FST Announces Their Fall & Winter Theatre Education Program

Florida Studio Theatre announces a new season of Youth and Teen Performing Arts Workshops created exclusively to nurture the individual creativity of our young artists. The expanded class schedule has something to offer everyone in the theatre spectrum. Interested youth and teens can hone their skills in acting technique, improvisation and musical theatre. Most classes end in a final performance or recital, giving students a chance to perform on a professional theatre stage.
"Our small class size allows each student personalized attention as they move forward in their acting technique," Director of Education Beth Duda said. "The theatre training our students receive benefits them in building confidence, poise and enhancing their artistic expression."

Due to rising demand for middle school-aged programming, FST now offers a class called Middle School Classics, in which students can write and perform scenes and short plays. The department has also expanded offerings in Theatre Combo, one of our most sought after classes, because it provides training in acting, dance, and improvisation.

The list of workshops follows below.

Youth Acting Classes
Little Theatre Ages 5 - 6

Enhance creativity and ensemble building skills. Explore emotions through movement and song. Develop improvisational and storytelling skills, improving coordination and concentration. Meets once per week.

Prerequisite: Kindergarten

Saturdays 9 AM - 10:30 AM Session I - Begins Sept. 18
Fee: $199 per 8 week session Session II - Begins Nov. 13

4 Sessions: $597 Save $199 Session III - Begins Jan. 29

Session IV - Begins Apr. 2
Acting I and Acting II Ages 7-12
Learn the building blocks of a professional acting technique, from being comfortable in front of an audience to utilizing your mind, voice and body to communicate truthful emotion on stage. Rehearse and perform short pieces and monologues. Meets once per week.
Wednesdays (Acting I) Session I - Begins Week of Sept. 13
4:30 PM - 6 PM Session II - Begins Week of Nov. 8

Saturdays (Acting II) Session III - Begins Week of Jan. 24

11 AM - 12:30 PM Session IV - Begins Week of Mar.28

Fee: $199 per 8 week session

4 Sessions $597 Save $199

Theatre Combo (Acting, Dance & Improvisation) Ages 7-12
Learn the building blocks of a professional acting technique, through movement and dance. Enhance creativity and ensemble building skills. Improvisational games teach the students to use their imaginations and become comfortable in front of an audience. Meets once per week.
Tuesdays 4:30 PM - 6 PM Session I - Begins Week of Sept. 13

Thursdays 4:30 PM - 6 PM Session II - Begins Week of Nov. 15

Fee: $199 per 8 week session Session III - Begins Week of Jan. 24

4 Sessions $597 Save $199 Session IV - Begins Week of Mar.28

Youth Advanced Classes

Middle School Classics - Write and Perform Ages 11-14
For the middle school student ready to advance his/her scene work. Strengthen your professional acting technique and improve your writing skills. Students will develop, write, and perform scenes and short plays. This class also includes a musical component. Meets once per week. Each session results in a final performance of student-created pieces.
Prerequisite: Acting I, Acting II or Staff Invitation

Mondays 5 PM - 6:30 PM Session I - Begins Sept. 13

Fee: $399 per 16 week session Session II - Begins Jan. 24

2 Sessions: $599 Save $200

Play Performance, Classics Ages 9-13
Rehearse and perform an original one act play. Strengthen your professional acting technique by utilizing acting skills and developing character and relationship in an ensemble. Culminates in a final performance. Meets once per week.

Prerequisite: Acting I, Acting II or Staff Invitation.

Wednesdays 4:30 PM - 6 PM Sept. 15 through Mar. 23

Fee: $597 for 25 weeks

Musical Theatre Ages 8 - 13

Rehearse and perform an original one-act musical. Strengthen your professional acting technique, utilizing acting, dance and singing. Develop character and relationship with an ensemble. Build self-image and self-esteem, enhancing your mind, voice, imagination and body to communicate truthful emotion on stage. Meets twice per week.

