Florida Studio Theatre's Winter Cabaret Season

FST Goes Over the Rainbow and Ends with Scathing Satire

Florida Studio Theatre Announces Its 2006-2007 Winter Cabaret Season

Florida Studio Theatre's 2006-2007 Winter Cabaret Season offers three very diverse shows with the songs of an American legend, sounds of the British Invasion and hilarious social satire.

FST opens up the Cabaret season with a musical tribute to one of the greatest song-writers of the 20^th Century. Over the Rainbow features the musical genius of Harold Arlen. In spite of his prolific success, Arlen remains the most famous composer whose name you may not recognize. In addition to writing the songs for The Wizard of Oz, Arlen penned some of the most beloved tunes of the 1930's and 40's capturing the essence of a classic generation. Over the Rainbow was developed at FST and will be directed by Artistic Director Richard Hopkins. It features the songs 'Paper Moon,' 'Stormy Weather,' and 'Over the Rainbow.' Arlen's song 'Over the Rainbow' was voted the twentieth century's number one song by the Recording Industry Association of America. Over the Rainbow begins October 24, 2006 and runs through January 6, 2007.

Following the smooth sounds of Harold Arlen is a more contemporary type of revue. The British Invasion leads audiences on a musical journey that starts with a group of kids crossing the Atlantic in the late 1960's. As it turned out, those kids forever changed the sound of American popular music. They created the soundtrack for a tumultuous era and keep us on edge with new music to this day. Experience The British Invasion through the sounds of 2 guitars, 2 synthesizers, a drummer and wailing vocals. This is not your grandma's cabaret (but she'll love the cute boy-band!)

The British Invasion will be directed by veteran FST director Dennis Courtney (Piano Men, The Flip Side, Ethel Waters, etc.) It features artists like The Beatles, Herman's Hermits, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and Sting with classic songs including 'I Want To Hold Your Hand,' 'Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter,' and 'Forever Young.' The British Invasion is being developed at FST under Richard Hopkins' direction. The development team includes Rebecca Langford and Jim Prosser. The British Invasion begins January 9 and runs through March 24, 2007.

Ending the season on a comical and challenging note is Laughing Matters…Too, a wacky blitz of wit, humor and unadulterated social and political satire. The follow-up to the wildly successful musical sketch comedy show Laughing Matters, described by the Longboat Observer as "smart, original and very, very funny." Laughing Matters…Too (subtitled, From Fear to Absurdity) is an evening of song and comedy that pokes fun at today's political and pop culture. No person or thing is safe from the critical eye of satire! Thank you George Bush, Michael Jackson, Tom Cruise and the rest for giving us something to laugh about. Laughing Matters…Too begins March 27 and runs through June 9, 2006.

All 3 shows – Over the Rainbow, The British Invasion and Laughing Matters…Too – will be presented at FST's Goldstein Cabaret. Single tickets range from $19 for previews to $26-29 for regular performances. A subscription to all 3 shows ranges from $29-42. Both subscription tickets and single tickets may be purchased from the FST Box Office in person or by calling (941) 366-9000.

A complete performance schedule follows.

Over The Rainbow A Musical Tribute to the Genius of Harold Arlen

Performance Schedule

October 24, 2006 – January 6, 2007

Tuesday October 24 7:30 p.m. Preview

Wednesday October 25 7:30 p.m. Preview

Thursday October 26 7:30 p.m. Opening

Friday October 27 7:30 p.m.

Saturday October 28 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday October 29 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday October 31 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday November 1 7:30 p.m.

Thursday November 2 7:30 p.m.

Friday November 3 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday November 4 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday November 5 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday November 7 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday November 8 7:30 p.m.

Thursday November 9 7:30 p.m.

Friday November 10 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday November 11 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday November 12 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday November 14 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday November 15 7:30 p.m.

Thursday November 16 7:30 p.m.

Friday November 17 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday November 18 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday November 19 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday November 21 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday November 22 7:30 p.m.

Thursday November 23 Thanksgiving

Friday November 24 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday November 25 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday November 26 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday November 28 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday November 29 7:30 p.m.

Thursday November 30 7:30 p.m.

Friday December 1 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday December 2 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday December 3 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday December 5 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday December 6 7:30 p.m.

