Florida Studio Theatre Announces MULTI YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN

At a press conference on Tuesday, November 15, Florida Studio Theatre announced a multi-year capital improvement campaign to renovate the 6,000 sq. foot Gompertz Theatre and construct an 18,000 sq. foot addition with two new theatre spaces. The $5.6 million dollar campaign is the largest capital program in the 37-year old theatre's history and will double the number of renovated stages on the theatre's campus located in Sarasota's historic downtown.

Designed by Potvin Architects in collaboration with C. Alan Architect PA and Contractors, Florida Studio Theatre will break ground in January 2012 on the new complex. The renovated Gompertz Theatre will have a soft opening in July 2012, and have a grand opening in December 2012. The Gompertz Theatre is located at the corner of First Street and Cocoanut Avenue.

It is Florida Studio Theatre's mission to make theatre affordable and accessible to as many people as possible. With that goal in mind, FST has successfully grown its audience to be one of the largest in the country* reaching more than 160,000 people each year through its six major programs. Over the years, FST has grown to accommodate this ever-expanding audience - but, today, FST's audience is being capped at that number. With 11,000 subscribers in the Mainstage series and 8,700 subscribers in the Cabaret series, FST's theatres are at capacity with Little Room to grow.

"When Florida Studio Theatre purchased the adjacent property where the current Gompertz Theatre stands about ten years ago, we began dreaming of what FST would one day become," said Artistic Director Richard Hopkins, who has been with the theatre for 31 years. "This is the opportunity to expand and extend the reach of our current programming; we will grow the Mainstage series audience, we will grow the Cabaret series audience, and grow our other programming, including Improv, Education, Children's Theatre and New Play Development. We have spent years examining our core and what we do well, and The New Gompertz Theatre campaign will allow us to keep doing that."

The New Gompertz Theatre project will allow FST to meet the demands of its programs and to reach even more of Sarasota's broadening audience. Those demands could take FST's audience and impact from 160,000 people to a projected 200,000 people per year. It will also allow for exciting new artistic ventures because of the expansion and addition of two new theatre spaces.

 

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