Florida Studio Theatre Hosted Annual Fundraiser And Granted Spelman Award

On February 24, artists and supporters of Florida Studio Theatre (FST) flocked to its downtown campus for FST’s annual fundraiser, the Dangerous Ladies Shindig. Long-time FST supporter Marie G. Kropp chaired the event, and Gulf Coast Community Foundation supported the Shindig as its lead sponsor. With exclusive live entertainment, the presentation of the distinguished Spelman Award, and a plated three-course dinner, FST’s Dangerous Ladies Shindig was a not-to-be-missed event for many of the greatest supporters of the arts and contemporary theatre in Sarasota.

Guests donned their best 1920s attire or dressed as their favorite “Dangerous Lady” from history. The event kicked off with a cocktail hour buzzing with activity—jazz and swing musicians played outside FST’s Hegner Theatre Wing, while Suffragist-inspired improv performances took place inside the theatre’s Court Cabaret. Guests munched on gourmet popcorn, themed appetizers, and sipped on specialty cocktails from coupe cocktail glasses. Attendees took turns posing in front of a yellow 1927 Franklin Boat Tail Roadster for photos.

Following the cocktail hour, guests gathered in FST’s Gompertz Theatre for special performances from the casts of Outlaws and Angels and Light My Fire as well as  the presentation of the annual Spelman Award. Named in honor of FST Founding Artistic Director, John Spelman, the Spelman Award is presented to an individual or corporate sponsor who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership through philanthropic support, stewardship, and service.

This year’s award went to Gaele Barthold for her unwavering enthusiasm for and exceptional support of the theatre as an Underwriter for FST’s Mainstage, Cabaret, and Stage III programs. Barthold attends almost every production’s initial read-through, dress rehearsal, and opening night performance at FST, often seeing each show more than once. She has been a vital part of FST’s Suffragist Project, helping organize the Suffragist March in Sarasota’s Holiday Parade and volunteering at area schools with FST performing artists as part of the Project’s Historically Speaking tour.

“I’m so proud to be part of this organization,” shared Barthold after receiving the Spelman Award. “I love to go to London and see theatre…and whenever I go there, I realize how lucky we are to have Florida Studio Theatre here. I truly believe that, because of the artistic dedication here and the intimate spaces, what we have available to us here [at FST] is every bit as good as what can be found in London [theatre].”

Between musical sets, Managing Director Rebecca Hopkins and Producing Artistic Director Richard Hopkins spoke about the importance of making theatre as affordable and accessible to as many people as possible.

“Everyone is welcome at FST—every color, race, creed, and ethnicity,” shared Hopkins. “This is where we can have a safe dialogue. At FST, we’re Shakespeareans. Shakespeare believed in everything, he judged nothing. He described the world honestly. He held up a mirror to us so that we may see the foibles, comedies, and tragedies of our lives and those of our neighbors. We, at FST, believe in the ‘everything’ of life. We put those ideas on the stage and let you make the final decision. We don’t pretend to have all the answers, but we do portend to have the best questions.”

New Play Development is the lifeblood of FST and is a year-round activity that is fully-integrated with each of the theatre’s other programs. During the ceremony, a paddle raise was held to raise money for the Dangerous Ladies New Play Festival, a culminating weekend-long celebration in August 2020 of the new theatrical work created over the course of The Suffragist Project. The Festival will include public readings of four Suffragist Project-commissioned plays and a brand-new devised piece featuring speeches from throughout history on women’s suffrage, female empowerment, and social change.

Once the ceremony concluded, guests enjoyed conversation and community over a delicious dinner catered by Michael’s On East. By the end of the evening, everyone was in good spirits and left the doors of Florida Studio Theatre with smiles and custom chocolates from Noela Chocolate & Confections in hand.