SRQ DAILY Mar 16, 2022
Wednesday Philanthropy Edition
"I am fortunate to see firsthand the impact my Little Jamari and I have had on each other that makes us grow as better people."
Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, Highlands, Hardee, Charlotte, Lee, Hendry, and Collier counties launches its “100 Men in 100 Days” campaign to encourage men to become a Big Brother and volunteer with the organization. The recruitment campaign comes at a good time, as there are 200 boys waiting to be matched with a positive male role model. One-to-one matches between Bigs and Littles truly empower youth and strengthen communities. Professional staff from Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully build and support each match, and ensure it meets the strictest standards. While Big Brothers Big Sisters accepts volunteers from all walks of life, there is a greater need for male mentors. Currently, 49% of the youth in the program are boys and 38% of the volunteers are men.
Big Brother and School Resource Officer Jose Castellanos sees the positive effect he is having on his Little Brother's life. “I am fortunate to see firsthand the impact my Little Jamari and I have had on each other that makes us grow as better people. We talk about when we first met and where we are today as our friendship has grown. I look forward to celebrating his graduation. Being his Big Brother has truly been a great experience.” 
Pictured: Big Brother and School Resource Office Jose Castellanos enjoys spending time with his Little Brother Jamari in the school-based mentoring program.
Project Pride SRQ recently received support from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County in the form of two grants totalling $13,000. The first was a Capacity Building grant to build the organization's fundraising program. The second was an Equity and Access grant for the refurbishment of the five corner crosswalk in downtown Sarasota created by Project Pride SRQ in April 2021. The crosswalk, at the corners of Second Street, Cocoanut Avenue and North Pineapple Streets, is one of the most visible representations of Sarasota as a community that welcomes diversity, inclusion and equality. In 2021, in addition to creating the colorful, inclusive crosswalk, Project Pride SRQ organized successful food, toddler’s supplies, and holiday gift drives for Second Chance, Last Opportunity in Sarasota’s Newtown neighborhood. The organization also provided wellness packages to frontline healthcare workers, heroes in the fight against COVID-19, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. Project Pride SRQ is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization that operates with a vision toward an all inclusive community where everyone is equally united, supported, and celebrated. The organization’s mission is to expand awareness and understanding of the LGBTQ+ community by creating strategic partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and governments toward a shared goal.
Suncoast Credit Union has awarded $75,000 to the Education Foundation of Sarasota County to support its 2021 – 2022 work to prepare students for life after high school and inspire success. With this grant, the Education Foundation will help more students in Sarasota County Schools find purpose, identify a pathway, and formulate a plan beyond highschool. The Education Foundation has developed and staffs Student Success Centers at four area high schools, most recently opening a center in the fall of 2021 at Suncoast Polytechnical High School. It also staffs a center at LaunchPad4U, its community resource center open to all Sarasota County Students. Students can access one-on-one expert college and career advising as well as college- and career-planning software. Students can attend workshops, open houses, college and career fairs, and more. For its most at-risk students, the Education Foundation provides mentoring. At the heart of these efforts is preparedness and the belief that all students deserve to access resources and relationships that make a difference.
Florida Studio Theatre (FST) unveils plans for its largest expansion project in its 49-year history—a new, eleven-story building that will enable FST to meet its growing needs and strengthen the theatre’s role as a vital cultural and artistic resource for the Gulf Coast region. Named after Patrick and Mary Mulva, who made the leading gift to the theatre’s project, The Mulva Arts Plaza will be adjacent to the theatre’s existing Hegner Theatre Wing. FST will break ground on this project December of 2022. A key part of FST’s mission is to make theatre affordable and accessible to as many people as possible. With this objective in mind, FST has grown to become the largest subscription-based theatre in the state of Florida and among the largest in the country. Collectively, FST reaches over 230,000 attendees each year through its diverse programs. With the construction of The Mulva Arts Plaza, FST will be able to reach more people than ever before through the art of live theatre.
In the March 2022 edition of SRQ Magazine, we interviewed Allison Imre, Owner and President of Grapevine Communications as part of our In Conversation feature about Lakewood Ranch. Below is an excerpt published in the magazine in which Imre shares her insights with SRQ readers on living and working in Lakewood Ranch.
Can you talk about why you chose Lakewood Ranch and who you are as a company in the community?
Lakewood Ranch to me is an oasis in a metropolitan area, it's community and commerce come together. If I want to go to Tampa and hit a Bucs game, or go to a Lightning game, or go experience some of the nightlife or the culture I can. At UTC, I can go to wonderful restaurants, I can shop for great merchandise. I can also visit my friends who own local small businesses. At the same time, I am moments from our cultural center downtown and from world class beaches. And I live in a place where people want to vacation and I love that.
