Author: floridastudiotheatre

Florida Studio Theatre is a non-profit professional theatre in Sarasota, FL.
Cabaret, Who Loves You

The Origins of The Four Seasons: Not a Folk Myth

By Jenna Tonsor and Lydia Baxter The Four Seasons are one of the best-selling American rock & roll groups to come out of the 1960s. The group has upwards of 25 chart-topping hits, and has influenced countless other musicians through their signature sound. This prominent all-male band featured Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio, Nick Massi (who was replaced by Joe Long in 1964), and of course, … Continue reading The Origins of The Four Seasons: Not a Folk Myth

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Cabaret, That's Amore

Amoré for the King of Cool

By Michael Nichols & Becca Jennings “If this is just the beginning, my life’s gonna be beautiful,” Dean Martin once said. And he was right. The original cool guy with a dusky baritone voice, Dean Martin was a fast-thinking, charismatic entrepreneur who not only sang his way to stardom, but built the bridges to help get him there. From his early days in Martin and … Continue reading Amoré for the King of Cool

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Cabaret, Who Loves You

Big Men in Town

By Michael Nichols and Lydia Baxter Blending smooth vocal harmonies with powerful solos, FST’s Summer Cabaret, Who Loves You: Musical Tribute to Frankie Valli and Beyond, celebrates one of the most successful acts in music history. A feel-good show from beginning to end, Who Loves You takes the memorable songs of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and performs them in a new, captivating way. … Continue reading Big Men in Town

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Children's Theatre

Five Reasons to Introduce Your Children to Theatre

By Michael Nichols and Lydia Baxter With entertainment just a click away, it can be tempting to leave kids – literally – to their own devices. While smartphones and tablets may provide hours of distraction, live theatre excites, educates, and inspires creativity in ways that no other medium can. At Florida Studio Theatre, children – and their favorite grown ups – are able to experience … Continue reading Five Reasons to Introduce Your Children to Theatre

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The Swingaroos: Hollywood Serenade

Behind the Glamour: 1940s Hollywood

By Irene Martinko In The Swingaroos: Hollywood Serenade, The Swingaroos put their own swingin’ twist on songs from some of the top movies of the ’30s and ’40s. Scroll down to learn a little more about the movies that introduced audiences to songs like “At Last,” “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” and “Hooray for Hollywood.” Hollywood Hotel – 1937 Hollywood Hotel made history by featuring … Continue reading Behind the Glamour: 1940s Hollywood

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The Swingaroos: Hollywood Serenade

Swingin’ and Singin’ in Style

By Becca Jennings Back by popular demand, The Swingaroos, NYC’s swing-era territory band, return to FST this summer with an all new show, The Swingaroos: Hollywood Serenade. Inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood, this musical revue pays tribute to such icons as Frank Sinatra, Cab Calloway, and Fred Astaire – all with The Swingaroos’ signature swingin’ spin. “I wanted to capture the thrill that … Continue reading Swingin’ and Singin’ in Style

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The Cottage

Conflicted in Comedy

Sandy Rustin’s sexy comedy The Cottage opens on Sylvia Van Kipness (played by Hanley Smith) basking in the glow of her annual rendezvous with her lover, Beau (played by Greg Balla). Described as “perhaps the best looking man in Britain,” Beau is a dashing, debonair lawyer who has his fair share of secrets – until they all unravel in front of him and everyone close to him. Greg Balla … Continue reading Conflicted in Comedy

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The Cottage

There’s Something About Sylvia

Hanley Smith is no stranger to comedy – she is on the board of a New York City comedy troupe, played Cecily in Gulfshore Playhouse’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest, and switched effortlessly between three leading ladies in The 39 Steps at Gretna Theatre. Making her FST debut in the Regional Premiere of Sandy Rustin’s The Cottage, Hanley is thrilled to play Sylvia Van Kipness, the … Continue reading There’s Something About Sylvia

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The Cottage

Playwright Spotlight – Sandy Rustin

When Sandy Rustin was a sophomore in college, she starred in a production of Hay Fever by Noël Coward, and immediately fell in love with period pieces. When she couldn’t find any new plays that reflected Coward’s writing style, she decided to write one herself: The Cottage. In The Cottage, hopeless romantic Sylvia Van Kipness chooses to expose her secret love affair to her husband, Clarke. What ensues is a … Continue reading Playwright Spotlight – Sandy Rustin

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The Cottage

Sandy Rustin: She Wrote Her Biography, Then Lived It

By Jenna Tonsor and Becca Jennings Sandy Rustin jokes that her career path as a playwright and actress has been percolating since the sixth grade, when she was assigned to write her autobiography. “Sandy hopes to grow up to be an actress and playwright,” wrote 11-year-old Sandy. As it turned out, that single homework assignment would be more prophetic than little Sandy could have ever … Continue reading Sandy Rustin: She Wrote Her Biography, Then Lived It

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