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Sarasota, FL (May 18, 2005) – At a press conference held at 2:00 p.m. today, the Asolo Theatre Company publicly named Michael Donald Edwards as its incoming Producing Director.  Edwards, currently the Associate Artistic Director at Syracuse Stage, will succeed Howard Millman.  Millman retires at the end of the 2005-2006 season after leading the Asolo for the past 10 years in addition to serving as Managing Director from 1968-1980.  Edwards’ tenure with the Asolo will commence during the fall as he will be in Sarasota to observe and participate in our community while planning his first season.  Effective July 1, 2006, Edwards will begin his full-time tenure.

 

Of his successor, Howard Millman said, “What pleases me most about Michael is his breadth of experience as a director and his understanding and appreciation of the Asolo’s history and mission.  Michael has worked in a rotating repertory environment.  I am confident that he will build upon the Asolo’s strong foundation and rich history while infusing the organization with his energy and creative vision, taking the theatre in new and exciting directions.  I can only hope that he will be as fulfilled by his experience at the Asolo as I have been with mine.”

Incoming President of the Asolo Board of Directors Nancy Markle said,”We performed an extensive international search and we believe we have found someone of preeminent stature and success.  Michael Edwards is a distinguished director who has worked on four continents.  He has directed Aida at the Metropolitan Opera, Eugene Onegin at the Sydney Opera House, Othello at the Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Turn of the Screw for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Enter the Guardsman at the San Diego Globe, Amadeus at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, Copenhagen for Syracuse Stage, and The White Devil for the Academy of Classical Acting at the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington DC; just a few examples of his virtuosity and experience.  And he brings charisma and excitement to Asolo theatregoers.”

 

Asolo Managing Director Linda DiGabriele echoed Markle’s sentiments. “We are all very excited by Michael’s energy and ideas,” DiGabriele exclaimed.  “He is a true leader and collaborator - someone who will inspire the artists, board and staff, along with the community, as partners in pursuit of his vision. We all look forward to working with him to continue the growth and advancement of the Asolo Theatre Company.”

Edwards, originally from Australia, earned his BA with Honors from Monash University in Australia and his MFA from University of California at Los Angeles.  There he directed Spring’s Awakening and The Shadow Box in addition to several original plays including Transgressor, which won DRAMA LOGUE awards for Best Play and Best Direction.

Edwards served for 16 years as Professor of Theatre Arts, Assistant and Associate Professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz.  He went on to spend six years as Artistic Director of Shakespeare Santa Cruz in California where he significantly increased audiences and more than doubled the budget during his tenure.  Under his artistic leadership he staged brilliant productions that, according to San Jose Mercury News, “blended actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company, American professionals, student, faculty and community into a harmonious whole - a model of scholarship, artistry and production values.” Edwards also directed The Dresser, A Doll’s House, and Amadeus.

Since 2001, he has been Associate Artistic Director at Syracuse Stage in Syracuse, New York.  During this time he has worked in all areas of the theatre and directed several productions including a number of co-productions with other LORT theatres.

Edwards guest directed several seasons at the Metropolitan Opera in New York where he staged a number of revivals of IL Barbiere Di Siviglia, Aida, Semiramide, and Porgy And Bess.  His Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin played to great success in Australian opera companies including Opera Australia in the Sydney Opera House, and he directed

Cavallaria Rusticana and Pagliacci broadcast nationally on ABC TV.  For Victoria State Opera he directed Otello, Aida and a very successful productioncalled The Puccini Spectacular featuring Jose Cura in all the tenor roles and a cast of over 200. 

His conspicuous success at Opera San Jose with Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera wasconsidered the best production in the history of the company.  He also directed Ballo for the Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv.  For Virginia Opera he directed a provocative Carmen set in Tijuana and a beautiful and at the same time very funny Merry Widow.  He is also honored to have directed the British premiere of the Auden translation of the Brecht/Weill The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny for the People’s Music Theatre in London.

Edwards has a strong vision for the future of the Asolo Theatre Company which simultaneously embraces and celebrates the past while moving the organization boldly into the future.   Having directed the highly successful production of The Smell of the Kill in the Asolo’s current season, Edwards has already begun the process of familiarization with the theatre and Sarasota.  During the next year, he will select the 2006-2007 season and work with the Asolo and the community to ensure a smooth transition.

 

Michael Edwards had this to say, “I am deeply honored to be asked to take the helm of such a prestigious and well loved theatre.  It has been a privilege to meet all the many devoted and talented players at the Asolo from the Board to the staff, the acting company, the Conservatory, and the community.  I very much look forward to forging vigorous and rewarding partnerships with them all.”

 

Sarasota is on the move.  There are so many thrilling, creative possibilities here.  In partnership with the Board, Florida State University, and the Acting Conservatory led by Greg Leaming, I want to build on the traditional strengths of the Asolo and help make the theatre a more vital and exciting part of Sarasota life, and take the theatre to a deserved place of national prominence.”

Michael Donald Edwards’ appointment culminates a seven-month international search process which considered more than 70 candidates.  The search was conducted by Albert Hall & Associates, LLC, one of the nation’s leading executive search firms for arts organizations, in conjunction with a search committee including Asolo board members, members representing Florida State University, and a member from the community.

 

The search committee consisted of Debra Jacobs, President and CEO of the Selby foundation, who chaired the committee; Asolo board members Don Schoenbaum, Nancy Markle and Bob Peterson; Steven Wallace, Dean, School of Theatre, Florida State University (FSU); Mark Medoff, Tony Award winning playwright in residence at FSU; and Greg Leaming, Director, FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. 

Debra Jacobs explains, “Working on the search for the Producing Director of the Asolo Theater Company was inspiring because of the caliber of talent we interviewed.  The unanimous selection of Michael Donald Edwards is a testimony to his artistic background and his vision of the possibilities ahead.  With his passion and connections, the Asolo will not only inspire the local theater goers, but also the national spotlight will be shining.”

 

Greg Leaming explains, “The search process has united both organizations in an extremely positive way.  I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with Michael Edwards as both the Asolo and FSU move toward a brand new stage in their lives.” Says Steven Wallace, "It is very exciting to welcome Michael to the Asolo.  His background as an artistic director, director and professor is the ideal match for the Asolo, Florida State, and the community.  His vision and leadership will help guide the Asolo to the next stage of professional regional theatre."