September 2017

ARTS & CULTURE ISSUE

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AS A NEW SEASON BEGINS, THESE FIVE TALENTED ARTISTS ARE GETTING READY TO ENTERTAIN, ENGAGE AND INSPIRE.

A S P E CTAC U L A R V I E W

of Living

At Plymouth Harbor, wellness is defined by continuing broad interests and a healthy lifestyle for an active mind and body. Our new 10,000 square foot wellness center engages both equally.

Here you will find a rich myriad of activities surrounded by spectacular views of Sarasota Bay. Start your day with a workout in the fitness center, a soothing Tai Chi class, or a dip in the pool. Maybe you prefer the creative outlet of our woodworking shop or art studio. Join in on a game of bocce or a sit in on an educational lecture.

There is so much to choose from, the possibilities are endless. And it is not just a possibility, but everyday life here at Plymouth Harbor.

Once you see Plymouth Harbor and meet the vibrant people who call it home, you will change the way you think about your future.

Residents treasure the time they spend in their lovely, spacious apartment homes – yet appreciate all of the thoughtful services and amenities that are part of the Plymouth Harbor lifestyle. And they love the beautiful setting that looks like a first-class resort, but feels just like home.

Come see for yourself – and get a new perspective on retirement living. Call us today for a tour of our award-winning campus, our new wellness center, luxury accommodations and amenities.

A S P E C TA C U L A R V I E W O F R E T I R E M E N T

Call Today to Schedule a Personal Tour & Lunch 700 John Ringling Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34236 • (941) 365-2600 • www.PlymouthHarbor.org A Not-For-Profit Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). OIR #88039

Inspired by you.Created by us.

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CONTENTS features

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74 WHIMSICAL JOURNEY Sarasota Youth Opera’s Rootabaga Country

by Steven J. Smith

96 SHOWCASING OUR ARTS TO THE WORLD The important work of the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County

by Sue Cullen

40 MICHAEL

Asolo Rep’s Producing Artistic Director earns national acclaim

by Ryan G. Van Cleave

99 2017-2018 ARTS & CULTURE GUIDE

46 ARTS WONDER WOMEN This month’s cover story features five leading ladies of local arts.

by Jacqueline Miller

54 VENICE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Venice secures it’s place on Florida’s Cultural

by Sue Cullen

60 CREATIVES IN A CHANGING CITY As our town grows and evolves, so do our many talented visual artists.

Photography by John Revisky

60 ON THE COVER Photo of Dolly Jacobs, Summer Wallace, Natalie Helm, Dasha Reich and Leymis Balaños Wilmott by John Revisky. Makeup artist: Paula Gravier

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SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

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BLVDSarasota.com | 941.316.1499 ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES,TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. NO FEDERAL AGENCY HAS JUDGED THE MERITS OR VALUE, IF ANY, OF THIS PROPERTY. ALL PRICES AND FEATURES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL DRAWINGS ARE CONCEPTUAL RENDERINGS AND DEVELOPER EXPRESSLY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS.

CONTENTS departments

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30 SOCIAL SCENE 21 THE LIST Events Calendar

INSIDER 26 THE FIND Picks that prove true art can take any form

26 PHILANTHROPY

ON THE TOWN

ARTS & CULTURE

30 BIG TOP BACKERS

83 SCENES FROM AN INTERVIEW

125 BEST SEATS

Bernie and Lauren Walsh and the Circus Arts Conservatory

34 PRESCRIPTION FOR HAPPINESS The feel-good giving of Ernest “Doc” Werlin

by Steven J Smith

Be Informed Be Entertained Be SCENE scenesarasota.com

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SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

Gus Mollasis interviews Ringling College president Dr. Larry Thompson

93 EDUCATION MATTERS Gills Club at Mote Marine Laboratory

by Ryan G. Van Cleave

134 REAL TALK People, places and things with Sheryl Vieira

Performing Arts Calendar

127 GET INSPIRED Cultural happenings brought to you by the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County

132 LITERARY SCENE Ryan Van Cleave reviews a quirky trio of books on the subject of love.

There’s club living.

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CEO/President Ronald Milton Publisher/Executive Editor Julie A. Milton Account Executive Lauren Jackson Art Director Lauren Thomas Communications Specialist & Editorial Assistant Bobbilynn Hollifield Creative Intern Victoria A. Sinclair Distribution Dick Jackson Contributing Writers Sue Cullen Jacqueline Miller Gus Mollasis Steven J. Smith Ryan G. Van Cleave Sheryl Vieira Cover Photographer & Photo Director John Revisky Contributing Photographers Nancy Guth Kelly Kearns Josh Webb

443 John Ringling Blvd. Ste. #F | Sarasota, FL 34236 941.365.1119 | Fax: 941.954.5067 | scenesarasota.com

1 S. School Ave, Suite 200, Sarasota, FL 34237 FLUrologySpecialists.com A Division of 21st Century Oncology, LLC 14

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

RJM Ventures LLC, dba SCENE Magazine of Southwest Florida 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.

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from the executive editor

“Creativity takes courage.”

– HENRI MATISSE

A charismatic first lady’s powerful and tragic life. Endangered species dance.

A Spanish gypsy’s tumultuous love affair. A famous composer’s 100th birthday celebration. A legendary violinist visits. “New Stages” perform under the watchful eye of a Queen.

No, these aren’t dreams. These real stories all come to life during our 2017/2018 season of arts and culture.

Our beloved Asolo Rep opens with Evita, the riveting story of Argentina’s first lady Eva Peron. Sarasota Ballet’s Dreams of Nature features two company premieres “The Dream” and “Still Life at the Penguin Café,” in which dancers don incredible costumes to become endangered species. The musical genius of Leonard Bernstein comes alive at Sarasota Orchestra where world-renowned violinist Midori interprets Bernstein’s Serenade for violin and orchestra. Exciting award-winning contemporary artists perform at the incomparable Historic Asolo Theatre at The Ringling.

In this issue, you can find these performances and a whole lot more in our annual 2017/2018 Arts & Culture guide published by Sarasota Scene for the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County. There will be 40,000 guides printed and distributed throughout the community for both residents and tourists to pick up and enjoy. So sharpen your pencil, mark your favorites and reserve your tickets. It looks like this season is going to be jam-packed with thrills and chills!

Also in this issue, Sarasota Scene writer Ryan Van Cleave goes behind the scenes with Michael Donald Edwards, the dynamic and uber-talented managing artistic director at Asolo Rep. He has been sought out by some of the leading theater producers in the country to launch world premieres, and has created quite the buzz, not just locally, but throughout the theater world.

Our cover ladies are also quite special. They represent five different areas of art, and they are some of the best creatives in our ever-evolving arts and culture scene.

Leading these ladies is none other than our incredible circus queen - Dolly Jacobs.

What Dolly and her husband Pedro Reis have done for this community cannot be measured. They have kept the arts our city was founded on - circus arts - thriving, and have made sure we are not only entertained, but through community outreach programs, they bring smiles to the faces of those who need it most.

Surrounding our circus queen are newer creatives who are all making their mark on our community. They are artistic director and actress Summer Wallace from the contemporary and intimate Urbanite Theatre; mixed media artist Dasha Reich, whose solo shows have earned her great notice around town; Sarasota Orchestra

DID YOU KNOW what impact the arts have on our local economy?

In the most recent arts and economic impact study conducted in 2015, the arts contributed more than $340 million into the Sarasota-Manatee economy. The overall impact of arts and culture organizations in Sarasota County was $295 million.

Tourist spending accounted for nearly $57.8 million, and arts organizations support 7,445 full time jobs in Sarasota County. As a whole, the arts are one of the largest employers in Sarasota County.

Sarasota Scene took home three awards at The Florida Magazine Association’s Charlie Awards, which recognizes publishing excellence in our state.

CHARLIE AWARD (1ST PLACE) Best Photo Illustration October 2017 cover – FAT CATS BRONZE AWARD Best Magazine Redesign BRONZE AWARD Best Cover Design December 2017 Philanthropy cover Congratulations to my staff at Sarasota Scene and to John Revisky, our cover photographer.

SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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from the executive editor cellist Natalie Helm, who will be the soloist in a brand new Sarasota Orchestra series called Discoveries; and Leymis Balanos Wilmott, co-founder and artistic director of Sarasota Contemporary Dance, a company known for cutting edge, high-energy dance and collaborative performances with artists of various genres.

I also encourage you to read Sue Cullen’s article on the Venice Institute of Performing Arts (VIPA), which manages the Venice Performing Arts Center, home to The Venice Symphony, The Venice Concert Band and The Venice Chorale. VIPA also supports the local arts community through educational programs and other first-class entertainment.

Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County Executive Director Jim Shirley continues to spearhead important arts and cultural initiatives, including bringing together an inspiring collaboration of local artists and arts organizations at the World Rowing Championships in Benderson Park starting September 24. Forty thousand people from around the world are expected to attend the event. So, as Jim is quick to point out in Sue Cullen’s article, “Why not showcase all of Sarasota?” You can read more about this and many of the Alliance’s events this season in this issue.

Morton’s offers an extraordinary selection of fine wines, from familiar quality labels to smaller production brands not commonly found on supermarket shelves. From cellar collectibles to unbeatable values, our shop includes wines for every budget and occasion. Stop by and allow our specialists to assist in choosing the perfect wine for you. Visit our cold case for our extensive collection of craft and imported beers.

Historic Southside Village 1924 South Osprey Avenue ∙ Sarasota (941) 955-9856 ∙ MortonsMarket.com 18

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

The photography talent of John Revisky is showcased in our annual artist editorial spread, which pays homage to newer and established visual artists. I hope you enjoy these wonderful images of artists and their work, but most of all, I hope you will visit the artists’ websites to learn more about them.

Our arts and culture scene is legendary; our reputation is global. Through it all, we remain a city that is always evolving, exciting, inspirational and thriving. All that plus the #1 beach! What a great place to be!

julie@scenesarasota.com

Correction: Mistakes happen, but they cause me angst! I believe in ten years of writing my monthly that just might be my first. While researching for last month’s editorial, I was going to include the total number of military deaths during World War II (which was approximately 25 million military) as well as the total number of civilian casualties (which was almost 34 million people). I did not end up using these statistics in my editorial, but chose instead to only reference the number of Jewish people slaughtered during the Holocaust, which I know is 6 million. I instead wrote the 25 million number which was in my mind from my prior research, hence the error. My sincere apologies.

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AJC'S 2017 SUMMER Lunch & Learn: Dina Siegel Vann Michael’s on East AJC’s Director will explore the issues, challenges and opportunities presented for Latin America by the Trump administration.

Tickets: $28 sarasota@ajc.org

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Women’s Council of Realtors Sarasota 2017 Fashion Show

The LIST JUNE 2017 EVENTS CALENDAR

PICK YOUR FAVORITES!

As temperatures begin to cool (ever so slightly) and the kids head back to school, there are still plenty of shows, performances, lectures and the like to provide us with a respite from the hustle and bustle of summer’s end. We’re taking in burlesque and live music, lunching for knowledge, attending some helpful expos and walking for heart health. Add art, shopping, golf and rowing, and we’re beginning to see the start of another epic Sarasota fall season! Bring it on!

Hyatt Regency Sarasota 10:30 a.m.

Fashions from designer Camilyn Beth and Martin Freeman will be showcased.

A boutique will be open to purchase items, and live and silent auctions will take place. Proceeds benefit Mothers Helping Mothers.

Tickets: $75 wcrevents.com

Through Sept. 10

Selby Gardens' 37th Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition Selby's Museum of Botany &

the Arts (Payne Mansion) Five categories of photographs depicting Selby Gardens. Cash prizes will be awarded in each category, plus an overall “Best in Show” winner will be named. Admission: Free with admission to the Gardens selby.org

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Black Diamond Burlesque 7th Anniversary Spectacular

McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre 7:00 p.m.

VIP experience includes a pre-show Meet & Greet with the Diamonds, onstage photo op and champagne toast; cabaret-style burlesque show follows.

Tickets: $35 - $50 mccurdyscomedy.com

September 7, 2017 – April 5, 2018 Ringling Underground

John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art 8:00 p.m.

This event features an eclectic mix of live music, as well as up-and-coming artists displaying their work in the Museum of Art Courtyard.

Tickets: $15 ringling.org

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STAR – Storytelling at the Ranch

Sarasota Polo Field Club House 10:00 a.m.

Actors from the Players Centre for Performing Arts give a live performance of a The Magic Treehouse book.

Tickets: $10 - $15 lakewoodranch.com theplayers.org

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Wedding & Special Occasion Expo

Macy’s at University Town Center Mall 1:00 p.m.

A gathering of some of the best local special occasion vendors. Free admission l.macys.com/university-towncenter-sarasota-fl

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A Taste of Downtown

Sarasota Opera House 1:00 p.m.

Fourth annual event in which favorite downtown restaurants will showcase their dishes paired with fine wines, assorted beers and specialty cocktails. Proceeds from this event benefit the Sarasota Youth Opera, who will perform during the event.

Tickets: $65 tickets.sarasotaopera.org

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SunCoast Alliance for Lifelong Learning Third Annual Showcase

Temple Beth Sholom 8:30 a.m.

The event features seminars led by area experts. Keynote speaker Louise Gallagher will offer insights for those transitioning into retirement.

Tickets: $79; includes morning refreshments, lunch, and four showcase sessions.

Space is limited. suncoastlifelonglearning.org/ scall-showcase

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The Argus Foundation presents Meet the Minds: Schools Superintendent Dr. Todd Bowden

The Francis Ballroom 11:30 a.m.

Dr. Bowden discusses the state of the schools. Lunch will be served.

Tickets: $35 - $45 RSVP@Argusfoundation.org

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Bay Preserve 5:30 p.m.

Painter Theodore Morris presents his exhibit “Florida’s Lost Tribes.”

Admission: Free; reservations required conservationfoundation.com

Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club, North Port 10:00 a.m.

Yearly fun kids’ day to bring awareness to the work of Boys & Girls Clubs.

Free bgcsarasota.com

St. Armands Circle (participating businesses display pink balloons) 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Shopping, dining, discounts and raffles at participating Circle businesses. starmandscircleassoc.com

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Robarts Arena 4:30 p.m.

Networking event with 750+ local business professionals.

Complimentary tasting samples provided by local restaurants, goodie bags to the first 250 guests and a cash bar will be available.

Tickets: $5 - $10 eastmeetswestexpo.com

Sarasota Yacht Club 11:00 a.m.

Interactive luncheon with speakers from the Roskamp Institute.

Tickets: $50 - $100 roskampinstitute.org/events

ARTIST RECEPTION: FLORIDA’S LOST TRIBES

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12th Annual Intertape Polymer Group Leadership Breakfast

Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club 7:30 a.m.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County will honor Rod Hershberger, PGT Industries’ CEO and Chairman of the Board and Sarabeth Kalajian, Director of Sarasota County Libraries.

Tickets: $50 bgcsarasota.com

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

BGC’s 11th Annual Day FOR Kids

9th Annual East Meets West Regional Business EXPO

St. Armands Circle Ladies Night

Roskamp Institute presents Grey Matters: A Symposium on Alzheimer’s Research

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13th Annual Humane Society Golf Tournament Laurel Oak Country Club 7:30 a.m.

Shotgun at 8:30 a.m.; 18 holes, lunch reception, winner announcements, raffles and adoptable animals. All proceeds benefit The Humane Society of Sarasota County.

Registration: $150 - $500 hssc.org/golftournament

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Totally Tailgate

Michaels on East, Sarasota 6:30 p.m.

Multiple screens to watch your teams.

Tailgate food, games and beer garden with local brews.

Tickets: $100 girlsincsrq.com

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18th Annual Crewe of De Soto Charity Golf Tournament

The River Club Golf Course 1:00 p.m.

Golf tournament to benefit Del Couch Music Education Foundation.

Raffles, contests, prizes and an awards dinner.

Registration: $125 - $600 desotohq.com

9/23 – 10/01

2017 World Rowing Championships

Nathan Benderson Park Anticipated 1,700 athletes and coaches, as well as 40,000 spectators from more than 60 countries. nathanbendersonpark.org

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Art Center Sarasota’s iconcept jr

Art Center Sarasota 12:00 p.m.

Twenty-five young designers, ages 8-16, showcase fashions they created from repurposed and unconventional materials in a runway fashion show.

Tickets: $25 - $75; includes buffet lunch artsarasota.org/iconceptjr2017

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Designing Daughters - Dining for a Difference

Various local venues. See the Designing Daughters website for participating restaurants. designingdaughterssarasota.com

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Taste of Main – International Flare

Lakewood Ranch Main Street 2:00 p.m.

Community event involving shopping and dining, miniature golfing, moviegoing, and more.

Free to attend lakewoodranch.com

Michelle Crabtree Broker Associate, realtor® CLHMS, CRS, CIPS, GRI, ABR A third-generation local and broker associate since 1982, Michelle is dedicated to serving your needs in Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch.

• 2017 Five-Star Real Estate Agent “Best in Client Satisfaction” –10 years • 2017 Florida realtor® Honor Society – 10 years • Women’s Council of realtors® 2013 “Entrepreneur of the Year” and 2009 “Businesswoman of the Year” • 2013 and 2007 SAR “Meritorious Service Award” • 2010 Director, Sarasota Association of realtors® (SAR) – three-year term • 2008 WCR Sarasota Chapter President • 2005 WCR Sarasota “realtor® of the Year”

c 941.724.4663 michelle.crabtree@sothebysrealty.com

crabtreehomes.com

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.

SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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UPCOMING events EVENTS SPONSORED BY SARASOTA SCENE

OCTOBER 2

Argus Foundation 29th Annual Golf Tournament Founder’s Golf Club 11:00 a.m.

Lunch, golf, and an awards dinner.

Registration: $100+ argusfoundation.org

OCTOBER 11 SCOPE Annual Celebration & Boundary Crosser Award Michael’s on East 5:30 p.m.

Honoring Michael Klauber Tickets: $50+ scopesarasota.org/bc2017

OCTOBER 12 12th Annual Key to the Cure Saks Fifth Avenue 5:30 p.m.

“Party with a Purpose” event will feature food, beverages, entertainment, shopping and an exclusive “chance drawing.” Benefits Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation.

Tickets: $125+ smhf.org

OCTOBER 19 Second Chance Last Opportunity’s 22nd Annual Share the Light Luncheon Michael’s on East 11:30 a.m.

Honoring Lee-En Chung, P.E., LEED AP, Founder and Construction Consulting Engineer, and Valerie PowellStafford, FACHE, CEO at Englewood Community Hospital.

Tickets: $65 SecondChanceLastOpportunity.org

OCTOBER 21 Horne & Moon Scholarship Social 2017 Air & Energy Warehouse, Bradenton 7:00 p.m.

Moulin Rouge-themed social to raise funds for scholarships.

Tickets: $175 manateecf.org/horne-moonscholarship-social

OCTOBER 28 Mote’s Oceanic Evening The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota 6:30 p.m. mote.org

V IS IT S C EN ES A R A S O TA . C O M for the latest party pics & a complete listing of local events

24

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

Where Casual Ambiance

Meets Authentic Italian

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insider

The FIND

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by Jacqueline Miller

THE DEFINITION OF ART IS QUITE VAGUE. IT ENCOMPASSES SO MANY GENRES, AND WHILE SOME PURISTS INSIST THAT TRUE ART ONLY COMES ON CANVAS, WE BEG TO DIFFER. HERE ARE OUR PICKS THAT PROVE TRUE ART CAN TAKE ANY FORM.

1 | FOCA L POINT Sinks and drains become art with Linkasink’s vessels and centerpieces of beauty. From shells, to turtles, jewels, as well a array of creative motifs, change your boring drain to a wow. $100 - $200 THE PLUMBING PLACE | 5678 FRUITVILLE RD., SARASOTA | 941.378.5678 | THEPLUMBINGPLACE.COM

3 | MI X ED MEDI A

2 | SCULPTUR A L SERV ING Italian hand-blown glass Octopus Wine Decanter made of tempered glass, is functional as well as artistic. $320 MALBI DÉCOR | 127 S PINEAPPLE AVE., SARASOTA 941.953.3113 | MALBIDECOR.COM

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New from OGGETTI, the HANAKO Console combines natural wood with either darkstained wood or white lacquer. $3,997 THE SARASOTA COLLECTION 622 CENTRAL AVE., SARASOTA | 941.955.8313 SARASOTACOLLECTION.COM

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SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

insider 4| 4 | CON V ERSATION PIECE Part of Porada’s stunning collection of contemporary furniture, this intricately designed solid Canaletta walnut bench by T. Calzani is an excellent example of craftsmanship. $3,085 HOME RESOURCE | 741 CENTRAL AVE., SARASOTA 941.366.6690 | HOMERESOURCE.COM

5 | A LLUR ING A DOR NMENT Designer Susan Green presents this unique and artistic Jeneba necklace, constructed of faceted turquoise, chrysocolla and bronze. $995 DREAM WEAVER | 364 ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE, SARASOTA | 941.388.1974 DREAMWEAVERCOLLECTION.COM

6 | CA PTI VATING EY E CA NDY Double stone Diya ring in 18k gold with diamonds featuring natural boulder opals. Price upon request MCCARVER & MOSER | 482 JOHN RINGLING BLVD, SARASOTA | 941.388.1331 | MCCARVERMOSER.COM

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7 | BIR DS OF PA R A DISE This silk crepe midi dress with plunging keyhole and hand sequined ibis birds on chest features a turn-under pin hem, band pleated collar and short sleeves.

Ibis Mia Dress $318 RUE | 1439 MAIN ST., SARASOTA 941.373.6333 | RUESRQ.COM

8 | R ECLA IMED & R EFINED Handmade, featuring drawers of character-rich recycled elm, genuine leather pulls and tapered iron legs, this classy desk of salvaged wood adds a quirkily elegant and conversation-worthy touch to your space. 59”W x 30”H x 24”D $929

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RUGS AS ART | 6650 S TAMIAMI TRAIL, SARASOTA 941.921.1900 | RUGSASART.COM

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BERNIE AND LAUREN WALSH AND THE CIRCUS ARTS CONSERVATORY

BIG TOP BACKERS If life is a circus, then Bernie and Lauren Walsh have chosen Sarasota as the right town to live in — and the Circus Arts Conservatory as the right organization to direct their philanthropy.

This is a circus town,” Bernie said. “And I have been representing accident victims for a very long time. Some of my clients have been members of various circuses throughout the country or have been retired from the circus community. So it was my desire to give back to this community that has been so good to me.”

The Walshes have both lived in and around Sarasota for decades. Lauren is originally from Massachusetts and Bernie is from Long Island, N.Y. Lauren worked as a medical esthetician in a Sarasota plastic surgery office when they met. Bernie, a personal injury attorney, was friends with the doctor.

“I just kept bumping into Bernie in town while I was doing volunteer work,” Lauren said. “We were married in 2001.”

Bernie is a partner with the firm Shapiro, Goldman, Babboni & Walsh. Firmly committed to community service, he is an active member of the Manatee and Sarasota Sheriff’s Advisory Board, the Florida Highway Patrol Advisory Council and the One Hundred Club for Law Enforcement. He is also a board member of the Florida Justice Association (a statewide organization of trial lawyers) and the founder and president of the Manasota Trial Lawyers Board and The National Advisory Board of the Association of

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Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America.

The Walshes got involved with the Circus Arts Conservatory through Lauren’s volunteerism with Sarasota-area organizations.

“I was on the friends board of the Sarasota Ballet and was involved with them,” Lauren said. “Then I was an ambassador with Designing Women Boutique and we gave grants to the circus. They also have sent their performers to help us at our Designing Women’s gala, so it’s always been a wonderful collaboration with Dolly Jacobs and Pedro Reis, who founded the Circus Arts Conservatory. It’s been special, seeing what Dolly and Pedro do.” Bernie agreed.

“Our interaction with Dolly and Pedro is so rewarding that I wanted to get more involved and one of the ways was to support the Circus Arts Conservatory,” he said. “Our law firm sponsors a table at their annual fundraising gala.”

According to the CAC website, Sailor Circus started out in 1949 as a small high school gymnastics class and has grown into a top circus school in the U.S. Students learn circus arts in a safe and nurturing atmosphere. Over the last six decades, thousands of students have completed the Sailor Circus training program. Each year, students train with coaches and volunteers to create performances that have evolved

F O R MO RE IN F O R MATI O N T H E C IR C U S ARTS C O N S ERVATO RY

visit circusarts.org or call 941-355-9335.

philanthropy

into a major tourist attraction in the Southwest Florida region. The Sailor Circus Academy also offers a summer camp for children ages 6-15, which takes place in oneand two-week sessions during June, July and August.

Lauren said the annual CAC gala is a special event.

“We put a few tables aside that we call the VIP tables,” she said. “When we have our circus performance at the event, people at those tables are literally underneath the performers, watching them perform above. You get such a beautiful view of them that we normally splurge to do that. It’s a real treat.”

Lauren added supporting the CAC is an honor to her, because it teaches kids leadership skills and discipline.

“They’re coming after school and working on the programs,” she said. “They’re learning hand balancing acts and how to trust each other. The exercise they’re getting is phenomenal. Most important, I love the

confidence they get from the experience. That’s an attribute that will continue on in them through life, whether they choose a circus career or not.”

Bernie added the CAC’s outreach program is another valuable part of the organization’s impact on the community, in which performers demonstrate principles of science, engineering, art, math, technology, communication and theater, all through a prism of the circus world.

“They’ve reached out to 32 schools in the area,” he said. “They also go to nursing homes, hospitals and assisted living facilities to apply what they call ‘humor therapy,’ which is the process of brightening up the day for the people in these places. Giving back to the community is embedded in their philosophy. With one contribution to this organization, you’re touching many, many, many people.”

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philanthropy

DOC WERLIN’S

PRESCRIPTION FOR HAPPINESS

Ernest Werlin

BY STEVEN J. SMITH | PHOTO BY NANCY GUTH

ERNEST “DOC” WERLIN MIGHT BE A FAMILIAR NAME because he’s been writing for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune since 2008. His now twice-a-month column, “Doc’s Prescriptions,” tackles financial-related topics such as “The Challenges of Bringing Back Coal” and “The Public’s Enchantment with Exchange Traded Funds.”

He knows the financial world as well as anyone thanks to a lifetime of work experience on Wall Street that began in 1969 and took him from Solomon Brothers to Donaldson Lufkin to being a managing director at Morgan Stanley.

Working on Wall Street provides you with a chance to meet high-powered people, he explains. “You’re going to run across some pretty terrific talent. If you meet the CEO, Chair of the Board, or CFO of Exxon, Procter & Gamble, or AT&T? Those people influence you. I had the benefit of experiences like those from early on.”

If you’re successful on Wall Street, it also positions you to have the time and resources to be generous in your retirement, and that’s the situation Doc finds himself in. After

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philanthropy

retiring to Sarasota with his wife Eloise in 2007, Doc has shared his financial knowledge through his newspaper work and later through teaching classes in history and finance in Ringling College of Art and Design’s Lifelong Learning Academy. Then Eloise underwent a three-year cancer struggle that she lost in 2011. Near the end of that battle, she asked if he’d name a park bench after her. Other parks in the area have benches that serve as memorials, after all. Doc agreed, but kept thinking that his wife of 40 years deserved far, far more. So when he saw the Ringling Causeway park’s disarray— no playground equipment, broken sprinkler system, more weeds than grass—despite having such gorgeous scenery, an appropriate memorial opportunity emerged.

