Florida Studio Theatre's Education Department Offering Youth Education Classes

Florida Studio Theatre's Education Department is offering a free introductory class for students ages 7-12. The class will take place on Saturday, November 2 from 12:30pm - 1:30pm in FST's rehearsal studios in downtown Sarasota. Space is limited and reservations are required. Students can make a reservation by calling 941-366-1350.

Students will have a chance to experience the Florida Studio Theatre School Acting Program through this unique opportunity. "The training our students receive builds confidence, enhances their artistic expression and develops emotional intelligence," said Beth Duda, Director of Education. "Through participation in our program, students will gain an understanding of the theatre and themselves."

The Education Program was developed by Kate Alexander, Associate Director of FST. The Florida Studio Theatre School teaches students that art is more than performance; it is an investigation of the human self. Ultimately, they understand, as Edward Albee said, "Theatre teaches us what it means to be alive." From its modest beginnings of 11 students, the program now reaches close to 1,000 students each year. Training both children and adults in the language and thought of theatre, the FST School educates both the minds and the hearts of the theatergoers of today and tomorrow.

The adult teaching staff is comprised of a core of theatre professionals trained to teach free from personal dictates. FST School's methodology helps each person find his or her own "door" to creative achievement.

The Free Introductory Class will be held on Saturday, November 2 from 12:30pm -1:30pm, in FST's professional rehearsal studios in the heart of downtown Sarasota at 1241 North Palm Avenue. Interested students can make a reservation by calling 941.366.1350.

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 four theatre venues: the Keating Theatre, the newly renovated Gompertz Theatre, the Goldstein Cabaret and the new John C. Court Cabaret.

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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