The Asolo Theater is currently showing Shakespeare Hamlet. It is the largest Equity theatre in Florida, and the largest Repertory theatre in the Southeastern United States. Asolo Rep is a resident regional theatre company which also invites in guest artists. It works in conjunction with Florida State University's MFA Acting program, the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. This is a horse-shoe shaped theatre with 4 tiers of boxes and was modeled after La Fenice. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the building was the home theatre of the great Italian actress Eleonora Duse. In 1930, the Asolo Theatre was dismantled and put into storage. In 1949 the museum director of the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art learned of the theatre's existence and saw the theatre as an ideal acquisition for the museum. It's been in existence here for 67 years since 1958. read more

Asolo Repertory Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Stunning architecture, this building is from the 1500's in Oslo, Norway. It was transported to this location & is truly remarkable how they are able to keep it up. There are very small parts of it that had to be reconfigured & restored that was damaged & didn't make the trip over, however about 85% of it is still in its original condition. It seats about 550 people & the acoustics are marvelous. My family & I went to see Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. As being someone who grew up going to broadway shows, this show transported me back to New York City! The friendliness of about half of the staff could be significantly better, nevertheless, everything else about this place was spectacular. Thanks Team Asolo Theater! read more

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Came here for a networking! Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Can't wait to check out a show this season with my collectible Asolo cup. read more

Asolo Repertory Theatre - Inside - Performing Arts Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

First visit to watch four (4) one-act plays, selected from 100+ submissions. The entrance is updated and open with a bar (and snacks) and modern updated bathrooms flanking the lobby. The theater is small, but well laid out with good acoustics. The plays were all very good and this theater anchors yet another location (across from Ringling) that offers arts and education to our community. Good stuff! read more

Went here for their afternoon performance of Crazy for You. The Asolo always does a terrific job and this show was no exception. The dancing and singing was very professional. They received numerous standing ovations at the end of the performance. read more

Asolo Repertory Theatre - Inside - Performing Arts Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

I did not understand one word of Jesus Christ.... Neither did my husband. The words were drowned out by the music. We got tired of pretending and left. read more

We saw Superstar. It was awful. Not the original Broadway from 50 years ago No it is the new hip-hop style update. A work of art is not subject to rewrite and 'updating'. If you use the concept and theme it is a new piece. As WEST SIDE Story, is based on Romeo and Juliet, but not the 400 yr old play . Let public know the truth. We left at half-time, first chance to get out. read more

Asolo is a wonderful venue for theater. I believe it seats about 250, with few bad seats in the house. Check this out for more details on its unique history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asolo_Repertory_Theatre There are 3 leves of seating; orchestra, mezzanine and balcony. There is an elevator that can take you to the mezzanine, but does not go all the way up to the balcony. It's a fairly curved seat arrangement, so those on the far left or far right (not politically!) may not see all of the stage. Some folks think the balcony is too steep, so avoid it. There is plenty of free parking outside. They usually have a bar set up outside before performances, but no food or drink is allowed inside. We are volunteer ushers here and the staff is great to work with. We've seen a number of performances now and all are good - no bad shows! read more

Asolo Repertory Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Lovely theater. Really no bad seats in the house, so enjoy a performance. Jesus Christ Superstar was awesome!!!

Fabulous theater! Responsive to feedback! Great, friendly, responsive staff. Always fun and funny

"Reinterpretation of classical works" is an understatement for the "in your face crap" we saw called Romeo & Juliet. This one stomach-turning farce has soured us from trusting this place for any other production. read more

Wonderful play. Wonderful cast. Wonderful everything. The lady next to me said all their theater shows are really good, so next time maybe I'll get a whole season pass. read more

Attended a performance of The M***f***cker with the Hat in the Cook theater last night. Very intimate venue with excellent sight lines. Don't know that I would want to sit down front as you are inches away from the action. Prices are very reasonable, take into consideration that the cast are all students of course. The play was definitely an "outside the box" experience. Don't think I've ever heard that many f-bombs dropped before, but it was all part of the context. The lead actor was tremendous - this guy is going places. The actor that played his sponsor seemed to miss a few of his lines, but otherwise the cast did an excellent job. The play is 90 minutes with no intermission, so be prepared. Overall a very pleasant evening with thought provoking message. read more

