Asolo Rep Honors Playwright Ken Ludwig

Ken Ludwig with Peter Rothstein

Asolo Rep recently awarded playwright Ken Ludwig with the theatre's inaugural Luminary Award. The award is not only intended to celebrate the accomplishments of a playwright or other distinguished theatre professional. It's also an opportunity for Sarasota theatre lovers to hear about the lives and careers of these talented individuals. And so I found myself raptly listening to Ludwig as he shared his journey from lawyer/aspiring playwright to author of 36 plays that have been produced in 20 languages across 30 countries. While it goes without saying, I'll mention anyway that those stages include theatres on Broadway and the West End. But it's Asolo Rep where Ludwig's most recent endeavor -- "Lady Molly of Scotland Yard" -- will soon premiere. 

Almost four decades ago, Ludwig met an English director named David Gilmore who'd seen a production of Ludwig's "Sullivan and Gilbert." Gilmore had enjoyed the show and asked Ludwig what he'd written lately. He had a producer friend who was always looking for something new. "Who's the producer?" Ludwig asked out of curiosity. "Andrew Lloyd Webber" was the surprising response. Even then, Webber had produced such hits as "Evita" and "Cats." And so Ludwig couldn't get his script of "Lend Me a Tenor" -- then called "Opera Buffa" -- to Gilmore quickly enough. A couple of weeks later, Ludwig received a call from Webber. The conversation began, "You don't know me but..." Six months later, the show was up and running on the West End. 

Fast forward a few years to Ludwig receiving another call, this time from Roger Horchow of the Horchow Collection. "You don't know me but..." the conversation once again began. It turned out that Horchow had acquired the rights to use Gershwin's songs -- more than 500 in total -- in a theatrical production. "Would you write a Broadway musical for me?" 

Ludwig's resume did not yet include a musical, so he tried his best to fend off the request. "Let me give you some names of people who might be better suited for the endeavor," he said. "How about Wendy Wasserstein or Terrence McNally?" "Nope," Horchow replied. "I want you. Let's at least have lunch and talk about it." And so began the journey of "Crazy for You." The show won both Drama Desk and Olivier Awards and is a staple of musical theatre. 

Then there was the day Ludwig's phone rang and it was Agatha Christie's grandson, who managed her estate. Seriously??? Yet again, a request was made, this time for an adaptation of one of Christie's books. Pick a novel, any novel, the grandson said. The objective was just to get Christie's name back on a marquee. It was too tempting an offer to refuse. 

Ludwig decided to adapt "Murder on the Orient Express." While he hadn't actually read the novel, he'd seen the movie and liked it. And what a title! The show has been produced by hundreds of theatres, including Asolo Rep. The 2020 production was directed by Peter Rothstein in his first visit to Sarasota. It was outstanding. (To see the promo for the show, click here.) Ludwig's adaptation of Christie's "Death on the Nile" recently premiered at Arena Stage in D.C. I hope the show will make its way here. 

But first, we will be able to experience the world premiere of "Lady Molly of Scotland Yard" at Asolo Rep. It's Ludwig's take on partnerships like that of Nick and Nora or Holmes and Watson. I went to a reading of the play when rehearsals were getting started, and it's going to be fun. There's a big cast -- with many actors playing multiple characters -- led by Kate Loprest as Lady Molly and Adelin Phelps as Meg. Click here to see the dynamic duo in costume as they talk about the show. I'm looking forward to seeing it with all the bells and whistles. To get your own tickets, click here. 

Thanks to Asolo Rep for an engaging evening hearing from this storied playwright. And congrats to Ken Ludwig!