Florida Studio Theatre Honors Contributor with John C. Court Naming Celebration Today

Florida Studio Theatre will dedicate its newest Cabaret Theatre in honor of John C. Court at a naming celebration today, March 9, 2013 at 11am. The event will take place in the Court Cabaret which was successfully opened this season. The event will be attended by Mrs. Georgia Court whose contribution the New Gompertz Theatre campaign enabled her to name the theatre in her late husband's honor. FST supporters and donors, FST staff and community officials will be in attendance. There will be a light brunch followed by a presentation ceremony.

The naming of the theatre is in recognition of the generous donations totaling $1,300,000 from Mrs. Georgia Court. Florida Studio Theatre was able to meet the $6.8 million fundraising goal for the New Gompertz Theatre campaign in October of 2012 due to this donation. The donation marked the completion of the Gompertz campaign ahead of schedule. Mrs. Court named the new cabaret and laboratory theatres in the Hegner Theatre Wing in her late husband's honor - as "The John C. Court Cabaret" and the Bowne Lab Theatre (a reference to her husband's maternal lineage).

FST Artistic Director Richard Hopkins said, "ONCE in a very great while someone comes along who changes everything. Georgia Court came along. And Everything changed. She has changed the life of Florida Studio Theatre. She helped us reach our goals sooner than we had hoped or planned. And with her support the community is the richer. With her support FST has opened a three theatre complex debt free. We are pleased to dedicate the Court Theatre in honor of her late husband, John."

John C. Court grew up and flourished in the midst of a creative family in the middle of the 20th Century, a time when anything was possible and inventiveness in all his endeavors was truly encouraged. A man of his time, his love of theatre was a reflection of his belief in the power of the human imagination. Mrs. Court felt that the naming of the theatres would be a lasting tribute to her husband's beliefs and philanthropy.

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 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 four theatre venues: the Keating Theatre, the Goldstein Cabaret, the Gompertz Theatre and the John C. Court Cabaret.

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