The Swingaroos Jazz Up The Summer At Florida Studio Theatre

Studio Theatre (FST) opens its second show of the Summer Sidekicks Cabaret Season, The Music of the Night, featuring the gifted jazz and swing sextet, The Swingaroos. Called a "Stellar group of musicians" and "Impressive" by Jay Handelman of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, The Swingaroos bring their swingin'est versions of songs embraced by the worlds of theatre and jazz alike to the John C. Court Cabaret starting July 17. The Music of the Night runs through August 19. Single tickets are available by calling the FST box office at (941) 366-9000 or at www.floridastudiotheatre.org.

An all-new show, The Music of the Night, includes hits by the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Rodgers & Hart, Kander & Ebb, and many more-all performed with a swing-inspired twist. With a touch of 30s and 40s flair and bold arrangements, The Swingaroos lend a spirited voice to the most-cherished American songs and personalities of the past century. Audiences will hear songs from as far back as the 1900s-"Give My Regards to Broadway" is featured-as well as songs from contemporary musical theatre.

"The Music of the Night is a fresh, new twist on Broadway," shared FST Associate Artist Catherine Randazzo. "They're going to throw in some of the more modern songs from Broadway and put a nice older twist on them so they feel like they still come from the swing era." FST's Producing Artistic Director Richard Hopkins added, "The Swingaroos have such a great sound-it feels like the old bands [of the 20s, 30s, and 40s] but at the same time it's very new. They've got a great interpretation [of the music]."

The Swingaroos' frontwoman Kimberly Hawkey created The Music of the Night specifically for the band. "You'll hear hits from the past century, but never exactly how they've been done before," Hawkey said. "We like to mix and match styles in an unexpected way. You can still sing along [to a song], but there will be a twist to it. We may change the tempo or make a current hit sound like it came from the 1920s. However, we won't change songs just for the sake of messing with it. It has to feel right musically, and it has to match our storytelling."

Starring in The Music of the Night are Nathan Yates Douglass, Daniel Glaude, Assaf Gleizner, Kimberly Hawkey, Steve Morley, and Uri Zelig. A newcomer to FST, Douglass (Bass and Vocals) will sing alongside Hawkey in several musical numbers. "He is a fantastic singer in the style of the great crooners. I'm pleased that he'll be joining me onstage for some duets," shared Hawkey.

Assaf Gleizner joins as Musical Director and pianist. Gleizner has worked both on and off Broadway as a composer and Musical Director. A multi-instrumentalist, Glaude (Reeds) has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Birdland, The Blue Note, and the Gershwin Theatre. Another newcomer to FST, Morley has studied with some of jazz's top teachers, and earned a master's degree in Jazz and Commercial Music at the University of Miami. Zelig (Drums) has worked with jazz legends like George Cables and Bill Crow, and currently holds the lead drum chair in several Off-Broadway productions.

After being away from Sarasota for three years, The Swingaroos are looking forward to their upcoming return. "We've made some long-lasting friends and fans from our first run. I think they appreciated seeing a full band onstage," shared Hawkey. "Many audience members greeted us after the show and told us their own stories about songs we played on stage. Some had parents or relatives who were in famous swing bands, and some remember hearing the tunes when they were kids. I think they'll especially enjoy this summer's cabaret, since they are so many recognizable songs in it."

from July 17 through August 19 in FST's John C. Court Cabaret, The Music of the Night is an all-new cabaret featuring The Swingaroos' swingin'est version of musical numbers embraced by the theatrical and jazz worlds alike. Single tickets are available by calling the FST box office at (941) 366-9000 or at www.floridastudiotheatre.org.

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