A new production at The Players Centre for Performing Arts aims to update Edmond Rostand’s classic Cyrano de Bergerac by transporting the action from seventeenth-century France to a modern-day burger joint. Opening on July 13th as part of The Players’ 2016 Summer Sizzler Series, Cyrano de BurgerShack features modern pop music and is rounded out by a cast of local youth actors.  

Penned by Edmond Rostand in 1897, Cyrano de Bergerac tells a fictionalized account of Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac’s life in the 17th century, portrayed as a highly talented duelist and writer whose self-consciousness about his large nose prevents him from acting upon his love for his cousin Roxane. Helplessly smitten, Cyrano is able to secretly express his affections by writing letters to Roxane that are then signed by her suitor Christian.

The updated version—adapted from Rostand’s original by Jeremy Desmon—keeps the nose, but dispenses with the 17th-century setting: Cyrano de BurgerShack follows the exploits of teenage Cyrano, king of after-school hangout The BurgerShack. Much like his French counterpart, this Cyrano finds himself besotted with a lovely lady—his best friend, Roxane—but feels held back by his supersized schnoz. Instead of pursuing Roxane himself, Cyrano acts as Cupid for Christian, the ‘Shack’s newest burger-flipper and Roxane’s crush.

Billed as a “pop musical,” Desmon’s take features a soundtrack composed of Top-40 tunes by artists such as Katy Perry and Adele along with ‘80s hits by Madonna and The Bangles. “Stories that touch your heart are universal,” says The Players Artistic Director Jeffery Kin. Kin believes that rather than detracting from the Rostand’s original, BurgerShack is enhanced by its modern updates (smartphones are said to be crucial plot points). “Stories of self-discovery and accepting us for who we are and what we look like sometimes become more valid as technology advances,” he says. “There are themes here that work for any era, but especially now [the modernization] only enhances the story.”

Cyrano de BurgerShack at The Players Centre for Performing Arts, July 13th–24th 

Pictured: The cast of "Cyrano de BurgerShack." Photo courtesy of The Players Centre for Performing Arts.

The Players Centre for Performing Arts, 838 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, 941-365-2494.

Oak and Stone, University Park’s newest pizza and beer joint, boasts more than the high-tech, iPad-powered self-serve system used to dispense its 56 varieties of craft beer. Instead, look toward the food on offer: a mash-up of American and Italian Influences, O&S’ Pizza Burger starts with a juicy wad of Grade-A beef and piles it high with fried mozzarella, a heaping scoop of tomato sauce and spicy disks of pepperoni—the sweet, salty, cheesy creation even has an Italian flag poking out of the homemade bun. Both the mozzarella and tomato sauce are made in-house, and the pepperoni—which chars on the outside for a tasty crunch and cups in the middle to retain oil—adds a subtle kick. After your first few bites, the tomato sauce soaks into the bun and mingles with gooey mozzarella as the cheese breaks free of its fried shell. Served with parmesan-dusted waffle fries, this heavy—but no less delicious—dish pairs well with the light and hoppy Goose Island Four Star Pilsner.  

Pictured: Oak and Stone's Pizza Burger.

Oak and Stone, 5405 University Pkwy., Sarasota, 941-225-4590.

Marine science fin-atics, get ready for Shark Days at Mote: Real Sharks, Real Science. From Aug. 15–20, Mote will dive into shark research with a week of educational events and activities. The week will culminate with the Fins & Fun Family festival on Saturday, Aug. 20. The lineup for this exciting week starts with a film screening of Jaws on Monday, Aug. 15 from 6pm–8:30pm. Shark science has come a long way since this blockbuster debuted. After the film, Mote Senior Scientist Dr. Bob Hueter will lead a discussion and question-and-answer session. On Tuesday, Aug. 16 from 11am–1pm Mote will host Sharks & Crafts where kids can embrace their creative side while learning about sharks. Tune in to Mote’s social media outlets to learn more about a special Shark Encounter program on Wednesday, Aug. 17. If you’re visiting Mote Aquarium, stop by the large shark exhibit at 11am to see the feeding and training session. On Thursday, Aug. 18 from 6pm–7:30pm adults can join a Mote expert for a free, casual discussion for Shark, Tales, & Ales Science Café. On Friday, Aug. 19, join Mote for a SeaTrek Livestream with more information to come on the website. The week will end with the Fins & Fun Family Festival which will take place on Sauturday, Aug. 20 from 10am–1pm. Visitors to Mote Aquarium can enjoy a sharky celebration with educational activities, face painting and more. From 1pm–2:30pm girls interested in science, especially sharks, skates and rays, are invited to a free Gills Club meeting.  

Shark Days

The Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association has given assistant landscape designer, Amy Crutcher and spray technician with ArtisTree Landscape Maintenance & Design Patrick Riordan the FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professional (FCHP) certification. The certification program is the industry’s only standard for measuring horticulture knowledge on everything from plant and pest identification to landscape management. 

ArtisTree

Auto-Owners Insurance awarded the Ben Brown Insurance Agency of Sarasota as one of their Top 10 Growth Agencies in the region. Represented by more than 41,000 licensed agents in its 26 operating states, Auto-Owners provides auto, home, business and life insurance to more than 4 million policyholders. Ben Brown Insurance has represented Auto-Owners since 1957. 

Ben Brown Insurance

Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Board of Directors elected Jay McHargue as chair and Judy Cahn as vice chair for a one-year term. Serving on the Gulf Coast Board since 2009, McHargue is senior resident director and senior vice president of the wealth managements of the Picazio/McHargue Group at Merrill Lynch in Venice. Cahn has been a member of the Gulf Coast Board since 2011 and previously worked for 35 years in investment banking. 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation

This month, in Spirit of Modern we give you a front-row seat to the Center for Architecture Sarasota’s inaugural Modern Show. Held over two days in May, the Modern Show highlighted Sarasota’s legacy as an arbiter of modern design with tours of never-before open to the public homes by architectural greats Paul Rudolph and Victor Lundy, a vintage fashion show featuring timeless ‘50s garb, lectures by Modernism experts and a furniture sale allowing showgoers to take home an Eames or Le Corbusier. The groundbreaking event, a first for CFAS (but not the last) proved that the Modernist movement isn’t just about architecture and design—it’s a way of life.  

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