October 2021

Stepping Out

scenesarasota.com

Food • Finds • Music • Festivals • venues • weddings

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Bringing a global perspective to local properties.

OSPREY 712 N Casey Key Road 8 Beds 9/1 Baths 13,553 Sq. Ft. Brian Loebker 941-735-4393 A4503358 $20,000,000

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BRADENTON 8499 Lindrick Lane 6 Beds 8/4 Baths 15,223 Sq. Ft. Stacy Haas 941-587-4359 A4475594 $10,850,000

LONGBOAT KEY 25 Lighthouse Point Drive 4 Beds 6/1 Baths 6,025 Sq. Ft. Sherri Mills 941-350-7112 A4503359 $5,600,000

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SARASOTA 483 Meadow Lark Drive 4 Beds 3/2 Baths 5,468 Sq. Ft. The Walter Group 941-232-2000 A4510572 $6,950,000

SARASOTA 3129 Founders Club Drive 3 Beds 4/1 Baths 5,873 Sq. Ft. Kathy Callahan 941-900-8088 A4507917 $2,800,000

SARASOTA The Ritz-Carlton Tower Residences, Penthouse 1701 4 Beds 4/1 Baths 5,251 Sq. Ft. Beth Afflebach & Joan Dickinson 941-737-1756 A4500204 $5,690,000

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CONTENTS features

50

50 FRESH AIR Local Communities Welcome The New Season With Outdoor Initiatives & Activities

By Carol Brzozowski 56 OUT & ABOUT Photo Series by Nancy Guth 59 6 SENSATIONAL FILMS THAT GO BEHIND THE SCENES

By Gus Mollasis 65 IAIN WEBB’S CRYSTAL ANNIVERSARY with The Sarasota Ballet

By Sylvia Whitman

36 8

65

SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

ON THE COVER Klein + Gaeddert wedding reception at the Ringling Courtyard

by Hunter Ryan Photography.

READERS’ CHOICE FIRST PLACE

2021 BEST BUILDER

29 CONSECUTIVE YEARS

SARASOTA MANATEE VENICE

CONTENTS departments

72

SOCIAL SCENE

20 THE LIST October Events Calendar PARTY PICS 35 Debbie Dannheisser Threads 36 SCENE SNAPS Dreams Coming True SCENE TOGETHER 72 Chelly Gaeddert + Nick Klein 76 Anna Koshy + Kendall Kellaway, III

INSIDER 44 THE FIND Clothes for Going Out 79 SPOTLIGHT Florida Studio Theatre Delivers a Delightful Winter Season

By Lisa Codianne Fowler 83 EDUCATION MATTERS The Business of Art and Design at Ringling College

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

PHILANTHROPY 46 GIVING TOGETHER A Portrait Of Dan Steffen & Anne Giesecke

By Laura Shoemaker

INHEALTH

83

94 FINDING HAPPINESS DURING COVID

By Jill Morris, DMD

SEASON SHOWCASE 58 Admiral Travel International 64 Mattison’s Restaurants & Catering

ARTS & CULTURE 86 BEST SEATS Performing Arts Calendar 90 ART SCENE Gallery Exhibits & Events 92 MEET THE ARTIST Janet Mishner 95 LITERARY SCENE Three Thrilling New Novels

By Ryan G. Van Cleave 97 LAUGHING MATTERS The Fantasy Life

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

Be Informed Be Entertained Be SCENE scenesarasota.com

10

SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

from the publisher

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

– JOHN QUINCY ADAMS Sarasota and Manatee counties can absolutely boast of having one of the highest “quality of life” situations in the country. Between the arts and culture, health care, economic advancement, and recreational activities, we are very lucky. We enjoy world class amenities and first-rate civic support.

I want to thank all our readers and friends of Sarasota Scene for the feedback on our September issue. So many organizations are working hard to stage a come-back for the 2021-22 season. The visual and performance arts communities are adhering to safety protocols so audiences can enjoy exhibitions and performances with as little disruption as possible.

Likewise, many not-for-profit and foundation organizations are also restructuring participation mechanisms.

I recently enjoyed a great conversation at the Rise & Nye’s coffee shop on State Street with my friend Clara Reynardus de Villanueva of University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. Our conversation was to be a general catch-up and a look ahead at USF Foundation’s upcoming Brunch on the Bay event in November. We spoke about this season and how many community organizations are constructing performances, fundraisers, and galas in a way that makes them fun, safe, and successful. Then our meeting led to a couple of unexpected twists and turns.

First, I learned of Clara’s own local project. Clara is a well-known artist who often works in a multi-media environment. Look for her three-panel butterfly painting in the Tidewell Hospice Hall. Take special notice of the formed acrylic butterflies and how beautifully they interact with their painted cousins. The art is magnificent and notice the associated plaques of key donors. Beauty with meaning!

Next, I was introduced to Rise & Nye’s leadership team. I had previously met Beaver Shriver, but was unaware of his involvement in this project at that time. I also had a lengthy conversation with co-founder Christian Nye, who excused himself from the kitchen for a chat and to introduce me to their fine coffees, house-made ice cream, and delicious treats. It was also my pleasure to reconnect with Chris Cushman, situated behind the coffee bar.

Like so many who call Sarasota home, Rise & Nye’s leaders migrated here from different parts of the country with a range of experience and knowledge. They became inspired to contribute to the community 12

SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

Celebrating 35 amazing years in Sarasota!

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Thank you for voting us Herald-Tribune’s 2020 & 2021 BEST INTERIOR DESIGN and WINDOW TREATMENT PROFESSIONALS in Sarasota & Manatee!

from the publisher and take civic action. Their uniquely inclusive coffee shop features products prepared daily and served by an amazing team of differently abled members from The Haven and Easterseals. It is a bit of work providing classroom and staff dedicated to skills training, but the result is amazing.

Their vision translates into a business that encourages worker readiness, job enjoyment, and premium beverage and food availability within our community. Please support the Rise & Nye’s “Ride Together, Rise Together” fundraiser on October 23, 2021. See details at the State Street shop.

Stan Writesel & Baylee

Alan Gravley & Beau

SPARCC is hosting their annual gala on October 22, 2021, at the Weston. This will be a great event and one of the first majors of the Season. This will be my second time attending after the postponement of last year’s event. I know the team has worked hard to make it an interesting evening with one-of-a-kind auction packages. They have worked to create a very safe and thoughtful event that will be visually amazing with great food and entertainment.

This October, the performing arts community celebrates a special milestone—Iain Webb’s 15-year visionary leadership of The Sarasota Ballet. Iain is one of the true pillars of our arts community. Read about his amazing journey and discover a wealth of local happenings, dream-come-true weddings and accomplishments in this issue. You’ll also meet philanthropists who contribute regularly to the Suncoast Blood Bank—one of several organizations in the area that participate in blood collection. They all do great work; as a regular blood and plasma donor, I am very pleased to partner both professionally and personally with Suncoast Blood Center. Their participation in research and involvement in the community is first rate.

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SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

This season, many scheduled events and initiatives are going ahead with finely-tuned safety measures so participants can enjoy shows, exhibits, and fund-raising events. As a community we need to come together and support these efforts if we are going to maintain the world class amenities and civic support we have enjoyed over the last few decades.

Make plans for this season’s Scene!

Many think that The Plumbing Place is number one because of the amazing products we sell, many think it’s because of the vast selection on display in our beautiful showroom, and many think it’s because of our passion to provide the best service to our clients.

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Locally Owned and Operated Since 1957 Vol. 64 No. 10 Publisher H John Knowles Editor–in–Chief Wendy Lyons Sunshine

NOV 17, 2021–JAN 1, 2022

GEROME RAGNI JAMES RADO

Book and lyrics by and

Music by

GALT MACDERMOT

Directed and Choreographed by JOSH

RHODES

ON SALE NOW!

Strategic Partnerships Julie A. Milton Art Director Darcy Kelly–Laviolette Social Media & Digital Content Gina Liga Distribution Mike Straffin Accounting Sally A. Bailey Advertising Enquiries Paul McNamara Call/Text 917.751.6506 | paul@scenesarasota.com Tom Garriott Call/Text 317.797.8135 | tom@scenesarasota.com Contributing Writers Ryan G. Van Cleave Sylvia Whitman Laura Shoemaker Lisa Codianne Fowler Gus Mollasis Carol Brzozowski Cheryl S. Grant

Hair Our Town Grand Horizons The Great Leap Knoxville Eureka Day Hood World-class Theatre | Made in Sarasota

Contributing & Social Photographer Nancy Guth

21/22

941.351.8000 | asolorep.org

Contributing Photographer Jordan Kelly-Laviolette Curtis Anderson, Jr. 1834 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 941.365.1119 | Fax: 941.954.5067 | scenesarasota.com

Subscribe at scenesarasota.com/magazine/shop

Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation

16

SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

H John Knowles LLC, dba SCENE Magazine publishes 12 issues a year. Address editorial, advertising and circulation correspondence to the above address.

Sufficient return postage and self–addressed, stamped envelope must accompany all manuscripts, artwork and photographs submitted if they are to be returned or acknowledged. Publisher assumes no responsibility for care of return of unsolicited materials. Subscription price: $12.95 per year, $19.95 for two years. All contents copyrighted. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Ready to reconnect with the things you love? Start here.

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2021-22 OPERA SEASON 2021 FALL OPERA SEASON The Silken Ladder (La scala di seta)

by Gioachino Rossini Oct. 29 - Nov. 13, 2021 All operas performed in the original language with translations above the stage.

SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE NOW! (941) 328-1300 SARASOTAOPERA.ORG

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SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

2022 WINTER OPERA FESTIVAL Tosca

by Giacomo Puccini Feb. 12 - Mar. 19, 2022

The Daughter of the Regiment

(La Fille du régiment)

by Gaetano Donizetti Feb. 19 - Mar. 18, 2022

The Pearl Fishers

(Les Pêcheurs de perles)

by Georges Bizet March 5-19, 2022

Attila

by Giuseppe Verdi March 12-22, 2022

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social SCENE

The LIST OCTOBER 2021

Fall into this season’s fun! Kick up your heels at the rodeo, wander the craft festivals, or sip at your local Oktoberfests.

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SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

October 2-3 » Downtown Sarasota Craft Festival Browse a variety of local artisans’ work in this popular open air event. Paintings, sculptures, metal/wood works, glass, ceramics and much more.

Orange and Main | art festival.com 2–31 » Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival Celebrate fall with hayrides, costume contests, face painting, pony rides, wildflower maze, pumpkins and more.

Fruitville Grove Farm Market | haunts.com/fruitvillegrove

THE USF SARASOTA-MANATEE CAMPUS PRESENTS

BRUNCH ON THE BAY

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2021 . 11:30 A.M. - 1:30 P.M. SPONSORED BY USF FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus will host one of the region’s premier social events in November, Brunch on the Bay, to support student scholarships. This signature fundraising event has provided financial assistance to nearly 1,900 local students during the past 27 years, most of whom remain in our community to live and work. Please join us by purchasing a sponsorship or ticket in support of our students as they earn degrees from a preeminent research university and become part of our region’s workforce.

