FST Extends OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER Through August 16

Held over by popular demand, Old Enough to Know Better runs through August 16 in FST's Bowne's Lab Theatre. Assembled from over 100 hours of interviews, this inaugural Stage III Lab production explores the art of aging and what it really means to grow old. Single tickets are $34-$36 and may be purchased online at Floridastudiotheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000, or by visiting the Box Office.

According to the Pew Research Center, over the next 15 years, 10,000 baby boomers will turn 65 every day. Presented in direct address to FST audiences, this production brings forth the innermost thoughts, feelings, and stories of this evolving generation. "This exciting extension is just further evidence that our audience is hungry for these types of stories and this type of theatre," said Director Jason Cannon. "The feedback we get on Old Enough To Know Better will impact how we move forward with the People's Project and how we continue to engage our audience in this particular mode: seeking out their stories and creating theatre that provokes positive change in the community."

The critics have weighed in on this uniquely honest production. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune calls it an, "Engaging original show" filled with "Touching stories." Audiences have raved over this production stating, "That was wonderful," and "Insightful."

With the partnership of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Old Enough to Know Better is the launching production of The People's Project's. Employing the methodology developed during Old Enough To Know Better, FST will continue to explore this community, digging for real stories and transforming them into live, raw theatre.

Following each performance are moderated talk-back sessions, further extending audience collaboration and participation in FST's research on aging. A panel discussion on aging in Sarasota will be held on Friday, August 7 at 4:30pm.

Old Enough To Know Better will run for a limited two week engagement in Bowne's Lab. Single tickets are $34-$36 and may be purchased online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000, or by visiting the Box Office.

Every day our American culture seems to put more and more value on youthfulness and the young, and every day ageism becomes a more serious and pressing issue.

Under-reported cases of need from natural disasters like floods and hurricanes, belated dangers of hormone therapy, navigating the complex medical industry, hiring and work practices, accessibility, and the general stigmatisms and fear of dementia - these are all issues that many of our aging audience members face on a daily basis. As opposed to reaching out to our seniors to get them in to see our plays, with this project we aim to flip the paradigm and take those seniors out of our theater seats and put them and their lives on stage. By doing so, we are creating a theatrical event that can serve as a conduit for conversation, understanding, and social change.

The FST staff has been hard at work interviewing members of the Sarasota community. These stories have come together in the next step of the People's Project, Old Enough To Know Better, as the subject of aging in America is explored and exposed. The goal of this approach is to reverse the paradigm of how theatre is created. It will not be a lone playwright's observations, but rather a complete community effort where everyone, young and old, is given a voice.

Known as Sarasota's Contemporary Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre was founded in 1973 by Jon Spelman. Starting out as a small touring company, FST traveled to places such as migrant camps and prisons. The company then acquired the former Woman's Club building, becoming the first permanent venue. Shortly after Richard Hopkins arrived, the building was purchased and 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 Parisian style Goldstein Cabaret and 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. 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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