Sarasota, FL (April 6, 2006) – The inspired cast of the musical CROWNS will fill the Mertz Theatre – home of the Asolo Theatre Company - with the spirit of music and joyful celebration from May 13-June 18, 2006.  Clap your hands and stomp your feet as the rejuvenating message of this show washes your winter blues away, welcoming in spring with a boost of high energy fun.

The glorious musical with “HATTITUDE” boasts a very talented creative team: Marion J. Caffey, Director and Choreographer; Dale F. Jordan, Scenic and Lighting Designer; Emilio Sosa, Costume Designer; Rick Menke, Original Score; Matthew Parker, Sound Design; e'Marcus Harper, Music Director; Romero Wyatt, Percussionist; and La'Terry Butler, Associate Music Director/Accompanist.

The talented cast consists of Dana Dawson as Yolanda/Ogun, LaVon D. Fisher as Velma/Oya, Joilet F. Harris as Mother Shaw/Obatala, Jannie Jones as Wanda/Oshun, C. Mingo Long as Man, Valerie Payton as Mabel/Shango, and C. Kelly Wright as Jeanette/Yemaya.

Waves of gospel songs, dance and story telling flow freely in a sea of hats. Crowns, written by Regina Taylor, best known for her portrayal as Lilly Harper on the television series I’ll Fly Away, is an adaptation of Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry’s book Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats. The humor, humanity and outstanding theatre talent in this play are guaranteed to entertain, engage, and inspire audiences of all ages and races.

Crowns centers around a street-wise NY teenager, Yolanda. After her brother is murdered, she is sent to her grandmother's home down south where she is to find her roots and learn that for African American women since the days of slavery and even back to Africa hats have been their crowning glory, especially at church on Sunday. Each woman has a down-home story that involves her life and her hats, which gives us an insight in their cultural history and an understanding of why these women collect church hats (one of the women has over 200) and consider them heirlooms. These are women of substance and power when they put on the hats. The play carries Yolanda through American slavery, the Jim Crow era and to the present day where she ultimately discovers her own identity along with her African roots.

Crowns is running from May 13 – June 18, 2006 in the Mertz Theatre – home of the Asolo Theatre Company. Ticket prices for the play are from $16 to $48, depending on the performance day and time, with special discounts for students and groups of 10 or more. Tickets for children 12 and under are half price when purchased through the box office. To purchase tickets, please call 941-351-8000 or toll-free at 800-361-8388, or order them online at www.asolo.org.

The Asolo Theatre Company performs in rotating repertory from November to June, within two theatres located within the FSUPerformingArtsCenter next to the RinglingMuseum at 5555 North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.