Dates: The show will run from October 30, 2007 through December 9, 2007 with previews on October 27 and 28. Show days and times vary from Tuesday through Sunday; Contact the Box Office for details.

 

Where: Misery is an Asolo Rep production in the Cook Theatre located in the FSUCenter for the Performing Arts at 5555 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, Florida (across from the RinglingMuseum).

 

Tickets: Prices vary from $33 to $35 depending on the time and day of the performance. Group rates and special discounts are available; single tickets, money saving subscriptions now on sale. Special event pricing varies. Purchase tickets in person at the Asolo Rep Box Office or by calling 941-351-8000, 800-361-8388, or online at www.asolo.org.

 

Synopsis: In this thrilling adaptation of Stephen King’s terrifying classic, popular novelist Paul Sheldon is on top of the world. His most recent book just received a prestigious award and he is on his way to a remote Colorado hotel to work on his next – the book he feels sure will be the highlight of his literary legacy. But on the way there a car accident derails his plans. He awakes to find himself being cared for by Annie Wilkes, a nurse with a suspect past who is also his biggest fan. And now that Annie has Paul in her house, she will do anything to keep him there. Before, Paul wrote for a living – now, he’s writing for his life.

 

About the Actors:

This is David Breitbarth’s twelfth season with Asolo Rep as an Associate Artist. Last season Breitbarth was featured in the following productions: Amadeus (Orsini-Rosenberg), Men of Tortuga (Kling), A Few Good Men (Weinberg), Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Collins) and Darwin in Malibu (Huxley). Past Asolo Rep favorites include: Laughing Stock, Anything to Declare?, Rounding Third, Peter Pan, The Front Page, Tuesdays with Morrie, The Diary of Anne Frank, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Immigrant, Hobson's Choice, Room Service, The Kentucky Cycle, Broadway, and Art. Off-Broadway Breitbarth appeared in Short Change (Beckett Theatre), Perfect Crime (Clurman Theatre), Fluorescent Hunger (Ensemble Studio Theatre), and This Hard Life (American Jewish Theatre). Los Angeles: Life in the Trees (Melrose Theater - west coast premiere) and David's Mother (Company of Angels). Film and Television: Frasier, Taken!, Law & Order, Fame, and Ena's Adventures, a PBS special. Breitbarth is also a founding member of Sarasota’s Banyan Theater Company where he was in Sight Unseen, Betrayal, Don Juan in Hell and Otherwise Engaged. David trained with William Esper at his NYC studio.

Devora Millman returns to Asolo Rep after a brief sabbatical to pursue her second love: producing, directing and teaching. She has served as Visiting Professor at OaktonCollege and ColoradoStateUniversity. Directing credits: Richard Strahle’s Live Girl (world premiere) and Relative Strangers (Asolo Late Nights); Italian American Reconciliation, and An Ideal Husband (OpenStage Theatre, Fort Collins, CO); and Cyrano de Bergerac (CSU, associate director). Founder and Producing Artistic Director for the non-profit theatre company “Marrow Productions” where she directed its inaugural production of Dinner with Friends. This is her eleventh season with Asolo Rep. Past seasons include: String of Pearls, Smell of the Kill, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Crucible, The Diary of Anne Frank, Born Yesterday, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, Communicating Doors, Golden Boy and The Stone Carver. Millman also originated the roles of Flo (world premiere of Inna Beginning – Denver Center Theatre) and Beth (Dinner with Friends – Humana Festival). New York credits include Desire under the Elms (Abby – Peccadillo Theatre) and Tovah Feldshuh’s one-woman show, A Fierce Attachment (Tovah Feldshuh’s stand-by). Millman received an M.F.A. from Yale School of Drama.

