{"id":28498,"date":"2025-10-31T20:26:03","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T20:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/28498\/"},"modified":"2025-10-31T20:26:03","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T20:26:03","slug":"erica-sutherlin-details-her-three-phase-plan-for-st-petes-studio620","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/28498\/","title":{"rendered":"Erica Sutherlin details her three-phase plan for St. Pete’s Studio@620."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ABob Devin Jones (L) and Erica Sutherlin in front of Studio@620 in St. Petersburg, Florida on Feb., 28, 2024. Credit: cityofstpete \/ Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n

The collaboration between The Studio@620 <\/a>and Powerstories is just one of the initiatives that have come into being as part of Erica Sutherlin\u2019s tenure as the Studio\u2019s artistic director. Over the course of the next several months, Sutherlin will continue to put her own stamp on the St. Petersburg arts and community center co-founded by Bob Devin Jones, who retired in June of 2024.<\/p>\n

The first stage in what she calls \u201ca three-phase rollout\u201d was an open house event on May 31 of this year. A new mural on the side of the building emphasizes the welcoming vibe.
A refreshed mission statement reinforces Devin Jones\u2019s \u201cThe Answer Is Always Yes\u201d<\/a> philosophy while emphasizing \u201cthe creative workforce\u201d\u2014think of the new motto as \u201cYes, and\u2026\u201d The Studio, which famously incubated the creation of arts organizations like freeFall Theatre, is now presenting paths forward for individuals, too.<\/p>\n

Case in point: The crew for \u201cCadillac Crew\u201d <\/a>includes an audio engineer who\u2019s never done a theatrical sound design before, and the stage manager is taking on her first backstage leadership role.<\/p>\n

The next stage in the rollout is what Sutherlin calls \u201cthe sustainability phase, building revenue streams that will sustain the Studio beyond Erica.\u201d Plans include a small boutique, strategic partnerships with USF, and expanding on the Studio\u2019s existing education components.
The rollout\u2019s third phase will be perhaps the most visible, as the center modifies its branding so that \u201cThe Studio\u201d takes pride of place over the \u201c@620\u201d part of the name. The look of the building will gradually change, too, and a new website will premiere in January.<\/p>\n

Sutherlin told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay she is excited about the Studio\u2019s theatrical season. Following \u201cCadillac Crew,\u201d she\u2019ll be staging an all-female \u201cJulius Caesar\u201d (March 12-22); \u201cA Streetcar Named Desire\u201d (April 16-26); and the musical \u201cPassing Strange\u201d (June 11-21).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe shows represent four different aspects of my creative brain,\u201d says Sutherlin, whose varied resume includes first-rate productions of the two-person \u201cPass Over\u201d at the Studio and the massive musical \u201cRagtime\u201d for American Stage in the Park. \u201c\u2018Streetcar\u2019 and \u2018Julius\u2019 are part of our Sankofa series\u2014a look at classic works through a different lens.\u201d [Sankofa is a Ghanaian concept meaning \u201clook to the past to inform the future\u201d.]<\/p>\n

The bare minimum cost of producing a show, she says, is about $35,000.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to pay people a decent wage\u2014and I hope to be getting close to a livable wage. And we have to continue to find sponsors and programs that bring in money because tickets pay only a small percentage of the production cost. In a facility with 80 seats, and a top ticket price of $40, even if we sell out all eight performances, that still doesn\u2019t pay for the production.\u201d<\/p>\n

Community support will continue to be crucial.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe space is full and vibrating,\u201d says Sutherlin, \u201cbut we are still trying to keep our doors open\u2026 If we talk about how much we love the Studio and how it\u2019s been a beacon, we need to support it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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This article appears in Oct. 30 \u2013 Nov. 5, 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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