A self-described “person who wants to get things done yesterday,” Doc decided to take action and make the park something Eloise would’ve loved to visit. That’s when he partnered with Gulf Coast Community Foundation. “It’s one thing for me to go to the city manager and say Ernest Werlin is going to renovate and keep up the park. It’s another thing entirely when Gulf Coast is supporting Ernest Werlin and agrees with what he’s planning.”

Today, the Eloise Werlin Park is a beautiful place where people of all ages come to exercise, relax, and enjoy the updates Doc has made, including fabric shade structures, playground equipment, shell stone pavers, and updated lighting. He’s even renovated the bathrooms at Hart’s

75,000 ANNUAL VISITORS TO ELOISE WERLIN PARK

3.24.2018 COMING TOGETHER AGAINST CANCER RALLY

Landing, which isn’t part of the park, but is adjacent to it. For years the city had talked about fixing them. Doc decided to just get it done. Doc’s latest project to improve the park has been hiring an artist to create butterfly-themed benches and large figurines inspired by birds.

What Doc seems most proud of, though, is the success of the fundraisers he’s hosted right at the park. “Because people know that they’re not wasting money on fancy dinners and black-tie events,” he says, “they recognize by definition that they’re at a fundraiser. This

brother died of cancer. My brother-in-law died of cancer. My mother-in-law died of cancer. Nearly everyone I know has been personally impacted by cancer. It’s time to come together against it.” The most money his fundraisers have ever brought in was $600,000 for Children First. He hopes that this event far surpasses that.

Doc’s commitment these days is to making efforts to improve our community. He says, “I believe strongly—and accept fully—that giving is better than receiving. I know that I’ve benefitted far more in my life from giving.” The

I believe strongly—and accept fully— “that giving is better than receiving.

I know that I’ve benefitted far more in my life from giving. means they’re more inclined to give.” So Doc pays for the valet services, has extra bathrooms installed, covers the catering costs, and sets up the staging areas or platforms, as needed. He handles it all, top to bottom, so the focus of the event can be on the nonprofit’s cause versus a high-priced ticket or anything else.

So far, he’s had great success with fundraisers for Children First, Child Protection Center, and Sarasota Police Foundation. And Doc’s planning two more. The first is for Jewish Family & Children’s Service, where he hopes to raise money to help the homeless in Sarasota. The second event is one that clearly means a lot to him—and with good reason.

“By far, this will be the biggest fundraiser I’ve ever hosted,” Doc explains about the March 24, 2018 Coming Together Against Cancer Rally. “I have colon cancer. My wife died of cancer. My

”

creation and support of Eloise Werlin Park is just one of a number of examples of that life philosophy near in action.

He knows Eloise would’ve been pleased that over 75,000 people visit it each year and enjoy the green space, which is increasingly important now that Sarasota continues to be more and more built up.

The park is near where Doc lives, too, so he often heads there just to chat with people, hear their stories, and share a few of his own.

“I’d love to hear other people’s ideas about how to make this park even more effective for our community,” Doc says. So reach out with your ideas to Gulf Coast Community Foundation, or contact Doc via the newspaper, or just keep an eye out for him at the park, which is where he spends more and more of this time. Where else would he feel more at home than at the Eloise Werlin Park, after all?

F O R M O R E IN F O R M AT IO N T H E C IR C U S A RT S C O N S ERVAT O RY

visit www.www.circusarts.org or call 941-355-9335.

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World WorldClass ClassTheatre Theatre

MAD MEA D IN E ISN A RSAASRO ATA S O TA

Asolo Repertory Theatre is where brilliant artists take on big ideas and produce world class theatre.

Themed “Staging Our World,” the theatre’s 59th season explores America’s place in the world, and brilliant universal human stories that promote integrity, hope, and love.

T

he season kicks off in mid-November with the international sensation Evita, one of the most passionate and memorable works in musical theater history. In January, the rep season launches with romance and adventure in Shakespeare in Love, a stunning new stage play based on the seven-time Academy Award®-winning film. Next, Peter Amster directs Morning After Grace, a hilarious and heart-warming journey toward a new lease on life.

Then, get ready for an exhilarating experience with Rhinoceros, the comic satire and masterpiece of absurdist theatre, directed by Tony Award®-winner Frank Galati. In March, the season continues to sizzle with Roe, a beautifully crafted new play that frames a polarizing piece of our nation’s history with compassion and humor.

In April, Asolo Rep presents one of the most critically acclaimed and talked-about plays in the country right now, Gloria, a witty, dark and shocking play about style, status and humanity surrounding a group of twenty-somethings in the workplace. In May, the season continues with an innovative and highly theatrical new production of

Asolo Rep is recognized as one of the premier professional theatres in America and one of the largest in the Southeastern United States.

Ragtime, the Tony Award-winning musical about the dawn of a new era in America at the turn of the 20th Century. The season wraps up in June with the world premiere of Jungle Book, a stunning, familyfriendly, multi-media adaptation of the classic Rudyard Kipling stories, presented by the same creators of the hit production Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Asolo Rep is recognized as one of the premier professional theatres in America and one of the largest in the Southeastern United States.

One of the few select theatres in the nation that performs in true rotating repertory, Asolo Rep’s highly skilled acting company and extensive craftsmanship bring to life this unique performance method that gives audiences the opportunity to see multiple productions in the span of a few days. A theatre district in and of itself, Asolo Rep is

committed to expanding its reach into the community, furthering its collaboration with the best theatre artists working in the industry today and cultivating new artists through its affiliation with the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards and Managing Director Linda DiGabriele, Asolo Rep’s ambitious theatrical offerings and groundbreaking education and outreach programming engage audiences and ensure its lasting legacy for future generations. Asolo Rep is making World Class Theatre, for World Class Audiences, right here in Sarasota.

2017-18 SEASON

EVITA

November 14 – December 30

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE January 10 – March 28

MORNING AFTER GRACE January 17 – March 4

RHINOCEROS

Feberuary 7 – April 14

ROE

March 14 – April 15

RAGTIME May 1 – 27

GLORIA April 4 – 29

JUNGLE BOOK June 6 – 24

Ana Isabelle in Evita.

Photo by John Revisky.

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Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards’ vision and creativity brings world-class artisans and national acclaim to Asolo Rep.

W

e all know that Sarasota is an arts-loving community with a prominent theater presence.

But Asolo Rep—now in its 59th season—is known for delivering productions worthy of Broadway, Chicago, or London’s West End. Part of that reputation comes from being the largest Equity house in Florida and the largest repertory theater in the Southeastern U.S., yet Asolo Rep’s renown mainly derives from the innovative work it produces.

The work is also what continues to attract the top actors, artists and designers working in theater each season. These aren’t national touring companies that zoom through. From conception to realization, the productions are home-grown. Asolo Rep’s world-class artisans bring the productions to life and create everything from top to bottom — sets, costumes, props, and

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more — right here in Sarasota. And it’s that kind of creative opportunity that has directors, designers, and actors yearning to be part of what’s happening at Asolo Rep. That growing reputation for excellence also surely stems from the vision, energy, and creativity of Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards. His idea for the American Character Project, which concluded last season after five years, generated national attention and stimulated Asolo Rep patrons to make connections between the season’s plays, and reflected on what it means to be an American today. Subtitled “Our Lives on Stage,” the plays during the American Character Project’s five seasons addressed questions such as: What IS the American character?

How did it emerge and what is its nature? Where is it going?

Edwards explains, “The end goal of the Project was to deepen

our collective understanding of America and what it means to be an American. No single answer is sufficient—there are as many worthwhile answers as there are creative artists working on our productions.”

Titled “Staging Our World,” the 2017-2018 season continues this exploration by widening the lens to encompass a view of the entire world and America’s unique place in it. “We’re living through an extraordinary time right now,” says Edwards. “We have the challenge and fortune—perhaps misfortune—to be living in this time. We can’t help but take note of, examine, and bounce off what is happening.”

The whole world is paying special attention to America right now— we’re a worldwide obsession of sorts, a kind of global reality TV show in action. So it makes sense to embrace a global view of America through musicals and plays that touch on relevant, provocative questions.

Asolo Rep’s 2017-18 season will also feature a fresh version of Rudyard Kipling’s classic Jungle Book in a world premiere family-friendly production in June 2018. It’s another piece about love and family and the connection between people, which is right in line with the season’s theme. In this story, a young boy finds out that he has two families—one with the animal kingdom, and one with his genetic human family.

Edwards notes that “the problem is he feels more connected to the animals, and he has the burden of trying to explain that to his human family. The idea of having love for everything in nature is a profound idea, and what a better place it’d be if this were true for everyone. From a very young age, kids naturally love animals. They love all living things. They understand that they’re connected to all other lives in a meaningful way. But then we teach that it’s not so.”

"The whole world is paying special attention to America right now—we’re a worldwide obsession of sorts..."

To this end, the season opens with Evita, which Edwards notes is “going to electrify people.” It’s the most technically demanding production that Asolo Rep has ever mounted and it’s going to launch the season in a thrilling way. We all know that though Evita is an extraordinary piece of musical theater, it simply doesn’t work unless you have a dynamite Evita, and the theater has found just the actress for the role. From the 1,000+ hopefuls who auditioned for the musical in Florida, New York, and Chicago, the one who blew them away was Ana Isabelle, an acclaimed Puerto Rican pop star and actress who won the hearts of more than 30 million viewers who voted for her to become the winner of Univision’s American Idol-esque reality show Viva el Sueño. Edwards assures: “This will be a big American debut for her. She’s going to excite Sarasota enormously.”

Evita is an interesting choice to set the tone for this season, having both a political and social dimension to it. In case you don’t know, Evita is the story of one of the most iconic female figures in the 20th century. Eva Perón, the second wife of Argentine president Juan Perón, came from nothing and rose to a level of fame similar to Princess Di or Grace Kelly—everyone knew her. And while she tried and tried to make life better for ordinary people, in many ways, she made it worse for them.

“It’s an interesting yet complicated story about a celebrity who achieved great power,” Edwards says. “It can’t help but have great resonance now.”

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The second production has Edwards equally enthusiastic: Shakespeare in Love, “a big, sprawling, wonderful, funny, gorgeous play,” will give the impression of a classical piece, but it’s going to have an entirely contemporary feel. “Our cast is going to remind you that art, poetry, love, and music—in spite of everything you may feel when you turn on the TV—are the most important things. Perhaps only after friendship,” Edwards says with a laugh.

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

“Our job as artists, thinkers, and citizens,” Edwards adds, “is to lower the temperature of intolerance, and open the possibility of true empathy. That’s what we teach. We demand it, in fact.”

And that’s something we need now perhaps more than ever before.

TV and movies are a passive experience. Theater? It’s hot. It’s breathing the same air with 500 other people, laughing and crying together. Edwards says, “It’s the same primal experience that the Greeks had 3,000 years ago. It’s the same experience that the Masai had on the plains of the Serengeti. It speaks to the same part of the brain, the emotional muscle, to hear a story well told. It’s basic and necessary.”

And maybe Edwards puts it best when he says, “Loud and clear, front and center, love is going to win at Asolo Rep this season.”

For more information on the Asolo Rep's Season, please visit www.asolorep.org or call 941.351.8000

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‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café Photography Bill Cooper

2017 - 2018 SeaSON

“Marvels of poetry” The New York Times

“trailblazing company” Broadway World

“miraculous” The Washington Post

“intensity and beauty” The Boston Globe

THE SARASOTA BALLET BOX OFFICE 941.359.0099 | www.SarasotaBallet.org

Photography Frank Atura Illuminations

THE SECRET GARDEN

FSU CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

27 - 29 October 2017

This full length ballet tells Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved tale The Secret Garden. Through its choreography, puppetry and narration the characters and garden come to life.

METROPOLITAN

SARASOTA OPERA HOUSE

1 - 2 December 2017

Sir Frederick Ashton’s Illuminations, World Premiere by Marcelo Gomes and George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations.

JOHN RINGLING’S CIRCUS NUTCRACKER VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL

Troy Game

15 - 16 December 2017

Bringing the spirit of the holidays to all, this festive ballet beautifully blends the traditional Nutcracker Story with the Circus.

MOVING IDENTITIES

FSU CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

26 - 29 January 2018

Paul Taylor’s Airs, Ricardo Graziano’s Valsinhas and Robert North’s Troy Game.

BALLET HISPÁNICO

FSU CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

23 - 25 February 2018

Ballet Hispánico’s skill lies in rendering its culture universally accessible, bringing together themes that we can all identify with.

Marguerite and Armand

DREAMS OF NATURE

VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL

2 - 3 March 2018

Sir Frederick Ashton’s The Dream and David Bintley’s ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café.

GREAT MASTERS OF DANCE SARASOTA OPERA HOUSE

27 - 28 April 2018

Antony Tudor’s The Leaves are Fading, George Balanchine’s Bugaku and Sir Frederick Ashton’s Marguerite and Armand.

941.359.0099 | www.SarasotaBallet.org SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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BY JACQUELINE MILLER

ARTS Wonder

WOMEN I

t was 1925 when John Ringling first made plans to design an art museum called The Ringling, now the hallmark of Sarasota. A year later, Art Center Sarasota (know then as Sarasota Art Association) became our area’s first arts and cultural institution. Two years later in 1927, John Ringling moved Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus’ winter headquarters to Sarasota.

The Players was our first community theater, founded more than 80 years ago. It was 1949 when the Florida West Coast Symphony, now our Sarasota Orchestra, played its first notes.

Most of our significant arts organizations have been here 50 years or more – Sarasota Opera, Asolo Rep, Manatee Players and Venice Theatre. There is no doubt that the people who moved to Sarasota in the first half of the 20th century loved the arts and supported its growth decade after decade. Today, many of our legendary arts organizations have received 46

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regional, national and even global recognition. And not only are our legendary artists making headlines, our new artists are also helping make real change in our city.

This month’s cover features five ladies from various areas of the arts. Leading these ladies is none other than our incredible circus queen - Dolly Jacobs. Surrounding the legendary Dolly are artists who are all making their mark on our community.

They are artistic director and actress Summer Wallace from the contemporary and intimate Urbanite Theatre; mixed media artist Dasha Reich, whose solo shows have earned her great notice around town; Sarasota Orchestra cellist Natalie Helm, who will be the soloist in a brand new Sarasota Orchestra series called Discoveries; and Leymis Balaños Wilmott, Sarasota Contemporary Dance co-founder and artistic director, a company known for cutting edge, high-energy dance and collaborative performances with artists of various genres.

CREATIVES IN A CHANGING CITY

Our town is growing and changing. And with that growth, we are attracting more and more visual artists from various mediums deserving of our notice. Their work enhances community engagement, and provides us with pleasure and creative inspiration. And perhaps most importantly, they foster dialogue and bring important issues to our attention.

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DOLLY JACOBS

CIRCUS AERIALIST | CIRCUS SARASOTA & CIRCUS ARTS CONSERVATORY

Our “Queen of the Air,” Dolly Jacobs, is a world-renowned circus aerialist and co-founder of The Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC).

She has been honored with numerous accolades throughout her career including becoming the first circus artist to be named a NEA National Heritage Fellow (2015) in recognition of both her continuing artistic accomplishments and contributions as a coach and mentor. Inspired by this award, the Smithsonian Institution invited The Circus Arts Conservatory to be the presenting partner for the 2017 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which celebrated the Circus Arts.

Dolly, along with artists from around the world, performed under the Circus Sarasota Big Top on the National Mall in Washington, DC this summer for spectators from around the globe. She also was honored to share her circus legacy on the festival’s narrative stage and lead festival master coaching sessions.

The 2017/2018 season promises to be an exhilarating one for Dolly

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and The Circus Arts Conservatory. Renovations to the Sailor Circus Arena, the only facility in the country built for youth circus training, are scheduled to begin, marking a milestone in Sarasota’s history. In the spirit of offering exciting new experiences, CAC is introducing a unique fundraising event called “So You Think You Can Circus” in which teams of participants will work with coaches to master and present a circus discipline such as aerial silks, wire walking, comedy or juggling – there’s something for every skill level. After training, the teams will have the opportunity to showcase their newly found talent in a dazzling event where they will compete to be named “Best of Show.” And finally, the Big Top will go up to once again house The Circus Arts Gala, Circus Sarasota and Cirque des Voix®. All of this in addition to The Sailor Circus annual shows and events including the Charity Golf Tournament are sure to keep the community engaged with and loving the circus arts. circusarts.org | 941.355.9805

SUMMER WALLACE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | URBANITE THEATRE

Summer Wallace is beginning to become quite well known in our theater community for her deep passion for instilling a sense of play, imagination and purpose using the medium of acting. She earned her MFA in Acting from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory in 2012. As a teaching artist, Summer has worked with Manatee School for the Arts, IMG academy, Riverview High School, New College of Florida, and Cumberland Co. Playhouse. Her regional credits include Asolo Rep, Mad Cow Theatre, Broward Stage Door, Lagniappe Theatre, and Cumberland County Playhouse, and she has toured the country playing blue grass music.

In February, the company turns its sights on Northside Hollow by Brenda Withers and Jonathan Fielding. Summer Wallace will direct this story of a man trapped in a collapsed coalmine in rural Appalachia. Urbanite’s season comes to an end with the ribald, audacious comedy about the unrealistic expectations women face in Women Laughing Alone With Salad, by Sheila Callaghan. urbanitetheatre.com | 941.321.1397

Urbanite Theatre begins its fall programming with ten performances of the sly, poignant comedy White Rabbit Red Rabbit by Nassim Soleimanpour, in which a new performer each night is presented a script they’ve never seen or rehearsed. In November, Urbanite opens the regional premiere of Echoes by British writer Henry Naylor, a biting drama about women with parallel lives in the middle east.

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NATALIE HELM

PRINCIPAL CELLIST | SARASOTA ORCHESTRA

Louisville, Kentucky native Natalie Helm joined the Sarasota Orchestra for its 2016-17 season as principal cellist and plays on a Raphael di Blasio cello from 1803.

Prior to joining SO, she held the Principal and Cello Fellowship position for the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Des Moines Metro Opera. She studied with Peter Wiley and David Soyer at the Curtis Institute of Music, where she received her Bachelor of Music in 2011, and with Ronald Leonard at the Colburn School, where she received an Artist Diploma in 2014. She has appeared as soloist with orchestras around the country; has performed as a chamber musician, and in concerts.

Natalie is quite excited about Sarasota Orchestra’s upcoming season, which begins with Dvorak Cello Concerto and Mahler Symphony No.5 in the opening Masterworks program and ends with Mendelssohn Octet and Brahms Clarinet Trio, which closes the Chamber Soiree series.

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“It is incredibly hard to pinpoint any one program that I am most looking forward to. However, the collaboration with Midori on Bernstein’s Serenade for Violin and Orchestra obviously stands out,” said Natalie. “Having the opportunity to perform with a world-class musician who exudes inspiration is not only a highlight for the musicians of the Sarasota Orchestra, but also our audience.”

Natalie is also very excited to be soloing in a brand new Sarasota Orchestra series called Discoveries. “I will be performing The River Cam by Eric Whitacre for cello and orchestra on the January concert called Soundscapes. The concept behind this new series includes shorter shows without intermission, each concert introducing one piece by a living composer, and my favorite part – a Q & A session with soloist and conductor immediately following the concert. I think the Sarasota community will find Discoveries to be highly accessible at any level, and I cannot wait to see its success!” sarasotaorchestra.org.

LEYMIS BOLAÑOS WILMOTT

CO-FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | SARASOTA CONTEMPORARY DANCE

Leymis Bolaños Wilmott has received many credits throughout her relatively young career. She is a recipient of the 2008 Arts Leadership Award for Artistic Achievement from the Sarasota Arts Council, and the Sarasota Artist Fellowship. She received the esteemed Dance Magazine award for Southeast Best Choreographer, and one of five choreographers chosen to participate in the Choreographer Intensive at the esteemed Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

Her work has been performed nationally at the John F. Kennedy Center, Ailey Citigroup Theater in NYC, Colony Theater and Jackie Gleason in Miami, as well as numerous other theaters and festivals throughout the country. Locally, she has choreographed for the Asolo Repertory Theatre, Westcoast Black Theater Troupe, Kaleidoscope, St. Petersburg College, Booker High School VPA, North Port High School, Riverview High School IB, Lakeview Elementary, Gocio Elementary, and Electa Lee Middle School.

Leymis’ deep love for dance and community building came to fruition in 2006 when she and Rachael Inman founded Fuzión Dance Artists, now known as Sarasota Contemporary Dance. She continues to advocate as a teaching artist with the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County and Manatee County Schools. She is also an Ad-

junct Professor of Dance at New College of Florida, a certified Pilates Instructor at The Pilates Body, and currently serves as Vice President of the Florida Dance Association.

Leymis said she expects Sarasota Contemporary Dance’s 12th season will reach new heights with the opening of its new home on Blvd. of the Arts and Central Avenue in Sarasota’s Rosemary District.

All performances will be held at the Jane B. Cook Theater at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts and will feature new and notable established choreographers like Lucy Bown McCauley, Rosanna Tavarez, and Kristin O’ Neal.

A highly anticipated collaboration with renowned harpists Ann Hobson Pilot will kick off the season in October, followed by the annual spectacle “Voices,” a hallmark to the company, presenting original and innovative choreography. In January, “Dance Makers” will elevate the level of contemporary dance seen in Sarasota by showcasing American modern dance pioneer Ted Shawn’s male solo work along with an all-women piece by Brazilian choreographer Millicent Johnnie. Sarasota Contemporary Dance will close its season with “Evolving/Revolving,” which celebrates the company’s past and future. sarasotacontemporarydance.org.

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DASHA REICH MIXED MEDIA ARTIST

Born in Prague to Holocaust survivors, Andrea Dasha Reich’s early life was subjected to a continuum of Communism and all of its restrictions. Her dissident father’s fight against the regime would eventually result in the entire family being evicted from their homeland.

Leaving behind the dark world of Czechoslovakia, she found herself in Jerusalem, a place saturated in sunlight and vibrant bursts of colors.

Her new home had a profound affect on young Dasha. She attended the world-renowned Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, and her passion for art was born. She then moved to New York’s Tribecca area and had a career in the fashion and design industry. It was during this time in New York that she opened her first studio and dedicated her time and energy into pioneering, crafting and developing the resin artwork she is known for today.

Dasha is in the planning stages of her third show at Alfstad& Contemporary Gallery on 5th Street. While she has a lot more work to do and doesn’t want to ruin the surprise, Dasha did share that her art for this show will be made from a combination of resin and latex.

Inspired by the organic shapes and planes in nature, Dasha’s art is a woven interplay of rich color spectrums that explore the depth and intimacy of the abstract world we live in. Her works are an indication of how this prolific multimedia artist sees the world; astonishing beauty, magnificent power and the intense awe-inspiring complexion in nature of which the life and creation of color is born. Through the use of pure pigments and layers of epoxy resins, her works seem to let her visions breathe with motion and fluidity.

Dasha is also involved with other local artists in Sarasota Visual Artists Studios (SVAS), which had it first season of open studios last year. The idea is that

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people can see how each artist lives and works. There is a season tour for which there is a cost, and studios are open for free every first Saturday of the month from November through April. This is the first venue of its type in our community, and its first season last year was quite successful. Other artists in the group include: Tim Jaeger; Elena de la Ville; Tom Stephens; Jack Dowd; Joseph Melancon; Duncan Chamberlain; Vicky Randall; Bill Buchman, and Dasha. andreadashareich.com | sarasotavisualartistsstudios.com.

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SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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ARTS DESTINATI N:

VENICE s the curtain opens on the upcoming season at the Venice Performing Arts Center, not only can audiences look forward to a diverse array of performances, but also to witnessing bold plans to use the state-of-the-art facility to ensure Venice’s place on Florida’s Cultural Coast.

The team at the Venice Institute for Performing Arts (VIPA) is entering its second season as the three-year-old Venice Performing Arts Center’s (VPAC) nonprofit management company. It is moving forward with a clear dedication to its mission “to sustain the local arts community through innovative educational programs, and inspire the community with first-class entertainment” along with a devotion to delighting its audiences.

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“We are passionate about making sure that everyone in the community has access to the arts and is given the opportunity to connect with the performing arts on a personal level,” says Becca Eldredge, Managing Director and Associate Producer.

“Performing arts education is our focus, and one of our longterm goals is to make Venice an arts destination for tourists.”

VPAC (941.218.3779|veniceperformingartscenter.com) is

adjacent to Venice High School and near historic downtown Venice. It is the permanent home of three resident performing arts companies – the Venice Symphony, Venice Concert Band, and Venice Chorale, as well as the Venice High School Performing Arts Department. In addition, VIPA is mounting 17 performances this season and also rents the facility to other organizations.

Having the luxury of a new facility means enjoying a host of features and amenities. All of the theater’s 1,090 seats were designed to deliver good line-of-sight and acoustics. “The stage is built like a Broadway stage,” says Sterling Phillips, Production Manager and Assistant Producer. “We have a hydraulic orchestra pit that can accommodate more than 60 pieces and a fantastic sound shell for the symphony that matches the wood used for the theater.”

The $15 million VPAC building was a unique joint project of the Sarasota County School Board and the City of Venice, which directed local sales tax dollars toward its construction. “Our mission is currently focused more specifically on education and the community,” Eldredge says. “We have an internship program for high school students to earn class credit for working

“Our mission is currently focused more specifically on education and the community.” in our administrative offices, and an apprentice program after school for seniors who are paid to work alongside professionals. Those educational programs are really important to us, and we’re working to expand them.”

Last year, six apprentices were in the program and all went on to college with three choosing to study in the performing arts field. Having the opportunity to participate in the apprenticeship program helped Venice High School graduate Anthony DeSalvia make an important career decision. “I would most definitely not be attending the University of Central Florida for a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Stage Management if it weren’t for the lessons you’ve all taught me,” DeSalvia wrote in a letter

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^ Legendary landscape photographer Clyde Butcher shares stories of his journey at his show Florida: where water earth and heaven meet on Feb. 23, 2018

< The Broadway Boys, some of Broadway’s finest singers, perform on September 23, 2017

to VIPA. “By continuing with theater, more specifically stage management, I aim to inspire young minds like my own who didn’t know where to turn in a time of need and to continue inspiring myself by bringing productions with great meaning to life. I want to be part of teams that showcase works with the intention of educating people of all walks of life by raising awareness of the great diversity in this world.”

In addition to these two programs for upper classmen, VIPA is working to expand its educational offerings to residents throughout the county. This season, students will have the opportunity to work with the cast of The Broadway Boys,

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consisting of six versatile Broadway singers.

While here, they will conduct a master class on auditioning. “We want to make sure that no matter their background, anyone with a passion for the performing arts is given every opportunity to succeed in this field,” Eldredge says. “By participating in this free master class, students will be given a leg up when it comes to college acceptance.” Several other opportunities for master classes are planned during the upcoming season, and connecting more with elementary school children is also an objective this year. Programs have been developed for lifelong learners as well.

“Our educational programs are the meaning behind what we do. We’ve gone through one season successfully, and we’re excited to be able to expand the program,” Phillips says. “We’re going to try to offer as many opportunities as possible during the season, and we will be adding more. It’s important to us to give back to the community in the same way it gave to us.”

Once the building was completed, a Joint Management Advi-

“It's important to us to give back to the community in the same way it gave to us.” sory Board was established to set policies for managing the facility. It became clear to board member Mike Hartley that a broader range of programming beyond that of the three resident companies was required along with a mechanism for making the venue sustainable for the long term.

