FST Opens Winter Cabaret Season with MACK THE KNIFE: THE BOBBY DARIN SONGBOOK

Florida Studio Theatre kicks off its 2017-18 Winter Cabaret season with the musical revue Mack The Knife: The Bobby Darin Songbook. Celebrating the talent of one of the greatest performers of the 20th century, this production spanning a wide range of musical genres opens in the John C. Court Cabaret on October 6, 2017. Subscriptions for all three Winter Cabaret shows are available for as little as $39. Subscriptions may be purchased online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000, or by visiting the Box Office.

Bobby Darin was the original Bronx boy who made it big. Determined to be a legend by age 25, he conquered show business as a singer, songwriter, actor, and producer. Headlining everywhere from the legendary Copacabana to Las Vegas, Darin was a consummate showman. Mack the Knife celebrates Darin's spirited and immense talent, featuring such hits as "Splish Splash," "Beyond the Sea," "Dream Lover," and of course, "Mack the Knife."

Brandyn Day, best known by Sarasota audiences for his vibrant and electric performance as Jerry Lee Lewis in FST's hit musical Million Dollar Quartet, returns to the Court Cabaret stage. In addition to sharing the same initials, there are a few additional similarities between Day and Darin. "Bobby and I play the same amount of instruments, and coincidentally we both have a major similarity in our medical histories," says Day. Both endured surgery for artificial heart valves at a young age. Audiences will witness Day and Darin's shared passion for music and perseverance for life. Day's previous credits also include Billy Elliot, Les Misérables, and Carousel.

Joining Day, and making his FST debut, is Dan Faber. "I am so excited to be singing Bobby Darin's music," says Faber. "He has so many iconic hits that I grew up singing. Now I get to approach each song from a new light, both in the context of his life, and with my own personal touch. Plus, it's always a bonus performing with live instrumentalists, and our trio is just fantastic. Bobby was such a notable cabaret/nightclub performer, which makes our cabaret stage here at FST a perfect setting for his story." Faber's previous credits include Annie Warbucks, Grease, and South Pacific.

Directing this revue is FST Associate Artist and Literary Manager, Catherine Randazzo. "I love this era of music and am fascinated by Bobby Darin's story," says Randazzo. "He was a marvelous performer, writer, and creator of unique renditions of iconic music. Darin had a deep desire to be successful. He was determined to be one of the top performers of his time.

His desire for success never stopped him from being a genuine performer from humble beginnings. That is the heart of this cabaret. I'm excited to see our cast perform from their heart, their soul, and the place that identifies them as a unique artist."

Mack The Knife: The Bobby Darin Songbook opens in the Court Cabaret on October 6 and runs through February 4. Subscriptions for all three Winter Cabaret shows are available for as little as $39. Subscriptions 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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