Performances of the "fabulous '50s"-inspired show, featuring pop hits of the day, will play Jan. 6-March 21, 2009, in the Goldstein Cabaret in Sarasota, FL. The musical had its premiere at Milwaukee Repertory Theater in March 2008.
FST bills it this way: "A delightful stroll back to the fabulous '50s, Hula Hoop Sha-Boop takes us back to the age of innocence. Musical vignettes and comedic stories recount the days of poodle skirts and soda fountains. This sock-hopping tribute, features over a decade of favorites including 'Yakety Yak,' 'Stay,' 'The Twist,' 'It's My Party,' 'Peggy Sue' and many more."
The cast includes Kerri Dawn Brackin (Hairspray national tour) as Suzie, Eric Collins (The New Victory Theater's The Wind in the Willows) as Paul, Allison Couture (A Wonderful Life at Paper Mill Playhouse) as Paula and Austin Owen (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma) as Johnny.
Director Castellino has directed world premieres including Dorian Gray at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. His credits also include authorship or co-authorship of Heartbeats at Old Globe, Goodspeed Opera House, Cleveland Playhouse and Pasadena Playhouse, Happy Holidays at the Pasadena Playhouse and Fishwrap at the Adirondack Theatre Festival in New York, among others.
Hula Hoop Sha-Boop's music director is Vince diMura. The creative team also includes lighting designer Colleen Jennings and Florida Studio Theatre's resident designer Marcella Beckwith handling costume and scenic design. Beehive, Forever Plaid, The Marvelous Wonderettes and The Taffetas are other revue-style shows that stole tunes from the American pop songbook of the fifties and sixties.
For more information call FST at (941) 366-9000 or visit www.floridastudiotheatre.org.
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Florida Studio Theatre was founded in 1973 by Jon Spelman. Starting out as a small touring company, FST traveled to places such as migrant camps and prisons. The company eventually settled down into a permanent home, acquiring the former Woman's Club building — now renamed the Keating Theatre. FST produces "contemporary theatre" in its three venues: the Keating Theatre, the Goldstein Cabaret and its newest space, the Gompertz Theatre.
