SARASOTA BALLET TO UNVEIL 20TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
Sarasota Ballet will unveil plans for its celebratory 20th Anniversary season at the TuTu Terrific cocktail party on Wednesday, March 24, at Michael’s on East (1212 East Ave.). Guests will enjoy an open bar and appetizers as well as a fashion show of many of the glamorous costumes from the past 19 seasons of ballet productions, modeled by the dancers of the Sarasota Ballet.
This event will be the first public announcement of the schedule of performances to be featured in the 2010-2011 Sarasota Ballet season. Director Iain Webb, to be entering his fourth season with the company, has brought together another exciting roster of choreographers to be featured, but nothing further will be revealed until March 24!. Tickets are $100 per person ($75 for Sarasota Ballet Association members) and can be reserved by contacting Mary Lou Loughrey, 359-0099 ext 107.
ARTISTS OFFER PAINTING ON LOCATION COURSE
Award-winning artists Jean Blackburn and Cheryl Moody will devote two days to teaching techniques, interpretation composition, color, materials and other concerns of painting outdoors in natural light for the Friends of Myakka River’s Nature-Adventure Series, Thursday and Friday, March 18 and 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each day. Fee for the two days is $80, all of which will be contributed to the "Myakka Forever Endowment Fund."
In their classes, Blackburn and Moody will emphasize oil painting techniques but photographers and acrylic and watercolor painters will also be welcome. Class members should bring lunch, painting equipment and supplies (suggested list will be sent upon registration). Participants may be required to ride in the bed of a truck and take short walks on un-level ground.
METROPOLITAN OPERA TENOR TO SING
Sunday, March 21, Meredith Derr, the well-known, now-retired Metropolitan Opera tenor, will be the guest singer at Faith Lutheran Church during the 9 a.m. service, and again during the afternoon Vespers at 3 p.m., on the occasion of the 325th anniversary of the birth of composer Johann Sebastian Bach.
Also performing will be Faith’s new artist-in-residence, Dr. Joseph Holt, on piano; Director Roger Roszell on organ; and The Scarano Family performers playing flute, violin, cello and double bass.
The afternoon Vespers is free to all, with goodwill offerings gratefully accepted. Faith Lutheran Church is located at 7750 Beneva Road near Sarasota Square Mall. For more information, call 924-4664 or visit www.faithsarasota.com.
PERLMAN MUSIC PROGRAM'S LK QUARTET TEACHING IN SCHOOLS
The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast, with the support and cooperation of The Juilliard School, Columbia University’s Teacher College, Toby and Itzhak Perlman and the faculty of The Perlman Music Program, is completing its first year of the LK Quartet outreach program into the Sarasota and Manatee county schools. From March 22 through 25 the LK Quartet, a group of Perlman Music Program alumni based in New York City, will be performing and teaching classes in Palma Sola, Lakeview and Gocio elementary schools, and Haile, Booker, Sarasota and King middle schools.
This is the third week of The LK Quartet residency in area elementary and middle schools. Laura Seay, violist of the quartet, graduate of The Juilliard School and currently a doctoral student at Teacher’s College, Columbia University, has worked in close collaboration with PMP/Suncoast consultant Cindy Balistreri, recently retired Sarasota County Fine Arts Program specialist, to combine both the latest methods and research in music education with over a decade of hands-on, management-level curriculum development experience.
At the end of this first LK Quartet residency year, it is anticipated that over 3,000 individual elementary and middle school students will have attended a live performance by the LK Quartet at least once and 641 young string students would have participated in three separate classroom visits with members of the LK Quartet.
COMMUNITY RALLIES, HOSTS MUSICAL BENEFIT
At noon on Sunday, March 21, hundreds will gather from noon until dark at a Sarasota Florida cracker-style ranch in honor of a local family in need. The event, titled "A Village for A Family," is being sponsored by WSLR 96.5 and Sarasota’s Midwives, and will feature six local bands, refreshments, fun for children and a spirit of community. Proceeds will benefit the Augsburger family.
