FST Opens Summer 2015 Cabaret Season with SIX GUITARS Tonight

FST announces its first show of the Summer Cabaret season, Six Guitars, by Chase Padgett and Jay Hopkins. This eclectic blend of musical styles opens in Florida Studio Theatre's Court Cabaret tonight, June 11, 2015.

Single tickets range from $32 - $36 and may be purchased online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000, or by visiting the Box Office.

Enjoy a pitch perfect blend of music, comedy, and characters, as Chase Padgett becomes six different guitar players each with their own distinct voice, views, and musical style (Blues, Jazz, Rock, Classical, Folk, and Country).

Six Guitars originally premiered at the 2010 Orlando International Fringe Festival. After achieving national recognition, Padgett has gone on to tour internationally as he seamlessly weaves in and out of characters throughout this moving, melodic journey. While some of these characters are inspired from real people like the blues legend BB King, others have been invented from bits and pieces of Padgett's own life and imagination.

Described by the Austin Post as "A great piece of musical performance," and the Edmonton Sun as "A storytelling masterpiece," Six Guitars treats audiences to a smorgasbord of musical styles. Co-creator and lead star of the show Chase Padgett adds, "It's not quite a concert, or a play, or a stand-up comedy show but it has elements of all three. The show was a personal challenge to me to combine my loves of characters and music into a single daunting task. I couldn't think of anything scarier than trying to do a one man show and I'm glad I did it even though I was terrified."

Both creators of Six Guitars share a background not only in music, but also in comedy. Padgett started performing with the SAK Comedy Lab in Orlando, FL as the only company member to provide support as an improviser and musician. He also received instruction in improv from the world famous iO training center in Chicago. Co-creator of the show, Jay Hopkins has been directing, acting, writing, and improvising professionally for over 25 years. In 1992 he also joined the SAK Comedy Lab and became a member of the Core Ensemble, a Creative Producer, and the Head of Education for several years. Hopkins previously performed in three past Sarasota Improv Festivals.

Padgett sums up his journey with this dynamic show stating, "It changed my life. Nothing feels better than making a crowd laugh, particularly with material you wrote. That's a high I will probably seek for the rest of my life."

Six Guitars opens in the Court Cabaret on Thursday, June 11, 2015. Single tickets range from $32 - $36 and may be purchased online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000 or by visiting the Box Office.

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 then acquired the former Woman's Club building, becoming the first permanent venue. Shortly after Richard Hopkins arrived, the building was purchased and 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 five theatre venues: the Keating Theatre, the Gompertz Theatre, the Parisian style Goldstein Cabaret and John C. Court Cabaret, and Bowne's Lab Theatre.

Even with its growth, Florida Studio Theatre remains firmly committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to a broad-based audience. 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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