Key West, FL — Few journalists can speak as personally about the cost of truth as Roxana Saberi. An award-winning reporter, author, and former CBS News correspondent, Saberi will join The Studios of Key West for Between Two Palms on Tuesday, February 24, sharing insights from a career spent covering global conflict—and from her own imprisonment in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison.

Led by Stephen Kitsakos, Artistic Associate and Executive Producer of the series, Between Two Palms offers audiences intimate, in-depth conversations with acclaimed artists and thinkers. In this special evening, Saberi will speak about the courage, clarity, and ethical responsibility required in modern journalism.

Saberi’s reporting has taken her across the globe, covering major human rights stories and international crises. In 2009, she was imprisoned on false charges of espionage while reporting in Iran, an experience that profoundly shaped her understanding of power, truth, and freedom. Her memoir, Between Two Worlds, offers a rare and deeply human account of incarceration, resilience, and the cost of bearing witness.
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Saberi is currently also a Peyton Evans Artist Resident (PEAR) at The Studios of Key West — part of the organization’s residency program, which provides time, space, and community for writers, composers, musicians, artists, and interdisciplinary creators to develop new work while engaging with Key West’s rich cultural landscape.

​America’s Finest Folk and Americana Artists Shine Indoors and Under the Stars

[Key West, FL] — The Studios of Key West is turning up the volume this winter with Old Town New Folk, a live music series built for people who love a great night out — even if “folk” isn’t usually their thing.

This contemporary folk series is smart, lively, and full of personality: music with sharp turns, great stories, and artists who know how to take an audience along for the ride. Each performer plays twice — once in the Helmerich Theater and once under the stars at Hugh’s View Rooftop — turning winter nights in Key West into something electric, with close-up performances and the kind of shared experience that makes live music memorable.

John McCutcheon (February 3–4) brings the kind of show that feels like you’ve been invited into a long, lively conversation — funny, generous, and full of heart. With more than 45 albums and a legendary command of the hammered dulcimer, his songs draw from real people and real lives.

Rachael Sage (February 17–18) brings her bold, genre-hopping sound to the series. An early pioneer of independent music-making, Sage blends folk, pop, rock, and jazz with theatrical flair. Her performances are intimate and surprising, often shifting gears mid-song and keeping audiences happily guessing.

Jon Langford (March 3–4) follows with shows shaped by a career that has zigzagged through punk, alternative country, and indie rock. A founding member of the Mekons and a longtime fixture of Chicago’s music scene, Langford delivers performances that are sharp, funny, story-driven, and refreshingly unpolished.

Jake Shimabukuro (March 10–11) brings his jaw-dropping artistry to Key West. Best known for sparking a global ukulele revival after a viral performance of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” Shimabukuro moves effortlessly from classical to rock to jazz, often leaving first-time listeners grinning in disbelief at what a ukulele can do.

The season concludes with Ricky Skaggs with Sharon White (March 24–25). A Grammy Award-winning legend who first appeared on national television as a child, Skaggs brings decades of mastery to bluegrass and country music. Joined by White’s luminous harmonies, the performances promise warmth, virtuosity, and deep roots — played with joy rather than nostalgia.

Hugh’s View Rooftop offers sweeping island views and open-air nights under the sky, while the Helmerich Theater delivers an up-close indoor experience where every note lands. Whether indoors or under the stars, Old Town New Folk is designed for listening, laughing, and leaning in.
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Old Town New Folk tickets are available now at tskw.org or by calling 305-296-0458.

KEY WEST, FL — This season, The Studios of Key West proudly presents First Look, a season of four new plays that invites audiences into the creative process as it unfolds. Produced by Jeff Johnson, past Chair of the Williamstown Theatre Festival and past President of Waterfront Playhouse, the series brings playwrights, directors, and professional actors together for an intensive week of rehearsal, culminating in staged readings for a live audience that offer a rare view of contemporary theater in motion.
 
First Look occupies a distinctive space between a table read and a full production. The plays are deeply rehearsed and thoughtfully staged, allowing audiences to engage closely with the writing, the performances, and the choices being explored in the room. Each production brings together New York– and Los Angeles–based actors alongside accomplished Key West performers, guided by nationally recognized directors, reflecting a commitment to both new voices and the evolving craft of playwriting.
 
“First Look is about proximity—to the work, to the artists, and to the moment when a play is still revealing itself,” says producer Jeff Johnson. “The selection process is highly competitive, and we’re looking for plays with urgency and clarity—writing that asks big questions and holds up under sustained focus. A full week of rehearsal gives those plays the space they need to fully emerge.”
 
The 2026 season opens January 30–31 with The Starters by Laura Winters, a contemporary drama about a professional football player and his wife navigating ambition, risk, and the limits of the body. February’s The Patrons by Nick Gandiello is set in a small-town library in 1963, where budget cuts and a single controversial book force staff members to confront censorship and community pressure. In March, Mom’s Best Friend by Dan McCabe examines the sudden rupture of a close mother-daughter relationship and the emotional fallout that follows. The series concludes in April with My Maria by Andrew Russell, set in a fictional southern Midwest town, where a sixty-year-old school resource officer's developing romance collides with public scrutiny after a mass shooting.
 
Together, the plays share a focus on people at moments of decision—when private lives intersect with public consequence, and certainty gives way to change. Intimate, urgent, and distinctly contemporary, First Look offers audiences a front-row seat to the future of American theater.
 