Wednesdays 4:30 PM - 6 PM Sept. 15 through Mar. 26

& Saturdays 10 AM - 11:30 AM

Fee: $649 for 48 class sessions over six months

Kids Komedy Club Ages 9 - 15

Write, rehearse and perform sketch-comedy and improvisation games. KKC will perform in front of a live audience on selected Saturdays. Utilize acting, dance and singing skills in developing characters and relationships with an ensemble. Students will enhance their imaginations and physicality through improvisation games. Meets once per week.
Prerequisite: Acting I, Acting II, Playmakers or Staff Invitation.

Fee: $597 for 24 Weeks

Saturdays 9 AM - 12 PM Begins Sept. 18 through Feb. 12

Performances for live audiences on selected Saturdays

Teen Acting Classes

Teen Acting I Ages 13-17

Learn the building blocks of a solid acting technique, utilizing mind, voice and body to communicate emotion. Become comfortable in front of an audience and enhance your imagination through improvisation. Meets once per week.
Mondays 4:30 PM - 6 PM Session I - Begins Sept. 13

Fee: $199 per 8 week session Session II - Begins Nov. 15

4 Sessions: $597 Save $199 Session III - Begins Jan. 24

Session IV - Begins Mar. 28
Teen Acting (Advanced Scene Study) Ages 13 - 17

Rehearse and perform contemporary scenes. Strengthen your professional acting technique by utilizing acting skills and developing character and relationship in an ensemble. Build self-image and self-esteem, enhancing your mind, voice, imagination and body to communicate truthful emotion on stage. Meets once per week.

Prerequisite: Acting I, Acting II or Staff Invitation.

Tuesdays 4:30 PM - 6 PM Session I - Begins Sept. 14

Fee: $398 for 16 weeks Session II - Begins Jan. 25

2 Sessions: $598 Save $200

Teen Improvisation Ages 13-17
Learn and reinforce improvisation skills in a lively and creative environment. Learn how to be present in the moment. This class encourages expression of individual creativity and authenticity through a variety of improvisation exercises. A final open class revue will be held after each session. Meets once per week.
Tuesdays 6:30 PM - 8 PM Begins Week of Mar. 29

Fee: $199 8 week session

Play Performance, Teen Classics Ages 13 -17

Rehearse and perform an original one act play. Strengthen your professional acting technique, by utilizing acting skills and developing character and relationship in an ensemble. Build self-image and self-esteem, enhancing your mind, voice, imagination and body to communicate truthful emotion on stage. Meets once per week.

Prerequisite: Acting I or Staff Invitation

Tuesdays 6:30 PM - 8 PM Sept. 14 through Mar. 1

Fee: $597 for 24 weeks

All classes are held in FST's professional rehearsal studios in the heart of downtown Theatre and Arts District 1241 North Palm Avenue. Reservations can be made by contacting FST's Education department at 941.366.1350 or by visiting www.floridastudiotheatre.org .

The Education Program is under the direction of Kate Alexander, Associate Director of FST. The adult teaching staff is comprised of a core of theatre professionals trained to teach free from personal dictates. Our methodology helps each person find his or her own "door" to creative achievement. In addition, guest artists and teachers visit throughout the session.
Known as Sarasota's Contemporary Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre was founded in 1973 by Jon Spelman. Starting out as a small touring company, FST traveled to places such as migrant camps and prisons. The company eventually settled down into a permanent home, acquiring the former Woman's Club building - now renamed the Keating Theatre. In the years that followed, Florida Studio Theatre established itself as a major force in American Theatre, presenting Contemporary Theatre in its three theatre venues: the Keating Theatre, the Goldstein Cabaret and its newest space, the Gompertz Theatre.

Even with its growth, Florida Studio Theatre remains firmly committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to a broad-based audience. Under Richard Hopkins, Artistic Director and CEO, FST develops theatre that speaks to our living, evolving, and dynamically changing world. As FST grows and expands, it continues to provide audiences with challenging, contemporary drama and innovative programs.