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Return to That's Life
 Rebecca Langford (Creator) has been part of the development team for FST’s Cabaret Theatre since her arrival in Sarasota in 1998. Shows she has helped develop include: Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits, Brassy Broads, Hot and Cole, My One and Only Gershwin, GI Jive, Three Friends, Two Guitars and A Broken Tambourine, Piano Men and The Flip Side. She was the Director of Development for Laughing Matters...Too, A Vaudeville Cabaret and the original Laughing Matters. Ms. Langford is the chief operating officer for Florida Studio Theatre. She is responsible for the management of FST’s overall Administration, including the Business Office, Development, Marketing, Box Office, Front of House, Cabaret Restaurant, budgeting and maintaining the overall quality of FST’s internal management functions. In addition, Ms. Langford has 16 years of Improv experience and created FST’s award-winning Improv program. Prior to her arrival at Florida Studio Theatre, she worked as a theatre artist in Austin, Texas at the Austin Shakespeare Festival, in the box office for the Zachary Scott Theatre, and held the position of Audience Development Coordinator for the Largo Cultural Center in Florida. She is originally from Atlanta, Georgia where she attended Georgia State University and began her career in theatre as an actress.
 Richard Hopkins (Artistic Director/Creator) Artistic Director of Florida Studio Theatre since 1980, Richard Hopkins has guided the company from a small touring group to a professional regional theatre. Mr. Hopkins began his professional theatre career as a resident actor with Asolo State Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. In 1974 he founded the Palisades Theatre Company in Washington, DC, which subsequently moved to St. Petersburg to become American Stage. He served as its Producing Director from 1974-1980. Additional experiences include: President of the Florida Professional Theatres Association (1983-1985), Panelist for Theatre Program of Florida Arts Council, and Director/Instructor for Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus’ Clown College (1981). His many directing credits include: Metamorphoses, The Bully Pulpit, God’s Man in Texas, Hysteria, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, 2: Goering at Nuremberg, Six Degrees of Separation, Execution of Justice, Death by Misadventure, Hi-Hat-Hattie, Invictus, Agnes of God, Beyond Therapy, True West, La Ronde, and Betrayal and numerous other plays and Cabaret projects including Sophie Tucker, Inspired Lunacy, and Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits, Over the Rainbow.
 Jim Prosser (Creator/Pianist) This is Jim’s thirtieth season in the FST Cabaret, for which he has developed and performed in numerous shows, including The British Invasion, The Flip Side, Piano Men, Three Friends, GI Jive, and Too Darn Hot. He has also worked extensively for FST’s Education programs, writing scores for the WRITE A PLAY programs, children’s shows, and most recently The Princess and the Pea. In addition, Jim enjoys playing “on the spot” for the FST Improv Troupe.
.jpg) Dennis Courtney (Director/Choreographer) returns for his 19th production at FST. Based in New York City, Mr. Courtney staged a re-envisioned production of Fiddler On The Roof for the Cameri Theatre in Tel Aviv, for which he won the 2009 Israeli National Theatre Award. He has been the director/choreographer of over 150 stage productions including Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby, Can-Can with Leslie Uggams, the regional premieres of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and Summer of '69, the world premiere productions of Ethel Waters: His Eye Is On The Sparrow (FST), Red Hot Mama, Beggar’s Holiday and The Beethovens. Favorite recent productions include The Last Five Years, The Producers, Sophisticated Ladies, Joseph…Dreamcoat, All Night Strut (FST), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (FST), George M!, A Funny Thing Happen On The Way To The Forum, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues (FST), The World Goes 'Round (FST), Hello Dolly, West Side Story, Cinderella, Guys and Dolls, Lucky Stiff, A Grand Night For Singing, and Cabaret. For television, Mr. Courtney directed the 5th season opener of TV’s ”Perfect Strangers”. Dennis has also had a performing career including Broadway, TV and concerts. He appeared on Broadway/on tour in Starlight Express, Joseph…, Peter Pan with Sandy Duncan, Roza with Georgia Brown, The Fantasticks, Grease with Andrea McArdle and many regional shows. Mr. Courtney is a former champion figure skater and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Screen Actors’ Guild and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Please visit www.denniscourtney.com
John Franceschine (Music Director) composed music for the National Shakespeare Company, the Mark Taper Forum, the Coconut Grove Playhouse, the Moscow Art Theatre, and the Asolo State Theatre. As a pianist/arranger, he has accompanied Judy Garland, Angela Lansbury, Nell Carter, Jan Peerce, Robert Merrill, Lotte Lenya, Paige O’Hara, Chita Rivera, and Gwen Verdon, and has conducted dozens of off-Broadway shows and national tours. Last season he was musical director for FST’s production of Steppin’ Out.