VISIT SARASOTAMANATEE.USF.EDU/BRUNCH OR CALL 941-359-4603 FOR TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIPS.

Love a puppy. Make a difference.

Sponsor a puppy for $19 a month for yourself or as a gift.

Every guide dog and service dog starts out as an adorable puppy. When you sponsor a puppy for yourself or as a gift, you can follow along as it grows up to help someone in need.

Besides the smiles, here’s what you’ll get when you sponsor a puppy: » Regular Pupdates filled with news of your puppy’s journey » Photos of your pup and a photo album to collect them » Our annual Southeastern Guide Dogs calendar, mailed each September » An adorable puppy photo magnet » A downloadable certificate

My Puppy’s Photo Album I’m sponsoring Daphne guidedogs.org/puppy

Sign up at GuideDogs.org/puppy or call 941.729.5665.

For those ready for what’s next

2020 top individual agent for the Lakewood Ranch office • Five Star Professional - 13th year and the Florida REALTORS® Honor Society - 13th year • Her designations of importance are: Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) • She also earned the Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) endorsement from the National Association of REALTORS® for agents who are committed to practicing business at the highest standards

MICHELLE CRABTREE

3 » Old Miakka Fall Hootenanny Live music, food, kids activities, silent auction and family fun. Proceeds benefit the restoration of the old schoolhouse.

Old Miakka Schoolhouse | facebook.com/1914schoolhouse 6 » Atlanta Braves Farmer’s Market Local and organic fresh produce, baked goods, meats, seafood, dairy, plants, herbs, prepared foods, honey, syrups, sauces, salsa and more in a fun environment.

CoolToday Park | bravesfarmersmarket.org

941.724.4663 Michelle.Crabtree@PremierSIR.com MichelleCrabtree.PremierSothebysRealty.com

Third-generation local and broker associate since 1982 Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived from various sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate.

SUPPORT

Discover handmade masterpieces by 350+ LOCAL ARTISTS!

9 » Festival d’Elegance Jaguar enthusiasts rejoice! This annual car show hosted by the Suncoast Jaguar Club is an event not to be missed. Enter your Jag, or come admire others!

St. Armands Circle | suncoastjaguarclub.com 9 » Top Dog 2021 Support a great cause at this Westminster-like dog show. Bring your dog and mingle with other dog lovers, enjoy dinner and cocktails and a special guest.

Bradenton Yacht Club | dantesden.org www.artfulgiraae.com | 1861 Fruitville Rd | Sarasota FL 34236 | 941-388-3700 OCTOBER 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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QUEEN

d l r Wo

OF OF THE THE

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A A

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Discover life in the VIPLane with Admiral Travel. Contact us today!

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SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

13 » A Taste of Sarasota Enjoy food from over 15 local restaurants all in one place!

The Meadows Country Club | atasteofsarasota.com 15–17 » Sarasota Celtic Music Festival Enjoy a family-friendly event combining Celtic and Bavarian cultures—complete with bagpipes, lederhosen, wine, cocktails, and award-winning craft beer.

Motorworks Brewing | celtoberfest.org 15–17 » Rocktoberfest A classic Octoberfest with authentic German food and beer, and live musical performances in rock, soul, big band, R&B and of course German folk music and dancers.

JD Hamel Park | paragonartevents.com 16 » Anna Maria Island Bayfest Live music all day, delicious food, arts and crafts vendors, car show and more.

Pine Avenue | annamariaislandchamber.org

THANKS TO YOU... The Exchange has been a proud supporter of the arts of our community since 1962.

Find your joy Sarasota’s #1 consignment shop    

The joy of shopping The joy of giving The joy of recycling The joy of supporting students and the arts in our community

OP H S W O N AT E N I L N O AWEX.COM

T SARASkO-up in Store Pic

DONATE SHOP CONSIGN VOLUNTEER

This purchase helped support 23 Art Organizations & 22 Students during fiscal year 2019-2020

539 S. ORANGE | 941-955-7859 | OPEN MON-FRI 9-4 & SAT 10-4 | www.sarasotawex.com OCTOBER 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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Friday, October 22, 2021 The Westin Sarasota Seating is limited. Make your reservations today!

• OR JOIN OUR AUCTION WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR HOME •

Curated Travel, Golf, Dining, Wine Packages

Presenting Sponsor

Lawrence P. Castellani Family Foundation Ruby Sponsors

JoAnn Heisen

Roger & Jenny Holland Bonnie McIntyre & Bill Noonan Kimberley A. Pelyk Shirley & Pat Wulf, E-Dee and Michael Murphy

26

SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

Benefiting:

the perfect

SpOOky 16–31 » Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival Craft vendors, live music, live shows, pumpkin patch, games, hayrides, pony rides, corn maze, scarecrow displays, food, petting zoo, train rides and more.

Hunsader Farms | hunsaderfarms.com 16–17 » Florida International Air Show Performances by the F-16 Viper Demo Team, the U.S. Special Operations Command Parachuters, ChefPitts, Scott Farnsworth and much more.

Punta Gorda Airport | floridaairshow.com

4420 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 941.260.8905 www.shellysgiftandchristmasboutique.com Monday - Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

16–17 » St. Armands Boat Show Indulge your boating fantasies! Come explore the many options available in today’s world of boating. Sponsored

by Cannon’s Marina.

Circle Park | starmandscircleassoc.com 16–17 » American Vintage Market An exciting and fun vintage shopping event. Expect to find a huge selection of vintage delights from passionate pickers, makers, collectors, creators and artisans.

Robarts Arena | americanvintagemarkets.com

OCTOBER 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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Home of the Glass & Mirror Specialists

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16–17 » Arcadia Fall Rodeo Bare-back bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle riding, bull riding and barrel racing.

Arcadia Rodeo| arcadiarodeo.com

941-927-2535 www.theshowershopfl.com info@theshowershopfl.com 5775 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34233

17 » Florida Inline Skating Marathon and 5K Run This race is part of the World Inline Cup and features over 200 elite skaters.

Nathan Benderson Park| floridainlineskatingmarathon.com

Schedule a FREE Assessment!

Do You Have An Elderly Loved One Who Wants to Stay at Home but Needs Help?

23–24, 30–31 » Mote A-SCARE-ium Join Mote Marine for a spooky Halloween event, A-SCARE-ium, for a day of super fin Halloween activities and decorations.

Mote Marine | mote.org

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Changing the Way the World Ages 28

SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

I HHA-299994463

23–24 » Hungarian Festival Hungarian food, sport, dancing, archery, goulash cooking contest and arts and crafts.

Sarasota County Fairgrounds | hungarianfestivalsarasota.com 29 » 2021 Chalk Festival Professional pavement artists from around the world use chalk as their medium and the pavement as their canvas. Get interactive and create your own masterpiece, “jump” into 3D works of art, enjoy live music, food, drinks and vendors.

Venice Airport | chalkfestival.org

Experience elegant dining inside or alfresco...

From its inviting old world charm and sophistication to its timeless, artistic cuisine, let the legendary Cafe L’Europe take you on an unforgettable culinary adventure.

Carry Out Available!

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ESTABLISHED 1973

CONTINENTAL CUISINE | FINE WINES | CRAFT COCKTAILS | PIANO MUSIC OCTOBER 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE ALFRESCO DINING | PRIVATE DINING | PRIVATE DINING CATERING

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Your One-Stop Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Shop Competitive Pricing • Locally Owned

30 » Oceanic Evening – The Magic of Mote Mote’s black-tie gala is back! Register online and enjoy an evening of unlocking the mysteries of the seas with Mote scientists.

Ritz-Carlton | mote.org 30 & 31 » Wild-O-Ween Fun Halloween activities including rubber duckies, pumpkin bowling, mummy wrapping , costume contests, pony rides, wild prizes and more! Get your face painted and trick-or-treat throughout Big Cat Habitat.

Big Cat Habitat | bigcathabitat.org 31 » Fright Night The annual Halloween event is back for the 12th year. The circle transforms from island sophistication to Halloween fun. Decorated storefronts set the stage for wandering spirits. Frightening characters lurk in the corners. Trick or treating for the kids.

St. Armands Circle | starmandscircleassoc.com

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NOV 7 | Brunch on the Bay Enjoy exquisite cuisine, wonderful fellowship with friends and have the opportunity to invest in the future of our community by supporting student scholarships.

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NOV 6 – 30 | Suncoast Renaissance Festival A full cast of colorful characters fill the lands with music, dancing, a variety of food, drinks and treats, and numerous artisan merchants with handcrafted wares.

Sarasota County Fairgrounds | suncoastrenaissancefestival.com

Not Just Chinese!!

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NOV 13 | Suncoast Food and Wine Festival Browse a variety of local artisans’ work in this popular open air event. Paintings, sculptures, metal/wood works, glass, ceramics and much more.

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CIRCUS IS BACK! 2021/2022 SeASoN Sailor CirCuS preSentS let it Snow Sun, DeC 26 – thurS, DeC 30, 2021 Sailor CirCuS arena America’s longest running youth circus presents amazingly talented student performers in this highly anticipated annual holiday show.

winDjammerS performanCe (TradiTional CirCus MusiC & CirCus arTisTry)

Sun, jan 16, 2022 Sailor CirCuS arena The national group of talented musicians present traditional circus music and Sailor Circus Academy students delight patrons when the two organizations come together for an afternoon of incredible entertainment!

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SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

CirCuS artS Gala fri, jan 28, 2022 unDer the ulla SearinG BiG top (in naThan Benderson Park, on The island) The best gala of the year under the Circus Sarasota Big Top combines fun fashion with circus artistry!

Don’t miss this important evening of philanthropy to keep the circus arts alive and thriving.

CirCuS SaraSota 2022 fri, feB 11 – Sun, mar 6, 2022 unDer the ulla SearinG BiG top (in naThan Benderson Park, on The island) Don’t miss this international cast of circus artists, many that appeared on america’s Got Talent, in thrilling performances under the Big Top!!

Cirque DeS Voix®: CirCuS of The VoiCeS

fri, mar 18 – Sun, mar 20, 2022 unDer the ulla SearinG BiG top (in naThan Benderson Park, on The island) The CAC teams up with the Key Chorale to present an exhilaratingly unique show that combines live singing & music by the 40+ piece Cirque orchestra with professional circus artists.

tiCketS on Sale in noVemBer! Get your ViP Tickets early by signing up for The CaC newsletter at Circusarts.org!

Circusarts.org | 941.355.9805 The Circus Arts Conservatory is a 501(c)3 non-profit performing arts educational organization.

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INSPIRING HOPE DINNER

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Restaurants & Catering Celebrate the Holidays Debbie & Dan Dannheisser

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PARTY pics DEBBIE DANNHEISSER THREADS GRAND OPENING

The Grand Opening of Debbie Dannheisser Threads, held in downtown Sarasota, featured artist and designer Debbie Dannheisser’s custom designed leggings and athleisurewear.

