FST Announces its 2020 Stage III Series

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) announced the lineup for its 2020 Stage III Series, dedicated to presenting edgy new plays that are challenging in both content and form. FST’s 2020 Stage III season offers a varied lineup of contemporary plays, including a riveting sci-fi thriller, a regional premiere about justice and the rule of law, and Stage III’s first-ever world premiere production.

“FST’s Stage III Series examines the past, the present, and the future,” shared Richard Hopkins, FST’s Producing Artistic Director. “The eventual state of our world and our collective morality are tested in The Nether, a dark world that is seemingly far away, but much closer than we think. Actions of the past haunt the characters in Paralyzed.  America’s legal past collides with today’s present in Kunstler, as history continues to repeat itself.”

The Season begins January 15 with The Nether, a twisting crime drama by Jennifer Haley and winner of the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Called “Relentlessly gripping” and “Electrifying” by TimeOut London, this haunting play examines the ethics of technology and the morals of those who use it. The Nether is a virtual paradise with total sensory immersion that allows its users to log in, select an identity, and indulge in their every desire. When Detective Morris discovers an alarming world of entertainment within The Nether, she launches an investigation that will take her into the most sinister parts of the imagination.

Next up is the Regional Premiere of Kunstler by Jeffrey Sweet, a captivating drama focusing on civil rights attorney William Kunstler’s best known and most controversial cases. The New York Times called it “Wise and revealing” and “Eye-opening,” while Broadway World found it “Captivating and entertaining.” William Kunstler was a vivacious, self-described “radical lawyer” with a tremendous appetite for life. A formidable force both inside and outside the courtroom, Kunstler defended the Chicago Seven, a member of the Central Park 5, and the inmates involved in the Attica prison riots. Kunstler gives a lecture explaining his unorthodox pursuit of justice. The stakes are raised when Kerry, a brilliant young law student, objects to his appearance and is determined to confront him. Kunstler begins February 19 in FST’s Bowne’s Lab Theatre.

FST’s 2019 Stage III Series concludes with its first-ever World Premiere production: Paralyzed by Etan Frankel. This dramatic new play follows Leigh and Lee, two strangers with little in common besides their names. She is a Type A statistician reaching 40 and he is an aggressive former athlete just over half her age. The discovery of a mysterious suicide note in a Georgia hotel bathroom sets their lives on unexpected paths that go anywhere but according to plan. Beginning March 18 in FST’s Bowne’s Lab Theatre, Paralyzed tells an arresting story of fate, personal responsibility, and the power of forgiveness.

With its mission to “produce theatre that challenges with as much gusto as it entertains,” and to “make theatre accessible to the broadest possible audience,” FST offers all three challenging Stage III shows for as little as $49. Subscriptions are now on sale at floridastudiotheatre.org or through the Box Office at (941) 366-9000.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

The Nether by Jennifer Haley | January 15 – February 7, 2020

The Nether is a virtual wonderland providing total sensory immersion. Just log in, choose an identity, and indulge your every desire. When a young detective uncovers a disturbing brand of entertainment in The Nether, she launches an investigation into the darkest corners of the imagination. Winner of the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, The Nether is both a serpentine crime drama and a haunting sci-fi thriller that explores the consequences of living out our private dreams.

Kunstler by Jeffrey Sweet | February 19 – March 13, 2020

REGIONAL PREMIERE. William Kunstler’s huge personality and tremendous appetite for life made him a formidable force both inside and outside the courtroom. The colorful, perpetually rumpled defense lawyer, whose best-known clients include the Chicago Seven, a member of the Central Park 5, and inmates involved in the Attica prison riots, makes a case for his often unconventional pursuit of justice. Tensions flare when a brilliant young law student objects to his appearance at her college campus, and is determined to confront him.

Paralyzed by Etan Frankel | March 18 – April 10, 2020

WORLD PREMIERE. Leigh and Lee are two strangers who have little in common besides their names—she is a Type A statistician and he is an aggressive former athlete. But the discovery of a mysterious suicide note in a hotel bathroom sets their lives on unexpected paths that go anywhere but according to plan. Paralyzed tells a striking story of guilt, personal responsibility, and the power of forgiveness.

