Available Cupholders extend Florida Studio Theatre residency with workshops and shows

Even though the 7th Annual Sarasota Improv Festival is over (three full days from July 9 through 11 of workshops and performances from over a dozen improv comedy troupes from around the country), there will still be plenty of laughs to be had at Florida Studio Theatre later on in the week.

Available Cupholders, an improv troupe hailing from Austin, TX and a regular guest at FST, will be extending their residency inside FST's Bowne's Lab for four more days with performances and workshops showcasing their trademark brand of video-improv comedy and narrative storytelling. 

Running from July 14 through 17, the Available Cupholders will lead comedy intensive and workshops and present their movie/improv show "Crass Menagerie." The workshops (on July 14 and 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. and $30 for admission) will teach participants storytelling exercises that have made the troupe known in comedy circles around the country and will learn techniques to practice short and long form narrative forms for improv comedy troupes.

"Available Cupholders are one of America's premiere improvisation troupes and FST is proud to host them again as a special post-festival guest," says Will Luera, director of improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre. "Following our 7th Annual Festival, Available Cupholders will host a couple of their signature workshops plus the FST premiere of 'Crass Menagerie.' The show beings with a series of short films that act as seedlings to improv inspiration. After viewing several pre-shot video pieces, you, the studio audience, will vote on which on you would like to see the Cupholders improvise to completion."

On July 16 and 17 the Available Cupholders troupe will perform "Crass Menagerie" (7:30 p.m. and $15 for admission), in addition, the troupe will show different videos they've shot around Sarasota during their stay to insure each performance is different and new. 

"The best way to describe them is that they’re very experimental and whimsical," says Luera. "They’re different from more of the traditional improv troupes that you’ll see at the festival or at FST during the season. Their energy and chemistry as a group is very funny and the realities and worlds they create and take us through are very unique and a treat."