Florida Studio Theatre Announces RACE Extension Thru 4/2

Due to popular demand, Florida Studio Theatre extends David Mamet's Race for a tenth week in the Keating Theatre, now playing through April 2, 2011. The extension continues the remarkable success of FST's Mainstage Season; in January, FST broke all previous sales records at the theater by exceeding 10,700 subscriptions sold to the Mainstage series.

Race is a riveting legal drama from Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Mamet (Glengarry Glen Ross, American Buffalo) that will immerse you with lies, sex, guilt, greed, passion, and above all, the subject of race.. Race opened on January 26 to rave reviews from critics and audience alike. Critics have called FST's production "remarkable and electric," (SCENE Magazine) and "explosive" (Sarasota Herald-Tribune). Audiences have called it "intense," "brilliant," and "challenging...keeps you thinking."

Additional performances include: Tuesday, March 29 at 8 p.m.; Wednesday, March 30 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Thursday, March 31 at 8 p.m.; Friday, April 1 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Saturday, April 2 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Race opened on Broadway in September 2009, and was the longest-running play of the 2009-2010 Broadway season. It closed in August 2010. Florida Studio Theatre is presenting the second regional production
of the play, shortly after Philadelphia Theatre Company's production opened on January 21.

"David Mamet is one of the best playwrights still writing and producing today," said Artistic Director Richard Hopkins, who is also directing Race. "In ‘Race,' Mamet asks excellent questions of his audience, without providing answers or solutions so that we can each examine our own individual roles in race relations and better understand the roles of America's institutions. ‘Race' will not solve the issues of race, but it will give us food for thought for many years to come so that we can better wrestle with the issues. It's an important piece of theatre, and FST is proud to be producing it so early after its initial Broadway run."

The cast features FST favorites Ronald Siebert as the disheveled billionaire Charles Strickland (Ruined) and Jeffrey Plunkett as hot-headed lawyer Jack Lawson (Sylvia, Opus, Pure Confidence) with newcomers Kevyn Morrow as attorney Henry Brown (Smokey Joe's Café, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Law and Order) and Toccarra Cash as the newly appointed lawyer, Susan (A Raisin in the Sun, The Wiz).

Costume and set designer April Soroko returned to FST after her design work for The 39 Steps and Beehive: The 60s Musical. Robert Perry returned as the lighting designer, after designing Brassy Broads: The Next Generation, The Wanderers, and last season's Shotgun.

Race runs through April 2, 2011 in the Keating Theatre. Tickets range from $29-$32 and may be purchased
by calling the Box Office at 941-366-9000 or by visiting the website at www.floridastudiotheatre.org.

 

 

After the successful February discussion, Florida Studio Theatre will host a second forum to delve even further into David Mamet's provocative new legal drama, Race. The discussion will explore both the play and the larger issues that arise in Mamet's most recent work. It will take place on Friday, March 4 at 4:00pm in the Keating Theatre.

"This panel discussion will be on a more intimate scale exploring the themes we only touched on in the first discussion, and then, expanding outward to themes we didn't have time for," said Associate Director Kate Alexander, who will also moderate this discussion. "Along with a further exploration of the courtroom, we will investigate the role of women in the play and the play as a metaphor for all humanity."

The discussion will also feature a tighter format. It will be capped at an hour and will feature three of the six strong community leaders that appeared in the February panel.

March's panel will feature The Honorable Larry Eger, Public Defender for the 12th Judicial Court, Dr. Sophia LaRusso of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, and The Honorable Judge Charles Williams, Circuit Judge for the 12th Judicial Court.

Judge Williams said this about his involvement with the project: "As a public servant I feel that this discussion is part of my duties to educate the public as to issues that relate to the judiciary. Race and diversity are two issues that I feel are important issues relevant to our system of justice."

An intelligent new play by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winner David Mamet, Race opened on January 28 as part of FST's Winter Mainstage season and will play through April 2. When a wealthy white man is charged with a crime against a young black woman, a debate ensues over whether or not to defend him. The play, directed by FST Artistic Director Richard Hopkins, is a fast-paced and engaging investigation into how society deals with guilt, class, sex, lies and race that is sure to leave theatregoers discussing it long after the curtain goes down.

There is limited seating available. Please call the box office at (941) 366-9000 for reservations.

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 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.

1241 N. Palm Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34236

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