Plays by Durang and Freil works are also on tap

It's the season for announcing upcoming seasons.

Asolo Repertory Theatre has just released its lineup of shows for the 2013-14 season.

It starts with the 89-year-old show that re-invented the American musical and ends with a new musical about a 21st-century slacker. In between are a Tony Award-winning drama and works by some of the best and most popular current playwrights.

"Show Boat" kicks off the season Nov. 12-Dec. 29. The ground-breaking Kern-Hammerstein musical features the monumental classic "Ol' Man River."

It's followed by Brain Friel's "Philadelphia, Here I Come," (Jan.7-April 12), Jon Robin Baitz' "Other Desert Cities (Jan. 15-Feb. 27), Christopher Durang's twisted take on Chekhov, "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" (Jan. 22-April 13), Frank Galati's adaptation of John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" (March 12-April 19), Amy Herzog's "4,000 Miles," which Time magazine called "The best play of 2012, hands down" (April 2-27, 2014), and a new musical called "Hero," with a book by Aaron Thielen and music and lyrics by Michael Mahler (April 29-June 1, 2014.)

By the way, Galati, who wrote the Tony-winning "The Grapes of Wrath," will be directing "Philadelphia, Here I Come!"

The New Stages touring production for the 2013-14season will be "Romeo and Juliet," with dates and locations still to be announced.

Also upcoming in 2014 and still to be determined are a summer musical and the "Unplugged" festival of new play readings in April.

Meanwhile, The FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Acting Training's 2013-2014 season starts with "The School for Lies," David Ives' adaptation of Moilere's "The Misanthrope (Oct. 30-Nov. 17), Joe Orton's popular farce "Loot" (Jan. 2-19, 2014), Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize-winning "How I Learned to Drive (Feb. 19-March 9, 2014) and Jean Anouilh's "Antigone" (April 9-27, 2014).

There are all sorts of ticket packages that can save money over the single-ticket price. For information, go to asolorep.org or call 941-351-8000.