FST's WRITE A PLAY Program to Celebrate 25th Anniversary

Florida Studio Theatre's WRITE A PLAY program celebrates its 25th year of introducing and inspiring young playwrights to explore the magic of live theatre. This special anniversary season will kick off in the Keating Theatre with Rumplestiltskin adapted by Beth Duda and Adam Ratner. Directed by Associate Artist, Jason Cannon, performances begin in the Keating Theatre on Monday, October 1 and will play through November 13 to students from Sarasota and Manatee County schools. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased through FST's WRITE A PLAY Coordinator, Patrick A. Jackson, at 941.366.9797.

FST Director of Children's Theatre, Caroline Kaiser, shares her excitement for this milestone season stating, "We are so excited to be kicking-off the 25th Anniversary of WRITE A PLAY with our production of Rumplestiltskin. This richly unique program exposes children to what is often their first theatrical experience, and inspires them to access their creativity and write plays of their own. Rumplestiltskin is especially poignant because it is full of heart, focusing on themes of love and the importance of family."

Rumplestiltskin is the play that sets the example. This classic fable of love, deceit, and vanity is given a modern twist. A father, eager for his daughter Millie to win the King's heart, claims that she can spin straw into gold. When Millie and her sister Tillie are forced to complete the task or face dire circumstances, they take an offer made by a mysterious man. Will they all live happily ever after, or will the consequences of their decision threaten their happiness forever?

Directing this richly imaginative and visually captivating play is FST Associate Artist Jason Cannon. Cannon speaks to FST's approach to this production stating, "This adaptation focuses on the deep need of every character to be accepted and loved. Even the "villain" is driven by this need, and the most lovely twist on the original story is that here it ends with redemption for all rather than destruction of any. Visually we are excited to be utilizing puppetry for the title character!"

After students have seen a performance of Rumplestiltskin, the next phase of the WRITE A PLAY program begins. FST teaching artists travel directly to the students' classrooms in the Playmaker's Tour: WRITE IT UP, WRITE IT DOWN. Teaching students by using improvisation and participatory learning tools to inspire writing, the playmakers teach up to eight in-class playwriting workshops. The tour begins on October 6.

"Having been at FST for almost three years now, I'm still just stunned by the power of the WRITE A PLAY program," said Cannon. "Children write plays that adults are incapable of writing, and tell stories that adults have forgotten how to write. By teaching young people not only what plays are, but then empowering them to write their own plays, we then have the great honor of staging those plays. And watching a parent see their child's play professionally produced... not only is the child transformed, but the parent's understanding of their child is exploded in the most exciting way."

Every year at FST, the fall children's show begins the season with a healthy dose of imagination and inspiration. For many of these children, this is the first theatrical production they have ever seen. Others are about to see a show that will inspire them to write their own plays for submission in FST's annual Young Playwright's Festival in the spring.

FST staff is just as excited as the students to begin this special Anniversary season. WRITE A PLAY Coordinator Patrick A. Jackson shares his anticipation stating, "I am excited to begin the 25th season of the WRITE A PLAY Program. Having been an actor in previous productions in the program gives me an even greater appreciation and understanding of the impact that WRITE A PLAY has on youth. It's always a joy to stand outside as the busses pull up to the Keating and see the students literally jumping with joy in their seats to be here at FST. We're a safe place for them, whether they are sitting at FST experiencing live theatre or when our teaching artists are in the schools sparking creativity. The students know that with WRITE A PLAY and Florida Studio Theatre their imaginations are endless."

Celebrating the 25th anniversary season of FST's WRITE A PLAY program, Rumplestiltskin begins October 1 in the Keating Theatre. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased through FST's WRITE A PLAY Coordinator, Patrick A. Jackson, at 941.366.9797.