Florida Studio Theatre's SOUTH BEACH BABYLON Opens Tonight

FST is opening its third show of the season, South Beach Babylon. Written by one of South Florida's most celebrated playwrights, Michael McKeever, this play tells the story of Jonas Blodgen who is fresh out of art school... and ideas. When he lands a job in South Beach he is thrown into a world full of intense artists, alluring models and cutthroat curators.

"I am thrilled to have another one of my plays produced at Florida Studio Theatre," says McKeever. "I have been fortunate enough to see my work produced at theatres around the world - and Florida Studio is one of the very best. The work that this theatre produces is consistently top-notch. I can't wait to see what Artistic Director Richard Hopkins, Director Kate Alexander and their amazing cast and design crew come up with for South Beach Babylon."

McKeever has had two other plays produced at FST, 37 Postcards in 1999 and The Miamians in 2008. Artistic Director Richard Hopkins praises McKeever's artistry saying, "Michael McKeever is a good and trusted friend of FST. His plays have been tremendously successful here in past seasons, and I expect South Beach Babylon to be another success in Michael's long list of wonderful plays. He is without a doubt Florida's favorite playwright in residence, and South Beach Babylon captures the style, fun, and sexiness of Miami as no other play can. South Beach Babylon is an exciting adventure...a new play with a fresh look at South Florida and her variety of wacky characters."

Associate Director, Kate Alexander will direct the production. Her recent work includes The Columnist, Talley's Folly, Jericho and The Miamians. "Art, artists and commerce meet in this witty and wonderful play with the effortlessness of a magical Florida night. The characters are not only recognizable but unforgettable. From eye patched pop artist Chille Zangorra to ditzy tweet driven super model Lennox Montel, McKeever puts his lazer eye on modern culture... Making you look, laugh and love yourself and them," says Alexander.

The cast includes, Jeffrey Plunkett, a returning company member. Plunkett's previous FST credits include this past winter season's hit play, The Columnist and previous season's successes: Race and Sylvia. He will be returning to play the role of Tony Everette in South Beach Babylon. "When I was born, SoHo in NYC was called Hell's Hundred Acres, an abandoned late-19th-Century manufacturing neighborhood. Slated for demolition, what saved it were the artists who had moved in to the abandoned factory buildings. It became the art capital of the world in the mid-90s. Then expensive boutiques and restaurants followed the galleries and the artists priced themselves out of their own neighborhood, so they went off to reinvigorate Chelsea. There is a rise and a fall between art and money. South Beach Babylon chronicles this tenuous relationship between the art world and the business world. It is naive to think one can exist without the other, but it is equally naive to believe that one can't maintain integrity and authenticity in either," Plunkett says after being asked why he was drawn to South Beach Babylon.

Matt DeCapua, previously performed in Michael McKeever's FST production of The Miamians in 2008 and returns this summer to the Mainstage to play the main character, Jonas Blodgen. Cindy De La Cruz makes her first Mainstage debut in South Beach Babylon. You may recognize De La Cruz from The Frog Prince, Under Six and Seven Up this past year. De La Cruz spent the past nine months with FST's troupe of acting apprentices cultivating and honing her skills as an actress.

Florida Studio Theatre is proud to present new company members, Larissa Klinger, Roger Clark, Priscilla Fernandez, Graciany Miranda and Hector Flores. Klinger's recent credits include 'S Wonderful at Ocean Professional Theatre Company and Legally Blonde at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, New Hampshire. Clark, American born, raised in Ireland and trained in the UK, has performed in over 40 countries worldwide. Fernandaz has, most recently, originated the role of Dr. Laura in Girl Talk the Musical Off-Broadway and the International Tour. A seasoned actor in New York theatre, Miranda, has been in Othello as Iago for The Julii Theatre Company and as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest at The 45th Street Theatre. Lastly, Flores is a dynamic actor having previously performed in the productions of In The Heights at the M.O.C as an ensemble member and as Priragua Guy /Jose for the regional premiere at the Midtown Arts Center.

The creative team consists of returning company members, Michael Lasswell, Sarah Bertolozzi and Richard Chamblin. Lasswell, Scenic Designer, worked on last summer's production of Perfect Wedding. Sarah Bertolozzi, Costume Designer, is currently working for The Underpants; the second show of FST's summer season. Richard Chamblin, Lighting Designer, is back after working on this past season's hit play The Columnist.

Tickets for South Beach Babylon will be on sale through August 18, 2013 and can be purchased by phone at (941) 366-9000, online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org, or by visiting the Box Office at 1241 North Palm Avenue in downtown Sarasota.

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 newly renovated Gompertz Theatre, the Goldstein Cabaret and the new 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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