Asolo Repertory Theatre closes out the 2015–16 season with the US premiere of Hetty Feather, the 2015 Olivier Award nominee adapted from the popular novel by Dame Jacqueline Wilson. Reuniting the cast and director from the show’s acrobatic UK West End production, Hetty opens tonight at 8pm and runs through Jun. 26. “I’m very excited that it’s coming to Florida and particularly Sarasota, as it has such a long and happy history with circus folk,” said Wilson. “It seems to have found its exact place to be in the States.”

Set in 19th century England, the story follows the spritely adventures of young Hetty as she sets out in search of her true home. With opportunity scarce and comfort cold in a foundling hospital, young Hetty escapes to the English countryside and falls into the arms of a traveling circus on its way to the streets of Victorian London, singing and swinging all the way. The cast will too, taking a page out of the circus playbook and punctuating the performance with aerial feats amidst live musical numbers.

“Any author loves if one of their books is adapted for the stage,” said Wilson, “but this is so perfectly done, so imaginatively done. Each time, I get completely absorbed.” Necessary changes are made from page to stage, she added. “They stick to the main thrust of the book and all the emotion and excitement, but they’ve added so much.”

Starring Phoebe Thomas as Hetty, young women will find a strong character they can identify with, said Wilson, whose bibliography reveals a penchant for writing independent young girls and women. “They’ve got determination,” she said, which Wilson believes is an important message to send to her young readers but, she admitted, also a whole lot of fun. “It’s wonderful for me because I can write about spirited girls who are perhaps a little braver than I as a child,” she said with a laugh.

Opening tonight at 8pm in the Mertz Theatre, Hetty Feather runs through Jun. 26. 

Photo by Helen Murray.

Alfstad& Contemporary celebrates three seasons tonight with the opening of /& Editions, a group exhibition looking back at the many artists whose work has graced the gallery walls and the limited edition prints each made in collaboration with Alfstad& in their time together. For the final show of the season, participating artists include Betsy Cameron, Alain J.L. Huin, Marsha Kazarinov-Owett, Andrea Dasha Reich, Mike Solomon, Bruna Stude, Michael Taylor and Michael Wyshock. Opening tonight with a reception from 5:30pm–8pm, artists will be in attendance and on-hand to answer questions and talk about the experience.

Collaboration is the name of the game at Alfstad&, where each featured artist not only displays past work, but also creates new original work with the gallery in the form of a series of prints. Though on its face a gallery like many others, behind sliding walls and tucked away in back rooms lies a top-of-the-line printing studio, where Alfstad&’s Chris Schumaker works with these artists to bring their projects to life. There’s plenty of space and storage, says Schumaker, “but the technology is what makes it cutting edge.” Between a super-high resolution scanner capturing up to 3,000 dpi (dots per square inch), a large-format printer with similar capabilities, archival inks and the ability to print on everything from canvas to aluminum and paper to film, along with a screenprinting set-up that utilizes vacuum-sealing perfection, Schumaker has everything he needs to meet the visiting artists on an even playing field.

In Alfstad’s eyes, this collaboration is to the benefit of all: artist, audience and gallery. “Artists enjoy stretching their vision and their artistic sensibilities into new media,” he said. “It gives them a way to look at everything differently and it re-energizes them.” For the audience, the benefit comes in the end result: high-quality art at not-so-high prices. Budding collectors may not have the pocketbook for painting prices, but prints provide primo starting points. For Schumaker, it’s a chance to spread his own wings and develop as an artist. “Working with the artists is a joyous process,” he said. “Even if it’s difficult, you still learn something.”

/& Editions opens tonight at Alfstad& Contemporary with a reception at 5:30pm and runs through Jul. 15. 

Pictured: "Yesterday" by Michael Wyshock. Photo courtesy of Alfstad& Contemporary.

An elusive dish whose mysterious properties are eternally debated, scampi will undoubtedly take a different form in the mind of each Italian chef you meet. Venezia’s interpretation features a bevy of sautéed sea fare including shrimp, mussels, clams and calamari swimming in a combination of white wine, butter, garlic and lemon. The juicy, chewy-in-all-the-right-ways rings of squid are the real stars of the dish and the sauce’s tangy lemon cuts the butter’s richness—this comes in handy especially on humid summer days when the last thing you want is to dive into a bowl full of oil. Cooked tomatoes, artichoke hearts and chopped parsley round out the frutti di mare, topped with a crown of pizza crostini lightly dusted with parmesan that makes the perfect vehicle for dipping. A sublime après-shopping treat best shared by two, Venezia’s scampi will transport you from St. Armands to the Queen of the Adriatic faster than you can say arrivederci. 

Pictured: Venezia's shrimp scampi. Photo by Heidi Stone.

Venezia, 373 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, 941-388-1400

Okra is one of the few vegetable crops that grow nicely in Florida in summer. These crunchy (and healthy) treats are perfect for hot days by the pool or packing for an on-the-go snack. At home we call this “okra popcorn” because it is so crispy and delicious!

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients: 1 Tbsp. olive oil, 2½ cups sliced okra (½-inch rounds), ¼ cup cornmeal, ½ tsp. dried basil, ¼ tsp. salt.

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Coat a shallow baking dish with the olive oil and set aside. Place the cornmeal, salt and basil in a medium bowl and mix well. Add the okra and stir until well coated with the mixture. Add the coated okra to the prepared baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes, or until crispy, stirring occasionally. To make it especially crisp turn off the oven and let the okra set in the hot oven for a few minutes. 

Vicki Chelf, Pulp Kitchen

John M. Hament and Gail E. Farb, attorneys at the Williams Parker firm, recently presented to Districs VII and XIII of the Florida Health Care Association. The presentation focused on recent and important issues in the complex and rapidly changing area of labor and employment. Hament and Farb also covered topics such as gender identity and sexual orientation in the workplace, religious accommodation, use of criminal background checks and more. 

Williams Parker

Manatee Memorial Hospital received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll for the eighth year. The award was given to the hospital for its continued commitment to quality stroke care. MMH has been recognized due to meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a desginated period and meeting specific guidelines as a primary stroke center. 

Manatee Memorial Hospital

The first in Sarasota County and the 31st in the nation, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota received The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Sepsis Certification. The hospital underwent a thorough on-site review in May in which they were evaluated for complicance with national disease-specific care standards as well as sepsis-specific requirements. Joint Commission experts commended Doctors Hospital for becoming a leader in sepsis care.  

Doctors Hospital