First Look: B’way-Bound Tale Takes Sarasota
October 19, 2007 1:36 pm
The pre-Broadway engagement of Jill Santoriello’s A Tale of Two Cities has started performances at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida, and judging from these exclusive shots, it looks stunning! Check out the towering sets by the legendary Tony Walton (who designed my favorite show EVER, Grand Hotel), the rich costumes by David Zinn and Richard Pilbrow’s evocative lighting. Oh—and the cast (led by James Barbour, above) ain’t bad to look at, either! I don’t know how the show is actually playing, but it’s already starting to look like a Broadway hit to me! Photos by Carol Rosegg
The full company.
Derek Keeling as Charles Darnay romances Jessica Rush as Lucie Manette.
Natalie Toro as the evil (”Hissssss!”) Madame Defarge.
Barbour as Sydney Carton visits the Manettes at home.
The Parisian peasants invent street theater.
Keeling as Darnay realizes he must return to his ravaged Paris to rescue the innocent Gabelle.
Liberte! Fraternite! Egalite!
Attorney Sydney Carton, spy John Barsad (Nick Wyman) and graverobber Jerry Cruncher (Craig Bennett) meet for a friendly drink.
Christmas Eve, London, 1775.
The rescue of Charles Darnay begins with a handshake.
Lucie Manette prepares for her wedding to Darnay with the help of the ubiquitous Miss Pross (Katherine McGrath).
Plotting the revolution at the infamous Defarge wine shop.
The dance before the storm.
Darnay challenges the most evil man in France, his uncle the Marquis St. Evremonde (Les Minski) as the doomed servent Gabelle (Kevin Greene) looks on.
Dr. Manette (Alex Santoriello) is “recalled to life.”
Jessica Rush as the brave Lucie Manette.
“It is a far, far better thing I do than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”
Stage Notes
5 Responses to “First Look: B’way-Bound Tale Takes Sarasota”
I always wonder how many people realize that the famous lines from the novel - “It is a far better thing I do…” - were not actually spoken by anyone in the novel. They were the narrator speculating on what Sydney might have been thinking as he was being led to the guillotine.
Looks Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fantastic photos. The set and costumes have matched the high standards of Charles Dicken’s classic story and Jill Santorillo’s musical adaptation. Can’t wait until “A Tale of Two Cities” reaches Broadway!
This looks fabulous! I’m so excited to see it come to Broadway. I just listened to the soundtrack at www.ataleof2cities.com and it is incredibly dynamic. Thanks so much for sharing and be sure to keep us posted!!!
Official “London” opening was last night…one of 2. Tonight is the “Paris” opening. The show is absolutely amazing. There have been several cuts to get the first act down to 83 minutes…but remember it’s a long book. Some of the photos above reflect a costume change from the “final” look. See the show to see if you can pick out the little differences…and it’s a lot less expensive in Sarasota than it will be in NYC….and you are a WHOLE lot close to the action. Closes NOV 13th.
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