FST Holds 39 STEPS Discussion at Selby Public Library, 12/16

Florida Studio Theatre and the Selby Public Library will present a joint discussion on the popular book, film, and play, "The 39 Steps." The discussion will be led by Susan Rife, Books editor from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Sheffield Chastain, FST actor, and some additional cast members of "The 39 Steps." It is free to the public and will take place in Selby Public Library's Gelbhart Auditorium on December 16 at 2:00pm. Books are available at the library, and the Sarasota community is encouraged to read the book and watch the play.

John Buchan wrote the classic spy novel, The Thirty-Nine Steps in 1915, following Richard Hannay as he singlehandedly tries to crack a German spy ring after a beautiful spy is murdered in his apartment. One of Alfred Hitchcock's favorite novels, he decided to adapt Buchan's The Thirty-Nine Steps for the screen. He took the basic structure, added some characters and a little bit of slapstick, and created a 1935 spy thriller that became an international success.

Florida Studio Theatre is presenting the Tony Award-winning play, "The 39 Steps," based on the classic spy novel, the 1935 Hitchcock thriller, and adapted by Patrick Barlow for the stage. It will play in the Gompertz Theatre from December 8, 2010 to February 6, 2011. "The 39 Steps" follows the tale of the innocent, Hitchcockian leading man, Richard Hannay, a do-gooder accused of foul play. Hannay's life is turned upside down when a beautiful spy is murdered in his apartment. Soon, the spy ring is hot on his trail in a cross-country manhunt that climaxes in a death defying finale - including some good old fashioned romance and an onstage plane crash.

Single tickets to "The 39 Steps" are priced $19 to $34 and may be purchased by calling the FST Box Office at 941-366-9000 or by visiting the website at www.floridastudiotheatre.org.

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.