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"Million Dollar Quartet," by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, at Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota, Fla., in 2016. Pictured: Michelle Pruiett, Kroy Presley, and Joe Boover. (Photo by Matthew Holler)

Florida Studio Theatre Announces 2017-18 Season

The season will include a world premiere play and a cabaret series.

SARASOTA, FLA.: Florida Studio Theatre has announced its 2017-18 season, featuring four mainstage productions.

“Thematic throughout our whole season is the international flair of the shows,” said producing artistic director Richard Hopkins in a statement. “They are set all over the world. They present issues that force us to deal with the ‘Other’ and how we perceive other nationalities, especially seeing these plays from ‘their’ eyes.”

The season will start off with the musical Once (Nov. 8-Dec. 31), with book by Enda Walsh, music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, based on the film by John Carney. The story follows a Dublin street musician inspired by a beautiful young woman to continue pursuing his dreams. Jason Cannon will direct.

Next up will be Heisenberg (Dec. 12-March 4, 2018), by Simon Stephens, about an unlikely relationship that forms between strangers who meet in a London train station.

Following will be Native Gardens (Jan. 24-March 25, 2018), by Karen Zacarías, about a disagreement between neighbors over fence lines that erupts in a battle of race and class.

The mainstage season will conclude with the world premiere of Honor Killing (April 4-May 25, 2018), by Sarah Bierstock, about a female reporter who travels to Pakistan to cover the honor killing of a young woman.

The 2017-18 programming will also include a cabaret season, which will begin with Mack the Knife: The Bobby Darin Songbook (Oct. 4-Feb.4, 2018), directed by Catherine Randazzo.

Next up will be Blue Suede Shoes (Nov. 29-April 1, 2018), a revue of 1950s rock-n-roll songs, performed by six musicians.

The cabaret season will end with Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits (Feb. 9-June 10, 2018), a revue featuring a collection of songs inspired by William Shakespeare.

Founded in 1973, Florida Studio Theatre presents contemporary plays and musicals at its five theatre venues in Sarasota.

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