I love going to the theater, but I hate paying for expensive tickets. The Asolo theater in Sarasota, FL offers a great seats at reasonable prices. Tickets may run around $60 per person, but if you purchase a 10 pack, have a student i.d. and are under 25, or have a AAA membership you can get some great deals. The theater is small so there are no nosebleed seats. I did not sit in the balcony so I cannot say if the view is as good as the floor view. During intermission cookies, candy,sangria, tea and other beverages are available for purchase in the lobby. As expected in Sarasota the majority of the crowd seems to run 50+ years. My husband and I are not quite 30 so we tend to stick out at these events like a sore thumb! read more

My husband and I have bought season's tickets at the Asolo after adoring the first play we went to: The Three Muskateers. The subsequent plays were delightful until this afternoon when we subjected to the crude vulgarities of the play titled Born with Teeth. There was no reference in the pamphlet of the productions that the play would be about one male character trying to sedodemize the other male character. Besides a crude dark perspective of one man bullying another man into sex there was no content to the play. My husband and I walked out of the theater half way through and noticed another couple had also walked out. If this is the direction the Asolo theater will be going we will not be interested in purchasing season's tickets for next year. We look forward to the beautifully created plays and it is our highlight to spending a cultural day together but if a play is so appauling and sordid and vulgar that we can't sit and watch it and could not even imagine bringing a child to it then you need to reexamine your future path in the theater. If you intend to subject your audiences to vulgarities at what we interpreted was the director's own agenda to "educate" a sitting and willing audience then I suggest you clearly let your audience know that is the angle you are wanting to take so that they can decide for themselves if they want to support this direction of the "arts". I have been brought up in a very culturally artistic leaning environment where the art inspires and is not about debauchery and vulgarity. I expect more. I am honestly appauled and shocked this garbage was showcased at the Asolo and I implore it's board members to take a stand against this type of sexual exploratory vulgarity. I would have the same stance if this were a dialogue on set between a woman and a man although this was between two men. If art needs to debase itself to give sordid uncomfortable references in this manner it is not something I nor my husband wish to pay to support. This was insulting to our intelligence, upbringing, values and appreciation of the arts and the Asolo theater as we have come to have known and cherished it as a very special treat that we have invested in for our enjoyment. Debasement of human values is not something that we would tolerate now or in the future. If we would be subjected to another such performance as insulting as this one was to us we would certainly not buy another set of season's tickets for the following year. We are not supporters of the debasement of society and it's culture, We expected each play to elevate us towards beauty and inspiration as the others have so wonderfully done. Not leave us digusted as Born with Teeth did. We felt used and we will not continue to tolerate this in the future. I sincerely hope more people speak out as we did because we were not the only ones to walk out of the theater today. read more

The Asolo has a great stage, nice cozy size. Very helpful staff, spacious and plentiful parking.

Nice little theater. Nice but not great. Nice not comfortable. Just nice. I saw The Great Society here and had mixed feelings... The elevator only goes to the second floor and patrons must use stairs to reach upper balcony. (Not ideal if you're accompanying anybody with bad knees). The upper balcony provides poor viewing, not necessarily because it's at the top of the theater but because the roof of the stage cuts off 30% of the stage from view and woe be it if the play uses the rear stage wall to project anything onto it as you won't be able to see/read any of the content. Lastly, there is very little leg room in the balcony, perhaps 4 inches from your knee to the iron bars in front of you and boy do those railings hurt if you attempt to shift your weight or cross your legs. It's a bit like riding in United Airline's economy cabin. The bar is priced decently (rail drinks (e.g., Absolut) are $6, premium brands (e.g. Tito's) are a whopping $10, and its cash only but there is an ATM. read more

BEAUTIFUL THEATER I love to visit this theater primarily because it is a REAL theater, and there are so few of them in Florida. The two performances we've been to here have been quite good, but certainly not over-the-top in excellence. But it is so nice to see a live performance here. It is a true asset for Sarasota. I wish we had such a nice theater in Fort Myers... Physical plant & Ambiance - 5 STARS Performance Quality - 4 STARS Location - 5 STARS Value - 5 STARS read more