FST’s 2020 Stage III season offers a varied lineup of contemporary plays, including a riveting sci-fi thriller, a regional premiere about justice and the rule of law, and Stage III’s first-ever world premiere production.

“FST’s Stage III Series examines the past, the present, and the future,” shared Richard Hopkins, FST’s Producing Artistic Director. “The eventual state of our world and our collective morality are tested in The Nether, a dark world that is seemingly far away, but much closer than we think. Actions of the past haunt the characters in Paralyzed.  America’s legal past collides with today’s present in Kunstler, as history continues to repeat itself.”

The Season begins January 15 with The Nether, a twisting crime drama by Jennifer Haley and winner of the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Called “Relentlessly gripping” and “Electrifying” by TimeOut London, this haunting play examines the ethics of technology and the morals of those who use it. The Nether is a virtual paradise with total sensory immersion that allows its users to log in, select an identity, and indulge in their every desire. When Detective Morris discovers an alarming world of entertainment within The Nether, she launches an investigation that will take her into the most sinister parts of the imagination.

Next up is the Regional Premiere of Kunstler by Jeffrey Sweet, a captivating drama focusing on civil rights attorney William Kunstler’s best known and most controversial cases. The New York Times called it “Wise and revealing” and “Eye-opening,” while Broadway World found it “Captivating and entertaining.” William Kunstler was a vivacious, self-described “radical lawyer” with a tremendous appetite for life. A formidable force both inside and outside the courtroom, Kunstler defended the Chicago Seven, a member of the Central Park 5, and the inmates involved in the Attica prison riots. Kunstler gives a lecture explaining his unorthodox pursuit of justice. The stakes are raised when Kerry, a brilliant young law student, objects to his appearance and is determined to confront him. Kunstler begins February 19 in FST’s Bowne’s Lab Theatre.

FST’s 2019 Stage III Series concludes with its first-ever World Premiere production: Paralyzed by Etan Frankel. This dramatic new play follows Leigh and Lee, two strangers with little in common besides their names. She is a Type A statistician reaching 40 and he is an aggressive former athlete just over half her age. The discovery of a mysterious suicide note in a Georgia hotel bathroom sets their lives on unexpected paths that go anywhere but according to plan. Beginning March 18 in FST’s Bowne’s Lab Theatre, Paralyzed tells an arresting story of fate, personal responsibility, and the power of forgiveness.

With its mission to “produce theatre that challenges with as much gusto as it entertains,” and to “make theatre accessible to the broadest possible audience,” FST offers all three challenging Stage III shows for as little as $49. Subscriptions are now on sale at floridastudiotheatre.org or through the Box Office at (941) 366-9000.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

The Nether by Jennifer Haley | January 15 – February 7, 2020

The Nether is a virtual wonderland providing total sensory immersion. Just log in, choose an identity, and indulge your every desire. When a young detective uncovers a disturbing brand of entertainment in The Nether, she launches an investigation into the darkest corners of the imagination. Winner of the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, The Nether is both a serpentine crime drama and a haunting sci-fi thriller that explores the consequences of living out our private dreams.

Kunstler by Jeffrey Sweet | February 19 – March 13, 2020

REGIONAL PREMIERE. William Kunstler’s huge personality and tremendous appetite for life made him a formidable force both inside and outside the courtroom. The colorful, perpetually rumpled defense lawyer, whose best-known clients include the Chicago Seven, a member of the Central Park 5, and inmates involved in the Attica prison riots, makes a case for his often unconventional pursuit of justice. Tensions flare when a brilliant young law student objects to his appearance at her college campus, and is determined to confront him.

Paralyzed by Etan Frankel | March 18 – April 10, 2020

WORLD PREMIERE. Leigh and Lee are two strangers who have little in common besides their names—she is a Type A statistician and he is an aggressive former athlete. But the discovery of a mysterious suicide note in a hotel bathroom sets their lives on unexpected paths that go anywhere but according to plan. Paralyzed tells a striking story of guilt, personal responsibility, and the power of forgiveness.