Sarasota's Florida Studio Theatre is presenting the world premiere of Lynne Kaufman's Fakes, based on a true story about a Dutch artist who forges a painting to gain nationwide acceptance. The production opens April 15 and runs through May 30.

The basis for the play is the story of Hans VanMeegeren, whose frustration with the critical and disapproving Nazi Commandant Hermann Goering compelled him to copy a classic painting of Vermeer's, in order to fool and take revenge upon the officer. Through his struggle, the play reveals opinions, values and ethics not only surrounding art and creativity, but also regarding community, leadership and culture.

Director Peter Bennet says Fakes ". . . is a look at integrity and hypocrisy which reaches beyond the art world. . . [It] poses fundamental questions . . . provokes us to go beyond the limits of personal perceptions and look at the larger scheme of things." Last season, Bennet directed the period hit farce Gambol of Love at FST.

Lynne Kaufman is an award-winning playwright, whose Shooting Simone, about Simone deBeauvior and Jean-Paul Sarte, premiered at Louisville Humana Festival before a 1994 run at FST. Other Kaufman plays include Speaking in Tongues (Kennedy Center/Fund for New American Plays Award); Out Lady of the Desert (Theatreworks Best New Play Prize); and The Couch (Best New Play--Drama-Logue, Bay Area Critics' Circle, Glickman Award).

For tickets or more information about Fakes, please call (941) 366 9796, or refer to the FST regional listing on Playbill On-Line. --By Blair Glaser