David S. Howard Stars In Florida Studio Theatre's THE LAST ROMANCE

Local Actor David S. Howard to star in

Florida Studio Theatre’s “The Last Romance”

Beginning December 7 

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) announces the cast & creative team for The Last Romance by Joe DiPietro, beginning December 7. Directed by Drama Desk Award winner Russell Treyz, The Last Romance will run in the Gompertz Theatre (located at 1247 1st Street,Sarasota,FL) through February 11. Opening night is Friday, December 9 at 8pm. Tickets can be purchased online at www.FloridaStudioTheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000 or by visiting the Box Office. 

On an ordinary day in a routine life, an 80-year-old widower named Ralph decides to take a different path on his daily walk - one that leads him on an unexpected journey toward new love. The Last Romance is a heart-warming comedy about the power of love, one that leads to second chances and new romances. This play shows that no matter what age you fall in love, it’s still a story of boy meets girl. 

The Last Romance is a simple, yet beautiful story about finding love late in life. Set in the lush fall of New England, the story is told mostly in a dog park (featuring a real dog) with flashbacks to the elegant 1940s and 50s with a Young Ralph singing opera arias, from Mozart to Verdi. Director Russell Treyz says, “It’s a gorgeous little play that has so much to say about an older person living their life to the fullest. When I first read the play, I laughed, I cried, and I knew I had to direct this play. Joe DiPietro writes human characters, and this play seems as if it was really written for the Sarasota audience.”

In addition to David S. Howard as Rafeal Bellini (you can call him Ralph), the cast contains Broadway Actress Barbara Broughton as the reticent Carol, Returning FST Favorite Marina Re as Ralph’s over-protective sister Rose, and Opera Singer Dane Reese as The Young Man. 

The creative team includes April Soroko (Costume and Set Design) and Robert Perry (Lighting Design).

Playwright Joe DiPietro recently won two Tony Awards for co-writing Memphis, which also received the 2010 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical. His other plays and musicals include, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (which has had two successful productions at FST), Over the River and Through the Woods (produced at FST ), The Toxic Avenger and The Thing About Men (both winners of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off Broadway musical), and the Broadway musical, All Shook Up. DiPietro is currently working on a new Gershwin musical, Nice Work If You Can Get It, which will head to Broadway in the spring starring Matthew Broderick. His work has received thousands of productions across the country and around the world. 

David S. Howard is an established local actor, having spent many seasons at Florida Repertory Theatre and Asolo Repertory Theatre. His Broadway roles include Nat in I’m Not Rappaport. He performed in Sam Waterston’s Hamlet at Lincoln Center. On film, Mr. Howard was featured as Anthony Hopkins’ friend Eddie Sloane in Meet Joe Black; Robin Williams’ doctor in Woody Allen’s Deconstructing Harry; Doctor Kramer, The Substance of Fire; Irv, Moonstruck; Davis, No Way Home; and Sol Rosenthal in Woody Allen’s Crimes and Misdemeanors. He has an MFA from Brandeis University, and was guest artist and acting teacher there 1967 to 1975. 

Currently spending his time between New York and Florida, Beau was born to a theatrical family in Brooklyn. He studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute and at HB Studios. He studied theater singing with Julia Sperratore and Helen Gallagher. Beau later taught drama at the Lincoln Center Square for the Arts. It was at this time Beau began working with the Theater Development Fund and helped found New York's famed HALF PRICE TICKET BOOTH. Early in his career, Beau was screen tested and contracted for Warner Brothers. He co-hosted, an early cable variety series on Manhattan's Teleprompter channel. At this time he directed the Johnny Specca musical, SEX IS..? at the Lincoln Center Library Theater. Beau has performed Off-Broadway in FAT FELL DOWN, The Comic Strip Theater's LITTLE LULU AND THE INVISIBLE INK and WILL THE REAL ZOOPERMAN PLEASE STAND UP. Around the country he has delighted audiences with his performances in ANYTHING GOES, THE APPLE TREE, GUYS & DOLLS, and HELLZAPOPPIN! He sang for New York audiences at such cabarets as The Duplex and Upstairs at the Downstairs. He has had numerous television appearances but is most proud to have been a winning contestant on the game shows JACKPOT and THE $20,000 PYRAMID.

More Articles by This Author...