Reel Music
From silent films and movie musicals to Casablanca and The Greatest Showman, the silver screen transports us to places and times we dream about. Reel Music celebrates the movies that helped create the soundtrack to the last century, with classics like “Singing in the Rain,” “Circle of Life,” and “My Heart Will Go On.” This lively music revue reminds us that movies and music have always gone hand in hand.
Click here to view the online playbill
Reel Music, by Richard Hopkins, Rebecca Hopkins, and Sarah Durham, with musical arrangements by Jim Prosser, plays beginning February 15, 2023, in FST's John C. Court Cabaret.
Run Time: 90 minutes with a 15-minute intermission
CREATIVE
Director | Catherine Randazzo
Music Director | Darren Server
Scenic Design | Clint Wright
Costume Design | April Andrew Carswell
Lighting Design | Andrew Gray
Sound Design | Thom Korp
Choreographer | Ellie Mooney
Dance Captain | Joel Newsome
Sound and Light Board Operator | Passion Shaffer
CAST
Diana Leticia
Michael Mejia-Mendez
Joel Newsome
Liz Power
Jim Prosser - Piano
DIANA LETICIA is thrilled to be making her FST debut in Reel Music! Recently finished the Off-Broadway production, Rathskeller, which won best new original piece (BroadwayWorld). Diana is a UF theater and Business Masters grad. Other credits include- Nicola U/S, Regional Premiere of Kinky Boots and Recording Artist and Singer-Songwriter with Indie Chameleon and Dream Walker Studios. Repped (LA/NYC) by Stefanie Field and Gina Stoj. dianatruman.com | @dianaleticiatruman
MICHAEL MEJIA-MENDEZ is a talented actor and singer, who received stellar reviews and a Handy Award (Jay Handelman) for his performance as Usnavi in WBTT's 2017 production of In the Heights. He has also played Seymour in the hit Little Shop of Horrors. He has a featured role in Playing Through, a new movie about groundbreaking Black golf champion Ann Gregory. In 2014, Michael was awarded a prestigious John Ringling Towers Fund grant in the performing arts category by the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.
JOEL NEWSOME is thrilled to be back in Sarasota, having performed at FST in Over the Rainbow and All Night Strut. On Broadway, Joel was seen in the Tony-winning productions of The Producers and 42nd Street. Off-Broadway he was seen in the hit show, Cagney!. Joel has toured the country extensively with the Broadway First National tours of The Producers, Billy Elliot, Something Rotten!, and most recently, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
LIZ POWER was previously seen at FST in Curious Incident…, The Prima Donnettes, By Gershwin, Reel Music, and Dancing in the Street. Other credits: Eva Peron in Evita (European Tour and regional productions), Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde (Nat’l Tour), Grace u/s in Annie (Nat’l Tour/Madison Square Garden), Ellen in Miss Saigon, Reno in Anything Goes, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Lousie in Gypsy, Grizabella in Cats, and Carrie in Carousel. BFA - Syracuse University. Liz also teaches private voice lessons in Lakewood Ranch, FL. lizpower.com
JIM PROSSER - This Winter Season marks Jim’s 27th season as FST’s Resident Pianist. He most recently appeared in The '70s: More Than a Decade, Laughing Matters, The Wanderers, Sophie Tucker: The Last of the Red Hot Mamas, and Vintage POP!. He has arranged and co-developed over 50 Cabarets at FST including: The '70s: More Than a Decade, Laughing Matters, The Wanderers, Three Pianos, Light My Fire, Outlaws and Angels, That’s Amoré!, The Wonder Years, Unchained Melodies, and more. He has served as Composer/Music Director for The FST School, writing numerous scores for children’s shows.
REEL MUSIC IN THE NEWS
Sarasota Herald-Tribune I February 12, 2023 I FST celebrates songs from the movies in Cabaret show Reel Music
REVIEWS
Total Theater
"There's at least some tune for everybody of every age in the audience to recall and love"
"Lovely"
"Compelling"
"Excellent"
"Michael...brings his audience with him"
Venice Gondolier-Sun
“Anyone who has enjoyed classic movie musicals or films…will find so much to love about this show.”
“Slick”
"Michael played to each and every person in the audience.
“I smiled all the way throughout this show.”
“Spot-on”
"Brilliant”
"A fun and entertaining musical show"
"This is a must see”
ARTICLES BY FST
ADDITIONAL ARTICLES
Music has always been a key part of feature films. Read what TimeOut New York names as the 50 best uses of songs in movies. | CLICK HERE
Don’t just watch it, sing it! Harper’s Bazaar put together a list of the forty best movie soundtracks, including musicals like In the Heights, superhero movies such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and cinematic classics like High Fidelity. | CLICK HERE
Composers like John Williams and Hans Zimmer have made a name for themselves creating music for such feature films as Star Wars, Jaws, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Learn more about the composers who have mastered the ability to use music to help tell a story and create an atmosphere. | LEARN MORE
There are plenty of parking options available when you visit Florida Studio Theatre, including two adjacent parking lots and three nearby parking garages, plus on-street parking.
Watch the video below to find a convenient place to park while you enjoy the theatre.
Getting Here:
FST's Court Cabaret is located on the corner of First Street and Cocoanut Avenue inside FST's Hegner Theatre Wing. For GPS purposes, use the address of 1265 First Street, Sarasota, FL 34236. For a map of FST buildings and venues, please see below. For more information, please call the FST Box Office at 941.366.9000.
Handicap Drop Off:
FST's Court Cabaret: Handicap drop off is at the corner of First Street and Cocoanut Avenue.
For those who require additional assistance or handicap parking/drop off, please see the map below. For any questions regarding handicap parking please call the box office at 941.366.9000.