Part of the proceeds from the night went to Sisterhood For Good. The retail space at 1834 Main Street in downtown Sarasota will be open Wednesdays from 10am-3pm. Debbie will be hosting another open house on November 3rd benefitting Tidewell Foundation. Photos by Jordan Kelly-Laviolette.

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Scene Snaps

This month, our readers celebrate dreams come true!

Completing a m

aster’s degree is always momento us—and especially during challenging times .

Fo ur C hi ld ren First employees mad e their education dreams come tru Bonnie Eskell (to e in 2021. p) earned her M .S. in Psychology concentration in with a Child and Adoles cent Developmen Capella Universit t from y. Sue Loncaric (top right), Maria and Patty Balint Valenzuela, (bottom right) al l earned an M.Ed. concentration in with a Early Childhood Education Leader University of Nor ship from the th Florida.

Jeffery Kin

proposed o n Eve of 201 5, but between im migration d elays and COVID it took six fu ll years to ma ke their dre am come true.

“My husba nd, Marcos, wa s finally allo wed into our co untry on M ay 23, 2021.” The couple cele brated with friend s at the Ma rie Selby Botanical G ardens.

New Year’s

36

SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

Ronnique Hawki

ns is thrilled to re

port that the Lear

n munity Impact gr ant from the Comm unity Foundation of Sarasota Coun ty and produced a YouTube series of multicultural yout h empowerment an d mentoring.

My History Foun

dation won a Co m

We’ve got you covered

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37 37

For Judy Haran, learning

the technique and skills

needed to produce

striking photos has been

a dream come true. She

says, “I have entered local

competitions and have

been published several

times. This photo is one

of the best I have recently

taken, and involved

much thought regarding

composition, light, and

editing.”

After Dominic H ar

ris and Asa Thom

as got engaged on special wedding . But COVID uncertainties mad e planning difficu lt.

“M ar ia Br ad y said to me, why not elope?

I said I didn’t wan t something not special… she told me to le ave it up to her an d sh e w ill m ak e it out of this world!! Well, she did.. we got mar ried on the Ring ling tower with a violinist overlo oking the water and then had th e most magical private receptio n at Michael’s W ine Cellar with ju st Coast Black Thea us and West ter Troupe perfo rming. It was so gorgeous!

A million candle s and floating ch andeliers, Dom ch flowing… we bo ampagne th just cried. We used a photogra pher and videographer to capture the day and later will send and family!” Plan to our friends ner: Maria Brady; Photographer: Jo Flowers: Tailored hn Revisky; Twig Christmas Day, As

a dreamed of a

38

SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

ura and La n o R s t paren appy Proud were h a t o s a r f Sa Dietz o rt their suppo d n a rney to help e’s jou e r i s e ter D ite daugh te desp a t S n n h Pe p. She throug ed bum e p s VID s that the CO ternship in n o t ou r an missed paid fo , d e ll e anc ’t live were c couldn e h s t en ake the apartm ed to t u in t n co Zoom. in, but ses by s la c r he ust last of in Aug uated d a r g e of Desire chelor a B a h it 2021 w ee. e degr Scienc

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39 39

Dreams came tru

(bottom) when th

Gallery of Saraso

adoptions durin

e for Briahna (to

eir families foun

ta. They were ab

g COVID shutdo

Zoom adoptions

in Sarasota.

p) and Autumn

d them on the H

le to finalize thei

wns with the first

eart

r

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nce d Cha n o c e S ses at path g clas n i ng the w e o l s a y t p i te un k one s Comm o wor ty are i n u ning t t r r u o t p e r p of ekly Last O ream et we d e o m h y men w ls. The lls and le skil ng do for wo i b a w t e e s k ar r while eed m eem, nothe a and n e elf-est n s o g h t n i i v ond w impro and b es for u q i n h ent. ng tec ploym m e d learni n, an nicatio u m m co

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41

Wed Classnesday, January 13, 2021 Conversation

With 5 children

grown and flown, Michelle Desve aux McLean looked for new pu rpose. She found it by tra in in g w Council of Saraso ith the Literacy ta to be an adult literacy tutor. One the next, and Mic thing led to helle went on to become Executiv the Manatee Lite e Director of rary Council. “I ca n honestly say th is everything that at this position I prayed for in a job,” she says. “I get to work with amazing lear ners and voluntee rs to im pr ov e lit our community. eracy skills in We’ve been able to make amazing throughout the pa gains, even ndemic.” Here M ichelle shows th her organization e map where tracks learners fro m over 32 countri es.

The

Challenge for

Changing

lives Children First is proud to celebrate Head Start Awareness Month!

Double your impact to support early childhood education and family strengthening for at-risk children and families. All gifts will be matched up to $1,060,000 by our Diamond Circle, in honor of Children First’s 60th Anniversary.

childrenfirst.net 42 42

SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021 SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

alk met in Maureen Serrano and Brad Sch friends and 2009 on Siesta Key through mutual nded family went on to successfully raise a ble e, we were of four teenagers. “During that tim a paper that so busy and never felt like having that much said we were married really meant had a chance to us,” said Maureen. “Once we ut our future to catch our breath and think abo wonderful to together, we decided it would be ul beach wedding get engaged and plan a beautif at Key Club.” at our favorite place: The Longbo and the wedding Unfortunately, COVID interfered, es. Finally on date had to be changed three tim true. Everyone May 22, 2021, their dream came th the wait! who attended agreed it was wor Photos: Alisa Sue Forbis.

Join us! Enter before October 11 for the theme:

• FASHION AND FUN •

Share photos of yourself and others looking your best and having a blast. Class, sass, and creativity welcome! Email photos and description to wendy@scenesarasota.com by October 11.

OCTOBER 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

43

The FIND

Ready to party? Jazz up your wardrobe with one of these posh products.

By Gina Liga

1.

MARY FRANCES BEADED HANDBAG This highly collectible, meticulously crafted threedimensional handbag appeals to the champagne lover in all of us. The handbag's champagne bucket, bottle, and glasses are all handbeaded and finished with lifelike resin ice rocks.

Foxy Lady $322 | foxyladysarasota.com

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SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

3.

2.

NORMA KAMALI RUCHED ONE-SHOULDER GOWN A gorgeous mid-length cocktail dress with an all over ruched design and asymmetrical details. This dress has a built in stretch body suit for comfort and drape.

Lotus Boutique $215 | lotussarasota.com

VESTA LARIAT NECKLACE A frosted beach glass look, tapered end points and feather cutouts give this lariat necklace a contemporary edge. The chain loops through a fixed hoop so the length stays in place leaving you free to style this necklace any way you please.

Designed by Holly Yashi.

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insider

5.

4.

EVA JERSEY TUNIC TANK Soft and sleeveless featuring a beautiful and sparkly linear dot pattern. Paneled design flatters every shape. Scoop neck, draped pocket and asymmetrical hem.

Made for comfort and style. Paired here with Alembika print leggings.

Dreamweaver Tunic $85, Leggings $99 | dreamweavershopping.com

MEN’S ROLEX A stunning 18 karat yellow gold Rolex Daytona featuring a diamond black mother of pearl dial. Perfect for any social event of the season.

Gold & Diamond Source $69,999 | goldanddiamond.com

OCTOBER 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

45

philanthropy philanthropy

z

Giving Together A PORTRAIT OF DAN STEFFEN AND ANNE GIESECKE

By Laura Shoemaker

Every eight weeks, Dan Steffen and Anne Giesecke go on an unusual date—to the Suncoast Blood Center, where they roll up their sleeves and donate life-giving blood.

If you live in the Sarasota area, you’ve probably driven by one of the Suncoast Blood Centers or seen the bloodmobile parked around town. Inside one of the six regional centers or one of the air-conditioned vehicles, you’ll find stateof-the-art donation equipment, comfortable donor beds, caring staff, and of course, post-donation snacks and refreshments. Suncoast Blood Centers has been supplying the region’s hospitals with blood products for over 70 years. And for the past decade, so have Dan and Anne.

When the couple began living in Sarasota full-time in 2010, they started looking for ways to become more involved in the community, and specifically, to support causes that are meaningful to them. Dan and Anne’s careers were related to health and nutrition. Dan, who has a Ph.D. in physiology, worked in the food and nutrition industry for such companies as Kraft and General Foods. Anne, who holds her Ph.D. in 46

SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

Anthropology, held roles in the Environmental Protection Agency and the American Bakers Association.

Retiring to Sarasota, their philanthropic efforts here began with the couple donating money to All Faiths Food Bank and Suncoast Blood Centers. Dan explains that being financial donors was just the start. They both had careers and accomplishments that made it possible for them to retire in Sarasota. Now, in addition to some extra money, they had time to give, too. So, they began to go on “dates” to donate blood together.

ENCOURAGING OTHERS “It doesn’t cost you anything to give blood,” says Anne, adding that she also appreciates how Suncoast Blood Centers directly benefits the local community by collecting some 40,000 units of blood annually. These donations are then distributed locally to patients in area hospitals. The Suncoast Blood Centers also participates in a national program that supplies blood donations to military patients.

Dan comments that he and Anne “like to be responsible

"There exist several opportunities to do things for other people and make a personal contribution at Suncoast Blood Centers, whether that is giving blood, couriering, working as a volunteer, or a combination of activities.” —ANNE GIESECKE Photo by EA Photography

citizens.” The couple is also not shy about encouraging others to contribute, whether or not they live in Sarasota.

For example: One time while his son was visiting from New Jersey, Dan took him, where else? To a blood drive!

Dan was proud when the younger man told the staff person reviewing his registration paperwork, “I’ll give a double,” meaning not just one, but two units of blood.

Whereas a whole blood donation usually takes about 10 or 15 minutes, it is possible to donate two units at once, using a special process called “red cell apheresis.” This process removes only the red blood cells, returning the other fluids back into the donor’s body. While it allows for a larger donation, the process does take a little longer.

On another occasion, the couple picked up a friend from the SRQ Airport who had come to visit them from Nebraska. As they were driving from the airport, they passed the Suncoast Blood Center on Mound Street, near the intersection of Osprey Avenue. Seeing the sign requesting donations, their friend mentioned that she had one of the more rare blood types, A negative, and she might be interested in donating blood on her visit.

So, instead of taking her home as planned, they took her out to lunch. You see, it’s not a good idea to give blood on an empty stomach, and Dan and Anne were going to take her to Suncoast to make a donation—all before they had gotten her home to unpack her bags!

Dan and Anne have recruited neighbors, friends, and family to donate blood. According to the Suncoast Blood Centers website, it’s volunteer donors like these who provide nearly all blood used in transfusions in the nation. Dan and Anne are adamant that donating blood, for most people, is simple, taking 15-20 minutes, tops. The paperwork, they joke, takes longer than the blood donation itself.

And what does the couple say to people who are squeamish around blood? Anne, as it happens, doesn’t like needles or the sight of blood—especially her own. She advises talking to the person who is taking the donation about your fears.

“The phlebotomists are so accommodating,” she explains.

“They give a warning before they begin and will even place a towel over my arm, so I can’t see.”

GIVING TAKES MANY FORMS About five years ago, after returning from a trip to Mexico, Dan learned that he would have to pause his blood donations for a while. It turns out that exposure to some blood-borne illnesses, such as Chagas disease, which is caused by a parasite that lives on a certain insect, can occur when travelling internationally to certain parts of the world. This event was a turning point. Still wanting to contribute in some way, Dan started volunteering as a courier for Suncoast Blood Centers. He’s never stopped.

OCTOBER 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

47

philanthropy

Once or twice a week he picks up blood product that is specially packed in ice (whole blood) or dry ice (frozen convalescent plasma) and delivers the life-giving substances to one of several area hospitals or cancer treatment centers.

Though the couple is clearly enthusiastic about volunteering for Suncoast Blood Centers, they still joke that all the chores at home are now done by Anne because “Dan is out driving for Suncoast!” Jokes aside, Anne emphasizes that there exist several “opportunities to do things for other people and make a personal contribution,” at Suncoast Blood Centers, whether that is giving blood, couriering, working as a volunteer, or a combination of activities.

As their involvement has grown over the years from monetary contributors, to “stick your arm out,” to volunteering their time, the couple became known as a very special kind of supporters. Joan Leonard, Community Engagement Coordinator at Suncoast Blood Centers, calls Dan and Anne “trifecta donors”—those cherished supporters who give their blood and their time, along with their financial support.

When asked about what they’re proudest of, they both nod towards their careers, but talk more specifically about the importance of family. “Family,” Anne says, “is very grounding.” Dan’s first wife passed away and his four grown kids and their families still live in New Jersey. Anne supported and took care of her sister and mother during both women’s end-of-life illnesses, of which she says, “I did the right thing for them.” This focus on others seems to be mirrored in the myriad ways the couple supports Suncoast Blood Centers. “We wanted to find a good organization to give to,” explains Dan, about their philanthropy.

Dan and Anne say they feel lucky and fortunate for their families, their careers, and their retirement in Sarasota.

They’re a couple who are clearly happy together, and happy to be able to give back.

F O R M O R E IN F O R M AT IO N

about the Suncoast Blood Centers, please visit suncoastblood.org

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Fresh

50

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Air

Local communities welcome the new season with outdoor initiatives & activities

By Carol Brzozowski “As we move into the season and the beautiful weather that comes with that, we are excited about all of our outdoor events and bringing the community together,” notes Monaca Onstad, director of community relations for Lakewood Ranch.

Indeed, the season is upon us and with it comes a slate of various activities, from promoting fun to advocating for the environment.

The biggest news in Lakewood Ranch is the November opening of Waterside Place, a mixed-use town center offering living options, shopping, dining and concert experiences.

OCTOBER 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

51

Additionally, The Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch “is an amazing experience that occurs every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” Onstad points out. “The market will move to Waterside Place in November and we’ll offer expanded programming and even more vendors.”

Sarasota hits the ground running on Oct. 17 with the Florida Inline Skating Marathon and 5k Run at Nathan Benderson Park, an associated race with the World Inline Cup. The purse is up to $24,000.

Proceeds benefit BeTriForUs, a non-profit organization helping differently-abled individuals by promoting their inclusion in activities from which they are often excluded.

All ages and levels are welcome to participate in the 26.2-mile full skate marathon, the 13-mile half skate marathon, the 10K skate, and the 5K run on the inner loop.

For fees and start times, visit runsignup.com/Race/FL/ Sarasota/FloridainlineMarathon.

From October 29 to November 1, the Chalk Festival—An International Pavement Art Event—takes place at the Venice Airport from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets range from $5 for children 12 and younger to $20 for adults.

The event provides opportunities to be a spectator or participant. Live music and vendors will be on hand.

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SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021 SARASOTA SCENE | OCTOBER 2021

“Not only can you watch them (sand sculpt), but they give lessons.

There is music and vendors. It’s great for families.”

— Catherine Luckner, The Siesta Key Crystal Classic international sand sculpting festival is slated for Nov. 12 to 15. The event attracts talented sand sculptors from throughout the world showcasing their talents on the public beachfront.

“Not only can you watch them do it, but they give lessons,” says Catherine Luckner, president for the Siesta Key Association of Sarasota and a Siesta Key Coalition board member. “There is music and vendors. It’s great for families.”

The Siesta Key Association of Sarasota is continuing its water quality clean-up initiative in the Grand Canal, which has served as a fish habitat and nursery as well as a popular hangout for manatees to feed.

“We’ve all been very worried about those creatures that we all love to see, especially the manatee,” says Luckner.

To that end, the association will use funds from a Sarasota Bay Estuary Program grant and a county neighborhood grant for water quality improvements to install minimarine reefs below the docks of homes of those who have purchased them.

They are designed to attract small marine creatures and provide a habitat as a fish nursery for smaller fish.

“We’re adding an oxygenation component to see if adding dissolved oxygen will help improve the water quality a little bit faster,” says Luckner. “We’ve got two other canals that we’re comparing it to as we go along.

“We’re noticing small snook had started to come back into the canals and whenever we have a fish nursery, it attracts other things as well. We hope we will start to see more of our manatee coming back into the canals as well.”

OCTOBER 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE OCTOBER 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

53 53

In October, St. Armands Circle invites marine sport and automotive enthusiasts to Jagfest (October 9) and St. Armands Boat Show (October 16 and 17), followed by a Halloween Fright Night at the end of the month. November’s lineup brings events for lovers of Ferrari, Porsche, and holiday festivals and entertainment.

The Venice Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its Business Showcase at CoolToday Park in conjunction with Atlanta Braves Spring Training in making this a new event to connect local Venice area businesses with residents, notes Kathy Lehner, president and CEO. The outdoor event will be under cover on the concourse. The famous Tomahawk Tiki Bar & Grill will be open during showcase hours.

The event features more than 45 businesses with which to engage so residents “can feel confident with whom they do business” says Lehner.

For the holidays, “last year we had a fun time with our ‘Let it Glow’ program where folks can hop in the car with the family, the dog, some hot chocolate and snacks and tour around the Venice area to see the 25-plus businesses decorated for the holiday,” says Lehner.

Announcements are forthcoming regarding the list of participants and how to vote for the prestigious Light Bulb Award.

On January 21, the chamber is hosting the 2nd Annual Non-Profit Rally outdoors in its parking lot. the Chamber’s parking lot at 597 S Tamiami Trail.

The event will feature more than 40 organizations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for residents and yearly visitors to connect with non-profit organizations “and give of their time, talents and maybe treasure,” notes Lehner.

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OCTOBER 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

55

out & about

photographer Nancy Guth sets out to some of the local events and happenings that make the Sarasota/ Bradenton area unique!

Big Top Brewing Company, named for Sarasota’s historical associations with The Ringling Circus, celebrated the opening of a new taproom as well as the closing of a chapter at what had been their main taproom for years. Food trucks, music, games, family, friends—and of course, good beer—were present at this last hurrah on Porter way. Their new taproom will be at the former location of pub and venue Cock’n’Bull, just a block north of their previous location on Cattleman Road.

Lemurs joined yoga students and teacher Erika Cain, RYT 200, for the Wild Yoga Program in collaboration with Big Cat Habitat. This ongoing fundraising series supports their mission to provide a safe and permanent home for big cats and other exotic creatures in need.

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The Oracle Project kicked off its first outdoor event in a 10,000 sq ft community-based art space in downtown Sarasota. The brain child of Liliana Allen of Oracle flooring, these events feature live muralists, street artists, musicians, writers, vendors, and food trucks in a vibrant, engaging, multi-sensory experience.

Motorworks Brewing, known for their vast, dog-friendly patio and awardwinning beers, hosted live music by Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio. Twinkle has performed and recorded with world class musicians including Aerosmith, Rod Stewart, Brian Johnson, and Sheryl Crow, to name a few.

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|SHOWCASE

A D M I R A L T R AV E L I N T E R N AT I O N A L (941) 951-1801 A D M I R A LT R AV E L . C O M 1 2 8 4 N PA L M AV E , S A R A S O TA , F L 3 4 2 3 6 Ryan Hilton, Malaka Hilton and Salvatore Ferragamo (Owner of Il Borro, of the Ferragamo family) in front of the private jet chartered by the Hiltons - The Crystal Skye

Admiral Travel International (ATI) was founded in 1997 by husband and wife Malaka and Ryan Hilton. In 2022, the duo will celebrate 25 years of providing their clients with one-ofa-kind luxurious travel experiences.

ATI isn’t a typical travel agency; it is like having a personal concierge. Their team will build a custom package that introduces you to locations you may have only read about, or book you on an escorted trip where you can view the Northern Lights of Finland, see Egypt’s hieroglyphs, or enjoy an African safari. Your destination is curated with your taste in mind.

Famed Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass articulating the significance of the Great Sphinx of Giza to Admiral Travel guest

Private Sahara desert camp for Admiral Travel guests The Hilton family gorilla trekking in Rwanda

ATI takes the hard work out of your hands and expertly guides you to vacations that you may not have thought of on your own. Those can include culinary adventures, wine tours, adventure-based locals, and trips planned for a history buff.

The Hiltons scout many itineraries so they can find hidden gems and events you’ll want to add to your bucket list. It is one of the ways they can put in place contingency plans.

So, if your connecting flight is delayed, overbooked, or your luggage is lost, their more than two decades of experience in the industry and established relationships will smooth out the bumps.

A proud Virtuoso Member agency, ATI is recognized for the exceptional experiences its advisors create for individuals and groups. Readers of Condé Nast and Travel + Leisure magazines have recognized ATI’s expertise for over 20 years.

Whether you choose to travel to your destination via a chartered private plane or commercial flight, the ultimate goal of ATI is to make your trip seamless and well planned. Your only tasks are to pack your bags, your travel documents, and a willingness to create memories that you won’t soon forget.

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6 Sensational Films That Go

Behind the Scenes

BY GUS MOLLASIS I love films about how movies are made. All the magic. The backstabbing. The back room deals. Stars not ready for their close up. All the mystery and twisted plots. Stars born. Stars made. And stars faded.

Who can resist peeking backstage and seeing how magic gets made in Hollywood? Or pulling back the curtain on the lives of exceptional artistic personalities? Here are six terrific, and fascinating films that go behind the scenes to explore the deeper story.

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8

½

The film 8½ by Federico Fellini is a perfect 10. It encompasses all the madness and style of the Italian auteur director at his best. One viewing is never enough. And the bigger the screen the better to enjoy sheer magic, madness of the man at the top of his game. Throw in Marcello Mastroianni at his most handsome dripping with charisma while Anouk Aimée, Claudia Cardinale, and Sandra Milo provide plenty of temptations for the sometimes frustrated but always fantasy-seeking film director Guido Anselmi. As he tries to finish his next masterpiece, he takes a longer journey in his mind. He deals with creative roadblocks—dipping into deep thought about his life and loves, adding up to make his film more biographical and 8½ one of the greatest and most colorful films of all time—stunningly shot in magnificent black and white.

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sunset boulevard

Sullivan’s Travels Sullivan’s Travels follows the fictional, disillusioned Hollywood movie director, Sullivan, who goes undercover as a hobo in bid to rejuvenate his art. Along the way, a romantic interest emerges and ultimately this film is a love letter to Hollywood and the impact that movies can have on the human condition. A journey picture. A buddy picture. And definitely a love story that heats up the screen organically and in a way that all screenwriters and filmmakers should study. Preston Sturges stakes his claim of being one of the greatest comedic writer-directors of all time, masterfully traveling the high wire and balancing hopelessness and humor.

When they intersect at a place down the road, a moment of epiphany is achieved—and Sullivan finally sees the relevance of his life’s work and the importance of laughter.

Sunset Boulevard is not only the best film about Hollywood—It’s also one of the greatest films of all time. Iconic for its sense of place and history. Stylized to the point that many of its scenes should hang in a museum to depict Hollywood at its zenith.

Billy Wilder directs this haunting classic that is part Film Noir, part film history lesson and a poetic ode to the motion pictures— period. It’s both an homage and swipe at the motion picture business. When Gloria Swanson says, “I am big, it’s the pictures that got small,” the hairs on my arm stand up. A screenplay so perfect, a story so beautifully shot and directed, with actors sizzling in a place called Sunset Boulevard.

That Buster Keaton and Eric von Stroheim are part of the cast adds to the gravitas and makes this 1950 film purely magical. William Holden has never been better than playing the struggling writer Joe Gillis who turns into the right—or is the wrong driveway— on Sunset Boulevard.

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the player The Player is Robert Altman’s greatest film. And that’s saying something. It’s also a companion piece to Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard from decades earlier, as this 1992 masterpiece employs much of the cynicism that made Wilder’s classic smolder. Here, a Hollywood studio executive is being plagued by death threats from a writer whose script he rejected. The problem is—which one? He has that many enemies in Tinsel Town. The film is filled with an array Hollywood players from Whoopi Goldberg to Peter Gallagher. A line from power producer Griffin Mill, played by Tim Robbins, is worth the price of admission: “I was just thinking what an interesting concept it is to eliminate the writer from the artistic process. If we could just get rid of these actors and directors, maybe we’ve got something here.” This film classic can play on any screen and in any town. A real player.

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Ailey

Ailey explores the incredible, glistening genius that was Alvin Ailey— dancer, director, choreographer, and activist. In this documentary, awardwinning director Jamila Wignot offers a poignant, behind-the-scenes look at Ailey’s lifelong love of dance. The triumphs and tragedies of a man who founded an iconic, barrier-breaking dance company. Ailey’s reverence for the art form and how he transformed it to become more inclusive—especially to people who looked and danced like him—an African American. We meet the company carrying on his legacy long after his tragic and too early death to AIDS. This is a breathtaking, poetic study in the determination of a legendary dancer and the new generation of artists who embody the spirit and soul of the founder.

Roadrunner Roadrunner captures the magic of irreverent, charismatic, raconteur, and best-selling chef Anthony Bourdain. This documentary digs deep into a man often magnificent in his taste for the main dish and its story, yet unable to find an elusive missing ingredient that left him unsatisfied, unhappy, and unable to bring himself to the table with more gratitude for one last supper. Acclaimed filmmaker, Morgan Neville, (Will You Be My Neighbor; 20 Feet From Stardom) uses a balance of testimonials from those who knew and loved Anthony along with the power of the chef’s own words to foreshadow the last course that we all knew would eventually come. A picture emerges of both a confident star who could seemingly do no wrong, and the other Anthony—fragile and vulnerable and unable to get his life’s recipe just right. A mesmerizing and exhausting film experience. Fans of Anthony will be transfixed and sadly ask, “why?”

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|SHOWCASE

M AT T I S O N ’ S R E S TA U R A N T S A N D C AT E R I N G

(941) 921-3400 M AT T I S O N S . C O M

Chef Paul Mattison has become a recognized name in the Sarasota area with three iconic restaurants and a catering business that are among the most popular for local dining and special events. Since 2001, Mattison’s has provided premiere catering from Sarasota to Tampa. Mattison’s City Grille opened in 2002 in the heart of downtown Sarasota, Mattison’s Forty-One made its debut in 2007 in south Sarasota, and Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille rounded out the group in 2017 in Bradenton on the beautiful Riverwalk.

the Artichokes Esther, that appear on his menus for both the restaurants and at catered events.

City Grille and Riverwalk Grille both offer casual al fresco atmospheres with live music, award-winning happy hours, and covered, open air dining for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. The recently renovated Forty-One provides a beautiful and elegant, yet relaxed experience for lunch and dinner plus a private event space for special events or corporate functions.

Each Mattison’s location is unique to its neighborhood, offering Chef Paul’s signature dishes, outstanding service, and quality ingredients, while supporting the community, regional farmers, and culinary suppliers. Mattison’s in-house and off-site catering makes each occasion special with experienced professionals and custom menus.

Chef Paul grew up in upstate New York, where he was inspired to learn cooking and gardening from his Italian grandmother. She taught him to make several dishes, like 64

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He began his culinary career at age 15 and graduated with honors from The Culinary Institute of America. From there, Chef Paul went on to Aspen, CO to refine his skills at the Zagat-celebrated Pinon’s restaurant. In 1991, he relocated to Sarasota as the executive chef of the Summerhouse Restaurant.

Whether you are dining at one of the Mattison’s Restaurants or having an event catered, the top quality, delicious food, superb customer care, and attention to detail will show you why Mattison’s is a local favorite.

Crystal Anniversary Iain Webb’s

with the Sarasota Ballet

Iain in Ashton’s La fille mal gardee

By Sylvia Whitman

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Founded in 1987 by former dancer Jean Weidner Goldstein, The Sarasota Ballet had grown into a respected resident company. But Goldstein and her board had bigger ambitions. In 2006, they were looking for a new director willing to make a long-term commitment and lead the organization to national recognition.

They were more than a little surprised when Webb “threw his hat into the ring,” as he puts it.

Not that Webb wasn’t worthy. He just wasn’t the conventional candidate. A dancer for 18 years, Webb retired from London’s Royal Ballet and accepted the invitation of Sir Matthew Bourne to help take Swan Lake to Broadway with an all-male ensemble. Tony Awards and world tours followed. Next, Webb commuted from England to Japan as ballet master and later assistant director of Tetsuya Kumakawa’s new K-Ballet Company. Across Europe and in the States, he produced shows, galas, and festivals. Dancers loved working with him, and more and more people murmured that he should start his own company.

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Fifteen seasons ago, The Sarasota Ballet and Iain Webb each took a gamble.

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With his wife, noted ballerina Margaret Barbieri, Webb hashed over the next step of his career. He realized he “always liked to be behind the scenes and fixing things rather than being out front in the spotlight.” He was in his late 40s, and Barbieri told him that if he didn’t try to be a director now, he’d be too old.

So, when Webb heard The Sarasota Ballet was hiring, he applied.

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Webb had never seen the company perform, and couldn’t, because it was the off season when he flew to Sarasota for an interview. He walked across the street from his hotel to the Van Wezel to get an idea of the local audience. “I didn’t watch the show,” Webb says. “It was really just watching people.” He noted a mix, some “very elegant, sophisticated people—you could feel the aura around them—” and others enjoying a rare night out. “That’s what it’s about really,” he says, “the audience coming in and forgetting what’s going on in the world outside, forgetting what their personal struggles are, and just being taken into a magical place.”

He saw promise, and The Sarasota Ballet did too. It offered him a three-year contract. Webb laughed at that notion of long-term commitment. The unwritten rule held that it takes at least five years to remold a company. But his gut said, Take it.

Plus, Webb had two secret weapons: “my address book and my wife.”

January 2007, the bet was on.

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“That’s what it’s about really. The audience coming in and forgetting what’s going on in the world outside, forgetting what their personal struggles are, and just being taken into a magical place.”

Ivan Spitale, Daniel Pratt, Ricki Bertoni, & Lenin Valladares in Sir Matthew Bourne’s Infernal Gallop. Photo Matthew Holler NOT THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD Webb recalls an “exciting” first year, thanks in no small part to the support of major donor and board member Marvin Danto, who argued against too many artistic restrictions on the new director. Webb put together “a whole new season of follies, of choreographers that no one even heard of, like Frederick Ashton.” He chose to conclude with a “very cheeky” piece by Sir Matthew Bourne. “It just made me laugh, because it was so naughty, so on the borderline. And I felt, well, if I only last one year, at least I’ll leave with smile on my face.”

Patron Karol Fosse noticed the Webb effect right away. She was not alone: The Herald Tribune reported in October 2008 that subscriptions rose 40% in his first season.

Childhood lessons had inclined Fosse toward ballet, but she had little opportunity to feed that fondness as an adult in a Michigan town without a resident ballet company. Snowbird and later settler, she attended The Sarasota Ballet sporadically—until Webb took over. She

enjoyed what has become his signature triptych, three short ballets carefully chosen to complement each other.

The romantic Ashton ballets seduced her.

To this day, she also remembers a 2008 performance of Robert North’s Troy Game. The frills of ballet didn’t appeal to her husband, so she took her daughter that evening.

“It was such an athletic ballet that both my daughter and I were almost in a state of shock. At the intermission, her comment was, ‘I've never seen anything like this.’ And neither had I.” They shared the same thought: This is ballet even my husband would enjoy.

Sarasota audiences rose to the challenge to try something new, again and again. According to The Sarasota Ballet’s current executive director, Joseph Volpe, Webb was able to secure permissions, attract guest artists, and deliver the highest quality collaborations because “he has a world of knowledge and connections with other dancers of other companies.” The address book. Volpe calls Webb “really wonderful” at making plans and OCTOBER 2021 | SARASOTA SCENE

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Victoria Hulland and The Sarasota Ballet in Sir Peter Wright’s Giselle

“It’s been so cool to see the company transform over the years. It’s not stuff that you get to see here in America a lot, so he’s made the company really unique and special.”

—Victoria Hulland

executing them. This, notes Volpe, who managed the Metropolitan Opera in New York for 16 years, is a rare combination with “artistic personalities.” Webb moves easily between backstage and back office.

Karol Fosse went from sporadic attender to season ticket holder. As one of the Friends of the Sarasota Ballet, she especially enjoys the monthly luncheons with glimpses behind the scenes from Webb and other company members. Webb is renowned for his deep knowledge of ballet history and his ability to give Genesis-like discourses on the genealogy of particular works.

“That kind of devotion to his work only comes because it's really who he is,” says Fosse. “Because he's so excited about what he does, he generates that same kind of excitement in the community. He wears his heart on his sleeve.”

A DANCER’S DIRECTOR As a new director, Webb brought Barbieri to New York with him to hold auditions. Victoria Hulland, then a trainee at the Boston Ballet School, remembers that one of her teachers insisted she go, the ballet grapevine buzzing about the prominent couple re-energizing The Sarasota Ballet.

Hulland got the offer, signed the apprentice contract, and moved to Sarasota. Where? her friends asked.

One of Hulland’s first memories of working with Iain is a funny story, she says, despite the flash of panic at the time.

He asked to talk to her in his office after class. “He was like very serious music: ‘I’m so sorry, but we’ve made a big mistake with your contract.’” Hulland recalls “freaking out,” imagining herself jobless in a new town. Instead, Webb told her that the ballet should have given her a corps contract. From there, the promotions snowballed, with Hulland rising to principal in 2009.

“It's been so cool to see the company transform over the years,” she says. The friends who first said, Where?

Saratoga? Sarasota? now gush about “the rep”—the repertoire of 154 ballets and divertissements that include 39 world premieres, 7 American premieres, and the Ashton canon. “It's not stuff that you get to see here in America a lot,” she says, “so he's made the company really unique and special.”

Everyone notices Webb’s rapport with the dancers, how he and Barbieri—Iain and Maggie—nurture talent.

(The Sarasota Ballet named coach and mentor Barbieri assistant director in 2012.) “He knows what dancers really

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The Sarasota Ballet in Sir Frederick Ashton’s Marguerite and Armand. Photo by Frank Atura. need and what's what, what problems they face,” Volpe says. Hulland says Webb supported her maternity leave by giving her a teaching position in the school. Through the pandemic, he helped The Sarasota Ballet figure out how to keep dancers on payroll. They know Webb has their back.

The company has risen to meet high expectations, says Hulland, because Iain and Maggie have “trusted us dancers to perform these masterpieces. Some of the roles I've gotten to do and ballets I've gotten to know I never imagined would be possible for me.” One of Hulland’s personal highlights: dancing the title role in Ashton’s Marguerite and Armand—the first performance of that ballet by an American company. “It was huge to be trusted with that,” she says.

Webb himself notes that “the dancers will do anything for me. They trust what I'm trying to do.” He loves reminding them of their place in ballet history, the lineage of a costume or a role, and giving them “gifts” usually

reserved for major companies. The Sarasota Ballet also cultivates company choreographers, most notably dancer Ricardo Graziano.

Webb still teaches class. Hulland says everyone can tell when he’ll be coming to the studio because he wears his yellow-and-black-checkered sneakers. She says she’s stayed 15 years not just for the amazing roles but for the esprit de corps Webb has created, dancers helping each other out and cheering each other on. “I think he has made sure that people have acted in that way. If he has ever sensed anything otherwise, he's made clear we're not going have that kind of behavior here. It starts from the top.”

“When a dancer leaves us, it breaks his heart,” Fosse says. Of course, Webb helps his protégés move on to a larger company or a new venture. “But it's like having your children, you know, getting married and move away,” Fosse says. “I don't think he would admit to that, but that's really who he is.”

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The Sarasota Ballet in Sir Frederick Ashton’s Les Patineurs.

NO LONGER THE UNDERDOG The Sarasota Ballet kept renewing Webb’s contract. It didn’t take long for everyone to recognize the wager as a win-win.

“Iain will be in the office, seven days a week, doing something,” says Volpe. “He is just 100% committed to The Sarasota Ballet.”

To Webb, the commitment feels mutual. From founder Goldstein to the board to the audience to the donors, “the most amazing thing is how everybody's opened their hearts up to The Sarasota Ballet, to the dancers and to what Margaret and Joe and I are trying to do. I still sometimes can't believe how people have been so loving and caring about the company.”

Webb finds it hard to pick out just one highlight from his long tenure. Achieving national—and international— recognition took just a few years. In 2011, Suzanne Farrell, “Balanchine’s muse,” invited The Sarasota Ballet to partner on a production of Diamonds with her company based in Washington, D.C. Two years later, the Kennedy Center invited The Sarasota Ballet back as one of nine companies featured in Ballet Across America, alongside “big guns” like the Pennsylvania and Washington ballets.

That was an honor, but Webb says the company was “kind of an underdog,” performing an older piece by Ashton (of 70

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course), “Les Patineurs,” far less familiar to the audience than the other troupes’ programs. The Sarasota Ballet did so well, though, that “the Washington Post said we were the crown in the jewel of the festival,” Webb recalls.

That prompted a New York Times reporter to travel to Florida to suss out the story behind this “miracle,” as the critics described it.

“Mr. Webb sees an analogy between his small company and Ashton’s scrappy beginnings,” the Times reporter concluded. “Perhaps someday no one will think it incongruous for [Ashton’s] ballets to have a home in Sarasota.”

That day has already come. Webb and company are looking forward to a 2021-2022 season with works by Ashton and Dame Ninette de Valois, Twila Tharp and Marc Morris, and more. Sir David Bintley is sojourning in Sarasota to produce his full-length ballet, a world premiere based on Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors.

“It's going to be such fun, to have somebody like him in the house, creating this work on the dancers. I'm sure the audience will find it—and everything—really amazing,” Webb says.

For more information about the upcoming season and COVID protocols for attending live performances, see The Sarasota Ballet website: www.sarasotaballet.org

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Scene TOGETHER

COUPLES ON THEIR WEDDING DAY

By Wendy Lyons Sunshine

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MAY 15, 2021

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him. The bride wo re a Sare with Laz h Nouri d aro over ress s kirt and shoes. C Jimmy C h e ll y ’s g h oo arters w by her g e re c r a ft randmo ed ther and with cry embellis stals. hed After a m emorable wedding honeym , the cou ooned a ple t L adera R L u c ia . C esort in h e ll y h a St. s le ft h e h a ir s t y li r c a re e r st to sta a sa r t t h e ir N ic k c o fa m il y, w n t in u e s h il e h is c a r e manage e r in w e ment. a lt h VENDOR S | Venu e: The R of Art Co ingling M urtyard • useum Wedding Maria Bra Planner: dy • Pho tos: Hun • Florist: ter Ryan Tailored Photo Twig • C Ron • M a ke: Cake usic: Pri s by vate Pro Videogra perty Ba pher: Sto n d

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APRIL 24, 202 1

ANNA C. KOSH Y + KENDALL P. K ELL AWAY,

introduce ther offered to A fraternity bro would be a, certain they nn A d an l al d Ken kept finding . But the pair a great match ars later, the ay. Nearly 3 ye el d to s se cu ex predicted— ected and—as two finally conn ch other. they fell for ea and Kendall sales at Amgen in ks or w a nn A . He is er at RoadOne ag an m r o ni is a se member for er and board d un fo co a so al EDRAY ement company ag an m n io at destin arehousing ed asset light w bl na -e ch te d an atic. company Kinim ning on enjoy vacatio r ai p e th se Becau intended to Beach, Kendall Mexico’s Tulum inner at uring a fancy d d a nn A to e propos he couldn’t rant there. But Kin Toh, a restau on the at he “cracked th ng si es nf co wait, eck-in.” first night of ch su it ab le fo r e a w ed d in g H o w to d ev is to do ? “We wanted nd o b l ia ec sp their r wedding ly unique for ou something real opted for Kendall. They ys sa ” e, em th and an with an front of Ca’ d’Z a ceremony in r, followed as a ringmaste ed ss re d nt ia offic 76

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by cocktail hour and an old time jazz band on the rear veranda at sunset.

Guests were then shuttled to the museum courtyard for a whimsical, vintage circus-themed reception. Circus performers—including stilt walkers, a cirque-style mime to mock the crowd, aerial acts, and jugglers—mingled with the crowd and an 11-person band performed underneath the statue of David. Food stations represented countries and continents the couple had visited, and carts offered guests popcorn and cotton candy. There was even “a Perrier Jouet bar carved out of ice, a Zoltar fortune telling machine, and magic mirror-themed photo booth,” says Kendall.

Unfortunately, international friends and family could not travel to the festivities due to COVID, but otherwise the celebration went forward with gusto. “We were pressured several times to postpone the wedding due to COVID,” said Kendall, “but held strong with hopes that everything would pull through, and it did. The team overseeing the property allowed for the capacity we needed on the day of our wedding.”

The couple opted for a mini honeymoon in Cabo San Lucas and are planning several weeks in Bali and the surrounding region for a real honeymoon in the summer of 2022.

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SPOTLIGHT

Delightful florida Studio Theatre Delivers a

Winter Season

By Lisa Codianne Fowler Bring it on, FST! Producing Artistic Director/CEO Richard Hopkins and team have prepared a scintillating season of showstoppers. And what a lineup it is.

Hopkins is thrilled about the upcoming performances and remains confident that attendance will prove to be robust. Not only because of the stellar quality of this season’s productions, but also because he believes that now is an ideal time to lift the community’s spirits dampened by the pandemic.

“All the shows are heartwarming and very positive, which we need in this era of COVID,” he says, “to get us out of the doldrums and the darkness and to help bring us out and get us socializing once more and connecting with other people.”

“The good news I’m seeing in Sarasota right now,” he adds, “is that infections are actually going down. We’re running two shows right now and our audiences are happy, vaccinated, wearing masks, and it’s working.

The same thing is happening on Broadway.”

The FST season includes four plays on the Mainstage, and three performances in the Cabaret. The first three Mainstage performances are scheduled as follows: • Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story— Beginning November 3 • America in One Room—Beginning December 8 • The Play That Goes Wrong—Beginning January 19

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“All the shows are heartwarming and very positive which we need in this era of Covid, to get us out of the doldrums and the darkness and to help bring us out and get us socializing once more and connecting with other people.”

—Richard Hopkins

THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY Hopkins spoke with Sarasota Scene while he was in New York last month, casting for several FST productions, including the first scheduled for the Mainstage, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.

He shared with us some captivating but little-known details.

“Something to be aware of, Buddy Holly was originally produced in London, and then moved to New York, to Broadway,” he explains. “That said, it was originally produced with 30 people. Our version has only eight performers playing all of the roles with a variety of instruments.

That makes it a much more demanding show to do. As a result, when the actors walk into audition, they’re carrying all their instruments—from saxophones to guitars.

It’ll be an exciting rehearsal process. It is very different and makes for a much more intimate show that’s about storytelling and a little bit less about the spectacle of the show. It’s a really good story and the music is fantastic. It’s the genesis of rock and roll, how it all started.”

Showcasing the classic songs “Peggy Sue,” “Every Day,” and “Oh Boy,” by Buddy Holly, the play also features Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” and The Big Bopper’s “Chantilly Lace.”

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America in One Room

America in One Room

“It’s a great snapshot of the world we are living in today.

