SRQ DAILY Oct 11, 2019
Friday Weekend Edition
" In the theatre world, 70% of playwrights are male and Urbanite Theatre has always been committed to parity."
As Urbanite Theatre’s 2nd annual Modern Works Festival closes in on its last three nights, Brendan Ragan, co-founder and co-artistic director, hopes to check three items off his Festival wish-list. The first wish is for “audiences to have a thrilling, entertaining time,” he says. Secondly, he would like for the three competition finalists to feel like they have garnered usable audience feedback to fine tune their scripts. The final and most ambitious wish is for at least one of the plays to emerge as a polished product ready for full production. By the Festival’s end on Sunday night, he may have all three.
The Festival began on Tuesday and features three plays selected from over 300 nationwide submissions by amateur and semi-professional playwrights. Throughout the six-day event, each finalist has their pieces workshopped three times with staged readings by professional directors and actors. At the end of the Festival, a combination of show-goers and panelists vote for a winning play and its author takes home 3000 smackaroos.
“We have three exciting plays, all of them different,” says Ragan. One is a classic family drama about a daughter who must care for her aging father, another explores the peculiarities of small-town gossip surrounding a female newcomer, while the third uses elements of absurdism, horror and humor to illuminate the inner lives of little girls. The only common thread for all three plays is that they are all written by women and feature female protagonists— a deliberate part of Urbanite’s mission to infuse more gender equality into the world of theatre, a driving force in the Festival’s creation. “In the theatre world, 70% of playwrights are male,” says Ragan, “and Urbanite Theatre has always been committed to parity.”
Audiences who have already missed out on the first half of the Festival can binge watch all three readings tomorrow, Saturday the 12th, beginning at 3 pm. On Sunday, audiences have an opportunity to discuss and debate the plays, and at this point, Ragan will have a pretty good idea if his wishes have come true. 
Photo by Jess Pope.
As part of Sarasota Opera’s ongoing mission to bring world class productions to Sarasota, they have recently unveiled the acquisition of a costume collection from Malabar, Ltd. The Toronto-based design house will be parting ways with over 30,000 handcrafted costumes, some of them worn by big names like Luciano Pavarotti, Beverly Sills and Marilyn Horne. “There’s a great amount of history in these costumes,” says Howard Kaplan, Sarasota Opera’s in-house costume designer. Equally important for the Opera is that the costumes were made specifically as rentals, which means alterations can be made more readily and they can be rented out to other companies around the world. The Opera will save around $100,000 per season over continuing to rent their pieces, while the added income from renting the pieces out to other companies will help keep the lights on at 61 N. Pineapple for years to come. “This helps us control our own destiny,” says Executive Director Richard Russel, “and will keep us growing for the future.”
Pictured: Howard Kaplan stands in front of newly acquired costumes. Photo by Andrew Fabian.
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham will visit Sarasota in November to receive the 2019 Statesman of the Year award from the Republican Party of Sarasota.
“Sen. Graham fits right in the mold with our previous Statesman winners, including President Donald Trump. Twice,” said Jack Brill, acting chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota.
“For a community the size of Sarasota, this list of Statesman Award winners is impressive and shows the importance of the region to Florida and on the national stage,” Brill said. “Sen. Graham continues to demonstrate that.”
Graham has been one of the most prominent allies and critics of President Trump, ardently defending the president against an impeachment investigation while also leveling criticism over disagreements on foreign policy including a recent decision to withdraw military support for Kurdish forces.
Republican leaders in Sarasota made note of Graham’s record of service, from six years of active duty as an Air Force attorney to eight years in the U.S. House before his election to the Senate in 2002.
Tickets to the dinner will run $125, and sponsorships are still available. More information is available at sarasotagop.com and at the official Eventbrite page for the event.
Malaka Hilton, founder and president of Admiral Travel International (ATI), has been recognized for the 17th consecutive year on Travel + Leisure's 18th annual A-List for her specialty in Egypt and the Middle East. Hilton’s additional specialties in planning luxury travel experiences in Morocco, South Africa and United Arab Emirates are also noted on travelandleisure.com/a-list as part of the 2019 Travel + Leisure A-List, describing its international picks of the top 123 agents and tour operators in the business.
