ASOLO REP’S DIAL M FOR MURDER ADDS NEW TWISTS
ASOLO REP’S DIAL M FOR MURDER ADDS NEW TWISTS
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(Sarasota, FLA)– Asolo Repertory Theatre announces its gripping rendition of the classic thriller, DIAL M FOR MURDER, an intense cat-and-mouse game directed by Céline Rosenthal. Frederick Knott’s classic thriller of blackmail and revenge, the basis for Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic movie, is given a stylish, intoxicating update in Jeffrey Hatcher’s brand-new adaptation. Previews begin on March 20, opens on March 22 and runs through April 25, 2024, in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
Hang on to the edge of your seat through the twists and turns of DIAL M FOR MURDER. Set in 1950s London, a husband plots to murder his wife, but when his plan goes awry, he must scramble to keep from getting caught. Will he get away with it, or will justice be served? Only one way to find out.
Leading the production of DIAL M FOR MURDER, director Rosenthal expresses admiration for Hatcher’s reimagining of the classic thriller. “What's most ingenious about Jeffrey's adaptation is that it takes the central female protagonist, originally a classic damsel-in-distress, and endows her with greater depth and agency--and even though we have preserved the 1950s setting, the story is so prescient that feels like it could be today. I find it empowering, validating, funny, and surprisingly relevant.”
Rosenthal, is a Tony®-nominated producer and proud member of The Ring Of Keys, as well as a New Georges Affiliate Artist. At Asolo Rep, they've directed a diverse array of productions including Grand Horizons, The Incident At Our Lady Of Perpetual Help, The Lifespan of a Fact, and Camelot, as well as overseeing educational tours of Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest. Additionally, they served as assistant director to Frank Galati on Knoxville. Their dedication to new work is evident through collaborations with NYMF, New Georges, MTF, Kidoons, and National Queer Theatre. They also lead Asolo Rep’s new work series, The Ground Floor. Notable recent projects include In The Next Room, Angel Street, A Doll’s House, and Spike Heels at Studio Theatre, Trayf at New Rep, and Drowning in Cairo with N.Q.T. Their creative repertoire extends beyond the stage to include the award-winning short film Wildflower. Rosenthal's expertise is further enriched by their alumni status at CTI and BMI Lehman Engel Workshop.
The cast includes Tony Carter as Tony Wendice and Brooke Turner as Margot Wendice. Carter is excited to be making his Asolo Rep debut! While he’s based in Chicago, he loves bouncing around the country for work. Some of his favorite credits include Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast (Drury Lane Theatre), Chris in The Play That Goes Wrong (Oregon Cabaret Theatre), Freddy in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Actors Theatre of Indiana), and Oliver in As You Like it (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre & Milwaukee Rep). He’s also proud to have worked at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, PCPA: Pacific Conservatory Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre, and Utah Festival Opera.
Turner is an FSU/Asolo M.F.A. candidate and intimacy director from Cleveland, OH, where she earned her B.F.A. in Classical Acting fromBaldwin Wallace University. Some previous credits include Inherit the Wind (Mrs. McLain) and Our Town (Wally U/S) at Asolo Rep, Pride and Prejudice (Elizabeth U/S) and Misery (Annie U/S) at Great Lakes Theatre, and Richard III (Lady Anne) with The Idaho Shakespeare Festival.
Rounding out the cast are Mark Benninghofen (Inspector Hubbard), Christina Mei Chen (U/S Maxine Halliday), Alex Hatcher (U/S Tony Wendice), Billy Lyons (U/S Inspector Hubbard), Sharon Pearlman (U/S Margot Wendice), Jackson Purdy (U/S Lesgate), and Mikhail Roberts (Lesgate).
The creative team features Céline Rosenthal (Director), Antonio Troy Ferron (Scenic Design), Tracy Dorman (Costume Design), James E. Lawlor III (Lighting Design), Sharath Patel (Sound Design), Robert Elhai (Original Music Compositions), Michelle Hart (Hair, Wig, and Makeup Design), Mark Rose (Fight Choreographer), Summer Dawn Wallace (Intimacy Consultant), Patricia Delorey (Voice & Dialect Coach), DeWanda Smith Soeder (Cultural Competency Consultant), Drayton Alexander (Dramaturg), Claire Simon Casting(Chicago Casting), Murnane Casting, Chad Eric Murnane, CSA (New York Casting), Céline Rosenthal (Resident Casting Director), Nia Sciarretta* (Production Stage Manager) Kristin Loughry* (Assistant Stage Manager).
