(Sarasota, FL) What happens when two completely different women come to together to live under the same roof? Florida Studio Theatre’s second Summer Mainstage show will explore the dynamic duo of Sharon and Robyn in The Roommate by Jen Silverman. This REGIONAL PREMIERE opens in the Keating Theatre on July 6 and runs through August 7. Summer Mainstage subscriptions can be purchased for as little as $39 online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000, or by visiting the Box Office.
Brooklyn meets Iowa City when Sharon finds a ‘sensible’ roommate. She quickly learns that Robyn couldn’t be further from the conservative ladies in her book club. Hell-bent on getting to know Robyn, Sharon deploys her charm. The Roommate tells the story of two humorously mismatched middle-aged women, both with the overwhelming desire to reinvent their lives.
According to Producing Artistic Director, Richard Hopkins, “It’s The Odd Couple meets Pulp Fiction, without all the violence. The way it deals with issues and values in different castes and classes and how the characters really stick to those values is very similar. You have two very different women who are essentially reinventing themselves. Two women with very different life experiences come together. It’s really interesting to see how they influence each other.” Hopkins states.
Returning to FST after directing last summer’s hit murder mystery, The Hound of the Baskervilles, is Gavin Cameron-Webb. Cameron-Webb shares what attracted him to direct The Roommate. “The dialogue is smart and clever. The characters are well differentiated, well drawn – a good contrast for good comedy. And the script is funny; I found myself laughing as I read it – even for the second or third time. Both characters are empathic and the situation is nice and low key even though the subject is big. It’s a smart contemporary script with a good story. You want to know what happens next. I am very much looking forward to it.”
Cast in this comedy of transformation is Rita Rehn and Joan Twiss. Playing the role of vegan and ex-Brooklyn resident Robyn, Rehn’s previous roles include last summer’s FST productions of Over the River and Through the Woods, along with In The Book Of, and Sylvia. According to Rehn, “I’ve experienced wonderful people in my work and the character of Robyn in The Roommate will be another. She’s a very complex rather mysterious woman
with a rich inner life and many demons. I’m excited to intricately craft this type of character. I’ve done a two hander before: a psychological thriller opposite a man which was plot driven; this is more character/relationship driven so it should be fun.” Twiss’ previous credits include Cat On a HotTin Roof, Steel Magnolias, and Rabbit Hole.
The hope of second beginnings and the exploration of the lives of two mismatched,
middle-aged single women all comes center stage in The Roommate. Making its REGIONAL PREMIERE in the Keating Theatre on July 6, the production runs through August 7. Summer Mainstage subscriptions can be purchased for as little as $39 online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000, or by visiting the Box Office.
About Florida Studio Theatre
Known as Sarasota’s Contemporary Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre was founded in 1973 by Artist, 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 Producing Artistic Director 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.
