Historic Asolo Theatre [Sarasota]
theatre at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida, with interior decoration originally from Asolo, Italy
Historic Asolo Theatre
Original theatre built 1798 by Antonio Locatelli of the Italian town Asolo (20 km north of Venezia). Opened 1798 with a drama by Carlo Goldoni. 1857 refurbishment by Martignano. 1929 demolished in favour of a new theatre (Teatro Eleonora Duse), while the auditorium interior decoration was stored in a warehouse. - 1949 auditorium interior bought and moved to Sarasota, Florida, by the estate of John Ringling. Originally installed into one of the galleries of the Ringling Museum. 1957 moved into a specially constructed theatre building. Summer theatre festival founded by Florida State University in 1960. Home of the Asolo Theater Company and the Asolo Opera Company from 1966 to 1989. 1989 alterations. Currently used for educational programmes by the Ringling Museum. 320 seats. [In 1989, the Asolo Opera Company moved into the Sarasota Opera House. In 1990 the Asolo Theatre Company moved into the new Asolo Center for the Performing Arts, where another old world theatre auditorium (a 1903 opera house from Dunfermline, Scotland) was implemented as Harold E. and Esther M. Mertz Theatre. Total capacity: 1600 seats.]