Herzog Hit Comes to Historic Asolo Theater

SARASOTA — The play Time Magazine called "The best play of 2012, hands down" comes to town next month. Amy Herzog's 4000 Miles is a story of an elderly woman and her grandson, who overcome both physical distance and tremendous philosophical disparity to build a deep bond of family and friendship. Directed by Tea Alagić, it opens April 4 in the Historic Asolo Theater.

Leo, a 21-year-old, laid-back hippie, and his 91-year-old, Jewish, old-school liberal grandma, Vera, are 70 years apart in age but find common ground in this smart comedy/drama. After a 4,000 mile cross-country bicycling trip, Leo unexpectedly shows up at his grandma's rent-controlled Greenwich Village apartment in the middle of the night with his bike, a backpack and no plan for his future.

While he plans to crash for the night, he stays for weeks and, as roommates, Leo and Vera share their polarizing views on love, government, technology, life and family. Leo encourages Vera to venture outside of the apartment she rarely leaves, and Vera challenges Leo to reevaluate his perspective on the world and the people he loves most. As their relationship deepens, this endearing odd couple's friendship evolves into an extraordinary bond.

“As a parent, there is a particular structure that one must follow," said Alagić, "but as a grandparent there is this wonderfully freeing gap. 4000 Miles spotlights and celebrates that special connection that occurs within that generational gap. I’m really looking forward to working with Vera, who is actually based on playwright Herzog’s own grandma, and Leo, who is so seemingly different from his grandma at the start of the play. That contrast in characters is a director’s dream.”  

4000 Miles was a 2013 Pulitzer Prize finalist and 2012 Obie Award winner for Best New Play. Previews of Asolo's production will be held April 2 and 3. Opening night will be April 4 at 8 p.m. and the play will run through April 27 in the Historic Asolo Theater. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Asolo website.

Don't miss this season's final installment of Inside Asolo Rep on Wednesday, March 26 at 11 a.m. Facilitated by Asolo Rep's Literary Manager/Dramaturg Lauryn Sasso, this insightful event will feature 4000 Miles Director Tea Alagić, who also directed Asolo Rep's 2013 hit production of Venus in Fur. Ms. Alagić will be accompanied by another special guest from the production of  4000 Miles.

Tickets for Inside Asolo Rep are $5 for the general public and free for donors and Asolo Rep Guild members. For tickets visit www.asolorep.org.

CAST:
Benjamin Williamson:    Leo Joseph-Connell
Lois Markle:                      Vera Joseph
Maxey Whitehead:            Bec
Lisa Dring:                        Amanda