ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE PROUDLY PARTNERS
WITH THE CHARLES AND MARGERY BARANCIK FOUNDATION
TO SUPPORT THE THEATRE’S 2016-17 SEASON
AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES;
ASOLO REP RECEIVES $100,000 GRANT FROM THE BARANCIK FOUNDATION
(SARASOTA, November 2, 2016) — Asolo Repertory Theatre will proudly partner with the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation to support several key components of the theatre’s 2016-17 season and its relationship with the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. The Barancik Foundation’s $100,000 grant will support Asolo Rep’s highly anticipated mainstage season, its Youth Access to the Arts student matinee series, the 2016 Shakespeare Tour of The Tragedy of Hamlet, which will reach 14,000 students and patrons throughout the state of Florida, and more.
“The Barancik Foundation is committed to offering young people a variety of cultural and artistic influences that provide them with the tools to inspire others,” said Teri A Hansen, President | CEO of the Barancik Foundation. “Asolo Repertory Theatre shares this commitment and is an excellent partner in this important work.”
The grant will provide core support for Asolo Rep’s 2016-17 season, from the creation of innovative sets, props and costumes, to the theatre’s dedication to bring renowned actors, directors, designers, and artists to Sarasota. It will also enhance the theatre’s Youth Access to the Arts programs, which bring theatre to area schools and also provide students with the opportunity to attend world-class productions at Asolo Rep. Thanks to the Barancik Foundation’s generosity and foresight, local students will experience Asolo Rep’s productions of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy Guys and Dolls and the beloved classic Garson Kanin comedy Born Yesterday. To further enhance the fall tour and the student matinee performances, Asolo Rep’s award-winning Education and Outreach department provides resource guides, classroom workshops led by Asolo Rep teaching artists, actor-led post-show discussions, and more to further enrich the students’ theatrical experience.
Seventy one percent of the student audiences Asolo Rep served during this past school year reported that they never or rarely see live theatre performances, and 87 percent reported that they were eager for future opportunities. The students own words describe the impact of their experience: “I never knew how interesting Shakespeare really was,” wrote a 6th grade audience member from Local Nokomis School. An 11th grader from Lemon Bay High School explained, “When reading Shakespeare it’s hard for me to get in the mood, but seeing it performed made things funny and playful and I really enjoyed it.”
The grant also helps to underwrite the cost of 12 second-year FSU/Asolo Conservatory students traveling to London for an enlightening six-week training session. When the Conservatory students return from their London training, they become the acting company for the Shakespeare production that Asolo Rep and the FSU/Asolo Conservatory tour in the fall, and then part of the mainstage company for the season.
“We share the Barnacik Foundation’s belief that exposing our youngest generations to the arts is an essential and invaluable aspect of their education,” said Linda DiGabriele, Managing Director of Asolo Rep. “This grant will deeply impact the entire institution – backstage, on stage, and our ability to engage with our community.”
For more information about Asolo Rep and its 2016-17 season, visit www.asolorep.org.
About Asolo Repertory Theatre
Now in its 58th 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 15 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 leadership of Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards and Managing Director Linda DiGabriele, Asolo Rep’s ambitious theatrical offerings and ground-breaking education and outreach programming engage audiences and ensure its lasting legacy for future generations.
About Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation
The Charles and Margery Barancik family has long believed in the power of philanthropy to shape our world and enrich the lives of all people. It was the expression of this belief that led them in 2014 to establish the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation—a private, family foundation located in Sarasota, Florida. The Barancik Foundation creates initiatives and awards grants in Sarasota and beyond in the areas of education, humanitarian causes, arts and culture, the environment, and medical (research/resources). For further information, please contact Kelly Romanoff at [email protected].
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