Florida Studio Theatre Presents Songbirds of the Seventies Cabaret Tribute to 1970s Women Singer-Songwriters

Step into the living‑room of the 1970s, where intimate storytelling meets soaring melodies. Florida Studio Theatre (FST) in Sarasota is currently running its latest cabaret, Songbirds of the Seventies, a 90‑minute show that will run until September 13. Staged in the John C. Court Cabaret’s Hegner Wing, the production offers a 15‑minute intermission and invites the audience to linger in the warmth of a decade defined by personal narrative.

The show pays homage to the women who shifted the music industry from spectacle to storytelling. According to the program notes, the performers focus on the introspective themes of love, heartbreak, independence, and empowerment that emerged in the 1970s. The set is designed as a living‑room environment, encouraging patrons to recall the first time they heard a particular track.

Samantha Duval, Victoria Boland and Madalyn McHugh headline the production. Duval, who has appeared in FST’s Divas Three and Rhinestone Cowgirls, says the show “is about the music and the lyrics, and we’re here to tell a story.” Boland, a Nashville‑based vocalist and songwriter, notes that the cabaret experience is “truly us as human beings who are feeling the music so deeply that it allows us to be choked up on stage.” McHugh, a New York‑based actor‑musician, explains that she “has to go to a very specific place because it’s just such a range of emotion in that song.”

The trio selects songs from Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Helen Reddy, Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks. Boland performs “Barracuda,” a track she says she has performed in a context where the record industry was not kind to her. McHugh delivers Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee,” and Boland comments that she “embodies” the song. The program also includes a Bond‑themed segment in the second act, with McHugh playing a few bars of “Nobody Does It Better” and Duval performing the theme from “Diamonds Are Forever.”

Nancy Allen, the creative director, has produced FST shows such as Rhinestone Cowgirls (2024) and Divas Three (2023). Allen’s background of more than two decades in theatre is credited with blending storytelling, nostalgia and musical celebration. The production team also includes line producer Catherine Randazzo, lighting designer Kate Landry, sound designer Nicholas Christensen and sound‑and‑lightboard operator Leigh Womack.

The Court Cabaret’s intimate layout allows the audience to hear each other’s reactions and to feel the performers’ vulnerability. Duval says the proximity “puts a magnifying glass” on the performers, but the cast appreciates the audience’s musical knowledge. The show is part of FST’s Summer Cabaret subscription package, which also features Leaving on a Jet Plane: A Folk Journey and Legacy: Motown & More!.

Tickets for Songbirds of the Seventies can be purchased online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or by calling 941‑366‑9000. The production offers a unique opportunity to experience the emotional depth of 1970s female singer‑songwriters in a setting that encourages personal reflection and communal storytelling.