Two Hit Cabarets Extended at FST

January 13, 2025 | Sarasota

Off The Charts: Back by Popular Demand

Off The Charts is currently playing in the Court Cabaret through February 9, 2025, and will return to the Keating Theatre for a limited engagement from February 27 through March 9, 2025. Known for its high-energy performances, this cabaret celebrates unforgettable chart-toppers like “Can’t Hurry Love,” “When a Man Loves a Woman,” “The Greatest Love of All,” and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” With dynamic harmonies and infectious enthusiasm, the production guarantees an unforgettable night of feel-good music.

“The show becomes as much of a journey for us as it does for our audience,” said cast member Wayne Wilson. “I grew up listening to Motown singers like Stevie Wonder. He was the first artist to teach me how to tell a story with a song. Now, I get to tell his story along with so many others of his time.”

The vibrant Off The Charts ensemble includes Carson Collins (FST debut), Jacquelyne Paige (Up on the Roof), Joyce Paulino (FST debut), and Wayne Wilson (FST debut).

The creative team features Catherine Randazzo (Director), Ben Liebert (Choreography), Darren Server (Music Director), Jim Prosser (Pianist), Andrew Gray (Scenic & Lighting Design), Chelsea Allen (Costume Design), Nicholas Christensen (Sound Design), and Tori Martinson (Sound and Light Board Operator).

FST’s presentation of Off The Charts is sponsored in part by Gulf Coast Community Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The Exchange, Herald-Tribune LOCALiQ, and Florida’s Cultural Coast.

59th Street Bridge: Timeless Tunes and Nostalgia

Now extended through April in the Goldstein Cabaret, 59th Street Bridge captures the essence of folk and rock’s golden age. Set on an intimate stage illuminated by twinkling lights, the cabaret features soulful ballads like “Annie’s Song” and “Both Sides Now,” alongside upbeat tracks like “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.”

For cast member Michael Jayne Walker, the songs evoke cherished memories. “I love opening with ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads,’” Walker shared. “It reminds me of summer camp as a kid — those winding roads, the connection to nature. Performing it feels like inviting the audience into that memory.”

The talented musicians bringing 59th Street Bridge to life are Joe Casey (Take It to the Limit, Blue Suede Shoes, American Pie, Million Dollar Quartet), Brian Ott (FST debut), Michael Jayne Walker (The Surfer Boys), and Calli McRae (FST debut).

The creative team includes Catherine Randazzo (Director), Spiff Weigand (Music Director), Andrew Gray (Scenic & Lighting Design), Chelsea Allen (Costume Design), Nicholas Christensen (Sound Design), and Nathaniel Avery (Sound and Light Board Operator).

FST’s presentation of 59th Street Bridge is sponsored in part by Gulf Coast Community Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, SRQ Magazine, The Exchange, and Florida’s Cultural Coast.

Whether you’re drawn to the nostalgic storytelling of 59th Street Bridge or the vibrant energy of Off The Charts, FST’s cabarets highlight why the theatre remains a beloved destination for music lovers in Sarasota and beyond.

Tickets for both shows are available now. For more information, visit floridastudiotheatre.org or call the FST Box Office at (941) 366-9000.

About Florida Studio Theatre

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is Sarasota’s contemporary theatre. Founded in 1973, FST has grown to a village of five theatres located in the heart of downtown Sarasota. Each theatre is small in size and large in impact— providing intimate and engaging settings for high-quality, professional performances.

Today, FST has established itself as a major force in American Theatre. FST is the largest subscription theatre in the state of Florida and among the largest in the country, serving more than 200,000 live attendees each year across its diverse programs: Mainstage, Cabaret, Stage III, Children’s Theatre, The FST School, and New Play Development.

Even with its growth, Florida Studio Theatre remains firmly committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to as many people as possible. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Richard Hopkins, FST develops theatre that speaks to our living, evolving, and dynamically changing world. Hip and historical, entertaining and challenging, we are where everyone is welcome to engage in the art of theatre.