Florida Studio Theatre Presents STEPPIN' OUT 10/21

Florida Studio Theatre opens its Cabaret Winter Season with Steppin’ Out, October 21st, featuring a jazz and modern day influence on Berlin favorites such as “Puttin’ On The Ritz,” “Anything You Can do,” “Cheek to Cheek” and “Always.”

FST Cabaret favorites Jannie Jones and Jim Weaver return with newcomers Ryan Flanigan and Allison Renee Foster. “Irving Berlin will sing with fresh new voices and vivid contemporary musical arrangements,” said Artistic Director and show creator Richard Hopkins.

Broadway Actress Jannie Jones recently received critical acclaim in the National Broadway tour of All Shook Up as Sylvia.  Jones most recently was in Harry Who? The Lullaby of Broadway at the Goldstein Cabaret. Broadway and Off-Broadway: The Full Monty, Faith Journey, Mama I Want to Sing.  Critically Acclaimed in Mahalia as Mahalia Jackson and Ethel Waters, His Eye Is on the Sparrow written by Larry Parr. Broadway Actor Jim Weaver returns to FST after appearing in Over the Rainbow and Ain’t Nothin’ but The Blues. Other credits: Broadway: Marie Christine, Don’t Call Back. Off-Broadway: Anything Cole, Mahalia, Radio City, Attendin’ Skeletons. 

New York Actress Alison Renee Foster roles include New York and abroad:  Comrade Charlotte (Flora the Red Menace), Glenda Swanson (Whoop-up!), Trina (Falsettoland), Nellie Collins (Floyd Collins), Yitzak (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Sister Hubert (Meshuganuns), Edith (The Pirates of Penzance), Magenta (The Rocky Horror Show), Mary (Merrily, We Roll Along), Lucy (Snoopy!), and as a featured singer in Songs for a New World and The World Goes ‘Round. New York Actor Ryan Flanigan’s previous credits include All Shook Up (Chad), White Christmas (Jimmy), Grease (Teen Angel/Vince Fontaine) and other regional work.

Florida Studio Theatre’s Artistic Director, Richard Hopkins Directs. Hopkins last Directed Outlaws & Angels in the 2007-2008 Season. He has served as Artistic Director of Florida Studio Theatre since 1980 and has guided the company from a small touring group to a professional regional theatre. Stephen Hope will choreograph. Hope returns to FST having provided original choreography for Laughing Matters…Too, Good Evening, Altar Boyz and most recently A Murder, A Mystery and A Marriage. His choreographic work has been seen at Lincoln Center and on regional stages around the country. John Franceschina is the Music Director and Colleen Jennings is Lighting Designer for the production. They will work with FST Staff Members Marcella Beckwith (Scenic and Costume Design) and Jim Prosser (Pianist/Arranger).

Step out of summer and into the Cabaret Season Opener October 21 – January 3, 2009 at the Goldstein Cabaret. Tickets are $26 - $29 and may be purchased from the FST Box Office in person, by phone (941) 366 – 9000 or now online 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.

Florida Studio Theatre is grateful to Dennis and Graci McGillicuddy and Dale Berkowitz for underwriting the 2008 - 2009 Cabaret Season; Co-Producer Janet Hevey and to the Florida Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
 
Florida Studio Theatre (FST) has been in operation in Sarasota since 1973.  During its history, FST has grown into a theatre with a budget of over $4 million and 20,000 subscribers a year, more than any theatre its size in the country.

FST operates three theatres: the 173-seat Keating Mainstage Theatre, the 160-seat Gompertz Theatre and the 109-seat Goldstein Cabaret Theatre.

FST produces world premieres and contemporary works which have been produced on or off-Broadway within the last five years.

By focusing on the works of contemporary writers, FST has been able to offer plays to its audiences that are not normally produced by other area theatres.  FST is comprised of six main programs: Mainstage, Cabaret, the Gompertz Theatre, Education, Touring and New Play Development.

FST has an extensive Education wing which offers over 20 classes weekly, and FST's touring company reaches over 60,000 students annually in the Southeastern United States and beyond. Through these programs, we inspire children to write plays for FST's annual Young Playwrights Festival.

The New Play Development Program is an integral part of Florida Studio Theatre and its mission.  FST receives 8,000 new plays a year from established, emerging, and young writers.  Many new scripts developed through this program reach the Mainstage and Cabaret Theatre stages.

The FST box office is located at the corner of North Palm Avenue and Cocoanut in downtown Sarasota, Florida. For more information, call 941-366-9000 or visit http://www.floridastudiotheatre.org.

Box Office Hours:
Mon. - 9 p.m. thru 6 p.m.
Tues. - Sat. - 9 a.m. thru 9 p.m.
Sun. - 11 a.m. thru 9 p.m.

Steppin’ Out Performance Schedule
October 21 – January 3, 2009
Goldstein Cabaret
Tickets: $26-$29

Tuesday  October 21  7:30 PM
Wednesday  October 22  7:30 PM
Thursday  October 23  7:30 PM
Friday   October 24  7:30 PM
Saturday  October 25  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Sunday  October 26  2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Tuesday  October 28  6:00 PM
Wednesday  October 29  7:30 PM
Thursday  October 30  7:30 PM
Friday   October 31  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Saturday  November 1  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Sunday  November 2  2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Tuesday  November 4  6:00 PM
Wednesday  November 5  7:30 PM
Thursday  November 6  7:30 PM
Friday   November 7  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Saturday  November 8  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Sunday  November 9  2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Tuesday  November 11  6:00 PM
Wednesday  November 12  7:30 PM
Thursday  November 13  7:30 PM
Friday   November 14  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Saturday  November 15  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Sunday  November 16  2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Tuesday  November 18  6:00 PM
Wednesday  November 19  7:30 PM
Thursday  November 20  7:30 PM
Friday   November 21  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Saturday  November 22  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Sunday  November 23  2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Tuesday  November 25  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Wednesday  November 26  7:30 PM
Friday   November 28  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Saturday  November 29  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Sunday  November 30  2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Tuesday  December 2  6:00 PM
Wednesday  December 3  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Thursday  December 4  7:30 PM
Friday   December 5  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Saturday  December 6  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Sunday  December 7  2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Tuesday  December 9  6:00 PM
Wednesday  December 10  7:30 PM
Thursday  December 11  7:30 PM
Friday   December 12  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Saturday  December 13  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Sunday  December 14  2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Tuesday  December 16  6:00 PM
Thursday  December 18  7:30 PM
Friday   December 19  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Saturday  December 20  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Sunday  December 21  2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Tuesday  December 23  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Wednesday  December 24  7:30 PM
Friday   December 26  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Saturday  December 27  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Sunday  December 28  2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Tuesday  December 30  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Wednesday  December 31  2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Thursday  January 1  7:30 PM
Friday   January 2  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Saturday  January 3  6:00 PM & 9:00 PM

photo courtesy Florida Studio Theatre