Florida Studio Theatre

What Florida Studio Theatre does

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is a private nonprofit regional theatre company founded in 1973 by Jon Spelman, headquartered at 1241 North Palm Avenue in downtown Sarasota, Florida. The organization operates a five-theatre campus — Gompertz Theatre (237 seats), Keating Theatre (173 seats), Goldstein Cabaret (100 seats), John C. Court Cabaret (100 seats), and Bowne's Lab (100 seats) — supplemented by the Green Room Cafe & Bar, Bea Friedman Room, three rehearsal studios, and vacation rental properties used as artist housing. FST serves more than 225,000 live attendees annually through Mainstage productions (contemporary plays and musicals), a Cabaret Series, year-round FST Improv, Children's Theatre, Stage III experimental works, and New Play Development.

The company's business model blends transactional ticketing, recurring subscriptions, venue rentals, education fees, vacation rentals, and philanthropic giving. Subscription packages (three-show bundles starting at $59, delivering up to 50% off single-ticket prices) anchor recurring revenue, while single tickets range from $12 (children's) to $42 (cabaret). Venue and studio rentals are priced at $25-$1,000 per hour depending on space, and tiered donations ($35-$500+) form a parallel philanthropic stream supported by foundation, corporate, and government funding. The WRITE A PLAY education program — launched in 1991 and reaching 30,000+ students annually — operates alongside the FST School, summer camps, corporate training via FST Improv, and the Recovery Project (launched 2024 in partnership with The Terrence McNally Foundation and Live Tampa Bay).

FST is governed by a Board of Trustees led by President Dennis McGillicuddy (since 1991) and directed by Producing Artistic Director Richard Hopkins (joined 1980) and Managing Director Rebecca Hopkins. The organization broke ground on the 8-story McGillicuddy Arts Plaza in October 2025 — the most ambitious expansion in its history — adding a new Mainstage Theatre, two cabarets, parking, and on-site artist housing, with first residents expected fall 2027. A 2026 leadership evolution is underway ahead of the new facility's opening, with a national search for new Artistic Director and Managing Director positions.

Name

Florida Studio Theatre

Legal name

Florida Studio Theatre

Website

https://floridastudiotheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Florida Studio Theatre is a nonprofit regional theatre in Sarasota, Florida, operating five intimate venues serving 225,000+ live attendees annually through Mainstage, Cabaret, Improv, Children's Theatre, and education programs including WRITE A PLAY.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theatre / Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

Keywords

• Live theatre productions
• Performing arts education
• Theatre venue rentals
• Arts education programs
• Cabaret performances

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarasota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales - Single Tickets: Individual performance tickets sold to general public for Mainstage productions, Cabaret shows, Improv performances, and Children's Theatre.
2. Season Subscriptions: Subscription packages offering 3 Mainstage or 3 Cabaret productions at discounted rates starting at $59, providing recurring revenue and audience commitment.
3. Venue Rentals: Rental of theatre spaces including Gompertz Theatre, Keating Theatre, Goldstein Cabaret, Court Cabaret, Bowne's Lab, Green Room Cafe, Bea Friedman Room, and studio spaces for weddings, corporate events, and private gatherings.
4. Vacation Rentals: Short-term and seasonal rental of residential properties that normally serve as artist housing, including Kretzmer Residences and properties on 8th Street in downtown Sarasota.
5. Donations and Grants: Charitable contributions from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation grants supporting operations, education programs, and capital expansion.
6. Education Programs: FST School offerings including classes for adults and youth, summer camps, corporate training with FST Improv, and the WRITE A PLAY program for schools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Florida Studio Theatre is a nonprofit professional regional theatre that produces and presents live theatrical performances across five intimate downtown Sarasota venues (Gompertz, Keating, Goldstein Cabaret, Court Cabaret, Bowne's Lab), spanning Mainstage plays and musicals, Cabaret series, FST Improv, and Children's Theatre. The theatre also operates arts education programs (FST School, WRITE A PLAY), venue rentals for private and corporate events, and supporting hospitality services such as Green Room Cafe and vacation rentals.

