Florida Studio Theatre Welcomes Back FST Improv, Beg. 6/23; Sarasota Improv Festival Set for 7/20-21
After the snowbirds have fled, comedy will descend on Sarasota with an action-packed summer of laughs. Florida Studio Theatre is bringing back another season of FST Improv, where Sarasota's homegrown troupe of funny guys are back for more shenanigans. The FST Improv season returns to its Saturday Night spot on June 23, and will continue on Saturdays this summer at 8pm in the Goldstein Cabaret. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online at www.FloridaStudioTheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000 or by visiting the Box Office.
FST Improv is Sarasota's resident Improv troupe at Florida Studio Theatre. Under the direction of Rebecca Hopkins, the Improv program has expanded from its humble beginnings in 2001 to a year-round performance schedule, the Sarasota Improv Festival, and Improv education classes.
In addition to the FST Improv summer season, the 4th Annual Sarasota Improv Festival returns for two-nights of non-stop comedy with 10 of the hottest groups on the Improv scene nationwide on July 20 and 21. Acts from Chicago, Boston, Austin, Miami, Atlanta (and everywhere in between) will perform on the Cabaret stage. Pricing varies for the weekend, with passes available for the weekend at $49, nightly at $29, and per individual show at $10/each.
In one-hour slots, groups will perform different types of Improv shows: traditional Improv games, long-form comedy, short sketches and musical improv. Returning to the fest after sold-out appearances on FST's stage are Available Cupholders (Austin, TX), Dad's Garage (Atlanta), SAK Comedy (Orlando), Jester Theater (Orlando), ImprovBoston (Boston), Just the Funny (Miami), Lazy Fairy (Sarasota), and the "home team" troupe to kick it all off, FST Improv (Sarasota). Sure to be audience favorites are new kids on the block, Stacked: All-female Musical Improv and The Hitmen, both from Chicago.
The full Sarasota Improv Festival schedule will be available soon.
Jay Hopkins, artistic director of Jester Theater, said this of last years' festival: "To have full houses for all the shows was just astounding. The support of your community is remarkable… You have put together a quality, fun-filled festival and we look forward to your growth."
FST COMEDY SEASON SCHEDULE:
FST Improv: Saturday, June 23 at 8pm
FST Improv: Saturday, June 30 at 8pm
FST Improv: Saturday July 7 at 8pm
FST Improv: Saturday July 14 at 8pm
Sarasota Improv Festival: Friday, July 20 beginning at 5pm
Sarasota Improv Festival: Saturday, July 21 beginning at 11am
FST Improv: Saturday, July 28 at 8pm
FST Improv: Saturday, August 4 at 8pm
FST Improv: Saturday, August 11 at 8pm
FST Improv: Saturday, August 18 at 8pm
FST Improv: Saturday, August 25 at 8pm
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 eventually settled down into a permanent home, acquiring the former Woman's Club building – now 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 three theatre venues: the Keating Theatre, the Goldstein Cabaret and its newest space, the Gompertz Theatre. Even with its growth, Florida Studio Theatre remains firmly committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to a broad-based audience. Under Richard Hopkins, Artistic Director and CEO, 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.
Photo credit: Cliff Roles
