KATHY HALENDA is so happy to bring Sophie back home to the Florida Studio Theatre, where she belongs! FST: Mae West/Jo in Dirty Blonde, Inspired Lunacy, No Way to Treat a Lady, and numerous cabarets. 17 National tours, including Gypsy (Mama Rose), 42nd St. (Maggie Jones), Oliver (Nancy), Grand Hotel (Rafaela), Pajama Game (Mabel), and coming soon: Tootsie (Rita). Numerous regional credits, including the title roles in Mame (twice), Hello Dolly (twice), Evita, Annie Get Your Gun, as well as Mama Rose in Gypsy (four times), Miss Mona in The Best Lil’ Whorehouse in Texas (five times), Nancy in Oliver (four times) and Miss Hannigan in Annie. (Last seen at the Riverside Center as the understudy for Sally Struthers). Halenda was also the first female Ringmaster of the Big Apple Circus and The National Anthem Singer at Madison Square Garden and Fenway Park.

She also has three one-woman shows that have been presented nationwide. Sophie Tucker: Last of the Red Hot Mamas (co-written by her) was created at Florida Studio Theatre and critically acclaimed in Florida, Georgia, Walnut St. Theatre in Philadelphia, upstate New York, and was chosen for the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, and at The Arts Festival in Charleston, WV. Her Brassy Broads of Broadway debuted in Manhattan, NY, at Danny’s Skylight Room and has been seen nationally at numerous theatres, including The Richmond Triangle Players, Creative Cauldron, Florida Studio Theatre, the Philharmonic Center in Naples, FL, the ArtStation in Atlanta, and the Mac-Haydn Theatre in upstate New York. Somewhere Over the Rose debuted at the Center Stage in Richmond, VA, and has played the Richmond Triangle Players, Creative Cauldron, the Mac-Haydn Theatre in upstate New York, the ArtStation in Atlanta, and at Florida Studio Theatre for a four-week sold out run.

JIM PROSSER This upcoming Winter Season marks Jim’s 26th season as FST’s Resident Pianist. He most recently appeared in Vintage POP! and has arranged and co-developed over 50 Cabarets at FST including: Three Pianos, Light My Fire, Outlaws and Angels, That’s Amoré!, The Wonder Years, Unchained Melodies, and more. He has served as Composer/Music Director for The FST School, writing numerous scores for children’s shows. Jim is also a Music Director for FST Improv.