Asolo Rep and The Sarasota Ballet Announce Installation of New Seating

Asolo Repertory Theatre and The Sarasota Ballet proudly announce the installation of brand new seating in the Harold and Esther Mertz Theatre, the main performing space for Asolo Repertory Theatre and the home of The Sarasota Ballet. Located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, which is also home to the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, the exquisite Mertz Theatre is one of Sarasota’s most populated and significant cultural venues.

This installation will take place over the summer and is expected to be completed by the end of August 2019. The seating in the theatre has increased from 503 to 535 seats, with most of the new seats added to the orchestra section of the theatre. Comfort and sight-line clarity were first and foremost in the process. The new layout also allows for an increase in ADA seating at a variety of price points.

The seats, manufactured by Irwin Seating, are a replica of those in the historic New Amsterdam Theatre, the oldest operating theatre on Broadway, and reflect the style and aesthetic of the Mertz. The installation was funded by Florida State University and championed by Sally McRorie, the university’s Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The Mertz, which was originally an opera house built in Dunfermline, Scotland in 1903, has served as Asolo Rep’s performing space since 1990 and The Sarasota Ballet’s since 1996. 

“Together with the FSU/Asolo Conservatory and The Sarasota Ballet, Asolo Rep is thrilled to announce this exciting enhancement to the beautiful Mertz Theatre,” said Linda DiGabriele, Managing Director of Asolo Rep. “The new seating will undoubtedly enhance our patrons theatrical experience with premium seating, on par with Broadway standards. As the Sarasota community continues to grow substantially each season, we are thrilled to be able to expand right alongside it.”

Joseph Volpe, Executive Director of The Sarasota Ballet added “The additional seating not only provides our audience further opportunities to participate in our sold out performances each season, but also brings a new and vibrant energy to the theatre. Both our organizations are grateful for this important investment from Florida State University in the arts in Sarasota.”