ARTICLE
The Players Centre presents Ann Morrison’s Merrily from Center Stage See Sarasota’s own Ann Morrison in her highly acclaimed performance direct from 54 Below in New York Contact Contact Name: Amanda Heisey Contact Email: amandah@theplayers.org Contact Phone Number: 941-365-2494 Sarasota, FL – Sept 14, 2022 – The Players Centre for Performing Arts presents local powerhouse talent Ann Morrison in her new show Merrily From Center Stage Sept. 24 at 7:30pm and Sept. 25 at 2pm at Studio 1130 located in the Crossings at Siesta Key mall (3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239). Broadway veteran Morrison brings to The Players her performance, including insights and never heard tales of Merrily We Roll Along from the perspective of her award-winning character Mary Flynn. Forty years later and a few years wiser, in her signature playful and heartfelt style, Ann reprises the Stephen Sondheim songs she had the honor of introducing to the world. Ann will be joined by John Shirley as musical director and accompanist John played with Ann in her last show, My Furniture Set. “Non-stop, incredible storytelling and gorgeous song interpretation.” - Jennifer Tepper, 54 Below "Masterful, wildly unexpected, and profoundly moving!" - Maryrose Wood, Variety "A tour-de-force performance (and script) from start to finish!" "Morrison's memory seems to be in crystal clear snap-trap working order. The details that the singing actress produces in the script of her show are stunningly outlined and breathtakingly arranged for immaculate storytelling effect. What she and Musical Director John Shirley (with an assist from Creative Consultant Blake Walton) have done is take all of those memories, deconstruct them, reconstruct them, and then layer in the original Merrily score, also de-and-re-constructed, to tell the tale of the time before Merrily, the casting of Merrily, and the rehearsal of Merrily - a process that sounds harrowing enough to drive any actor out of show business. But it didn't." - Stephen Mosher, BroadwayWorld Performances Sept. 24 at 7:30pm Sept. 25 at 2pm at Crossing at Siesta Key – Studio 1130 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239 Patrons are asked to park and enter the mall by Connors Steak and Seafood Tickets $25 single $75 VIP table with 2 drinks Who’s involved Ann Morrison (Performer/Writer/ Director)is an award-winning actress, writer, teacher and director for over 40 years. On Broadway she starred as Mary Flynn in the original Sondheim/Furth musical Merrily We Roll Along directed by Harold Prince (1982 Theatre World Award), in the original Kurt Weill/Alfred Uhry musical Lovemusik (2007) also directed by Harold Prince, and in the Stephen Sondheim Tribute Children and Art (2005); London’s West End in Peg; Off-Broadway in the musical Goblin Market (Drama Desk Award Nom.) and was an original cast member of Forbidden Broadway. Nationally, she has starred in Sondheim on Sondheim, Into the Woods, Peter Pan, Guys & Dolls, Cabaret, Oliver! Sunset Boulevard, On A Clear Day, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Good News, Embarrassments, Anyone Can Whistle, plus many many more. Locally she starred in Noel & Gertie, Shadowlands, Ruthless! I Do, I Do! with Blake Walton. The quintessential solo artist, Ann has performed cabaret in major venues across the country, most recently at Feinstein's/54 Below in NYC. She won a Best Actress Award for her solo play Linda Lovely Goes to Broadway in the United Solo Festival in NYC, and appeared there again with her solo play Word Painting: Soliloquies Around an Easel. Four of Ann's solo plays are published. She was the Co-founder of Kaleidoscope, a musical theatre workshop for persons with developmental disabilities, and currently co-founder/Artistic Director of SaraSolo Productions, helping to develop and celebrate the solo theatre artists especially those concerned as “Other Than. She can be heard on original cast recordings and studio recordings such as Merrily We Roll Along, Peg, Goblin Market, Good News, I remember Mama, Lady Be Good, Sing Before Breakfast, and The Road to Ruin. She is the recipient of several HANDY, SAMMY, and SARASOTA MAGAZINE Awards as well as the JOHN RINGLING TOWERS AWARD. Ann plays herself in the 2017 documentary Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened. Most recently performed Merrily From Center Stage at Feinstein’s/54 Below. Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Morrison www.annmorrsion.net John Shirley (Accompanist/Arranger/Musical Director) has performed in venues from L.A. to London, including Feinstein’s/54 Below, Don't Tell Mama, The Duplex and Swing 46. He currently plays in the Tampa Bay area. He has great knowledge of popular music, especially great American standards, classic Broadway, the Beatles, Elton John and Billy Joel. He loves requests and can play and sing hundreds of songs by ear. He works with many local performers on a regular basis and is a member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay. John was accompanist, arranger and musical director for Ann in her last show, “My Furniture Set” at Feinstein’s/54 Below in 2018. Most recently played with Ann in “Merrily From Center Stage” at Feinstein’s/54 Below. Blake Walton (Creative Consultant) is an award-winning actor, director, playwright, screenwriter, teaching artist, and acting coach for the past 40 years. In 2020 he made Sarasota his home again after a 17-year absence. Most recently he directed the world premiere of Sharon Ohrenstein in her and David Ohrenstein’s Rhapsody For Golda at the 2022 SaraSolo SpringFest; The Unspoken Problem and The Real World (Best Play Winner) for Theater Odyssey’s 2022 10 Minute Student Playwriting Festival and both Bloodline and Fermata (Best Play Runner-Up) for the 2021 Festival. New York directing credits include Ann Morrison in Linda Lovely Goes To Broadway and Word Painting: Soliloquies Around An Easel; Heather Massie in Hedy! The Life and Inventions Of Hedy Lamarr, In The Moment, The XXX Scholar, Shangri-La, and The Better Man. Chicago: Out Of My Mind and The Charm. Sarasota: Marvin’s Room, Jest A Second, Singin ’In The Rain, 42nd Street, Big River, Babes In Arms, and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Co-founder and Managing Director of SaraSolo Productions. www.blakewalton.info. Photos https://www.dropbox.com/s/9pa49nnwjaaqzat/2510B9F7-1CF2-4AAC-A5D1-345837C3AD34.jpeg?dl=0 About The Players Centre for Performing Arts The Players Centre for Performing Arts is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to entertaining, educating and engaging the community through high quality live theatre. The Players Studio, the education and outreach department for The Players Centre for Performing Arts, promotes inclusive learning and upholds the ideals of equality and diversity, while providing a safe environment for students of all ages and abilities to explore their creative side, strengthen life and social skills, and use different movement, fitness, voice and dramatic disciplines to embrace mental, physical and emotional health through the arts. # # # The Players Centre for Performing Arts 1400 Blvd. of the Arts, Suite 200, Sarasota FL 34236, 941-365-2494, Fax: 941-954-0282 www.theplayers.org Box Office: Mon-Sat, 10am – 4pm.