Florida Studio Theatre Extends Smoke & Mirrors

August 12, 2022 – Sarasota

Due to audience demand, Florida Studio Theatre (FST) announces the extension of the comedic murder mystery, Smoke & Mirrors. Called “Smart” and “Very, very funny” by The Observer, Smoke & Mirrors centers on Hamilton Orr, one of Hollywood’s top directors, who brainstorms a deadly scheme to gain control over a multi-million-dollar film. Written by Will Osborne and Anthony Herrera, Smoke & Mirrors will now run in FST’s Gompertz Theatre through August 28, 2022. Tickets are now on sale at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or 941.366.9000.

“We’re so excited that Smoke & Mirrors has been held over!” said Catherine Randazzo, the show’s director. “Audiences are loving how multi-faceted this play is. It mixes suspense, crackling comedy, quirky characters, and action into one fast-paced show.”

Set on a private island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Smoke & Mirrors follows a Hollywood creative team who is putting the finishing touches on the script for their next hit film. Hamilton, a conniving movie director and producer, wants complete authority over the film and isn’t afraid to go to extreme lengths to make it happen. So, he comes up with a deadly scheme and convinces the movie’s screen writer, Clark, and his wife, Barbara, to join his plot. When things don’t go as planned, the trio come face to face with the wily local sheriff, Leroy.

Critics are calling Smoke & Mirrors “The perfect cocktail—a measure of comedy and a shot of mystery, mixed with a slice of murder and a twist” (Our Town Sarasota). Audiences are also getting drawn into the high stakes play. Audience member Richard W. said, “I was involved so much in the excellent acting and the plot that I almost didn’t realize I had been there for two hours. Superb! This is a gem.” Millie F. shared that Smoke & Mirrors is “Entertaining from the start and I highly recommend everyone sees this show.”

Cast in FST’s production of Smoke & Mirrors are Alberto Bonilla (Clark), Ben Cherry (Hamilton), Jack Gerhard (Derek), Justin Ness (Sheriff Leroy), and Alanna Smith (Barbara).

FST’s production of Smoke & Mirrors is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The production is also supported by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, and Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues. 

Due to audience demand, FST is extending the run of Smoke & Mirrors an additional week. This comedic thriller will now play in FST’s Gompertz Theatre through August 28, 2022.