Starlite Players shines spotlight on local playwrights

IF YOU GO:

‘This Isn’t What I Expected’ — takes place at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 13 through Aug. 15 and at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16, at the Starlite Room, 1001 Cocoanut Ave. Tickets are $16.50, which includes 15% off pre- or post-performance dinner.

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Last September, while hosting a meet-and-greet for the inaugural SaraSolo Festival, Starlite Room owner Tyler Yurckonis felt a tap on his shoulder.

“Do you remember where you were 22 years ago today?” asked an unfamiliar woman.

Caught off guard by the unusual question, Yurckonis was at a loss for words. Before he could answer, she handed him a program for “The Fabulous Mrs. Palmer,” a play she wrote and produced — and that Yurckonis performed in — exactly 22 years ago.

The woman was local playwright and producer Jo Morello. The two hadn’t been in touch since the Manatee Community College production, but when she heard rumors that the new restaurateur was an avid supporter of the performing arts, she did some research, recognized his name and decided to pay him a visit.

Now, the two have collaborated to create Sarasota’s newest performing arts troupe, The Starlite Players: a monthly collection of short comedies designed to showcase the talents of local playwrights in a nontraditional setting — the 58-seat second floor of the Starlite Room.

“It’s always been part of my plan to incorporate performing arts into the Starlite Room,” says Yurckonis, who will perform in the upcoming set of shorts Aug. 13 through 15. “When Jo and I started talking, we saw an opportunity to do something unique here.”

As the troupe’s producer, Morello assembled a team of carefully selected local playwrights and tech crew members she’d grown to respect in her years of writing plays in the area. 

She says reconnecting with Yurckonis allowed her to start her own theater, something that’s been too cost prohibitive in the past. But with Yurckonis’ support, the troupe has a space to rehearse and perform rent-free.

“That was huge,” she says. “It suddenly became a real possibility.”

Featuring concise, five-minute performances with breaks between shows, Morello says she hopes the format will promote a community atmosphere, in which attendees can grab a drink at the bar, mingle amongst themselves and meet the actors and directors.

“This isn’t a traditional theater,” says Morello. “So we needed to do something different. This is a little more informal and casual, and I think it will be a new experience for people. It’s an hour of quick, easily digestible plays by some acclaimed playwrights.”

The Starlite Players made its sold-out debut July 15 with its first collection of shorts, titled “The Customer is Always Right,” and the team is currently preparing for the next collection, “This Isn’t What I Expected,” featuring “What Remains,” by Heather Jones, “The Session,” by Jack Gilhooley, “Pete’s Place,” by Betty Robinson and “Talkback,” by Jo Morello.

Two nights before the troupe’s debut performance, Morello sat near the back of the upstairs rehearsal space, watching as directors made last-minute tweaks and joked with actors.

“I’ve been producing plays for years,” she says. “Normally, this close to opening, things are really tense, but at rehearsals, you can see how much fun everyone is having and how loose they are. The fun isn’t just for the audience; it’s for all of us.”