Asolo Rep Proudly Presents the Regional Premiere of Tony Award- winner Joe DiPietro’s Music-Infused Comedy Living on Love
“We’re talking big laughs.” — New York Post
(SARASOTA, December 9, 2015) — Asolo Rep proudly presents the regional premiere of two- time Tony Award®-winner Joe DiPietro’s effervescent music-infused comedy, LIVING ON LOVE, which premiered on Broadway in the spring of 2015. Directed by Peter Amster, who helmed last season’s box office record-breaking production of The Matchmaker, previews are January 13 and 14 at 8pm, the production opens on Friday, January 15 at 8pm and runs in rotating repertory through Thursday, February 25 in the Mertz Theatre.
Like a fine vintage champagne, celebrity opera diva Raquel and her egotistical maestro husband Vito De Angelis bubble over with much more than just musical prowess. The drama of any opera is no match for the melodrama of their marriage. When Raquel discovers that Vito has eyes for the young, beautiful ghostwriter hired to write his autobiography, she doesn’t get mad, she gets even and hires an equally young and attractive scribe to pen her own autobiography. A pair of playful butlers and Raquel’s Pomeranian pooch “Puccini” round out this glamourous world where all might just be fair in love and war.
“When I sat down to read LIVING ON LOVE for the first time, I started laughing on page one, and didn’t really stop until right near the end, when its sentiment and depth of feeling surprised and moved me,” said Director Peter Amster. “I have a special place in my heart for stories about performers who are larger than life, behaving badly, full of passion, full of insecurities, and full of themselves. And I have another special place in my heart for opera, and the fact that Raquel, the leading lady, is an opera diva, and snippets of La Bohème, Carmen, The Magic Flute and The Pearl Fishers, among others, float on the air throughout the show, gives the play ‘extra credit’ in my book.”
Globally renowned opera and West End sensation Rebecca Caine stars as dramatic diva Raquel De Angelis. Ms. Caine originated the role of Cosette in the 1985 world premiere Royal Shakespeare Company production of Les Misérables and the role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera in Canada. Chicago-based actor Karl Hamilton, who was recently seen in The Goodman Theatre’s production of The Jungle Book, stars as her maestro husband, Vito De Angelis. He also plays Senator Hubert Humphrey in Asolo Rep’s production of All the Way.
Living on Love
Playwright Joe DiPietro received two Tony Awards for writing the book and lyrics for the 2010 Broadway hit musical Memphis. He was nominated for a Tony Award for penning the book for the musical Nice Work If You Can Get It. On Broadway, he also wrote the book for All Shook Up. LIVING ON LOVE is based on the 1985 classic play Peccadillo by Academy Award®- winner Garson Kanin.
“We are thrilled to present the regional premiere of LIVING ON LOVE – a brand new American comedy,” said Michael Donald Edwards, Producing Artistic Director of Asolo Rep. “Tony Award- winner Joe DiPietro’s outrageously over the top characters somehow tap into the most basic human needs in this hilarious and hugely touching production filled with lots of laughs and love.”
CAST
(In Order of Appearance)
Josh James Robert Samson
Roland Rusinek* Eric
Matthew McGee* Bruce
Karl Hamilton* Vito De Angelis
Rebecca Caine* Raquel De Angelis
Ally Farzetta Iris Peabody
* = Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
SELECTED CREATIVE TEAM MEMBERS
Director Peter Amster
Scenic and Costume Designer Robert Perdziola
Lighting Designer Christopher Ostrom
Sound Designer Matthew Parker
Hair/Wig & Make-Up Designer Michelle Hart
Voice & Dialect Coach Patricia Delorey
SELECTED ARTISTIC BIOS
(In Alphabetical Order)
PETER AMSTER ASSOCIATE ARTIST, EIGHTH SEASON (Director, Living on Love) returns to Asolo Rep where he directed The Matchmaker, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike, You Can’t Take it With You, Fallen Angels, Deathtrap, The Perfume Shop, This Wonderful Life and choreographed 1776. In Chicago, he was nominated for Joseph Jefferson Awards for directing Once on this Island, The World Goes Round, The Rothschilds (Apple Tree Theatre), and Pride and Prejudice (Northlight Theatre). Other Chicago area theatres include Steppenwolf, The Goodman, The Court, Live Bait, Pegasus, and Route 66. Regional theatres include the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Utah Shakespeare Festival, ACT, Syracuse Stage, Geva Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, American Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Peninsula Players, Weston Playhouse, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, and Laguna Playhouse. Peter has directed and choreographed operas for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Theatre, Skylight Opera in Milwaukee, and Light Opera Works in Evanston, IL.
