By Meg Gilbert

The New Year brings new cast members, new shows, and old favorites every Saturday night when FST Improv takes to the Bowne’s Lab stage.

Back by popular demand, FST Improv Presents: When X Meets Y returns with more shows than ever before. “The improv comedy show debuted in 2015, and has been such a hit with FST audiences that we decided to bring it back this year for its own six-week run,” explained Will Luera, Director of Improvisation.

Unlike some improv show formats that feature a series of short games and sketches strung together, When X Meets Y mixes long-form narrative along with musical improv to weave a completely original musical comedy. “When X Meets Y presents a different type of improvised storytelling that our audience has been telling us they’ve been craving,” explained FST Improv cast member and Associate Artist Jason Cannon. “Instead of playing multiple characters across multiple games, the performers each play one character throughout the entirety of a narrative, creating scenes together into one story. The audience ends up watching the creation of a one-night-only musical, including choreography, songs, and a romantic plot.”

So, what makes When X Meets Y so popular that we just had to bring it back? “I think our talent pool of musical improvisers has grown exponentially recently,” said FST Improv performer Denee Lortz. “It’s a more sophisticated form of improvisation that requires a lot of nuance on the part of the performers, and the audience is definitely ready for that.”

Following the premiere run of When X Meets Y is long-time favorite Life’s a Beach. There’s no place on earth quite like Sarasota, Florida. From snowbirds to roundabouts, this revue-style show features sketches, musicals, and our favorite classic improv games, poking fun at what makes Sarasota, Sarasota, inspired by your suggestions.

If you still can’t get enough, sign up for one of our improv or sketch classes. FST offers classes year-round in a variety of areas including improvisational comedy, sketch writing, acting, playwriting, and more.

For more information on FST’s education program, click here or call Pamela Smith at 941.366.1350.

For questions about the FST Improv season, show times, or tickets, click here, or call our Box Office at 941.366.9000.