Making 'Gone With The Wind' Play-Extends in Sarasota, Florida

MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS has added two performances on the same day to its stint at FST's Keating Theatre;  Saturday, April 8 at 5:00 p.m. and another performance starting at 8:00 p.m.

Here's what some local press have said about FST's production of MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS: 

            "you have to love it" – Sarasota Herald-Tribune

            "a highly entertaining play" – The Longboat Observer

            "a must-see" – Bradenton Herald

            "a helluva funny play" – Pelican Press

            "superb" – Weekly Planet

Frankly, My Dear, It's a Wild Ride:

Moonlight and Magnolias

Explores

Behind-the-Scenes of Making Gone with the Wind

Imagine what it would be like to be in the presence of cinematic
genius.
Now imagine being locked in the room with him for five days - with
nothing but peanuts and bananas to eat!  Ron Hutchinson drew on real-life
events to pen Moonlight and Magnolias, which begins February 8 at FST's Keating
Theatre.

Legendary producer David O. Selznick is in the midst of filming Gone
with the Wind - one of the biggest films of the 20th century - when he shuts
down filming and fires director George Cukor.  Selznick, who feels the
script for the movie is lousy, brings in screenwriter Ben Hecht, considered by
many to be the "Shakespeare of Hollywood," to do rewrites.  But there is just
one tiny problem: Hecht has never read Margaret Mitchell's novel.  Selznick
elicits the help of director Victor Fleming, pulled from duties on The
Wizard of Oz, to help "act out" the movie.  What ensues is a frenetic
and fast-paced comedy that not only skewers real-life events surrounding
the making of Gone with the Wind, but also pays homage to Old Hollywood.

"Hutchinson's script is a classic screwball comedy," says Richard
Hopkins, FST's Artistic Director & CEO, who will be directing Moonlight and
Magnolias. 

Three familiar faces will be returning to FST to tackle roles in
Moonlight and Magnolias.  Gary Marachek, who appeared in the Cabaret productions of Laughing Matters and A Vaudeville Cabaret, will take on the role of  David O. Selznick; Steven L. Barron, fresh from Summerfest 2005's Good Evening, will portray Victor Fleming; and Yetta Levitt, who has appeared in a number of FST productions including Metamorphoses and 37 Postcards, will take on the role of Selznick's beleaguered secretary Miss Poppenghul.  Joining the threesome will be FST newcomer Joseph Adams as screenwriter Ben Hecht.

The design team for Moonlight and Magnolias includes FST Staffer
Marcella Beckwith (Costume Design) and guest artists Nayna Ramey (Set Design)
and Tom Sturge (Lighting Design).

Moonlight and Magnolias began February 8 and runs through April 8,
2006 at FST's Keating Theatre.  Tickets are $29-34 and may be purchased from
the FST Box Office in person or by calling (941) 366-9000.

Known as Sarasota's Contemporary Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre was
founded in 1973 by Jon Spelman. 

Moonlight and Magnolias
Performance Schedule
February 8 - April 8, 2006

Wednesday February 8 8:00 p.m. Preview
Thursday February 9 8:00 p.m. Preview
Friday February 10 8:00 p.m. Opening
Saturday February 11 2:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Sunday February 12 3:00 p.m.

Tuesday February 14 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday February 15 8:00 p.m.
Thursday February 16 8:00 p.m.
Friday February 17 8:00 p.m.
Saturday February 18 2:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Sunday February 19 3:00 & 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday February 21 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday February 22 8:00 p.m.
Thursday February 23 8:00 p.m.
Friday February 24 8:00 p.m.
Saturday February 25 2:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Sunday February 26 3:00 & 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday February 28 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday March 1 8:00 p.m.
Thursday March 2 8:00 p.m.
Friday March 3 8:00 p.m.
Saturday March 4 5:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Sunday March 5 3:00 & 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday March 7 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday March 8 8:00 p.m.
Thursday March 9 8:00 p.m.
Friday March 10 8:00 p.m.
Saturday March 11 5:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Sunday March 12 3:00 & 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday March 14 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday March 15 8:00 p.m.
Thursday March 16 8:00 p.m.
Friday March 17 8:00 p.m.
Saturday March 18 5:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Sunday March 19 3:00 & 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday March 21 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday March 22 8:00 p.m.
Thursday March 23 8:00 p.m.
Friday March 24 8:00 p.m.
Saturday March 25 5:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Sunday March 26 3:00 & 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday March 28 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday March 29 8:00 p.m.
Thursday March 30 8:00 p.m.
Friday March 31 8:00 p.m.
Saturday April 1 5:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Sunday April 2 3:00 & 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday April 4 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday April 5 5:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Thursday April 6 8:00 p.m.
Friday April 7 5:00 & 8:00 p.m and just added Saturday, April 8 at 5:00 p.m. and another performance starting at 8:00 p.m.

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