Florida Studio Theatre Announces 2009 - 2010 Mainstage Season

FST's 2009-2010 Winter Mainstage Season is composed of Tony Award-winning Broadway hits and the 2009 Pulitzer Prize winning drama. This season begins with lovable and hilarious Tony-award winning The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, followed by the Tony-award winning Broadway hit and Regional Theatre Premier of Bridge & Tunnel. The season continues with the 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Ruined, and ends with the National New Play Network's rolling World Premiere of Shotgun. Subscriptions to all 4 shows can be purchased for $39-$61 by calling FST's box office at 941-366-9000 or visiting www.floridastudiotheatre.org .

In addition to the Mainstage Season, Florida Studio Theatre announces the Special Event of Shear Madness. Shear Madness will be produced in the Gompertz Theatre beginning February 18, 2010.
Artistic Director, Richard Hopkins stated, "This season is filled with Broadway hits, award-winning shows and premieres that were crafted with the audience in mind. From the play Ruined, a moving story set in the tumultuous world of the African Congo, to Spelling Bee the successful musical-comedy; it is a great season to be part of FST."

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, beginning November 18th in the Keating Theatre and playing through January 15, 2010 won the 2005 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical . Cleverly entertaining the music and lyrics are by William Finn; Book by Rachel Sheinkin; Conceived by Rebecca Feldman with additional material by Jay Reiss.

In this hilarious new musical comedy, six young people in the throes of puberty are overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves. Together they learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser.

Bridge & Tunnel opens on December 16, 2009 and plays through February 13, 2010 in the Gompertz Theatre. Written by Sarah Jones, Bridge & Tunnel is a one-woman tour de force.

Fourteen immigrants from diverse backgrounds, in search of liberty, equality and the opportunity for the American Dream, collide in a riotous and endearing tribute to the New York City melting pot.

The 2009 Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama Ruined, written by Lynn Nottage opens as the FST's third production, February 3, 2010 and plays through April 3, 2010 in the Keating Theatre.

A glimpse into the Democratic Republic of Congo during a decade of civil unrest. Mama Nadi, owner of the canteen, serves up everything from a cold beer and a warm meal to the company of a woman. The women overcome adversity of war through hope, love and survival.

The 2009-2010 Mainstage Season concludes with the National New Play Networks rolling World Premiere of Shotgun, by John Biguenet.

Place: A little shotgun apartment in New Orleans.

Time: Four months, post-Katrina

Action: In the wake of natural disaster, the drama is just beginning. Families clash and racial tensions rise. A play of love, hope and humor in celebration of the human spirit.

Shear Madness written by Paul Portner, adapted by Marilyn Abrams and Bruce Jordan, with original direction by Bruce Jordan, holds the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running play in the history of the American Theatre. Now in its 29th year.

The hilarious whodunit where the audience gets to solve the crime. A mixture of improvisation and up-to-the-minute spontaneous humor. The play is delightfully different every time you see it.

The play is set today in a hairstyling salon in the city in which it plays. The landlady Isabel Czerny who lives above the shop is murdered, and every one of the actors has a reason to do her in. The audience gets involved in the action by questioning the actors and attempting to solve the crime.
All 4 shows of the Mainstage Season - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Bridge & Tunnel, Ruined and Shotgun - will be presented at both FST's Keating Theatre and Gompertz Theatre. The special event Shear Madness will be presented at the Gompertz Theatre. Single tickets range from $19 for

previews to the Mainstage Season to $29-$34 for regular performances. Single ticket prices to Shear Madness range from $32 - $34. A subscription to all 4 of the Mainstage Season ranges from $39-$61. Both subscription tickets and single tickets may be purchased from the FST Box Office in person or by calling (941) 366-9000 or online at FST's website www.FloridaStudioTheatre.org . FST's website is also an excellent source for videos, articles and information about FST's productions.

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 Women'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.

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