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SRQ DAILY Jun 4, 2015

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"We're laughing because it's universal, a recognition of a universal truth."

- Richard Hopkins, Florida Studio Theatre
 

[Theatre]  Exploring the Oddness of Humans with FST
Philip Lederer, Phil.Lederer@srqme.com

Florida Studio Theatre opens its Summer Mainstage Season this Friday with the return of Inspired Lunacy, an irreverent and comedic musical revue featuring novelty songs from great 20th century writers and songwriters such as Allan Sherman and Shel Silverstein in an attempt to explore the curious and often absurd nature of the human condition through song. Created by Richard and Rebecca Hopkins, FST artistic director and managing director respectively, years ago for the Cabaret, this will be the production’s first appearance on the main stage.

“Believe it or not, it took us 15 years to get here,” said Richard, who continued to build the show in the intervening years and also serves as director this time around. “But we have more than enough material to put a great show together now and it makes a real full-bodied mainstage show.”

In addition to works from Silverstein and Sherman, greats like Ira Gershwin, Bobby Darin and Kander and Ebb lend whimsical and darkly comic tunes such as “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park” and “Jolly Old Sigmund Freud” to the tale, with the cast of five performers seamlessly transitioning from character to character, song to song, scene to scene, using only themselves and some choice and zany props. FST veterans Gil Brady, Don Farrell, Dane Becker and Kathy Halenda return, joined by FST newcomer Dennis Kenney. With no downtime or scene changes, it’s easy to imagine the strain on the talent, but the actors say otherwise and enjoy the spontaneity. “With a show like Spamalot, if you’re not trying to imitate the genius of Monty Python at least a little bit, people will be disappointed,” said Brady, who did perform in FST’s production of Spamalot. “With something like Inspired Lunacy, we’ve got a lot more room to be inventive.”

But while it’s all in good fun, Hopkins is clear that the show is about more than just surface-level laughs. Laughter itself is celebrated, in its power to unite and ability to restore. “It’s an easy thing to overlook,” said Hopkins, “because sometimes we think that laughter is free and it comes easy.” But that’s not always the case, he says. For some, laughter is hard. For some, a little more laughter would be therapeutic. But even further, laughter can bring people together and reveal aspects of our existence that too often go unnoticed. “Most comedy is dealing with the foibles of human nature and those foibles are very close to the center of our being,” said Hopkins. “We’re laughing because it’s universal, a recognition of a universal truth.”

Inspired Lunacy opens Friday, June 5, in Gompertz Theatre at 8pm.  

[Synergy]  Goodwill Manasota Partners with Turning Points
Holly Mastay

Goodwill Manasota will now be staffing the Turning Points donation site. Lacking manpower, the Turning Points donation site was not able to function to the fullest, officials said. The center will now also receive and share inventory with Goodwill Manasota. Turning Points is a nonprofit that provides services to the homeless and those at risk of homelessness. 

Goodwill Manasota

[Recognition]  Robrady Wins Green Good Design Awards

Robrady garnered four Green Good Design awards for submissions ranging from a human powered exoskeleton to an energy efficient cookstove for developing countries. The awards, presented by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design in association with the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, represent the best examples of sustainable and environmental products and architectural design. Submissions included the Fortis Exoskeleton (pictured), the Envirofit Cookstove, the Merlin Fuel Cell and the Merlin Solar Tracker. 

Robrady Design

[From Hannah Toale]  Staycation Celebration
Hannah Toale

We call paradise home! I wanted to share this amazing pic as we kick off the first day of summer "stay-cation"! 

Hannah Toale, with Claire, Cade, Hudson and Laurel Toale

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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