Thursday December 7 7:30 p.m.

Friday December 8 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday December 9 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday December 10 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday December 12 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday December 13 7:30 p.m.

Thursday December 14 7:30 p.m.

Friday December 15 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday December 16 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday December 17 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday December 19 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday December 20 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Thursday December 21 7:30 p.m.

Friday December 22 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday December 23 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday December 24 Christmas Eve

Tuesday December 26 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday December 27 2:00 p.m.

Thursday December 28 7:30 p.m.

Friday December 29 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday December 30 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday December 31 2:00 & 7:30 pm ..

Tuesday January 2 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday January 3 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Thursday January 4 7:30 p.m.

Saturday January 6 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

The British InvasionThe Sound Heard 'Round the World

Performance Schedule

January 9 – March 24, 2007

Tuesday January 9 7:30 p.m. preview

Wednesday January 10 7:30 p.m. preview

Thursday January 11 7:30 p.m. Opening

Friday January 12 7:30 p.m.

Saturday January 13 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday January 14 4:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday January 16 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday January 17 7:30 p.m.

Thursday January 18 7:30 p.m.

Friday January 19 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday January 20 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday January 21 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday January 23 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday January 24 7:30 p.m.

Thursday January 25 7:30 p.m.

Friday January 26 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday January 27 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday January 28 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday January 30 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday January 31 7:30 p.m.

Thursday February 1 7:30 p.m.

Friday February 2 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday February 3 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday February 4 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday February 6 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday February 7 7:30 p.m.

Thursday February 8 7:30 p.m.

Friday February 9 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday February 10 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday February 11 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday February 13 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday February 14 7:30 p.m.

Thursday February 15 7:30 p.m.

Friday February 16 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday February 17 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday February 18 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday February 20 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday February 21 7:30 p.m.

Thursday February 22 7:30 p.m.

Friday February 23 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday February 24 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday February 25 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday February 27 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday February 28 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Thursday March 1 7:30 p.m.

Friday March 2 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday March 3 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday March 4 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday March 6 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday March 7 7:30 p.m.

Thursday March 8 7:30 p.m.

Friday March 9 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday March 10 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday March 11 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday March 13 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday March 14 7:30 p.m.

Thursday March 15 7:30 p.m.

Friday March 16 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday March 17 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday March 18 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday March 20 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday March 21 2:00 p.m.

Thursday March 22 7:30 p.m.

Friday March 23 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday March 24 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Laughing Matters…TooFrom Fear to Absurdity

Performance Schedule

March 27 – June 9, 2007

Tuesday March 27 7:30 p.m. preview

Wednesday March 28 7:30 p.m. preview

Thursday March 29 7:30 p.m. Opening

Friday March 30 7:30 p.m.

Saturday March 31 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday April 1 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday April 3 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday April 4 7:30 p.m.

Thursday April 5 7:30 p.m.

Saturday April 7 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday April 8 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday April 10 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday April 11 7:30 p.m.

Thursday April 12 7:30 p.m.

Friday April 13 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday April 14 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday April 15 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday April 17 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday April 18 7:30 p.m.

Thursday April 19 7:30 p.m.

Friday April 20 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday April 21 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday April 22 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday April 24 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday April 25 7:30 p.m.

Thursday April 26 7:30 p.m.

Friday April 27 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday April 28 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday April 29 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday May 1 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday May 2 7:30 p.m.

Thursday May 3 7:30 p.m.

Friday May 4 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday May 5 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday May 6 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday May 8 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday May 9 7:30 p.m.

Thursday May 10 7:30 p.m.

Friday May 11 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday May 12 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday May 13 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday May 15 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday May 16 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Thursday May 17 7:30 p.m.

Friday May 18 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday May 19 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday May 20 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday May 22 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday May 23 7:30 p.m.

Thursday May 24 7:30 p.m.

Friday May 25 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday May 26 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday May 27 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday May 29 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday May 30 7:30 p.m.

Thursday May 31 7:30 p.m.

Friday June 1 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday June 2 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Sunday June 3 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday June 5 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday June 6 2:00 p.m.

Thursday June 7 7:30 p.m.

Friday June 8 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Saturday June 9 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.

FALL IN LOVE TODAY!  ADOPT A PET FROM YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER