Alex Edelman's 'Just for Us' Heads to Sarasota's Florida Studio Theatre for 2027 Run

One of the most celebrated solo shows of the past decade is headed to Southwest Florida. Alex Edelman's "Just for Us" is set to rehearse at Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota beginning February 2, 2027, with previews scheduled for February 24 and 25, an official opening night on February 26, and a closing date of March 28 that has already been extended through May 2, 2027. The production is currently in pre-production and actively casting, which means the window for crew, designers, and talent representatives to connect with this project is open right now.

Edelman's show needs little introduction to theater industry veterans. "Just for Us" earned widespread critical acclaim during its Off-Broadway run at The Cherry Lane Theatre and subsequently transferred to Broadway in 2023, where it played the Hudson Theatre and became one of the most talked-about limited engagements of that season. The show draws on Edelman's own experience attending a white nationalist meeting in Queens, weaving together his Ashkenazi Jewish Bostonian upbringing, questions of identity, and the kind of razor-sharp comedic timing that has made him one of the most distinctive voices in stand-up comedy. He has been a regular presence on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe circuit and has written for programs including "Late Night with Seth Meyers." The material lands somewhere between a stand-up special and a tightly structured one-act play, which makes it a genuinely unusual producing proposition and a compelling credit for anyone who works on it.

Directing this Sarasota production is Timothy L'Ecuyer, whose work in regional theater has demonstrated a sensitivity to solo performance and character-driven narrative. Casting is being handled by Alexys Hatch, whose attachment is the relevant name for talent agents and actors pursuing any featured or supporting roles that may be incorporated into this staging. Executive Producer Richard Hopkins and Executive Director Rebecca Hopkins are leading the producing team, both of whom are longtime pillars of Florida Studio Theatre's institutional leadership. Their involvement signals that this is a flagship production for FST, not a secondary booking, and that the institutional support behind it is substantial.

The production is a partnership between Florida Studio Theatre and Ambassador Theatre Group, better known in the industry as ATG. That combination carries real weight. ATG is one of the largest commercial theater producers and venue operators in the world, with a portfolio that spans Broadway, the West End, and major regional markets. Their involvement alongside FST suggests this Sarasota engagement is being positioned as more than a regional stop, and it would not be surprising to see further touring or commercial extensions follow. For crew and creative talent, ATG's participation typically signals organized production infrastructure, professional contracting, and the kind of institutional backing that keeps a production running smoothly.

Florida Studio Theatre is a well-established regional theater institution in Sarasota with multiple performance spaces, a committed subscriber base, and a reputation for producing work of genuine ambition. Sarasota itself has a surprisingly robust arts infrastructure for a city of its size, driven in part by the legacy institutions that have called it home for decades. Crew based in the Tampa Bay area, the broader Gulf Coast corridor, and even Orlando should consider this a reachable opportunity. That said, a production of this profile with ATG involvement may bring certain department heads from outside the region, so both local professionals and those willing to relocate for the run should keep this listing on their radar. Rehearsals running from early February through previews at the end of the month suggest a fairly compressed pre-production period once the calendar turns to 2027, though with nearly two years before cameras-up, the hiring pipeline is just beginning to form.

As a one-man show with a dramaturgically tight structure, the production's crew footprint will be more intimate than a large-scale musical, but that cuts both ways. Fewer positions means each role carries more individual responsibility, and the designers who come aboard will have a direct and visible impact on how the production reads in the room. Lighting, sound, and scenic design will be particularly central to supporting Edelman's performance and the show's tonal shifts between comedy and genuine emotional weight. Stage management, production coordination, and any technical staff familiar with FST's facilities will be well-positioned to pursue this one.

ProductionList.com has the full listing for "Just for Us" at Florida Studio Theatre, including production office contacts, crew listings as they are confirmed, and scheduling details as they are updated. With rehearsals still the better part of two years out, this is the right moment to bookmark the listing and begin making introductions. Productions at this level tend to staff quietly and quickly once the calendar gets close, and the professionals who are already in conversation when decisions get made are the ones who land the jobs.

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