Colleen and Brad Augsburger welcomed their third baby, Kaya Soul, into the world on Feb. 16. After Kaya’s birth, Colleen was admitted to the ICU at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. A rare but dangerous bacterial infection, unrelated to but exacerbated by the event of birth, began causing organ damage and severe dehydration. Due to thorough care, Colleen is home and beginning her long recovery process. Brad will be unable to work as a painter while he cares for them and for his recovering wife.
"Always a contributor to Mothers Helping Mothers, Colleen Augsburger is a model mother and a friend," says Terry Stottlemyer, director of Mothers Helping Mothers. The Stottlemyers will host the benefit "A Village for A Family." WSLR 96.5 will bring attendees an afternoon of local music.
The suggested donation is $10 for adults and free for children. The Stottlemyers’ ranch is located at 65 East Road, behind the Texaco station 1 mile east of I-75 off Fruitville Road.
ASOLO PRESENTS THEATRE IN THE RAW
Asolo Rep announces the schedule and details for its inaugural new play festival, "Unplugged," through April 3.
Asolo Rep Associate Artistic Director and Director of the FSU/Asolo Conservatory, Greg Leaming, takes the lead as producer/curator for the festival, which includes a staged reading of a new play by Greenfield Prize-winning playwright Craig Lucas, two developmental workshops and three separate readings.
"Asolo ‘Unplugged’ is our chance to invite new playwrights into our artistic community and at the same time introduce our audiences to new work being written in this country at the very beginning of the developmental process. These are some of the most exciting playwrights writing for the theatre, and they range from the well established like Craig Lucas to the newest voices writing today. Each of these readings will present to our audience work never seen before, work still in the process of forming. These kinds of workshops are not only an essential part of the development of a new work; they also offer an audience insight into the ways in which a theatrical script is developed. These scripts are raw, exciting, vibrant and very fresh. This program promises some real thrills for all of us." – Greg Leaming
Please note that these productions contain adult content and strong language. For a schedule of performances visit Asolo.org.
WOODWORKS MARIMBA QUARTET TO PERFORM
The final concert of the 2009-2010 Pine Shores Presbyterian Church Concert Series will feature the WoodWorks Marimba Quartet on Sunday, March 21, at 5 p.m. in the Sanctuary. WoodWorks is an ensemble which specializes in folk music written especially for the marimba. As the popularity of WoodWorks and the marimba has grown, the expansion and demand for different literature has been inevitable. Now many different styles have been incorporated into the repertoire to include ragtime, circus music, the Nutcracker at Christmas and sounds of the Caribbean. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information call 922-1548.
FILM EVENTS LAUNCHED IN SARASOTA
Touching Tomorrow will present two of their 2010 events in Sarasota on March 20, at The Historic Asolo Theater at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art beginning with a film focus program "The Film Forecast" during the day followed by the evening premiere screening of the comedy "Expecting Mary."
"The Film Forecast" will present three new films followed by discussions to help participating filmmakers launch their new films. Distributors, publicity agents, directors and producers will be in attendance to discuss with the participants their personal comments and evaluations. Evaluation surveys, comment sheets and discussions will take place following each film. Attendees will participate in all three screenings during the day starting at 9 a.m. and continuing until 4 p.m. Lunch will be served.
At 7 p.m. on March 20, the world premiere screening of the comedy "Expecting Mary" will be held, starring Elliott Gould, Linda Gray, Lainie Kazan, Cloris Leachman, Della Reese, Cybill Shepherd, Gene Simmons and featuring Olesya Rulin in the starring role of Mary. Rulin made her debut in "High School Musical" and will attend the event with producers Kim Waltrip and Jim Casey.
International film programmer and film instructor, Fred Linch, will serve as moderator for the film focus group in Sarasota. Linch brings to The Film Forecast an impressive background in the film industry. He is the former past president of The Palm Springs International Film Festival, the former executive director of the Scottsdale International Jewish Film Festival and the jury chairman of the Vladivostok, Russia, International Film Festival.
