The Studios of Key West previews four new plays season

The Studios of Key West announced a new First Look season of four staged readings, inviting Monroe County audiences inside the rehearsal room to see plays take shape. The announcement on January 12 said the season will open with The Starters by Laura Winters on January 30–31, followed by The Patrons by Nick Gandiello in February, Mom’s Best Friend by Dan McCabe in March, and My Maria by Andrew Russell in April. All performances are scheduled for 8:00 PM at The Studios of Key West.

Produced by Jeff Johnson, former chair of the Williamstown Theatre Festival and past president of Waterfront Playhouse, First Look occupies a space between a table read and a full production. Each play receives a week of intensive rehearsal, culminating in staged readings that are more fully realized than a bare table read but intentionally exploratory. The roster mixes New York and Los Angeles actors with local Key West performers, guided by nationally recognized directors, signaling a commitment to both new voices and the craft of playwriting.

For local audiences, this format is more than theatrical curiosity. Staged readings give the community a chance to engage with themes before they reach a final script, turning the theater into a civic forum. The Patrons, set in a small-town library in 1963 and dealing with budget cuts and censorship, resonates with ongoing debates about public library funding and intellectual access across Monroe County. The Starters, which follows a professional football player and his wife as they confront ambition, risk, and the limits of the body, touches on sports-related injury, long-term health concerns, and the pressures families face balancing career and wellbeing.

Beyond the thematic relevance, First Look has practical community impacts. Bringing visiting artists to Key West supports a local arts economy that benefits venues, restaurants, and small businesses during early season months. Including Key West performers helps sustain local talent pipelines and offers residents low-barrier access to cultural participation. The staged reading model also reduces production costs, enabling risk-taking new work that might otherwise struggle to find support.

From a public health perspective, community arts programs contribute to mental health and social cohesion. Shared cultural experiences can reduce isolation and create spaces for difficult conversations about health, aging, and civic life. Yet these benefits depend on sustained support; small theaters often navigate precarious funding and tight calendars, making community patronage and policy support essential.

Our two cents? If you want to see how plays grow and take part in neighborhood conversation, pick a night, buy a ticket at tskw.org, and come early to mingle. Supporting these readings is an easy way to back local artists, spark discussions on issues that matter here, and keep Key West culture vibrant.