“I proposed to the school board that a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation be formed to meet the specific needs of area residents and students for a wide variety of programming and that the net proceeds derived from those programs be invested back into the operation of the VPAC,” Hartley says. “In early 2016, my wife, Bonnie, and I formed and funded the Venice Institute for Performing Arts as that nonprofit corporation. The City of Venice directed local option sales tax funds equal to nearly half of the $15 million cost of the VPAC. I wanted to make sure that the citizens in the Venice area got a cultural and educational return on that investment.”

With a background in education, Bonnie Hartley immediately saw the potential for area students as well as the community. “Mike and I share a long commitment to the performing arts. In Oregon, I served on the Board of Eugene Opera for many years. When Mike discussed the opportunities and challenges the VPAC faced, I agreed enthusiastically to focus our philanthropic efforts on building a support system to sustain the performing arts faculty and students at VHS and on enhancing our community’s opportunities to experience high quality musical and theatrical performances right in Venice in our beautiful performing arts center,” she said. “I come from a family of teachers and have been an educator all of my professional life.

I have seen repeatedly the value of providing students with experiential education opportunities.”

VIPA brought Eldredge and Phillips on board to manage the day-to-day operations of the performing arts center. Eldredge focuses on operations, including hiring and finances, while Phillips has responsibility for working directly with the groups

that use the VPAC, does the hiring for the shows, and coordinates VPAC’s 175 volunteers. “We have one of the best volunteer corps in the area, and many have been with us since the building opened,” Phillips says. “We love to talk with them about their background and give them the opportunity to do what they like to do. That way they can connect to the art at a personal level. That’s important to us because we connect with our community through them, and they can help us see things we might not be able to see without them.” Eldredge and

^ The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School performs the world-famous Nutcracker on Dec. 9th, 2017

Phillips take a team approach to VPAC management. Along with the volunteers and several part-time staff, everyone pitches in as needed to ensure the job gets done.

“Because we are brand new, fundraising and development are very important at the moment. We want to do as much as possible to support our educational components. We also want to keep prices at a level the community can afford and with production costs so high, there is a pricing gap that we hope donors and sponsors can help bridge,” Eldredge says. “Our future is expansive. We are a young company with so much potential to grow. I don’t think there’s anything we can’t do. We will give the community a fantastic venue and set of performances, but also give them something to be proud of in the performing arts. We really want to make Venice that performing arts destination.”

F O R M O R E IN F O R M AT IO N O N V EN IC E P ER F O R M IN G ARTS C E N TE R

please visit veniceperformingartscenter.com or call 941.218.3779

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CHANGE

Knife & Fork.

begins with y o ur

Presented By:

Eat Dinner. Have Fun. Make a Difference.

Join us for Dining for a Difference

Thursday ~ September 28, 2017 A portion of all food and beverage proceeds will fund grants for local charities.

Learn more and see our list of participating restaurants at DesigningDaughtersSarasota.com Honorary Chairs Michael Klauber ~ Phil Mancini ~ Chef Judi Gallagher Advisory Chair Designing Daughters Founder, Shelley Lister Co-Chairs Britney Guertin ~ Felicia McDermott Rebekah Peranio ~ Heather Schafer Where Fashionistas Meet Philanthropy Our mission is to enhance our community and cultivate the next generation of philanthropists through strategic planning.

Design Courtesy of: Grapevine Communications Advertising Agency

NEW TOPICS A DY N A M I C L E C T U R E S E R I E S F O C U S E D O N C O N T E M P O R A RY I S S U E S

Monday, November 6| 5:30 p.m.

The Sarasota World Affairs Council presents:

Alizé Carrère Sustainability in a Changing World

Tuesday, November 14 | 5:30 p.m.

2017-18 SERIES Presenting Sponsor: Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

The New College Public Archaeology Lab Presents:

Brian M. Zepeda The Art of War

Tuesday, January 16| 5:30 p.m.

The Klingenstein Chair of Judaic Studies Presents:

Nicola Denzey Lewis Rethinking the Jewish Catacombs

Thursday, February 15 | 5:30 p.m.

Robert Bilott ’83

Scientific, Legal, and Regulatory Challenges in Investigating and Addressing Health Threats From “Unregulated” Drinking Water Contaminants: The Case of Perfluorochemical, as featured in The New York Times article “The Lawyer who Became Dupont’s Worst Nightmare”

Thursday, March 1| 5:30 p.m.

Dr. Donal O’Shea and Anne-Marie Russell Art, Math and Orange Peels: The Legacy of Dr. William Thurston on Math & Fashion

Tuesday, March 13 | 5:30 p.m.

The New College of Florida Division of Humanities presents:

Marilyn Francus O Mother, What Art Thou? O Mother, Where Art Thou?

Frankenstein at 200 All lectures are complimentary but seating is limited.

Reserve online: donate.ncf.edu

Creatives in a

Changing City PHOTOGRAPHER: JOHN REVISKY

RICHIE BRASIL Richie is a self-taught contemporary graffiti artist, as well as a fine artist, who has masterfully combined a more classical approach to his art with his love of photorealistic spray paint, resulting in art that reflects the rough urban environment of his youth. His massive murals can be found on numerous walls around our city, with many of them paying homage to the pulse of the neighborhood, its residents, past and present, and its history. richiebrasil.com

DUSTIN JUENGEL The photorealist oil paintings of this Ringling College graduate have been exhibited around the U.S., the U.K. and Germany.

Dustin is exhibition curator at Art Center Sarasota, where several of his curated exhibitions have focused on showcasing the work of new, up and coming artists from Sarasota and Tampa Bay. He also serves as an instructor in the Illustration and Fine Art departments at Ringling College. dustinjuengel.com

KEITH CHRISTOPHER Keith Christopher (Christopher Finch) is widely known for his fine art bronze and mixed media sculpture for walls as well as full around, large freestanding pieces. His work is found in numerous fine art galleries and internationally in private and corporate collections. Chris creates his amazing bronzes under the name “Keith Christopher” to pay homage to his late father. Chris is also lead vocalist and owner of the top-notch wedding and corporate special event band SerenadesSouls. keithchristopherbronze.com | serenadeofsouls.com

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JANA MILLSTONE The visually distinct work of Jana Millstone covers a variety of subjects generated by her preoccupation with themes of transition, authority and control. According to Jana, “My paintings are simply a dialog with myself in an effort to understand things.” This painting, Fire, is part of her Veil series. It recently won first place at Florida’s Finest, a juried group exhibit of Florida artists, which took place at Art Center Sarasota. janamillstone.com

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VICKY RANDALL Vicky’s work has been described as “majestic, lyrical, and assertive of the space they occupy.” It’s no wonder, given the monumental size of her stainless steel sculptures. For Vicky, art is communication and her language is sculpture.

In her statement, she says, “Striving for simplicity, I demand harmony between landscape and the cityscape in my forms. I use abstractions of steel and light to exemplify my impression of time.” Vicky is a faculty member at Ringling College. vickyrandall.com

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JOSEPH ARNEGGER Joseph’s work is composed in layers of nostalgic image and color, which speaks to the influence of many time periods and many different painters throughout art history. The materials he uses, combined with his set of icons, patinas and deliberate mark making, creates images that are unconventionally beautiful yet deeply moving. A Ringling College graduate, he found the beautiful color and light that is present in his work when he came to Sarasota as a young man. josepharnegger.com

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OLIVIA GIBSON The art of media makeup and special effects makeup creatively transforms a model for a photo shoot or an actor for a film or theater character. Its importance cannot be overstated. Master makeup artist Olivia Gibson created this glitzy, horror look on Sarasota Scene intern Victoria Sinclair, a senior at Southeast High School in Bradenton. In addition to makeup for media and theater, Olivia does both airbrush and classic makeup for all occasions. facebook.com/oliviagibsonmua

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TM

Anu Tali, Music Director

DISCOVERIES SERIES Our brand new series offers a refreshing classical music experience at the Sarasota Opera House. These fast paced, 75-minute programs feature works by Mozart and Beethoven and today’s most accessible contemporary composers.

Post-concert talk backs with the conductors and soloists enhance the evening.

CHAMBER SOIREE SERIES A highlight this season is Masterworks soloist Lukáš Vondráček performing with the Sarasota String Quartet. Discover a season of popular standards and intriguing explorations of accessible new works.

POPS SERIES Our Pops series salutes the American musical experience showcasing the music of Doo Wop with conductor Jack Everly, a tribute to the “Best of Broadway” with Norm Lewis, and a night at “The Cotton Club” with trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling.

GREAT ESCAPES SERIES One of our most popular series, often selling out, offers a mix of light classics and toe-tapping pops in themed concerts. Four conductors split the six concerts, providing variety and insights at each concert.

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MASTERWORKS SERIES World renowned violinist Midori highlights a roster of brilliant guest soloists. A tribute to Leonard Bernstein is featured. Joining Anu Tali will be two guest conductors bringing their interpretations to our season.

“Midori is one of those

star violinists

who seems to know no technical boundaries.”

– Hessische Allgemeine

Box Office: SarasotaOrchestra.org | 941-953-3434

2017-2018 SEASON

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Community Ambassador OF THE YEAR AWARDS DINNER Thursday, October 5, 2017

2017 Honorees:

Jamie DiDomenico Cool Today

Sheriff Tom Knight

Tim & Cynthia Holliday

Nate Jacobs

Children’s World

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe

Maribeth Phillips

Bill Sterbinsky

Meals on Wheels Plus

SRQ Vets

Please join us in honoring our 2017 award winners Thursday, October 5th | 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Michael’s On East $150 per ticket

experiencegoodwill.org/events

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DOWNTOWN SARASOTA

941-366-9000

RICHARD HOPKINS, PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the State of Florida.

FLORIDASTUDIOTHEATRE.ORG 1241 NORTH PALM AVENUE SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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A SEASO

by Richa

rd Russ

Throughout the catalog of the operatic repertoire, there are female characters who move us, tease us, and seduce us. Composers and librettists have been drawn to these complex and fascinating women, through whom they can express the full range of emotion and the human experience.

With a few notable exceptions (Britten’s Billy Budd comes to mind), an opera stands and falls by the connection between an audience and the female protagonist.

Sarasota Opera’s 2017–18 season could easily be called the “year of the woman.” Each of the five operas that we present this season contains a lead character who is complex, engaging, sympathetic, and seductive. They are all what nineteenth century morality

N OF fas

ell Executi

ve Dire

might call “fallen women,” but through the powerful music of the five composers and compelling stories told by the librettists, we sympathize and fall in love with all of them.

Violetta, in Verdi’s La traviata is, in many ways, his most sympathetic and moving character. Despite her somewhat dubious life choices (she is a courtesan), by the opera’s end everyone, even the morally upright Giorgio Germont, our hero’s father, is moved by her plight and her nobility.

In 1856 the London Times wrote that, “we should have thought the production of La traviata an outrage on the ladies of the aristocracy who support the theater, if they had not by crowding their boxes every night

ctor of

Saraso

ta Ope

ra

shown that they did not notice the underlying vice of the opera.” The Victorian audiences must have understood clearly what Verdi conveyed through his sublime music. By giving up her lover Alfredo to save his family’s honor, even though it means that she will die, Violetta is the most virtuous of characters, despite her past. It is no wonder that audiences continue to fall in love with her and rarely leave a performance of the work with a dry eye.

Puccini’s Manon Lescaut, on the other hand, is a little more difficult to understand. In her youth and naiveté she is easily susceptible to the attractions of riches, jewelry, and wealthy admirers. Yet, she has a

cin

genuine love for the Chevalier Des Grieux and finds it hard to stay away from him.

Puccini understands her conflict and characterizes it clearly in his music. When confronted by the fact that French composer Jules Massenet had already set the same subject, Puccini replied that, “Massenet feels it as a Frenchman, with powder and minuets. I shall feel it as an Italian, with a desperate passion.” And there is plenty of desperate passion in Manon Lescaut, although it is mostly expressed by the hapless Des Grieux, the poor lover who can’t understand her equivocation. Perhaps it is only as she is dying that she finally realizes that “Oblivion

will sweep away my faults, but my love will not die.”

There no equivocation in the title character of Bizet’s Carmen. She does not conform to conventional morality and is proud of it.

She is the object of affection of many, two of whom she manages to seduce during the opera. Bizet’s opera has some of the world’s most recognizable melodies, but despite a familiarity that could have become hackneyed (how many times and in how many different guises have we heard the Toreador Song?), Bizet has managed to capture not only Carmen’s seductive charm, but also her free spirit. She falls passionately in love with men, but that love is easily changeable.

Carmen is an independent

woman who knows her own mind. “I was born free and will die free,” she exclaims shortly before is stabbed by her discarded lover Don José.

ing the murder of her own children. Yet, ultimately, her nobility of character prevails, as she accepts a fate that leads her to the funeral pyre.

Bellini’s Norma is one of the most coveted and difficult of bel canto heroines. The great turn-of-the-(twentieth)-century dramatic soprano Lilli Lehmann once declared that “It is easier to sing all three Brünnhildes [in Wagner’s Ring of the Nibelung] than one Norma.” Vocally it is a test of a singer’s technical ability and musicality. In addition, the character is emotionally complex. She is a Druid priestess who has violated her vows by falling in love and having children with a Roman proconsul. When he abandons her for another woman, she is driven to desperation, even consider-

Finally, in Eugen D’Albert’s Tiefland, we will be confronted with the character of Marta. She is a young woman who has been given to Sebastiano, a landowner, by her father in exchange for the gift of a mill. After years as his mistress, she is married to the shepherd Pedro, so that Sebastiano can marry a rich heiress (although he intends on continuing his relationship with Marta.) Marta at first views her new husband as a fool and a dupe, but ultimately, she sees him as her savior and falls in love with him. The relationships, like the music, in this opera exhibit a rich passion. The composer takes as his model the true-to-life realism of

nating w

omen

From left to right: Renata Tebaldi in La traviata, Licia Albanese in Manon Lescaut, Maria Callas in Norma and Risë Stevens in Carmen.

Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci. This is only fitting, since this is the story of simple peasants, but with complex human emotions.

As you discover this rarely seen work, you can’t be helped to be carried away by the opera’s rich passion, and a heroine who is the victim of circumstance from which she struggles to free herself.

Each of the five operas of the 2017-18 Sarasota Opera season are a window into the emotional lives of these five fascinating women. The wonder of opera is that we can experience them in a way that transcends just words and, through the music of these five talented composers, they can delve deeply into their souls and thereby move ours.

Sarasota Opera tickets are on sale now by calling (941) 328-1300 or online at sarasotaopera.org.

sarasot a opera

Whimsical JO U R N E Y

BY STEVEN J. SMITH

Composer/librettist Rachel J. Peters, whose opera Rootabaga Country will enjoy its world premiere at Sarasota Youth Opera in November, said the project was the result of a happy accident.

“I was trying to get the rights to another story and the timing didn’t work out,” Peters said. “I then remembered I had a great appreciation for Carl Sandburg’s work, so I started searching for a story and his book Rootabaga Stories came up. I was not familiar with it, but I fell in love with it right away.”

Peters responded to Sarasota Opera’s request for submissions, which went out in March of 2015. Composer candidates’ operas had to have a libretto in English, run approximately 60 minutes and include 10-15 solo youth roles, sung with minimal spoken dialogue and backed by a chamber orchestra of up to 13 instruments. Of the 13 submissions received, Peters’ got the nod, according to Director of Education Ben Jewell-Plocher.

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“

I want our audience to see what these kids can

“

achieve when they’re

held to a high standard.”

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“Rachel’s approach involved a sense of whimsy,” Jewell-Plocher said. “That’s something that appeals both to the youth and family audiences. And she took a piece of literature that’s rooted in the American lexicon. Carl Sandburg is one of our most prolific poets and authors and someone we don’t talk about as much as we should these days.”

In Rootabaga Country, Peters focuses on three characters—Gimme the Ax and his two children, Please Gimme and Ax Me No Questions. They have sold their possessions and set off for Rootabaga Country, a land in the sky. This trek is the family’s way of connecting with Alelia, the children’s mother, who loved to visit Rootabaga Country as a young girl and disappeared when they were small. The journey provides Alelia’s children a connection to the mother they never knew and by the end of the story, the realization that families come in a variety of forms.

“My job was finding the aspects of the story that were the most colorful and theatrical,” Peters said. “The stories I chose were zany and fun, off the wall and goofy. It’s a really funny opera and if you like to laugh a lot, this is a good one to come to with a heartwarming message at the end.”

She added the Sarasota Opera creative team was very helpful in bringing Rootabaga Country to fruition.

“They have a very specific mission and specific things they want the children in the Youth Opera to learn—a positive message

and a positive experience,” Peters said. “And they were very instrumental in bending the story to that.”

Jewell-Plocher added Peters’ score provided an achievable challenge for the cast.

“That’s important for us,” he said. “For the audience, you’re going to be taken on a journey that’s crazy, but has a poignant pointthat families come in all shapes and sizes and it’s ok to be in a family that has only one parent.

It’s all about diversity and acceptance.”

Peters added she didn’t feel she was writing a political piece when she started out, but noticed by the time it was completed that it resonated with a lot of the current political climate.

“Right now it’s very important to safeguard the notion that anybody can be your family,” she said. “It can be an unofficial family. It can be extended relatives. It can look like anything.”

Jewell-Plocher added Sarasota Opera holds this production up to the same standards as the rest of the operas in its season.

“The only difference is the majority of the cast is between the ages of 8 and 18,” he said. “I want our audience to see what these kids can achieve when they’re held to a high standard.”

The Sarasota Youth Opera has been in existence since 1984 and has given thousands of young people an opportunity to experience opera firsthand through participation in after-school choruses, Sarasota Opera mainstage performances, an annual three-week opera summer camp and fully staged Youth Opera productions.

Rootabaga Country will have two performances, at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 and and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12. Tickets cost $15 for students, $30 for adults and $55 for family packs, which includes two adults and up to four students. The Sarasota Opera House is located at 61 North Pineapple Avenue. For more information, call the box office at (941) 328-1300 or visit www. sarasotaopera.org. You can also visit the Youth Opera Facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/SYOpera.

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When you participate in one of our unique circus events you will: • Help local school children learn science through the circus arts in an innovative hands-on curriculum • Provide therapeutic interactions and smiles to those in care facilities • Give Sailor Circus students the opportunity to train in the circus arts and build a lifetime of self confidence

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Circus Arts Gala Sat, January 27, 2018 • 6:30 pm, Under the Ulla Searing Big Top The most magical and entertaining fundraiser of the year!

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THe CirCUS ArTS COnServATOry BACk From our NAtioN’s CApitAl The Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) proudly collaborated and presented in partnership with The Smithsonian institution at its 2017 Folklife Festival in Washington DC. Held on the national Mall, and in its 50th year, the festival is the largest tourist event in the United States, welcoming over 1 million visitors in person and millions more online.

CAC’S very own “Big Top” was the only one of its kind at the festival, commanding a primary position across from the Smithsonian institution’s Castle and presenting multiple shows a day featuring youth and professional circus performances.

Over 100 attendees from The Circus Arts Conservatory travelled to Washington DC for the festival including Sailor Circus youth performers, professional performers, support staff, coaches and volunteers.

Placing circus arts and Sarasota on the national stage, this was an extraordinary opportunity for The CAC to be recognized as an international leader and a contributor to circus arts and its continued commitment to performance, training, outreach and circus legacy. in addition to performance, the Smithsonian program highlighted families for whom circus arts have been a way of life for generations and The CAC’s innovative method of teaching circus science in partnership with the USF Sarasota / Manatee PAinT (Partnerships for Arts integrated Teaching) program. Festival planners chose to highlight circus arts at a time where they are seeing notable growth. Twenty years ago there were a handful of circus schools across the country where as there are now over 250. The rapid emergence of youth circuses and circus-related schools—many started by veteran artists—is creating grassroots opportunities for new artistic expressions. We like to think that The Circus Arts Conservatory, which celebrated its 20th anniversary as a non-profit this year, was instrumental in initiating the movement.

For more information visit www.CircusArts.org or call 941.355.9335.

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on the town

Scenes from AN INTERVIEW:

Dr. Larry Thompson

by Gus Mollasis

Gus Mollasis interviews Dr. Larry Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design, in this month's “Scenes from an Interview.” In this mustread article, Dr. Thompson shares the very interesting story of his life, his many accomplishments, his goals for the college and his hopes for its future.

THE LOST ART OF LISTENING

H

e can’t draw a straight line to save his life. Art is not something that comes easy to him; yet, strangely, seems to fit him perfectly, and is something that this Ohioan values more than most. If one were to commission a drawing of his life, it could be one part Picasso and one part Pollack, with a little bit of Chagall thrown in. Not many straight lines there, for sure! Perhaps it’s poetic that Larry Thompson, a math savant who studied law, always found himself gravitating toward the arts. With a stint at the impressive Flint Cultural Center in Michigan, and playing a major role at the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, he’s always elegantly fought for ways to see his vision realized. With Jagger-like passion a la “Jumping Jack Flash,” he’s found ways to help get things built, even if it seemed at times like some around him were smashing guitars a la Pete Townsend, failing to listen and merely pushing

their opinions. How did he make it all happen and help raise the money as the CEO for the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame? Well that’s easy. He’s a good listener. And that’s music to the ears of anyone who has ever worked with him. Blessed with an ability to listen not only to those playing tunes he likes (such as a Lennon-McCartney ballad), but most importantly to songs sung in board and meeting rooms where personalities often clash more than Jagger and Richards. Wherever he’s been, he’s always been able to orchestrate a positive change and move a project forward because he was a part of it. As president of the Ringling College of Art and Design since 1999, he’s helped take the institution to another level, while seeking to build its reputation as a prominent film school. He hopes to take Ringling College to the top of the list, so when people think of art and design, Ringling College is top of mind. He’s excited about where he’s come from, where he is now, and where he, the town and the school are going. His long and winding road has led him to this place and time, and he is excited about the future. No, it’s not been a straight line, or a life that one could easily draw on a map, or captured in a painting, and that’s just part of the reason I couldn’t wait to sit down with Dr. Larry Thompson and talk a little art, a little film and listen to some scenes from an interview of his life.

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Where were you born, and what was your favorite thing to do as a kid?

Dayton, Ohio. My favorite thing to do as kid was band. I played trombone, and in high school I was in the concert, marching and jazz bands. When we finished jazz band we did gigs. I was like Robert Preston in The Music Man. What is the greatest thing your parents taught you?

The value of education. It was instilled very early on in me. It’s interesting, but it’s almost like [education is] in the DNA because here I am president of a college. My late brother was a doctor and taught at the University of Minnesota Medical School, my oldest son is teaching in the graduate program at Nova Southeastern University, and my daughter is at Swarthmore College doing development and annual giving work. My youngest son is in St. Petersburg working for a nonprofit helping to teach foster children leadership skills. So education is in the DNA. Tell me about your higher education.

I call myself a guidance counselor’s nightmare. You could never, ever plan this career path. One of the things that I try to help teach our students is no matter what you might plan for, you need to know how marketable and transferable your skills are.

I majored in math as an undergrad, but I didn’t like it much. I thought I would become an engineer; one summer I worked at General Motors. Then I thought I would become an actuary in insurance (figuring out life expectancy of potential clients). I did that one summer and I thought was going to die. (Laughs) No one today can ever picture me being an actuary. After graduating from college, I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do. I went 84

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to California, where I got a master’s degree in educational administration and counseling, and when I returned to Ohio, I was director of financial aid for a small liberal arts college.

I decided that if I’m going to remain in higher education, then I’m going to have to get a doctorate of some sort. I was always intrigued with legal issues, so I applied to law school and was admitted to Ohio State University; after graduating, I joined a very large firm in Columbus that happened to represent Ohio State. Instead of dealing with numbers, I was making logical arguments with words.

With my background, I did a lot of work for that client who worked with higher education clients. After about five years, a new president was hired, who was used to having a lawyer on his staff. He told me to take six months off and then come back and work in a position helping to reorganize

the department and basically serve as general counsel while doing a lot of management troubleshooting. I oversaw the athletic department, public TV and radio, which got me into the management part. From Ohio State I was recruited to put together the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Tell me about this experience and all the many hats you wore in helping to develop the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame?

I wore many hats. Basically it (the Hall) didn’t exist. The whole story was that Cleveland won the right to house the physical Hall of Fame over such competitors as San Francisco, Memphis, Detroit and New Orleans. Cleveland went after it with a vengeance and they got it. It literally became like the “dog that caught the car.” Now what the hell do we do? They first director they hired was fairly young and didn’t know a lot about fundraising. One of the key reasons Cleveland was chosen by the New York group was that Cleveland would pay for it. This director raised about $500,000, which was nothing at that time, since it was supposed to be a $50 million project. The New York record industry guys

on the town were going to pull out of the deal, so the real power base in Cleveland flew to New York to beg forgiveness and ask for another chance. When they shut it down to start over again, a headhunter sought me out.

What was the toughest and most rewarding parts of your job at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

The toughest part of that job was the governance. When I came in, there were two nonprofit boards, the Rock and Roll Hall Fame Foundation (which had already started inducting artists), made up of the record companies, head of Rolling Stone Magazine, etc.

— they were the ones who selected Cleveland as the site — the second was a Cleveland nonprofit called American Contemporary Music, which was the group with all the Fortune 500 CEOs from Cleveland and so forth, who in essence got Cleveland selected. When I came in, there was this atmosphere of total distrust.

They wouldn’t even meet together. This is where the legal background comes in: what I ended up doing was creating another nonprofit, the Hall of Fame and Museum, that would be the governing body for this project. We had 10 people from the New York group and 10 people from the Cleveland group and we finally got them together to meet, but the cultures were so, so different.

You had these salt-of-the-earth, Midwestern CEOs, including the governor of the state and the mayor, and then you had these record industry heads.

How often do you go back, and when you do, how much

pride do you feel at seeing your vision realized?

I was just there a couple years ago and I hadn’t been back in about five years. I have to tell you that I was just in awe.

Wow. It has withstood the test of time. It opened in 1995 and here it was 2015. The thing that really hit me the most was that I could foresee how this could become a major institution, and quite frankly the symbol of Cleveland. And nobody else seemed to get it.

The other part was that the Cleveland people wanted it for economic development purposes and tourism. The record industry people wanted it to show their mothers that they did something with their lives.

The New York guys feared that it was going to become some “amusement-parky thing” – sort of schlocky. The Cleveland people were afraid that it was going to become a mausoleum. I kept saying that it could be an entertaining place with substance. And that’s what it’s become. They struggled getting that.

If you could choose five inductees in the Hall of Fame, who would you choose?

First of all, there is only one metric required, and that is you had to have a record released 25 years ago in order to be inducted in the Hall. The rest of the criteria is pretty subjective. So my five would be The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Brown, The Who and Elvis Presley.

I love Motown as well. Did you notice I didn’t nameBiles Elvis Simone first? Which is interesting.

That’s really how rock n’ roll started - out of Rhythm and Blues, Jazz and even Country.

The thing about Elvis is that he took rhythm and blues music and made it acceptable for white people. Elvis is the one who made it popular among the masses.

“You could never, ever plan this career path.”

When you left the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame you were working at the Flint Cultural Center, a place that surprised you...

I got a call from another headhunter about an opportunity in Flint.

