A Viciously Funny and Fierce Theatre Event
Exit, Pursued by a Bear at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory
In the heart of Sarasota, Florida, a small theatre becomes a proving ground for some of the most intense, inventive, and transformative work emerging from graduate actor training in the country. From February 8 to March 8, 2026, the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, in collaboration with the Asolo Repertory Theatre, mounts a bold production of Exit, Pursued by a Bear — a dark revenge comedy that’s wickedly smart, emotionally raw, and theatrically daring.
Performed in the intimate Cook Theatre on the Florida State University Center for the Performing Arts campus, this production isn’t just another play — it’s a signature piece in the Conservatory’s 2025/2026 season, reflecting the program’s commitment to top-tier actor training, complex contemporary texts, and fearless storytelling.
A Play That Bites Back
Exit, Pursued by a Bear is written by Lauren Gunderson, one of the most produced playwrights in American theatre today. The play took its title from a famous Shakespearean stage direction, but Gunderson’s work is not a retelling of any Shakespeare plot — instead it uses that phrase as a jumping-off point for a modern, darkly comic narrative.
The story centers on Nan, who has endured years of abuse at the hands of her husband, Kyle. At last pushed past endurance, she devises an improbable plan of theatrical revenge. With help from her friend Simon, a stripper named Sweetheart, and — yes — a roll of duct tape, she forces Kyle to reenact painful moments from their past while confronting the emotional wreckage they shared.
The premise sounds almost absurdist, and the play leans into that. It embraces moments of sharp comedy and outrageous theatricality — from twisted role-plays to heightened physicality — all while grappling with themes of trauma, self-worth, liberation, and resilience. Audiences are warned that the show contains mature content including depictions of violence, strong language, and intense emotional moments.
The result is hilarious and poignant, combining gut-level comedy with a sincere exploration of healing and empowerment, making it an unforgettable theatrical experience.
Where Training Meets Professional Theatre
What differentiates this production from many regional performances is who’s onstage: graduate actors from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, one of the nation’s most respected MFA programs.
The Conservatory is a competitive, three-year Master of Fine Arts program run jointly by Florida State University and the Asolo Repertory Theatre, a major professional repertory company in Sarasota. Ranked among the top MFA acting programs in the world, it combines academic coursework, guest master classes, and real performance experience with professional artists.
Students in the Conservatory train rigorously in voice, movement, acting technique, text work, and stagecraft. In their first year, they often understudy and work alongside union actors in Asolo Rep productions, learning directly from seasoned professionals. In their second year, they begin performing in the Conservatory’s own major productions — like Exit, Pursued by a Bear — staged in Cook Theatre. By the third year, students perform with the main Asolo Rep company itself, a rare opportunity that bridges training and professional repertory performance.
This model creates an apprenticeship-like environment where students earn their roles through craft and gain confidence through live audience experience. Graduates leave with a Master of Fine Arts degree and eligibility to join the Actors’ Equity Association, the professional union for stage actors.
A Season of Stories with Edge
Exit, Pursued by a Bear is one highlight in a season designed to stretch actors’ emotional and stylistic range. Alongside it, audiences can experience other works ranging from heightened mythic drama to classic Shakespeare. The 2025/2026 Conservatory season also includes productions like Wolf at the Door and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, showcasing how students navigate everything from visceral contemporary text to classical verse.
This variety reflects the Conservatory’s mission to train actors who can command any theatrical language — from gritty realism to lyrical comedy, from psychological character work to ensemble dynamics.
In the Theatre With You
Performances of Exit, Pursued by a Bear run multiple times throughout February and early March. As an intimate theatre piece performed by rising theatre artists, it invites audiences into a charged space where every gesture, choice, and beat matters. Viewers can expect up-close engagement with the actors’ craft — the kind that makes you feel the breath of the performance in your seat.
Whether you’re a theatre lover craving something sharp and unpredictable, a student of acting curious about graduate-level craft, or simply someone ready for a night of smart, provocative theatre, this production delivers both funny teeth and serious heart.
