Kings of Country
CAST
Eric Scott Anthony is pleased as punch to be back at FST for a fourth time! He’s played here in Night Train to Memphis, Shake, Rattle, & Roll, and Urban Cowboys. Broadway: Ring of Fire. National Tour: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (MD/Norm Petty). Regional: Ring of Fire at Flat Rock Playhouse and Merry Go Round Playhouse (MD). Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story Lyric Theatre of OK, Flat Rock, Westchester B’way (Joe Mauldin/MD), and Ogunquit Playhouse (MD). Hank Williams: Lost Highway (MD) at the Flat Rock and Merry Go Round Playhouse(s). Without the guitar, Eric has performed in West Side Story (Tony) and 1776 (John Dickinson) at the Cumberland County Playhouse as well as the Padre in Man of La Mancha at the Flat Rock Playhouse. A Native of St. Louis, Eric was a section leader and soloist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
Jon Brown is a professional musician based in St. Louis and is delighted to be returning to Florida Studio Theatre! Regional musical theatre credits include Stand By Your Man at the Ivoryton Playhouse (CT), Ring of Fire at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina (SC), the Adirondack Theatre Festival (NY), FST’s Shake Rattle & Roll cabaret, the role “LM” in Pump Boys & Dinettes (national tour - Troupe America, Theatre Under the Stars - TX, Lyric Theatre - OK) and “Hoss” in Hank Williams: Lost Highway at the Arrow Rock Lyceum (MO).
Tony Bruno is delighted to spend yet another season at FST - “it’s home.” Recent FST credits include Daddy Long Legs, The World Goes ‘Round, Smokey Joe’s Café, Spamalot, and Inspired Lunacy. Tony has appeared on FST’s Cabaret stage in A Night Train to Memphis, Shake Rattle and Roll, Urban Cowboys, and American Pie. He has toured extensively with theatre and circus productions as well as Artist of Might Tigers, Severn, and Vizztone record labels. Shared recording studio and the stage with true greats of the rock, jazz and blues world such as Ben E. King, The Tokens, BB King, Jon Bauman {Bowzer}, Doug Deming, June Garber, JR Watson, Johnny Varro, Bobby Haggard, Jesse Yawn, Dick Hyman trio.
Ben Hope is thrilled to be in Florida to pay tribute to some of his musical heroes. Hope made his Broadway debut in 2012 as the lead in the Tony Award winning musical Once. He has also gone around the country playing such notable musical greats as Hank Williams, Buddy Holly, and Johnny Cash. Ben’s NYC-based band Ben Hope & the Uptown Outfit just recently released their debut album Ragged & Rowdy. Learn more at benhopemusic.com.
Emily Mikesell just finished playing Stonewall Jackson’s wife Anna with Robin and Linda Williams in Stonewall Country at Barter Theatre and on tour as part of the Crooked Road Music Festival. Prior to that, she was in Hilton Head with Eric and Jon doing Ring of Fire. FST audiences may remember her from Urban Cowboys, Guitar Girls, and/or Pump Boys and Dinettes. Emily is thrilled to be back in Sarasota, as a queen amongst kings of country.