It also involves a little bit of audience engagement—the audience does not join the discussion, but they do vote.”

—Richard Hopkins on “America in One Room”

AMERICA IN ONE ROOM This unique production is another must-see in these tumultuous times. Though it highlights a broad diversity of views and philosophies from people of all walks of life, Richard makes it clear that it is about people, not politics.

Written by Jason Odell Williams, America in One Room was commissioned by FST in spring 2020 as part of their initiative that employed playwrights and other artists, creating this collection of new work, specifically meant for FST staging.

Hopkins describes it as speaking to the issues of the day.

“What the convention organizers did was find a group of people representative of all different kinds of people in America, he explains. “Different shapes, sizes, different thought patterns, republicans, democrats, independents, all different ethnicities, races, and religions.”

“Everyone is in one room talking about the issues of the day.

And it’s not just talking about issues of the day, we get to see what these individuals want, their specific desires and

goals. They are in parallel frequently, but also, in conflict.

It’s a great snapshot of the world we are living in today.

It also involves a little bit of audience engagement—the audience does not join the discussion, but they do vote.”

He notes that while the show is serious, it is very lively and also very humorous.

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG The third play of the season was a surprise addition to the lineup, a little-known gem discovered by Hopkins and his wife (and Managing Director) Rebecca. Directed by Bruce Jordan, creator of Shear Madness, it is about an amateur theatre putting on a murder mystery. But everything goes wrong, from actors getting hurt, forgetting their lines, falling asleep, and collapsing scenery. FST describes it as, “A show’s opening night goes from bad to utterly disastrous.”

“We had not heard of it and when we were in London we just happened to stop by the theatre,” Hopkins shared.

“I hadn’t seen anything like this in decades, so we were delighted to get the rights to this. It’s hysterically funny, and heartwarming, and just a joy to watch.”

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MORE ROUSING ROMPS The fourth Mainstage production, The Legend of Georgia McBride, begins March 30, 2022.

The Wanderers

This unexpected story features Casey, a financially challenged young man. He learns all at once that his wife is pregnant, and he’s lost his job as an Elvis impersonator to a B-level drag show. A big-hearted, music-filled comedy, it is packed with extraordinary humor and depth.

The Cabaret has three sensational shows in store: The Wanderers by Richard Hopkins and Rebecca Hopkins will play beginning September 29. It salutes the vintage harmony groups from The Four Seasons to The Beatles, The Drifters, and The Platters.

Laughing Matters Laughing Matters

Friends in Low Places, named after a song by Garth Brooks, explores the sound and style of Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, and George Strait. It begins on November 17.

Laughing Matters creatively pokes fun at local and nationwide issues. The sketch comedy show will have you in stitches, no matter your origin. The series begins on February 9.

DON’T FORGET… • FST Improv – an endless source of surprises and belly laughs • The Children’s Theatre - designed to spark imagination and conversation As Hopkins says, “You gotta live your life.” Get out there and get engaged. He urges everyone to get vaccinated, be careful, and partake of life’s multi-cultural and human heart-felt offerings. Let FST open your mind and your heart.

For tickets and subscription information for all Florida Studio Theatre productions, call 941-366-9000 or visit floridastudiotheatre.org.

Check the website for current safety measures and guidelines.

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Education MATTERS

data and feedback, and it was designed to provide Ringling’s art and design students with the basic business knowledge and skills they needed to make more informed career decisions and thrive as practicing professionals.

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

THE BUSINESS OF ART AND DESIGN AT RINGLING COLLEGE Since 1931, Ringling College has been offering a firstrate education to artists. The college’s goal has always been to do more than just help students become better artists—they want those artists to find lucrative, ongoing work opportunities, too.

The recruiters who regularly came to campus to hire Ringling College talent started to say the same thing.

They were desperate to find individuals who, while not full-time artists, were nonetheless creative and understood how artists and designers worked. The companies these recruiters represented yearned for people who had the ability to manage projects, work with clients and customers, and also guide creative teams. Graduates from traditional business programs weren’t fitting the bill.

In response to this industry demand, Ringling College created the Business of Art and Design minor in 2005.

This new minor was deeply informed by extensive alumni

Due to the success and popularity of the Business minor, a “concept development team” was formed in 2006 to explore the possibility of adding Business of Art and Design (BOAD) as a full academic major. After two years of extensive research, the major was launched—the first of its kind in the entire US. Kathleen Sobr, the current Business Department Head and a member of its first group of graduates herself, explains the major as one that “integrates art, design, and business management to prepare students for management and leadership positions in the creative industries—in media, entertainment, marketing, advertising, design, arts, and cultural businesses. Projects in these industries are increasingly complex and require a creative approach to management. They demand professionals that can think both creatively and critically.”

Unlike traditional business degrees, Business graduates learn to think like a designer and develop an understanding of the creative process. To this end, Business courses are situated in a creative industry context with case studies built around design management, advertising, animation and live action media production, and art and design

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entrepreneurship. The goal is to have learning that mirrors the real world as much as possible, which often happens through hands-on collaboration with students in other disciplines at Ringling College. These unique interdisciplinary experiences give students the ability to work with artists and designers and understand their role and value in the creative process.

“A class project might include students from Graphic Design, Film, Photography, and Business,” Sobr explains.

“As teams form, students step into the role aligned with their discipline. Business students are the strategists and producers or production managers on these teams.

The work they do informs and guides the efforts of their team. And through these projects, they gain resumeworthy experiences that illustrate to everyone involved how integral these roles are on the team.” She notes that Ringling College’s creative community provides the perfect environment for this sort of work. “It’s a real differentiator for the program.”

“Many of our graduates work as producers and production managers in gaming and animation, including DreamWorks, Netflix, and JibJab Studios,” Sobr says.

“We love seeing alum transition from production assistant, to production coordinator, to producer, to senior producer, and onward as their careers progress.

It’s so inspiring for current students to see as well.”

While Sobr herself is a Business of Art and Design success story, a more recent example is Ellie Winslow, 84

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last year’s Trustee Scholar—an honor given to a single outstanding senior in each Ringling College major.

Winslow attended Ringling College’s summer Precollege program in 2016 and was inspired by a BOAD student teaching assistant.

“I always knew that my interests were business and art, and when looking at schools it felt like I needed to choose between the two of them,” Winslow admits.

“If I chose a traditional business school, I would be letting go of my passions, and if I chose a traditional art school, I would be ignoring the way my brain naturally processes information. When I found the Business program, I realized I didn’t have to choose between them. I could use both of them to create something uniquely me.”

Winslow now works as a strategist at a marketing agency where she helps ethical brands stand out. “My goals are to be a part of a larger conversation that impacts consumer and environmental well-being.”

Like Winslow, Ringling College BOAD graduates are finding their skills in high demand. On the marketing and strategy side, their graduates are working as brand strategists, creative directors, and marketing managers at companies such as Meow Wolf, Game Developers Conference, Deloitte Digital, and even locally at Art Ovation Hotel, the Dali Museum, Studio BCC, and Feld Entertainment. Other graduates have found work in talent management or design resource

management at production studios or on a freelance basis in the film industry.

At the core of the major is Sobr’s educational philosophy: Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.

“This is even more relevant today as the higher education landscape evolves,” she says. “The Business of Art and Design faculty are amazing, developing new approaches to teaching and learning each semester.

We are constantly revisiting the question, ‘What can we offer students in the classroom that can’t be learned or experienced on YouTube or other free platforms?’”

Sobr and her colleagues strive to impart a bias toward action. “We encourage our students to make moves— show us you mean business, show up with ideas, passion, and initiative, and we will meet you more than halfway to make those ideas happen.”

F O R M O R E IN F O R M AT IO N

about Ringling College of Art and Design’s Business of Art and Design major and minor, please visit www.ringling.edu/business-of-art-and-design

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OCTOBER 2021 VISUAL ARTS EVENTS

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meet artist JANET MISHNER Inspired by the pandemic, Janet Mishner built her latest series of abstract paintings, “Isolation v Connection,” using the structure of the grid. Isolation is represented by boundaries of color in each grid, symbolizing the physical need to be safe. Connection is represented by the markings and colors permeating various sections of the grid, articulating the strong natural need for people to connect with each other.

Another series, “On and Off the Grid,” uses the grid structure to explore the conflict between rules (expressed by the grid) versus subversive activity (permeating the grid). This work satisfies the artist’s playful and rebellious nature.

“Although my art runs the gamut of figurative and abstract, the steady theme throughout my career as an artist is my aversion to painting from direct observation.

I have always used ideas and an accumulation of observations as inspiration for my work,” Ms. Mishner explains.

“My figurative work has often been called narrative, as viewers often come up with their own story related to the painting they see before them. It is extremely satisfying to experience varied reactions to my work, since another of my objectives as a painter is to encourage individual interpretation.”

Janet Mishner’s work may be seen at Art Uptown Gallery in downtown Sarasota, where she is a long-time member, or on her website, www.janetmishner.com.

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These are challenging times. Over the last 21 months in my dental practice, I have been working with a fearful and divided public. Both patients and employees have voiced fears of exposure to the virus in our dental setting.

Two 70-year-old men argued about masks and vaccines, almost coming to blows in our reception room. In the shrinking work force, we have had difficulty finding support staff. We have navigated sick family members and employees, making it challenging at times to deliver the stellar patient service for which we are known.

The fear and stress of job loss, lockdowns, and sickness has caused rampant dental decay and gum disease like nothing I have ever seen in my 36 years of practice. I have seen patients with 13 cavities they didn’t have one year ago. The ADA describes this as “mask mouth.” Stress also contributes to clenching and grinding of the teeth, resulting in TMJ pain.

Weary of worrying, I realized the only thing that I can control is me and that my happiness is up to me. With most people locked into their opinions about our many challenges right now, I knew I needed to find inner peace and work on healing everything I could that affects my happiness.

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any relationship or communication challenge I may have experienced.

On the physical level, I began a practice of Tai Chi Gung, an energy-based martial art, with Master Lama Rasaji via internet classes. I sleep better than I have in years. I turned to “clean eating” eating non-processed foods and juicing, while working out 20 minutes daily. I work at least 6 days a week combining direct patient care with helping my son in his dental laboratory, so my days are highly structured to fit everything that needs to get done.

Daily rituals are important for me. In the morning, I list everything and everyone I am grateful for. Once a week I look in a mirror and speak aloud my list of positive affirmations. I send my past and future worries to the Light.

If I catch myself judging someone, I send it to the Light.

I visualize the Light emanating from my solar plexus to heal the sick that I say by name, if able. I believe my healing Light Energy repairs every cell in my body. I visualize the Light as a bubble around me that only allows good to come to me. I put that light bubble around my dental practice.

I have a faith and a knowing that this Light is in everyone, and it can change everything. I thank God for love and light. I see humanity as good and that each soul is on his or her own personal journey. By joining together with our differences and similarities, we can transform our planet and find peace.

