Urbanite Theatre in Sarasota stages 'The Drowning Girls'

It's a relatively obscure play by obscure playwrights. Still, the month-long run of "The Drowning Girls" at the Urbanite Theatre in Sarasota is close to selling out, even after the company squeezed some extra seats into its intimate space.

Except for a very few tickets for a few performances, the only tickets left are late in the run, after May 18.

Since not too many people know the play, the show's popularity no doubt has to do largely with Urbanite's still-growing reputation presenting and staging consistently exciting theater.

The cast is probably drawing some ticket buyers, too. Katherine Michelle Tanner is a longtime Sarasota favorite, Nicole Jeannine Smith has done a lot of strong work in Tampa and Chicago and actor Carley Cornelius has an impressive resume.

The story is intriguing. It's about the victims of a real-life early-20th-century British serial killer who married women and then drowned them for their wealth and life insurance. The killer does not appear in the play.

"The Drowning Girls" was written by Beth Graham, Charlie Tomlinson and Daniela Vlaskalic, and this production is directed by Brendan Ragan, one of Urbanite's artistic directors.

If you want to see it but can't wait until after May 18, you can get on a waiting list for earlier shows. You'll get a seat if someone cancels.

Details: April 22-May 22, Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St., Sarasota. Show times: 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, plus 2 p.m. April 23. Tickets: $20; students with ID $5. Information: 941-321-1397, urbanitetheatre.com.

-- Marty Clear

This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 5:41 PM with the headline "Urbanite Theatre in Sarasota stages 'The Drowning Girls' ."