FST Announces Extension Of BLUE SUEDE SHOES. Through 4/8

Due to audience demand, Florida Studio Theatre (FST) announces the extension of its second cabaret of the season, Blue Suede Shoes, celebrating the birth of rock and roll now through April 8. Bursting with spirit and featuring songs from music legends like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley, audiences have called the production "fabulous," "high energy," and "great entertainment." Tickets can be purchased online at www.floridastudiotheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000, or by visiting the FST Box Office.

Written by Richard Hopkins and Rebecca Hopkins with arrangements by Jim Prosser, Blue Suede Shoes transports audiences back to the '50s, highlighting the real roots of rock & roll--from R&B and country western to swing and doo-wop. Night after night, audiences tap their toes along to such great hits as "Rock Around the Clock," "Blue Suede Shoes," "Mustang Sally," and "Johnny B. Goode."

Critics agree that Blue Suede Shoes is a hot ticket. According to the Sarasota Herald Tribune, "The multi-talented cast" "get(s) the house rocking" with their "hard-driving and explosive solo performances." The Observer calls it "sizzling" with "never a dull moment."

Best known for her powerhouse vocals and commanding stage presence, cast member Jannie Jones returns to Sarasota for her 14th production at Florida Studio Theatre in Blue Suede Shoes. "There's a sense of freedom with rock & roll, laying all of your woes down for a while and just having a music party," said Jones. "I think the Cabaret spaces work so well because they're intimate, with even some audience members close enough to touch, making them feel a part of the show. We are able to make direct eye contact and they can feel our jubilant energy. They have been known to dance in the aisles right along with us."

Making his FST debut, Gabriel Aronson plays guitar, piano, and bass in this rocking musical revue. "The run's been great so far!" said Aronson. "This show is unlike anything I've seen, where there are multiple multi-instrumentalists playing songs that mean so much to people. That's rock and roll to me."

In addition to Jones and Aronson, Blue Suede Shoes features Joe Casey, Nygel D. Robinson, and Hannah Benitez. The show is directed by award-winning artist Catherine Randazzo.

Blue Suede Shoes continues in FST's Goldstein Cabaret through April 8. Single tickets may be purchased online at floridastudiotheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000, or by visiting the Box Office.

About Florida Studio Theatre

Known as Sarasota's Contemporary Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre was founded in 1973 by Artist 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 five theatre venues: the Keating Theatre, the Gompertz Theatre, the Goldstein Cabaret, the John C. Court Cabaret, and Bowne's Lab Theatre.

Even with its growth, Florida Studio Theatre remains firmly committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to a broad-based audience. Under Producing Artistic Director Richard Hopkins, 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.

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