ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE, THE SARASOTA BALLET, AND THE FSU/ASOLO CONSERVATORY ANNOUNCE OPEN HOUSE
ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE, THE SARASOTA BALLET, AND THE FSU/ASOLO CONSERVATORY ANNOUNCE OPEN HOUSE
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(Sarasota, FL) – Asolo Repertory Theatre, the largest professional theatre in Florida, The Sarasota Ballet, the Gulf Coast of Florida’s only professional ballet company and FSU/Asolo Conservatory, one of the top 25 drama schools in the world, all housed in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, located at 5555 Tamiami Trail, will host a community open house in celebration of single tickets going on sale for their 24/25 Seasons on Monday, September 9 from 10 am – 4 pm.
The event will be an opportunity for all three arts organizations of the FSU Center for the Performing Arts to come together and welcome the community to the building and experience what they have to offer. The schedule of events will include a ‘Meet the Leadership’ panel in the Mertz Theatre with Asolo Rep’s Producing Artistic Director Peter Rothstein, The Sarasota Ballet’s Director Iain Webb and Interim Conservatory Director Marcus Denard Johnson. The panel will be moderated by ABC 7’s Mike Modrick. Food will be available for purchase by Empanada Girl food truck. Full schedule of events at the end of the release.
“For generations, the people of Sarasota and Manatee Counties have been instrumental in the success of Asolo Repertory Theatre, creating world class theatre for over 65 years. We look forward to opening our doors, ushering in a new season of big musicals, bold plays and thrilling comedies,” stated Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director Peter Rothstein.
The Sarasota Ballet’s Director Iain Webb promises breathtaking moments of dance in the upcoming 2024 – 2025 Season, stating “With the most exciting and diverse repertoire in the country, our programming offers something for everyone, including families, newcomers, and ballet lovers alike. This Season features two world premieres, three Company premieres, several of our renowned triple bills featuring icons of choreography, and two full-length romantic story ballets, including Sir Peter Wright’s Giselle and Sir Frederick Ashton’s Romeo and Juliet. We will also be presenting the Martha Graham Dance Company in October to celebrate their 100th Anniversary and the beloved classic The Sarasota Ballet School’s Nutcracker in both Sarasota and Venice this December. We look forward to welcoming audiences back into the theater in October.”
“Our stage is a laboratory. An opportunity for our MFA actors to explore the limitless potential of their imaginations, their affinity for storytelling, and their capacity for empathy. These young professionals will take on a revived 1950s Broadway comedy, a new drama containing thematic echoes of The Crucible, a portrayal of the first Chinese woman to step foot in America, and the most famous and challenging stage direction in all of Shakespeare,” stated Interim Conservatory Director Marcus Denard Johnson.
Schedule of Events
10:00 AM – Doors Open at FSU Center for the Performing Arts
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Single Tickets on Sale at Asolo Repertory Theatre, The FSU/Asolo Conservatory and Sarasota Ballet’s Box Offices
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Empanada Girl will begin serving breakfast empanadas in the front circle drive
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Meet and greet with various staff at lobby information tables
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Asolo Rep will be giving away Asolo Rep swag, exclusive to the event, with every ticket purchase.
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Mertz Theatre – Presentation by The Sarasota Ballet
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Cook Theatre – Ongoing from 10 AM – 4 PM FSU/Asolo Conservatory 50th Anniversary Documentary about the historic partnership between Florida State University and Asolo Repertory Theatre.
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Empanada Girl serving empanadas in the front circle drive
11:00 AM
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Mertz Theatre – Presentation by The Sarasota Ballet
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Cook Theatre – Ongoing from 10 AM – 4 PM FSU/Asolo Conservatory 50th Anniversary Documentary about the historic partnership between Florida State University and Asolo Repertory Theatre.
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Empanada Girl serving empanadas in the front circle drive
12:00 PM
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Mertz Theatre – Shakespeare on the Road – A Panel Discussion on FSU/Asolo Conservatory’s upcoming tour of “Much Ado About Nothing”. Learn how you can bring Shakespeare’s great romantic comedy to your school or community.
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Cook Theatre – Ongoing from 10 AM – 4 PM FSU/Asolo Conservatory 50th Anniversary Documentary about the historic partnership between Florida State University and Asolo Repertory Theatre.