I told them no thanks; I’ve seen the movie (Roger and Me, Michael Moore). They called me about three or four times and said, “Just come and take a look.” So I went to the Flint Cultural Center, and when I arrived there, I was absolutely stunned. I had this image from the movie about this worn-down rust belt town, but instead, it was this cultural center that had a campus with nine cultural institutions on it that emulated a mini Lincoln Center. It had a real good art museum; an institute of music that had a major symphony; a 3,000-student school of performing arts; a 2,000-seat performing arts venue larger than the Van Wezel; a history museum and a planetarium; and a producing youth theater. I couldn’t believe it.

This was created during the heyday of General Motors and now it was in deep trouble. I decided it was something that I would really enjoy doing. It had some similarity to being a college president, but it was dealing with the arts. What happened was they were creating a new nonprofit that was going to manage all these entities and have them work together – some of whom were very independent, some of whom dealt with challenging governances.

It was my charge to help them raise money, market together and try to bring the center back to life.

How did you find your way to Sarasota and Ringling College?

I was in Flint and I was interested in getting back into higher education, because that’s my passion. I let it be known to a couple of headhunters that I would be open to the possibility, and lo and behold, I got a call a couple years later from the man who was doing the search for Ringling. I remember thinking that I never would have thought of an art and design college. I’m not an artist.

I can’t draw a stick figure. I’m really bad. I put my name in anyway. I think that they were trying to get an “out of the box” candidate. The other people were heads of art schools or departments.

I ended up being among the final five candidates. As I understand it, from someone who was on the search committee, I was out.

And then someone pushed and said, “I want to see this rock n’ roll guy.” Before I came back for the next interview, I went around campus just to talk with people and see what it was like. I have to admit that I had a bias against Florida, thinking people were running to early bird dinners, and that it had no culture, and would be all Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. I didn’t know anything about Sarasota. So I checked out the school system, called my wife and said, “I have no clue where I am, but this isn’t the Florida that we heard about.” It was a totally different place. It’s not what I expected.

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but in higher education that’s nothing, because higher education tends to move at a glacial pace.

So, going from a good art school to among the very top is absolutely amazing. The other part, when I say preeminent, what I’m talking about is not so much in the ranking of our school. Being number one is not something I’m totally looking for. Sure, it’s a great thing to have, but it’s more about being first in mind; when people think of art and design, whether it be artists and designers, media, students, parents, the general public or employers – this is the place to think of.

How close are you to being there?

I can feel it. Really feel it. It’s right there. Things like what just happened today, when you see a pair of Ringling graduates create a real buzz with their film In a Heartbeat, an animated short that lit up the Internet with millions of views.

Where was it then, where is it now and where would you like to take Ringling College?

When I arrived in July of 1999, the school had about 850 students, and it was a really, really good art school. It always had great instruction, but at that time it was not recognized nationally. The facilities were run down and needed a lot of maintenance. It was very solid financially. My predecessor had put the institution on the line of being a higher education institution, taking it from being a three-year certificate program to making it a four-year college with a curriculum. My part was coming in and trying to take this to another level. It was unlike many of the other things I had done, which was like “turnaround stuff.” This was something that was not in trouble.

It was more of taking it from where it was – a very good school – and making it soar by moving it to the next level.

That’s basically what started 86

to happen. Now, we have about 1,400 students and 12 very innovative majors. Our primary competition now is RISD (Rhode Island School of Design); Parsons, Pratt and the Art Institute of Chicago, which are recognized as top art and design institutions. That’s how I know we are now among the top tier. It has enhanced us and we have become very well-known in the community.

When I came here, I would come and talk to people about the Ringling School and they didn’t even know where it was. They thought it was with the Ringling Museum. Now it’s a little different. A lot of people know about this college now. And they’re very supportive of it. That moves me to the next level—not being satisfied by just being in the top tier. Our goal is to become the preeminent art and design college in the world, and we are on a very fast track to get there. It is amazing to see.

Eighteen years is a lot of time,

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

Thus far, what is your proudest accomplishment regarding Ringling College?

Helping take it from that level of being a very good school to being on the cusp of being first in mind when you think of an art and design school. To get to those next levels it takes money, and that’s a big part of my job as the president of this institution. We don’t have wealthy alumni to raise money from as most colleges do. We will have, but we don’t have them now. We have a wealthy philanthropic community. So that’s why my strategy was to make Ringling really become a part of this community, really integrated within the community. I want to have people who are affiliated with us view Ringling as their second alma mater. That’s only one component.

You still have to recruit the top faculty and for us, because we are the most advanced technological art college in the world, we have to make large investments in technology.

What issues keep you up at night?

Two things, and they’re related. The larger piece is that we are small at 1,400 students. That’s not a large institution. But we are seen as very large, because of our footprint in the community, and now, nationally. People don’t realize that we don’t have all the infrastructure capacity that it seems like we have. It’s always a challenge to meet those expectations. We do it, and we do it well. But it’s difficult and it is great problem to have. People are expecting things and you don’t want to let them down. And that gets to the way how higher education is funded. Because in the long term it is not a sustainable model. Tuition is too expensive - way too expensive.

And there is not really a way to curve that without investments from somewhere else. It’s true of all private colleges. That is the biggest issue, because I see how much our students and their parents struggle. A lot of people think there are a lot of rich kids here. Not at all.

It’s mainly middle class.

on the town

Finish the following sentences: A GREAT LEARNING INSTITUTION SHOULD ALWAYS… Keep the students in mind first.

I HOPE THAT WHEN A RINGLING STUDENT GRADUATES THEY WILL… Not only be a fabulous artist and designer, but also a fabulous citizen.

A GREAT STUDENT WILL ALWAYS… Rise to the top.

A GREAT TEACHER WILL ALWAYS… Rise to the top. A great teacher will have done so much for generations after generations. That’s the great thing about being an educator. You are transforming individuals who will then transform individuals.

MY BEST QUALITY IS MY ABILITY TO… See all sides of an issue and envision what could be.

SOMETHING I NEED TO WORK ON IS… Saying no.

MY THREE DESERT ISLAND FILMS ARE… Animal House. I can watch that forever. The other one is Mr. Holland’s Opus, and the third one would be Avatar.

I COULDN’T DRAW A PICTURE TO SAVE MY LIFE, BUT I APPRECIATE ART BECAUSE… I wonder and I am in awe of the creativity and people being able to constantly come up with new ideas and thoughts and put that into something tangible.

IMPROVE YOUR GAME, RELIEVE

YOUR PAIN!

What feeling do you get when you see a Ringling student recognized by either nabbing a great job in the industry, receiving an award or have their film go viral?

I have nothing to do with it, per se, but I feel like a proud parent.

Incredible pride.

How do you keep the students here making films and art once they graduate?

Part of being a citizen of the community is that we have this incredible talent here at the college, and at least 80-85% of them don’t stay. That is a huge loss to Sarasota and Florida. If someone has the choice of going to Pixar or a small company in Sarasota, then they’re going to go to Pixar. But not everybody can go to Pixar. There are a lot of different potential opportunities. They just don’t exist very much here in Sarasota. So we’re trying to help create that through ourselves and by having others find out about Sarasota and the school so they hopefully move their headquarters here. We work very closely with EDC and the Chamber. For our

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on the town film program, we bring professional filmmakers, producers, directors and actors here to Sarasota. They get a chance to work with our students and see the caliber of our work, and hopefully that will bring more and more productions to Sarasota.

It’s like anything else. It takes a lot of time and effort when you haven’t had a good base to begin with. We could become a real digital media capital. Absolutely.

It’s there because of this talent pool. It’s almost so close you can touch it, but it’s a little further away. We have some great start-up companies, but it’s going to take a while before they are going to able to hire a lot of our people. When employers talk to me, and they don’t need to BS me, they just say our students are the best. That’s why we have over 100 companies who come here to recruit our students.

You’re a visionary. You saw the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame when others did not.

What does Ringling College look like in 20 years?

It really will be the preeminent art and design college. It will still be on the cutting edge of what’s happening in art and design. That’s one of the things that distinguish us from other art and design institutions. It will probably never be huge; in fact, I’m not positive that it ought to be huge. But it’s probably going to be 2,000 to 2,500 students. It will have graduate programs and be regarded as the preeminent art and design college.

Can Ringling be part of viable film mecca in Sarasota?

Absolutely. And we are helping to create it. There is no doubt in my mind. What we ended up doing was creating a different model in helping to educate filmmakers.

This whole concept of the studio lab in partnership with Semkhor Productions is all about bringing these filmmakers here, and our students working hand-in-hand with them as part of their education, so they are getting this real-world experience working with real filmmakers while also getting the other things that you would get in a normal academic film program.

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on the town Tell us about the Ringling sound stage that’s about to be completed.

It’s very exciting to drive down MLK right now because we have the new visual arts center, the new library and the new soundstage/post-production complex within the last year. It’s exciting to see those physical structures, but also I would say it’s not about the buildings, it’s what happens in the buildings. They are a great physical manifestation of what’s happening, but that’s all they are. It’s what’s going on inside that’s the real manifestation of the change.

If they made a film about your life, name the title and who you would want playing you?

(Pause) (Laughs) Oh, my God. That’s a tough one.

Is it Animal House?

No. But I was in a fraternity - like Animal House. (Laughs) It wasn’t quite that bad.

But it was close. I’m having trouble with this one.

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You’ve taken places to other levels, managing many personalities and you are a great listener.

I do like The Listener. And Tom Hanks is someone who I think operates like me.

He’s more down to earth, open and honest. And empathic.

Is there a mantra that you live by?

There is something that I strongly believe in and use at speaking engagements – “Creativity is the fuel of the future” – because it’s needed in every business and in every operation. Everything. And we do not value creativity enough.

Many years from now, when the credits have rolled on your life, how do you hope students and others remember you?

I want to be remembered as an educator who transformed lives. This job is really about educating people about our college and our students. Teaching has always been a part of me, so I see my role as constantly being an educator.

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Puppy Edition

Most days, the canine trainees at Southeastern Guide Dogs look like your average pooches. But the truth is, for their human companions, they’re superheroes—all trained right here in your backyard. To honor the heroic work they do, we’ve celebrated them in statue, then given them to area artists to reveal the heroes inside. Which will be your favorite Southeastern Superhero?

Take a closer look at the over 40 puppies on display at sponsoring businesses throughout the area and vote for your favorite at guidedogs.org/superheroes

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CATCH THE EXCITEMENT-

LIVE!

9/14 -10/1

MAME

10/14

Remembering Red

10/26 -11/12

A Little Night Music

10/15

Mission Wildlife

11/30 -12/17

Annie

11/18

The Gold Tones

10/12 -10/29

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12/22 -12/23

Sleigh Ride: Decades Rewind

11/30 -12/17

Flowers for Algernon

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on the town

Education MATTERS

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

GILLS CLUB AT MOTE MARINE LABORATORY

I CONFESS—I ALREADY KNEW A BUNCH ABOUT GILLS CLUB prior to writing this article. Why? Because I have two daughters (ages 10 and 13), who are EXACTLY their target demographic, and we’ve gone to a number of Gills Club events at Mote Marine Laboratory. And I’ve had as much fun at them as my daughters did.

“But what the heck IS Gills Club?” you might be asking. It’s the Atlantic White Shark Conservatory’s STEM-based education initiative that’s designed to connect girls (age 13 and younger) with female scientists from around the world, share knowledge, and inspire shark and ocean conservation. The Gills Club motto?

“Smart about sharks.” In short, they seek to inspire the next generation of ocean advocates.

groups. That network of women scientists numbers well over 100 and is growing.

Two of these scientists are also featured in the monthly e-Newsletter and on the Gills Club Facebook group. It gives members unprecedented access to some of the top shark researchers in the world which—let’s face it—is pretty darn cool.

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The network of women scientists and growing.

Mote was one of Gills Club’s first partners, and it makes sense— both are interested in sharks, marine life, environmental stewardship, education, and science. A perfect match! It didn’t hurt that one of Gills Club’s co-founders worked at Mote for about a year, too.

at length about what it takes to be a scientist and a writer.

The month before that? They held an outdoor meeting where kids played in the water, took a mangrove walk, and performed field sampling the bay.

Elaina Todd, Mote’s Community Engagement Coordinator, is a big fan of Gills Club. “We had our first meeting in February 2014, just a short time before I began working at Mote,” she explains. These days, each meeting has as many as 40 girls attending. And the meetings are always exciting, she notes. This past July, they had a special guest speaker who wrote a book about Dr. Eugenie Clark, the founder of Mote. That author spoke

One of the best things about Gills Club is that they’re happy to connect their members with women scientists who are always open to sharing their research and speaking with Gills Club

Todd explains, “Yes, Gills Club is about sharks, but in general, it’s about providing girls with as many opportunities as possible for them to be exposed to STEM and science. This is only going to increase their interest in science and show them possible future careers in those fields.” Getting women into science fields is an issue. Gills Club Co-founder Cynthia Wigren writes “It wouldn’t have occurred to me that the lack of females featured in Shark Week was an issue until I started a non-profit to fund shark research. At events, I met young girls who were being told by other kids that ‘only boys like sharks’ and being discouraged from following their passion. I real

SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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on the town

One of the real benefits of being part of Gills Club, Todd points out, is how much confidence it can build. She explains how she’s watched girls who seemed skittish and quiet come again and again to Gills Club events and get excited and interested and active. Now, some of these girls are doing public shark advocacy at schools, which can entail speaking in front of groups!

“Despite movies like Jaws and the ridiculous Sharknado series, sharks do not have a vendetta against humans.”

ized that if your only experience with shark research/conservation is Shark Week—like it is for most kids—you may believe that shark science is a career only for men. The reality is that shark science is comprised of many women who live every week like it’s Shark Week. I wanted to find a way to connect the two groups, and so the Gills Club was born!”

Another challenge that both Todd and Gills Club faces is dispelling a few prevalent myths.

• MYTH #1: Sharks want to eat us. They don’t. We’re not part of their natural diet.

Despite movies like Jaws and the ridiculous Sharknado series, sharks do not have a vendetta against humans.

• MYTH #2: Boys can’t participate. The truth is that boys CAN be part of Gills Club.

While the club is focused on attracting girls to marine biology, the education and

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programming is fairly gender neutral. The only thing that’s truly girl-specific might be the pink Gills Club t-shirts, and let’s be honest—real men wear pink, too.

The 90-minute monthly meetings are always on Saturday afternoons and take place at Mote—most often at the Keating Marine Education Center.

Things kick off with an introduction of the featured scientist of the day and the specific topic of the month. Then the kids are split into groups where they rotate through learning stations where they participate in hands-on activities focused on that month’s theme. If the featured scientist is a shark-tagging pro? The girls will simulate the type of work and research that particular scientist does. Todd says that about 25% of the time, they’re able to get the featured scientist to participate in person at the meeting, though if not, Skype or other distance options are sometimes an option.

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

Valerie Van Cleave, my thirteen-year-old daughter, really likes Gills Club. “Where else can you find out about the Goblin Shark?” she asks after reading about it in the monthly newsletter.

“I mean, who’d ever think to look up information on this shark that has an elongated snout that might be used to find prey with electrical detection? How cool is that?”

Want to check things out for yourself? The fall 2017 schedule for Mote’s Gills Club meetings is: • September 16 • October 14 • November 18 • December 16 Each event is posted on Mote’s event calendar during the first week of the month. It’s free to attend, though do take the time to register online so they have an accurate head count and can plan accordingly to ensure they have enough required materials for that meeting’s activities.

“Talking about Gills Club always gets me so worked up,” says Todd, who is as excited to be part of this as the girls attending the meetings are. “It’s such a GREAT program!” So take a child, grandchild, or neighbor this fall and discover what all the excitement’s about. And if your kid(s) are a bit older than the Gills Club target range (up to 13), don’t worry—Mote is looking to create an advanced Gills Club that caters to a middle school demographic, too.

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

on Gills Club, please visit www.gillsclub.org or email Mote Marine Laboratory’s Community Engagement Coordinator, Elaina Todd at etodd@mote.org

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SHOWCASING

OUR ARTS TO THE WORLD

BY SUE CULLEN

ost would agree that what defines Sarasota, and what sets it apart, is its rich arts and cultural scene. Pristine white beaches and gorgeous weather play their important roles in making this a great place to live, but the arts represent the soul of the community and distinguish it from other areas that bask in Florida sunshine.

The arts also make a bottom line difference through significant economic impacts.

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The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota (941.365.5118 sarasotaarts.org) has supported and shaped the arts in Sarasota and Manatee counties for more than 30 years through government and other advocacy as well as direct support of arts organizations and individual artists through grants. It also showcases the arts within the community at events like the upcoming World Rowing Championships this month and the annual weeklong InspireSarasota festival, which begins in October.

“The Alliance is set up to be the umbrella organization for all arts and culture in the region. We represent organizations, private individuals and businesses, and our job is to make sure everyone in the community has access to the arts in ways that are significant to them,” says Jim Shirley, Executive Director of the Arts and Cultural Alliance. “So many people in the community may not go to a performance or an exhibit, and we want to be sure they have access to the arts. This is not just about entertainment or to help ourselves have a fuller, richer life, it’s also about the economic impact here.”

Every five years, the Alliance and its member organizations participate in the Arts and Economic Prosperity study conduced by Americans for the Arts, which details the economic impact that nonprofit arts and culture organizations have in 341 communities nationwide. Results of that study, most recently conduced in 2015, show that direct economic impact locally by arts organizations and their audiences totals more than $295 million and supports 7,445 full time equivalent jobs. In addition, total event related expenditures, excluding admissions, are $93.5 million. An interesting tidbit from that survey indicates that tourists’ spending accounts for nearly $57.8 million of that $93.5 million.

"If you took all arts organizations as a whole, they would be one of the largest employers in Sarasota County, and they also provide $12.5 million in local government revenue." - JIM SHIRLEY

“If you took all arts organizations as a whole, they would be one of the largest employers in Sarasota County, and they also provide $12.5 million in local government revenue and $20 million to state government,” Shirley says. “We’re looking at a significant economic generator here.”

The Alliance helps keep that generator fueled, and raises the profiles of member organizations, by creating opportunities to showcase cultural organizations, including at the upcoming World Rowing Championships September 24 through October 1. “There will be 40,000 people from around the world at that event.

Why not showcase all of Sarasota? The Sarasota Pops Orchestra, Sarasota Cuban Ballet School, the Circus Arts Conservancy, West Coast Black Theatre Troupe and others will be performing,” he says.

In partnership with Embracing Our Differences, students at Sarasota County schools are “adopting” the home country of one of the teams, learning about its culture and creating artwork that will be displayed at the championship event.

Working with children is one of the Alliance’s key community outreach initiatives and, in partnership with the public school system and local foundations, its Arts in Education program ensures every child has access to the arts as part of his or her education, Shirley says.

The InspireSarasota festival, which runs October 23 to November 4, is a free event for the entire community and kicks off with a Celebration of the Arts event at the Van Wezel. The event will preview several

upcoming performances and recognize community members who have made contributions to the arts. Other events include dual stage performances hosted by Giving Hunger the Blues and the Jazz Club of Sarasota, and the Age Friendly Sarasota event in conjunction with the Patterson Foundation at Robarts Arena celebrates all the things that make the area a great place to live. InspireSarasota will wrap up at Five Points Park in downtown Sarasota with five performance stages featuring various youth organizations. A full list of events is available at inspiresarasota.net.

Although events to showcase the arts are an important part of what it does, the Alliance also is known for its juried art shows that give local artists a venue to exhibit their work and for providing access to major grants programs for organizations as well as grant opportunities for smaller organizations and individuals. It also formed the Culture Collective, which aims to help young professionals get involved with the arts at an earlier age. Alliance volunteers conduct tours of the artwork at Patriot Plaza in the Sarasota National Cemetery, and it holds Business of Art workshops to help artists understand how to price and market their products.

“With all that we do, we are most effective as a membership organization because we are arts advocacy in the truest sense,” Shirley says. “ I would encourage people concerned about the importance of the arts to become members because their support helps us achieve our mission for the community.”

SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

2017/2018

Arts Culture GUIDE

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE ARTS & CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF SARASOTA COUNTY

SUPPORT THE ARTS

ARTS & CULTURE GUIDE SPONSORS | CAFÉ L’EUROPE · CALDWELL TRUST COMPANY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY · THE LAKE CLUB · MARLOWE & MARRS MAULDIN & JENKINS · MORTON’S GOURMET MARKET · PLYMOUTH HARBOR STABIL CONCRETE PAVERS · RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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PERFORMING ARTS Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra

Young Concert Artists International: Narek

Soiree Series:

Arutyunian, clarinet, and Steven Beck,

Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m.

piano

and Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m.

March 4, 2018

Romance of the Cello: Natalie Helm and Joseph Holt

PO Box 1213

Pops & Special Performances:

September 24 – 25, 2017

Holmes Beach, FL 34218

Piano Grand II

Aristo Sham, Young Piano Arts Award

941.795.2370

October 7, 2017

Winner

Amicco.or

Cool Yule: June Garber’s Tribute to Ella

December 5 – 6, 2017

Symphony on the Sand

Fitzgerald

From Cuba to Broadway: Sandra Lopez

November 11, 2017

December 16 – 17, 2017

and Paul Posnak

The Many Moods of Christmas

Pablo Ziegler Quartet for New Tango

April 1 – 2, 2018

December 10, 2017

January 28, 2018

Broadway and Beyond

The King of Ragtime Writers: Scott Joplin

Special Events:

February 24 – 25, 2018

February 10 – 11, 2018

BBC’s Great Composers: Bach (BachFest

AMICCO Presents Three Tenors

The Celluloid Guitar – The Katona Twins

Sarasota)

March 25, 2018

February 18, 2018

November 16, 2017

From Broadway to Hollywood: Pianist

Artist Series Concerts National

Richard Glazier

Competition for Strings

March 17 - 18, 2018

April 7, 2018

1226 N. Tamiami Trail, Suite 300

Broadway Our Way

Suncoast Music Scholarships

Sarasota, FL 34236

March 25, 2018

April 21, 2018

941.306.1200

James Bond in Cello Case

ArtistSeriesConcerts.org

April 28 - 29, 2018

Asolo Repertory Theatre

Performances at various venues.

Showtime!

5555 North Tamiami Trail

May 13, 2018

Sarasota, FL 34243

Classical Recitals

Hurray for the Red, White & Blue: Capital

941.351.8000

Literature in Music

Brass Quintet and Bob McDonald

AsoloRep.org

with the Calidore String Quartet

May 19 - 20, 2018

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota

October 28 – 30, 2017

Main Stage

The Illegitimate Bach

Lunch, Look & Listen Sarasota:

Evita

November 15, 2017

Michael’s On East Ballroom

November 14 - December 30, 2017

BachFest Sarasota: “Intimate, Instrumental

One hour Concert at 11 a.m.

Shakespeare in Love

Bach

followed by lunch at 12:15 p.m.

January 10 – March 28, 2018

November 16, 2017

BachFest Sarasota

The Morning After Grace

BachFest Sarasota:

“The Illegitimate Bach”

January 17 – March 4, 2018

“Pipe Organ: King of Instruments”

November 15, 2017

Rhinoceros

November 17, 2017

Corda Voce

February 7 - April 14, 2018

BachFest Sarasota:

January 25, 2018

Roe

“Bach to the Future with Ji”

Ring Them Bells

March 14 – April 15, 2018

November 17, 2017

March 1, 2018

Gloria

BachFest Sarasota: “Bach: Mass in B

Principally Brahms

April 4 - 29, 2018

Minor

March 22, 2018

Ragtime

November 18-19, 2017

May 1 – 27, 2018

Piano Arts Award Winner – Aristo Sham

Lunch, Look & Listen Venice:

Jungle Book

December 16-17, 2017

Plantation Golf and Country Club

June 6 - 24, 2018

Young Concert Artists International: Bella

One hour Concert at 11 a.m.

Hristova, violin, and Amy Yang, piano

followed by lunch at 12:15 p.m.

FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training

January 21, 2018

Dueling Pianos

Julius Caesar Touring Schools &

Global Jazz & Exotic Chamber Music

February 6, 2018

Community Venues

February 2, 2018

Heavenly Duets

September 26 – November 20, 2017

Global Jazz & Exotic Chamber Music

March 13, 2018

Oedipus

February 25, 2018

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SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

October 31 – November 19, 2017

The MotherF***er with the Hat

20th Anniversary concert

Florida Studio Theatre

January 2 – 21, 2018

May 5 & 6, 2018

1241 North Palm Avenue

The Rehearsal

Sarasota, FL 34236

February 20 – March 11, 2018

Exsultate! Chorale

941.366.9000

Much Ado About Nothing

PO Box 1004

FloridaStudioTheatre.org

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Venice, FL 34284

See website for performances.

April 17 – May 6, 2018

941.484.8491 Exsultate.org

Belle Canto

Mainstage Once

8148 36th Street East

Venice Performing Arts Center

November 8 - December 31, 2017

Sarasota, FL 34243

Magnificent Joy: Songs of the Holidays

Cabaret ROAR! The Music of the 1920s

941.400.2152

December 3, 2017

and Beyond

BelleCanto.org

Breaking the Glass Ceiling: A Celebration

Through September 24, 2017

ofWomen Composers

Choral Artists of Sarasota Formerly Gloria Musicae

February 11, 2018

Children’s Theatre Series

Life and Landscape:Our Conflict, Our

Robin Hood

PO Box 52987

Peace, Our Song

October 7 - 21, 2017

Sarasota, FL 34232

April 8, 2018

Deck the Halls: ’Tis The Season

941.387.6046

November 25 – December 24, 2017

ChoralArtistsSarasota.org

The First Brass of Sarasota

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Bach: B Minor Mass

4565 Northlake Drive

February 3 – 24, 2018

November 18 - 19, 2017

Sarasota, FL 34232

The Boy Who Liked Pulling Hair

Too Hot to Handel

941.350.0271

April 14 – 28, 2018

December 10, 2017

TheFirstBrass.org

Carmina Burana in Motion

See website for locations.

February 3 – 4, 2018

BrassFest 2017: The First Brass Large

Fogartyville Community Media & Arts Center

Brahms: A German Requiem

Ensemble

525 Kumquat Court,

April 15, 2018

September 9 - 10, 2017

Sarasota, FL 34236

Showtime!!

Oktoberfest: The First Brass Five & the

941.545.5635

May 13, 2018

Oompah Trio

Fogartyville.org

Patriotic Showcase

October 29, 2017

Ellis Paul

July 4, 2018

Christmas: The First Brass Large Ensemble

September 8, 2017

December 3, 9 & 10, 2017

Antsy McClain

The Circus Arts Conservatory

Christmas in the Wind: I Solisti de Oneco

September 23, 2017

2075 Bahia Vista Street

Woodwind Quintet

Sarah Mac Band

Sarasota, FL 34239

December 17, 2017

October 14, 2017

941.355.9805

Horns-a-Plenty Ensemble

The Woodwork

CircusArts.org

February 10, 2018

October 20, 2017

Mardi Gras: The First Brass Five & Sharon

Art for Social Change Exhibit Opening

Circus Sarasota 2018 Winter

Scott

October 21, 2017

Performances

February 11, 2018

Charles Wesley Godwin

February 9 – March 4, 2018

Celticfest: The First Brass Five, Jacobites &

October 26, 2017

Cirque des Voix®: Circus of the Voices

Irish Dancers

Driftwood

Performances

March 11 & 18, 2018

October 27, 2017

March 23 – 25, 2018

National Tartan Day: The Jacobites &

Dan Bern

Sailor Circus Spring Performances

Riverview High School Kiltie Highland

November 1, 2017

TBA, Spring 2018

Dancers

David Olney

April 8, 2018

November 10, 2017

Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota

Memorial Day: The First Brass, The Jacobites,

Yarn

941.915.9128

RHS Highland Dancers & Sharon Scott

November 11, 2017

DiversitySarasota.org

May 26 - 27, 2018

Jon Stickley Trio

See website for season updates.

