pelicanpress.org
October 31 2007
Does "A Tale of Two Cities" live up to all of its hype? In a word, yes. You have your classy story, a top-notch cast, seamless direction, and perfectly acceptable music all tied up in a beautifully mounted production designed by the legendary Tony Walton.
creativeloafing.com
October 31 2007
A specter is haunting the Asolo Rep's superb production of A Tale of Two Cities, a specter whose name is Les Mis?rables. Yes, Tale is about a different French Revolution, and no, Charles Dickens' plot doesn't closely resemble Victor Hugo's. But so many themes in both musicals are the same -- hunger and heroism, justice and insurrection, self-sacrifice and perfect love -- that you just can't forget the one while viewing the other. How can you see a stage full of oppressed Frenchies in Tale without recalling the heroes at the barricades in Les Miz? How can you hear Jill Santoriello's rousing anthems (she also wrote the book of the musical) without remembering the equally heroic songs of Boublil and Sch?nberg? Let me make myself clear: A Tale of Two Cities is wonderfully satisfying -- visually, musically, histrionically and narratively (actually, it's much easier to follow than Les Miz). But even in the midst of its most glorious moments, you can't help but think, "Haven't I been here before?" So it's not essentially new; still, in every other way Tale of Two Cities is mightily pleasing.
broadwayworld.com
October 31 2007
Currently making its world premiere pre-Broadway debut at Sarasota's Asolo Repertory Theatre, Jill Santoriello's musical epic A Tale of Two Cities, is playing to sold-out audiences through November 18, after opening October 26 & 27. BroadwayWorld.com brings you special sneak preview of this sweeping production!
heraldtribune.com
October 30 2007
"A triumph ?" "Best thing the Asolo's ever done ?" "Excellent ?" "Better than anything on Broadway ?"
heraldtribune.com
October 29 2007
Audience members, producers and the cast talk about what the night was like.
broadway.com
October 29 2007
I spent the weekend in Sarasota, Florida, for the opening night celebrations for A Tale of Two Cities at the Asolo Repertory Theatre.
bradenton.com
October 29 2007
Some of the best musicals are the ones that make you forget that you are sitting in a theater. They are the kinds of shows that make the audience feel as if they are a bystander within the plot. Such is the case for Jill Santoriello's enchanting new epic, "A Tale of Two Cities," which officially premiered at the Asolo Repertory Theatre Friday night for a pre-Broadway run.
sarasotamagazine.com
October 27 2007
The challenges of adapting a classic novel for the musical theater are enormous; the ones facing a production of Charles Dickens? A Tale of Two Cities, with its perhaps inevitable comparisons to megahit Les Mis?rables, are obvious as well. That said, the (hopefully) Broadway-bound musical version of Tale, now onstage at the Asolo Repertory Theatre, meets those challenges head-on and with considerable skill and artistry.
broadway.com
October 27 2007
Jill Santoriello's A Tale of Two Cities has taken its first step to the Broadway stage, with a two-night opening celebration at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. With one party for London on Friday, October 26 and another for Paris the next night, cast members had plenty of time to smile for our cameras and mingle and nosh with big wigs of the premiere regional theater. We bring you here not only exclusive party coverage, but also a peek at the backstage life of the show, which hopes to open on Broadway by season's end. If you can't wait til then, you can always catch this epic musical drama at the Asolo through November 18 if you're willing to beg, steal and borrow... the smash hit is already completely sold out!
heraldtribune.com
October 28 2007
Although the Asolo Repertory Theatre is filled with Broadway veterans, the biggest star involved with the world premiere of "A Tale of Two Cities" will not be seen by audiences. He is scenic designer Tony Walton, who has taken audiences to all sorts of places in a career that includes numerous movies, dozens of Broadway shows and 16 Tony Award nominations, of which he won three.
playbill.com
October 26 2007
A Tale of Two Cities, the Broadway-aimed musical by Jill Santoriello that draws on the famous 1859 novel by Charles Dickens, will celebrate two opening nights ? each followed by a novel-themed afterglow ? Oct. 26-27 in Florida.
sptimes.com
October 25 2007
Soaring ballads and choruses in pop-operatic style? Check. Lavish set and costumes? Check. So the thinking must have gone for A Tale of Two Cities, a new musical adapted from the Charles Dickens classic with book, music and lyrics by Jill Santoriello, which opens this weekend at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota.
broadwayworld.com
October 23 2007
Jill Santoriello's sweeping new musical epic world premiere pre-Broadway try-out of A Tale of Two Cities opens October 26 and October 27 at the Asolo Repertory Theatre's mainstage, The Harold E. and Esther M. Mertz Theatre in Sarasota, Florida (5555 North Tamiami Trail), with performances through November 18.
broadway.com
October 19 2007
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!
playbill.com
October 13 2007
A Tale of Two Cities, the Broadway-aimed musical by Jill Santoriello that draws on the famous 1859 novel by Charles Dickens, begins a tryout engagement Oct. 13 at Asolo Repertory Theatre's Mertz Theatre in Sarasota, FL.
heraldtribune.com
October 11 2007
Critics often face a dilemma as they prepare to review a show. How much do we prepare?
heraldtribune.com
October 11 2007
Some people go on reality TV shows for the adventure; others, to gain fame. But two stars of "A Tale of Two Cities" at the Asolo Repertory Theatre were looking to refocus their acting careers when they got cast last winter in NBC's "Grease: You're the One That I Want."
heraldtribune.com
October 07 2007
You could call Jill Santoriello a composer in waiting. Ronald Reagan was in his first term as president and Santoriello was still in high school when she started writing songs inspired by Charles Dickens' novel "A Tale of Two Cities."
heraldtribune.com
October 04 2007
Tinsel Town has nothing on Lakewood Ranch. John Swart, president of LWR Commercial Realty, threw a fabulous "Curtain Up" party at Fred's Ballroom for the Asolo Rep's season opener and a world premiere of "A Tale of Two Cities" (Oct. 13?Nov. 18). The party also launched year two of the theater's "Beyond the Book" literacy initiative, with all kinds of entertainment from jugglers to balancing acts, carriage rides on Main Street, the Nerveless Nocks entertainers, and a show-tune sing-along with Ray Granito on the piano.