Florida Studio Theatre Announces its 2025 Summer Season Lineup

(Sarasota, FL) — Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to announce the lineup for its 2025 Summer Season, featuring a dynamic mix of productions in both its Mainstage and Cabaret Series. From feel-good musicals and heartfelt dramas to upbeat songs and behind-the-scenes stories, this summer’s programming is designed to entertain, uplift, and inspire.

"This Summer Season, we want to ‘brighten and lighten your days!’” said Richard Hopkins, FST's Producing Artistic Director. "On the Mainstage, we are presenting plays full of humor, heart, and humanity. We will bring you a summer of plays filled with all that is good and true and honest in the American Theatre. And in the Cabaret, we will bring you words and music from some of the best lyric poets of our age.”

The 2025 Summer Mainstage Series includes the toe-tapping Dames at Sea, the heartwarming charm of Dorothy’s Dictionary, and the fast-paced farce Don’t Dress for Dinner. The Cabaret Series features top cabaret artists, along with some all-new shows. Audiences can expect personal accounts of collaborations with Motown legends, steamy summer songs from music titans like Frank Sinatra and Patsy Cline, and American folk-rock classics that breathe new life into beloved ‘60s hits.

With its long-standing commitment to accessibility, FST offers full subscriptions to all three Mainstage or all three Cabaret productions for as little as $59. Subscriptions and single tickets are now on sale at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or at (941) 366-9000.

Florida Studio Theatre’s Summer Season has become a beloved Sarasota tradition, providing a rich and diverse slate of performances. This year’s programming continues that tradition with stories that delight, music that moves, and moments that matter.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org or call (941) 366-9000.

2025 Summer Season at a Glance

MAINSTAGE

Dames at Sea
Book & Lyrics by George Haimsohn & Robin Miller
Music by Jim Wise
Begins Playing June 11 in FST’s Gompertz Theatre

Ruby, a hopeful chorus girl from Utah, arrives in New York with dreams of making it on Broadway. With help from Dick, a sailor and aspiring songwriter, she lands a role in a struggling show. When the star suddenly drops out, Ruby gets her big break — until the theatre catches fire. Featuring songs like “Good Times Are Here to Stay” and “Broadway Baby,” this tap-filled romance celebrates the sparkle of 1930s Broadway.

Dorothy’s Dictionary
By E.M. Lewis
Begins Playing July 9 in FST’s Keating Theatre

An unlikely friendship blossoms between a troubled teenager serving community service and a fiercely independent woman who introduces him to the transformative power of books. Through humor, vulnerability, and the magic of words, Dorothy’s Dictionary explores memory, identity, and the connections that change us. A heartwarming and deeply moving story about how language shapes our lives and brings us together.

Don’t Dress for Dinner
By Marc Camoletti & Robin Hawdon
Begins Playing August 6 in FST’s Gompertz Theatre

Bernard has it all planned — a perfect weekend of romance with his mistress, complete with gourmet dining and an ironclad alibi provided by his best friend, Robert. But when Bernard’s wife unexpectedly discovers Robert is coming for a visit, she sees a perfect chance for a romantic escapade of her own. Soon, alibis crumble, secrets unravel, and a quiet weekend quickly spins into a whirlwind of confusion and chaos.

CABARET

How Sweet It Is
Created by Luke McMaster
Begins Playing May 27 in FST’s Goldstein Cabaret

When Motown Records burst onto the scene, it changed popular music forever. This show celebrates the iconic songs, stories, and surprising connections between Motown stars and music legends. With fresh takes on classics like “Tracks of My Tears,” “You Can’t Hurry Love,” and “Stop in the Name of Love,” it explores Motown’s legacy — enriched by personal accounts of collaborations with Smokey Robinson, The Beatles, Eric Clapton, and James Taylor.

Too Darn Hot: Songs for a Summer Night
Created by Carole J. Bufford
Begins Playing June 24 in FST’s Court Cabaret

Join us once again for an unforgettable evening with Carole J. Bufford. Too Darn Hot brings fresh life to classics by Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Patsy Cline, and more. With songs like “Blame It on the Summer Night,” “Too Darn Hot,” and “Steppin’ Out with My Baby,” this steamy, refreshing night of music and storytelling will leave you longing for an endless summer.

A Band Called Honalee – A Tribute to Peter, Paul and Mary…and friends
Created by Aaron Gandy
Begins Playing August 19 in FST’s Goldstein Cabaret

Relive the timeless magic of Peter, Paul & Mary with the captivating sounds of A Band Called Honalee. This modern-day folk trio brings to life classics such as “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” “Blowing in the Wind,” and “Puff the Magic Dragon”. Featuring stirring vocal harmonies and musicianship, this show also pays tribute to legends like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, The Mamas & The Papas, and more. 

Sponsors

Florida Studio Theatre is grateful to its sponsors of the 2025 Summer Season: Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, The Observer, Sarasota Magazine, and SRQ Magazine.

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 225,000 live attendees each year across its diverse programs: Mainstage, Cabaret, Stage III, Children’s Theatre, Improv, 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.