Plays Under Consideration FOR THE 2017-2018 SEASON WINTER MAINSTAGE WINTER CABARET WINTER STAGE III See 4 Great Shows | Nov. - June See 3 Great Shows | Oct. - June See 3 Great Shows | Jan. - March

Rock of Ages by Chris D’Arienzo Blue Suede Shoes Hand To God by Robert Askins In 1987 at LA’s famous Sunset Strip, a Rock ‘N’ Roll originated during the late In a church basement in a little town in boy from South Detroit and a small-town 40s and early 50s, taking its roots from Texas, something evil is afoot. Or, well — at girl chase their dreams of making it big the blues, boogie-woogie, jazz, swing, hand. A rogue puppet named Tyrone has and falling in love. Travel back in time to and country music. Featuring artists such hijacked the hand of timid teen Jason and big bands with big egos playing big guitar as father of Rock ‘N’ Roll Chuck Berry, there’s nothing his classmates, his mother, solos and sporting even bigger hair. to other greats such as Bo Diddley, Elvis or the pastor can do to exorcise this foul- “Impossible to resist” - The New York Times Presley, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis mouthed demon. Honor Killing by Sarah Bierstock with songs such as “Maybellene,” “Blue “Flat-out hilarious” - The New York Times Allisyn Davis, an American reporter for Suede Shoes,” and “A Whole Lot of Shak- the NY Times, heads to Pakistan to cover ing Going On.” Constellations by Nick Payne the honour killing of a young woman. The Streets of Berlin A simple encounter between a man and Denied entrance she conducts her investi- In 1930s Europe, cabaret clubs became woman leads to a spellbinding romantic gation remotely. Cultural collisions, can- the creative cocoon of Bohemian artists journey. What happens next defies the did interviews, and dangerous encounters and intellectuals. They fiercely challenged boundaries of the world we think we know cause her to re-examine her past - asking social mores of the era. European Cabaret – infinite possibilities and the difference questions about forgiveness, self-worth, celebrates the worldly sounds and subver- between choice and destiny. and justice. REGIONAL PREMIERE! sive ideas that exploded with conviction “Intimate delicacy” - The New York Times The Explorers Club - by Nell Benjamin from this sub-culture. Featuring songs The prestigious Explorers Club of Lon- by artists such as Marlene Dietrich, Edith Buyer and Cellar by Jonathan Tolins don, 1879 is in crisis: their acting presi- Piaf, Kurt Weill, Jacques Brel, and more. An outrageous new comedy. Struggling dent wants to admit a woman, and their to make ends meet, Alex More is hired Mack The Knife: The Bobby Darin Songbook bartender is terrible. True, this female to work as the sole employee in Barbra In 1959, the multi-talented musician, candidate is brilliant, beautiful, and has Streisand’s personal home shopping mall songwriter, and actor, Bobby Darin took discovered a legendary Lost City, but the - with Babs herself as the only customer. American music to a whole new level. decision to let in a woman could shake “Truth...and the pursuit of utopia.” Mack the Knife celebrates the spirited - NY Daily News the very foundation of the British Empire. and immense talent of one of the greatest “Brace for laughter” - NY Daily News musicians the 20th century. Featuring his How To Use A Knife by Will Snider Doublewide - by Stephen Spotswood greatest hits such as “Beyond the Sea,” In the chaos of a Wall Street restaurant Jim Starkey’s American Dream is a mod- “Dream Lover,” and “Splish Splash.” kitchen, Chef George is trying to stay est one: to build a home on his one-acre Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits sober. In between yelling at a pair of trash- plot of land, replacing his doublewide talking line cooks and a pot-smoking trailer. Two accidents throw a dark This tongue-in-cheek musical revue is a collection of songs inspired by the world’s busboy, he befriends Steve, an East African shadow over his family’s future. How far immigrant. Set during busy dinner shifts will they go to hold onto their Dream? greatest playwright. From relevant to ir- reverent, from send-ups of Italian opera to and filled with unforgettable characters, Burt and Me - Book by Larry McKenna takeoffs on films and musicals - it’s ribald, How To Use A Knife bursts with grinding Music & Lyrics by Burt Bacharach and Hal David riotous and just plain fun! suspense, energy, and surprise. Joe and Lacey, high school sweethearts, “Smart, affecting” - The Sacramento Bee shared the love of basketball and music. When college separated them, history couldn’t overcome geography. Years later, Joe comes up with an elaborate scheme to get Lacey back in this jukebox musical. “Appealing” - Broadway World SUMMER MAINSTAGE SUMMER CABARET See 3 Great Shows | June - August See 3 Great Shows | June - September

Murder For Two • book & music Joe Kinosian, book & lyrics Kellen Blair The Blue Eyed Bettys The perfect blend of music, mayhem and murder! A small The Blue Eyed Bettys delight with their folky-bluegrass sound. town policeman is on duty when shots ring out, and the great An original music group formed while performing in the FST American novelist Arthur Whitney is killed. Whodunit? This Cabaret, audiences are snapped to attention with their three part new musical is a witty winky homage to old-fashioned murder harmony, inventive storytelling, and natural onstage chemistry. mysteries. “Ingenious” - The New York Times “Exciting Americana act to hit Sarasota” - Sarasota Herald-Tribune The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey • by James Lecesne Speak Easy with Carol Bufford Leonard Pelkey, a 14 year-old boy who dared to be different Backed by the Grammy Award-winning jazz-age band, Vince disappears. The small New Jersey town where he was known and Giordano and the Nighthawks, Bufford pours out classics loved will never be the same. made famous by Sophie Tucker, Al Jolson, Bessie Smith, Louis “Shimmers with needling suspense” - The New York Times Armstrong, Helen Kane, Annette Hanshaw and more. “The real thing” – The New York Times Radio Golf • by August Wilson In 1990 Pittsburgh a successful entrepreneur aspires to become The Jersey Tenors the city’s first black mayor. But when the past begins to catch up The newest Opera/Rock mash-up sensation that creates an with him, secrets get revealed that could be his undoing. A fast- explosive blend of iconic music. From the opera classics to paced, dynamic, and comical work about the world today and artists such as Queen, ABBA, Frankie Vallie, The Four Seasons, dreams for the future. “Wit and soul” - New York Sun Frank Sinatra, Bon Jovi, Springsteen, and more – The Jersey Tenors will have you singing along as they raise the roof with Forbidden Broadway• by Gerard Alessandrini their powerful voices. Broadway’s biggest musicals as you’ve never seen them before! The Blenders The long-running off-Broadway revue lampooning the most The Blenders have spent over 25 years touring the U.S. with enduringly popular musicals returns to Sarasota for bigger their unique style of vocal, harmony-based music of the classic laughs and bigger fun. Featuring parodies of shows such as Les crooners. Often described as, “One of America’s best-kept vocal Miserables, Chicago, Wicked, and more! secrets”, The Blenders continue to record and tour the country, “Nonstop fun” - The Denver Post delighting their audiences with their signature vocal sound. Subscription Hotline: (941) 552-1521