FST Launches National Playwrights Project

Every week is a bit of a roller coaster here at FST. This week again we have good news and bad news. The bad news this week was the cancellation of the FST Summer Season. And I know that many of you were disappointed.

I encourage you to keep your Summer Subscriptions so that you do not lose your good seats. Subscribing to FST is one of the biggest ways you can show your support of the theatre, support of the arts, and show faith in the future. Please support FST, and let your Summer Subscription roll over to 2021. It’s closer than you think.

The good news is there are lots of activities going on at FST.

• The Green Room Cafe and Bar is open, and we have added weekend entertainment. On Fridays and Saturdays, you can enjoy the songfest of Jim Prosser and Alayna Gallo. We hope to add Thursday entertainment to the schedule soon.

• The FST Theatre School is rolling full steam ahead with scores of classes on Zoom at affordable prices for both Adults and Youth.

• The Playwrights Project kicked off this week with 32 playwrights putting plays on paper for our audiences to enjoy as soon as we get the green light. This is a massive program with National impact. You can read more about it in the article by Marty Fugate below.

• Friends Forums and Fireside Chats with the Playwrights from the Playwrights Project are available via Zoom.

• The FST Archive Project kicked off this week with staff and volunteers rolling into motion collecting and organizing the nearly half-century history of FST and the community we serve.

We believe we will be able to add more exciting programming soon. FST will be the birthplace for good things to come, a place for us to come together again, a place to share our history and our humanity. FST will continue to do what it has done so well for nearly half a century.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Producing Artistic Director Richard Hopkins took a page out of Shakespeare’s book—to invite playwrights to delve into their hearts during quarantine and mine for creative gold.

With the help of the Payroll Protection Program, FST has hired 32 talented writers to embark on this endeavor. A mix of familiar playwrights as well as some newcomers, the Playwrights Project breaks down to: 16 playwrights writing for Mainstage productions, 5 playwrights working in youth theater, 4 Cabaret developers, and 7 Sketch Comedy writers. They’ll all be creating new work.

Writer Marty Fugate will be following the project, and sharing stories about the participating playwrights and their artistic journeys with you. Click here to read his introduction to the Project, learn how it came to be, and why it’s important today.

Read more about the Project via:

SRQ Magazine
American Theatre
Broadway World
Sarasota Scene Magazine

Reminder to all FST FRIENDS: Don’t forget to reserve your seat for the upcoming Friends Forum with Playwrights Project Artist Rachel Lynett. This is an exclusive free event for FST Friends.

Friends are those who have donated $35 or more to the theatre. If you have not yet made your tax-deductible gift of $35 or more to FST this year, click here to become a Friend and to gain access to exclusive events like this one today.

WHEN Wednesday, May 20, 12PM
WHERE Online through Zoom Conferencing

For help registering, contact JT Priar at jtpriar.

After registering through the link above, you will receive a confirmation email from Florida Studio Theatre containing information about joining the online Zoom event. You will need to download the Zoom mobile or desktop app to participate in this event.

FST Resident Pianist Jim Prosser and Cabaret vocalist Alayna Gallo have been entertaining FST’s Green Room Cafe and Bar diners on our beautiful outdoor veranda for the past two weeks on Fridays and Saturday evenings.

They’ve been such a hit, all of our reservations have already been claimed for this Friday and Saturday! Given its popularity, we’ve decided to extend our new outdoor dining performance schedule, now featuring live musical entertainment every Friday and Saturday!

Grab your mask and come on out for a great meal with great entertainment.

Click here to make your reservation.

Delivery and pick-up are also available Tuesday-Saturday, 11AM-8PM, by calling 941.250.4550 or by clicking here.

Get 10% off of your first order
with the code “FST Fan.”

Discover your child’s artistic home, from home with FST Summer Theatre Camps Online. At the Florida Studio Theatre School, we see children not just as individuals, but as creative individuals.

Whether your child is starting their journey in the arts or have been performing skits in the living room for years, we offer online camps they’ll love:

Intro to Little Theatre: Online

Children’s Performing Arts Camp

Teen Performing Arts Camp: Online

Online Summer Theatre Camps are just $100 for one-week sessions and $200 for three-week sessions. Scholarships are available. For more information about enrollment, scholarships, and scholarship eligibility, contact Pamela Smith at psmith.

For a full list of online camps and
to enroll, click here.


Florida Studio Theatre is a 501(c)3 organization.