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The Banyan Theater Company: Summer Entertainment at its Finest

By Lalaena Gonzalez-Figueroa

When he arrived in Sarasota in 1999, one of the first things that struck Jerry Finn was the absence of what he calls “serious theater.” Despite a thriving arts and cultural scene, he recalls, the city’s summer months left him wanting for a performing arts experience that was as thought-provoking as it was entertaining. He soon discovered that he wasn’t alone.  “My wife Terri and I began to meet people from cities with diverse theater options, like New York, Chicago and Saint Louis,” he recalls. “We felt that Sarasota’s summer shows were very lighthearted and fun, but we wanted something more substantial.” A trial lawyer and performer with over 100 theater and radio productions under his belt, Finn decided to take matters into his own hands. In 2002 he and his wife founded The Banyan Theater Company, and have since enjoyed a tremendous outpouring of support and success.

As a forum for what Finn describes as “the performance of written literature,” The Banyan Theater Company offers audiences options beyond light comedies and musical fare. “We strive to be different,” Finn explains. “We like to call this ‘important theater.’  Audience members will leave our shows with something to provoke them mentally; the theater lends itself to discussion.”

The 2010 Summer season promises theatergoers three unique experiences. Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts will run June 24 – July 11. The Drawer Boy, by Michael Healey, runs July 15 – August 1, and the season closes with Warren Leight’s Side Man from August 5 – 22.  All shows feature matinee and evening performances.

Ghosts, widely considered Ibsen’s most controversial work, debuted in 1882. A documentary on 19th century morality, it drew harsh reaction from early critics for its candor and frank approach to then-forbidden topics including sexuality. While today’s audiences might not be as scandalized as their predecessors, the play remains pertinent in its parallels to current societal norms.

Michael Healey’s The Drawer Boy is the moving story of two aging farmers, boyhood friends whose long-buried secret comes to life upon the arrival of an actor who visits the pair to research life on a farm. Humorous and dramatic, the play has earned numerous accolades and awards including Canada’s prestigious Dora Award for “Outstanding New Play.” Notes Finn, “We have been negotiating the rights to this play for quite some time, and we’re really proud and excited to present the piece for our audiences.”

Jazz enthusiasts will revel in Side Man, a Tony Award-winning piece by Warren Leight. The memory play, told in flashbacks by narrator Clifford Glimmer, addresses the character’s broken family of complex characters. The piece takes height during the Jazz era and features wonderful recorded classics throughout.

With 161 seats, The Banyan Theater Company is an exciting addition to Sarasota’s theater community. The 2010 company, led by Artistic Director Carole Kleinberg, features Equity and non-Equity actors, including local talent as well as individuals from across the country and abroad.

The Banyan Theater Company is supported by The Banyan Theater Company Guild, which offers membership to any individual who desires to uphold the organization’s presence within the community.

The Banyan Theater Company
P.O. Box 49483
Sarasota, FL 34230
(941) 552-1032
www.banyantheatercompany.com

All performances held at:
The Jane B. Cook Theatre
FSU Center for the Performing Arts
5555 North Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34243

Photos Top to Bottom:

Robert M. Hefley, Steven Clark Pachosa and Jessica K. Peterson in A Moon for the Misbegotten/credit Gary Sweetman
R. Ward Duffy and Eric Hissom in True West/credit Maria Lyle
Sam Osheroff and Margot Moreland in Fat Pig/credit Gary Sweetman
Ken Ferrigni and Kenneth Tigar in Old Wicked Songs/credit Gary Sweetman