Florida Studio Theatre
Florida Studio Theatre
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
About
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, 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
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
375 reviews
Excellent
261
Very good
84
Average
19
Poor
5
Terrible
6
nancy c
3 contributions
Jul 2021
We’ve been buying subscriptions to FST’s main stage venue for some years. This year, we included cabaret subscriptions for the first time and for a party of six. Last Sunday 7/25/21, we saw a cabaret show and enjoyed it, but not the dining experience. Service and food quality were below the quality we’ve previously experienced from FST.
The server at our table seemed to be the only one taking food orders as he was all over the ground floor working with different guests. It was hard to flag him down. Staffing seemed to be unorganized. (I have other comments after seeing what happens when the “Green Room” closes)
Chicken quesadilla order was burnt black; our dining partner did not want to make a scene. We asked how cook/serving staff think it was ok to serve burnt food? Additionally, our dining partner kept flagging down staff to get the extra salsa/sour cream he had originally ordered.
Quiche dinner was a very small wedge of something yellow, bland surrounded by a ton of green stuff……. Served cold.
Two crab cake dinners came as one crab dinner and a Cesar salad. Really? Even after our orders were read back to us? Continually flagged down staff to get status of our re-do orders; no one knew. Table partners were finishing their meals and twenty minutes before the show, we finally got our crab cake dinners. Surprise..............Served cold!
Show/dining partners feedback: Show = Positive. Dinner = Negative.
At this time, no one wants use FST dining. I called FST box office 7/26/21, explained our poor experience, and asked to speak to a dining manager. No response, yet. Maybe come with the crab cake re-do, this time warm?. Will update.
The server at our table seemed to be the only one taking food orders as he was all over the ground floor working with different guests. It was hard to flag him down. Staffing seemed to be unorganized. (I have other comments after seeing what happens when the “Green Room” closes)
Chicken quesadilla order was burnt black; our dining partner did not want to make a scene. We asked how cook/serving staff think it was ok to serve burnt food? Additionally, our dining partner kept flagging down staff to get the extra salsa/sour cream he had originally ordered.
Quiche dinner was a very small wedge of something yellow, bland surrounded by a ton of green stuff……. Served cold.
Two crab cake dinners came as one crab dinner and a Cesar salad. Really? Even after our orders were read back to us? Continually flagged down staff to get status of our re-do orders; no one knew. Table partners were finishing their meals and twenty minutes before the show, we finally got our crab cake dinners. Surprise..............Served cold!
Show/dining partners feedback: Show = Positive. Dinner = Negative.
At this time, no one wants use FST dining. I called FST box office 7/26/21, explained our poor experience, and asked to speak to a dining manager. No response, yet. Maybe come with the crab cake re-do, this time warm?. Will update.
Written July 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Buddy
19 contributions
Feb 2020
My wife and I have season tickets along with another couple. We "double date" on a frequent basis to attend performances. We really look forward to these evenings and the performances are always super fantastic. We have trouble not singing along with the performers which I am sure the customers around us appreciate when we don't.
Always a wonderful way to spend an evening and the studio (Cabaret) is intimate and you can almost reach out and touch the performers on stage. I recommend it highly and give it a five star rating.
Always a wonderful way to spend an evening and the studio (Cabaret) is intimate and you can almost reach out and touch the performers on stage. I recommend it highly and give it a five star rating.
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
armyveteran
Port Charlotte, FL74 contributions
Jan 2020
My wife and I have been members of Florida Studio Theatre for over 15 years. We attend the Mainstage Winter sessions, the Summer sessions, and the experimental play sessions. As someone who grew up in New York City, and attended theater there for many years, I can assure everyone that the performances at Florida Studio Theatre are as good as any you will see anywhere! The actors are all well known professionals, and the directors and producers are first rate.
There are also many great restaurants in Sarasota, and Florida Studio even has one right in the Gompertz Theater. Check out Florida Studio theatre at Floridastudiotheatre.org to find out about all the plays.
