FST awarded $200,000 gift to unite community through entertainment

The Florida Studio Theatre has received a year-end gift for more than $200,000 from local philanthropists Jack and Priscilla Schlegel to celebrate how local theater brings together community, promotes education, and engages citizens through the performing arts.

“Theater is just as much about educating as it is entertaining,” Jack Schlegel said. “We invite others to join us in ensuring the experiences created at FST continue to build our community’s thoughtful arts reputation and top-level performances.”

A portion of the gift was designated from the couple’s fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, which has contributed nearly half a million dollars in support to area nonprofits since 2015. This is the largest grant that fund has provided to date.

“We’re proud to join our donors in recognizing how the arts – and FST specifically – unite children and adults around ideas that help us understand more about ourselves and how we come together as one community,” said Roxie Jerde, president and CEO at the Community Foundation. “We hope the Schlegels’ generosity will inspire others to join them in ensuring these experiences continue long after any curtain call.”

Founded in 1973 as the region’s contemporary theater, FST has grown to five theater in the heart of downtown Sarasota and is the largest subscription theater in Florida.

“We are thankful for the support of Jack and Priscilla Schlegel,” said Richard Hopkins, FST’s producing artistic director. “They recognize the impact art has in our community, that art enhances life, that art is good for the soul. We are fervent in our goal to expand, grow, and magnify theater art and the audience it serves. This level of support will enable us to do that and more, for this, we are truly grateful.”