Product overview

Florida Studio Theatre is a professional regional theatre company operating five intimate venues in downtown Sarasota. The organization offers a diversified portfolio of theatrical experiences including Mainstage Productions (plays and musicals in the 237-seat Gompertz Theatre), Cabaret Series (Parisian-style cabarets featuring national artists), FST Improv (year-round improvisational comedy with Short-Form, Long-Form, Musical, and Free-Form styles), Children's Theatre (productions and education), and New Play Development (commissioning and premiering new works). Supporting programs include the WRITE A PLAY education initiative serving over 8,000 students annually, The Recovery Project (addiction recovery advocacy through the arts), and venue rentals spanning ten unique spaces. The theatre serves over 225,000 attendees annually and operates the Green Room Cafe & Bar dining venue and vacation rental properties for visiting artists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WRITE A PLAY: FST's flagship arts education initiative, now in its 34th year, that guides students through the playwriting process with live performances and interactive workshops, culminating in a festival of winning student-written plays.
• Sarasota Improv Festival
• The Recovery Project
• FST Improv
• FST School
• Children's Theatre
• Mainstage
• Cabaret
• Stage III
• New Play Development

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions Professional contemporary plays and musicals performed in FST's largest venue, the 237-seat Gompertz Theatre, featuring full stage and full technical capabilities. Targeted at adult and family theatre audiences in the Sarasota region.
• Cabaret Series Intimate musical cabaret performances in 100-seat Parisian-style Goldstein Cabaret and John C. Court Cabaret venues, featuring renowned cabaret artists and musical celebrations across genres and decades. Targeted at adult audiences seeking music-and-dinner entertainment experiences.
• FST Improv Year-round improvisational comedy program offering never-before-seen shows in Short-Form, Long-Form, Musical, and Free-Form styles. Includes the annual Sarasota Improv Festival (premier festival in the Southeast) and weekly Bowne's Lab performances. Targeted at adult comedy audiences.
• Children's Theatre Productions designed for young audiences including the In the Schools and In Our Theatres series, plus the annual Young Playwrights Festival featuring student-written plays. Targeted at K-12 students, families, and educators.
• WRITE A PLAY Program Arts-in-education initiative guiding K-12 students through the playwriting process with interactive workshops, live performances, and classroom visits, culminating in a Young Playwrights Festival. Serves 30,000+ students annually across Florida, with strong focus on Title I and underserved schools. Targeted at K-12 schools and districts.
• FST School Training programs for adults and youth including the Professional Training Program, Summer Camp, VIP Performing Arts Program, Corporate Training with FST Improv, Mixed Nuts, and satellite class offerings in North Manatee. Targeted at aspiring performers, youth, and corporate clients.
• Space Rentals Rental of FST's ten unique performance and event spaces including five theatres, Green Room Cafe, Bea Friedman Room, and studio spaces for corporate events, weddings, private gatherings, and rehearsals. Includes optional technical services ($35/hour) and box office services (starting at $150). Targeted at corporate event planners, wedding hosts, and private party organizers.
• Green Room Cafe & Bar On-site dining venue seating up to 45 people with full kitchen and bar, offering lobster bisque, crab cakes, salads, flatbreads, and the Downtown Cheeseburger. Available for pre-show dining reservations tied to Mainstage and Stage III performances and private events. Targeted at theatre patrons seeking a complete theatre-going experience.
• Vacation Rentals Short-term and seasonal rental of residential properties in downtown Sarasota that normally serve as artist housing for visiting professional actors, directors, and designers. Fully furnished 1-4 bedroom options with complimentary theatre tickets for week-plus stays. Targeted at visitors and tourists seeking downtown accommodations with cultural experiences.
• Season Subscriptions Annual subscription packages offering three Mainstage or three Cabaret productions at discounted rates starting at $59, saving up to 50% off regular ticket prices. Provides recurring revenue and audience commitment. Targeted at regular theatre attendees seeking value and advance commitment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 225,000-230,000+ live attendees annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• The Terrence McNally FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2024FST partnered with The Terrence McNally Foundation to launch the Terrence McNally Recovery Commission, awarding $10,000 commissions to emerging playwrights in recovery. The initiative is part of FST's Recovery Project aimed at destigmatizing recovery through storytelling.
