From Page to Stage: Florida Studio Theatre's New Play Development

Join us for a conversation that goes behind the scenes of Florida Studio Theatre's New Play Development program. FST's Literary Manager and Associate Artist, Catherine Randazzo, will lead this discussion that will take you deeper into the process of writing and developing work for the stage.

The Fifth Domain by Victor Lesniewski

Recently removed from his position at the National Security Agency, Troy latches onto a new opportunity, but his eagerness blinds him to the work's repercussions in the world of cyber war. A slick thriller with reflections on patriotism, espionage, and government accountability in our digital age.

VICTOR LESNIEWSKI's plays include The Fifth Domain (World Premiere at Contemporary American Theater Festival), Couriers and Contrabands (World Premiere at TBG Theatre in NYC, Critic Howard Miller's Best of Off & Off-Off Broadway List), Cloven Tongues (World Premiere at The Wild Project in NYC), Where Bison Run (Ars Nova Out Loud Reading Series, NY Times Profile), Pipistrellus (The Dramatists Guild Fellowship), Khardal (Berkeley Rep's The Ground Floor), Cold Spring (Ashland New Plays Festival), and The Hunt for Benedetto Montone (Ashland New Plays Festival). He is a former Uncharted Artist in Residence at Ars Nova and currently has a new play under commission from the EST/Sloan Project. In recent years, he has developed work at Roundabout Theatre Company, New York Theatre Workshop, Geva Theatre Center (NY), SF Playhouse (CA), Playwrights' Arena (CA), Pioneer Theatre Company (UT), Northern Stage (VT), Palm Beach Dramaworks (FL), Benchmark Theatre (CO), American Blues Theater (IL), and La Mama Umbria. He is a member of The Playwrights Union and is proud to sit on The Dramatists Guild's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access Committee.

CATHERINE RANDAZZO is an FST Associate Artist and serves as Literary Manager, In-Residence Director, Line Producer for FST's Summer Cabaret Series, and Teaching Artist. Select FST Directing credits include: Reel Music; A Place in the Sun: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder; The '70s: More Than a Decade; Friends in Low Places; The Wanderers; Light My Fire; Outlaws and Angels; The Wonder Years; Guitar Girls; Unchained Melodies; and Blue Suede Shoes (Cabaret); Smoke & Mirrors (Mainstage); Babel; Buyer & Cellar (Stage III). Catherine has been a part of the Sarasota artistic community since 1990 and has appeared in plays, musicals, cabarets, new play readings, voiceovers, commercials, fundraisers, and toured in national and international productions. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for the National New Play Network (NNPN).

New Play Development is the lifeblood of Florida Studio Theatre. Our philosophy of new play development is one that goes beyond the world premiere. FST receives over 3,500 new play submissions annually from established and emerging playwrights. From these plays, FST selects work to be cultivated through our many New Play Development initiatives. Regular reading series provides select works in progress with a platform, a live audience, artistic support, and valuable feedback. In addition, FST's Playwright Collective is a brain trust of some of the top playwrights in the country, working to develop new plays for the FST stage. To date, FST has produced over 30 world premieres, many of which have been supported and nurtured through FST's New Play Development program.

Through reading series like the Burdick New Play Festival, FST gives select works-in-progress a platform, a live audience, artistic support, and valuable feedback.

"We have an incredible group of talented writers looking for feedback, and that's why the audience is crucial to their process. We want to create conversation for the artist and the community because part of our role is supporting the artists who we believe will be leading those conversations for years to come." - FST Associate Artist Catherine Randazzo

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