Cast Announcement! All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914
ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE ANNOUNCES CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM FOR ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914
(Sarasota, FL) – Asolo Repertory Theatre, the eminent theatre on the Cultural Coast, in partnership with The Ringling, announces the cast and creative team for the Sarasota Premiere of All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914. The a cappella holiday musical opens to previews on December 4 and will run through December 22 at The Historic Asolo Theater located on The Ringling campus.
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 is written by Asolo Rep’s Producing Artistic Director Peter Rothstein, with Vocal Arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach. The Western Front. Christmas. A German soldier sets down his rifle and steps into No Man’s Land, singing “Silent Night”. Thus begins an extraordinary night of fellowship, music, and peace told in the words and the songs of the men who lived it. The New Yorker raves, “A heartbreaking tribute to the men, who, in defiance of their commanders had the courage to affirm their common humanity.” After acclaimed, award-winning runs Off Broadway and across North America, Rothstein’s salute to heroes of The Great War makes its long-awaited Sarasota debut.
“The heroes of the story of the Christmas Truce were the foot soldiers, the lowest of the ranks, and yet their names never appeared in any history books. This is one of the reasons why I chose to anchor the play with their actual words, taken from letters, journals, and poetry,” stated Peter Rothstein, playwright and director of the production. “The show is also told through music and the songs they sang on that calm, cold Christmas night.”
THE CAST (In Alphabetical Order)
SASHA ANDREEV proudly returns to Asolo Repertory Theatre with All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914. Previous Asolo Rep credits include Twelve Angry Men: A New Musical, Intimate Apparel, Inherit the Wind and Ragtime. He has also performed this show at Theatre Latté Da, on tour, Off-Broadway and in the PBS National Broadcast. Regional credits include Guthrie Theater, Repertory Theater of St. Louis, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Mixed Blood Theater, History Theatre, and Theatre de la Jeune Lune. On screen, Sasha recently appeared in A Taste of Love (Hallmark Channel) and Stranger Things (Netflix). He’s been seen as host of Curb Appeal (HGTV) and Operation Build (A&E), and in numerous commercials and films.
PHINEHAS BYNUM is excited for his Asolo Repertory Theatre debut and is honored to lift the words and songs of those who have gone before us. Phinehas has previously worked with Peter Rothstein and Theater Latté Da in Candide, All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, Christmas at the Local, and the
NEXT Festival (new works). Other Twin Cities credits include Minnesota Opera, Artistry Theater, and Skylark Opera.
BENJAMIN DUTCHER is delighted to return to Asolo Repertory Theatre, having previously performed in the 2018 and 2019 seasons in Ragtime and Sweeney Todd. Previous engagements include work with Theater Latté Da, Artistry Theater, Frank Theatre, Trademark Theater, Six Points Theater, Out of the Box Opera, Skylark Opera, Mill City Summer Opera, St. Croix Valley Opera, and Minnesota Opera. Most recently, he played Macheath in Opera Columbus’s The Threepenny Opera. Benjamin was a part of the Drama Desk Award-winning Cast of All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 presented Off-Broadway at the Sheen Center in NYC, and especially loves being a dad.
DANIEL GRECO is a Twin Cities based performer, voice teacher, and songwriter and is thrilled to be making his Asolo Repertory Theatre debut with All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, with which he has performed on two national tours. Other credits include productions and new work initiatives with Theater Latté Da, Nautilus Music-Theater, and Minnesota Opera. In addition to maintaining a private studio Daniel serves on the voice faculties of University of St. Thomas and Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival where he also supervises the vocal pedagogy fellowship and directs musical theater. He is a graduate of St. Olaf College and NYU.
BEN JOHNSON is thrilled to be making his Asolo Repertory Theatre debut and is honored to return for his ninth year in All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, including the Drama Desk Award-winning Off-Broadway production. Ben lives in Minneapolis with his family and continues to perform locally with Theater Latté Da, Artistry, MN Opera, and Chanhassen Dinner Theaters. Recently, he played Candide in Candide and Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden and has been seen making his assistant directorial debut in Theater Latté Da’s production of La Bohème alongside Director, Peter Rothstein.
RILEY MCNUTT returns for Asolo Repertory Theater’s production of All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, having been previously seen at Asolo Rep in Twelve Angry Men: A New Musical. Previously performing in productions of All is Calm Off-Broadway, national tours as well as PBS. Most recently, he was seen in Alice in Wonderland at The Children’s Theater Company. Additional regional credits include Theater Latté Da’s Next to Normal, A Little Night Music, Ragtime, and Hello Dolly! The Ordway Theater’s Beauty and the Beast, Minnesota Orchestra’s Carousel, Artistry Theater’s Phantom, Les Misérables, Cabaret, A New Brain, La Cage au Folles, and with Flying Foot Forum in Heaven.
