This week, the Florida Studio Theatre finished this season’s “Write A Play” program, in which 21 winning plays from over 3,000 submissions were staged by a small FST cast. Over 300 people, including the winning young playwrights and their families, traveled to Sarasota to watch their plays and receive recognition at an awards ceremony.

The Florida Studio Theatre’s production of In the Book Of has an important and politically relevant message about tolerance of those who seek refuge on our shores.

TWIS Contributor Bonnie Greenball Silvestri recently checked out FST’s production of By Gershwin: A Tribute to George and Ira, which features four seasoned performers covering many of the Gershwin brothers’ countless hits during the roughly two-hour production.

The Columnist pulls back the curtain on a bygone era when a powerful writer could influence geopolitics. This exploration of a long-forgotten political figure reminds us that, although the lack of a clear guide through the messiness of politics can be destabilizing, our country is the better for it.

This weekend it’s about the kids, with Thunder by the Bay benefiting the Suncoast Charities for Children.

Enter Florida Studio Theatre’s latest production, Best of Enemies, to keep important social and political topics front and center even as we head full throttle into the holiday season.