Farcical Comedy Don't Dress for Dinner comes to FST Aug. 8

SARASOTA — Florida Studio Theatre will close out its summer season with Don’t Dress for Dinner, a rapid-fire farce filled with mistaken identities, romantic chaos, and high-stakes hilarity. Written by Marc Camoletti and adapted by Robin Hawdon, it opens Aug. 8 and runs through Aug. 24 in FST’s Gompertz Theatre.

Hailed as “hilarious,” “uproarious,” and “gut-busting” by Entertainment Weekly and “guaranteed comedic chaos” by Broadway World, Don’t Dress for Dinner begins with a perfect plan gone hilariously awry. Bernard has arranged a secret weekend with his mistress while his wife is away, complete with gourmet catering and a foolproof alibi provided by his best friend, Robert. But when Bernard’s wife learns Robert is coming to visit, she decides to stick around for some mischief of her own. Before long, the plan unravels into a storm of surprise romances, double-crosses, and unexpected twists.

“This play is pure, fast-paced fun,” said Nancy Rominger, the show’s director and FST’s Associate Artist in charge of New Play Development. “The characters are clever, the setups are absurd, and the unraveling is deliciously satisfying. It’s the perfect way to end a joyful summer season – with a comedy that keeps the audience laughing right up to the final bow.”

During an impressive 12-season tenure at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Rominger and her peers developed 42 new American plays and musicals, with many achieving successful runs at regional theatres nationwide. She most recently directed Shedding a Skin for FST’s Stage III series.

Experience the fast-paced fun of Don’t Dress for Dinner from August 6 to August 24. Single tickets start at $25. Visit the FST website for schedule and ticket information.