Florida Studio Theatre (FST) announces its Fall Improv Season, which includes a brand new show, Last Laugh, and raises the stakes in its audience favorite competition show, Out of Bounds. Just in time for Halloween is We’re Doomed, a fully improvised horror movie-style show inspired by audience suggestions. The season kicks off on October 5 with Out of Bounds, where two teams of improvisers go head-to-head to compete for the most audience laughs. Out of Bounds runs every Saturday from October 5 to December 21. Last Laugh runs every Friday from November 8 to December 13. Special performances of We’re Doomed will take place on October 18 and 25 in celebration of Halloween. All performances take place in FST’s Bowne’s Lab Theatre at 7:30pm with doors opening one hour before show time. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased by calling 941-366-9000 or at floridastudiotheatre.org.
Enzymedica is devoting a portion of the sales of its new Aqua Biome fish oil supplements to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium’s vital coral reef restoration project in the Florida Keys. Enzymedica’s donations have already surpassed $65,000 this year. Aqua Biome products are found locally at Super Value Nutrition, Professional Supplement Center and Special Nutrition. They can also be found in thousands of other independent health food stores and national chains like Sprouts, Whole Foods, and Vitamin Shoppe.
“Educational material with each bottle of Enzymedica’s Aqua Biome will help the public learn more about the importance of coral reefs, and proceeds from sales of this dietary supplement will provide donations to Mote in support of our coral restoration initiative," says Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote’s President & CEO. "As two organizations based in Florida, Mote and Enzymedica are intertwined with Florida’s natural marine resources, and we applaud Enzymedica’s sense of environmental stewardship. Buy a bottle, save a reef!”
Bob Boast Volkswagen dealership will host a First Responders Appreciation Event on Saturday, October 12, from 11 am to 2 pm. Current and former military, law enforcement, firefighters, doctors, nurses, EMS and other medical personnel, and their families, are invited to enjoy a free bar-b-que lunch at the dealership, located at 4827 14th St. West, Bradenton. “First responders are there every day to help keep us safe, and we want to take this opportunity to thank them for their service,” said Steve Bierwirth, president of Bob Boast Volkswagen. “Their dedication to serving others deserves to be rewarded.”
Registration is now open for the 48th Annual Men’s Better Ball Championship, held Saturday and Sunday, October 26 and 27 at the Bobby Jones Golf Club. The tournament is open to all males and is limited to the first 100 entries (teams). Registration is also open for the 5th Annual Men’s Senior Better Ball Championship, which tees-off on Saturday and Sunday, November 16 and 17. The tournament is open to all males 50 and older by November 16 and is also limited to the first 100 entries. The Entry Fee is $190 per team. Fee includes two rounds of golf (cart included), tee gift, on course beverage each day (non-alcohol) and lunch on Sunday upon completion of your round. Over $3,000 in awards cards will be given (based upon a full field of 100 teams). For more information, please call Christian Martin, Assistant Manager/PGA Pro at 941-263-6652.
For an undercover warehouse event this Saturday, saunter down to Sarasota's first quarterly independent night market, SLICE. Featuring live and local music from the underground, attendees will hear swanky psych tunes from Sarasota band, The Pretty Dirties, as well as indie psych from St. Pete band GLAZE and experimental surf jams from Sarasota band, Dream Thing. In addition to SLICE's lineup, there will be a myriad of creators in all media, including funky works from Nick Dahill, Jenna Mahoney and Amorelle Olsen. This event is hosted by Dana Laag, a local abstract figurative painter and lead singer of The Pretty Dirties. The first chapter of SLICE will be held in an indoor, curated studio space, dubbed "The 11th Orange" (1663, 11th St., Sarasota). Saturday, October 12, 6pm-11pm. Open and free to all ages; go get a slice...
The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens BrandStory is now online and available to view and download.
As Marie Selby Botanical Gardens engages in a visionary ten-year, three-phase Master Site Plan, sharing the positive cultural, environmental and preservational impacts of the next evolution of this treasured cultural institution has never been more significant.
This exhibition showcases over 140 examples drawn from the internationally-renowned holdings of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum and private collections. This exposition illustrates the variety, technical sophistication and adaptability of Indian textiles from the fifteenth to the twenty-first centuries. Through a range of historical dress, carefully preserved fabrics, and cutting-edge fashion, discover how Indian textiles have been interwoven with religion, politics and global trade for centuries. Or join the Curator of Asian Art Dr. Rhiannon Paget for a tour at the Gallery Walk and Talk, 10:30am–6pm on July 25.
