FL's Asolo Will Have Premieres in First Season Under Michael Donald Edwards | Playbill

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News FL's Asolo Will Have Premieres in First Season Under Michael Donald Edwards Asolo Theatre Company's first season under new producing director Michael Donald Edwards will include a world premiere adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," the resident Sarasota, Florida company announced March 6.

The 2006-07 season on The Harold E. & Esther M. Mertz Theatre will also offer the world premiere of Men of Tortuga by Jason Wells; plus Peter Shaffer's Amadeus, a musical called The Plexiglass Slipper ("for the entire family"); Lisa Loomer's play about wanting a baby, Expecting Isabel; Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men; and a musical to be announced.

The resident Equity Asolo season will run November 2006 to June 2007.

Here's how Men of Tortuga is billed: "Conspiracy is the name of the game in this shrewdly tailored world premiere about three businessmen who scheme with a weapons specialist to eliminate a member of the 'opposition.' But the question is how best to do the deed? And more importantly, do the ends justify the means?"

A Cinderella story with a twist, The Plexiglass Slipper has music by Scott Warrender and book and lyrics by Jim Luigs, who penned the musical Das Barbecu. In the holidays-booked show, "Cinderella's story takes on a comedic twist in a fresh adaptation of a classic fable of love, family and poetic justice. Filled with hip humor and catchy songs, this new musical will have children and grown ups laughing and tapping their feet."

The new Pride and Prejudice is by Catherine Sheehy and Mark Rucker. "Jane Austen's classic novel comes alive, sparkling with wit and passion. An independent young woman has everything but romance on her mind when the enigmatic Mr. Darcy enters her world," according to Asolo. "Can they look beyond his pride and her prejudice to find true love?" Iron Kisses by James Still, a play on the subject of gay marriage, will also be presented by Asolo Theatre Company, at The Jane B. Cook Theatre. In it, "the complex nature of love, family and marriage in the 21st century is explored through the unique relationship of a brother and sister and their Midwestern parents. Alternately heartbreaking and hilarious, this is a show that reminds us of the ties that truly bind."

In addition to Asolo's Equity season, four 2006-07 productions under the banner of Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training were also announced by Edwards and Greg Leaming, the director of the FSU/Asolo Conservatory.

The FSU/Asolo Conservatory season features second-year students in a series of plays in the Jane B. Cook Theatre and the historic Asolo Theatre at the Ringling museum.

(The Asolo Theatre Company and Conservatory seasons are under the wider marketing banner of Asolo Theatre Festival.)

The Conservatory season will include includes the 19th century comedy of manners The Parisian Woman by Henri Becque (in the newly opened historic Asolo Theatre at the Ringling Museum); This Is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan; The Bacchae by Euripides; and Blue Window by Craig Lucas.

For information about Asolo Theatre Festival productions, call the box office at (941) 351-8000, toll-free (800) 361-8388, or visit us on the web at www.asolo.org.

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Michael Donald Edwards is the director of the Broadway-aimed musical A Tale of Two Cities.

 
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