Sarasota, FL (October 3, 2006) Asolo Repertory Theatre and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice (GCCFV) announced the kickoff of an exciting new project Beyond the Book aimed at inspiring reading, literacy, and community connection. Northern Trust Bank sponsored the press party which provided the first opportunity to learn about Beyond the Book, the local organizations, agencies, libraries and bookstores involved and the upcoming community wide events that will revolve around the program’s theme of inspiring literacy.

 

Phil Delaney, President of Northern Trust Bank, kicked off the event followed by Asolo Rep’s Producing Director Michael Donald Edwards and Michael Bigner, Vice President of Program Services at GCCFV. Carrie Mills, Asolo Rep education director, and Beyond the Book project coordinator Susan Burke introduced the key program partners.

 

Beyond the Book starts with the premise: What would happen if everyone in the community read the same book? The 2007 selection is Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. After reading the book, the community is encouraged to delve further into its stimulating ideas and themes by participating in events happening all across our counties.

 

On November 4, 2006, at the Sarasota Reading Festival, and on January 14, 2007, at Sarasota Arts Day, the public is invited to visit the Beyond the Book booth. The Reading Festival will be the first of many community activities aimed at encouraging the public to read Pride and Prejudice. In the following months, there will be several opportunities for the community to get involved in the program, including book-club meetings in various book stores in and around Sarasota and Manatee counties; outdoor screenings of various film versions of the book; guest lectures in several community venues; and Asolo Rep’s production of the play Pride and Prejudice (March 23 to May 6), which is sponsored by Northern Trust. Expect many more exciting community activities from the months of March and April 2007. More information and a complete calendar of Beyond the Book events are available on the program’s website, www.BeyondtheBookFL.org.