RODOLFO NIETO is excited to return to Asolo Repertory Theatre where he was last seen as Dr. Carrasco in Man of La Macha. As a frequent presence on the Twin Cities Theater stage, he has performed with Theater Latté Da (All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, Hello Dolly!, La Bohème, A Little Night Music, Assassins), History Theatre (Dirty Business, Buddy), Mixed Blood Theatre (Safe at Home), Minnesota Opera (Cruzar la Cara de la Luna, Werther, Silent Night, La Bohème), and Artistry (The Sound of Music, A New Brain). A singer, actor, composer, and caregiver based in Minneapolis, MN, his work includes Latin American music, even performing his original work “The Unseen Divide,” in April 2024.
JAMES RAMLET is ecstatic to return to Asolo Repertory Theatre for the performance of All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, which he has also been a part of Off-Broadway, a PBS National Broadcast, Theater Latté Da, as well as national and regional tours. He has previously been seen at Asolo Rep as Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd. Other regional credits include Guthrie Theater, American Repertory Theater, Children’s Theatre Company, History Theatre, Old Log Theatre and Frank Theatre.
ANDREW WILKOWSKE Hailed by Opera News as “a natural comedian and a fine singer,” Andrew Wilkowske is known on the opera and theater stage for his dynamic performances and masterful stage presence. He has performed at Minnesota Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Komische Opera Berlin, Cincinnati
Opera, Atlanta Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Chicago Opera Theater, and Carnegie Hall among others. His rock recital Guns N’ Rosenkavalier has played across the country, and he and librettist Kelley Rourke were commissioned by Theater Latté Da in Minneapolis to re-imagine the Verdi/Piave opera Macbeth for rock instrumentation. Wilkowske lives in St. Paul, MN.
THE CREATIVE TEAM
Peter Rothstein (Writer and Director), Erick Lichte (Music Director), Greg Emetaz (Projection Design), Trevor Bowen (Costume Design), Marcus F. Dilliard (Lighting Design), Michelle Hart (Hair, Wig, & Makeup Design) and D. Marie Long (Stage Manager).
SPONSORS
Asolo Rep is able to present ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914 because of the generosity of its sponsors. The show sponsors for ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TURCE OF 1914 are: Cool Today, Homewood Suites by Hilton Sarasota/Lakewood Ranch, Observer, Simply Gourmet, Gold Coast Eagle Distributing and Stella Artois. Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, and Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Co-Producers of this production are: Gerald and Sondra Biller, Kathleen and Michael France, Ann and Larry Garberding, Sandy and Jim Goldman Patricia Gondelman, in memory of her beloved George, Carol and Barry Grimes, Alan and Cindy Silverglat, Lois Stulberg Douglas Thweatt, in memory of Paul Grootkerk, Marilyn B. West, in memory of her beloved Arnie, Susan and Charles Wilson, Fremajane Wolfson, in loving memory of Blair Wolfson.
Asolo Rep’s 2024-25 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.
ENHANCED EXPERIENCES
Asolo Rep Talkbacks (FREE)
Attendees can enhance their experience with this post-show conversations that are facilitated between the audience and members of the cast. Asolo Rep Talkbacks take place after the Tuesday evening performances and the Sunday Matinee performances.
ABOUT ASOLO REP
Now in its 66th 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. Asolo Rep presents up to 8 productions each season, including classics, contemporary drama, musicals, and world premieres. 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-makers working in the industry today, and cultivating the next generation of artists through its affiliation with the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. Under the new leadership of Producing Artistic Director Peter Rothstein and Managing Director Ross Egan, Asolo Rep’s ambitious theatrical offerings, commitment to new work, and ground-breaking
education and engagement programs, ensure the company’s lasting legacy for future generations. Visit www.asolorep.org to learn more.
ABOUT THE RINGLING
The Ringling serves as the legacy of John and Mable Ringling—a place of art, architecture, and circus in an environment that inspires, educates, and entertains. The Ringling’s Art of Performance season delivers broad access to provocative and timely performing arts that reflect a wide range of experiences, disciplines, and relevant cultural expressions.
The Historic Asolo Theatre was originally constructed in 1798 inside a Renaissance era palace in Asolo, Italy. It remained there until 1931, when it was dismantled to make way for a cinema. The Ringling purchased the pieces in 1949 and reassembled them at the museum. The Historic Asolo Theater had its debut Sarasota performance in 1952, becoming the birthplace for performing arts in the region. It has been lovingly restored and equipped with twenty-first-century technology that allows for high quality productions within a truly special historic setting.