(Sarasota, FL) — It’s that time of year again for the ever popular pumpkin spice latte, apple-caramel scented candles, and of course, the start of FST Improv’s Fall season. Beginning October 17, Sarasota’s Original Anti-Depressant returns! FST Improv will perform a variety of shows including Out Of Bounds, We’re Doomed! Halloween Special, When X Meets Y Holiday Special, Life’s A Beach, and more. No matter your comedic tastes, FST Improv has something for everyone. Performances will be held every Saturday and select Fridays at 7:30pm with full menu and bar available. All tickets and packages may be purchased from the FST Box Office by calling (941) 366-9000, or online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
The loyal laughers of Sarasota will enjoy the tried and true favorite shows Out of Bounds and Life’s A Beach, along with some new funny formats. For the first time on the Bowne’s Lab stage, sketch comedy will be introduced into the laughter lineup. Director of Improv, Will Luera speaks to the variety of comedy that will be presented stating, “We’re going to take the We’re Doomed format from this past year and apply it to Halloween to poke fun at some of the tropes of Halloween and horror movies. We’re also going to put a twist on our show When X Meets Y and play off those holiday romantic comedies, but in musical form. Think of movies like Love Actually and When Harry Met Sally.”
This fall season will also feature a fun, family-friendly show, appropriate for all ages called Improv Adventure. Luera shared his anticipation of what this new season of family friendly improv has in store for audiences. “We want to continue to do shows that the whole family can enjoy together. You don’t need to get a babysitter. Kids and parents are welcome and we invite you to join us up on stage to play with us. We’re going to play with a variety of different improv games and sing songs. Something that will be different this season is that we’re going to be inviting some of our teen improv performers to also join the cast.”
This season also introduces a brand new show, for seniors, by seniors, called the Early Bird Special. Members of our audience with more life experience can enjoy comedy from their perspective. It’s not only a season filled with a variety of shows, but the cast themselves make up a uniquely diverse group of performers. According to Luera, “It’s the only collection of performers that I’ve ever worked with that captures as large of a cross-section of the diverse society we are all a part of. In one cast of 14, we have a multi-racial and multi-generational mix that is very unique. In addition, we have an almost 50 percent gender breakdown, with gay and straight performers and political views ranging from staunch conservatives to bleeding heart liberals. Yet, every weekend we can come together to make our audience members laugh together.”
Back for another season of witty weekend hilarity are returning cast members: Will Luera, Christine Alexander, Hunter Brown, Larry Bukovey, Patrick A. Jackson, Joey James, Darryl Knapp, Emily Levin, Katelyn McKelley, Joey Panek, Angel Parker, Adam Ratner, Natasha Samreny, and Steve Turrisi.
If variety is the spice of life, then FST Improv is really bringing the heat to Bowne’s Lab. This fall season of FST Improv brings a variety of shows and a diversity of comedic performances to Sarasota audiences. Luera concludes stating, “The diversity we have in our cast is key to our comedic strength. Because of that mix, everyone from your conservative grandpa, to your fun-loving aunt, to your international college friend, or your rebellious teenage cousin will have fun at our shows. They will see someone on stage that they can identify with and ultimately laugh at, all while participating in one of the most interactive shows around.”
Performances will be held every Saturday and select Fridays at 7:30pm. Full menu and bar are available. Doors open one hour prior to the show. Tickets are $15 per show. All tickets may be purchased from the FST Box Office by calling (941) 366-9000, or online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
About Florida Studio Theatre
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 then acquired the former Woman’s Club building, becoming the first permanent venue. Shortly after Richard Hopkins arrived, the building was purchased and 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 five theatre venues: the Keating Theatre, the Gompertz Theatre, the Parisian style Goldstein Cabaret and John C. Court Cabaret, and Bowne’s Lab Theatre.
Even with its growth, Florida Studio Theatre remains firmly committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to a broad-based audience. 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.
