Asolo Repertory Theatre - Performing Arts Sarasota
This historic 500 seat facility was originallly built as an opera house in Scotland. Now, part of the Ringling complex. The theatre itself was the first home of what was to become the Asolo Repertory Theatre.
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Revel in the Treasure that is Asolo
January 13, 2012
Sarasota's professional repertory theatre began as a summer workshop for faculty member of FSU. The original theatre - seating 500, was originally built in Scotland as an opera theatre. Ringling purchased it and moved it to Sarasota.
The Mertz Theatre, as the original structure is known, has been supplanted by a newer and larger facility - the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
Tours and some limited productions at the Mertz Theatre are conducted Wednesday thru Saturday from October to May. Admission is free. You can go backstage and explore the costume shop and other areas of this historic theatre.
Asolo Repertory Theatre
The term Asolo originates from the small Italian village in NE Italy - near Treviso, and was applied to the 18th century theatre purchased by John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in the 1950s. Inside this theatre, an acting company formed by the Florida State University (FSU) faculty started a summer series of plays under the umbrella name of Asolo Theatre Festival in 1960. This later became known as the Asolo Theatre Company.
The Asolo Theatre Festival was warmly welcomed by the Sarasota community and the theatre group developed into the first State Theatre of Florida. It metamorphosized quickly into a year round theatre company. Asolo also took its place as a member of the League of Resident Thetres (LORT).
From November to June, the Asolo Rep Acting Company performances include a rotating repertoire covering classics to recent Broadway shows at the 500 seat Mertz Theatre. This theatre is a wonderfully restored 1903 opera house that was originally found in Dunfermline, Scotland and serves as the primary theatre for the professional Asolo Rep acting company. Asolo consists of award-winning actors and well known scenic and costume design, and promises to offer an unforgettable experience. For theatre buffs, as many as four different plays may be viewed in just one weekend.
The Asolo collaborates with the FSU School of Theatre to offer guidance to the MFA acting program - the popular FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training.
After outgrowing the Ringling's Historic Asolo Theatre, the acting company and its audience moved to the FSU Center for the Performing Arts. The company has enjoyed considerable success at this venue.
The Cook Theatre is a contemporary venue with seating for 161 that was built to offer an intimate connection between the actors and the audience. This theatre is the primary acting space for the FSU/Asolo Conservatory and Asolo Rep shows with small casting.
In addition, the historic Asolo Theatre is the singular 18th century European theatre in the U.S. and has opened again at the Ringling Museum Visitors Pavilion. This theatre hosts an Asolo Rep and a Conservatory performance each season. The performance space is described as an Italian jewel-box theatre and is truly magnificent.
Currently, the acting company takes the name of Asolo Repertory Theatre with the name revealing the company's function and role. Essentially the Asolo may be defined as an acting company that produces high quality pro theatre in rotating repertory that is well known around the world. The rotating repertory remains as a rare performance method that offers challenges for everyone who participates in it, particularly the actors. Previously, this performance style was the shared dream among several regional theatres.
As it has done in the past, the Asolo Rep continues to perform in rotation that includes a different play almost every night of the week. During the season, as many as 40 actors exchange roles to put on nine plays. Sarasota's cultural persona is all the more richer because of the Asolo Rep since it has perfected the art of rotating repertory. And there are very few acting companies that can accomplish this feat.
5555 North Tamiami Trail (US 41)
Sarasota, Florida 34243
(941) 351-8000
http://www.asolo.org