 

Director: Seth Barrish

About the Director:

This is Seth Barrish’s first production with Asolo Rep. Co-founder and co-Artistic Director of The Barrow Group—a non-profit theatre company in New York City. Mr. Barrish has worked as an actor, director, composer, and musical director internationally, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and in regional theatres for over 25 years. Directing Credits include: David Edgar’s Pentecost (Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Play), Martin Moran’s Obie Award-winning, The Tricky Part (Drama Desk Nominations for Outstanding Play and Oustanding Solo Show), Waiting for Godot, Nicolette & Aucasin, Old Wicked Songs (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award & Garland Award for Best Direction), Thy Kingdom’s Coming, Lonely Planet, Good (Straw Hat Award for Best Direction), Ghost in the Machine, Tales From Hollywood, Greetings, BeauJest, Three Sisters, and When You Comin’ Back Red Ryder?. Theatres: The Intiman, The Promenade, McCarter, Long Wharf, Sundance Theatre Lab, The Geffen Playhouse, San Jose Rep., Shakespeare & Co., Playhouse 91, La Mama e.t.c., The Perry Street Theatre, Provincetown Rep, Capital Rep, Two River Theater Company, Miniature Theatre of Chester, and The Barrow Group. Mr. Barrish has made numerous film and television appearances and is a professional acting and directing teacher in New York City. He recently served as a Master Teacher at the International Director’s Symposium in Spoleto, Italy. He is author of the book An Actors Companion–99 Bits of Craft.

Simon Moore is a writer and a director in film, theatre and television. Moore studied drama at HullUniversity and then spent three years at the National Film and TelevisionSchool where he made two award-winning short films. While in film school he formed Production Line Theatre Company and wrote and directed four fringe plays before becoming a full time writer and director.

Film credits include: Superhero, Under Suspicion, Rank (with Liam Neeson and Laura San Giacomo), Nativity, and the Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman and Leonardo DiCaprio blockbuster, The Quick and the Dead. Television (mini-series credits) include: Inside Out (Finalist – Samuel Beckett Writing Award), Traffik (International Emmy – ‘Best Series’, 4 BAFTAs, 4 FIPAs, the top prizes at BAMPF and Umbria Fictional Festivals, UK Critics Award – ‘Best Series’), Gulliver’s Travels (Emmy – ‘Outstanding Writing’, US Humanitas Award), The Tenth Kingdom, The Snow Queen, and Dinotopia. Moore also co-wrote (with Jane Prowse) and directed Up on the Roof, an a cappella musical chronicling a circle of friends over 10 years. It was a finalist for three Laurence Olivier Awards including ‘Best Musical.’ Moore directed a film version of Up on the Roof in 1997.

Several events are planned to enhance the production of Misery. In addition to audio described services and celebratory festivities, Asolo Rep is offering free discussions with both actors and creative team members so audiences can discover the scope of work that is done behind-the-scenes.

PLAYTALKS will be held on Sunday, November 25 after the 2 PM matinee performance and on Thursday, December 6 after the 8 PM evening performance in the Cook Theatre. This is a free opportunity for the community to meet the actors of each play and participate in an animated and honest discussion about the production process. Tickets to show prior to the discussion are $33-$35.

INSIGHTS provides a peek at the intriguing and often humorous inside stories behind the selection, development and staging of each production. Moderated by the Asolo education staff, the one-hour Saturday morning talk (December 1 at 11AM) includes discussions with the cast, directors, and technical artists who create the work you see on stage. The discussion is FREE; you may purchase tickets to the 2 PM performance following the discussion for $33; however, attendance at the show is not required.

CLOSING NIGHT CELEBRATIONS take place on the last evening performance (December 8) and you’re invited to join Asolo Rep and Prudential Palms Realty for a fun-filled, blow-out cast party. Mingle with the cast and enjoy free wine, late night snacks, D.J. music, beer tastings (compliments of Gold Coast Eagle Distributing), and a cash bar.

AUDIO DESCRIBED SERVICES will be provided on Wednesday, November 28 at 8 PM and Sunday December 2 at 2 PM where specially trained audio describers provide elaborate audio imagery of the play action and setting to visually impaired audience members through a headset.