Nora Long

Rock & Roll Reignited, one of Florida Studio Theatre’s current summer cabaret offerings, has been touring the country since 2016, breathing new life to some of the greatest hits of the ’50’s and ’60’s.

The joy that this production seeks to impart upon the audience is palpable, and understandably necessary after the past two years. The process of watching a hero come to life on stage is an undeniably entertaining one, and HOOD's well-intentioned themes have potential to inspire as this new musical continues to mature and develop.

“Raised Up West Side,” produced and directed by Brett A. Schwartz, features social activists, entrepreneurs, and ex-offenders from Chicago’s West Side, where nearly 70% of men between the ages of 18 and 54 have been incarcerated. The film highlights the fierce tenacity of those fighting to change the narrative of these neighborhoods.

The themes addressed by “The Legend of Georgia McBride” sparkle in Florida Studio Theatre’s production, in a way both respectful of drag as an art form but also approachable, with characters that transporting them a glitter-filled odyssey though sexuality, gender expression, and family. The show runs through May 22.

“The Smell of Money” made its world premiere this week at the 2022 Sarasota Film Festival. This feature documentary features the first hand accounts of a group of North Carolina residents in the midst of a battle against the corporate hog farms polluting their communities.

Her insights from a twenty-seven-year career as an actress in films of nearly all genres, from blockbusters to micro-budget independent films.

Cast member Madalyn McHugh, returning to FST for the third time, has a repertoire that includes musical theatre, opera, pop, contemporary Christian music, and, especially, deep country roots. In this interview, we discuss her Nashville origins, what music has taught her, and the magical music moments audiences have experienced in “Friends in Low Places.”

Rise Above Performing Arts brought a little magic to Sarasota this January with the Broadway adaptation of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. This crowd-pleasing rendition featured Rise Above’s large cast of talented young performers, and provided an opportunity for audiences of all ages to experience a contemporary take on a fairy-tale classic.