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Empanada Girl serving empanadas in the front circle drive
1:00 PM
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Mertz Theatre – Meet the Leaders – A Panel Discussion with Asolo Rep’s Peter Rothstein, The Sarasota Ballet’s Iain Webb and FSU/Asolo Conservatory’s Marcus Denard Johnson, Moderated by ABC-7’s Mike Modrick
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Cook Theatre – Ongoing from 10 AM – 4 PM FSU/Asolo Conservatory 50th Anniversary Documentary about the historic partnership between Florida State University and Asolo Repertory Theatre.
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Empanada Girl serving empanadas in the front circle drive
2:00 PM
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Mertz Theatre – Presentation by The Sarasota Ballet
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Cook Theatre – Ongoing from 10 AM – 4 PM FSU/Asolo Conservatory 50th Anniversary Documentary about the historic partnership between Florida State University and Asolo Repertory Theatre.
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Empanada Girl serving empanadas in the front circle drive
3:00 PM
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Mertz Theatre – Presentation by The Sarasota Ballet
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Cook Theatre – Ongoing from 10 AM – 4 PM FSU/Asolo Conservatory 50th Anniversary Documentary about the historic partnership between Florida State University and Asolo Repertory Theatre.
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Empanada Girl serving empanadas in the front circle drive
4:00 PM
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End of Open House
5:00 PM
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Box Offices Close
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 7 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 SARASOTA BALLET
The Sarasota Ballet’s rapid rise in national and international recognition is driven by the strength, expertise, and vast experience of its leadership. From their ties with many of today’s greatest choreographers to their direct experiences working with and performing with many of the icons of 20th Century classical ballet, Director Iain Webb, Executive Director Joseph Volpe, and Assistant Director Margaret Barbieri bring powerful resumes to the Company and a shared vision of excellence on and off the stage. This combined powerhouse trio has continued to advance The Sarasota Ballet’s 30+ year mission of enriching lives, captivating emotions, and strengthening its community through the art of dance – and with Director Iain Webb’s recent 10-year contract extension by the Board of Trustees, that mission will continue in Sarasota for the foreseeable future.
In June of 2024, The Sarasota Ballet embarked on its first international residency in London at the Royal Opera House after accepting an invitation from Kevin O’Hare, Director of The Royal Ballet. Nationally, the Company has toured regularly during Webb’s tenure with highlights including twice at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., at New York City Center, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and three times at the Joyce Theater in New York – most recently in August of 2022. The Sarasota Ballet’s expansive repertoire provides both audiences and its dancers a rich and varied look at the art form through some of the great choreographers of the 20th and 21st Century including Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Sir David Bintley, Sir Matthew Bourne, Dame Ninette de Valois, Johan Kobborg, Jessica Lang, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Christopher Wheeldon, and Sir Peter Wright.
Along with the professional Company, The Sarasota Ballet has several education programs ranging from youth and adult classes to pre-professional training at The Margaret Barbieri Conservatory and the summer intensive which brings hundreds of ballet students from around the nation to study with the elite faculty of The Sarasota Ballet School. The extensive community engagement program works with partners in Sarasota and the surrounding areas to expand the impact of the art form through numerous low-cost and no-cost opportunities for enrichment through the art, beauty, and hope of dance.
ABOUT FSU/ASOLO CONSERVATORY
Considered one of the top actor training programs in the country, the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training is a three-year graduate program culminating in a Master of Fine Arts degree. Only twelve students are chosen each year from the thousands who audition nationwide to work in a program that combines rigorous classroom training with guest artist workshops and professional production experience. Graduates of our program have appeared on and off Broadway, in regional theatres, in feature films and on television.
The program was initiated by the Florida State University School of Theatre in Tallahassee in 1968 and moved to Sarasota five years later to establish a permanent relationship with the Asolo Repertory Theatre. Visit https://www.asolorep.org/conservatory for learn more.
TICKETS
Asolo Repertory Theatre and FSU/Asolo Conservatory subscriptions for the 2024-2025 season are on sale now. Single show tickets for both Asolo Rep and the FSU/Conservatory will go on sale during the open house on Monday, September 9, 2024. For more information, visit AsoloRep.org or call 941.351.8000 or 800.361.8388.
The Sarasota Ballet’s subscriptions and single tickets are on sale now for the 2024 - 2025 season. For more information, visit SarasotaBallet.org or call The Sarasota Ballet Box Office at 941.359.0099.
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