Asolo Repertory Theatre Presents
DOUBT
The Pulitzer Prize and Four-time Tony Award-winning Drama
Opens Friday, DECEMBER 14, 2007
Sarasota, Florida (November 13, 2007) – Asolo Repertory Theatre, Florida’s premier professional theatre, presents Doubt, the Pulitzer Prize and four time Tony Award winning play by John Patrick Shanley. Asolo Rep’s production of Doubt is directed by Obie Award winning Anne Kauffman, and features multiple award winning actress Randy Danson in her Asolo Rep debut as Sister Aloysius Beauvier, and Paul Molnar as Father Brendan Flynn.
A “superb new drama” says The New York Times. Doubt performs in the Mertz Theatre from December 14, 2007 through May 1, 2008 with previews on December 12 and 13. Show days and times vary from Tuesday through Sunday; Contact the Box Office for details.Ticket prices vary from $19 to $56 depending on the day and time of the performance. Group rates and special discounts are available; single tickets and money saving subscriptions are now on sale. 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.
Doubt asks the difficult questions - What price do we pay for absolute certainty? What facts do we ignore if we follow our faith blindly? And what falsehoods might we take for truth simply because we do not question them? In 1964, at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church and School in the Bronx, these questions are among the many that the principal, Sister Aloysius, begins to ask herself when confronted with a priest who may or may not have formed an inappropriate connection with one of the school’s students. Though she has no overt proof, she goes on a quest for the truth of the matter – but only creates deeper and deeper uncertainty for all involved, including herself.
About the Director:Anne Kauffman returns to Asolo Rep after directing last season’s Expecting Isabel. Ms Kaufman was recently featured in American Theatre Magazine for her groundbreaking work, She received an Obie Award for The Thugs by Adam Bock at SoHo Rep. Other credits include TimeOut NY, New York Sun (top 10 productions of 2006), God’s Ear by Jenny Schwartz with New Georges, Have You Seen Steve Steven by Ann Marie Healy with 13P, Act a Lady by Jordan Harrison (Humana Festival of New Plays), Typographer’s Dream by Adam Bock (Encore Theater – San Francisco Chronicle top 10 productions of 2005), The Loyal Opposition by Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas (New York Theater Workshop), Hang Ten by Karen Hartman (Women’s Project & Productions), The Ladies by Anne Washburn with The Civilians (Dixon Place and CherryLaneTheater). Anne has worked at Playwrights Horizons, Manhattan Theater Club, CSC, The Vineyard, The Public, American Conservatory Theater, A.R.T., The Guthrie, Sundance Institute. She received a “Big Easy” award in New Orleans for her production of The Children’s Hour (Loyola University). She is a Usual Suspect at New York Theatre Workshop, a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, The Drama League of New York, and a founding member of The Civilians. She is on NYU’s directing faculty in the Playwrights Horizons Theater Studio. Anne received her M.F.A. at UCSD.
About the Actors:
Randy Danson, who received an Obie for Sustained Excellence in New York in 1992, most recently appeared at the Mint Theatre in New York in Tolstoy's Power of Darkness. Other theatre credits include Amanda in The Glass Menagerie at Actors Theatre of Louisville, the title role in The Good Person of Szechuan at the Arena Stage for which she won the Helen Hayes Award, and Vivian in Wit at the Philadelphia Theatre Company for which she won the Barrymore Award. Film Credits include Martin Scorcsese's The Last Temptation of Christ and Libby in PBS's version of Blue Window, a role she had originated on stage. This is Randy’s first appearance with Asolo Rep. She also designs and makes jewelry for her company Maiden Lane.
Paul Molnar, who received accolades last season for his role in Men of Tortuga, returns to Asolo Rep for a second season. Last season he was seen as Venticello 1, Amadeus; Fletcher, Men of Tortuga; Lt. Jack Ross, A Few Good Men; Ensemble, Pride and Prejudice. Since graduating last year from the Conservatory, Paul has been in three Shakespeare productions: Macbeth, and two different productions of Henry V in which he played the title role. Selected New York credits include: Deception, Ghouls (Adobe Theatre Company), The Tempest (Epiphany Theatre Co.), Waiting For Godot, (Tangent Theatre Company), Henry V (FifthStreet Theatre). Regional credits: Henry V, Macbeth, Othello, Romeo & Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, (Michigan Shakespeare Festival), Romeo & Juliet, The Miracle Worker, Playing With Fire, The Heidi Chronicles, Tartuffe (The New American Theatre, IL), Henry V (Lost Nation Theater, VT), Art (Vermont Stage), A Doll House (12 Miles West Theatre Co., NJ), Othello (Theatre of the Seventh Sister, PA), The Blue Bird, Romeo & Juliet, Camino Real, Sweet Bird Of Youth, King Lear (The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey), Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, The Winter’s Tale (Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival, PA). Television credits: Early Edition, and Law & Order. Paul is a company member of Tangent Theatre Company in NYC and holds an MFA from The FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training.
Creative Team:
Director: Anne Kauffman
Assistant Director: Ryan Clark
Scenic Designer: Kris Stone
Costume Designer: Emily Rebholz
Lighting Designer: Mark Barton
Sound Designer: Matthew Parker
Vocal Coach: Patricia Delorey
Casting: Stuart Howard, Amy Schecter & Paul Hardt
Stage Manager: Juanita Munford*
Intern Assistant to the Stage Manager: Danielle MacMonagle
Assistants to the Scenic Designer:AnneBartek,Tania Bijlani,Akiko Kosaka
About the Playwright: John Patrick Shanley is from the Bronx. He was thrown out of St. Helena’s kindergarten. He was banned from St. Anthony’s hot lunch program for life. He was expelled from CardinalSpellmanHigh School. He was placed on academic probation by New YorkUniversity and instructed to appear before a tribunal if he wished to return. When asked why he had been treated in this way by all these institutions, he burst into tears and said he had no idea. Then he went into the United States Marine Corps. He did fine. He’s still doing okay.
National Praise for John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt:
“Inspired and extraordinary. A superb new drama by John Patrick Shanley.’ – Ben Brantley, The New York Times
“#1 Show of the Year. John Patrick Shanley’s drama is simple in outline, complex in resonance.” – Richard Zoglin, Time Magazine
“A theatrical experience it would be sinful to miss. DOUBT may well be Shanley’s best play to date.” – John Simon, New York Magazine
“A terrific, marvelous new play. Astonishing theatricality, A tough, timely story, rich in character, language and ideas.” – March Kuchwara, Associated Press
“Provactive. A gripping story of suspicion.” – David Rooney, Variety
Selected as #1 Show of the Year by Time, Entertainment Weekly, Daily News, The Wall-Street Journal, Timeout New York, The Star-Ledger, Associated Press, Newsday.
Several events are planned to enhance the production of Doubt.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 Thursday, January 31 after the 8 PM evening performance and on Sunday, February 17 after the 2 PM matinee performance in the Mertz 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 $19-$56.
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 29 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 $19-$52; however, attendance at the show is not required.
CLOSING NIGHT CELEBRATIONS take place on the last evening performance (April 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, February 6 at 8 PM and Sunday, March 16 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. Sponsored by the Center for Sight.
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Asolo Repertory Theatre is funded in part by the Division of Cultural Affairs, Florida Department of State, the Florida Arts Council, the City and County of Sarasota and the Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax through the Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council and the Sarasota County Arts Council. Funding is also received through efforts of support groups including the Asolo Angel Association, the Asolo Rep Guild, the Directors Emeritus and the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations.