Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota stages a salute to the British invasion

A lot of music fans, even many who weren't yet alive at the time, would agree that the 1960s were a magical time for popular music. After the Beatles broke through, a flood of British bands burst into America's consciousness, playing music that was rooted in American R&B and pop but that still sounded completely fresh.

Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota is re-creating the music of that era with a new cabaret show called "Yesterday." It opens Saturday and runs at least through the beginning of May. (Lots of shows are sold out already, so it's possible the run will be extended.)

The title obviously refers at least partly to one of the Beatles' most iconic songs, but the show's not just about the Fab Four. It also includes familiar tunes made famous by bands as diverse as the Rolling Stones and Herman's Hermits.

Richard Hopkins, Rebecca Hopkins and Jim Prosser, all of whom have worked on many of FST's most popular cabaret shows over the past 20 years, developed the show. FST veteran Catherine Randazzo directs the four-person cast -- Eric Scott Anthony, John Bronston, Hunter Brown and Ben Mackel, all of whom are familiar to FST audiences.

Details: Jan. 9-May 1, Goldstein Cabaret at Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N Palm Ave., Sarasota. Show times: 6 p.m. Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 6 and 9 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $30. Information: 941-366-9000, floridastudiotheatre.org.

--Marty Clear

This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 5:06 PM with the headline "Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota stages a salute to the British invasion ."