REBECCA CAINE* GUEST ARTIST, FIRST SEASON (Raquel De Angelis, Living on Love) is an internationally renowned Canadian soprano. Her experience encompasses opera, musical
theatre and cabaret. She has sung a wide range of operatic roles from Monteverdi and Mozart, through Verdi to Berg at such houses as Glyndebourne, English National Opera, Antwerp, Prague, Nice, Glimmerglass and the Canadian Opera Company. Caine has also created roles in contemporary opera. In musical theatre, she created the role of Cosette at the premiere
of Les Misérables in 1985 for the Royal Shakespeare Company and originated the role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera in Canada. Other work includes leads in My Fair Lady and Oklahoma! in the West End. Her recordings include Leading Ladies, her solo album.
KARL HAMILTON* GUEST ARTIST, FIRST SEASON (Sen. Hubert Humphrey, All the Way; Vito De Angelis, Living on Love) Mr. Hamilton is absolutely thrilled to avoid Chicago’s winter and make his Asolo Rep debut. His Chicago credits include: The Most Happy Fella (Ravinia
Festival), The Jungle Book and By the Music of the Spheres (Goodman), Ride the Cyclone, The Three Musketeers, The Merry Wives of Windsor and As You Like It (Chicago Shakespeare Theater) A Christmas Carol, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Mame (Drury Lane Oakbrook), For the Boys, The Full Monty and Shenandoah (Marriott), The Christmas
Schooner and The Addams Family (Mercury) which earned him a Jeff Nomination for his portrayal of Gomez. Karl remains a proud and outspoken member of the Actors’ Equity Association.
LIVING ON LOVE PUBLIC PROGRAMMING
Inside Asolo Rep: LIVING ON LOVE & AH, WILDERNESS!
Wednesday, January 27 at 11am Asolo Rep’s Mezzanine
Panel discussions are $5 and free for all donors and Asolo Rep Guild Members
Get rare insights into the artistic process, hear directly from the people responsible for producing LIVING ON LOVE and AH, WILDERNESS!, and engage in stimulating discussion inspired by the plays’ themes and issues.
Inside Asolo Rep is sponsored by Hotel Indigo and the Observer
OUT@AsoloRep: LIVING ON LOVE
Wednesday, February 17 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 seventh 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, gain personal insight into LIVING ON LOVE from the creative team and cast members, and mingle with the actors and other OUT attendees after the performance.
OUT@AsoloRep is sponsored by U.S. Trust, Visit Sarasota County, Morton’s Gourmet Market & Catering, Community Foundation of Sarasota County – Our Sarasota Fund and McCauley Brown Fund, and Watermark Media.
The Scoop
One hour prior to every performance of LIVING ON LOVE
Asolo Rep’s Mertz Theatre, orchestra level
Arrive one hour before curtain to hear the ideas and inspirations that contributed to the making of LIVING ON LOVE.
Tuesday Talkbacks
February 9 & 23
Asolo Rep’s Mezzanine
Join us for an intimate post-show discussion with featured actors or guests following every Tuesday performance of LIVING ON LOVE.
Meet the Actors
Sunday, February 21 at 2pm Asolo Rep’s Mertz Theatre
Immediately following the 2pm matinee, ask questions and learn more from members of the cast at this intimate discussion.
TICKETS
New this Season: Start times for Wednesday & Thursday performances will be moved one-half hour earlier to 1:30pm and 7:30pm. All preview performances will begin at 8pm.
Tickets for LIVING ON LOVE and the entire 2015-2016 Asolo Repertory Theatre season are on sale now. Tickets for LIVING ON LOVE start at $24. 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. The box office is currently open Monday 10am – 4pm, Tuesday – Thursday 10am – 7:30pm, Friday – Saturday 10am – 8pm, and Sunday 10am – 2pm. The box office closes at 5pm when there are no evening performances and phone lines close one hour prior to the start of any performance. Season subscription packages are also available online and by visiting or calling the box office.
SPONSORS
Asolo Rep is able to present LIVING ON LOVE because of the generosity of its sponsors. Corporate sponsors for LIVING ON LOVE are Sun Hydraulics, WUSF, Stella Artois, Observer Media Group, Modern Events, and Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Asolo Rep 2015-2016 Major Season Sponsors are Florida State University, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Designing Women Boutique, Woman’s Exchange, Inc., and Sunset Cadillac of Bradenton. Asolo Rep’s artistic programs are paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues. Asolo Rep is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.
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