There are also many great restaurants in Sarasota, and Florida Studio even has one right in the Gompertz Theater. Check out Florida Studio theatre at Floridastudiotheatre.org to find out about all the plays.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bruce z
2 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
We are season ticket holders for many years.
American Son was outstanding in its acting and ability to convey at the gut emotional level the differences we have to face in a multiracial society.
It should have been a standing ovation performance but the saddest of endings kept people in their seats. Tears? A very moving play and again outstanding in its execution.
American Son was outstanding in its acting and ability to convey at the gut emotional level the differences we have to face in a multiracial society.
It should have been a standing ovation performance but the saddest of endings kept people in their seats. Tears? A very moving play and again outstanding in its execution.
Written February 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1BigJake
Louisville, KY35 contributions
Dec 2019
Attended a Jazz Club performance. From a front row balcony seat I could see only a small portion of the stage. Most of the performers were out of sight. Jazz Club manager introduced himself and his hand was sopping wet when he shook with me. I found this disgusting. Who knows where that hand had been?
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BDF831
Manchester, NH33 contributions
Mar 2020
On 3/13/20, we attended a performance of "Light My Fire" at the Florida Studio Theatre's Cabaret. The show was terrific fun. The 5 performers did a wonderful job bringing the music of the 60's and early 70's to life. They used the songs to outline the history of Women's Rights, Civil Rights, and the Anti-war movement.
One side note - we ate dinner in the cabaret as well, and the cheeseburger and fries I ordered came out exactly as ordered. The burger patty seemed freshly made, not frozen. Very satisfactory.
One side note - we ate dinner in the cabaret as well, and the cheeseburger and fries I ordered came out exactly as ordered. The burger patty seemed freshly made, not frozen. Very satisfactory.
Written March 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scott C
Sarasota, FL542 contributions
Jan 2022
Being from NY, we are used to seeing huge Broadway productions, and have gone off-broadway and off-off-broadway. this theatre is a great place to see a show. it is small so it feels intimate, great sight lines, great acoustics. We had a great time!
Written January 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe P
Kingston, Canada184 contributions
Mar 2020
We attended two performances at FST this year: American Son, and Light My Fire. They couldn’t have been nice different. The first was a tense, troubling drama and the second a light-hearted musical trip through the sixties. Both were very well done. Both times we ate at the FST, once cabaret style, which we really enjoyed. Will definitely be back next year.
Written March 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elfma
Greenwich, CT777 contributions
Feb 2022 • Friends
Thrilled to return to the main theatre this trip. SRQ aggressively supports it's performing arts and this place is a jewel in the crown.
Not a bad seat in the house. Productions frequently coming from/going to Broadway, off-Broadway and National Tours. Ticket prices are a bargain compared to major cities. Parking is cheap or free on-street. Masks and va x cards were required of patrons as of this writing.
There is a cabaret theatre and restaurant within the building complex. Look to book ahead as this is a very popular venue.
Not a bad seat in the house. Productions frequently coming from/going to Broadway, off-Broadway and National Tours. Ticket prices are a bargain compared to major cities. Parking is cheap or free on-street. Masks and va x cards were required of patrons as of this writing.
There is a cabaret theatre and restaurant within the building complex. Look to book ahead as this is a very popular venue.
Written February 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diane K
Venice, FL4,582 contributions
May 2021
My husband and I went to FST for the first time to see Vintage Pop. It was our first experience inside a theater after COVID and they did a wonderful job making everyone feel comfortable. The Vintage Pop performance was great! Carole Bufford has a tremendous voice and was quite entertaining. The theater was small - which made for an intimate performance and there wasn't a bad seat in the house. We have just subscribed now to the Summer Mainstage. Quite reasonably priced too. And parking is also reasonable nearby.
Written May 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are several parking around the theatre
Written April 29, 2022
Not sure but I would call ahead, some shows may not be adapted to a younger audience. We often take our teenager there though but he doesn’t need a booster seat , lol
Written April 14, 2019
Lots of parking in the area on side streets.
Written May 5, 2018
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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