A very well done production . Part of FSU Ringling complex. Check out the museum and grounds before the show. read more

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I haven't seen the show yet however I will write a review after the show....walking into the theatre is confusing alone. The ushers do not know which direction to point you. On top of that they sit on their bums! I cannot believe the unprofessionalism they show! It does directly affect the actors. I will now walk into the performance with a negative connotation although the actors don't deserve it. read more

Total BS that they're requiring masks when patrons are outdoors & also socially distanced : when does the insanity end? Where are the adults? Won't pay $50 pp (or take free tickets) to be treated this way. Hope you go out of business! read more

My husband and I saw "Into the Breeches" last night at the Asolo Theater in Sarasota, Florida and were extremely disappointed. The talents and enthusiasm of the actors were wasted in this nonsensical play with virtually no redeeming features. The story line was absurd to the extreme. We couldn't wait for it to be over and wish we hadn't wasted our time and money seeing it. read more

Decent well appointed place with lots of free parking, EZ access and decent shows that seem to appeal to Northerners and Southerners. Every year when we go to the Gulf Coast we try to catch a show there. Looks like a giant grand old theater. Sometimes there are pre-show chats with a cast member for the audience. Good intel. Generally easy to get tickets, and unlike theaters in NY don't charge an arm and a leg to send you real tickets. For live theater id a mid-sized market, reasonably priced tickets. The only reason I'm not giving this more stars is because we bought tickets for a show in the afternoon, but changed our mind a few days later and instead preferred an evening show. Our mistake. Didn't realize it was for the afternoon. Called, wondered if we could instead buy evening tickets to a different show, same day. Sounds simple since they just went on sale and there are tons of tickets available. Oh no, no, no. We can't do that. You would think I was asking them for a new car. But we can buy new tickets to the other show and they can donate our tickets? Wow, what an option. We didn't fall off the turnip truck, or as you say in NY...Yougottabekiddin! Though the woman I spoke with was "sorry," which I doubt, seems they should change their self-created policy and help people. Less "sorry" and more action. read more

The shows here are spot on perfect. I think it's helpful to check out their Facebook page to see some of the back stories to the shows or the reasoning of the director in selecting a show. The shows are thought provoking, the acting is spot on and the sets are stunning. Even if you leave and don't like the show you saw...you will continue to think about it and expand your mind. read more

I have been here a few times. It is small, but it is a stunning theater. Never had bad service here, either. I've seen a few blah shows and some absolutely wonderful ones (particularly the ballets.) Even the room alone will have you admiring the art that went into creating this gorgeous theater. read more

Guys and Dolls was one of the most entertaining shows I have seen at the Asolo. The choreography and singing were superb! Don't miss this one. Adelaide was a standout. read more

I love the Asolo! They always put on AMAZING productions! I especially love it because the student discount tickets are crazy cheap!!!! The theatre is beautiful! read more

The Asolo is one of Sarasota's best attractions. If you're looking for excellent theatre, its right here. We've been going for years and are rarely disappointed. read more

Excellent theatre. We are so lucky to have quality theater in Sarasota. I've never been disappointed. We recently saw The Originalist, which was about Anton Scalia. It was well acted and offered several views of this Supreme Court justice. Just wonderful! read more

The Asolo theater is one of Sarasota's finest cultural assets. The casts, settings and performances are usually of top quality. Naturally, like any other theater, the Asolo occasionally flops but that's the exception. I'm a pretty severe theater critic but, if you like live theater and happen to be in Sarasota, I recommend that you do yourself a favor and take in a show at the Asolo. read more

Really wonderful theater. We see a production each time we visit Sarasota and have yet to be disappointed. Even "Guys and Dolls", which I wasn't particularly interested in seeing, ended up being first-rate and a ton of fun. Would highly recommend seeing anything here, really, and I am a bit particular about theater. read more

Asolo Rep's 52nd Season opened with a Bang! "Bonnie & Clyde" is off to Broadway in August! And now with the opening of "La Bete" a hilariously funny show, the Rep continues to ignite and excite the west coast of Florida's audiencies once again.Don't miss this winning season. Next up is 12 Angry Men and then romp with Boeing, Boeing. Can't wait to see whats next! read more