November 18, 2017

Glenridge Performing Arts Center Holiday concert December 9 & 10, 2017 SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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World Cultures Initiative: Celebrating

3975 Fruitville Road

Jazz at Two Jazz Jam with Al Hixon Trio

Muslim Culture Exhibit Opening Night

Sarasota, FL 34232

October 20, 2017

December 1, 2017

Xavier Jara

Billy Marcus Trio

Jazz Trio featuring Greg Abate

January 13, 2018

October 27, 2017

December 10, 2017

Jason Vieaux

Eddie Tobin and Friends

An Evening in Mayberry with Rodney Dillard

February 10, 2018

November 3, 2017

January 5, 2018

Kupinski Guitar Duo

Jazz on the Water Cruise

Jazz Quartet featuring Fred Johnson

March 24, 2018

November 5, 2017

January 13, 2018

Meng Su

Valerie Gillespie Ensemble

Celebrating Jewish Culture Exhibit

April 7, 2018

November 10, 2017 David Pruyn Quartet

Opening March 4, 2018

The Island Players

November 17, 2017

WATER Is LIFE Exhibit Opening

10009 Gulf Drive

Bill Buchman: “Art of Jazz”

April 20, 2018

Anna Maria, FL 34216

November 24, 2017

941.778.5755

Greg Abate

Glenridge Performing Arts Center

TheIslandPlayers.org

December 8, 2017

Happy Birthday

SJP

7333 Scotland Way

September 21 – October 1, 2017

December 15, 2017

Sarasota, FL 34238

The Game’s Afoot

Synia Carroll

941.552.5325

November 9 – 19, 2017

December 22, 2017

TheGlenridge.com

Beyond A Joke

Scholarship Kids

See website for more performances.

January 11 – 28, 2018

December 29, 2017

Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota - Holiday

The Curious Savage

Skip Conkling Dixie

concert

March 8 – 25, 2018

January 5, 2018

December 9 & 10, 2017

An Inspector Calls

Kitt Moran

Remembering to Rejoicing - Sarasota

May 3 – 13, 2018

January 19, 2018 Mark Feinman La Lucha

Jewish Chorale March 25, 2018

Jacobite Pipe Band

January 26, 2018

Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota - 20th

7120 Myakka Valley Trail

Mary Rademacher Reed

Anniversary concert

Sarasota, FL 34241

February 2, 2018

May 5 & 6, 2018

941.350.0271

Al Hixon

TheFirstBrass.org

February 9, 2018

Guitar Sarasota

See website for locations.

Tom Ellison

941.260.3306

Celticfest: The First Brass Five, Jacobites &

February 16, 2018

GuitarSarasota.org

Irish Dancers

Lorri Hafer

Mini-Concert & Lecture Series

March 11 & 18, 2018

February 23, 2018

St. Paul Lutheran Church

National Tartan Day: The Jacobites &

Tony Boffa

2256 Bahia Vista Street

Riverview High School Kiltie Highland

March 2, 2018

Sarasota, FL 34239

Dancers

Jerry Eckert

Ben Lougheed

April 8, 2018

March 16, 2018

November 13, 2017

Memorial Day: The First Brass, The

Patricia Dean

Lady and the Bard

Jacobites, RHS Highland Dancers &

March 23, 2018

December 11, 2017

Sharon Scott

Dave Morgan

Federico Musgrove

May 26 - 27, 2018

April 6, 2018 Mark Moultrup

January 8, 2018 Berioli – Johnson Duo

Jazz Club of Sarasota

February 12, 2018

330 S. Pineapple Avenue, Suite 111

Community Showcase

Sarasota, FL 34236

Key Chorale

March 12, 2018

941.366.1552

PO Box 20613

Stetson University Guitar Ensemble

JazzClubSarasota.com

Sarasota, FL 34276

April 9, 2018

See website for locations.

941.921.4845

Oktoberfest Jazz Trolley & Pub Crawl

KeyChorale.org

October 18, 2017

Sarasota Choral Festival

International Concert Series Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota

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SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

April 13, 2018

October 3, 6 & 7, 2017

Choral Festival Concert: Mystical & Divine

Les Paul and Mary Ford Tribute By Tom &

Through September 10, 2017

October 7, 2017

Sandy Doyle

Anna in the Tropics

Chamber Singers Concert: American

April 14, 2018

October 12 – 29, 2017

Roots

The Tin Woman

Flowers for Algernon

October 22, 2017

April 25 – May 13, 2018

November 30 – December 17, 2017

Holiday Concert: Christmas with Dale

Sylvia

Driving Miss Daisy

Warland

June 6 – 24, 2018

January 2 – February 11, 2018 Baby

November 26, 2017

March 1 – 18, 2018

February 17, 2018

Manatee Community Concert Band

Chamber Singers Concert: French

941.462.3188

April 5 - 22, 2018

Impressions

ManateeConcertBand.com

May 5, 2018

See website for locations.

Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy

Good

Special Performances: Enjoy the Ride

Cirque des Voix®: The Music of Danny Elfman

Concert

September 16 & 24, 2017

March 23 – 25, 2018

October 28, 2017

Remembering Red

USA Meets France

October 14, 2017

La Musica

October 28, 2017

Mission: Wildlife

International Chamber Music Festival

Imperial Lakes

October 15, 2017

PO Box 5442

December 6, 2017

BASE Talks

Sarasota, FL 34277

Holiday Pops Concert

November 14, 2017

941.366.8450 x7

December 9, 2017

The Gold Tones

LaMusicaFestival.org

Freedom Plaza

November 18, 2017

Sonata a Due

December 14, 2017

Divine Inspirations: Sarasota MusicaViva

December 5, 2017

“And the Tony Goes to…” Concert

November 26, 2017

Opera House Concert

February 17, 2018

Sleigh Ride: Decades Rewind

Sarasota Opera House

“Dance, Swing and Sway”

December 22 & 23, 2017

April 9, 12, 15 & 18, 2018

March 24, 2018

Discover Da Vinci: Mark Rodgers December 28 - 30, 2017

Meet the Musicians

Manatee Performing Arts Center

Celebrating the Children: Sarasota MusicaViva

502 3rd Avenue West

Guys and Dolls Sr.

Lemon Bay Playhouse

Bradenton, FL 34205

January 17, 2018

96 West Dearborn Street

941.749.1111

Gallagher Smash!

Englewood, FL 34223

ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com

February 2, 2018

Dolphin Aviation April 11, 2018

January 14, 2018

Liverpool Live: Beatles Tribute Show

941.475.6756 LemonBayPlayhouse.com

Broadway Series

March 10, 2018

Annoyance

Stone Hall Mame

Kentucky Derby Hat Making

September 6 – 24, 2017

September 14 – October 1, 2017

April 12, 2018

Later Life

A Little Night Music

Teen Idol Contest

October 18 – November 5, 2017

October 26 – November 12, 2017

April 13, 2018

Peggy Lee Tribute by Mindy Simmons

Annie

Concert with a Cause

November 18, 2017

November 30 – December 17, 2017

April 14, 2018

Over the River and Through the Woods

Nine

DraMature’s Greatest Hits

November 29 – December 17, 2017

January 11 – 28, 2018

May 9, 2018

Sh Boom! Those Fabulous 50’s

Hunchback of Notre Dame

Fleetwood Max

by Marcy Downey

February 15 – March 4, 2018

May 19, 2018

January 6, 2018

Little Women

Crimes of the Heart

March 22 – April 8, 2018

Summer:

January 17 – February 11, 2018

Nice Work If You Can Get It

Menopause the Musical

No Cryin’ In Your Beer Old-time Country

April 26 – May 13, 2018

May 22 - June 3, 2018 The Long Reunion

Music by John Tuff & Friends February 24, 2018

Studio Series

May 26 - 28, 2018

Flemming

Bradenton Kiwanis Theatre

Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding

March 7 – April 1, 2018

The Father

June 5 - 10, 2018 SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre

New Music New College

North Port Symphony

1923 Ringling Blvd.

New College of Florida

North Port Performing Arts Center

Sarasota, FL 34236

Caples Fine Arts Complex

941.426.8479

941.925.FUNY (3869)

5800 Bayshore Road

NorthPortSymphony.com

McCurdysComedy.com

Sarasota, FL 34243

Americans We!

See website for 2018 dates.

941.487.4888

November 9, 2017

Philly Plowden

NewMusicNewCollege.org

Masquerade

September 6 – 10, 2017

Artist Conversation

November 12, 2017

Carl Rimi

October 5 & November 16, 2017

‘Tis The Season

September 13 – 17, 2017

January 18, March 1 & April 19, 2018

December 10, 2017

Josh Sneed

Amernet String Quartet with Rachel

Holiday Harmonies

September 20 – 24, 2017

Calloway: Schoenberg’s String Quartet No. 2

December 16, 2017

Darryl Lenox

October 7, 2017

Christmas at the PAC

September 27 – October 1, 2017

Dis/Embodied

December 17, 2017

Mr. Showtime AKA The Midnight Swinger

November 17 – 19, 2017

Time…And The Winds

October 4 – 8, 2017

Lerner/Filiano/Grassi

January 18, 2018

J.B. Ball

January 20, 2018

That’s Amoré

October 11, 2017

It’s Alive! A Monstrous Circus on

January 28 & February 17, 2018

Drew Hastings

Frankenstein

Give My Regards to…Broadway!

October 12 – 15, 2017

March 4, 2018

February 22, 2018

Jim McCue

Dither

Invitation to the Dance

October 18 – 22, 2017

April 21, 2018

February 25, 2018

Tom McTiernan

SPECIAL EVENTS

Cinemagic!

October 25 – 29, 2017

Duo Cortona

March 22, 2018

John Novosad “Hippieman”

October 3, 2017

All That Jazz

November 1 – 5, 2017

March 25, 2018

Arsenio Hall

North Port Concert Band

Songs of the Silver Screen

November 10 – 11, 2017

North Port Performing Arts Center

April 21, 2018

Dale Jones

941.426.8479

We Love the 70’s (all of them)

November 15 – 19, 2017

NorthPortConcertBand.org

April 26, 2018

Carmen Ciricillo

Americans We!

November 22 – 26, 2017

November 9, 2017

Mark Klein

Christmas at the PAC

OASIS — Opera for Animals: Singing is Saving

December 6 – 10, 2017

December 17, 2017

8437 Tuttle Ave., #333

Mike McCarthy

Time…And the Winds

Sarasota, FL 34243

December 13 - 17, 2017

January 18, 2018

941.351.1007

Brett Leake

Give My Regards to…Broadway!

OperaForAnimals.org

December 27 – 30, 2017

February 22, 2018

New Year’s Eve with Dwight Slade

Cinemagic!

December 31, 2017

March 22, 2018

Perlman Music Program/ Suncoast

Dwight Slade

We Love the 70’s (all of them)

P.O. Box 3407

January 3 – 7, 2018

April 26, 2018

Sarasota, FL 34230

Musica Sacra Cantorum

North Port Chorale

PMPSuncoast.org

PO Box 50581

North Port Performing Arts Center

PMP Alumni: Around Town & In Schools

Sarasota, FL 34232

941.426.8479

November 2 – 6, 2017, February 22 - 26,

941.405.7322

TheNorthPortChorale.org

March 14 – 18, & April 19 – 23, 2018

MSCChorus.org

Holiday Harmonies

14th Annual Sarasota Winter Residency

Una Festa Toscana - A Tuscan Feast!

December 16, 2017

USF Sarasota-Manatee

September 23, 2017

That’s Amoré

December 21, 2017 – January 6, 2018

The Christmas Story

February 17, 2018

Celebration Concert

December 11, 2017

Songs from the Silver Screen

Sarasota Opera House

Rutter Requiem

April 21, 2018

January 4, 2018

941.955.4942

February 26, 2018 1 04

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

Works-In-Progress Chamber Music Recital

Special Performances

John Ringling’s Circus Nutcracker

Neel Performing Arts Center

“The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow”

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

January 6, 2018

A Theatre In The Field Experience

December 15 – 16, 2017

October 27 & 28, 2017

Moving Identities

The Players Centre for Performing Arts

Sarasota Polo Grounds

FSU Center for the Performing Arts

838 North Tamiami Trail

The Pops Orchestra

The Sarasota Ballet Presents Ballet

Sarasota, FL 34236

PO Box 1622

Hispanico

941.365.2494

Sarasota, FL 34230

FSU Center for the Performing Arts

ThePlayers.org

941.926.POPS (7677)

February 23 – 25, 2018

See website for season updates.

ThePopsOrchestra.org

Dreams of Nature

SCF’s Neel Performing Arts Center

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

S.T.A.R. (Storytelling at the Ranch) Polo

Riverview High School Performing Arts

March 2 – 3, 2018

Field Club House

Center

Great Masters of Dance

Magic Treehouse Series “Midnight On The

2017 World Rowing Championship

Sarasota Opera House

Moon”

Opening Ceremony

April 27 – 28, 2018

September 9, 2017

September 23, 2017

Magic Treehouse Series “Haunted Castle

Neil Diamond’s America

Sarasota Choral Society

On Hallow’s Eve”

November 12, 2017 (Riverview PAC)

5317 Fruitville Road #147

October 14, 2017

November 13, 2017 (Neel PAC)

Sarasota, FL 34232

Holiday Popera

SarasotaChoralSociety.org

Main Stage

December 10, 2017 (Riverview PAC)

941.777.5001

The Crucible

December 11, 2017 (Neel PAC)

Church of the Palms Presbyterian Church

August 31 – September 10, 2017

From Dallas, with Love

The Will Rogers Follies

February 11, 2018 (Riverview PAC)

Sarasota Chorus of the Keys

September 28 – October 15, 2017

February 12, 2018 (Neel PAC)

1661 Main Street

Moon Over Buffalo

Hyman in the House

Sarasota, FL 34236

November 2 – 19, 2017

March 25, 2018 (Riverview PAC)

941.400.9474

A Calyp-soul Christmas

March 26, 2018 (Neel PAC)

ChorusoftheKeys.org

The 1940s Radio Hour

Ring Sarasota

Sarasota Concert Association

December 7 – 23, 2017

P.O. Box 2113

PO Box 1714

Legends and Laughter with Jimmy Mazz

Sarasota, FL 34276

Sarasota, FL 34230

December 29, 2017

RingSarasota.org

941.225.6500

Singin’ In The Rain

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

ScaSarasota.org

January 18 – February 4, 2018

February 18, 2018

Bullets Over Broadway

Artist Series Concerts Sarasota,

Great Performers Series

February 22 – March 11, 2018

Michael’s on East

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall &

Funny Girl

March 1, 2018

Riverview Performing Arts Center

March 29 – April 15, 2018

St. James United Methodist Church

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

A Little Bit Country / A Little Bit Rock ‘n’

March 18, 2018

January 11, 2018

Roll with Jimmy Mazz

Lake Placid First Presbyterian Church

Cleveland Orchestra

March 30, 2018

March 24, 2018

January 29, 2018

January 26 – 29, 2018

December 1, 2017

Pageant

Gil Shaham & Akira Eguchi

Sarasota Ballet

January 30, 2018

5555 North Tamiami Trail

Staatskapelle Weimar

Backstage at the Players

Sarasota, FL 34243

February 26, 2018

In The Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)

941.359.0099

Takács String Quartet

October 19 - 29, 2017

SarasotaBallet.org

March 16, 2018

Players Follies Play Reading Festival

The Secret Garden

Emanuel Ax

November 19 & 20, 2017

FSU Center for the Performing Arts

April 3, 2018

Shirley Valentine

October 27 – 29, 2017

February 8 - 18, 2018

Metropolitan

The Price

Sarasota Opera House

March 15 - 25, 2018

December 1 – 2, 2017

April 19-21 2018

SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

105

Music Matinee Series

Sarasota Folk Club

Phyllis Lowitt, “The Original Three Tenors:

Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center &

Sarasota Sailing Squadron

Caruso, Gigli,Bjoerling”

David Cohen Hall/Holley Hall

1717 Ken Thompson Pkwy.

December 6, 2017

The Bridge Trio

Sarasota, FL 34236

December 11, 2017

941.918.8333

Friends of Library Opera Talks with

George Nickson, percussion and

SarasotaFolk.org

Phyllis Lowitt

Samantha Bennett, violin

Claude Bourbon

Mozart, The Magic Flute

January 17, 2018

September 25, 2017

October 11, 2017

John Miller, jazz trio

2PM

Verdi, La Traviata

January 17, 2018

October 30, 2017

November 8, 2017

State College of Florida Chamber Choir

Love & Peace Hootenanny

2018 Winter Lecture & Performance Series

and Presidential Vocal Ensemble

November 27, 2017

Rollins College Voice Faculty

March 28, 2018

Holiday of Song

January 10, 2018

Tom Purviance, piano

December 18, 2017

Manon Lescaut January 17, 2018

April 18, 2018

Sarasota Grapeviners

“Live from the Archive”: American Music

John Chidsey Bayfront Community Center

from the 20th Century

5317 Fruitville Road #192

803 Tamiami Trail

January 24, 2018

Sarasota, FL 34232

Sarasota, FL 34236

Selections for Solo Piano & Four Hands-

941.650.1177

941.923.3302

One Piano

SarasotaConcertBand.org

IFDSarasota.webs.com

January 31, 2018

Recreational Dance

Carmen

Every Wednesday night

February 7, 2018

7:00 – 9:30 PM

Jazz Favorites & More

Sarasota Concert Band

Sarasota Contemporary Dance Company

February 14, 2018

8437 Tuttle Avenue #160 Sarasota, FL 34243

Sarasota Jewish Chorale

Norma

941.345.5755

941.355.8011

February 21, 2018

SarasotaContemporaryDance.org

SarasotaJewishChorale.org

Dr. Daniel Baer, Solo Piano

Jane B. Cook Theatre

See website for locations.

February 28, 2018

SCD + Piazzolla

Kristallnacht Commemoration

Tiefland

October 12 – 15, 2017

November 8, 2017

March 7, 2018

Voices of SCD

Remembering to Rejoicing: The Legacy of

Sarasota Opera Studio Artists, Selections

November 30 – December 3, 2017

Anne Frank and the Miracle of Isarel

from the Season’s Operas

Dance Makers – 12th Annual Concert

March 25, 2018

March 14, 2018

January 25 – 28, 2018

Yom Hashoah Commemoration

Cosi fan tutte

Evolving/Revolving

April 25, 2018

March 21, 2018 Luisa Miller

May 10 -13, 2018

The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School

Sarasota Music Archive

March 28, 2018

Selby Public Library

501 North Beneva Road, Suite 700

Geldbart Auditorium

Events

Sarasota, FL 34233

1331 First Street

Music Flea Market & Record Store Day

941.365.8400

Sarasota, FL 34236

April 21, 2018

SRQCubanBalletSchool.com

941.861.1168

Please see website for locations.

SarasotaMusicArchive.org

The Nutcracker

Sarasota Music Club PO Box 19613

December 9, 2017

Fall Music Film Series

5201 Bahia Vista Street

End-of-Year Performance

Diana Walters, “The Great Sopranos, 1950

Sarasota, FL 34276

May 2018

- 1963”

941.925.3602

Summer Intensive Showcase

September 13, 2017

SarasotaMusicClub.org

July 2018

Joy McIntyre, “Maria Callas”

Sunnyside Village Community Center

On Stage Performance

October 25, 2017

Margot Zarzycka, Violin & Lee Dougherty

July 2018

John Goodman, “Great Composers: J. S.

Ross

Bach” in connection with the BachFest

October 20, 2017

November 16, 2017

Jason Stearns, Baritone & Lee Dougherty Ross November 17, 2017

1 06

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

Sunnyside Singers & Lucas Coura

Sarasota Opera Guild

The Red Violin

December 15, 2017

941.921.4154

April 6 - 8, 2018

Gail Berenson, Piano & Alison Sincoff,

Call for venue information.

Flute

Social and Singers

Great Escapes

January 19, 2018

September 19, October 17, November 21,

By Special Arrangement

Rich Ridenour, Piano

2017. January 16, February 20, March 20,

October 11 - 14, 2017

February 16, 2018

2018

Home for the Holidays

Rhonda Liss, Soprano & Alan J. Corey

When the Castrati Ruled Opera

December 20 - 23, 2017

March 16, 2018

September 28, 2017

Mozart in the Jungle

Suncoast Music Scholarship Auditions

The Poem of My Life

January 24 - 27, 2018

April 28, 2018

October 19, 2017

It’s Been Reel

Suncoast Music Scholarship Award

Prologue - La Traviata

February 14 - 17, 2018

Luncheon

October 23, 2017

The Sound of Music

May 12, 2018

Behind the Curtain: What a Stage Director

March 21 - 24, 2018

Does

Mavericks of Rhythm

Sarasota Opera

November 9, 2017

April 11 - 14, 2018

61 N. Pineapple Ave.

Opera Prologues – Manon Lescaut

Sarasota, Florida 34236

January 8, 2018

POPS

941.328.1300

Opera Prologues – Carmen

Doo Wop Project

SarasotaOpera.org

January 15, 2018

January 19 - 20, 2018

Opera Prologues – Norma

Best of Broadway

Sarasota Youth Opera (Fall Season)

January 22, 2018

March 9 - 10, 2018

Rachel J. Peters’ Rootabaga Country

Placido Domingo, Woody Allen, and

The Cotton Club

November 11 – 12, 2017

Puccini?

April 20 - 21, 2018

January 25, 2018 Fall Season

Opera Prologues – Tiefland

Chamber Soiree

Verdi’s La Traviata

January 29, 2018

Tango Time

November 3, 5, 8, 14, 16, 19 & 21, 2017

Viva La Diva: Opera’s Femmes Fatales

September 28, 2017

February 8, 2018

Collage

Winter Season

Celebration Dinner and Installation of

October 8, 2017

Understanding Opera

Officers

Treasures

October 12, 19 & 26, November 2, 2017

April 6, 2018

October 22, 2017

Opera House Tour

Annual Picnic on Turtle Beach

String Spectrum

November 6 & 20, 2017

April 19, 2018

November 2, 2017 Splendid Colors

February 19 & 26, March 5, 12 & 19, 2018 Concerts at Noon

Sarasota Orchestra

January 18 & 21, 2018

November 9, 2017

709 North Tamiami Trail

Trout

March 2 & 16, 2018

Sarasota, FL 34236

February 8 & 11, 2018

Puccini’s Manon Lescaut

941.953.3434

Striking Strings

February 10, 14, 18, 20 & 24, 2018

SarasotaOrchestra.org

March 8 & 11, 2018 Romantic Wonders

March 1, 4, 17 & 23, 2018

April 19, 2018

Artists Round Table

Masterworks

February 17 & March 3, 10 & 17, 2018

Dvorak & Mahler

Bizet’s Carmen

November 10 - 12, 2017

Discoveries

February 17, 22, 25 & 27, 2018

Symphonic Carnival

Renaissance

March 2, 7, 9, 13, 16, 22 & 24, 2018

December 8 - 10, 2017

September 23, 2017

Bellini’s Norma

Firsts

Soundscapes

March 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20 & 24, 2018

January 12 - 14, 2018

January 6, 2018

d’Albert’s Tiefland

Impressions

City Sounds

March 10, 15, 18, 21 & 25, 2018

February 2 - 4, 2018

May 5, 2018

Opera Lovers Weekend

Midori Honors Bernstein

March 16 – 18, 2018

February 22 – 25, 2018

Special Events

March 23 – 25, 2018

Lift-Off

Sarasota Music Festival

Artists Choice Concert

March 15 - 18, 2018

June 4 – 23, 2018

March 18, 2018 SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

107

State College of Florida

Sundays at Neel

Theatre Odyssey

5840 26th Street

The Four Freshmen

PO Box 1383

Bradenton, FL 34207

December 10, 2017

Sarasota, FL 34230

941.752.5252

Jukebox Junction

941.799.7224

SCF.edu

January 21, 2018

TheatreOdyssey.org

See website for additional dates.

Tusk

Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival

MUSIC/DANCE

January 28, 2018

February 3 – 4, 2018

Neel Performing Arts Center

The New Christy Minstrels

Ten-Minute Play Festival

Fall Festival of Music: “An American

February 11, 2018

May 3 – 6, 2018

Adventure”

The Jersey Tenors

October 5, 2017

February 18, 2018

Urbanite Theatre

Bradenton Symphony Orchestra: “All

Ethan Bortnick

1487 Second Street

Roads Lead to Rome”

March 2, 2018

Sarasota, FL 34236

October 13, 2017

941.321.1397 UrbaniteTheatre.com

Island”

Howard Studio Theatre (in Neel PAC)

October 27 - 29, 2017

TBA Directed by Dean Anthony

Through September 10, 2017

Symphonic Wind Ensemble: “Deep in the

October 17, 2017

White Rabbit Red Rabbit

Heart of Texas”

TBA Directed by Dean Anthony

October 2 – November 5, 2017

November 16, 2017

DECEMBER 2 - 3 & 7 -10, 2017

Echoes

Music Theatre Ensemble: “Once On This

Choirs, BSO, Guitar: “Holiday Joy”

Pilgrims

November 17 – December 17, 2017

December 1, 2017

Events

Northside Hollow

SCF Big Band & Jazz Combo

Chorale Master Class in conjunction with

January 26 – March 11, 2018

December 7, 2017

Key Chorale

Women Laughing Alone with Salad

Works-In-Progress Chamber Music Recital

November 7, 2017

April 6 – May 6, 2018

January 6, 2018

Guitar Master Class in conjunction with

SCF Music Student Showcase Concert

Artist Series of Sarasota

USA Dance

January 19, 2018

February 19, 2018

Sara Dance Center

Symphonic Wind Ensemble: “A Divine

Music Matinee - SCF Chamber Choir

5000 Fruitville Road

Comedy”

in conjunction with Sarasota Concert

Sarasota, FL 34232

February 15, 2018

Association

941.812.7311

Piano Master Class in conjunction with

March 28, 2018

DanceWhiteSands.com

Key Chorale

Picnic Jazz Band at the Pavilion

February 16, 2018

April 12, 2018

Bradenton Symphony Orchestra: “Twice

Spring Fling Concert: “Step Right Up, It’s

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

As Nice”

Carnival Time!”

