Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to announce the lineup for its 2023 Stage III Series, dedicated to presenting edgy new work that is challenging in both content and form. The 2022-2023 Winter Season marks the first time in three years that FST has been able to present its three-show Stage III Series for Sarasota audiences. FST’s 2023 Stage III Series lineup features three premieres of contemporary plays penned by award-winning American writers.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

Babel by Jacqueline Goldfinger  |  January 18 – February 10, 2023

In this version of the future, expectant parents learn within the first few weeks of pregnancy which traits their child will have and what behaviors it is likely to exhibit. This intriguing new play follows the extreme lengths two couples go to in order to have a baby. Babel probes the world of modern eugenics, explores the societal value of a baby, and asks us what we are willing to risk for love. NNPN Rolling World Premiere.

The Last Match by Anna Ziegler  |  February 22 – March 17, 2023

REGIONAL PREMIERE. It’s the semifinals of the U.S. Open. Sergei Sergeyev, an up-and-coming Russian phenom, and Tim Porter, a great American superstar in the twilight of his career,

go head-to-head under the lights of the tennis court. Journey into the minds of these two extraordinary players as they consider the shots they didn’t take, the sacrifices they made for success, and the legacy they may leave behind. By match point, much more has been won and lost than a game of tennis.

Paralyzed by Etan Frankel  |  March 29 – April 21, 2023

WORLD PREMIERE. Leigh and Lee are two strangers who have little in common besides their names—she is a Type A statistician and he is an aggressive former athlete. But the discovery of a mysterious suicide note in a hotel bathroom sets their lives on unexpected paths that go anywhere but according to plan. Paralyzed tells a striking story of guilt, personal responsibility, and the power of forgiveness.