Historic Asolo Theater to Open its Curtain

Monday, June 26, 2006

WHAT            Representatives from the media are invited to a preview of the completed Historic Asolo Theater before its public unveiling on June 29^th.   Access to the leadership, curatorial, conservation, construction and architectural teams who restored and reinstalled the theater will also be on hand to answer questions and share inside details of the two-year long project.

Interviews available:

• Dr. John Wetenhall, Executive Director
• Michelle Scalera, Chief Conservator
• Dwight Currie, Curator of the Historic Asolo Theater
• Jack Whelan, Project Manager
• John LaCivita, Construction Manager
• Chrissy Kruger-Gruendyke, APR,  Director, Marketing & Communications

WHEN            Monday, June 26, 2006, assembly will begin at 10 a.m.

WHERE         The Visitors Pavilion at the Museum’s main entrance

                        5401 Bay Shore Road
                        Sarasota, FL 34243

CHECK-IN    Enter the grounds through the Vistiors Pavilion at the Museum’s main entrance where check-in will be positioned in the lobby.

DIRECTIONS From I-75, Exit 213; west on University Parkway, cross Tamiami Trail (US 41) to Ringling Museum at 5401 Bay Shore Road.  Visit www.ringling.org for more information.

BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THEATER
The Historic Asolo Theater is an 18^th Century Theater from Asolo, Italy.  The Asolo Theater was originally built in 1798 within the castle of exiled Queen of Cyprus, Caterina Cornaro. The Ringling Museum’s first director, A. Everett “Chick” Austin, Jr. made the theater a part of the Museum collection in 1950.  It has since made an impression on many generations of Sarasota residents and tourists until it was closed to the public in the late 1990s. It was removed from its former building and has been under restoration for nearly two years.  It was earmarked to be re-installed in the Museum’s new Visitors Pavilion after being completely restored as part of the Master Plan.   The theater’s reveal is a highly anticipated event scheduled for June 29^th.  Theater patrons can look forward to a varied schedule of theater, music, dance, film, family programming and lectures to begin in the fall.

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General Admission includes the Ringling Museum of Art, special exhibitions, Ca' d’Zan Mansion, Circus Museum, and Mable’s historic Rose Garden, all on 66 acres of lushly landscaped grounds. Adults are $25; senior citizens (65 and over) are $20; children ages 6-17 are $5.  Free Admission for children 5 and under accompanied by an adult, museum members.  Advance tickets are available by calling 941.358.3180. Visit Ringling.org for more information.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complexes in the nation.  It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Ca' d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museums; the Original Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.
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