If Theater Works, a professional non-Equity house that billed itself as the "friendliest theater in Sarasota" is still alive, it certainly isn't stirring. The former Palm Street Playhouse, TW's downtown home since 1985, has been bought by Florida Studio Theater for an expansion. Meanwhile, speaking to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, board president Joseph LaRusso claimed he'll stay in office for the rest of the year. He hopes to start Theater Works up again within a complex being built by a developer east of downtown.
Michael Marcello, TW's last artistic director, resigned months ago, citing his inability to get along with an unnamed fellow board member. Marcello frequently won awards acting at Theater Works the last five years but appeared to a diminished audience in The Sunshine Boys last season. The regular schedule was canceled when debts mounted. Over the years, TW hit many financial and other audience-supportive highs and lows. During setbacks, principal founder Jack Taylor often came to the rescue, but he has been in poor health recently. Co-founder Patti O'Berg, a daily devotee for years, left for family reasons. Rumors of troubles intensified with increasing resignations and layoffs, coming to a head when Patrick Pierce, who production managed throughout the years of changing artistic and managing directors, resigned a year ago.
According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, a liquidation sale of Theater Works' office and stage equipment was held June 7, 2002. Proceeds were to go to paying the debts remaining after a financial bailout headed by Ted Weiller, who resigned from the board June 30. However, The Weekly, a local shopper, advertised the TW sale as a benefit for an area social services charity. No definite projected opening or "season" has been publicized for Theater Works.
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