The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road
The 14th Main Stage Season will kick off with four performances, October 10-13, 2019, titled "Voices – Rising Choreographers," at which the local audience gets to see future choreographers of contemporary dance as they are just blossoming. This show presents rising choreographers who were selected by adjudication from SCD's Summer Intensive Program. The group is a combination of company members and guests invited to expand and set their work for the main stage. This idea of fostering choreographic voices is beginning to draw more and more attention to SCD's performances.
Jane B. Cook Theatre, FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34243
One of the premier Indian Classical dance ensembles performing today, Nrityagram is more than a dance company. Founded as a village devoted to dance and the preservation of the Odissi classical dance tradition, the all-female ensemble’s daily life of intensive training and meditation brings to the stage compelling captivating performances that are at once sensual and lyrical. Daśavatār brings together brilliant dance traditions with shared ancient roots, accompanied by a live original score. The performances will take place on Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30pm, and tickets are required.
Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
The Sun Coast Jaguar Club 34th Annual Concours d’Elegance presented by Wilde Jaguar Sarasota will be presented on St. Armands Circle. Registration for the event begins at 8 am, with judging completed by 3 pm. The public is invited to attend the showcase, free of charge. Sanctioned by Jaguar Clubs of North America, the Sun Coast Jaguar Club Concours d’Elegance attracts the finest Jaguar automobiles from across the U.S., including vintage antiques, current classics, future models and competition-modified prototypes. Vehicles are judged and awarded in a variety of classes, and all Jaguar owners are encouraged to register. The event also features a display of the latest and state-of-the-art Jaguar models. Special recognitions and club winners will be announced on the Concours lawn after judging concludes. Official JCNA trophies will be presented at 6 pm during the awards dinner and silent auction, accommodated by the Holiday Inn Sarasota-Lido Beach. Specifically, silent auction proceeds will benefit Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, helping care for Manny, a rescued Jaguar.
St. Armands Circle
Famed in particular for his speed and a tendency to create images overflowing with colorful characters, Jack Davis was one of the founding members of Mad Magazine's "Usual Gang of Idiots." He supplied covers for Tim and TV Guide, designed numerous album covers and movie posters, and, over his 60-year career, became one of the most in-demand caricaturists and cartoonists in the world. This exhibition attempts to show Davis' range by bringing together a selection of his original work that demonstrates his breadth of subjects and his skills as an artist. This body of work focuses on American popular culture, diving deeper into his career than the sports and caricature work for which he is best known. Opening Reception, Friday, October 18, 5-8pm. Evening Panel Discussion, Thursday, November 14, 6-8pm.
Lois and David Stulberg Gallery in the Richard and Barbara Basch Visual Arts Center, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
How do you go from creative spark to creative business? An interactive multimedia exhibition and event series, Artists Minding Their Business takes us on the evolution from making art to making a living. Ringling’s Business of Art & Design Department and founder of Culture Hustlers, Lucas Spivey (BFA/MBA) have curated the Willis Smith Gallery into a visual showcase of the entrepreneurial journey. Inside interactive installations, visiting founders and creative entrepreneurs swap inspiring stories and provide visitors with practical advice. Opening Reception, Friday, October 18, 6-8pm.
Willis Smith Construction Inc. Gallery in the Larry R. Thompson Academic Center, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Join SRQ Magazine and its family magazine RocketKids for an evening with representatives from local private and charter schools in Sarasota and Manatee Counties in a panel discussion about how each school prepares their students for success. With the future workforce continuing to evolve rapidly, we ask local schools how they are creating programs that will prepare our students. We will also discuss the increasing importance of teaching social emotional literacy (SEL) and the role of schools in engaging with students in fostering these skills. Schools include: The Out-of-Door Academy, NewGate School, Sarasota Christian School, Island Village Montessori School, St. Martha's Catholic School and The Pinnacle Academy. Free admission. Lightbites, beer and wine will be served. RSVP at srqmag.com/moed.
SRQ Studios, 331 S. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota
Safari Sarasota is a three-day, five event experience, produced by Michael's On East in partnership with the All Heart Fund of South Africa's Good Work Foundation. Safari Sarasota is the only event experience in the United States that brings together internationally-recognized guests from South Africa's Good Work Foundation and its founding patron, the Londolozi Reserve. There will be five sensational opportunities to experience the flavors of South Africa through food and wine, including an Interactive Cooking Experience led by Chef Anna Ridgewell from Londolozi Game Reserve and Chef Jamil Pineda of Michael's On East.