To secure tickets for the film focus group, send requests to filmforecasts@gmail.com. For detailed information call Craig Prater at (702) 982-0587. Tickets for the premiere of "Expecting Mary" will be available at the Historic Asolo Theater at the Ringling Museum of Art box office. Tickets may be purchased for the premiere screening only or tickets may include a private reception with the filmmakers following the film. Call 359-5700 for ticket information.
HAITIAN YOUTH GROUP TO PERFORM AT FAITH LUTHERAN
Thursday, March 25, at 7 p.m., Faith Lutheran Church of Sarasota will host a performance by The Resurrection Dance Theatre of Haiti, a troupe of former "restavik" – children forced into slave labor – who were rescued from life on the streets by Michael Geilenfeld, who runs the St. Joseph’s Homes for Boys in Port au Prince.
"The boys use art, dance in particular, to regain their self-worth, and heal from being child slaves," says Senior Pastor Stephen Winemiller of Faith Lutheran. "They are amazingly gifted in physical interpretation of dance and their dances express their personal struggles and triumphs, and it’s a truly wonderful opportunity for our community to be able to experience these special young performers."
The event is free and open to the public with goodwill donations gratefully accepted. No tickets are necessary, but early arrival is encouraged to ensure seating.
Faith Lutheran Church is located at 7750 Beneva Road, close to the Sarasota Square Mall. For more information, call 924-4664 or visit www.faithsarasota.com.
For more information about The Resurrection Dance Theatre of Haiti, visit www.heartswithhaiti.org.
BAND OF THE IRISH GUARDS BRING POMP AND PAGEANTRY
The grandeur, pomp and pageantry of the British Empire comes to Sarasota on Sunday, March 21, at 7 p.m., when the Band of the Irish Guards joins with the pipes and drums of the Royal Regiment of Scotland for an evening of marches, ballads and folk songs. A special pre-show event will be presented on stage at 6:15 p.m. by The Mighty Sarasota Military Academy Drum Line, its first appearance at Van Wezel.
Tickets to the 7 p.m. show at Van Wezel Performing are $35-$50 (with a limited number of "smart seats" at $10).
The program, Hands Across the Sea, features the music of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. For more information and to buy tickets, contact the Van Wezel Box Office at 953-3368 or log onto www.vanwezel.org.
NEW S/ART/Q EXHIBITION AT G.WIZ
S/ART/Q, Sarasota’s answer to contemporary art, is a collective of 14 local artists including painters, sculptors, photographers and new media experts. The group will hold a new exhibition, "Process," at G.WIZ - The Science Museum (1001 Boulevard of the Arts). The show will open with an invite-only preview on March 25. A free reception, open to the public, will follow on Friday, March 26, from 5-7 p.m.
While the group’s successful inaugural exhibition in November displayed the artists’ finished products in a white-cube gallery, this new exhibition entitled "Process" is a sneak peek inside the artist’s world, from inspiration to completion. With glimpses into the studio through videos installations, materials samples and actual vignettes from the artists’ workspaces, S/ART/Q will demystify fine art as well as the techniques used to make it. Finished pieces will be exhibited alongside process drawings, photographs and reference material, bringing the experience of the viewer full-circle.
The show will be open through Sunday, April 25, and during this month the S/ART/Q Artists will also host student tours, panel discussions and demonstrations (schedule to be announced at the opening reception and via www.sARTq.com).
Maintaining their commitment to the community through collaboration with varied organizations and individuals, this non-profit strives to present contemporary art events of the highest caliber alongside community service programs.
For more information visit www.sARTq.com.
GUITARSARASOTA PRESENTS CLASSICAL GUITARIST AZABAGIC
GuitarSarasota presents the classical guitarist Denis Azabagic from Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m. The concert is held in the Fellowship Hall at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2256 Bahia Vista St. A short meet and greet reception will follow each concert in honor of the performing artist with hors d’oeuvres and refreshments by Mattison’s.
