) with Stacy Keach, Goodman Theatre/Shakespeare Theatre Company; Richard Nixon (Nixon's Nixon), Salieri (Amadeus), Roundhouse Theatre; Scrooge (A Christmas Carol), Ford's Theatre; Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd), Signature Theatre. 75 roles since 1983 with Shakespeare Theatre Company, most recently King - Henry IV with Stacy Keach. Film and TV: House of Cards, Turn: Washington's Spies, Striking Distance and Die Hard II. Professor of Theater - George Mason University; 2015 Lunt-Fontanne Fellow.

A.K. MURTADHA* (Rev. DR. Martin Luther King, Jr., THE GREAT SOCIETY) has enjoyed various classic and contemporary roles in regional and repertory theatres. He joined Asolo Rep last season as MLK in All the Way and Dr. Prentice in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. He most recently played Macduff in Macbeth at the Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara. TV/Film credits include NCIS: LA, Raising the Bar, The Unit, Medium, Numb3rs, and the horror movie 8989 Redstone (Amazon). Awards include Best Actor - New Orleans Short film festival - In the Wind; NAACP Award: Best Ensemble - All My Sons. (MFA - UC San Diego) www.akmurtadha.com

NATALIE NOVACEK (Directing Fellow, THE GREAT SOCIETY; BORN YESTERDAY) is a freelance director based in Minneapolis, MN. Her intimate productions have garnered critical acclaim for their precise balance of humor and heart. She received her M.F.A. in Directing from the University of Texas at Austin and her B.A. in Theatre Arts from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She is an Associate Member of the Stage Director and Choreographers Society. www.nnovacek.com

Celine Rosenthal (Directing Fellow, THE ORIGINALIST; THE LITTLE FOXES) is thrilled to be working with Asolo Rep this season. Celine is a freelance director and teacher based in New York City. She is an NYU Tisch alum, Tony Nominated Producer (Leap of Faith, Seminar), and graduate of The New School for Drama's MFA Directing program. She is a founding member of Neela Theatre Project in Mumbai, and her work has been seen at NYMF, New York City Center, MMAC, 54 Below, and 59E59.

The event will be held on Wednesday, January 25. Refreshments: 10am. Panel Discussion: 11am. At FSU Center for the Performing Arts, Cook Theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243.

Panel discussion tickets are just $5 for the general public and are free for all donors and Asolo Rep Guild members. To reserve your tickets, call the Asolo Rep Box Office at 941.351.8000 or visit www.asolorep.org.

Now in its 58th season, Asolo Repertory Theatre is recognized as one of the premier professional theatres in America and one of the largest in the Southeastern United States. One of the few select theatres in the nation that performs in true rotating repertory, Asolo Rep's highly skilled Acting Company and extensive craftsmanship bring to life this unique performance method that gives audiences the opportunity to see multiple productions in the span of a few days. Asolo Rep presents up to 15 productions each season including contemporary and classic works and provocative musical theatre experiences. A theatre district in and of itself, Asolo Rep is committed to expanding its reach into the community, furthering its collaboration with the best theatre artists working in the industry today and cultivating new artists through its affiliation with the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards and Managing Director Linda DiGabriele, Asolo Rep's ambitious theatrical offerings and ground-breaking education and outreach programming engage audiences and ensure its lasting legacy for future generations.