THE UNDERPANTS to Open 6/28 at Florida Studio Theatre

Florida Studio Theatre is pleased to present the playful comedy, The Underpants, by Carl Sternheim and adapted by Steve Martin, beginning Friday, June 28, 2013 at 8:00pm in the Keating Theatre. The Underpants, adapted by the whimsical mind of Steve Martin, is a play that combines Martins wacky sense of humor with intelligent insight of human nature. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by phone at (941) 366-9000, online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org, or by visiting the Box Office.

FST's Artistic Director Richard Hopkins says, "Steve Martin has taken a German Expressionistic comedy from the first half of the twentieth century and adapted it into a delightful, insightful, fully relevant, always humorous, offbeat comedy that speaks to the contemporary American consciousness. And yes, it's funny." He adds, "In the hands of master director Bruce Jordan the FST audience can look forward to another night of effervescent theater at FST."

Coming back to FST after last summer's The Perfect Wedding is Bruce Jordan, original co-producer and director of Shear Madness. Jordan said, "I'm delighted to be returning to FST to direct Steve Martin's wonderful script... Interestingly The Underpants is an adaptation of an earlier German script, just like Shear Madness which I directed twice in the Gompertz. For me, Sarasota and FST are delightful places to live and work. I can't wait to get underway."

FST's production features returning company members Gil Brady and Daryl Embry. Brady last appeared in FST's Cabaret production of Reel Music and Embry returns after last appearing in Perfect Wedding. Making their FST debut are company members Jennifer Joan Thompson, Mary Ann Conk, Danny Bernardy, and Chet Carlin. Conk, although a newcomer to FST, has performed in The Underpants once before at Geva Theatre in Rochester, NY. Thompson's recent credits include Lucy in Dracula at Indiana Rep and Geva Theatres and Sonya in Michael Archangel at Fulton Theatre. Bernardy has been heavily involved in regional theatre from performing as Howard in Moon Over Buffalo at the Cape Playhouse to Longaville in Love's Labors Lost at the New York Classical Theatre. Carlin comes to FST after performing as Smee in Peter Pan at Santa Barbara Theatre and as Abbe Faria in The Count of Monte Crisco at Alabama Shakespeare.

Tickets for The Underpants will be on sale through July 28, 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.The creative team for The Underpants also has impressive credits. Bob Phillips, Scenic Designer, last appeared at FST for the 2012 production of Jericho. Phillips is also known for the multi-award winning children's show, Sesame Street, and Daytime Emmy Award winner of the Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design. Sarah Bertolozzi returns as Costume Designer after previously designing for FST productions of The Columnist and Perfect Wedding. Lighting Designer, Jeffrey Cady, returns after having designed for this past season's hit musical Smokey Joe's Café, and numerous other FST productions.

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.

The Underpants will run June 26, 2013 - July 28, 2013 in the Keating Theatre. Single Tickets: $18 - $42.

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