Florida Studio Theatre Begins Write-a-Play Program With RUMPLESTILTSKIN 10/13

Florida Studio Theatre kicks off its 2009-2010 WRITE A PLAY Program with the opening of Beth Duda and Adam Ratner's adaptation of The Brothers Grimm fairytale Rumplestiltskin on October 13, 2009. "In this modern version of Rumplestiltskin, the conundrum of deceit, lies and potential tragedy, is resolved when the truth is fully revealed, and the King puts aside his vanity and forgives all of the deceptions. This expansive modern version better elaborates the complexities of the challenges we face, and the difficulties of finding the right solutions. This is a story that shows us the consequences of boastfulness and lies." - Paul White, LCSW.

A modern twist to a classic fairy tale, Rumplestiltskin is a story of a young maiden whose father claims she can spin straw into gold to win the king's heart (and his kingdom). She and her sister are forced to carry out the impossible task or face dire consequences (like a permanent trip to the dungeon) should they fail. Caught in a web of deceit and greed, the sisters must rely on the dubious assistance of a strange fellow who offers to solve all of their problems for a very costly price.
Director of Education and co-creator for Rumplestiltskin stated, "Florida Studio Theatre's production of Rumplestiltskin tells the lively tale of the unfortunate results of dishonesty and greed. We look forward to the thousands of children and families who will attend this production. Rumplestiltskin is a most enjoyable way to share a theatrical experience with the youth of Sarasota and Manatee counties."

The cast of Rumplestiltskin includes Katharine Abbruzzese (Millie), Christianne Greiert (Tillie); Michael Musi (Rumplestiltskin) and Jamie Schor (King Gustav) and Adam Ratner (King). The production is directed by FST Associate Director, Kate Alexander, with Scenic and Costume Design by Marcella Beckwith and assistance from FST staffers Bruce Price as Lighting Designer and Matthew Klein as Assistant Lighting Designer.
Rumplestiltskin opens October 13, 2009 and will run in FST's Gompertz Theatre through November 19, 2008. Tickets are available to the public for $6 per person and may be purchased by calling The Box Office at (941) 366-9000 or online at www.floridastudiotheatre.org .

FST's WRITE A PLAY program was launched in 1991 with the support of the Florida Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts Challenge funds. Now in its 18th year, the WRITE A PLAY program reaches over 55,000 students each year in Florida, Scotland, China, Russia and Israel.
The core of the WRITE A PLAY program is its three-play series: sets the example of a well-made play. Rumplestiltskin; the PLAYMAKERS Tour, Imagination Celebration, travels across the state of Florida during the winter months teaching children to write plays; and UNDER SIX, The Land of Yes!, the compilation of winning plays submitted to FST's Young Playwrights Festival.

In addition to its three-play series, FST provides a number of other WRITE A PLAY programs for students in elementary and secondary schools. In-class workshops designed by professional playwrights help students explore their imaginations without boundaries or limits, while giving them the tools and incentives to write plays for the Young Playwrights Festival. FST also offers specially designed residencies that take students step-by-step through the process of writing a play.

With support from the Roberta Leventhal Sudakoff Foundation, FST has been able to take this innovative program into several Title I Schools. In-school writing

residencies have been established at Emma E. Booker Elementary, Gocio Elementary, Tuttle Elementary, and William Rowlett Elementary. The residencies have allowed FST to reach across social and economic barriers to teach the art of playwriting.

Since the inception of WRITE A PLAY, this unique program has impacted more than one million children. Teaching children to write, FST's WRITE A PLAY program has not only inspired young creative minds, it has also increased reading and writing scores in the program's participants. 

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.

Florida Studio Theatre is grateful to the sponsors of its WRITE A PLAY program: Barbara and Martin Arch, Bank of America Foundation, Claude A. & Blanche McCubbin Abbott Charitable Trust, Susan Dweck, Florida Winefest & Auction, Inc., Hegner Family Foundation, Hess Foundation, The Community Foundation of Sarasota County from The Charlotte and Charles Perret and Family Fund, Publix Super Markets Charities, Robert and Linda Rosenbluth, Sarasota Sister Cities Association, Ina Schnell, The Community Foundation of Sarasota County from The Betty Schoenbaum Fund for Florida Studio Theatre, The Shubert Foundation, Lois Stulberg, Esther M. Mertz Charitable Trust, The School Board of Broward County, Florida, U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management, Verizon Foundation, The Community Foundation of Sarasota County from The Victoria Leopold Fund, Wachovia Foundation, Fred and Ann Wurlitzer, Sally Yanowitz, and Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues.

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