Asolo Rep presents INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
By Katie Forgette
Directed by Céline Rosenthal
March 15 – April 22
(SARASOTA, FLA) — Asolo Repertory Theatre proudly presents Katie Forgette’s INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP as the fourth and final play in its 2023 repertory season. This wild and tender comedy directed by Asolo Rep Associate Artistic Director Céline Rosenthal explores the foolishness of first love, the pains of Catholic guilt, and ultimately, the power of family. INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP begins previews on March 15, opens on March 17, and runs through April 22, in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
“I couldn't stop laughing when I read INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP, said Asolo Rep Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards. “It’s a really fun, poignant play about the importance of family, and I saw my own upbringing in this story of a particular family that's truly about all of us.”
Audiences will travel back to the era of bellbottoms and The Partridge Family in the uproarious and inspiring INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP. For one week in 1973, the O’Shea family faces a crisis of biblical proportions when a simple conversation about the birds and the bees threatens to turn into a parish-wide scandal. With their good name at stake, the quick-witted women of the O’Shea household must work together to preserve their honor and prove that nothing is stronger than a family bond.
Asolo Rep audiences most recently saw Rosenthal’s work in last season’s Grand Horizons. Other directing credits with Asolo Rep include Camelot, We Need A Little Christmas, The Lifespan of a Fact, A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest. They are a Tony®-nominated producer who has developed new work with Musical Theatre Factory, NYMF, Kidoons, Tamasha and National Queer Theatre. Rosenthal also created and is artistic director of Ground Floor, Asolo Rep’s new work development program.
“I’m always drawn to stories with funny, strong women at their center,” Rosenthal said. “The particular genius of this play is its exploration of the inner workings of parent-child and sibling relationships in all of their glorious, messy hilarity. Katie’s writing is so smart and deeply relatable. There’s lots of great inside humor for Catholics, but everyone with a family of any kind will see themselves reflected on our stage.”
The design team for INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP includes Riw Rakkulchon (Scenic Design), Dee Sullivan (Costume Design), Driscoll Otto (Lighting Design), Sharath Patel (Sound Design), Michelle Hart (Hair/Wig & Make-Up Design) and Derek A. Graham (Original Compositions).
The cast features Lise Bruneau as Josephine “Jo” O’Shea, Willa Carpenter as Becky O’Shea, Suzanne Grodner as Theresa “Terri” Carmichael, Erin O’Connor as Linda O’Shea, Jay Russell as Mike O’Shea/Father Lovett/Betty Heckenbach and Martha Velez-Reid as Grandmother O’Shea.
The understudies are Macaria Chaparro Martinez, Allie McLaughlin, Kathryn Parks, Sydney Story and Brian Zane.
INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP contains mature content and language.
INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP runs March 15 – April 22. Previews are March 15 – 16. Visit asolorep.org for a full performance schedule. Orchestra and Mezzanine seats start at $65 and Balcony seats start at $33. Tickets are available now in person at Asolo Rep's Box Office at 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, by phone at 941.351.8000 or 800.361.8388, or online at asolorep.org.
CAST
(in alphabetical order)
Lise Bruneau*..........................................................................Josephine “Jo” O’Shea
Willa Carpenter......................................................................................Becky O’Shea
Suzanne Grodner*.............................................................Theresa “Terri” Carmichael
Erin O’Connor..........................................................................................Linda O’Shea
Jay Russell*..........................................Mike O’Shea/Father Lovett/Betty Heckenbach
Martha Velez-Reid.......................................................................Grandmother O’Shea
*****
Macaria Chaparro Martinez, Allie McLaughlin, Kathryn Parks,
Sydney Story, Brian Zane……..Understudies
*****
Nia Sciarretta*………..……..………….….. Production Stage Manager
Kristin Loughry*………………………………..Assistant Stage Manager
*Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
DESIGN TEAM
Scenic Designer…………...……………..................…….. Riw Rakkulchon
Costume Designer………………………………………...……. Dee Sullivan
Lighting Designer……...………..……...………………....…….. Driscoll Otto
Sound Design……………….……………………..……..……. Sharath Patel
Hair/Wig & Make-Up Design……………………………………Michelle Hart
Original Compositions…………………………….………..Derek A. Graham
ENHANCED EXPERIENCES
Tuesday Talkbacks (FREE)
March 28
Attendees can enhance their experience with this post-show discussion.
IllumiNation
Wednesday, March 29, 7:30 p.m.
Pre-show reception and post-show community conversation
For series package information and single performance tickets, contact the box office.
IllumiNation explores the social, political and cultural themes threaded throughout the show, while examining issues of race, gender, identity and cultural intersection.
The IllumiNation series is made possible, in part, with support from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Koski Family Foundation and Morton’s Gourmet Market & Catering.
PlayDate
Saturday, April 15, 2 p.m.
These show-based workshops for young people offer a childcare option for adults attending a mainstage performance.
OUT@AsoloRep
Wednesday, April 19
Pre-show reception
For subscription and ticket information, contact the box office.
OUT@AsoloRep is Sarasota’s premier cultural event connecting local LGBTQIA+ communities with fantastic theatre.
OUT@AsoloRep is sponsored by Empath Tidewell Foundation, CAN Community Health, Morton’s Gourmet Market & Catering and Project Pride.
*All activities are subject to change or modification based on CDC recommendations.
SPONSORS
Asolo Rep is able to present INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP because of the generosity of its sponsors. The corporate sponsors for INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP are Energy Today and The Observer.
Asolo Rep’s 2022-23 Major Season Sponsors are Florida State University, the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the Huisking Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, the Koski Family Foundation, Designing Women Boutique/Groundworks and The Exchange. Asolo Rep is also sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts. Asolo Rep’s artistic programs are paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues.
ABOUT ASOLO REP
Now in its 64th 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 10 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 community programming engage audiences and ensure its lasting legacy for future generations. Visit asolorep.org to learn more.