Pictured: Eric Scott Anthony in "Yesterday." Photo by: Matthew Holler.

Three weeks into Yesterday’s four-month run in Florida Studio Theatre’s Goldstein Cabaret and performer Eric Scott Anthony is full of energy on a slow Wednesday, in between stints onstage bringing the British Invasion to Sarasota audiences in the cabaret style. Written by FST’s producing artistic director and managing director, Richard and Rebecca Hopkins respectively, and Jim Prosser, Yesterday sends four musicians, including Anthony, through a 90-minute musical exploration of some of rock and roll’s most famed and fertile ground, bringing more than 30 classic hits to the stage in some form or another. You’d think he’d need some rest.

As a musical performer, Anthony is no stranger to cabaret-esque shows, mostly classic country shows. “But I grew up playing classic rock,” he said, so when the opportunity to join Yesterday arose, Anthony took it. “The British Invasion just felt right. It feels like my music.” Joined onstage by Hunter Brown on drums and guitar, John Bronston on piano and keyboard and Ben Mackel on bass and acoustic guitar, the group has found a surprise favorite performing The Kinks’ Lola, though Anthony holds a special place for two tracks off Who’s Next, his favorite Who album.

But they aren’t a cover band and this isn’t a cover show. On this Anthony is adamant, “although we have put a lot of effort into capturing the nostalgic memory of those sounds,” he said. Still a cabaret performance is unpredictable and decidedly contemporary in its immediacy. “Every night the show is a little different because the fifth cast member—the audience—is different.”

Cabaret-esque performances have been growing in popularity for the last 10 years, but “this is the purest cabaret form that I’ve ever worked,” said Anthony, taking stock of his gilt surroundings. “This is classic cabaret.”

Yesterday runs in FST’s Goldstein Cabaret through May 8.

Pictured: Eric Scott Anthony in "Yesterday." Photo by: Matthew Holler.