FST Opens Stage III With The Rolling World Premiere of ADVICE
The play runs from February 5 to February 28, 2025.
Florida Studio Theatre will kick off its 2025 Stage III Series with the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of Advice, a new comedy by Brent Askari and directed by Nancy Rominger. A clever exploration of ambition, friendship, and the pitfalls of following your own advice, the production begins performances on February 5 and runs through February 28, 2025 in FST’s Bowne’s Lab.
This sharp and witty comedy follows Ron and Joy, a professional couple whose lives are upended when their well-meaning but clueless friend Gary lands a book deal for a self-help guide. As they try to dissuade him from quitting his job to become a life coach, their intervention unravels hidden secrets, plunging them into chaotic — and comedic — turmoil.
Nancy Rominger, FST’s Associate Artist in charge of New Play Development, directs the production. Rominger has developed over 42 new American plays and musicals during her career, with many achieving successful runs at regional theatres nationwide.
“Advice is more than just a ridiculously funny comedy: it’s a timely reflection on the self-help industry,” said Rominger. “This bombardment begs the question: who is qualified to give advice? Advice asks this very question and wonders, if we encounter someone who truly is qualified, will we listen?”
Brent Askari, an award-winning Persian-American playwright and actor, is the creator of Advice. His previous works, The Refugees and Andy Warhol in Iran, earned accolades including the National New Play Network Smith Prize for Political Theatre and the Berkshire Theatre Critics Award for Best New Play. Askari has also written screenplays for companies like Paramount Pictures, Marvel Films, and MTV.
The cast includes Amanda Kristin Nichols* (Joy), making her FST debut, whose credits include Noises Off, Three Sisters, and appearances on Netflix, NBC, and USA. James Evans* (Ron), returning to FST after A Night in November, has performed in The Woman in Black and Pride and Prejudice. Patrick Noonan* (Gary), an FST favorite from Spamalot and The Mystery of Irma Vep, has extensive credits including Succession, West Side Story (2021), and over 4,000 performances of Shear Madness.
The creative team includes Casey Seiler (scenic design), Rossitza Lovetcheva (costume design), Kate Landry (lighting design), Naomi Martin (sound design), Charlotte Perez* (stage manager), and Amoreena Tillman (stage management intern).
(*Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union for professional actors and stage managers in the U.S.)
FST’s Stage III Series is dedicated to bold, innovative productions that challenge conventions and explore daring themes. Advice was first developed during FST’s 2023 Burdick New Play Festival, a program that nurtures new works through workshops, live feedback, and artistic support. To date, FST has produced more than 30 world premieres through its new play development initiatives.
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