THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND, SOUTH BEACH BABYLON and More Set for FST's 2013 Summer Season

Florida Studio Theatre presents an exciting new Summer Season - with spirited musical revue The World Goes 'Round, quirky comedy The Underpants and witty new play South Beach Babylon.

The Summer Season opens tonight, May 31 and plays through September 1 in the Keating and Gompertz Theatres (Downtown Sarasota). A subscription to all three plays can be purchased for as little as $39, from the FST Box Office in person or by calling (941) 366-9000 or online at www.FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Artistic Director Richard Hopkins said, "This summer will be a time of rejoicing at FST. Our three-show Summer Season is loaded with reasons to rejoice. From Kander and Ebb's musical revue The World Goes 'Round to Steve Martin's fresh adaptation of the wacky comedy The Underpants, to life in Miami's fast lane with Michael McKeever's South Beach Babylon, the summer promises to be fun, classy, stylish, and fun-loving. It's the perfect antidote for the summertime blues."

The 2013 Summer Season kicks off in the Gompertz with The World Goes 'Round, featuring music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Filled with humor, romance, drama and non-stop melody, this title is a thrilling celebration of life and the fighting spirit that keeps us all going. It features songs including "Mr. Cellophane," "Maybe This Time," "Cabaret" and "New York, New York." The New York Times has called the show "A handsome, tasteful...outpouring of song and dance." Director Gabriel Barre said, "The World Goes 'Round is simply one of the best musical revues ever put together. Long before the jukebox musical became a Broadway mainstay, Scott Ellis, Susan Stroman and David Thompson constructed a witty, resonant, funny and moving assembly of songs with fresh arrangements and with innovative and imaginative staging that let you enjoy each gem of a song from the rare writing team of Kander and Ebb in new and exciting ways. Also present are the great humor, irony and restraint that are hallmarks of their song catalog. I am so looking forward to breathing new life into this wonderful and entertaining piece of theatre with a splendid cast and creative team. I know the FST audience will have a blast." The World Goes 'Round will be playing in the Gompertz Theatre from May 31 to June 31.

Opening next in the Keating Theatre is The Underpants by Carl Sternheim, adapted by Steve Martin. Chicago Theatre Beat has called it "Extraordinarily entertaining." Some lives are shaped by tragedy, some by art, and others by underpants falling down in public. This play, brought to us by the whimsical mind of Martin, spins the farcical tale of five lives reborn from one accidental act of indecency. Its satirical challenge to our obsession with sex and celebrity will be sure to have you howling with Martin's peculiar brand of innuendos and ribaldry. Audiences will remember director Bruce Jordan from last summer's hit show Perfect Wedding and as the creator 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 at the Gompertz. For me, Sarasota and FST are delightful places to live and work. I can't wait to get underway!" The Underpants will be playing in the Keating Theatre from June 28 to July 28.

Closing out the summer season in the Gompertz Theatre is South Beach Babylon by Michael McKeever. The Miami Herald called it "A crackling comedy." Commercialism and artistic integrity battle it out as a group of South Beach artists prepares for the celebrated Art Basel event. Is it possible to create art without selling one's soul? A wickedly funny, sexy new play from one of South Florida's most celebrated playwrights. Playwright Michael McKeever, who also wrote 37 Postcards and The Miamians, had this to say about his new play. "South Beach Babylon has always been a special play to me for a number of reasons. One of the most important is that it addresses a central factor of my life as a working artist, how to balance the creative side of my craft with the commercial. Or more simply put, how much of ourselves do we allow to fall away in order for our art to make us money. In regards to working with Florida Studio Theatre, McKeever stated, "I am thrilled to see another one of my plays produced at Florida Studio Theatre. The work this company does is never less than splendid. I can't wait to see what they do with this new show." South Beach Babylon will be playing in the Gompertz Theatre from July 26 to September 1.

All three shows of the Summer Season - The World Goes 'Round, The Underpants and South Beach Babylon - will be presented at FST's Keating or Gompertz Theatre. Single tickets range from $18 - $36 for previews and $18 - $42 for regular performances. A subscription for all three of the Summer Season shows ranges from $39 - $49. Both subscription tickets and single tickets may be purchased from the FST Box Office in person or by calling (941) 366-9000 or online at www.FloridaStudioTheatre.org. FST's website is also an excellent source for videos, articles and information about FST's 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 four venues: the Keating Theatre, the Goldstein Cabaret, the renovated Gompertz Theatre 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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