Don’t miss your chance to experience the suspense, drama, and intrigue of DIAL M FOR MURDER on stage at Asolo Rep from March 20 through April 25, 2024. Previews are March 20 and March 21, with opening night March 22, 2024. Visit asolorep.org for a full performance schedule. Tickets start at $35 and are available now in person at Asolo Rep's Box Office at 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, by phone at 941.351.8000 or 800.361.8388, or online at asolorep.org
CAST
(In Alphabetical Order)
Mark Benninghofen*......................................................Inspector Hubbard
Tony Carter*........................................................................Tony Wendice
Mikhail Roberts≠.............................................................................Lesgate
Brooke Turner.................................................................Margot Wendice
TBD*..............................................................................Maxine Halliday
*Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
≠Appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association
SELECT CREATIVE TEAM
Scenic Design…………………………...…………..Antonio Troy Ferron
Costume Design…………………….........…………….Tracy Dorman
Lighting Design………………………....…………..James E. Lawlor III
Sound Design…………………......…....……………….Sharath Patel
Original Music Compositions…….............………………Robert Elhai
Hair, Wig, and Makeup Design…....…........……………Michelle Hart
Fight Choreographer…………….................……………….Mark Rose
Intimacy Consultant……………………………..Summer Dawn Wallace
Voice & Dialect Coach………............………………….Patricia Delorey
Cultural Competency Consultant ……………..DeWanda Smith Soeder
Dramaturg………………........……………………….Drayton Alexander
Chicago Casting…………..........……………………..Claire Simon Casting
New York Casting……………Murnane Casting, Chad Eric Murnane, CSA
Resident Casting Director………….................…………...Céline Rosenthal
Production Stage Manager……......................………………..Nia Sciarretta*
Assistant Stage Manager……..................…………………..Kristin Loughry*
ENHANCED EXPERIENCES
Asolo Rep Talkbacks (FREE)
Tuesday April 9, 7pm performance and Tuesday, April 21, 2024, 2pm performances
Attendees can enhance their experience with this post-show conversations that are facilitated between the audience and members of the production team or cast.
OUT@AsoloRep
Thursday, March 28, 2024, 7:30pm performance
OUT@AsoloRep is Sarasota’s premier cultural event connecting local LGBTQIA+ communities with fantastic theatre. This subscription comes with a pre-show reception for each production. For subscription and ticket information, contact the box office.
OUT@AsoloRep is sponsored by Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Morton's Gourmet Market, CAN Community Health, Joe Arena & Dr. Thomas D’Eletto, ALSO Youth and Project Pride.
PlayDate (FREE)
Saturday, April 20, 2024, 2pm performances
These show-based workshops for young people offer a FREE childcare option for adults attending a mainstage performance.
Illumination
Saturday, April 13, 2024, 2 pm.
SPONSORS
Asolo Rep is able to present DIAL M FOR MURDER because of the generosity of its sponsors. The show sponsors for INTIMATE APPAREL are: Plumbing Today, Residence Inn by Marriot, Observer Media Group, Simply Gourmet by Metz, Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation
Asolo Rep’s 2023-24 Major Season Sponsors are Florida State University, the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the Huisking Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, the Koski Family Foundation, Designing Women Boutique/Groundworks and The Exchange. Asolo Rep is also sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts. Asolo Rep’s artistic programs are paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues.
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ABOUT ASOLO REP
Now in its 65th season, Asolo Repertory Theatre is recognized as one of the premier professional theatres in America and one of the largest in the Southeastern United States. One of the few select theatres in the nation that performs in true rotating repertory, Asolo Rep’s highly skilled acting company and extensive craftsmanship bring to life this unique performance method that gives audiences the opportunity to see multiple productions in the span of a few days. Asolo Rep presents up to 6 productions each season, including contemporary and classic works and provocative musical theatre experiences. A theatre district in and of itself, Asolo Rep is committed to expanding its reach into the community, furthering its collaboration with the best theatre artists working in the industry today and cultivating new artists through its affiliation with the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. Under the new leadership of Producing Artistic Director Peter Rothstein and Managing Director Ross Egan, Asolo Rep’s ambitious theatrical offerings and ground-breaking education and community programming engage audiences and ensure its lasting legacy for future generations. Visit asolorep.org to learn more.