Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N Tamiami Trail, 941-351-8000

After searching all over the city for an outdoor venue to host a COVID-safe production, Asolo Repertory Theatre came up empty. Selby Gardens, Ed Smith Stadium, a bevy of public parks—none of these places had everything the theatre needed, whether it was space for seating and parking, the right number of outlets or amenities. In the end, home is where the heart is, but it’s also where the infrastructure is. 

Next weekend, the theatre unveils a holiday production from its own front door—literally. With a massive stage built flush with the box office’s landing and a structure of trusses loaded with lights and speakers, the outdoor production of “We Need a Little Christmas” looks poised to scratch the itch of show-goers that have gone months without a full-blown Asolo production. 

“We’ve never done a full-scale outdoor production like this,” says Vic Meyrich, Director of Production and Operations. Meyrich remembers the productions he helped put together for Joe Papp’s “Shakespeare in the Park” series in New York City before Delacorte Theater was built. In those days, the productions were staged from a repurposed tractor-trailer. “But this is equivalent to an outside rock-and-roll concert,” says Meyrich.

The efforts of Meyrich and his team were all aimed at helping to instill in the audience the dual sense of entertainment and safety. “With all the different unions involved, we end up dealing with the same issue multiple different ways,” says Michael Rodgers, Associate Production Manager. Actor, theatre and carpenter unions all had their own set of parameters for safe operation, and the result is a production in which production staff, performers and audience members can all reasonably expect their health has been taken into account. “At the end of the day we have to keep people safe,” says Rodgers, “and whether we address that through social distancing or masks, we have to do everything we can.”

Meyrich and Rodgers are proud not only of their team’s ability to get the production up to snuff, but their ability to remain safe while doing so. “Most of our team has worked with each other for 10-15 years,” says Meyrich, “we have some maturity and were all very careful in our outside lives to stay safe.” As for challenges leading up to the December 17 preview and December 18 premiere, the two agree there’s a common enemy. “In Florida, the weather changes every 20 minutes,” says Meyrich, “just between building the stage and dress rehearsal, we’ve had heat, the coldest night of the year, and rain." 

As of today, the forecast for next weekend “promises” cool weather with a small chance of rain. But rain or shine, the stage stands as a beacon of ingenuity and adaptability. “We Need a Little Christmas” runs from December 17 to January 3rd, with tickets starting at $25.

Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N Tamiami Trail, 941-351-8000

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