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arts&culture

LITERARY Scene

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

THREE THRILLING NEW NOVELS

BENEATH DEVIL’S BRIDGE (Montlake, June 2021)

BY LORETH ANNE WHITE

I’ve long been a fan of true crime podcasts, and that very thing is at the heart of Loreth Anne White’s new book, Beneath Devil’s Bridge. True crime podcaster Trinity Scott is exploring details about the brutal assault and murder of a fourteen-year-old girl back in 1997.

The girl’s guidance counselor confessed to the crime and has been in jail ever since. Case closed, right? To uncover more details about the crime, Trinity tries to speak to Rachel Walczak, the retired detective who handled that case. Rachel refuses—she doesn’t want to relive the past.

But Trinity uncovers shocking information that does get Rachel’s attention—Trinity visited the “murderer” in jail and he’s now swearing that he didn’t commit the crime.

The real killer is still on the loose. This closed case is anything but, it seems. White follows both Trinity and Rachel (mostly the latter) as they work through a web of lies to find long-hidden truths.

The book is told in two timelines, with a present-day story paired with the original events from twenty-four

SUBURBAN DICKS (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, June 2021)

BY FABIAN NICIEZA

When I realized Argentine-American writer Fabian Nicieza was the co-creator of the Marvel comic character Deadpool, I knew I had to read and review his debut novel, Suburban Dicks. In this amateur-sleuth murder mystery, Andie Stern, a once-promising FBI profiler, gave up that career to raise a big family. Now she’s

years prior. The podcast format, too, is used to deliver information that helps readers along the many twists and turns.

While White’s book is fiction, it’s based on an actual gruesome murder from British Columbia from two decades ago. Even without that true-crime basis, this story is full of thick atmosphere, well-wrought characters, and a binge-worth storyline that delivers all the way up to a compelling conclusion. This is a darn good murder mystery.

RYAN’S RATING: WWW.LORETHANNEWHITE.COM

living in New Jersey with four kids, and one on the way (“about 47 months” of being pregnant, if Andie’s to be believed). She’s engrossed in soccer games, recitals, screaming children, and all the kid-stuff one expects.

Then she stumbles across a murder scene at the local gas station. The cops are bumbling everything—they’re hopelessly overmatched by the situation. Andie can’t help herself. She gets involved in trying to solve the case, and she brings her kids along with her! (Yes, this part defies logic a bit, but hey, when you’re known for creating something crazy like Deadpool, you’re allowed to defy a bit of logic in your stories.)

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arts&culture Andie teams up with a disgraced journalist, Kenny Lee, who’s just as interested in solving this case. More bodies turn up, and the duo starts to suspect that racial tensions of the present and past are part of the deadly equation.

The book has some timely social commentary about suburban racism and the can-you-win? challenge of a mom and wife who “has it all.”

The book’s most prominent feature, though, is its constant irreverent humor and wisecracks. You might just find yourself laughing out loud more than once.

This is a memorable romp of a mystery with a triple dose of charm.

RYAN’S RATING: WWW.FABIANNICIEZA.COM

DREAM GIRL (William Morrow, June 2021)

BY LAURA LIPPMAN

Laura Lippman’s new novel, Dream Girl, feels like a nod to Stephen King’s Misery. In her story, big-time writer Gerry Anderson moves from NYC to Baltimore to be near his dying mother. Then he has an accident that leaves him dependent on a nurse and a helper. But things get stranger when a woman calls, claiming to be Aubrey—the heroine of Dream Girl, Gerry’s biggest success by far. Only Aubrey is entirely made up!

Gerry’s a jerk with a few ex-wives and dozens of onenight stands in his rearview mirror. Is he being toyed with by a jilted, angry ex? Is Gerry just an unreliable narrator? Does he have the same mental issues his own mother suffers?

Two things might move this from a must-read to a maybe-read. One is the pace. It’s a slow burn, no doubt about it. The other is Gerry himself. He’s truly an awful person, and we spend a lot of time in his head.

Some readers won’t relish that. Lippman ratchets up the tension by moving between the present and the past, so we see Gerry in action, objectifying women, and being a stereotypical “successful” jerky dude.

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What offsets that to a degree is that most of the other people in Gerry’s life are interesting. Plus, there’s Lippman’s sense of humor and satire that offers some irony to all that happens. The second half of the book really picks up, as well, and the ending brings things to a fairly satisfying close.

Lippman is a first-rate mystery writer. Half of her fans will love that she’s expanding into the psychological thriller realm, and half will lament that fact. No matter what, a lot of people are talking about Lippman and this book.

Maybe read it to see why?

RYAN’S RATING:

arts&culture

Laughing MATTERS THE FANTASY LIFE

By Ryan G. Van Cleave | Illustrations by Darcy Kelly-Laviolette

I

’ve been visiting my folks up in Chicago for a few weeks, and the only place to work is at the kitchen table, which means people are puttering around me all the time. Moments ago, my mom walked past as I posted this note on Facebook.

Why did I get her correspondence instead of mine? That’s for some future kid’s dissertation in chaos theory to unpuzzle.

12-team yahoo ff dynasty; .75PPR, 2 IDP, ret yds; no snake; $300/150/50, $35 in; 26 roster, 2 IR; She paused, looked at what I’d created, made a chuffing noise, then took off her glasses and wiped them on a towel, as if assuming that they were malfunctioning, one imagines. As a professional writer, I’ve been known to employ actual words and sentences, after all (at least most of the time). For my poor mom, this must’ve been quite the departure.

She finally voiced her concern. “What on earth is that?”

“It’s a fantasy football thing,” I said.

“What’s wrong with regular football?”

“With fantasy football, you can have Tom Brady on your team, throwing to Davante Adams and Julio Jones.”

Mom snorted. “If all those fellows were on the Bears, they’d still lose.”

Point taken. But her confusion over what I’d written on Facebook was valid, with I being about as full of insider geek-jargon as one gets. Yet that’s how we fantasy football people speak sometimes. Well, that way plus lots of overly emphatic conversations about the perils of Thursday night football, the merits of microwave burritos, and the steady increase of women sports reporters (as a rule, we’re quite in favor of this).

Just in case you don’t know what fantasy football is, I’ll explain. It’s where people pretend to be an NFL owner, only with 100% fewer mega-yachts, 200% fewer personal shoppers, and 6,000% less teeth whitener. Okay, I might be overstating the case there. Some NFL owners prefer

Gulfstream jets over big boats.

An added plus to being in a fantasy football league is the punny team names you’re obligated to use, such as Rollin’ with Mahomies, It Takes Tua to Tango, and Bear Force One. Trust me, these names are a scream…at least to the same demographic who can decipher my geek jargon up above and who also spends the entire season fearing a last place finish which necessitates having to dress in their best Sunday duds and jumping into Lake Erie. Or, in some cases, shave their eyebrows and use that photo as their new social media profile picture for the rest of the year. We fantasy footballers like to punish our own.

I fully realize that many people like football but don’t engage with the fantasy aspect of it. Their loss, I think.

The more I consider things, the more I’m coming to realize that the fantasy aspect is what appeals to me more than actual thundering hits, Hail Mary passes, and kerfuffles in the stands between Philadelphia Eagles fans and, well, pretty much everyone, including Santa Claus (you can look this one up if you want—they pelted him with snowballs back in ‘68).

As I stroll past the Sears Tower on this breezy Chicago fall day, I realize that my love for Things Fantastic has been part of my life forever. My three favorite books? The Hobbit, The Princess Bride, and the entire Harry Potter series. My three favorite foods? Meatless hamburgers, spray cheese, and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. Pretty fantastic, right?

Even my three favorite creatures are all (I’m sad to report) make-believe: unicorns, dragons, and punctual doctors.

Alright, alright. I suppose there MIGHT be a real dragon out there in Iceland or somewhere. Probably just down the fjord a bit from where Amelia Earhart, Elvis, and D.B. Cooper are hanging out in some rustic lodge, playing a lot of pinochle.

But here’s the most important question you’ll be asked all week—why don’t we take the idea behind fantasy football (bringing the fantastic into the realm of the real for the sake of fun) and crank it up to 11?

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Your New Patio Awaits.

arts&culture For example, if there was a fantasy dinner party catered by celebrity chefs, I’d be trying to trade Bobby Flay and Gordon Ramsay for Guy Fiere in two flips of a spatula. And can you imagine the fun we’d all have if we could play fantasy filmmaker, pairing up directors and actors off our rosters (“Gimme a Brad Pitt, any two Baldwins, and Angela Bassett, then let Sofia Coppola run with it!”)? Don’t even get me thinking about fantasy parenting! (“You spilled juice on the living room carpet? AGAIN? I’m trading you for Jimmy from down the block, even if I had to toss in two future options on a kid who actually likes soccer.”)

Think about the possibilities for work! For neighbors! For adult bedroom playtime!

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Let’s be honest. We ALL already play some version of this in our own lives, ranging from the what-might-have-been to the I-might-one-day-still to the I-never-could-but-boyhowdy-if-I-did stuff. The key difference, I think, is that fantasy football players just fully own it in a silly, public, often juvenile manner. Like the time my kicker lost me three games in the home stretch of the season and sent me to the basement of my league, which meant I had to spend 24 hours in my neighborhood Waffle House while wearing an “I Suck at Fantasy Football” t-shirt. Fortunately I could shave off an hour for each waffle I ate.

I ended up only spending half the day there, but I must’ve gained eleven pounds, and my stomach still aches—to this day!—at the memory of it.

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Waffle-chomping aside, I’ve got to wrap this piece up and return to my own fantasy of being 11 years old again. I’m currently staying in my folks’ basement, you see. All I need is an Atari 2600, a Members Only jacket, a Walkman, and a Rubik’s Cube, and it’s like reliving those golden years of youth all over again. Though this time around, I’ve got Tom Brady on my fantasy team to buoy me through the turbulent days ahead right here in the Windy City.

If you’ve ever owned a fantasy football team entitled Victorious Secret or Hooked on a Thielen, PLEASE contact me immediately. I have a Matt Prater-for-Aaron-Rodgers trade I want to talk to you about. For the rest of you, just flip through the rest of this month’s magazine. I’ll deliver something more palatable than Beyond Meat cracks and football chuckles next time.

Probably.

Unless I get all caught up looking at the NFL injury report and rue the day I ever drafted Zeke Elliot. How about them Cowboys?

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Benjamin Franklin wrote: “wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.” At Integrity Wealth Management (IWM), we w protect and grow the wealth you’ve worked hard to achieve so you can do just that. IWM specializes in assisting with low-risk investments, wealth preservation, reducing taxWe burdens and other personalized strategies.

We’re committed to encourage you to enjoy the wealth the values of integrity, honesty, competency and stewardship and putting you on the right path to live the life you so rich

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Integrity Wealth Management, Inc. is registered as an investment advisor with the state of Florida.

Registration as an investment advisor does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by securities regulators nor does it indicate that the advisor has attained a particular level of skill or ability.

Samuel L. C