Asolo Rep Kicks Off Its Repertory Season With THE CRUCIBLE

Asolo Rep continues its celebration of 60 years on stage with a world-class production of Pulitzer Prize-winner Arthur Miller's Tony Award-winning masterwork THE CRUCIBLE. Helmed by Asolo Rep Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards, this chillingly timeless drama previews January 9 and 10, opens January 11 and runs through March 10 in rotating repertory in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

Under the veil of night, a group of teenage girls are caught dancing devilishly around a fire in the woods, and so begins the unraveling of the tightly wound village of Salem. The girls' ringleader, Abigail Williams, will do whatever it takes to win the heart of John Proctor, a married farmer with whom she had an affair. But the girls' accusations spiral out of control, pitting neighbor against neighbor, until no one is safe from the baseless finger pointing. Inspired by the "witch hunt" atmosphere of McCarthy-era America, THE CRUCIBLE premiered on Broadway in 1953 and remains a harrowing parable of the dangers of fear and hatred of the unknown.

"What makes THE CRUCIBLE a great play is not that it is about Salem and Puritanism, and not that it is a metaphor for McCarthyism or even today's political climate, but that it's about real humans," said Michael Donald Edwards, Asolo Rep Producing Artistic Director and Director of THE CRUCIBLE. "At its core, it is the story of people who have to go through a tremendous crisis to find out what matters - that to live is to love -and Arthur Miller insists on that in this thrilling American masterpiece."

A Garland Award and Drama Logue Award-winner, Michael Donald Edwards is in his 13th season as Producing Artistic Director of Asolo Rep. At Asolo Rep, he previously directed Disgraced; Our Betters; The Grapes of Wrath; Clybourne Park; My Brilliant Divorce; Hamlet, Prince of Cuba; Las Meninas; La Bête; The Last Five Years; The Life of Galileo; Perfect Mendacity; The Winter's Tale; Equus; A Tale of Two Cities; Darwin in Malibu; Nobody Don't Like Yogi; Amadeus; and The Smell of the Kill . He has also directed at Cleveland Play House; Indiana Repertory Theatre; Geva Theatre; Syracuse Stage; The Shakespeare Theatre, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival; The Old Globe in San Diego, the Metropolitan Opera and more.

One of the pillars of American theater, Arthur Miller also penned the Tony Award-winning All My Sons and Death of a Salesman, which also won the Pulitzer Prize. His work also includes A View from the Bridge and After The Fall. The 2016 Broadway revival of THE CRUCIBLE was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Play.

Throughout the run of THE CRUCIBLE, Asolo Rep will host three student matinees dedicated for local middle and high school students. These performances will be supplemented with classroom workshops and study guides. The theatre will also provide additional tickets for students during public performances.

The Scoop

One hour prior to every performance of THE CRUCIBLE

Arrive one hour before curtain to hear the ideas and inspirations that contributed to the making of THE CRUCIBLE (Opening Night, January 11, is excluded.)

Inside Asolo Rep: THE CRUCIBLE and A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2

Tuesday, January 22 at 11amCook Theatre10:30am: Enjoy coffee and light bites by Muse at the Ringling, and visit the Designing Women Boutique Pop-Up Shop
Panel discussions are $5; and free for all donors at the Cherubim Angles level and higher and Asolo Rep Guild Members

Get rare insights into the artistic process, hear directly from the people responsible for producing THE CRUCIBLE and A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2 and engage in stimulating discussion inspired by the plays' themes and issues. Inside Asolo Rep is sponsored by Muse at the Ringling, Designing Women Boutique and The Observer

Tuesday Talkbacks

January 29, February 12, March 5Asolo Rep's Mezzanine

Join us for an intimate post-show discussion with featured actors following every Tuesday performance of THE CRUCIBLE.

Sunday Salon

Sunday, January 20

Asolo Rep's Mezzanine

Reflect on your experience through a lively and informative post-show discussion following select Sunday matinees in the Mertz and Cook Theatres. Featuring members of Asolo Rep's Artistic Department and special guests.

OUT@AsoloRep: THE CRUCIBLE [Sold Out]

Thursday, January 24 at 6:30pm; show starts at 7:30pm Asolo Rep's Mezzanine Contact Asolo Rep's Box Office for subscription and ticket information.

Now in its ninth season, OUT@AsoloRep is Sarasota's premier cultural event connecting local Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities with fantastic theatre. Enjoy a pre-show reception and learn about participating LGBT organizations, and gain personal insight into THE CRUCIBLE from the creative team and cast members. OUT@AsoloRep is sponsored by Morton's Gourmet Market & Catering, CAN Community Health and Sabal Palm Bank.

THE CRUCIBLE IllumiNation Event

Saturday, February 9 at 1pm; performance at 2pm
Pre-show reception and a post-show community conversation held on the Mezzanine
Performance in the Mertz Theatre
Contact Asolo Rep's Box Office for series package information and single performance tickets.

A stimulating series of theatre and conversation exploring the topical and social themes threaded throughout our season. IllumiNation events begin one hour prior to curtain with a reception on the mezzanine, continue with the performance, and conclude with a conversation.

The IllumiNation series is made possible, in part, with support from the Koski Family Foundation, Morton's Gourmet Market & Catering, and The Observer

Tickets for THE CRUCIBLE and the entire 2018-19 Asolo Repertory Theatre season are on sale now. Tickets for THE CRUCIBLE start at $29. To purchase tickets, call 941.351.8000 or 800.361.8388, visit www.asolorep.org, or visit the Asolo Repertory Theatre Box Office, located in the lobby of the theatre. Asolo Repertory Theatre is located at 5555 North Tamiami Trail in the Florida State University Center for the Performing Arts.