CAST
 Eric Collins (Ensemble) Off Broadway: Mole in The Wind In The Willows (The New Victory Theater). Other NYC Credits: Believe (York Theater), Millenium Man (Theater Row Theater). Regional: Some Kind of Wonderful (Florida Stage), Karl in Bookends (New Jersey Rep), Fishwrap (Adirondack Theater Festival), Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors (Meadow Brooke Theater), Jacques Brel (Syracuse Stage), Sweeney Todd (Pennsylvania Centre Stage), Tommy in The Who’s Tommy (Cherry Country Playhouse), Doody in Grease (Cherry Country Playhouse). BFA Musical Theater Syracuse University. Eric is thrilled to return to FST after playing Paul in Hula Hoop Sha-Boop last season.
 Stacey Harris (Ensemble) has performed on Broadway in Bells are Ringing, off-Broadway in Lone Star Love and The Awesome 80s Prom, and toured nationally with Show Boat, Cinderella, and Dreamgirls. Favorite regional theatre credits include Roxie in Chicago, Rose Alvarez in Bye Bye Birdie, Anita in West Side Story, Rizzo in Grease, Edythe in My One and Only, Josefine/Monica in Romance/Romance, Louise in Gypsy, Shelby in Steel Magnolias, and Anna in Syncopation. She recently appeared in the new Broadway-bound musical White Noise. A graduate of Northwestern University, Stacey also travels the world as a member of The American Belles, entertaining our troops and veterans with 1940s and patriotic music. www.stacey-harris.com
 Arthur W. Marks (Ensemble) made his professional debut in 1992 with the Kansas City Symphony. Marks has since performed as soloist with the Baltimore Symphony, Des Moines Symphony, Wichita Symphony, Vivaldi Traveling Virtuoso, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Marks has performed on stages/classical venues in Rome, London, Berlin, Leipzig, Paris and Vienna. Broadway/Off-Broadway/National Tour: SIDD (New World Stages), The Screams of Kitty Genovese (Theatre at St. Clements) Wilde at Heart (Emerging Theatre), Backstage at the Funky B (Producer's Club), 30th Anniversary Tour of Ain't Misbehavin’. Marks was also the opening act for the Late Great Ray Charles Orpheum Concert Tour. Marks is proud to be the voice of "Ugly" Duckling (HONK!) which he recorded 1st American Cast Recording. Proud Member of AEA!
 Jeff Pierce (Ensemble) Miss Saigon First National Tour, Chris. New York: Birdie, Bring Back Birdie, Bill Clinton, Hillary and Monica and most recently his critically acclaimed performance in the one man play: Southern Man. Regional favorites: Tommy, Brigadoon, Curly, Oklahoma!, Billy, Carousel, Rev David Lee, The Foreigner, Marvin, Falsettos. Film: The Deviants (available on DVD). You might have seen Jeff at the Apple across the street as the Dancin’ Kid in Johnny Guitar. www.SouthernManThePlay.com
Production Staff
Production Manager...........................................Bruce Price
Company Manager.............................................Rob Thomas
Production Stage Manager.................................Kelli Karen
Stage Management Intern...................................Dustin Demonja
Costume and Scenic Design..............................Marcella Beckwith
Lighting Designer..............................................Shawn Watkins
Sound Designer.................................................John Valines
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