When Asolo Repertory Theatre chose to produce Shakespeare in Love for its 2017-18 season, actor Jordan Brown had many reasons to be interested. A fan of the source material (in both senses of the phrase) and his potential collaborators in director Rachel Rockwell and playwright Lee Hall, who adapted the Oscar-winning film for the stage, Brown had also heard only good things about Asolo Rep. The only daunting bit was the idea of playing a figure so iconic but still largely unknowable—Shakespeare himself.

Currently onstage at the Asolo, Shakespeare in Love takes the audience back to the days when William was just Will and no more than a promising playwright juggling the demands of dueling theaters and a massive dose of writer’s block. With the arrival of Viola, he may have found his muse, or bitten off more than he can chew. An ambitious production with a large cast and lots of moving parts, Brown expressed elation at performing under Rockwell’s guidance again, calling her a “big draw” to the project. “I love her work,” he says. “She knows exactly she wants, and it’s good to have a director who is very clear on her vision.” And while this allows Brown to dive into his own private world to explore character subtleties, Rockwell remains a “born collaborator,” open to suggestions from all sides. “But she is also a very good captain of the ship,” he says, “and keeps things moving.”

A Chicago actor making his Asolo Rep debut with the production, Brown was also intrigued hearing stories about the theater from fellow actors. Returning to the Windy City from sunny Sarasota, they spoke highly of both the theater itself, and the people who call it home. Today, at least in Brown’s circles in Chicago, the Asolo Rep enjoys a quality reputation that draws talent. Combine these with a script from Hall, and Brown knew he had to throw his hat in the ring. “It was all of those elements coming together,” he says. “And the chance to play Will Shakespeare.”

Simultaneously daunting in his iconic nature and liberating in the fact that little is known about Shakespeare the man, the role certainly presented a challenge. But what Brown didn’t know about being a 16th century British playwright, he did know about how it felt to be a starving artist, which is where the audience finds Will. “You lock into some commonality and go from there,” says Brown. “Let your imagination fill in the gaps and try to make it as honest as possible.” Still a daunting task, “that typically means you should go for it,” he continues. “A little fear is a good thing.”

Currently on stage at the Asolo Repertory Theatre, Shakespeare in Love runs through March 28. 

Pictured: Laura Rook and Jordan Brown in Asolo Repertory Theatre's "Shakespeare in Love." Photo by John Revisky.

530 Burns Gallery brings the West Coast to Sarasota with its latest exhibit, Tommy May: Emerging Spaces, showcasing the work of California artist Tommy May. Opening tonight at 6pm with a reception with the artist. Featuring 15 pieces ranging from large-scale to small-scale, but all in the artist’s trademark abstract expressionist style, the exhibition and work selected offer an almost biographical sketch of their creator.

An avid outdoorsman, May’s biggest inspiration comes from the natural environment he finds himself in. Inspired by topographical views and landscapes, he riffs off the cubist approach by merging human and birds-eye perspectives as he imagines the world from a celestial vantage. Tracts of land, as viewed from a descending airplane, appear as swaths of color in his mind, or, to put it another way, as brushstrokes.

May’s process is “explosive,” he says, playing off these initial impressions and expressing himself quickly on 20 or more canvases at a time, moving from one to the next as the spirit takes him and with no time for thinking. The thinking comes next, as May revisits each piece again and again, this time almost decoding his initial expression as he adds guiding lines and splashes of color to accent his imagination. “It’s kind of an exploration,” he says. “It’s me exploring an immediate response.” Building layer upon layer, “it’s almost like putting a puzzle back together after breaking it down,” he says, “and then doing it all over again.”

Though first appearing as completely abstract, a closer look reveals much about May and his travels. The predominance of the color blue, for example, comes from days gone past, fishing and sailing with his parents in Martha’s Vineyard. Or more recent memories of the Pacific Ocean as viewed from Venice, CA. “The ocean and being close to it is a very important part of my inspiration,” he says. But the growing intrusion of pinks and sandy colors reflect a growing influence from the California desert. Working largely in acrylic, accents made with an alcohol-based paint pen belie appreciation for and adaption of graffiti styles as well.

But even without inside knowledge, May remains confident that audiences can see through his abstractions. The goal was never a literal translation of the message and it doesn’t really matter if the viewer knows exactly what bit of land (or sea) the piece represents, but rather that they take the time to appreciate where they are and that it too could look so beautiful. “I hope they can see their own landscape in what I’ve created,” says May, who has always found solace in both nature and the studio.

Tommy May: Emerging Spaces opens tonight at 530 Burns Gallery with an opening reception at 6pm. May will also be speaking beforehand at the gallery’s Curing, Caring & the Arts speaker series, beginning at 3:30pm, to talk about the studio as a place to be free from anxiety. 

Pictured: "Wading in the Cove" by Tommy May. Image courtesy of 530 Burns Gallery.

If you have been a patient at Sarasota Memorial, perhaps you can look back to when the care you received exceeded your expectations. Maybe it was kind words from a doctor or nurse, the patience of a technologist who took the time to explain a procedure, or a volunteer, housekeeper or food service staff who went the extra mile to ensure you or a loved one felt cared for. If so, you are not alone. The Give Gratitude, Grateful Patient Program gives patients and their families the opportunity to make a donation, share a memorable experience and show gratitude in a meaningful way.

Whether you choose to honor your doctor, nurse or an entire department, acknowledging them for the extraordinary care they have provided to you is a meaningful opportunity to say “thank you”. When you make a gift, the SMH caregiver or department you or honoring will receive a certificate of appreciation by the Healthcare Foundation along with your personalized note, if you choose to include one. You can honor your caregiver and Give Gratitude by visiting smhf-givegratitude.org or by contacting the Healthcare Foundation at (941)917-1286. 

Give Gratitude

Guillermo Gomez—creator of Martial Fusion, founder/director of United States AIKIKAI and the producer of Budo Expo—has relocated to Sarasota to open the region’s first Martial Fusion Budo Center, located at 2902 Hyde Park Street. Gomez designed the center from the ground up as a multi-dimensional training space, where he offers programs and classes geared towards business professionals, entrepreneurs, CEOs and those seeking to develop their leadership and conflict resolution skills, and build confidence, a stronger self-image and overall self-awareness. Gomez teaches Aikido as the primary martial art in his trainings because of its practical and philosophical qualities. Martial Fusion Budo Training is a concept developed by Gomez based on Aikido, kickboxing, yoga, qigong and zen meditation. The aim is to cultivate and improve health, longevity, flexibility, vitality, energy, stamina, posture, alignment, strength, coordination, agility, adaptability, balance, focus, clarity, inner development and spiritual awareness. A fifth-degree black belt by Hombu Dojo Japan, Gomez started training in martial arts and other healing arts at the age of 10. Fluent in English and Spanish, Gomez has worked with thousands of students, private companies, law enforcement agencies, military personnel, SWAT teams and corporate groups, teaching seminars and workshops around the world. Gomez has traveled to over 30 different countries, from the Amazon jungle in search of healing and shamanic rituals, to training with the monks in China's legendary Shaolin Temple. 

Martial Fusion

The School District of Manatee County is now accepting name nominations for a new “East County Middle School” scheduled to open in August 2019. The construction process is just beginning on the new school, which will be located just east of Gullett Elementary School. Gullet Elementary is located at 12125 44th Ave. E. The District’s Communications, Family and Community Engagement Department is collecting name nominations. The deadline to submit nominations is Wednesday, January 31, 2018. Name nominations may be submitted by email to the following address: communications@manateeschools.net. They can also be mailed or delivered in person to the School Support Center at: New Middle School Name Nomination, School District of Manatee County, 215 Manatee Ave. W, Bradenton, FL 34205. Once the name nomination period expires, the list of names submitted will be sent to the School Board for review. The School Board will publicly discuss and consider the name nominations and then make the final decision on a name at a regularly scheduled School Board meeting. 

School District of Manatee County

The newest Station 400 Breakfast & Lunch eatery, located in South Sarasota at the Landings plaza, has partnered with Phillippi Shores Elementary School, to recognize a hard working teacher once a month with "Teacher of the Month!" The teacher chosen will receive brunch for four people delivered to the school or a $50 gift certificate. "We hope this monthly recognition will inspire others to show their support for the teachers of Sarasota County,” say Station 400 owners Deen and Kelly Fox. The first recipient of Station 400's "Teacher of the Month" is Amanda Kushner, a Phillippi Shores kindergarten teacher. Kushner chose to share the prize of delivered brunch with three of her colleagues. 

Station 400 at the Landings