At this year’s 11th Annual Sarasota Improv Festival, over 20 of the top improv troupes from across the nation and as far as Canada and the UK will travel to Florida’s Gulf Coast for a whirlwind weekend of laughter. One of those groups is Dad’s Garage, of Atlanta, GA, who have performed their signature brand of off-the-cuff improvised comedy that has delighted around the world. We sat down … Continue reading Improv Fest Spotlight: Dad’s Garage
By TJ Lewis Out of these hit songs, which artist made the best cover for you? Are you a die-hard fan for the original, or does the new version have more appeal? These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ By Nancy Sinatra Covered by Loretta Lynn and Jessica Simpson “These boots are made for walking…and one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over … Continue reading Old vs. New: Which One is For You?
By Meg Gilbert Called a “21st-century Barbra Streisand” by the New York Times, Carole J. Bufford and her vivacious vocals are back and better than ever this summer with Come Together: When the 60s Met the 70s. Covering music from Nancy Sinatra, Dusty Springfield, and Jeannie C. Riley, and featuring hits like “Dream a Little Dream of Me” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Come Together … Continue reading Dream a Little Dream of Carole
By Michael Nichols The seeds for Ethel Waters: His Eye is on the Sparrow were planted in playwright Larry Parr’s heart at a young age. In high school, he discovered Ethel Waters’ autobiography, His Eye is on the Sparrow, which he found to be very impactful. Little did Parr know at the time that, as a playwright, he would go on to create not just … Continue reading A Play’s Journey: The Beginnings of the Ethel Waters Story
By Michael Nichols and Becca Jennings Blues music bubbled up from the American South in the 1870s, carrying the voices of former slaves and freed men to the swanky nightclubs of the North and Midwest in the early 20th century. Blues’ distinct sound and its emotional weight became the lifeblood of many African American singers and musicians. Actress and singer Ethel Waters was one of … Continue reading Am I Blue? The Ethel Waters Story
Marvelous Wonderettes creator Roger Bean has made a name for himself in transforming “marvelous” pop hits into hit Mainstage musicals. “When I was growing up, my mother was always singing around the house—lots of ‘50s and ‘60s girl group stuff,” said Bean. “So the popular music from these eras is deep in my consciousness.” As a young boy, Bean also wrote plays and melodramas with his … Continue reading The Man Behind the Musical
by Irene Martinko Grab your corsage, hop into a limo, and get ready to begin your trip through the history of prom! Let’s start with the word “prom.” Where does it come from? What does it mean? Short for “promenade,” a kind of formal parading of guests at a party, the earliest mention of the word dates all the way back to 1894. It was … Continue reading Prom Night: A Brief History
By Jenna Tonsor Kicking off the Summer Mainstage Season is the Off-Broadway hit, The Marvelous Wonderettes, by Roger Bean. It’s 1958 at the Springfield High School Senior Prom. When the big event unexpectedly loses its musical act, it’s up to four friends to take to the stage, and help make prom a night to remember in four-part harmony. In this 90-minute jukebox musical, you’ll meet … Continue reading Relive Your High School Prom With The Marvelous Wonderettes
By Michael Nichols You could call her journey a “Cinderella story…” That is, maybe, if Cinderella had been born black, to a traumatized mother, raised poor, alone, and hounded by hunger, only to rise to the pinnacle of American stardom. Fourteen years since its World Premiere right here at FST, Ethel Waters: His Eye is on the Sparrow returns with a powerful musical biography celebrating … Continue reading Healing Waters: From Poverty to Stardom
This May, Florida Studio Theatre recognized Mrs. Cookie Boudreaux as the WRITE A PLAY Partner of the Year for her dedicated support of children in Sarasota and Manatee counties. A Sarasota-based business consultant and senior partner with Mark Kamin & Associates, Mrs. Boudreaux has been an Underwriter of FST’s award-winning arts-in-education program, WRITE A PLAY (WAP), for over five years. Mrs. Boudreaux was honored at … Continue reading Cookie Boudreaux: WRITE A PLAY Partner of the Year
