Asolo Rep Presents The World Premiere Of THE INNOCENTS By Pulitzer Prize Nominee Steven Drukman

April 8, 2011 - PRLog -- Asolo Rep is proud to present the fully staged World Premiere production of Steven Drukman’s new play THE INNOCENTS. Chosen from five plays developed during Asolo Rep’s 2010 UNPLUGGED new play festival, THE INNOCENTS opens on April 15, 2011 as part of the repertory season and in conjunction with the 2011 UNPLUGGED Festival of New Plays. As part of the process, Steven Drukman is working in residence with Asolo Rep to develop the play and bring it to the stage for its World Premiere.

“One of the great joys of working in the theatre is the opportunity to develop new work, to be part of giving expression to what is happening in our contemporary world. We rely on our writers to observe, ask questions and help us grasp our moment. Steven Drukman’s THE INNOCENTS is a smart, sexy and fresh romance with a political charge that is utterly timely in its depiction of behavior, ideas and language. After the extremely positive response of our UNPLUGGED audience to a semi-staged reading, we are thrilled to be presenting the premiere of Steven’s provocative and entertaining play in a production by some of the best young talent in the country.” – Michael Donald Edwards, Asolo Rep Producing Artistic Director

“There are so many fantastic new plays out there and so few fantastic theatres willing to produce them. This ludicrous imbalance makes Asolo Rep’s gesture of confidence in my play so profoundly appreciated. I treasure this opportunity to develop and sharpen this distinctly-American, 21st-century romantic comedy here in Sarasota.” – Steven Drukman, playwright

Steven Drukman was the first-ever commission for New York’s Naked Angels. His newest play, THE PRINCE OF ATLANTIS, appears this month at South Coast Rep’s Pacific Playwrights Festival in California. His play THE BULLET ROUND received its world premiere at Arena Stage in Portland, Oregon, in 2009 and his play IN THIS CORNER (on the Louis/Schmeling bouts) premiered in January 2008 at The Old Globe in San Diego, earning the Critics’ Circle “Best New Play” award. Other produced plays: ANOTHER FINE MESS (Portland Center Stage, Pulitzer Prize Nomination for Drama, 2003), GOING NATIVE (Long Wharf Theatre), FLATTERY WILL GET YOU (Connecticut Repertory Theatre), COLLATERAL DAMAGE (Illusion Theater, Minneapolis), SNOWMAIDEN (Bob Hope Theatre, Dallas). Drukman’s work has also been developed by the Mark Taper Forum, Intiman Theatre, Sundance Theatre Lab, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Playwrights Horizons, New York Theatre Workshop, Orchard Project, Lark Theatre, and many others. Awards: Edgerton Award for New Plays, Craig Noel Award, Paul Green Award, Alfred P. Sloan Award, Ovid Foundation, Boston Theatre Works and many others. As an actor, he has been directed Off-Broadway and regionally by Anne Bogart, Maria Irene Fornes, Richard Foreman, Arnold Wesker and others. Film credit: East Broadway (2006). Other writing: The New York Times, The Village Voice, The International Herald Tribune, The Nation and many others. He is the former senior editor of American Theatre magazine. Drukman is an Associate Arts Professor at New York University, where he teaches playwriting.

Directing the play is Anders Cato, who has directed extensively at theaters in the U.S. since 1990, as well as at the Royal Court Theatre in London and the Moscow Art Theater. He has translated, adapted and directed plays by Strindberg and Ibsen. At the Berkshire Theatre Festival he has directed 15 productions, including plays by Beckett, Williams, Mamet and Shaw. He collaborated with Joe Chaikin for over 10 years and worked closely with some of America’s finest playwrights: Arthur Miller, Edward Albee, Sam Shepard, Craig Lucas and Doug Wright. Recent productions include CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION (George Street Playhouse); an adaptation of CRIME AND PUNISHMENT (Cleveland Playhouse). Presently, he is working on three short films and this spring he will be directing PYGMALION at The Alley Theatre.

In addition to Anders Cato, the creative team includes Lee Savage (Set Design), Amy J. Cianci (Costume Design), Tyler Micoleau (Lighting Design), Matthew Parker (Sound Design), Michelle Hart (Wig/Hair Design), Patricia Delorey (Voice & Dialect), Kelly Borgia* (Stage Manager), Erin MacDonald (Stage Management Assistant), and Lauryn E. Sasso (Resident Dramaturg).

The cast features Jason Bradley* as Sutter, Kate Hampton* as Edie, Scott Kerns* as Liron, and Jud Williford* as Daniel.

THE INNOCENTS was developed, in part, with assistance from the Orchard Project, a program of The Exchange (www.exchanenyc.org). Originally commissioned by Naked Angels Theater Company.

A darkly comic mystery, THE INNOCENTS is a brilliant and witty examination of the difference between innocence and naiveté. The family unit constructed by a middle aged gay man and his closest female friend is threatened when two very appealing young men enter the picture. The romantic and sexual dynamic tilts wildly in this fascinating new play that touches on what it means to be an American in the 21st century. THE INNOCENTS is set in San Francisco in the present, mainly in Daniel and Edie’s apartment. The action of the play takes place over the course of a little more than a year. THE INNOCENTS will be performed with one intermission.

UNPLUGGED and the subsequent world premiere production of THE INNOCENTS represent an expansion of Asolo Rep’s established, ongoing mission to champion the development of new work and to support and nurture new artists. This commitment to new work has developed over the years, with the number of emerging artists represented in each season continuously increasing. The company has produced world premieres of work by new playwrights including Jill Santoriello (A TALE OF TWO CITIES) and award-winning playwright Jason Wells (MEN OF TORTUGA and PERFECT MENDACITY/2010 TCG Elizabeth Osborn New Play Award). Of the five new works developed during UNPLUGGED 2010, most received awards or will go on to full productions with Asolo Rep or other theatres.  

Sponsored by: The Hub, Treviso and Mezzacorona Wines, and Comcast.
Co-producers: Harlan & Esther Domber, Gene & Helene Noble, and Betty Schiff.

Performances: In Asolo Rep’s Cook Theatre at 5555 North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, FL. Previews on April 12 and 13 at 8 p.m. Opening night is Friday, April 15, at 8 p.m., followed by Asolo Rep’s mingle-with-the-stars champagne afterparty in the lobby. The play runs through May 14, 2011, days and times vary. Please consult the website or box office.

Single Tickets: $29 to $34, depending on the day/time/seating, and method of purchase. Call 941-351-8000 or toll-free at 800-361-8388, or www.AsoloRep.org.
Groups: Save from 20%-30% off single ticket prices. 941-351-9010 ext. 6013 or group_sales@asolo.org.
Subscriptions: Best price, best seats. Call the box office or subscription services at 941-351-9010 ext. 4812.

Asolo Repertory Theatre is Florida’s premier professional theatre and one of the most important cultural forces in the Southeastern United States. As a center for theatrical excellence, Asolo Rep crafts the highest quality productions of classical, contemporary and newly commissioned work all performed in the rarest form of rotating repertory. Featuring an accomplished resident company – complemented by distinguished guest artists – Asolo Rep offers audiences a unique and dynamic theatre experience. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards and Managing Director Linda DiGabriele, this world-class institution has taken bold steps toward the future, building landmark partnerships and collaborations which will add to its success for generations to come.

*Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

# # #

About Asolo Rep: Asolo Theatre, Inc. (AKA: Asolo Repertory Theatre) is funded in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and is paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice and the Shubert Foundation, Inc. Funding is also received through the efforts of various support groups and the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations.