The British Are Coming! To The Cabaret!

The British Invasion Opening at the Cabaret

Opening Tuesday, January 9 in the Goldstein Cabaret, the second show in FST's 2006-2007 Cabaret Season, is The British Invasion, The Sound Heard 'Round the World.

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. Audiences of all generations can certainly agree that something incredible happened with the beginning of the British Invasion.

"In the 60's the country was struggling for a musical identity," explains cast member Paul Binotto, "We had gone through Elvis and Buddy Holly. Elvis had gone off to war and Buddy Holly died. When the Beatles came over they gave America a new identity echoing what we had started a decade before with Elvis and Little Richard and all those guys."

The music in The British Invasion represents the multitude of British bands that burst onto the American music scene in the 60's including The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Who and many others. Additionally, it tracks those bands progress throughout the decades and includes work from some later British Invaders like Elton John and Sting.

It's important to note, however, that the show is not an impersonation of any one band. Rather, it is an homage to the musical era they represent. As director Dennis Courtney puts it, "we have to always make sure the audience understands that we are not doing impersonations of anyone. Anytime you try to do impersonations you are setting yourself up for disappointment, because anyone who was there or is a fan has a unique take on the music and they identify with that. So what we do in the Cabaret is create an impression and give a nod to the original artists and keep it authentic to ourselves as people. We create the essence of these bands."

Since the music in The British Invasion was written and performed in roughly the last 40 years, most audience members will have personal memories and connections associated with the songs and the time period. Young cast member Casey Gensler, for example, says "this music reminds me of my father because he always had it on growing up. He's a huge Beatles fan."

A generation older, Musical Director Michael Sebastian "was there when the Beatles came to America. I listened to this music thousands of times and it is part of my bones and my spirit. It's one of those things that never got away from me, so working on this show is enormously exciting for me."

Whatever experience audiences have with the music of The British Invasion, they will recognize a style in the show different than many of the more traditional musical revues staged in FST's Goldstein Cabaret. Audiences will experience The British Invasion through the sounds of 2 guitars, a synthesizer, a drummer and wailing vocals. Needless to say, 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). Audiences may recognize cast member Rachel Moses who has been in two FST Summerfest productions ( Showtune, Ruthless ), while Paul Binotto, Casey Gensler and Christopher Lavender are new to the FST stage. In addition to singing, the cast members will also be playing the music of the British Invaders. FST's resident pianist Jim Prosser will join the cast on synthesizer. The design team consists of Michael Newton-Brown designing the lighting and resident designer Marcella Beckwith handling the costume and scenic design. The British Invasion was 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. Tickets may be purchased from the FST Box Office in person or by calling (941) 366-9000.  Florida Studio Theatre 1241 North Palm Avenue Sarasota, FL 34236 Website: www.fst2000.org

A complete performance schedule is below.

The British Invasion

The Sound Heard 'Round the World

Tickets: $19-$29

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.

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