Florida Studio Theatre to Present 2026 Summer Season With Musicals, Cabarets and Improv
The Sarasota company's lineup includes performances featuring Michael Daly, Patrick Noonan, and Samantha Duval.
Florida Studio Theatre has unveiled its 2026 Summer Season, bringing audiences a lineup of Mainstage productions and Cabaret Series performances. This summer, FST presents a mix of upbeat musicals, laugh-out-loud comedies, and intimate cabarets.
The 2026 Mainstage Series opens with the jukebox musical Honky Tonk Angels, followed by the heartwarming comedy Dog Mom, and concludes with the witty and tender play The Last Romance.
Meanwhile, the Cabaret Series delivers a celebration of music and storytelling, featuring folk-inspired favorites, tributes to iconic female singer-songwriters, and a vibrant mix of Motown and pop hits. Each cabaret offers an intimate, music-driven experience designed to spotlight the artists and songs that continue to resonate across generations.
FST Improv also returns this summer with a full slate of comedy. While the Sarasota Improv Festival takes a hiatus this year due to construction on the McGillicuddy Arts Plaza and the continued expansion of FST, audiences can still enjoy returning festival favorites including S@!$zprobe (New York City), Forgotten Broadway (Orlando), and Murder, She Improvised presented by Dad's Garage (Atlanta), along with FST's resident improv productions Comedy Lottery, Freedom! The Musical, and Out of Bounds.
With its long-standing commitment to accessibility, FST offers full subscriptions to all three Mainstage or all three Cabaret productions for as little as $59.
Mainstage
Honky Tonk Angels
By Ted Swindley
Begins Playing May 27 | Gompertz Theatre
Three women. One wild ride to Nashville. Join Angela, Darlene, and Sue Ellen as they chase their dreams of country music stardom and leave their troubles behind. Along the way, an unshakable friendship is formed. From the creator of Always… Patsy Cline and featuring hits like “9 to 5” and “Stand by Your Man,” this high-energy celebration of country’s greatest is full of laughter and heart.
Dog Mom
By Tate Elizabeth Hanyok
Begins Playing June 24 | Keating Theatre
National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. Liz is a tough-as-nails New Yorker with a life falling apart faster than her morning bagel. When a scruffy stray dog shows up on her stoop, Liz – the least “dog person” on the planet – reluctantly agrees to foster it. This temporary inconvenience quickly turns into a heartwarming and hilarious journey of self-discovery and unlikely friendships. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?
The Last Romance
By Joe DiPietro
Begins Playing July 22 | Gompertz Theatre
A chance meeting. An unexpected spark. A second chapter. When widower Ralph takes a different path on his daily walk, he meets Carol, an elegant woman who just might change his life. What begins as a simple conversation blossoms into an unexpected journey of second chances. A warm, witty comedy about discovering how love can arrive when you least expect it – at any age.
Cabaret
Leaving on a Jet Plane: A Folk Journey
Created by Aaron Gandy
Begins Playing May 12 | Goldstein Cabaret
Rediscover the heart and harmony of the 1960s in this intimate and joyful tribute to the era that shaped a generation. Featuring acoustic favorites from Simon & Garfunkel, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Cat Stevens, The Lovin’ Spoonful, and Bob Dylan, this warm and authentic cabaret proves that folk music wasn’t just a moment: it was a movement.
Songbirds of the Seventies: From Woodstock to Soft Rock
Created by Nancy Allen
Begins Playing July 7 | Court Cabaret
Unmistakable and unforgettable, this cabaret shines a radiant spotlight on the powerhouse singer-songwriters of the ’60s and ’70s. Featuring era-defining hits from Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Carly Simon, Helen Reddy, Stevie Nicks, and Linda Ronstadt, this vibrant tribute captures the soul and strength of those who wrote their own rules – and changed everything in the process.
Legacy: Motown & More!
Created by Justin Reynolds
Begins Playing August 4 | Goldstein Cabaret
Get ready for a high-energy celebration of nonstop music. From the smooth soul of Motown to the irresistible hooks of pop and R&B, this dynamic tribute spans the greatest classics from the 1960s through today. Relive beloved hits made famous by icons like The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Four Seasons, and The Temptations. Featuring tight harmonies and charismatic showmanship, this energetic revue delivers constant hits and fresh takes on old favorites.
Improv
S@!#zprobe
April 24-25 at 7:30PM | Keating Theatre
Back from headlining the 2025 Sarasota Improv Festival, the cast of S@!#zprobe skips rehearsal, throws away the script, and makes up a musical on the spot. Every song, lyric, line of dialogue, and dance move is totally improvised, accompanied by a live band who are also making up everything as they go. Each performance of S@!#zprobe is the premiere of a never-before-seen musical, and YOU help create it – each show is based on an audience member’s suggestion of a title of a musical that doesn’t yet exist. Past audiences have helped to create shows like Cindy Goes to a Yard Sale, Can She Even Walk in Heels?, and Not My First Rodeo.
Comedy Lottery (FST Improv)
June 6-June 27, July 11-25 at 7:30PM | Bowne’s Lab
Twelve lucky audience members determine the fate of our team by selecting the night’s lineup of games. Our cast of funny people are off to the races spinning scenes, sketches, and songs to win your laughter. What will they come up with next? We have absolutely no idea. But one thing is for sure: every Saturday night, their destiny is in your hands.
Freedom! The Musical (FST Improv)
July 4 at 7:30PM | Bowne’s Lab
Celebrate Independence Day with FST Improv! Sure, you know the story of the American Revolution. Red coats vs. colonialists. Taxation without representation. Hotdogs and fireworks. But do you know the back, back, backstory behind the major historic events? Join our cast of patriotic improvisers as they celebrate the birth of our great nation and reveal an untold story of the American Revolution in this never-before-seen musical.
Forgotten Broadway
July 31, August 1 at 7:30PM | Bowne’s Lab
Experience a one-of-a-kind evening as “forgotten” Broadway stars – portrayed by Orlando’s top improvisers – take center stage in a completely improvised revue. Using audience suggestions, these performers will create legendary Broadway stars, shows, and tunes on the spot.
Out of Bounds (FST Improv)
August 8-September 19 at 7:30PM | Bowne’s Lab
Two teams of improvisers go head-to-head in this no-holds-barred comedy showdown. In competitive rounds of fast-paced games, spontaneous scenes, and off-the-cuff songs, experienced improvisers duke it out to win over the audience’s laughter and applause. Which team will emerge triumphant? Only the audience can decide.
Murder, She Improvised (Dad’s Garage)
September 25-26 at 7:30PM | Bowne’s Lab
Murder, She Improvised is a completely improvised whodunit murder mystery featuring memorable characters, zany plots, and hilarious endings! There’s a different theme each performance, but one thing is always certain: MURDER. Come solve the mystery alongside skilled improvisers in these off-the-wall cases!
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