• Craig LucascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2024Acclaimed playwright Craig Lucas serves as artistic mentor to the Terrence McNally Recovery Commission winner and is also commissioned to develop a new play alongside the fellow. Lucas won Obie Award for Best American Play (Small Tragedy, 2004) and was nominated for Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
• Live Tampa BaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecovery Project developed in collaboration with Live Tampa Bay, combining FST's arts programming with Live Tampa Bay's anti-stigma initiatives to address addiction within the performing arts community.
• LightShareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLightShare co-launched a warm line (1-833-OKIQUIT) for artists and arts workers in the Sarasota and Manatee County performing arts communities, providing peer support and guidance.
• Opioid Response NetworkminorOthersOpioid Response Network provided technical assistance grants supporting the development of HR video materials for recovery-friendly workplaces in performing arts organizations.
• Applied Improvisation NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of Sarasota Improv Festival, supporting improv education and community building.
• Management Consultants for the ArtscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngaged to guide national search for Artistic Director and Managing Director, providing comprehensive evaluation of FST operations and culture.
• National New Play NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDog Mom is a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere, part of a distinguished group of theatres collaborating to introduce new American plays to audiences nationwide.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre: Dinner-theatre venue in Fort Myers, FL producing musicals and cabaret-style shows with on-site dining. Closest analogue to FST's cabaret-plus-dining (Green Room Cafe) experience in the Florida market.
• The Players Centre for Performing Arts: Community and professional theatre located in Sarasota. Comparable scale, similar Mainstage and educational programming, and overlapping audience base in the same Sarasota market.
• American Stage: Professional regional theatre in St. Petersburg, FL with subscription programming, education outreach, and new play development. Strongly comparable in scale, programming diversity, and Florida Gulf Coast audience.
• Urbanite Theatre: Boutique professional theatre in downtown Sarasota producing contemporary plays. Competes for the same night-out audience and donor pool in the immediate Sarasota market.
• Orlando Shakespeare Theater: LORT-affiliated professional theatre in Orlando producing plays, musicals, and children's theatre. Comparable programming portfolio, education programs, and subscription/large-venue model.
• Asolo Repertory Theatre: LORT professional regional theatre also based in Sarasota, FL. Direct head-to-head competitor for subscribers, donors, and audience attention in the same downtown Sarasota market, with overlapping Mainstage programming.
• Maltz Jupiter Theatre: Professional regional theatre in Jupiter, FL producing Mainstage plays, musicals, and cabaret-style programming. Comparable subscription model, comparable venue scale, and similar Florida audience demographics.
• Palm Beach Dramaworks: Professional regional theatre in West Palm Beach producing plays and new works. Comparable programming mix, subscription-based audience, and Florida resident plus tourist audience composition.

Broad incumbents

• Straz Center for the Performing Arts: Largest performing arts complex on Florida's west coast, based in Tampa. Operates multiple theatres, presenting touring Broadway and resident productions; substantially larger and broader in scope than FST but competes for the same regional audience and donor base.
• The Ringling: Major Sarasota-based arts institution (Ringling College / Ringling Museum) with deep visual and performing arts programming. Anchors Sarasota's cultural tourism economy alongside FST and overlaps in patron and donor pools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fstsarasota
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/floridastudiotheatre
• Facebookfacebook.com/floridastudiotheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/floridastudiotheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/florida-studio-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Florida Studio Theatre