Florida Studio Theatre Extends the Feel-Good Show Dames at Sea

(Sarasota, FL) — Due to popular demand, Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is extending its lighthearted production of Dames at Sea through Sunday, July 6, 2025, in the Gompertz Theatre. With book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller, and music by Jim Wise, Dames at Sea celebrates the affectionate charm of 1930s Broadway. Tickets are on sale now at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or by calling (941) 366-9000.

Since opening, the production has earned high praise from audiences and critics alike for its heart, humor, and buoyant energy. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune calls it a “smartly crafted and loving spoof” that is both “cleverly silly” and “transporting.” Sarasota Magazine describes it as “a summertime escape that may leave you humming,” while Total Theatre declares, “It’s hard to imagine a better performance…[the show] couldn’t be livelier.”

Praised as “a delightful, tap-dancing extravaganza” by The New York Times, this nostalgic pastiche follows Ruby, a wide-eyed chorus girl from Utah, who arrives in New York determined to become a star. With the help of Dick, a sailor and aspiring songwriter, she lands a part in a struggling Broadway show and fights for her time to shine. Featuring toe-tapping tunes like “Good Times Are Here to Stay” and “Broadway Baby,” Dames at Sea delivers pure theatrical fun with heart, humor, and plenty of dance.

“This cast radiates joy that engulfs the Gompertz Theatre,” said Ben Liebert, the show’s director/choreographer and an FST Associate Artist. “Dames at Sea is a love letter to the golden age of movie musicals – full of great songs, big laughs, fine tap dancing, and a lot of heart. I’m so glad audiences are having as much fun at this show as we had creating it.”

Liebert’s work as a director and choreographer includes FST’s Jersey Boys and Waitress as well as productions like Into the Woods, The Producers, and Ordinary Days. As an actor, he has appeared on Broadway in Wicked, as well as in off-Broadway and regional productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Little Shop of Horrors, and Chicago.

Starring as Ruby is Emily Ann Brooks, making her FST debut. “It’s a gift to play such a hopeful and determined character, in a story that believes so deeply in the magic of theatre,” said Brooks. “To share in the delight of this show with such enthusiastic, warm audiences has been a joy, and I can’t wait for more people to join in the fun!”

Joining her are Devin Johnson* (Waitress) as Dick, Jenna Coker-Jones* (FST debut) as Mona, Kelsey Stalter* (FST debut) as Joan/Dance Captain, Larry Toyter (FST debut) as Lucky, and Joel Newsome* (Reel Music) as Hennesey/Captain.

The production team includes Ben Liebert (Director/Choreographer), David Caldwell (Music Director), Nathaniel Beliveau (Associate Music Director), Axis Studios Design (Scenic Design), K. April Soroko (Costume Design), Andrew Gray (Lighting Design), Nicholas Christensen (Sound Design), Shira Lebovich* (AEA Stage Manager), Nathaniel Avery (Stage Management Intern), and Tori Martinson (Stage Management Intern).

*Indicates members of the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Experience the excitement of Dames at Sea, now extended through July 6! Single tickets start at $39. Dames at Sea is part of a three-show subscription package, which also includes Dorothy’s Dictionary, a heartfelt story about connection and literature, and Don’t Dress for Dinner, a fast-paced comedy of errors. Subscriptions and single tickets are available at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or by calling (941) 366-9000.

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Sponsors

FST’s production of Dames at Sea is sponsored in part by Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax, The Shubert Foundation, Herald-Tribune LOCALiQ, and Florida’s Cultural Coast.

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 230,000 live attendees each year across its diverse programs: Mainstage, Cabaret, Stage III, Children’s Theatre, The FST School, New Play Development, and FST Improv.

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 the theatre where the street meets the elite — where everyone is welcome to engage in the art of theatre.