Asolo's "Philadelphia" is coming back to Sarasota

   Asolo Repertory Theatre's "Philadelphia, Here I Come!" has been the most talked-about area theater presentation in a long time. Even the Wall Street Journal wrote about it.
  The reason is that director Frank Galati had trimmed the play significantly, and playwright Brian Friel found out and wasn't happy. He made Asolo Rep halt "Philadelphia" after just a couple of shows. The cut scenes and characters were restored and Galati and the now-larger cast went back into rehearsals.

Christian Conn, Douglas Jones
"Philadelphia, Here I Come!

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2014/01/09/4925742/friel-tragicomedy-opens-at-sarasotas.html#storylink=cpy

   It's reopening Tuesday, Feb. 4. It had been a 90-minute show with no intermission; now it's significantly longer and has two intermissions, as Friel dictated in his script.
   The play, which is about a half-century old, was the first big success for Friel, who's now best known for "Dancing at Lughnasa." It tells the story of a young Irish man on the night before he moves to America. The "hook" is that the young man is portrayed by two actors simultaneously, one his "public" self and one his "private" self.
   The shorter version was lovely, with a gorgeous set and wonderful performances.
    The restored version runs through April 12 at the Mertz Theatre at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets are $33-$61. 941-351-8000, www.asolorep.org.

Scheduling changes at Sarasota's Asolo Rep

   Asolo Repertory Theatre's performance of "Philadelphia, Here I Come!" scheduled for this past Saturday night was canceled, and "Other Desert Cities" was staged in its place. The result was a very small audience for "Other Desert Cities," which had opened the night before, and lots of ticket exchanges and explanations at the box office.

Asolo's "Philadelphia"

   The official explanation was "just some scheduling changes." Another, upcoming performance of "Philadelphia" has also been canceled.
   On Tuesday, Peter Amster, who's directing "Sasha, and Masha and Sonia and Spike" for Asolo, said that "Philadelphia" was being retooled. It had been edited and it was decided to restore the scenes that had been dropped. The show would go back into rehearsals and would re-open in early February.
 "Philadelphia, Here I Come!" is a Brian Friel drama about young Irish man who's about to leave his home and family and move to America. The Asolo Rep version, directed by Frank Galati, had been pared down to 90 minutes and had dropped one character entirely.
    It opened Jan. 10 and the version Asolo Rep audiences have seen so far was elegant and effective.
   The Asolo Rep website says that on Jan. 29, when "Philadelphia, Here I Come!" has been canceled, the theater will instead stage "Vanya and Masha and Sonia and Spike."
    If you have tickets or plans to see "Philadelphia," you'd be wise to check www.asolorep.org or call the box office at 941- 351-9010 to get any schedule updates.

Tickets for Sarasota's Asolo Rep available Sunday

   Tickets for the upcoming Asolo Repertory Theatre season  go on sale online at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29 and at Asolo Rep’s box office at 10 a.m. Monday.
   The season starts Nov. 15 with "Show Boat," by Hammerstein and Kern. Other shows include "Philadelphia, Here I Come!" by Brian Friel (Jan. 10-April 12); "Other Desert Cities" by Jon Robin Baitz (Jan. 17-Feb. 27); "Vanya and

Sonia and Masha and Spike" by Christopher Durang (Jan. 24-April 13); "The Grapes of Wrath" by Frank Galati, based on the Steinbeck novel (March 14-April 19); "4,000 Miles" by Amy Herzog (April 4-27); "Hero: The Musical" by Aaron Thielen and Michael Mahler (May 2-31); and a summer production to be announced.
   Visit www.asolorep.org, or call  941-351-8000.