777 North Tamiami Trail

February 23, 2018

April 26, 2018

Sarasota, FL 34236

Guitar Concert: “We Tell The Story”

941.953.3368

February 27, 2018

Suncoast Concert Band

VanWezel.org

SCF Choirs: “New Horizons”

12308 Lobelia Terrace

Big Stage Ballroom

March 1, 2018

Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

October 8, 2017

SCF Jazz Festival: SCF Big Band & Jazz

941.907.4123

Neil Berg’s 50 Years of Rock & Roll

Combo

SuncoastConcertBand.org

October 13, 2017

March 22, 2018

Concert Season at Northminster

Willie Nelson & Family

Chamber Music Concert: “Great Things

Presbyterian Church

October 17, 2017

Come In Small Packages”

November 5 & 19, December 3 & 17,

So You Think You Can Dance

March 29, 2018

2017; January 14, February 11, March 11,

November 3, 2017

Music Theatre Ensemble Showcase

April 15 & 19, 2018

Doo Wop Spectacular

April 16, 2018

Suncoast Jazz Ambassadors at

November 4, 2017

Bradenton Symphony Orchestra: “Ain’t

Northminster

Celtic Thunder Symphony 2017

Life Suite”

December 10, 2017; January 21, February

November 15, 2017

April 19, 2018

18, March 18, April 22, 2018

Straight No Chaser - The Speakeasy Tour

Concerts at Church of the Palms

November 16, 2017

January 28, February 25, March 25, 2018

Decades Rewind November 17, 2017

1 08

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

Michael Feinstein: Celebrating The Crooners

Wynonna & The Big Noise

November 18, 2017 Dave Koz 20th Anniversary Christmas

January 28, 2018

Chris Botti

Tour

Cabaret

April 15, 2018

November 28, 2017

January 30 - 31, 2018

Let It Be

We Three Kings - An Irish Tenors

Balletboyz

April 17, 2018

Christmas

February 1, 2018

ABBA the Concert

December 2, 2017

In the Mood

April 18, 2018

LeAnn Rimes: Today is Christmas Tour

February 5, 2018

The Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma

December 3, 2017

Travis Wall’s Shaping Sound - After the

April 19, 2018

Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story

Curtain

Bill Engvall

December 5, 2017

February 7, 2018

April 22, 2018

98 Degrees at Christmas

The Beach Boys

A Chorus Line

December 11, 2017

February 14, 2018

April 24 - 25, 2018

A Charlie Brown Christmas

George Benson

Mummenschanz “You & Me”

December 17, 2017

February 15, 2018

April 26, 2018

Cirque Dreams Holidaze

Michael McDonald

December 21, 2017

February 17, 2018

Venetian Harmony Chorus

A Christmas Carol

The Hot Sardines

701 North Indiana Avenue

December 22, 2017

February 18, 2018

Englewood, FL 34223

Moscow Ballet Great Russian Nutcracker

Stayin’ Alive - One Night of the Bee Gees

941.480.1480

December 29, 2017

February 19, 2018

VenetianHarmony.com

Salute to Vienna

Moscow Festival Ballet – Romeo & Juliet

January 3, 2018

& Carmen

The Venice Chorale

Peter Cetera

February 27, 2018

The Venice Performing Arts Center

January 5, 2018

Celtic Woman

1 Indian Avenue

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder

March 4, 2018

Venice, FL 34285

January 6 - 7, 2018

The Wizard of Oz

941.484.8491

A Night with Janis Joplin

March 6 - 7, 2018

TheVeniceChorale.org

January 8, 2018

National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba

Cannoli, Latkes & Guilt - Steve Solomon

March 11, 2018

Magnificent Joy: Songs of the Holidays featuring “Magnificat” by John Rutter

January 9, 2018

Dance to the Movies

December 3, 2017

Ramsey Lewis & John Pizzarelli: Nat King Cole Tribute

March 12, 2018

Breaking the Glass Ceiling: A Celebration of Women Composers

January 10, 2018

March 13, 2018

February 11, 2018

Tango Fire

Audra McDonald in Concert

January 12, 2018

March 14, 2018

Life and Landscape: Our Conflict, Our Peace, Our Song

Legendary 5th Dimension

Rick Springfield

April 8, 2018

January 15, 2018

March 15, 2018

Renée Fleming

The Four Phantoms

Venice Concert Band

January 16, 2018

March 21, 2018

1 Indian Avenue

Chita & Tune - Two for the Road

America

Venice, FL 34285

January 17, 2018

March 22, 2018

VeniceConcertBand.org

The Drifters, The Platters and Cornell Gunter’s Coasters

Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with Joshua Bell

American Salute

January 18, 2018

March 24, 2018

Sounds of the Season

Musical Thrones: A Parody

Peter Pan 3D Stage Spectacular

December 4, 2017

January 21, 2018

March 26, 2018

Here, There and Everywhere

Tapestry: Tribute to Carole King

Motown the Musical

January 22, 2018

January 23, 2018

March 27 – April 1, 2018

Showtime

Paul Anka

Illusionist Rick Thomas - Nothing Happens Until You Dream!

February 19, 2018

January 25, 2018

Masters of Illusion

April 4, 2018

March 26, 2018

January 26, 2018

Jersey Boys

Strike Up the Band

April 10 – 12, 2018

April 30, 2018

Three Dog Night

Neil Berg’s 109 Years of Broadway

April 14, 2018

November 6, 2017

Up, Up and Away

SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

109

Venice Musicale

Jazz Masters: The Symphony of Broadway

A Christmas Story, the Musical

PO Box 179

feat. Dick Hyman & Ken Peplowski

November 14 – December 10, 2017

2357 South Tamiami Trail #3

February 24, 2018

Smokey Joe’s Café:

Venice, FL 34292

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers

The Songs of Leiber and Stoller

941.488.4902

March 10, 2018

January 9 – February 4, 2018

VeniceMusicale.org

Kadan Bart Rockett: Kid Magician

Dreamgirls

Check website for venue information.

March 23 - 24, 2018

February 20 – March 18, 2018

Musical Potpourri Concert

Bossa Nova All Stars

The Grapes of Wrath

October 19, 2017

March 31, 2018

April 10 – 29, 2018

Voyage to Vienna Concert

Semi Toned

November 16, 2017

April 6, 2018

Stage II Beehive: The 60’s Musical

Encore Chorus Holiday Concert December 14, 2017

High School Shows

September 28 – October 22, 2017

Vintage Voyages Concert

Rashomon

Flaming Guns of The Purple Sage

January 18, 2018

October 27 - 29, 2017

November 2 – 19, 2017

The Heart of Music Concert

Madrigal Holiday Feast

The Santaland Diaries

February 15, 2018

December 1 - 2, 2017

November 30 – December 23, 2017

Encore Spring Fling Concert

Songs for a New World

Last Train to Nibroc

March 15, 2018

April 27 - 29, 2018

January 11 – 28, 2018 The Toxic Avenger

Scholarship Concert

The Venice Symphony

February 8 – March 4, 2018

230 South Tamiami Trail

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Venice Institute for Performing Arts

Venice, FL 34285

March 15 – April 8, 2018

941.207.8822

Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical!

1 Indian Avenue

TheVeniceSymphony.org

April 26 – May 20, 2018

Venice, FL 34285

Venice Performing Arts Center

941.218.3779

Majestic Moments, Directed by Teresa

Generations

VenicePerformingArtsCenter.com

Cheung

Wiley and the Hairy Man

Clyde Butcher: Broadway Boys

November 17 - 18, 2017

September 7 – 17, 2017

September 23, 2017

Holiday Pops, Directed by Wesley Schulz

A Christmas Carol

Swan Lake

December 15 – 16, 2017

December 15 – 21, 2017

October 14, 2017

Emotional Landscapes, Directed by Stilian

Stuart Little

The Nutcracker

Kirov

May 15 – 20, 2018

December 9, 2017

January 12 – 13, 2018

Swing’N The Holidays with the Jive Aces

Beethoven to Broadway, Directed by

Special Events

December 17, 2017

Steven Jarvi

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Jim Stafford

February 16 – 17, 2018

October 27 - 28 & 31, 2017

January 6, 2018

A Symphonic Journey, Directed by Janna

Tommy Dorsey

Hymes

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe

January 14, 2018

March 16 – 17, 2018

1646 10th Way

Harry Allen with Wycliffe Gordon, Ed

Taking Flight, Directed by Silas N. Huff

Sarasota, FL 34236

Metz, Rossano Sportiello & Nicki Parrott

April 13 – 14, 2018

941.366.1505

January 24, 2018

A Tribute to Music in Cinema, Directed by

westcoastblacktheatre.org

It Ain’t Easy Baby: Nick Bollettieri & Reno

Troy Quinn

In the Heights

Manne Live

May 4 – 5, 2018

October 11 – November 18, 2017

April 19, 2018

Motown Christmas

January 27, 2018 Shen Yun

Venice Theatre

November 29 - December 23, 2017

February 3 - 4, 2018

140 West Tampa Avenue

The Mountaintop

New Christy Minstrels

Venice, FL 34285

January 10 – February 18, 2018

February 9, 2018

941.488.1115

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill

Kings of Dance

VeniceStage.com

February 28 – April 8, 2018 Soul Man

February 22, 2018 Clyde Butcher - Florida: Where Water,

Main Stage

Earth & Heaven Meet

You Can’t Take It With You

February 23, 2018

September 26 – October 15, 2017

1 10

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

April 18 – May 26, 2018

MUSEUMS & VISUAL ARTS Anna Maria Island Art League

Art Center Sarasota

Renee Fleming at the Van Wezel

707 N. Tamiami Trail

January 16, 2018

Sarasota, FL 34236

Celebrate the Arts Luncheon

941.365.2032

February 15, 2018

ArtSarasota.org

Florida Maritime Museum

5312 Holmes Boulevard Holmes Beach, FL 34217

Exhibitions

4415 119th Street West

941.778.2099

“Line, Form, Color”

Cortez, FL 34215

IslandArtLeague.org

Through September 29, 2017

941.708.6120

New exhibits monthly beginning in

FloridaMaritimeMuseum.org

Art Center Manatee

“Thin Spaces”, “World Without Men” & “Every Subject a New Obsession: The Avid Lens of Giovanni Lunardi”

209 9th Street West

Through October 6, 2017

Bradenton, FL 34205

Carol Prusa/World Without Men: Lowell Gilbertson/Sumi-e Society of Sarasota

October 14, 2017

Through October 6, 2017

The Blake Banks Collection Ship Models Maritime Library

October.

941.746.2862 ArtCenterManatee.org Events

Music on The Porch Second Saturday of each month

20th Annual Cortez Nautical Flea Market

Permanent Collections

Every Friday, September 15 – December

Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island

15, 2017

5414 Marina Drive

Featured Exhibits

80th Birthday Party

Holmes Beach, FL 34217

Cuban Ranchos in Tampa Bay

September 22, 2017

941.778.6694

October 12 – December 15, 2017

Artful Holidays Party & Sale

AMIArtistsGuildGallery.com

Night Out: Creative Fun for Everyone!

Featured Exhibits

November 9 – 11, 2017

Embracing Our Differences Outdoor Exhibit

Cuban Ranchos in Tampa Bay

December 8 – 9, 2017

Fine Arts Festival of Manatee County

941.404.5710

The Lionfish Invasion

February 25 – 26, 2018

EmbracingOurDifferences.org

November 15, 2017

Open House

Exhibit in Island Park

Lighthouses of the Florida Keys

April 28, 2018

April 1 – May 31, 2018

December 13, 2017

Exhibits

Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society (FSWS)

September 5 – 29, 2017

Englewood Art Center A Division of Ringling College of Art and Design

Laura Waller: Port Side

350 South McCall Road

Sun City Center, FL 33573

October 3 – November 3, 2017

Englewood, FL 34224

813.394.0437

Off the Wall

941.474.5548

SuncoastWatercolorSociety.com

November 7 – December 8, 2017

Ringling.edu/EAC

Joyful Creations

Anything Goes

Exhibits

December 12, 2017 – January 3, 2018

Through October 6, 2017

Open Aqueous Show

Annual Member Show

Change of Pace

December 4 – 29, 2017

January 9 – February 9, 2018

January 2018

Open Aqueous Show

Holiday Pottery Sale

Instructor’s Showcase

October 18, 2017

1332 Idlewood Drive

February 13 – March 23, 2018

American Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibition

Fine Arts Society of Sarasota

Transparent Show

February 13 – March 23, 2018

941.330.0680

April 2018

School District of Manatee County Annual Exhibit

FineArtsSarasota.com

Open Aqueous Show May 2018

March 27 – April 13, 2018

Guided Art Collection & Backstage Tours

Bright & Bold

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Workshops

April 17 – May 11, 2018

First Tuesday of each month, October –

William Perry

Southern Watercolor Society Curated Show

May

November 6, 2017

May 15 – June 22, 2018

November 2017

Celebrate the Arts Luncheon SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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Gary Morgan

Skyway: A Contemporary Collection

James McGinn: Ing an Die

January 8, 2018

Through October 15, 2017

October 19 – 21, 2017

Pat Robertson

Posed: Portrait Photography from the Permanent Collection

Nobuntu

February 5, 2018

Linda Wokun

Through October 29, 2017

ensemblenewSRQ: Program Two

March 12, 2018

First 5 Years of Art of Our Time

October 20 – 21, 2017

Libit Jones

November 4 – 30, 2017

RIAF 2017: Last Night

April 19, 2018

Approaching the Border

October 21, 2017

November 5, 2017 - January 21, 2018

Awake Love Orchestra

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (The Ringling)

Eisenstaedt Photographs

November 10 - 11, 2017

November 18, 2017 – March 18, 2018

Monsieur Periné

5401 Bay Shore Road

Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads

December 8 - 9, 2017

Sarasota, FL 34243

Through June 1, 2018

ETHEL: Circus – Wandering City

941.359.5700

Toni Dove: Embodied Machines

January 26 – 27, 2018

Ringling.org

February 25 - May 20, 2018

SOMI

Events

On Screen

Chucho Valdés

Ringling Underground

March 2 – 3, 2018

First Thursday of the month

National Theatre Live: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

September 7, 2017 – April 5, 2018

September 15, 2017

March 23 – 24, 2018

Museum Day Live!

National Theatre Live: Obsession

September 23, 2017

November 3, 2017

Programs

Ringling International Arts Festival

National Theatre Live: No Man’s Land

October 18 – 21, 2017

December 1, 2017

Gallery Walk & Talk Want to Get Away From It All?

Family Day: The Art of Performance

National Theatre Live: Peter Pan

September 14, 2017

October 21, 2017

December 15, 2017

Art of Our Time

Ringling by the Bay

National Theatre Live: Saint Joan

September 28, 2017

November 20 & December 18, 2017

February 2, 2018

Holiday Splendor

National Theatre Live: Twelfth Night

Depicting Décolletage: The Pink Ribbon Tour

December 7, 2017

February 9, 2018

October 5, 2017

Deck the Halls December 7, 14, 21 & 28, 2017

National Theatre Live: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf

Curator’s Choice: Some of Her Favorite Things, Old Masters

Holiday Movie Night: Elf

February 23, 2018

October 12, 2017

December 15, 2017

National Theatre Live: Salomé

Art After 5: Discounted Admission

March 16, 2018

Curators Choice: Some of Her Favorite Things, Asian Collection

Thursdays 5 – 8pm

National Theatre Live: Yerma

November 7, 2017

Turrell Skyscape: Joseph’s Coat

April 20, 2018

Aftermath: Our Shared Humanity

October 19 – 21, 2017

February 16 – 17, 2018

Thursdays & Fridays

November 2, 2017 Performances

Exhibitions

Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes from the Minneapolis Institute of Art

Turtle Island: Bird’s Eye View

Ringling International Arts Festival 2017 First Night: WANTED

Aftermath: The Fallout of WarAmerica and the Middle East November 9, 2017

October 18, 2017

Nevertheless, She Persisted

Monica Bill Barnes & Company: Happy Hour

November 16, 2017

Amazing Acts of the Greatest Show on Earth

October 19 – 21, 2017

December 14, 2017

Portraits in Motion

ROAR! Ringling Order of Art Readers

Through September 11, 2017

October 19 – 20, 2017

Select Fridays

Extraordinary Animals

White Rabbit Red Rabbit

September 22, 2017 – January 14, 2018

October 19 – 21, 2017

Literati Book Club

Aftermath: The Fallout of War – America and the Middle East

ensemblenewSRQ: Program One

October 8, 2017 – January 21, 2018

eVenti Verticali: WANTED

Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures by Robert Wittman

October 19 – 20, 2017

September 14 & 15, 2017

Through September 10, 2017

1 12

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

October 19 – 20, 2017

The Story of the Nativity

Keeping an Eye Open: Essays on Art by Julian Barnes October 26 & 27, 2017

Saturday for Educators

Through the Window

Engaging with Aftermath: The Artist as Activist

November 13, 2017 – January 5, 2018

Breakfast with Lucian: The Astounding Life and Outrageous Times of Britain’s Great Modern Painter by Geordie Grieg

October 28, 2017

Palm Avenue

Collecting Recollections: Direct from the National Stage

Arts Alliance

October 31; November 14; November 28,

November 9, 2017

2017

First Friday Gallery Walks An Evening of Classics

The Art of Rivalry: Four Friendships, Betrayals, and Breakthroughs in Modern Art by Sebastian Smee

ViewPoint

A Prelude to Season

Curating Aftermath: The Fallout of War-America

November 3, 2017

November 4, 2017

December 1, 2017

Rania Matar: From Personal to Universal

An Evening on Palm

December 2, 2017

January 5, 2018

December 14 & 15, 2017

The Great Wave: Gilded Age Misfits, Japanese Eccentrics, and the Opening of Old Japan by Christopher Benfey

October 6, 2017

Holiday Treasures

Romancing the Arts

January 11 & 12, 2018

Truevine: Two Brothers, A Kidnapping, and a Mother’s Quest: A True Story of the Jim Crow South by Beth Macy

PalmAvenue.org

Light Chasers: Plein Air Painters of the Suncoast

February 2, 2018

941.924.0818

March 2, 2018

LightChasersInc.com

An Affair to Remember

February 8 & 9, 2018

A Taste of Palm Avenue

April 6, 2018

Peacock and Vine: On William Morris and Mariano Fortuny by A.S. Byatt

Workshops

Jazz on the Ave

Joseph McGurl - Weekday & Weekend

May 4, 2018

March 15 & 16, 2018

April 2 - 4 & 6 - 8, 2018

Sunset Serenade

The Lost Painting of Sara de Vos: A Novel by Dominic Smith

Light Chasers Gala Show Weekend

April 12 & 13, 2018

Quick Draw

Rogue’s Gallery: A History of Art and its Dealers by Philip Hooko

March 7, 2018

Renaissance School of Art

Paint Out

4063 South Tamiami Trail

May 10 & 11, 2018

March 8 - 14, 2018

Sarasota, FL 34231

ArtMaking@Art after 5

Art Shows

941.330.6865

Every Thursday

March 17 - 19, 2018

YeliseyevStudio.com

ROAR! Ringling Order of Art Readers

Manasota Weavers Guild

“Impressions in Watercolor” Workshop by Vladislav Yeliseyev

September 22 & 29; October 6, 13 & 27;

PO Box 17876

November 30 – December 2, 2017

November 3, 10 &17; December 1,8 &15,

Sarasota, FL 34276

2017

ManasotaWeaversGuild.com

“Nocturnal Plein Air Painting” with Hai-Ou Hou

June 1, 2018

September 21 – December 21, 2017

Stroller Tours

TBA, January 2018

September 26; October 31; November 28;

Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy

December 19, 2017

2121 North Tamiami Trail

“Approaches and Techniques” Workshop with George Van Hook

Sarasota, FL 34234

March 20 – 22, 2018

Conversation

941.364.3399

The Circus: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

WhimsyMuseum.org

“Painting Landscape” Plein Air Workshop by Mark Boedges

October 10, 2017

North Port Art Center

The Development of the Book in China

5950 Sam Shapos Way

October 26, 2017

North Port, FL 34287

“Composition in Plein Air: Working with Water-Mixable Oils” with Charlie Hunter

This Old House (with apologies to PBS)

941.423.6460

TBA, 2018

November 7, 2017

NorthPortArtCenter.com

Creating a Catalog: Celebrating the Collection

Animal Kingdom

December 5, 2017

Best of the Best

TBA, 2018

Through October 20, 2017 October 23 – 28, 2017

SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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Ringling College of Art + Design

Connoisseurship Series

Tapestry Artists of Sarasota

2700 North Tamiami Trail

8069 Stirling Falls Circle

Sarasota, FL 34234

Restoring a Masterpiece with Greg Hall of Hall Architects

941.359.7563

November 20, 2017

941.359.1765

Ringling.edu/Campus-Galleries

Sarasota, FL 34243 AmericanTapestryAlliance.org

Skyway: A Contemporary Collaboration

Sarasota Sculpture Center 1662 Floyd Street

The Barberini Tapestries: Woven Monuments of Baroque Rome

Through October 15, 2017

Sarasota, FL 34239

September 23, 2017 – January 21, 2018

Posed: Portrait Photography from the Permanent Collection

941.928.4445 SarasotaSculptureCenter.org

Through October 29, 2017

Towles Court Art District 1938 Adams Lane

Aftermath: The Fallout of War – America and the Middle East

Siesta Key Crystal Classic

Sarasota, FL 34236

5114 Ocean Blvd.

941.266.7318

October 8, 2017 – January 21, 2018

Sarasota, FL 34242

TowlesCourt.com

Ai Weiwei’s Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads

941.349.3800

Art Walks

SiestaKeyCrystalClassic.com

Third Friday of every month

Through June 1, 2018

Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival

Venice Art Center

Sarasota Architectural Foundation

November 10 – 13, 2017

390 Nokomis Avenue Venice, FL 34285

941.364.2199 SarasotaArchitecturalFoundation.org

The Southern Atelier

941.485.7136

SarasotaMOD Weekend 2017

7226 21st Street East

VeniceArtCenter.com

November 10 – 12, 2017

Sarasota, FL 34243

It’s Surreal

941.753.7755

September 8 – 29, 2017

Sarasota Museum of Art

TheSouthernAtelier.org

Members’ Show: Artist’s Choice

891 South Tamiami Trail

Exhibitions & workshops offered year-

October 6 – November 10, 2017

Sarasota, FL 34236

round.

Branching Out…Trees

Ringling College Academic

November 17 – December 8, 2017

Venice Art Center Annual Tea

2363 Old Bradenton Road

South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium

Sarasota, FL 34234

201 10th Street West

Inspired

941.309.7662

Bradenton, FL 34205

December 1, 2017 – January 12, 2018

Ringling.edu/Museum-Art

941.746.4131

Earth, Wind, Fire, Water

SouthFloridaMuseum.org

January 19 – February 10, 2018

Art on Film

See History, Science &

Bling Thing Jewelry Show and Sale

Open House: Meet & Greet

Education section for additional listings.

January 27, 2018

October 12, 2017

Fine Arts Show and Sale

Maurizio Cattelan: Be Right Back

National Geographic’s “50 Greatest Photographs”

October 12, 2017

Through January 18, 2018

Spring Members Show

Design Lab

Musical Inspirations

Chris Lasch & Terrol Dew Johnson

State College of Florida Fine Art Gallery

October 26, 2017

5840 26th Street West

South Sarasota County School Show

Florian Idenburg & Jing Liu of SO-IL

Bradenton, FL 34207

May 10 – 17, 2018

November 2, 2017

941.752.5225

Hot, Hot, Hot

Scf.edu/ArtGallery

May 25 – July 6, 2018

Center Auditorium

December 1, 2017

February 17 – 18, 2018 March 2 – 30, 2018 April 6 – May 4, 2018

School of Thought

See website for upcoming exhibitions.

Mounting Frustration: The Art Museum in the Age of Black Power with Susan E. Cahan

Surface Design Guild Sarasota

WomenContemporaryArtists.com

November 14, 2017

SarasotaSurfaceDesign.com

Check website for venue information.

Exhibitions & workshops offered yearround.

1 14

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

Women Contemporary Artists 941.358.9159

941.364.9076

Mayan Lecture with Tony Andrews

HSOSC.com

November 9, 2017

Sue Blue’s Historic Trolley Tours September 30; October 14, 28; November

Land Art: Christo & Jeanne Claude Art History Lunch & Lecture

Adult and Community Enrichment Center

4, 18; December 2 & 16, 2017

November 14, 2017

January 13, 27; February 10, 24; March 10, 24; April 14 & 28, 2018

Holly Days and Mangrove Lights

4748 Beneva Road Sarasota, FL 34233

Conversations at the Crocker

7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28 - 29, 2017

941.361.6590

October 10; November 14; December 12,

ACE-Sarasota.com

2017

John James Audubon: The Birds of America Art History Lunch & Lecture

HISTORY, SCIENCE & EDUCATION

January 9; February 13; March 13; April

Alliance Française de Sarasota

10; May 12, 2018

715 North Washington Blvd, Suite C

Le Barge Cruise

Sarasota, FL 34236

November 5, 2017 & March 4, 2018

941.955.0700

Sunday Afternoon Socials

AFSarasota.org

January 14; February 18; March 18, 2018

Big Cat Habitat 7101 Palmer Blvd.

Sarasota, FL 34240 941.371.6377 BigCatHabitat.org

Crowley Museum & Nature Center 16405 Myakka Road Sarasota, FL 34240 941.322.1000 CrowleyFL.org

Friends of the Sarasota County History Center 701 North Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236 941.361.2453 FOSCHC.org

Guitar Sarasota 941.260.3306 GuitarSarasota.org

HSOSC Private Field Club Tour January 31, 2018

Sparkly Saturday February 10, 2018

Historic Burns Square 431 Burns Lane Sarasota, FL 34230 Pineapple Avenue between Ringling Avenue and Mound Street

November 24 & 30, 2017; December 1,

December 5, 2017

Starlight Party December 31, 2017

Building Art - The Life and Works of Frank Gehry January 9, 2018

Native Plant Tour with Nancy Paul January 16, 2018

Fairy House Festival March 3 - 4, 2018

Mrs. Potter Palmer Plant Tour with Nancy Paul March 13, 2018

Ballets Russe-Diaghilev, Nijinsky, Pavlova, et al Lunch & Lecture March 27, 2018

337 North Tamiami Trail

Photographer Francesca Woodman Lunch & Lecture

Osprey, FL 34229

April 10, 2018

941.966.5214 Docent guided walking tours available

Alphonse Mucha - The Spirit of Art Nouveau Lunch & Lecture

daily. Reservations Required.

April 25, 2018

Jackson Pollock – A New Voice for America Art History Lunch & Lecture

Andy Goldsworthy Environmental Artist Lunch & Lecture

Historic Spanish Point

HistoricSpanishPoint.org

May 8, 2018

September 12, 2017

Underwater Archaeology of the Gulf of Mexico with Dr. Joseph Cozzi

Art Lectures

September 21, 2017

27, May 8 & 22, 2018 Summer Camps

941.475.2098

Willem de Kooning – Action Painter Art History Lunch & Lecture

HermitageArtistRetreat.org

September 26, 2017

See Arts Communities & Organizations for

Lucien Freud – Arresting Images Art History Lunch & Lecture

See Listing in Performing Arts Section.

Hermitage Artist Retreat 6660 Manasota Key Road Englewood, FL 34223

event listings.

