Florida Studio Theatre Closes Season with OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

Studio Theatre (FST) concludes its 2018 Summer Mainstage Season with Other People's Money, Jerry Sterner's timely comedy about Wall Street sharks and small town business. Called "Involving, disturbing, and above all, expertly crafted" by New York Magazine, this hit period piece explores ethics, business, and loyalty. Other People's Money won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Play in 1989 and will play in FST's Gompertz Theatre starting August 1. Single tickets are available by calling the FST Box Office at (941) 366-9000 or at www.floridastudiotheatre.org.

Fast-talking Wall Street shark Lawrence Garfinkle-also known as "Larry the Liquidator"-has his sights set on taking over the undervalued stock of New England Wire and Cable bit by bit. It's up to Kate Sullivan, a determined big-city lawyer, to stop Larry from gutting the company. Will Kate successfully save her hometown's esteemed business from being conquered by Larry, or will the company be dissolved? Loaded with conflict, comedy, and a touch of romance, Other People's Money delves into the seedy and deceptive world of business.

"This is a great time to do this play," shared FST's Producing Artistic Director, Richard Hopkins. "It deals with the ins and outs of business, takeovers, people taking advantage of other people...and companies gobbling up other companies. This is the perfect example of a company that is dying and someone who is going to come in and basically sell it or buy it for its parts. The people who own [New England Wire and Cable] don't want it to happen, they want to save the town and the company-therein lies the conflict."

Directing Other People's Money is FST Associate Artist Jason Cannon, whose recent directing credits include: The Boy Who liked Pulling Hair, Constellations, How to Use a Knife, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Robin Hood, and Once. "Even though [this play] is set decades ago, it rings shockingly true to our here and now," shared Cannon. "The motivations of the characters may as well have been ripped from today's clickbait headlines. Telling a story set in the past allows us to talk about the present with almost prescient freedom. This play not only makes us laugh, but it provokes us to think about how and why we behave the way we do."

Charged with playing the blustery yet strangely likable Garfinkle is Sam Mossler, who was last seen in FST's 2018 Stage III production of How to Use a Knife. "I am very curious to see how Garfinkle plays to a modern audience," shared Mossler. "He is simultaneously out of step and in perfect accord with the pervading mentality of our contemporary culture. His misogyny will, no doubt, raise many eyebrows. But I wonder if his callousness and unflappable reverence to the unwritten, Darwinian bylaws of 'business' will even phase a modern audience."

Joining Mossler onstage are two FST newcomers: Nehassaiu deGannes (Kate Sullivan) and Perri Gaffney (Kate's mother, Bea Sullivan). DeGannes' recent credits include Obie Award-winning Is God Is (Soho Rep), Seagull Machine (La MaMa), The Last Wife (WAM Theatre), and Intimate Apparel (Shakespeare & Company). Returning to the FST Mainstage are Joe Ditmyer and Colin Lane, who play William Coles (President of New England Wire and Cable) and Andrew Jorgenson (the company's Chairman of the Board), respectively. Ditmyer was last seen as Sam Phillips in FST's hit production of Million Dollar Quartet (2016-2017). Lane was featured in FST's productions of Ghost-Writer (2010-2011) and Chapatti (2014-2015), and has performed at many regional theatres across the country.

Playing from August 1 through August 19 in FST's Gompertz Theatre, Other People's Money is an Off-Broadway hit overflowing with humor, humanity, and heart. Single tickets are available at (941) 366-9000 and www.floridastudiotheatre.org.

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