A Menopause Mix‑Up Play Heats Up the Stage at the Studio at Carrollwood Cultural Center

Hot and Bothered takes the stage for one night only on Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 PM in The Studio at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, bringing Tampa Bay a comedy with a Freaky Friday: Menopause Edition twist. This outrageous staged reading follows a long-married couple whose bodies suddenly swap symptoms. He’s drowning in night sweats, she’s navigating prostate problems, and together they’re desperately trying to hide their bizarre predicament from her best friend and their daughter. The fun is watching how long they can keep the secret before everything unravels spectacularly.

“Every line comes from real, unfiltered conversations I had with women during the 2025 Tampa Bay Theatre Festival,” says playwright and director Deborah Bostock Kelley. “This isn’t just a comedy; it’s a mirror. Women will feel seen, and men, come for the laughs, yet get an unexpected education.”

The world‑premiere staged reading will be powered by the quick, fearless energy of Tampa Metropolitan Improv (TMI), the Carrollwood Cultural Center’s resident troupe known for turning awkward truths into laugh‑out‑loud moments. Local favorites Erica Garaffa, Jesse Hutson, Lianne Kruger, Yvelisse Cedrez Wallace, and Alana Sasdelli bring sharp timing and playful chemistry to a script packed with painfully relatable moments.

After the performance, Dr. Sumer Samhoury, a board‑certified women’s health physical therapist with more than 15 years of pelvic health experience, will lead an open, evidence‑based conversation and Q&A. As the full‑time Pelvic PT at her South Tampa clinic, she works with patients experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction, weakness, and sexual health concerns, and will help translate the show’s humor into real‑world insight and symptom‑management strategies.

The night closes with the “Bless Your Heart, No F’s Left” open mic, inspired by Melanie Sander’s We Do Not Care Club. It’s a judgment‑free space where audience members can step up to the mic or submit anonymous confessions to be read dramatically onstage. The result is a mix of raw, ridiculous, and unexpectedly tender moments that turn shared honesty into communal relief.

Guests at Hot and Bothered will also be entered to win a pampering basket donated by The Salt Room, Wesley Chapel, a local wellness favorite known for halotherapy sessions that help guests breathe easier and unwind. The winner will be announced during the open mic.

Hot and Bothered proves that while hormones may be fading and patience may be thin, the comedy is only getting better. “Hot and Bothered was born to help remove the stigma around talking about menopause, because silence helps no one,” says Bostock-Kelley. “I wanted a night that makes people laugh until they learn, and learn until they’re truly enlightened. Bring your partner, your best girlfriends, or your book club. Leave with a smile, a little menopause wisdom, and the quiet joy of knowing any brave men in the room just learned more than they ever bargained for.”

Hot and Bothered takes place March 7 at The Studio at Carrollwood Cultural Center, 13345 Casey Road, Tampa. Tickets are $5 and available at bit.ly/hotandbotheredevent.