Denis Azabagic is considered one of the best guitarists of his generation. He holds more then 20 awards from international competitions.
He has recorded six CDs for international labels, as well as a video. As a soloist, Denis has appeared in the .US. with the Allentown, Charlotte and Savannah symphonies, and in Europe with Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Mons and Symphony Orchestra of Madrid, among others.
Tickets are on sale at the Historic Asolo Box Office, Visitors Pavilion of the Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road, and can be purchased by calling 360-7399 or (800) 660-4278 (nominal fee applies to credit card orders) or online at https://www.choicesecure01.net/mainapp/eventschedule.aspx?clientid=fsuringling
Tickets are $15 for GuitarSarasota members, $20 for non-members, and $5 student rush tickets (night of the concert at the door only). Box office hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sundays from noon-4 p.m.
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE GLEE CLUB TO SING AT REDEEMER
The Dartmouth College Glee Club – a group of 25 undergraduate singers -- will perform in Sarasota at the Church of the Redeemer on Thursday, March 18, at 7 p.m. Under the direction of Louis Burkot, the young singers will perform selections from the Mozart Requiem in D minor, along with unaccompanied sacred motets, spirituals, folk song settings, and songs of Dartmouth College – including the "Ivy League Medley," "Hanover Winter Song" and "Dartmouth Undying."
The Dartmouth Club of Sarasota, which is sponsoring the event, invites the public to attend this exuberant evening of music. A reception will immediately follow in Redeemer’s Gillespie Hall.
Suggested ticket donation is $20, with tickets available at the door on the day of performance; advance ticket reservations are recommended by calling 329-6629.
The Church of the Redeemer is located at 222 S. Palm Ave., with additional parking available on the Gulf Stream cul-de-sac (directly across from Marina Jack). Paid parking is available in the adjacent M&I Bank Parking Garage on McAnsh Square, opposite the church on the Palm Avenue side.
DIANE WARD SET TO STAR IN ‘MOON OVER MYAKKA’ CONCERT
Diane Ward whose voice has been compared with the power of Melisa Etheridge’s and the beauty of k.d. Lang’s, will star in the season finale of the "Moon Over Myakka" concert series presented by the Friends of Myakka River, Friday, March 26 at 7 p.m. at Myakka River State Park’s South Pavilion.
Ward, a Miami native, is an accomplished singer, songwriter and musician. She started as a drummer and before finishing high school she was teaching music to others. She became a singer by accident. When the lead singer failed to show for a performance, she was recruited. Her emergency vocal performance soon led to her career as a full time singer. Now she writes songs and accompanies herself on keyboard and guitar.
"Moon Over Myakka Concert" tickets are $8 per person or $6 for Friends of Myakka River members. For more information, call 361-6511 or 373-7839.
In addition to the Concert series there are three other "Moon Over Myakka" special outdoor activities planned through the end of March. They include "Moon Over Myakka" bike rides, kayak trips and Owl Prowls.
SARASOTA BALLET PRESENTS WHEELDON BALLET
Sarasota Ballet will present an exceptional program featuring works by three popular choreographers – Christopher Wheeldon, Renato Paroni and John Cranko – with three performances Friday, April 2, at 8 p.m., and 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 3, at the Sarasota Opera House.
With the addition of Christopher Wheeldon’s "There Where She Loved" to its repertoire the Sarasota Ballet achieves yet another milestone. Former dancer and resident choreographer of the New York City Ballet, Christopher Wheeldon, now with his own company based at City Center in New York City and Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London, is without a doubt one of the most sought after choreographers of today.
The program also includes encore performances of Renato Paroni’s "Rococo Variations" and John Cranko’s "Pineapple Poll," brought back by popular demand after its successful run last season.
Single tickets ranging from $20 to $90 each are available online at www.SarasotaBallet.org or by calling the box office at 351-8000/(800) 361-8388. For information about the entire season, contact the Sarasota Ballet at 359-0099, ext. 102, or visit www.SarasotaBallet.org.