Florida Studio Theatre’s WRITE A PLAY Program Continues to Educate and Inspire

SARASOTA, Fla. (September 25, 2026) — For 36 years, Florida Studio Theatre (FST) has invited young people across Florida to discover the power of storytelling through its award-winning WRITE A PLAY program. Each year, the program gives students the opportunity to experience live theatre, learn the fundamentals of playwriting, and create original works of their own. Through partnerships with schools and communities throughout the state, FST continues to help young people transform and fully realize their ideas.

WRITE A PLAY unfolds in three stages throughout the school year, beginning with a professional production at FST. This season, students can experience Pinocchio, written by Greg Banks and adapted from Carlo Collodi’s classic story. Whether attending as a school field trip or as part of FST’s Children’s Theatre Series, students begin the program by encountering the thrill of live theatre firsthand.

Next, FST’s Acting Apprentices come directly into classrooms across Florida with Imagination Rocks!, an interactive theatre experience that explores how stories are transformed into plays. Following the performance, Playmakers lead students through hands-on workshops focused on four essential elements of playwriting: character, dialogue, conflict, and setting. With this foundation, students begin developing original plays of their own with guidance from their teachers.

“WRITE A PLAY lets students see themselves as creators, not just audience members,” said Caroline Saldivar, FST’s Director of Children’s Theatre. “When students write their own plays, they learn that their ideas matter and that their voices can have an impact. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch their stories take shape.”

Students are then invited to submit their work to FST’s Young Playwrights Festival, which receives thousands of original plays from young writers each year. From these submissions, winning plays are selected for professional production.

The journey culminates each spring when students return to FST to see the winning works performed by professional actors in The Monster Who Got a Second Chance & Other Winning Plays. These short plays showcase the unique perspectives of young writers, giving students the precious opportunity to see their own words brought to life on a professional stage.

WRITE A PLAY’s grande finale is FST’s annual Young Playwrights Festival, bringing together hundreds of students, educators, and families from across Florida and as far as Scotland and Israel. Student playwrights are celebrated with certificates and medals, while audiences gather to recognize the creativity and accomplishment behind each original work.

“We ask them to write authentically and to be brave,” said FST Associate Director At-Large and WRITE A PLAY creator Kate Alexander. “And then they're given a medal of valor for their chosen play. The Greeks gave their artists medals of equal to their soldiers, because they said it took as much courage to write a play as it did to go into battle.”

Teachers and group leaders interested in bringing FST’s WRITE A PLAY to their classrooms should contact Caroline Saldivar at writeaplay@floridastudiotheatre.org or by calling (941) 366-9797.

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ABOUT THE PLAYS

Pinocchio
Runs select weekends starting September 19, 2026
By Greg Banks
Based on the story by Carlo Collodi

Wish upon a star and follow Pinocchio on an unforgettable adventure! From curious encounters to daring escapades, this beloved tale springs to life with laughter and plenty of magic. As Pinocchio learns that honesty matters more than anything else, audiences of all ages will delight in this enchanting retelling of a timeless classic.

Imagination Rocks! (At FST)
Runs select weekends starting January 9, 2027
By Florida Studio Theatre’s Playmakers

Every great story starts with imagination. Imagination Rocks! invites young audiences to discover how unforgettable characters and exciting adventures come together on stage. Filled with laughter and theatrical fun, this inspiring experience celebrates the magic of storytelling while inspiring kids to dream big – and create stories of their own.

Imagination Rocks!  (In Schools)
Available for school tours beginning in October
By Former Winning Young Playwrights 

Take the next step in the series with a play that will inspire your students to write plays of their very own! In this interactive experience, your students will learn the ingredients of a play and see a brand-new one created (using their OWN ideas) right before their eyes. More than just a performance, Imagination Rocks! includes up to eight in-class workshops to get your students writing. All students are encouraged to submit their plays to FST’s 2027 Young Playwrights Festival to be considered for a professional production in the spring.

The Monster Who Got a Second Chance & Other Winning Plays
Runs select weekends starting March 27, 2027
By Award-Winning Young Playwrights 

Step into a world of unrestrained creativity with this cherished annual production featuring winning plays written by elementary students from around the world. Featuring stories only the mind of a kid could create, these short plays are brought to life by professional actors. This beloved annual production has been celebrating the boundless creativity of children for over 30 years.

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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.