Florida Studio Theatre (FST) kicks off its 2025 Stage III Series with the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of Advice, a new comedy by Brent Askari and directed by Nancy Rominger. A clever exploration of ambition, friendship, and the pitfalls of following your own advice, the production begins performances on February 5 and runs through February 28, 2025 in FST’s Bowne’s Lab.
This sharp and witty comedy follows Ron and Joy, a professional couple whose lives are upended when their well-meaning but clueless friend Gary lands a book deal for a self-help guide. As they try to dissuade him from quitting his job to become a life coach, their intervention unravels hidden secrets, plunging them into chaotic — and comedic — turmoil.
Nancy Rominger, FST’s Associate Artist in charge of New Play Development, directs the production. Rominger has developed over 42 new American plays and musicals during her career, with many achieving successful runs at regional theatres nationwide.
“Advice is more than just a ridiculously funny comedy: it’s a timely reflection on the self-help industry,” said Rominger. “This bombardment begs the question: who is qualified to give advice? Advice asks this very question and wonders, if we encounter someone who truly is qualified, will we listen?”
Brent Askari, an award-winning Persian-American playwright and actor, is the creator of Advice. His previous works, The Refugees and Andy Warhol in Iran, earned accolades including the National New Play Network Smith Prize for Political Theatre and the Berkshire Theatre Critics Award for Best New Play. Askari has also written screenplays for companies like Paramount Pictures, Marvel Films, and MTV.
The cast includes Amanda Kristin Nichols* (Joy), making her FST debut, whose credits include Noises Off, Three Sisters, and appearances on Netflix, NBC, and USA. James Evans* (Ron), returning to FST after A Night in November, has performed in The Woman in Black and Pride and Prejudice. Patrick Noonan* (Gary), an FST favorite from Spamalot and The Mystery of Irma Vep, has extensive credits including Succession, West Side Story (2021), and over 4,000 performances of Shear Madness.
The creative team includes Casey Seiler (scenic design), Rossitza Lovetcheva (costume design), Kate Landry (lighting design), Naomi Martin (sound design), Charlotte Perez* (stage manager), and Amoreena Tillman (stage management intern).
(*Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union for professional actors and stage managers in the U.S.)
FST’s Stage III Series is dedicated to bold, innovative productions that challenge conventions and explore daring themes. Advice was first developed during FST’s 2023 Burdick New Play Festival, a program that nurtures new works through workshops, live feedback, and artistic support. To date, FST has produced more than 30 world premieres through its new play development initiatives.
Get ready to immerse yourself in the chaotic and comedic world of Advice. The play runs from February 5 to February 28, 2025. Previews are February 5 and 6, with opening night on February 7. Single tickets start at $25 in Bowne’s Lab. This production contains adult language and themes. Subscriptions for the 2025 Stage III Series, which also includes Bad Books and Shedding a Skin, start at $59. Subscriptions and single tickets are available at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or by calling 941-366-9000.
Sponsors
Florida Studio Theatre is grateful for the support of its Stage III sponsors, The Shubert Foundation and the National New Play Network.
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 230,000 live attendees each year across its diverse programs: Mainstage, Cabaret, Stage III, Children’s Theatre, The 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 the elite — where everyone is welcome to engage in the art of theatre.