Plays by John Walch, Matt Schatz, Dana Lynn Formby Set for FST’s Richard and Betty Burdick Play Reading Series

Florida Studio Theatre’s Richard and Betty Burdick Play Reading Series will present staged readings of three new plays by American playwrights, May 7-21 in the Keating Theatre. The series is presented as part of FST’s Sarasota Festival of New Plays.

The new plays which will receive staged readings include American Beauty Shop by Dana Lynn Formby, May 7 at 7 pm, a look into the life of a hard-working beauty shop owner in Colorado whose livelihood is threatened by the opening of a SuperCuts in the local Wal-Mart. On May 12 at 2 pm, FST will present John Walch’s In the Book Of, a play inspired by the Biblical book of Ruth which shines a light on the personal impacts of illegal immigration. The series final staged reading will be of Matt Schatz’s play about the construction of the World Trade Center The Tallest Building in the World, May 21 at 7 pm.

At 5 pm, following the May 12 reading, there will be a free panel discussion about “The State of the New American Play.” Members of the panel will include Executive Director of Theatre Communications Group Theresa Eyring, Executive Director of National New Play Network Jason Loewith, Jericho playwright Jack Canfora, and playwright John Walch.

For more information and tickets to the Richard and Betty Burdick Play Reading Series, click here.