October 10, 2017

Historical Society of Sarasota County

Francis Bacon Art History Lunch & Lecture

1260 12th Street

October 24, 2017

January 23, February 6 & 20, March 6 &

Begin May 29, 2018

Lifelong Learning Academy 8350 North Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34243 941.359.4296 LLA-SM.org

Sarasota, FL 34236

SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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Longboat Key Education Center

37th Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition

William R. Mote Memorial Snook Shindig 2017

5370 Gulf of Mexico Drive,

Through September 8, 2017

October 6 – 7, 2017

Suite 212

Night of Fish, Fun & Fright

Longboat Key, FL 34228

The Orchid Show: Earth, Air, Fire, Water

941.383.8811

October 12 - November 26, 2017

Sea Debris Exhibit Grand Opening

LBKEducationCenter.org

Lunch in the Gardens: “Sex, Lies & Orchids” with Dr. Antonio Toscano de Brito

December 9, 2017

October 18, 2017

Tea for the Sea

Orchid Evenings

February 28, 2018

Wednesdays, October 18 - November 22,

Party on the Pass

2017

March 23, 2018

Wine & Design Orchid Showcase:

32nd Annual Run for the Turtles

October 19, 2017

Farm to Table

Sarasota Bay Cup: The Mote Marine Laboratory Regatta

November 8, 2017

April 21, 2018

Holiday Splendor

World Oceans Day Family Festival

December 6, 2017

June 2, 2018

Garden Music Series

Lionfish Derby

Sundays, October 22 - November 12,

July 6-8, 2018

2017

Year-Round Exhibits Shark Zone Creatures from the Reef Florida Bay Habitats Sea Turtles

Manasota Weavers Guild ManasotaWeaversGuild.com Monthly Workshops

Show & Tell: “What I Created Over Summer” September 2017

Exploring Weaving for the Holidays October 2017

Cotton From Field to Yarn November 2017

Potluck Luncheon & Gift Exchange December 2017

New Beginnings January 2018

Presentation by Sarah Fortin February 2018

Presentation on Fibonacci by Kissy Seel March 2018

Barbara Cabral’s Lessons from Cambodia April 2018

Manatee County Agricultural Museum 1015 6th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941.721.2034 ManateeClerk.com

Manatee Village Historical Park 1404 Manatee Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941.749.7165 ManateeClerk.com

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 900 South Palm Avenue Sarasota, FL 34236

Spooktacular October 29, 2017

April 7, 2018

November 15, 2017

New Topics New College Speaker Series

Friends of the Gardens Holiday Luncheon with Coleen Christian Burke December 6, 2017

A Brief History of Botanical Art December 13, 2017

Lights in Bloom December 21 – 30, 2017

Bromeliad Tree Sale January 4, 2018

Rainforest Masks of Costa Rica January 7 - 18, 2018

WARHOL: flowers in the factory February 11 - June 2018

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy.

Sarasota, FL 34236 941.388.4441 Mote.org

See website for additional events.

September 5, 2017

Teach-A-Kid Fishing & Ecology Clinic September 23, 2017 SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

Dec. 9, 2017

Mondays February 26 - March 19, 2018

Selby.org

1 16

Youth Ocean Conservation Summit

Orchid Mania: The Orchid Craze in Victorian Britain

Florida Master Naturalist – Coastal Systems Course

941.366.5731

October 20, 2017

New College of Florida 5800 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34243 941.487.4153 NCF.edu/New-Topics-New-College See website for upcoming topics.

Palmetto Historical Park 515 10th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941.723.4991 ManateeClerk.com

Pierian Spring Academy Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy 221 Beach Road #128 Sarasota, FL 34242 941.309.5111 TheLifeLongLearningAcademy.com

Academy Adventures: Prague September 12 – 24, 2017

Academy Adventures: Taiwan/ Thailand/Cambodia

Sarasota Garden Club

KidSpace

1131 Blvd. of the Arts

Every Saturday every month

November 29 – December 13, 2017

Sarasota, FL 34236

Lunch & Learn

Seminar at Sea

941.955.0875

Every Wednesday every month

February 19 - March 2, 2018

SarasotaGardenClub.org

Live Star Talks

Beginners Floral Design Classes

Daily

Powel Crosley Estate

October 17, 2017

Manatee Presentations

8374 North Tamiami Trail

Intermediate Floral Design Classes

Daily

Sarasota, FL 34243

October 18, 2017

941.722.3244

Hort. Study

PowelCrosleyEstate.com

November 8, 2017

SunCoast Alliance for Lifelong Learning

Historic Open House

Therapy Tea

941.361.6590

March 6 - 8, 2018

November 29, 2017

SunCoastLifeLongLearning.org

Fun with Flowers Design

Lifelong Learning Showcase

December 12, 2017

Temple Beth Sholom

Civic Beautification Awards

September 13, 2017

Ringling College of Art + Design 2700 North Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34234 941.351.5100 Ringling.edu See listings for the Englewood Art Center in the Museums & Visual Arts section.

Ringling Town Hall Lecture Series Benefiting Ringling College Library Association 941.925.1343 RCLassociation.org

Jean Renoux: Picasso and His Women November 15, 2017

John Brennan January 22, 2018

Jon Meacham

January 31, 2018

Everyday Floral Design Class February 20, 2018

Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning (SILL) 8499 South Tamiami Trail, Box 219 Sarasota, FL 34238 941.365.6404 SILLSarasota.org Sarasota & Venice Global Lecture & Music Series Schedule available online.

Sarasota Jungle Gardens 3701 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34234 941.355.5305 SarasotaJungleGardens.com Schedule of events available online.

February 12, 2018

Michael Lewis March 5, 2018

Siddhartha Mukherjee March 19, 2018

Reshma Saujani April 9, 2018

South Florida Museum, Bishop Planetarium & Parker Manatee Aquarium 201 10th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941.746.4131 SouthFloridaMuseum.org

Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, Inc.

Family Night at the Museum

941.953.8727

iQuest

HistoricSarasota.org

Second Saturday every month

Sarasota Architectural Foundation 941.364.2199 SarasotaArchitecturalFoundation.org

First Saturday every month

think + drink (science)

Suncoast Science Center Faulhaber Fab Lab 4452 S Beneva Rd. Sarasota, FL 34233 941.840.4394 suncoastscience.org For a list of camps, programs and events, please visit website.

Tapestry Artists of Sarasota 941.359.1765 AmericanTapestryAlliance.org See Museum & Visual Arts for schedule.

Venice Heritage 941.237.0478 VeniceHeritage.org

Nokomis Trolley Tour October 28, 2017

Children’s Santa Letter Writing and Story Telling December 9, 2017

Holiday Tea + Young Lady Teddy Bear Tea January 7, 2018

Children’s Program March 17, 2018

Venice Book Fair and Writers Festival March 23 - 24, 2018

Heritage Dinner May 24, 2018

Second Wednesday every month

Stelliferous Live!

Last Wednesday every month

See Museums & Visual Arts for schedule.

SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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FESTIVALS & FAIRS OCTOBER 2017 William R. Mote Memorial Snook Shindig Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium 941.388.4441 Mote.org October 6-7, 2017

Beer, Bands & BBQ presented by Music Compound Sarasota Farm Bureau MusicCompound.com October 7, 2017

ITU World Cup Nathan Benderson Park NathanBendersonPark.org October 7 - 8, 2017

Taste of St. Armands St. Armands Circle, Sarasota StArmandsCircleAssoc.com October 7, 2017

Mote Marine’s Night of Fish, Fun & Fright

Sarasota Celtic Music Festival

Oktoberfest

Sarasota Fairgrounds CeltoberFest.org October 21, 2017

Church of the Redeemer TheFirstBrass.org October 29, 2017

Buckler’s Craft Fair

Fright Night on St. Armands

Bradenton Area Convention Center BucklerCraftFair.com October 21 – 22, 2017

St. Armands Circle, Sarasota StArmandsCircleAssoc.com October 31, 2017

St. Armands Boat Show

Venice Main Street Halloween Parade

St. Armands Circle, Sarasota StArmandsCircleAssoc.com October 21 – 22, 2017

InspireSarasota! 2017

NOVEMBER 2017

Five Points Park, Downtown Sarasota Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County InspireSarasota.net October 23 – November 4, 2017 Celebration of the Arts Kick-Off Event October 23, 2017 The Arts Mean Business Luncheon October 26, 2017 InspireSarasota! Festival November 4, 2017

Ferraris on the Circle

Giving Hunger the Blues

Mote.org October 20, 2017

The Francis GivingHungerTheBlues.org October 27, 2017

DeSoto Pumpkin Festival

Lakewood Ranch Boo Fest

Veterans Park, Arcadia SpotlightEvents.com October 14 – 15, 2017

Oktoberfest Jazz Trolley & Pub Crawl Various venues, Downtown Sarasota Jazzclubsarasota.org October 18, 2017

Ringling International Arts Festival The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Ringling.org October 18 – 21, 2017

Sun Fiesta Centennial Park, Venice WomensSertoma.com October 20 - 22, 2017

Celtoberfest Nathan Benderson Park NathanBendersonPark.org October 21, 2017 1 18

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

VeniceMainStreet.com October 31, 2017

Lakewood Ranch Main Street LakewoodRanch.com/MainStreet October 27, 2017

Manasota Pumpkin Festival Desoto Square Mall October 27 - 29, 2017

Sarasota Pumpkin Festival The Premier Sports Campus Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 10Times.com October 27 – 29, 2017

Age-Friendly Festival Sarasota County Fairgrounds AgeFriendlySarasota.org October 28, 2017

Downtown Sarasota Art & Craft Festival Five Points Park, Sarasota dsasarasota.com October 28 - 29, 2017

St. Armands Circle, Sarasota StArmandsCircleAssoc.com November 4, 2017

NBP Rowing Festival Nathan Benderson Park NathanBendersonPark.org November 4 – 5, 2017

Downtown Venice Art Fest West Venice Avenue, Downtown Venice 941.484.6722 VisitVenicefl.org | ArtFestival.com November 4 - 5, 2017

Wild About Nature Festival ConservationFoundation.com Conservation Foundation of The Gulf Coast November 4, 2017

InspireSarasota! Festival Five Points Park InspireSarasota.net November 4, 2017

Beers, Boats and Bacon Festival Nathan Benderson Park BeerBoatsAndBacon.com November 4 – 5, 2017

Sarasota Medieval Fair Sarasota Fairgrounds SarasotaMedievalFair.com November 4 -5, 11 – 12 & 18 - 19, 2017

2017 “Evanescent” Chalk Festival Venice Airport Fairgrounds ChalkFestival.com November 10 - 13, 2017

Siesta Key Crystal Classic: International Sand Sculpting Festival Master Sand Sculpting Competition 5114 Ocean Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34242 941.349.3800 SiestaKeyCrystalClassic.com November 10 – 13, 2017

La Musica Sonata a Due The Field Club lamusicafestival.org December 5, 2017

Venice Main Street Christmas Walk VisitVeniceFL.org December 7, 2017

St. Armands Art Festival St. Armands Circle, Sarasota ArtFestival.com November 11 – 12, 2017

Holidays Around the Ranch Lakewood Ranch Main Street LakewoodRanch.com/Mainstreet December 8, 2017

Suncoast Food & Wine Fest Sarasota Polo Club at LWR 941.870.0002 SuncoastFoodAndWineFest.com November 11, 2017

Porsches in the Park

Sarasota Fall Fine Art Festival

JANUARY 2018

Sarasota Bayfront, Gulfstream Ave. ParagonArtEvents.com November 18 – 19, 2017

Coquina Beach Winterfest Arts & Craft Show

Venice Blues Festival VisitVeniceFL.org VeniceBlues.com November 18, 2017

Siesta Key Village Annual Holiday Lighting SiestaKeyVillage.org See website for date.

DECEMBER 2017 Holiday Night of Lights on St. Armands St. Armands Circle StArmandsCircleAssoc.com December 1, 2017

St. Armands Circle StArmandsCircleAssoc.com December 9, 2017

2650 Gulf Drive SunsetBoulevardPromotions.com January 6 – 7, 2018

Anna Maria Islandfest Arts & Craft Show 5801 Marina Drive SunsetBoulevardPromotions.com January 13 – 14, 2018

Sarasota Winter Fine Art Festival Downtown Sarasota ParagonArtEvents.com January 13 – 14, 2018

Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival Five Points SeafoodFestivals.com January 20 – 21, 2018

Sarasota Craft Show Robarts Arena SarasotaCraftShow.com December 1 - 3, 2017

Venice Nokomis Rotary Arts Festival Venice Airport Grounds VeniceNokomisRotary.org January 21 – 22, 2018

Bradenton Blues Festival Realize Bradenton BradentonBluesFestival.org December 1 - 3, 2017

Siesta Beach Seafood & Music Festival Siesta Key Beach ParagonArtEvents.com December 2 – 3, 2017

Downtown Venice Craft Festival Main Street, Venice ArtFestival.com January 27 - 28, 2018

St. Armands Circle Art Festival ArtFestival.com January 27 – 28, 2018

Forks and Corks 2017 DineOriginal.com January 28, 2018

FEBRUARY 2018 Bradenton Area River Regatta Bradenton’s Riverwalk BradentonGulfIslands.com February 2018

Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival Village of Cortez BradentonGulfIslands.com February 2018

Grand Ovation at Lakewood Ranch Lakewood Ranch Main Street Lakewoodranch.com February 3, 2018

Winterfest at the Mansion Arts & Craft Show 5500 South Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34231 SunsetboulevardPromotions.com February 3 – 4, 2018

Sarasota Masters Art Festival Palm Avenue, Sarasota BoulderBrook.net February 3 – 4, 2018

Downtown Sarasota Festival of the Arts Main Street at Orange Ave, Sarasota dsasarasota.com February 10 – 11, 2018

Maxine Barritt Park Arts & Craft Show 1600 Harbor Drive South Venice, FL 34285 SunsetboulevardPromotions.com February 10 – 11, 2018

Art at J.D. Hamel Park Arts & Craft Show 2 Marina Plaza Sarasota, FL 34236 SunsetBoulevardPromotions.com February 17 – 18, 2018

Lido Beach Winter Fine Art Festival Lido Beach ParagonArtEvents.com February 17 – 18, 2018

Coquina Tides Arts & Craft Show 2650 Gulf Drive South Bradenton Beach, FL 34217 ArtFestival.com February 24 - 25, 2018 SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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Siesta Key Craft Festival

Anna Maria Taste of Arts & Crafts

Sarasota Festival of Vocal Arts

5124 Ocean Blvd.

Sarasota, FL 34242 ArtFestival.com February 24 - 25, 2018

5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217 SunsetBoulevardPromotions.com March 17 – 18, 2018

FSU Center for the Performing Arts - Cook Theatre SFVA.us May 17 & 19, 2018

Fine Arts Festival of Manatee County

Venice Book Fair & Writers Festival

St. Armands Seafood & Music Festival

Bradenton Riverwalk ArtCenterManatee.org February 25 – 26, 2018

Centennial Park, Downtown Venice VeniceBookFair.com March 23 - 24, 2018

MARCH 2018

St. Armands Circle Park 941.487.8061 SeafoodFestivals.com May 19 – 20, 2018

Downtown Sarasota Springfest Arts & Craft Show

ArtSlam BradentonGulfIslands.com March 2018

DeSoto Heritage Seafood Festival Manatee River, Downtown Bradenton BradentonGulfIslands.com March 2018

Sarasota Jazz Festival

Main St. & Pineapple Ave. SunsetBoulevardPromotions.com March 24 - 25, 2018

The Rotary Club of Englewood’s Fine Arts Festival Dearborn Street, Englewood EnglewoodRotary.org March 24 – 25, 2018

941.366.1552 JazzClubSarasota.com March 2018

APRIL 2018

Suncoast Blues Festival

Selby Five Points Park, Sarasota dsasarasota.com April 7 – 8, 2018

Robarts Arena SuncoastBluesFestival.com March 3, 2018

Downtown Venice Art Classic West Venice Avenue, Venice ArtFestival.com March 3 - 4, 2018

Downtown Sarasota Art & Craft Festival

La Musica International Chamber Music Festival LaMusicaFestival.org April 9 – 18, 2018

Sarasota Film Festival Lido Tides Arts & Craft Show 400 Ben Franklin Dr. Sarasota, FL 34236 SunsetBoulevardPromotions.com March 3 - 4, 2018

Sarasota Spring Fine Art Festival Gulfstream Avenue PragonArtEvents.com March 10 – 11, 2018

Celticfest Rosa Community Church & St. Paul Lutheran Church TheFirstBrass.com March 11 & 18, 2018

Sarasota County Agricultural Fair Sarasota Fairgrounds SarasotaFair.com March 16 - 25, 2018 1 20

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

SarasotaFilmFestival.com April 13 – 22, 2018

Siesta Fiesta Ocean Boulevard in Siesta Key Village ArtFestival.com April 21 – 22, 2018

MAY 2018 Food & Wine on Pine Historic Pine Ave., Anna Maria Island BradentonGulfIslands.com May 2018

SUMMER 2018 Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau SavorSarasota.com June 1 – 14, 2018

Sarasota Music Festival SarasotaOrchestra.org June 4 – 23, 2018

Dragon Boat Festival Nathan Benderson Park 904.534.3266 PanamDragonBoat.com June 18, 2018

2

WAYS TO GET

Sarasota SCENE

Sarasota SCENE magazine is

available locally for purchase at: Barnes & Noble • BookStore1 Books-A-Millio • Davidson’s Drugs To subscribe to Sarasota SCENE: • 941.365.1119, ext 305 • subscriptions@scenesarasota.com • Online – scenesarasota.com

Venice Seafood & Music Festival Centennial Park ParagonArtEvents.com May 5 – 6, 2018

BE INFORMED BE ENTERTAINED BE SCENE

ARTS COMMUNITIES & ORGANIZATIONS Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County 1226 North Tamiami Trail, Suite 300 Sarasota, FL 34236 941.365.5118 SarasotaArts.org

InspireSarasota!

October 23 – November 4, 2017

Celebration of the Arts Kick-Off Event October 23, 2017

The Arts Mean Business Luncheon

Founders Garden Club of Sarasota P.O. Box 25612 Sarasota, Florida 34277 FoundersGCSarasota.org See website for events.

December 6 - 21, 2017

Holidays Around the Ranch December 8, 2017

Hermitage Artist Retreat

Lunch at MacAllisters

6660 Manasota Key Road Englewood, FL 34223 941.475.2098 HermitageArtistRetreat.org Check website for Community Programs, Artist Talks, Beach Readings, The Composer Series, and Open Studio dates.

December 9, 2017

InspireSarasota! Festival

Greenfield Prize Dinner Michael’s On East

November 4, 2017

April 8, 2018

October 26, 2017

LWRBA Social: Carriage rides, strolling carolers, Santa strolls

Principals’ Luncheon

Chanukah Celebration December 12, 2017

Breakfast with Santa (Polo Grill & Bar) December 16, 2017

Jingle 5k Run December 22, 2017

Christmas Celebration (Grace Community Church) December 23, 2017

Grand Ovation at Lakewood Ranch February 3, 2018

December 6, 2017

Main Street at Lakewood Ranch

Art Exhibits

Petticoat Painters

8100 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

Bradenton, FL 34202 941.907.9243 LakewoodRanch.com/Mainstreet

November 1 - December 17, 2017

Music on Main

Facades by Caryn Koffman January 3 - February 1, 2018

Free concerts the first Friday of each month.

Black History Month Exhibit

Bike Ride

Palm Avenue Arts Alliance

February 5 - March 2, 2018

Second Saturday each month, October - April

Dimensions by Samira Pinto

Nature Walk

March 6 - April 6, 2018

Third Saturday each month, October - April

Women by Slyviane De Roquebrune

Taste of Main: International Flare

PalmAvenue.org First Friday Gallery Walks See Museums & Visual Arts for complete listings.

April 10 - May 25, 2018

September 29, 2017

Life in Color by Adrijana Maciev September 18 - October 30, 2017

North Port Performing Arts Association 6400 West Price Boulevard North Port, FL 34291 941.426.8479 Nppaa.net See Performances section for events.

Main Street Block Party & Club Day

Realize Bradenton

Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island

October 20, 2017

Lakewood Ranch Boo Fest

941.621.6471 RealizeBradenton.com

5414 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, FL 34217 941.778.6694 AMIArtistsGuildGallery.com See Museums & Visual Arts for complete listings.

October 27, 2017

Bradenton Farmers’ Market

Ponies Under the Palms: Mustang & Ford Show

Every Saturday, October 7, 2017 – May 26, 2018

November 19, 2017

Bradenton Blues Festival Weekend

Lunch with Santa (Main Street Trattoria)

December 1 – 3, 2017

December 10 & 17, 2017

March 3, 2018

Music in the Park

Center for Architecture Sarasota 265 South Orange Avenue Sarasota, Florida 34236 941.305.5430 CFASRQ.org

Expressive Arts Florida Institute 200 S Washington Blvd, Suite 1 Towles Court Pavilion, Sarasota 941.366.9595 ExpressiveArtsFlorida.com

ArtSlam

Around the Ranch LakewoodRanch.com/events

Fridays, March 9 - April 27, 2018

STAR – Storytelling Theatre at the Ranch

Sarasota Film Society Burns Court Cinemas

Saturday August 12, September 9, October 14, 2017

Suncoast Food & Wine Fest

506 Burns Court Sarasota, FL 34236 Lakewood Ranch Cinemas 10715 Rodeo Drive #8 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941.955.3456 FilmSociety.org

November 11, 2017

Cine-World Film Festival

Tour of Homes October 20 – November 19, 2017

The Legends of Sleepy Hollow October 27 – 28, 2017

November 3 – 13, 2017

SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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Sarasota Garden Club

Dedicated to a Lifetime of Women’s Health Care

1131 Blvd. of the Arts Sarasota, FL 34236 941.955.0875 SarasotaGardenClub.org

Annual Plant Sale & Garden Fest October 21, 2017

A Grand Affair “The Roar of the Twenties” 90th Anniversary November 17, 2017

M. Joanne Bevers,CNM Therese E. Goode, PA-C

Gardens in Paradise: 5th Annnual Premier Garden Tour

Jennifer R. McCullen, MD,FACOG

March 17, 2018

Jill S. Miller, ARNP

º On-Site 3D & 4D Ultrasounds º Menopause & Hormone Replacement

º In-Office Procedures: Hysteroscopy, Endometrial Ablation and more º Hospital Surgery º Urogynecology, Incontinence, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

941-907-3008 º www.obgynwc.com

8340 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, Suite 240 º Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 Se Habla Español & Portuguese

SUPPORTING THE ARTS HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER! A CONSIGNMENT STORE LIKE NO OTHER! 12,000-square-feet filled to the brim with hidden yet affordable treasures like Baccarat crystal, Tiffany silver, Gucci, Prada, Chicos, 14k-22k gold jewelry, high-end furniture, handmade Persian rugs and regular household items.

NOW HANDLING OFF-SITE

ESTATES

Donating? Ask us about the Royal Treatment. It’s EASY and FREE!

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Volunteer  Donate  Consign  Shop

539 S. ORANGE | 941-955-7859 | OPEN MON-FRI 9-4 & SAT 10-4, 1st FRIDAYS TIL 5PM

MORE THAN $7.8 MILLION IN GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED 1 22

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

February 9, 2018

Edgardo J. Aponte,MD,FACOG Jorge E. Alvarez, MD,FACOG

º Gynecology & Cosmetic Gynecology º Obstetrics – Pregnancy

Fashion Show: Shivoo H vana at the Hyatt

Sarasota Italian Cultural Events, Inc. ItalyInSarasota.com See website for events.

Sarasota Pen Women 6109 55th terrace East Bradenton, FL 34203 941.342.8542 SarasotaPenWomen.com

Panel Discussion: The Artist Journey February 2018, TBA

Annual Achievement Awards Luncheon at the Bird Key Yacht Club March 14, 2018

Sarasota Shell Club PO Box 4124 Sarasota, FL 34230 SarasotaShellClub.com

55th Annual Sarasota Shell Show Potter Building at Sarasota Fairgrounds January 9 - 11, 2018

Towles Court Art District 1938 Adams Lane Sarasota, FL 34236 941.266.7318 TowlesCourt.com

Art Walks

Every third Friday of month

Venice Main Street 941.484.6722 VeniceMainStreet.com See Festivals & Fairs section.

Village of the Arts Bradenton, FL 941.747.8056 VillageoftheArts.com

Visit Sarasota County 701 North Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236 941.955.0991 VisitSarasota.org Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week June 1 – 14, 2018

For a moment, in the darkness,

we’re the same ...

2017-2018

Our 68th Season!

Wiley and the Hairy Man

Last Train to Nibroc

You Can’t Take It With You

The Toxic Avenger

Sept. 8 - 18

Jan. 19 – Feb. 11

Sept. 297- Oct. 16

Beehive the 60’s Musical

Feb. 17 - Mar. 19

Dreamgirls

Sept. 30 - Oct. 23

Feb. 21 - March 19

Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

A Christmas Story, The Musical

The Grapes of Wrath

The Santaland Diaries

Debbie Does Dallas, The Musical

A Christmas Carol

Stuart Little

Nov. 3 - 20

Nov. 8 – Dec. 4 Dec. 2 - 18

Dec. 16 - 21

Smokey Joe’s Cafe Jan. 10 - Feb. 5

March 30 - April 23 April 11 - 30

May 4 - May 21 May 16 - 21

Plus, this season’s concerts include The Capitol Steps, Peter Noone, tributes to The Eagles, Neil Diamond, Elvis & more!

TICKETS & INFO: 941.488.1115 | VeniceStage.com | 140 W. Tampa Ave.

Pro-Legends of Golf Andy Bean • Bobby Cole • Jim Dent • Alan Doyle • Dow Finsterwald • Robert Gamez • Gibby Gilbert • Lou Graham Jerry Heard • Jim Holtgrieve • Tommy Horton • Sean Jacklin • Tony Jacklin • Warren Jacklin • Doug Johnson • Larry Laoretti Wayne Levi • Carl Mason • James Mason • Jim McClean • Bobby Nichols • Jay Overton • Dana Quigley Tom Shaw • Hollis Stacy

• Jim Thorpe • Jimmy Wright • Larry Ziegler

E

CA

GHAN T A L

IR

L

Pros subject to change without notice.

Charity ProAm 3 Day Event: November 12 – November 14, 2017

Hosted By:

$1,900 per Player 3 Great Parties & 3 Rounds of Golf with Senior Legendary Pros

Sunday, November 12

Monday, November 13

Sponsored By:

Callaghan Tire Waste Pro Scene Magazine Bridgestone Tire Moffitt Cancer Center Continental Tire Hooters Dattoli Cancer Center Carroll Tire Esposito Law Firm

Tuesday, November 14

Lakewood National Golf Club

Ritz-Carlton Members Club

Lakewood National Golf Club

• Registration at Ritz-Carlton

• 7:00 am – Breakfast

• 7:00 am – Breakfast

Members Club

• 8:30 am – Shotgun Start

• 8:30 am – Shotgun Start

• Practice Round – Call for tee times:

• Tall Tales Party with Trick Shot

• After golf, $100,000 hole-in-one shootout

Ritz-Carlton Members Club –

Artist David Edwards after Golf

• Awards Party to include Cocktails & Steak Cookout

941.309.2900 or Lakewood National Golf Club – 941.900.2424 • 6:00 pm – Pairings Party, cocktails, hors d’oeurves, dinner & auction at Ritz-Carlton Members Club

Callaghan Tire CEO Dan Callaghan presenting check to Moffitt Cancer Center.

Callaghan Tire has raised close to $900,000 for Golfers Against Cancer, which dedicates it fundraising solely to cancer research. The majority of event proceeds directly benefit Moffitt Cancer Center for Research.