Michael's On East, 1212 East Avenue S. Sarasota
Somewhere deep inside, you know what your gift, purpose, and mission are. Boyd Varty, a lion tracker, life coach, and gifted storyteller reveals how ancient wisdom can teach you how to recognize the essential ingredients that create a meaningful life. Boyd will kick off the press tour of his NEW book, The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life, with an intimate talk at Ringling College Morganroth Auditorium in partnership with Ringling College Library Association. Celebrating the release of his new book, each guest will receive a signed copy. Watch Boyd Varty's Ted Talk here.
Ringling College, Morganroth Auditorium, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Gauguin in Tahiti: Paradise Lost traces the legendary life story of Paul Gauguin who left France for Tahiti, feverishly in search of deep immersions into lush nature, for feelings, visions and colors, ever purer and brighter. Audiences join this journey from Tahiti to American museums including New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, National Gallery of Art in DC, and Boston's Museum of Fine Arts where Gauguin’s greatest masterpieces are now preserved.
Historic Asolo Theatre, 5401 Bay Shore Road
The Sarasota Ballet’s first program of the Season, titled Graziano, Retrospective, serves as a tribute to Principal Dancer and Resident Choreographer Ricardo Graziano’s tenth year with the company by featuring three of his choreographic works. Opening the program, Shostakovich Suite is his most traditionally classical ballet; premiered in 2011 and set to movements from Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2” and “Ballet Suite No. 2”, Shostakovich Suite is an eight-scene ballet demonstrating the aptitude of the company dancers whom Graziano has grown to know so well over the past decade. Graziano’s 2015 work, En las Calles de Murcia, not seen since its world premiere, returns to the stage; the choreography was inspired by the city of Murcia in southeastern Spain as well as the music of early eighteenth-century guitarist and composer Santiago de Murcia, bringing a distinctive vibrancy to the dance. The program closes with Graziano’s critically lauded In a State of Weightlessness; since its August 2015 world premiere at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, MA, the production, set to Philip Glass’s “Tirol Concerto for Piano and Orchestra”, explores concepts of lightness in motion while generating its own ethereal sort of emotional gravity.
FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Join SRQ MEDIA and Modern Home Magazine for the annual Modern Home Symposium featuring panelists who represent the top modern architecture and design gurus from the region to share their most memorable structures. Taking the audience into the design process, each panelist shares their source of inspiration in creating some of the area’s most significant spaces. Panelists include Nathan Cross of NWC Contruction, Steve Murray of Murray Homes, Jonathan Parks of Solstice Planning and Architecture and Mark Sultana of DSDG Architects. Registration opens at 5pm. The program is from 5:30-7pm. Light bites, wine and beer. RSVP to srqmag.com/moho.
SRQ Studios, 331 S. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota
Atomic Holiday Bazaar, Season 14, returns to the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium. Atomic launched in 2006 showcasing 50 unconventional crafters who needed an affordable and welcoming venue to sell their unusual handmade wares. By producing an alternative craft show for Sarasota’s hip shoppers, Atomic quickly grew into an annual Sarasota holiday shopping tradition.
The show proved such a success it expanded to a full weekend in 2007 and in 2008 Atomic grew from the main auditorium to the Bay Front room to accommodate the ever growing number of talented applicants and dedicated shoppers. In 2015, Atomic expanded again opening up its first street fair and jumping on the trend of including a handful of delicious local Sarasota food trucks. This season the show introduces a number of new makers who have had the opportunity to be a part of the show due to a number of Atomic Misfit Makers retiring from the craft making scene.
Atomic features a wide range of items for all: screen printed t-shirts, faux taxidermy, upcycled everything ranging from home decor, clothing, jewelry, (for example, think of “upcycled” as copper pipe that has been refitted into a desk lamp), vintage clothing, kitsch and jewelry, lowbrow to elegant fine art, holiday cards, jams, jellies and the best canned pickle selections ever, one of a kind baby clothing, humorous chatchkes, ornaments, knits, catnip toys, doggie stuff, felted art, plants, plushies (unusual and humorous creatures), pop culture-graphic art posters, dark sentiments, body products, candles, beachy vibe stuff, ethnic Latin textiles, rock n roll edgy clothing, sweet little creations that make you sigh, get the picture? No artsy stone unturned, Atomic has something for all.
Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email |
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