Florida Studio Theatre Sets Sail with Sailing: Yacht Rock and Beyond

SARASOTA, Fla. (September 8, 2026) — Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is thrilled to kick off its 2026-27 Winter Cabaret Season with Sailing: Yacht Rock and Beyond, an original musical revue created by Richard Hopkins, Rebecca Hopkins, and Catherine Randazzo with musical arrangements by Jim Prosser. Featuring beloved hits from Christopher Cross to Olivia Newton-John, this laid-back celebration explores the smooth sounds of the ’70s and ’80s that are still making waves today. Previews begin September 23, officially opening September 25, with performances through February 7, 2027, in FST’s Court Cabaret.

Set sail through an treasured collection of songs that became the soundtrack to romance, adventure, and endless summer nights. Featuring favorites like "Sailing," "Margaritaville," "Brandy," "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)," "Arthur's Theme," and more, this breezy musical revue charts a course through the smooth sounds of Yacht Rock and beyond.

“What makes this music so fascinating is that none of these artists knew they were creating ‘yacht rock’ when they recorded these songs,” said Director and FST Associate Producer Catherine Randazzo. “The term came years later, after these songs had already become part of the soundtrack of an era. That gives us the chance to look at this music in a whole new way – and have fun while doing it. So, get ready to drift away to these smooth songs while discovering what makes something ‘yacht rock’ in the first place!”

Performing these hits are J.D. Daw (Jersey Tenors), an actor and writer who recently wrote, produced, and starred in the web series The Wizard Next Door; Gemma Pedersen (FST debut), whose theatre credits include Flower Drum Song, Pacific Overtures, and Sweeney Todd; Lorenzo Pugliese (One Hit Wonders), who has appeared in national tours of The Spongebob Musical and in The Cher Show; and Talitha McDougall Jones (FST debut) whose credits include Little Shop of Horrors, Oklahoma!, Grease, and more.

The creative team includes Catherine Randazzo (Director), Zach Spound (Music Director), Ben Liebert (Choreographer), Andrew Gray (Scenic & Lighting Designer), Tony Toney (Costume Designer), Nicholas Christensen (Sound Designer), and Molly DeLuca (Stage Management Intern/Sound & Light Board Operator).

Drift away with Sailing: Yacht Rock and Beyond from September 23, 2026, to February 7, 2027. Previews are September 23 and 24, with opening night on September 25, 2026. Single tickets start at $37.

Sailing: Yacht Rock and Beyond is part of FST’s three-show Winter Cabaret subscription, which also includes American Rebels, a musical journey through the iconic songs that shaped the American soundtrack, along with Laughing Matters: Volume 7, a lighthearted musical comedy that pokes fun at everything we love about life on the Suncoast. Subscriptions are on sale now for as little as $59, and single tickets start at $37. For more information, visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org or call (941) 366-9000.

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Sponsors

Florida Studio Theatre is grateful to its sponsors of the 2026-27 Winter Cabaret Season: Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax, The Shubert Foundation, The Exchange, Florida Arts & Culture, and Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

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 Executive Producer 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.