American icons take the stage at Florida Studio Theatre

Eisenhower, Gatewood, Joplin. They seem like strange bedfellows at first. 

An elder statesman who led America in the early Cold War but also warned of the dangers of the "military industrial complex.” 

A woman in her late 60s who took the road less traveled.

An incandescent rock star who broke the mold for female vocalists. 

What ties the three together isn’t fame but fearlessness. Each refused to play it safe. These Florida Studio Theatre productions in FST's edgy Stage III series reveal the price they paid. 

In these productions, Eisenhower, Gatewood and Joplin are larger-than-life human beings who are all too human. You see them caught mid-reckoning, arguing with history, memory and themselves. 

Eisenhower wrestles with his legacy; Gatewood walks away from the life that once defined her; Joplin serves up a piece of her heart in every song. These character studies are unforgettable. 

Eisenhower, Gatewood, Joplin. You can’t meet them in person, but these plays are the next best thing.

Richard Hopkins, FST’s producing artistic director, says the shows' iconography is no accident. “FST’s Stage III programming pushes boundaries,” he says. “Our line-up speaks to our core mission — to create theater that challenges with as much gusto as it entertains.” 

Nancy Rominger agrees. She’s FST’s associate artist and literary manager and is directing two of the three Stage III plays this winter: "Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground," playing through Jan. 30 at FST's Bowne's Lab, and "Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk," which runs Feb. 6-27.

 “I’m drawn to theater that asks big questions and isn’t afraid to be a little daring,” Rominger says. “The plays I’m directing challenge us to look more closely at American identity, resilience and leadership. They tell intimate, bold and deeply human stories”

These Stage III plays will engage you this year.

'Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground'

Jan. 9-30, Florida Studio Theatre's Bowne's Lab, 1254 First St. $25-$59. Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Photo by Emiliano Mejias

Richard Hellesen’s “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” draws on Eisenhower’s memoirs, speeches and letters to paint a portrait of greatness. The action unfolds on his Gettysburg farm in 1962 — two years after he's left the White House. He’s 71 years old but far from retired — and far from happy. 

A recent New York Times poll of 75 historians ranked Eisenhower 22nd out of 31 presidents. It dismissed him as “a great American, not a great president.” To set the record straight, Eisenhower’s dictating his memories for a book. 

He begins with his World War II service as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces and continues through his two-term presidency. It adds up to a character study of a statesman navigating harsh military realities and the hopeful dreams of global peace. 

Eisenhower emerges as a living intellect — pragmatic, realistic and far more progressive than his contemporary image. “I Like Ike” was Eisenhower’s campaign slogan in 1952. After seeing this play directed by Nancy Rominger, you will too.

'Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk'

Feb. 6-27, Florida Studio Theatre's Bowne's Lab, 1254 First St. $25-$59. Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Courtesy image

Catherine Bush’s “Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk” explores one woman’s path of endurance, memory and self-reinvention. The play, directed by Nancy Rominger, is inspired by the real-life story of Emma Gatewood, the first woman to hike the Appalachian Trail solo. Adding to the level of difficulty, she did it at age 67 — and went through seven pairs of Keds.

In Bush’s adaptation of Ben Montgomery’s book, Gatewood encounters incarnations of her younger self along the trail, along with people who made a difference in her life. What could have been a travelogue becomes a trek through a psychological wilderness. 

Bush’s crisp, lyrical dialogue emphasizes resilience over heroics. She frames Gatewood’s 2,168-mile hike as an act of quiet rebellion and personal transformation. It’s an impressive feat of physical endurance. Along the way, Gatewood reclaimed her voice, agency and identity. That’s even more impressive.

'A Night With Janis Joplin'

March 3-26, Florida Studio Theatre's Bowne's Lab, 1254 First St. $25-$59. Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Courtesy image

Randy Johnson’s “A Night with Janis Joplin” is part musical, part rock concert. Like Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison, Joplin was a member of the “27 Club," musicians who died in their 27th year. 

Born in 1943, Joplin died in 1970 of an overdose. Her incandescent life burned out fast. Until it did, it made a dazzling light. 

This show, directed by Ben Liebert, features high-voltage renditions of Joplin classics like “Piece of My Heart,” “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Mercedes Benz,” Between the songs, Joplin chills out and shares her life story with the audience.

Like the ghosts of concerts past, a parade of musical giants goes by. Vignettes with Bessie Smith, Aretha Franklin, Odetta and Nina Simone reveal Joplin’s inspirations. This musical/concert by Randy Johnson captures her vulnerability and ferocity.

 It’s not a traditional biography. But it is a piece of Joplin’s heart.