Call Dan Callaghan for More Information or Registration - 941-650-1701

Best SEATS

arts&culture

PERFORMING ARTS CALENDAR

ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE ROMANCE OF THE CELLO September 24 – 25, 2017

Broadway Boys at Venice Institute for Performing Arts

FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE 941.366.9000

floridastudiotheatre.org ROAR! THE MUSIC OF THE 1920’S AND BEYOND Through September 24, 2017

LEMON BAY PLAYHOUSE 941.475.6756

Lemonbayplayhouse.com ANNOYANCE September 6 – 24, 2017

MANATEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 941.748.5875

manateeperformingartscenter.com MAME September 14 – October 1

MCCURDY’S COMEDY THEATRE

THE PLAYERS CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS 941.365.2494 theplayers.org

THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES September 28 – October 15, 2017

THE POPS ORCHESTRA 941.926.7677

ThePopsOrchestra.org 2017 WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIP OPENING CEREMONY September 23, 2017

THE RINGLING 941.359.5700 ringling.org

941.925.3869

mccurdyscomedy.com

RINGLING UNDERGROUND September 7, 2017

PHILLY PLOWDEN

HISTORIC ASOLO THEATER

September 6 – 10, 2017 CARL RIMI

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD

HD AT THE OPERA HOUSE (FILM SHOWINGS): ABDUCTION FROM SERAGLIO September 10, 2017 MACBETH September 17, 2017 I DUE FOSCARI September 24, 2017 CLASSIC MOVIES AT THE OPERA HOUSE: CASABLANCA September 1, 2017 A NIGHT AT THE OPERA September 15, 2017 THE GODFATHER September 22, 2017 CLASSICAL MUSIC CELEBRATION September 29 - 30, 2017

SARASOTA ORCHESTRA

September 13 – 17, 2017

September 15, 2017

941.953.3434 sarasotaorchestra.org

JOSH SNEED

SARASOTA OPERA

DISCOVERIES: RENAISSANCE

September 20 – 24, 2017

SarasotaOpera.org

DARRYL LENOX September 27 – October 1, 2017

941.328.1300

September 23, 2017 CHAMBER SOIRÉE 1: TANGO TIME September 28, 2017

SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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arts&culture URBANITE THEATRE 941.321.1397

UrbaniteTheatre.com PILGRIMS Through September 10, 2017 MOVING ETHOS PRESENTS: AND BACK AGAIN

Dedicated to Providing Exceptional, Cost Effective, Family-Focused Care

September 13 – 16, 2017

All Heart Senior Care strives to provide exceptional care to every client by providing a nurturing and caring support system in the place that they call home.

Companion Services 24 Hour Care Meal Preparation

Services:

Transport Services Bathing Service LPNs / RNs / CNAs / HHAs

Alzheimer’s / Dementia Care Mobility Assistance Medication Management

Call today for a free, no-obligation evaluation of your specific needs.

2801 Fruitville Road, Suite 290 Sarasota, FL 34237 License # 299994201 941-954-6565 allheartseniorcare.com Registration # 230910

Toni Bennett

VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL 941.955.7676 vanwezel.org

TONY BENNETT

THE BULLET HOLE

September 8, 2017

Located in the heart of Downtown Sarasota since 1947.

Specializes in Firearms, Liberty Safes & Accessories.

September 15, 2017

“Florida’s Oldest Gun Store”

FRIDAY FEST ’17: REVEREND BARRY & THE FUNKTASTIC SOUL

VENICE INSTITUTE FOR PERFORMING ARTS 941.480.3191

veniceperformingartscenter.com

“Our Family welcomes you!”

The Misantone family, from left: Stella, Barbara, Dasher (dog), Brooke (standing), Francis & Alexandra

THE BROADWAY BOYS September 23, 2017

VENICE THEATRE 941.488.1115

venicestage.com WILEY AND THE HAIRY MAN September 7 – 17, 2017 THE GOLDTONES September 9, 2017 YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU September 26 – October 15, 2017

941-957-1996 | 330 South Orange Avenue Don’t worry, we have plenty of parking!

1 26

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

BEEHIVE: THE 60’S MUSICAL September 28 – October 22, 2017

arts&culture

GET Inspired CULTURAL HAPPENINGS BROUGHT TO YOU

BY THE ARTS AND CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF SARASOTA COUNTY

If you know the Sarasota arts scene, there’s a good chance you know Mike Marraccini. Always smiling and brimming with positivity, Marraccini is an Army veteran, culture junkie, community advocate, market influencer, lover of Boston Terriers, and a significant contributor to our legendary and evolving arts scene. Prior to his current role as a brand strategist at atLarge, Inc., Mike worked for seven years as marketing and communications specialist at The Sarasota Ballet. During that time, he worked closely with fellow marketing directors from major local art organizations to expand the young professional

attendance at all cultural performances by growing the Culture Collective, a current program of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County. A community advocate for the arts and cultural sustainability, Mike serves on the board of Sarasota Contemporary Dance, as well as its marketing and compensation committees. He also served our country for eight years as a sergeant in the U.S. Army, which included a tour of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003-2004.

Mike has 17 years of experience in marketing strategy, a Bachelor of Science from Kent State University and has lived in Sarasota since 2008.

MIKE MARRACCINI We asked this arts enthusiast how and why the arts in Sarasota influence and inspire him:

“Growing up in small-town Ohio, the Midwestern values in which I was raised were the foundation for the man I could grow up to become – a strong, independent, friendly, matter-of-factly honest man. But the past decade of immersion in the cultural arts of this beachside community has truly shaped what kind of man I’ve become. The arts and humanities of Sarasota are a deep-rooted tradition, and the passion and neighborliness made this farm boy feel at home from day one. This community has influenced me professionally and privately, shaping my analytical thinking, spoken expression, and creativity. The arts and humanities in Sarasota have brought meaning to my life that goes well beyond job titles and salary levels. The culture in this town and the passion of this community have given me a place to feel at home, and that means the world to me.”

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arts&culture

Inspiring EVENTS PEOPLE, EVENTS & PLACES SHAPING OUR RICH CULTURAL LANDSCAPE

Art Center Sarasota presents four new exhibitions and a benefit fashion show by young designers: GALLERIES ON VIEW: THROUGH OCTOBER 6, MON.-SAT., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

ICONCEPT JR (BENEFIT FASHION SHOW): SEPTEMBER 24, 12 p.m.-2 p.m.

Thin Spaces, in Gallery One, is a solo show by Carol Prusa exhibiting three-dimensional forms using geometric patterns as a metaphor for interconnectedness.

World Without Men, in Gallery Two, is Lowell Gilbertson’s series of illustrations of Biblical stories retold with a cast of female characters. Every Subject a New Obsession: The Avid Lens of Giovanni Lunardi, in Gallery Three, is a curated exhibition featuring photographs by world-renowned Italian photographer Giovanni Lunardi. Line, Form & Color, in Gallery Four, is an open, all-media, all-subject peer juried exhibition.

Art Center Sarasota will present its 2nd annual iconcept jr., a runway fashion show featuring outfits created from unconventional materials by young designers, ages 8-18. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit youth scholarships and education outreach programs.

ART CENTER SARASOTA; 707 N. TAMIAMI TRAIL, SARASOTA, 941.365.2032, ARTSARASOTA.ORG

Art Uptown Gallery Artists at Bird Key Yacht Club presents Evelyn McCorristin Peters: New Paintings OPENING RECEPTION: SEPTEMBER 7, 6 p.m.

EXHIBIT: SEPTEMBER 6 - OCTOBER 2 Evelyn’s paintings depict her passion for nature and her love of dogs. She treats them both lovingly in color and sensitive brushwork. Bird Key Yacht Club has graciously invited Art Uptown Gallery artists to display solo exhibitions. The community is invited to attend the opening and meet the artist.

BIRD KEY YACHT CLUB;301 BIRD KEY DRIVE, SARASOTA 941.955.5409; ARTUPTOWN.COM

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SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

arts&culture Bookstore1Sarasota presents Meet the Author Event with Jane Plitt SEPTEMBER 26, 11 a.m.

Plitt will visit Bookstore1 to sign both her books — a children’s picture book (Martha’s Magical Hair) and an adult biography (Martha Matilda Harper and the American Dream). Plitt has a long history of advocacy for women, small business and community. She lives in Bradenton with her husband.

BOOKSTORE1SARASOTA; 12 S. PALM AVENUE, SARASOTA, 941.365.7900, WWW.SARASOTABOOKS.COM

Dabbert Gallery presents Transitions Exhibit EXHIBIT: SEPTEMBER 1 – SEPTEMBER 30, TUES. – SAT., 11:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. When artists move to Sarasota from other regions (or in some cases, other countries), their transition to the new environment usually inspires a new direction in their artistic expression. This creative transition has successfully fulfilled its promise with seven of our local Gallery artists - James Griffin, Jeff Cornell, Nancy Turner, Bill Farnsworth, Victoria Mayol, Thyra Davidson and Martin Dunn.

DABBERT GALLERY; 76 S. PALM AVENUE, SARASOTA; 941.955.1315; DABBERTGALLERY.COM

The Ringling presents Art After 5 EVERY THURSDAY, 5-8 p.m.

Take advantage of specially-priced admission (and fewer crowds!) to explore the Museum of Art, permanent and special exhibition galleries, and the Circus Museum.

Stroll leisurely through the spectacular Ringling Courtyard and the Museum’s romantic loggias. Absorb the history of the Ringling family and the circus that shaped Sarasota with a visit to the Circus Museum, featuring the world’s largest model circus. Art After 5 admission includes select events and programs. Admission is $15. Ca’ d’Zan is not included with Art After 5 Admission.

THE RINGLING MUSEUM; 5401 BAY SHORE ROAD, SARASOTA, RINGLING.ORG, 941.359.5700

SEPTEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE

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arts&culture The Galleries at Ringling College of Art and Design presents two exhibits: CONTINUING STUDIES & SPECIAL PROGRAMS INSTRUCTORS AND STAFF EXHIBITION THROUGH OCTOBER 4 RICHARD AND BARBARA BASCH GALLERY AND WILLIS SMITH GALLERY View exciting new work by Ringling College staff members and instructors from Continuing Studies and Special Programs and the Englewood Art Center.

ANNUAL RINGLING COLLEGE FACULTY EXHIBITION THROUGH OCTOBER 4

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium presents Electrify the Island

LOIS & DAVID STULBERG GALLERY

SEPTEMBER 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Be inspired by the work of our talented Ringling College faculty in the exciting new Lois and David Stulberg Gallery in the Basch Visual Arts Center.

RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN 2700 N. TAMIAMI TRAIL, SARASOTA 941.359.7563; WWW.RINGLING.EDU/GALLERIES

Electrify the Island is the Sarasota-based kickoff event for National Drive Electric Week, which features local events across the nation. Electric vehicles and other eco-friendly technologies stop by to show their power at this event on City Island.

Electrify the Island is about sustainability and keeping the ocean and the environment clean. For more information, visit mote.org/events.

MOTE MARINE LABORATORY AND AQUARIUM; 1600 KEN THOMPSON PARKWAY; SARASOTA; MOTE.ORG

Island Gallery West presents New Directions Paintings Exhibition by S. Rush Dean EXHIBIT: SEPTEMBER 1-30 MON.-SAT. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

S. Rush Dean employs both new and proven techniques in her latest series of acrylic paintings for her September featured artist exhibit entitled New Directions at Island Gallery West.

ISLAND GALLERY WEST; 5368 GULF DR., HOLMES BEACH, ANNA MARIA ISLAND, 941.778.6648; ISLANDGALLERYWEST.COM

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re invited to help

Second Chance Last Opportunity Honor our 2017 Community Champions at the

11:30 AM Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On East

$65 per person

SHARE THE LIGHT 22ND ANNUAL LUNCHEON Lee-En Chung

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2017

Valerie Powell

www.SecondChanceLastOpportunity.org

941-360-8660

MCs Bobeth Yates of ABC7 and Justin Mosely of SNN

Your company is requested at the Horne & Moon Scholarship Social for a titillating evening of dancing & sparkling company at the Moulin Rouge, Paris 555 6th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 Can-Can Vintage Attire

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For information & to purchase tickets visit: www.ManateeCF.org Or contact Lisa Arrigo Hoban at 941-725-1236 / laevents@tampabay.rr.com Our mission is to provide need based scholarships for adult students at Manatee Technical College, State College of Florida, and University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee. Partner with us and the Manatee Community Foundation to encourage adults to further their education, provide for their families, and give back to the community.

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arts&culture

LITERARY Scene

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

A QUIRKY TRIO OF BOOKS ON THE SUBJECT OF LOVE.

THE SUNSET GANG

by Warren Adler When this book came across my desk, I had to give it serious consideration. A short story collection from the author of War of the Roses and Random Hearts? Who wouldn’t be intrigued? Set in a condominium retirement village in Florida, the ten stories in The Sunset Gang reveal how getting older doesn’t mean that you ever stop thirsting for love, life, and happiness. With his well-developed brand of dark humor and artfully developed characters, Adler has created a stirring story that will appeal to many readers - even those who haven’t yet had to look up the word “geriatric.”

Some of the more striking stories in this collection?

• “The Detective,” which is about the perils of pride and the power of compassion.

• “Yiddish” tackles how an ancient language can help a pair of people rediscover themselves and their almost-forgotten desire for love.

• “The Demonstration” is perhaps the most overtly political story in the book. It powerfully speaks to issues of anti- Semitism and hatred.

While I reviewed a softcover version of this book, I did listen to a bit of the audiobook and wow, Colleen Crimmins does a first-rate job with that. She really makes the rich Florida world come alive. It’s a rich, memorable read. Plus, there’s also much to learn in these pages about the art of living well.

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ONE BILLION SECONDS: THERE’S STILL TIME TO DISCOVER LOVE

by Poppy & Geoff Spencer This is an odd book. It’s not exactly a memoir, not exactly a novel. Sort of a self-help book, too, but without so many bullet points. While it’s the story of Poppy and Geoff, it’s told through the perspective of Jessie, an ethereal entity or “relational choreographer” something like good old Clarence in It’s a Wonderful Life.

Well, whatever this is, Florida Gulf Coast authors and relationship experts Poppy and Geoff Spencer have created a product that’s interesting, honest, and compelling.

It’s kind of a star-crossed lovers story where miscommunication worthy of a TV drama nearly ruins it all, but a daring phone call many years later give them a second chance. The real takeaway? Effective communication is the secret to relationship success.

So, if you’ve ever wondered how two people, twice-divorced, can still believe in a committed, lasting marriage, this book offers an answer. Give it a shot today and maybe you’ll discover the potential for your own fairytale ending.

Rating:

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www.WarrenAdler.org

www.OneBillionSeconds.com

SARASOTA SCENE | SEPTEMBER 2017

arts&culture

LET THE DEAD BURY THE DEAD

by Joan King Florida author Joan King’s debut novel is set in rural Oklahoma - a location she knows well, having grown up on the family farm there. This story takes place near the end of World War II and it follows seven-year-old Gracie Timmons, who has a world of trouble around her.

A deceased mother. Running afoul of moonshiners.

Taken in by a spinster storekeeper while her soldier father fights for freedom. No wonder she spends most of her time locked in a closet, praying for her father to return home and be her salvation.

When her father, Sergeant Aaron Timmons, finally does return home, he’s no hero. Thanks to three years as a POW and suffering through the Bataan Death March, he experiences fits and spells that we might today call PTSD. Readers know he’s a bit...off by how much he treasures a stolen Bible and a row of little boxes he says are filled with the bodies of dead soldiers. But when push comes to shove, he’s willing to confront the troublesome moonshiners who are working on the family farm and figure out how he can care for young Gracie.

Much of the inspiration for this book, reports King, comes from her uncle Jimmy, who was a POW in Germany in WWII. In many ways, this book of historical fiction is designed to honor him and thousands more who survived the war but came home forever changed.

At times, the language is striking and the dialogue terrifically spot on. But from time to time, my mind connected this story with the movie Lawless, and the narration of young Gracie felt like it wasn’t quite adequate to get at the emotional nuance and resonance this rich setup offered. Still, there’s much to enjoy here, for sure.

If you’re a fan of the geographic area or the time period, go ahead and bump this up a quarter coffee cup.

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on the town

Real TALK SHERYL VIEIRA shares thoughts on the community, good deeds and important things, big AND small.

S

ummer is a special time to enjoy a slower pace. Parents stop running around taking their kids here and there for school and after school programs and practices.

Events in town come to a crawl.

Vacations are enjoyed.

In this month’s RealTALK, we take in a sunset at Selby to help Suncoast Charities, which spreads love to five non-profit agencies serving over 8,000 clients with special needs. We take a quick jaunt down to Miami to help fight childhood hunger and then to Jupiter to capture the perfect sunrise photographs with the Lakewood Ranch Digital Photography Club. We then say goodbye to a strongwilled young boy, who accomplished so much in his short life, all while fighting and facing the battle of his life, but keeping others first in his heart and helping hands for as long as he could.

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RIDING INTO THE SUNSET AT SELBY More than 400 Sarasotans who love the water, boating and a casual, fun event attended the 33rd Grand Prix Festival Kickoff Party at Michael’s on the Bay at Selby Gardens. The evening was full of festivities, tastings, grazing and bidding. Kettle of Fish entertained and buyers bid on the plethora of auction items. Julian Parry gave some cash to Jill Raleigh for the 50/50 raffle and she WON $1,680, which, together, they graciously donated back! New this year was the “Winners Circle,” which enabled guests to make a pledge in support of client services. These pledges totaled $15,000, with final net proceeds exceeding $50,000.

on the town

ALL ACCESS TO SOUTH OF FIFTH CULINARY TOUR

T

Seen in the crowd were John Saputo, Ernie Garcia, Kelly Ambercrombie, Liz Taft, Larry Eurto, Sarah Catell, Jack and Andrea Cox, Kelly and Melissa Caldwell, Timothy Raines, Donna Koffman, Holly Holton and Lucy Nicandri who by the way, just won the first ever David R. Mills “Service Above Self” Award presented by the Sarasota Sunrise Rotary Club. Andy Lyman conceived the idea for the award in February.

Net proceeds raised from this event enables Suncoast Charities for Children to provide an annual grant to the Suncoast Foundation. In turn, the Foundation supports five local nonprofits, which combined serve 8,000+ clients with special needs (Loveland Village, Sarasota County Special Olympics, Children First, The Haven, and Florida Center for Early Childhood).

imothy Raines, a local artist and friend, posted on his Facebook page that he was one of the featured artists at the annual Experience SOFI (Formerly South of Spice) event in Miami. It sparked my interest, as most things culinary-related do. Experience SoFI is an all access pass to the Luxurious South of Fifth neighborhood, which gets taken over by 20+ chefs, globally acclaimed artists, spirits, wines and area restaurants during this event. Carpe Diem! I invited my sister and nieces to stay overnight with me.

We arrived at our lodgings, a quaint boutique hotel called Sense Beach House. It helped that it was conveniently located and happened to be our event check-in and first stop on the culinary tour! Located within the hotel is a bona fide shabby chic seafood café called The Local House. We immediately noticed Ryan Matthews of the television show 90210 sitting outside with his girlfriend as people stopped by for a photograph.

Participating restaurants crafted their chef’s culinary creations and guests enjoyed tastings from Red, the Steakhouse, Cibo Wine Bar, Joe’s Stone Crab, and The Local House. New additions included Bakehouse Brasserie, South Point Tavern, DIRT- Eat Clean, Lilikoi Organic Living, Texas de Brazil, Rossella’s Kitchen, Nikki Beach, GelatoGo and Ramona LaRue. Nationally acclaimed artists were showcased throughout the event. This year’s featured artists included Gerald and Trisha Posner, Lebo, Le Creep, Ari Azzopardi, Patrick Willard and Timothy Raines.

David Le Batard, better known in the art world as Lebo, is recognized for working in a wide spectrum of creative mediums including murals, paintings and sculptures. Born to Cuban immigrant parents and raised in South Florida, Lebo has become one of the most well-respected muralists in Miami. With a showroom in Wynwood and a studio in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood, Lebo’s art can be found all over the world, in private collections and in corporate partnerships including Norwegian Cruise Lines, Lulu Lemon, Harley Davidson, Audi, Google, Microsoft, Redbull, Ketel One, Bacardi and Ferrari.

Timothy Raines is the brand artist. He is the master of utilizing an established symbol of an emblem to evoke emotion. He captures essence of the icons of the luxury and sporting lifestyle with a flair for the dramatic and paintings that are charged with explosive energy. Timothy has been an award-winning artist from the early age of six, receiving many awards and accolades from multiple competitions. He focuses on the art of iconic brands that stand for something more than mere materialism; creations that were launched by craftsmen, artists, thinkers and creators that set out to build something better and lasting. His extensive client list includes: Aston Martin, Michelin, HGTV, ABC, Major League Baseball (MLB), MLB teams and players, the MLB Foundation and more.

We found Timothy set up at the Cibo Wine Bar. We stopped in quickly to say hello, knowing we’d be back for the after party. He was busy - meeting and mingling with buyers - so we left him to it.

The Local House served goat cheese croquettas and grilled Mahi tacos accompanied by a premier tasting of South Beach Brewery craft beers. Lilikoi Organic Living offered Hawaiian-style Ahi Poke, Vegan Sprouted Mung Bean Stew (a chili-like vegan dish) and house-made Falafel and Tzatziki. Nikki Beach had a photo booth capturing the event in fun photographic fashion and served Koh Samui Thai Beef salad and a Hawaiian tuna poke. Both were very tasty. Of the restaurants, our favorite stop was at Forte de Marmi.

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on the town Cozy, comfortable and delicious.

Here, we sampled octopus salad, seafood risotto of clams, calamari and mussels and Linguine alla Nerano. Dinner reservations here are a must next time we visit.

While the weather was warm, we enjoyed chauffeured transportation in cool comfort provided by Key Transportation. Our driver was the kindest gentleman and ever patient as the ladies entered and exited the vehicles wearing their Miami best.

Once guests completed their individual culinary tours, we gathered for the Celebrity Cruises After Party hosted at Cibo Wine Bar. Aside from experiencing delicious food and beverages, guests at the after party joined in on a silent disco where guests were offered headphones that changed colors depending on the station they were listening to. You could witness people dancing to the same tune you were listening to or see others expressing themselves to three other beats. It was a colorful and energetic display, to say the least. We’re looking forward to next year’s culinary tour - Sense Beach House already has our reservation.

Experience SOFI benefits CI Foundation’s EAT SMART Program, which focuses on the battle against childhood hunger and childhood obesity by finding the perfect balance through nutritional awareness, health, wellness and exercise.

“

Hunger also changes the world.

When eating can’t be a habit, then neither can seeing.

”

-MAXINE HONG KINGSTON

PICTURE PERFECT

T

here is always more to learn, especially when it comes to photography.

The Lakewood Ranch Digital Photography Club, which I have been a member of for the past four years, is a growing, very professional yet fun group of photographers of all levels.

As I volunteered to assist on the photography competition the Sarasota Bay Water Festival was conducting a few years ago, I collected entries at Caldwell Trust’s Sarasota office on Main Street; in walks Larry George to drop off his entry. He introduced me to the idea of the club and a while later welcomed me as a member.

The Lakewood Ranch Digital Club and the friends I’ve made there have enriched my life. The members are mentors and friends, the topics and speakers are robust and the extra projects, field trips, photoshop classes, tips and tricks are endless - and so fun! Mike McNaughton teaches the photoshop classes before our monthly

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club meetings and is an amazing teacher.

The most fun is our 52-week photography blog challenge that Mindy Towns created three years ago. Themes are assigned for each week of the year to be captured and blogged.

A group of us went on what was my second field trip, thanks to Mindy Towns, club president, who mentioned the trip

to me at one of our monthly club meetings at Woodland Church. The first field trip was a few years back to a cemetery, where I modeled as a mourning military wife at a gravesite. The second trip was to Jupiter for a sunrise/sunset weekend with around twenty others.

We stayed at the Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa. Our first meeting was a strategy

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on the town session, determining our shoot locations and choosing our equipment. Dave MacDonald is a club member who acted as our long-distance trip coordinator; he determined when and where to meet, parking and dining and kept everyone on track. We enjoyed a sunset photograph session at Coral Cove Park, and awoke early to capture sunrise photographs at the Jupiter Beach Lighthouse. After the back-to-back photo sessions, I attended my massage at the Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa, while my friend went for a dive with Jupiter Dive Center. He was on a quest to find sharks and I was on a quest for some rest! Our Sunday sunrise from our beach hotel was by far the best photo op for this amateur photographer. The sun, clouds, and sky cooperated fully (as did my equipment!).

It’s truly astounding how passion propels you forward, pushes you to do new things and gets you out of your comfort zone. Developing all the necessary skills required for photography is best accomplished in an environment in which everyone shares in the learning process, exchanging knowledge and experience.

That collaboration is what keeps me coming back every year as a club member. Whether it is through professional critique found in competition, instruction from highly talented photographers, field trips for specific photo opportunities, or focus groups in a smaller environment, LWRDPC members can find the support they need, for which I am so thankful!

“

Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.

”

-DOROTHEA LANGE

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HELPING OTHERS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

B

ig Brothers and Big Sisters of the Suncoast introduced Todd Currey, “the Big”, and Tony Colton, “the Little”, over six years ago. They enjoyed their meetups and time spent together boating, fishing and giving back to the community in which they both lived. That was right about the time Tony found out he had cancer. In his short life, he impacted others around the world.

“

What we have once enjoyed, we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes part of us.

-HELEN KELLER

”

Tony was born on October 18, 1999 in Tampa. He attended Brentwood Elementary, where he was a member of Odyssey of the Minds, then went to McIntosh Middle followed by Sarasota Christian School, where he was a senior. He served on the Advisory Board at All Children’s Hospital and volunteered for 6 years as the spokesperson for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. He was also involved with the Junior National Society, as Vice President. In October 2016, Tony began the New Outlook Foundation. The organization serves as a gateway for communication for children newly diagnosed with cancer, connecting them with other foundations and resources. Through the kindness and generosity of all those that knew and supported Tony, his dream of establishing this foundation will develop under the leadership of the Ryan Callahan Foundation (www.ryancallahanfoundation.org) Tony lobbied on Capitol Hill to advocate for more research and funding for pediatric cancers in July, 2014; he served as a spokesperson for Cure Fest in Washington D.C. in Sept. 2014; he was a pediatric representative for Dick Vitale Gala in Sarasota each year from 2014 through 2017; he was a speaker for All Children’s Hospital Miracle Ball in 2015 and 2017; he was a recipient of the Sneaker Soiree Sports Community Hero Award in June 2015. Tony was also a recipient of the Lightening Community Hero Award in 2016; he received 50K in charitable funds to be used towards three foundations of his choice – the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, All Children’s Hospital, and Sarasota Christian School; he participated in Coop’s Catch for Kids Charity in October 2016, founded by Coach Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning; he was active in the Sarasota County Commerce Leadership Programs in 2016 and 2017; he was a recipient of the Omer’s Award at the Odyssey of the Minds World Competition in May 2017; a recipient of the Anne Frank Humanitarian award received at the Holocaust Museum also in May, 2017; he worked as a camp counselor at Lakewood Retreat Camp; participated in mission trips to West VA and Haiti; was involved with numerous local outreach activities in his community, and assisted at Vacation Bible School every year from 2013.

Tony faced hardship, but got through it with his mother, Connie Colton, by his side. His girlfriend Vanessa helped to brighten many of his days. He peacefully said goodbye to all, and in standard Tony fashion his family received a call that he was a candidate for cornea donation. They said yes, knowing that Tony would jump at the chance to help someone to see.

What are we here for if it’s not to help others? Please make today matter for you and for those in your life. An easy way to start is to become an organ donor!

Feed them, love them, don’t judge them and don’t forget your camera! What if they were gone tomorrow?

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