Boasting in the promotional style of P.T. Barnum and the Ringling Brothers, Asolo Repertory Theatre promises “The Greatest Season on Earth” for 2026-27 with two world premieres, including one about Sarasota’s rich circus history.

At a public town hall gathering March 9, Producing Artistic Director Peter Rothstein also unveiled a drastically different look to the new season, which eliminates the rotating repertory schedule that has been a hallmark of Asolo Rep for most of its history. Instead, each show will be produced in straight runs.

For years, Asolo Rep had a resident company of actors who appeared in several shows each season that ran concurrently, allowing audiences to see several different shows in a week. But Asolo Rep leaders have said studies of ticket-buying habits indicate a diminished appeal of the rotating rep schedule, which also has lost favor at other regional theaters across the country.

Since his arrival in 2023, Rothstein has reduced the number of shows running concurrently, sometimes with shared casts. He and his predecessor, Michael Donald Edwards, who also eliminated the resident company during his 18-year tenure, said straight runs provide for more flexibility in selecting shows and casting.

Rothstein told ArtsBeat “Our number one priority is what stories do we want to tell at this moment and what is the most effective way to share those stories with the broader community. There may be a time when we return to rotating rep but it did not make artistic or financial sense for the 26/27 season.”

In the new season announcement, Rothstein also said Asolo Rep will expand its productions in the smaller Cook Theatre in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, where the FSU/Asolo Conservatory presents its own shows. The Conservatory will announce its season at a later date. Rothstein said the Cook Theatre shows “will provide more opportunities for our conservatory students.”

The season will open with a splash with director and choreographer Josh Rhodes staging “Singin’ in the Rain,” based on the classic MGM movie musical about the switch from silent films to talkies. Rhodes most recently staged “Jesus Christ Superstar” at Asolo Rep, after earlier productions of “Guys and Dolls,” “Evita,” “The Sound of Music” and “Cabaret.” He also directed and choreographed the Broadway revival and national tour of Monty Python’s “Spamalot.” It will run Nov. 18-Jan. 2.

The new work includes “The Day The Circus Came to Town,” an original musical that Rothstein is creating with Carla Noack and David Darrow. Rothstein will direct and Darrow is writing the music and lyrics. Rothstein said the show, which will run March 21-April 24, 2027, is inspired by real-life stories of some of the legendary artists who have made up Sarasota’s circus community, and will feature a cast of actors, acrobats, aerialists and a ringmaster. The show is being developed with The Ringling and the Circus Arts Conservatory.

The last time the theater did a circus-themed show in 1993, an original play called “Big Top” by Phil Bosakowski, it was dubbed “Big Flop” and played a part in the firing of Artistic Director Megs Booker months later.

Rothstein said his piece would have a lot of heart and described it as a “love letter to Sarasota and the artists who call it home.” 

The other premiere is Jennifer Maisel’s “Provenance,” which was the winner of the 2025 Jewish Plays Project. It is about the life of a single portrait painting from the moment of its creation through its theft by the Nazis and the lives that were touched by it over the years. The play will be presented Feb. 24-March 21 in the Cook Theatre as a co-production with Palm Beach Dramaworks.

The season will include the return of Ken Ludwig with his mystery “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery.” His play “Lady Molly at Scotland Yard” had its premiere at Asolo Rep last season. Peter Amster, who has a long history directing at Asolo Rep, will return to stage the Edna Ferber-George S. Kaufman classic comedy “The Royal Family,” about an iconic acting clan.

This summer, the theater will continue its summer children’s musical series with a production of “The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition.” The program began last year with “A Year With Frog and Toad.”

In partnership with the Asolo Conservatory, Asolo Rep will send two shows out to schools across the region. “Shakespeare 45: Rom-Com,” is a 45-minute show drawn from Shakespeare’s romantic comedies, conceived by Education Director Terrance Jackson. “Beanstalk: The Adventures of Jack and the Giant,” a retelling of “Jack and the Beanstalk” for elementary school students and their families, was written by Jackson and Director of New Works and Dramaturg James Monaghan.

Here’s a look at the 2026-27 season

Mertz Theatre mainstage

“Singin’ in the Rain,” Nov. 18-Jan. 2. The musical is about how Hollywood transformed from silent films to talking pictures and musicals, and the impact on actors who didn’t have the voices needed to keep them stars. Directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes

“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” Jan. 13-Feb. 4. August Wilson’s play about Ma Rainey, one of the most celebrated Black singers of her age, is recording new music in Chicago in 1927, while dealing with the racism and hatred outside the studio. Chuck Smith, an associate artist at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (where he directed a 2016 production of the play) and a resident director at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, will stage the play. Marking the centennial of the play’s setting, the production is presented in partnership with the Goodman Theatre.

“The Royal Family,” Feb. 10-March 4. Peter Amster, who most recently directed “Good Night, Oscar” and “Murder on the Orient Express” at Asolo Rep, stages this classic comedy by Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman about the Cavendish family, who are considered acting royalty (inspired by the Barrymores) and their efforts to contain potential scandals in an era long before social media.

“The Day the Circus Came to Town,” March 21-April 24, 2027. A world premiere created by Peter Rothstein, Carla Noack and David Darrow that marks the 100th anniversary of John Ringling moving his family’s circus winter quarters to Sarasota in 1927. Described as a docu-musical, it is based on interviews with many legendary members of Sarasota’s circus community. Rothstein directs and Darrow is writing the music and lyrics.

“Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery,” May 5-30, 2027. Ken Ludwig, who gave new life to Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” with his comedic twist, does the same as he sends Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson off to solve the mystery of “The House of Baskervilles.” Chari Arespachochaga, who staged this season’s “Primary Trust,” will direct.

Cook Theatre second stage

“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Dec. 2-Jan. 3. For the holiday season, the theater takes audiences into a radio studio where a cast of actors brings to life the classic film about troubled businessman George Bailey, who sees how life could be different thanks to an angel named Clarence. Scott Keys, who staged last summer’s family show “A Year with Frog and Toad,” will direct.

‘Provenance,” Feb. 24-March 21. The world premiere of a play by Jennifer Maisel that traces the history of a portrait from the time of its creation through history, including its theft by Nazis, and how the painting transformed the lives of those who possessed it. Casey Stangl will direct this co-production with Palm Beach Dramaworks.

“Bootleg: America Sings 1927,” April 21-May 16, 2027. This show, described as a “speakeasy, a wild party, a jump back in time,” takes audiences back to a remarkable year in American history and culture, with words by Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Edna Ferber and Dorothy Parker paired with songs by George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington and Jerome Kern. Rothstein directs and contributed to its creation with Associate Artistic Director Cat Brindisi, Director of New Works and Dramaturg James Monaghan, and Education and Engagement Director Terrance Jackson. 

Summer Children’s Musical

“The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition,” July 8-Aug. 2, 2026. Associate Artistic Director Cat Brindisi directs and choreographs this production  based on the MGM movie, featuring young performers retelling the story of Dorothy and her efforts to return home.

Subscriptions

Renewals for current subscribers are available now and new subscriptions will go on sale April 11. Single tickets will go on sale in September. 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. For more information: 941-351-8000; asolorep.org