Sarasota's Asolo Rep adds new Nilo Cruz play

   Asolo Repertory Theatre has added a new play by Nilo Cruz, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2003 for "Anna in the Tropics," to its 2014-15 season. Cruz, who won a Pulitzer Prize for "Anna in the Tropics," will co-direct with Asolo Rep's producing artistic director, Michael Donald Edwards.
   The play is called "Sotto Voce" and it'll run April 2-26 in the Historic Asolo Theater.
   "Sotto Voce" had its world premiere in New York in February and garnered great

Nilo Cruz

reviews there. The New York production moved to Miami in March, and the Miami Herald called Cruz' writing "poetic."
    The story concerns a German-born novelist named Bernadette who lost the love of her life when she fled Nazi Germany aboard a ship carrying Jewish refugees to North America. After the ship is turned away by Cuba and the United States, the ship returns to Europe, and many of its  passengers die in concentration camps. Sixty years later,aA young  Jewish-Cuban writer contacts the reclusive Bemadette to research the ship's tragic voyage. Their relationship deepens into a romance.
   For more information, call 941-351-8000 or go to asolorep.com.

   
   

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota showcases singers

   If you're an opera fan, or if you're merely opera-curious, and you haven't compltely booked your weekend yet, Here's a suggestion.
   For its final concert of the 2013-2014 season, Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota is offering "Opera and More," a concert of some of the best-known solos and duets from opera and Broadway. Selections will include songs from "Carmen," " La Bohème," "Man of La Mancha," "My Fair Lady" and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." 

  

Jeffrey Hill

Richard Ollarsaba

     The featured singers are tenor Jeffrey Hill and bass-baritone Richard Ollarsaba, two young singers with impressive credentials. They'll be accompanied by pianist Avis Romm.
   Hill has been a featured young artist at  Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Music Academy of the West and has made several  appearances at Carnegie Hall.
   Ollarsaba has performed with the Piedmont Opera, Opera Cleveland and Aspen Music Festival. He also was the bass soloist in a performance of Beethoven's "Choral Fantasy" at the gala celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Tanglewood Music Festival, which was broadcast on PBS' "Great Performances" series.
    Performances are at 7:30 Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1, at the Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Tickets are $25 to $45. Go to  and artistseriesconcerts.org or call 941-360-7399.