All performances take place at The Studios of Key West at 8:00 PM:
The Starters — January 30 & 31
The Patrons — February 13 & 14
Mom’s Best Friend — March 20 & 21
My Maria — April 3 & 4
For tickets and additional information, visit tskw.org.

​KEY WEST, FL — The Studios of Key West is proud to present WORM: A Cuban American Odyssey, an exhibition by internationally acclaimed artist and illustrator Edel Rodriguez, opening Thursday, January 8, with a public reception from 6–8pm in the Sanger Gallery. Please note that due to the New Year’s holiday, The Studios’ First Thursday Open House has been moved to the second Thursday of the month.
 
Best known for his bold, provocative covers for TIME and Der Spiegel, Rodriguez brings together original drawings from his acclaimed graphic memoir Worm, along with new paintings, silkscreened posters, and political illustrations that have made him one of the most influential visual voices of our time. The exhibition also features personal artifacts, family photographs, and source materials that shaped the book, offering an intimate and layered look at a life lived between cultures.
 
WORM: A Cuban American Odyssey traces Rodriguez’s extraordinary journey from his childhood in Cold War Cuba to his family’s escape during the 1980 Mariel boatlift. Labeled gusanos—“worms”—by the Castro regime, Rodriguez and his family fled by shrimping boat, arriving in Key West, the first American soil he ever knew. That moment would become foundational to an artistic practice rooted in migration, displacement, and the pursuit of freedom.
 
Today, Rodriguez is widely recognized for artwork that confronts authoritarianism, champions democratic values, and gives visual form to the immigrant experience. As he has said, “My main responsibility as a visual artist is to communicate and inform — to get people to pay attention to the things that affect their lives, and to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves.” His work is deeply personal yet globally resonant, shaped by lived experience and an unwavering commitment to truth.
 
The exhibition is complemented by the PBS documentary Edel Rodriguez: Freedom Is a Verb, part of In the Making, an American Masters and Firelight Media series spotlighting emerging cultural icons. The 17-minute film is free to stream on PBS.org and via the PBS app.
 
→ Watch the film:
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/edel-rodriguez-freedom-is-a-verb/36594/
 
WORM: A Cuban American Odyssey will be on view January 8–29, 2026, in the Sanger Gallery at The Studios of Key West, 533 Eaton Street. The exhibition is sponsored by Historic Hideaways. For more information, visit tskw.org.

Key West, FL — September 2025 — Fall in Key West means the arts come alive, and The Studios of Key West is ready to welcome the community back with its 2025–26 preseason. The festivities begin with First Thursday on Thursday, October 2 from 6–8pm, the monthly open house that brings neighbors, artists, and visitors together in celebration of creativity. Guests can explore new exhibitions—including bold fashion and drag artistry from Mitchell “Qmitch” Jones, sculptural textile works by Jennifer Printz, a vibrant take on Florida’s traditions by Emma Mykowski, plus the Summer Bookmark Contest from Books & Books. Add in rooftop wine and the warm glow of friends gathering—it’s a community night not to miss.
 
The preseason lineup also includes an inspiring range of workshops, featuring two highlights from the Peyton Evans Artist Residencies (PEAR) program. On October 10, Obie Award–winning playwright and Pulitzer Prize finalist Christopher Shinn leads Writing From the Inside Out, a workshop designed to help writers tap into the unconscious mind and discover surprising, personal stories. Then on November 18, celebrated novelist and memoirist Jami Attenberg—author of The Middlesteins and I Came All This Way to Meet You—shares her wisdom on sustaining a creative life in Put Your Creativity First.
 
Other fall offerings range from Sumi-e ink painting on November 7 to rooftop stargazing on November 24–25, and the playful Theatrical Clown & Puppetry workshop December 20–21. December also brings Painting Bootcamp, embroidery, iPhone photography, and more—ensuring there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned artist or simply curious to try something new.
 
Preseason for Kids & Families
 
Preseason is an especially welcoming time for kids and families, with a slate of hands-on, affordable workshops designed just for young artists. Children can create framed fall masterpieces in Autumn Art for Kids on November 15, design and print their own holiday cards on December 6, and even ring in the new year at Camp MicroPARTY, December 29–31 & January 2—a joyful multi-day camp blending art, music, storytelling, and science. These offerings make it easy for families to jump into the season and give kids the chance to explore creativity in a fun, supportive environment.
 
“Preseason is one of our favorite times of year,” said Michael Ross, Director of Exhibitions and Education. “It’s when the community comes back together, artists bring new energy to their studios, and we set the stage for the season ahead.”
 
For more information about exhibitions and to register for classes, visit www.tskw.org.

KEY WEST, FL – The Studios of Key West is hosting a limited-entry raffle featuring four unique travel and leisure experiences, with proceeds supporting the organization’s arts programs. Only 150 tickets will be sold per prize, giving participants excellent odds.

Prizes include a four-night stay for six at a historic home on Bayou St. John in New Orleans (including airfare for two); a two-night escape at Little Palm Island Resort & Spa; a Key West staycation at the Marquesa Hotel with dining, shopping, and a sunset cruise; and a private charter aboard the luxury catamaran Argo Navis for up to 20 guests.

Individual raffle tickets are priced at $75 or $100 depending on the prize. A discounted bundle, offering one entry into each drawing, is available for $225.
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Winners will be drawn live on The Studios’ Facebook page on Monday, April 28 at 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.tskw.org or by calling (305) 296-0458 during gallery hours, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.