Asolo Rep Unveils 2014/15 Season

BRADENTON – The Asolo Repertory Theatre announced its 2014-2015 season this week, the third of its ambitious five-season American Character Project, an in-depth exploration of the soul of this country's people, past and present. With eight main stage productions, the 2014-15 Asolo Rep season schedule will follow the same successful format as the 13-14 season, with four plays in rotating rep book-ended by a fall and spring musical. 

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.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's timeless musical South Pacific will open the season and run through the holidays. Asolo Rep's never-before-seen production will be directed by Rob Ruggiero, director of Asolo Rep's 2013 smash hit, Show Boat. The Pulitzer Prize Winner for Drama and multi-Tony Award winner features some of the most unforgettable music of all time, including "Bali Ha'i," "Some Enchanted Evening," and "There is Nothin' Like a Dame."

Asolo Rep will launch its rep season in January with Thornton Wilder's beloved comedy The Matchmaker, which was adapted into the hit musical Hello, Dolly! The season will continue with David Lindsay-Abaire's 2011 Tony Award nominee for best play, Good People, a humor-filled drama set in an impoverished neighborhood in South Boston. The fourth play of the season will be Maxwell Anderson's Pulitzer Prize-winning political satire Both Your Houses, directed by Tony Award-winner Frank Galati.

In March, Our Betters, W. Somerset Maugham's provocative Downton Abbey-esque play about beautiful, young American women immersing themselves in London society will be directed by Michael Donald Edwards. In April, Asolo Rep will celebrate the momentous music of living legend Jerry Herman (Hello, Dolly!, Mame, La Cage aux Folles) in the world premiere of It Only Takes a Moment, an all-new, fully staged revue of his heartwarming songs. The season will also feature a play in the Historic Asolo Theater, title to be announced. The summer musical will also be announced at a later date.

"Next season we will crack open and re-explore some of the most iconic pieces of American theatre, but we are also thrilled to introduce our patrons to exciting contemporary pieces," said Edwards. From a brand new musical revue of the great Jerry Herman's songs to a reimagined production of the enchantingly exquisite South Pacific, we are immensely excited for the 2014-15 season and the third season of our American Character Project." 

The 2014-15 season will also feature Asolo Rep's sixth annual Unplugged new play festival in the spring.

Season subscriptions for the 2014-15 season are on sale now and available by visiting the Asolo Rep Box Office, located in the lobby of the theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, by calling 941.351.8000 or 800.361.8388 or online at www.asolorep.org. Single tickets will go on sale in September 2014.