Urbanite Theatre in Sarasota opens second season with 'Freak'

One of the most exciting events in the local theater scene in recent years has been the opening of Sarasota's Urbanite Theatre, which staged a three-play summer season of smart and provocative new plays in an intimate downtown space.

Urbanite is back with its second season, and it looks to be even more daring than its first.

It gets going Friday with "Freak," a 2014 play by Anna Jordan.

Jordan is apparently a favorite of the people at Urbanite. She also wrote "Chicken Shop," which opened Urbanite's first season and was a critical and commercial hit.

"Freak" is a two-woman play, or rather a one-woman, one girl play. Leah is 15 and contemplating her first sexual experience. Georgie is 30 and is feeling despondent after being dumped by her boyfriend and losing her job.

The actors in this production are Summer Dawn Wallace, a co-founder of Urbanite and one of its artistic directors, and Ellie McCaw, a recent graduate of Booker high School who was in Manatee Players' "Cats" and in "Catch Me If You Can" at the Players Theatre in Sarasota.

A lot of the shows of "Freak" are already sold out, so it'd be wise to act very quickly if you want to see it.

Details: Oct. 23-Nov. 15, Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St., Sarasota. Show times: 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $24; students with ID $5. Information: 941-321-1397, urbanitetheatre.com.

-- Marty Clear

This story was originally published October 22, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Urbanite Theatre in Sarasota opens second season with 'Freak' ."