As a company, we provide marketing and branding solutions, that's what we do. The first thing that we try to impress upon people is authenticity matters. Every car dealer, every HVAC company in town wants to work with homeowners in Lakewood Ranch because there's a lot of them, it's a community where it’s likely that once you get one customer your message will spread word of mouth, which is the best form of marketing there is and something you can't buy. So in terms of businesses wanting to infiltrate the Lakewood Ranch community, that authentic tone is what we tell them. It is understanding your audience and understanding their pain points. And we don't sell anything, we provide solutions, that's what we do. And that's what people in Lakewood Ranch want more than anything.
Grapevine Communications 5201 Paylor Lane, Sarasota 941.351.0024. grapeinc.com
Florida Studio Theatre (FST) proudly presents The Legend of Georgia McBride, a heartfelt, music-filled play by Tony Award-winning playwright Matthew Lopez. Called “A stitch-in-your-side funny new comedy” by The New York Times and “Incredibly entertaining” by BroadwayWorld, The Legend of Georgia McBride is a regional theatre favorite that celebrates making oneself heard, individuality, and self-expression. The Legend of Georgia McBride will run in FST’s Gompertz Theatre starting Wednesday, April 6. Single tickets are now on sale at 941.366.9000 or floridastudiotheatre.org.
The Legend of Georgia McBride tells the story of Casey, a young Elvis impersonator struggling to make ends meet—he can’t pay his rent, and he just found out that his wife, Jo, is pregnant. Casey’s situation becomes more desperate when he is fired from his job performing at a small-town Florida dive bar. Eddie, the bar owner, brings in Miss Tracy Mills and her B-level drag show to replace Casey’s Elvis act in hopes that it will revive his struggling business. When Miss Mills’ co-star, Rexy, is unable to perform at the last minute, Casey steps in, and realizes he has a lot to learn about show business—and himself.
Cirque des Voix® is Key Chorale’s dynamic collaboration with The Circus Arts Conservatory. Join us on March 18 7:30pm-9:30pm, March 19 2pm-4pm, and March 20 1pm-3pm as we celebrate the next decade of Cirque des Voix®! Experience this unique fusion of the circus and musical arts in a performance unlike any other. See world-class circus artists combined with the 100+ voices of Key Chorale and the musical mastery of the 40-piece Cirque Orchestra in our biggest and boldest production yet.
Properties of Ground: Post (post) Painterly Abstraction, A Two Person Exhibit with Michael Crabb and Tom Stephens. The artwork in this exhibition is foregrounded by the artist’s practice, making the experience of painting paramount to the outcome. Post-painterly abstractionists rejected the mysticism of abstract expressionism and their preconceived references to the external world. They created a purely factual kind of art which functioned in terms of the basic elements of the medium itself; form, colour, texture, scale, composition and so on. Two abstract process painters, well known in the Sarasota/Bradenton/Tampa Area, Michael Crabb and Tom Stephens show their works in this very Post (post) Painterly exhibition focused on the studio experience. These painters emphasize the physical act of painting as an essential part of the finished work, taking precedence over content or representation. Opening Night Reception is Friday, March 18th, 2022 from 6pm to 8pm. Open Exhibition Dates are March 19th through April 2nd By Appointment Only.
Inspired by the beloved films, the romantic and adventure-filled new musical ANASTASIA is on a journey to Sarasota at last. From the Tony Award-winning creators of the Broadway classic Ragtime, this dazzling show transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family. Anastasia features a book by celebrated playwright Terrence McNally, a lush new score by Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) based on original direction by Tony Award winner Darko Tresnjak with choreography by Peggy Hickey and tour direction by Sarah Hartmann. Anastasia will take place on Friday, March 18 at 7:30pm, Saturday, March 19 at 2pm and 7:30pm, and Sunday, March 20 at 6:30pm and 1pm.
Tosca by Giacomo Puccini with poetry by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. Set in Rome, a diva’s jealousy plays into the hands of the lecherous chief of police, Baron Scarpia. An escaped political prisoner seeks the help of his friend, the painter Mario Cavaradossi, the lover of the famous diva Floria Tosca. In an attempt to recapture the fugitive, Scarpia plants a seed of suspicion in Tosca and sets a dreadful trap. Tosca will run from February 12 through March 19, 2022.
Jerry Chesley, Saturday, February 26 – Saturday, March 19, 2022. Jerry Chesley’s watercolor paintings, giclées and mixed media set the stage for surrounding oneself in a rich indulgence of colors. His work showcases a variety of subject matters, including still life, florals, architecture, and land/seascapes. Chesley has art degrees from SUNY College at Buffalo and has studied at the University of Art in Siena, Italy. He is an instructor at the renowned Chautauqua Institution summer program, and a past president of the Florida.
The Pearl Fishers (Les pêcheurs de perles) by Georges Bizet with words by Eugéne Cormon and Michel Carré. Set in legendary Ceylon, longtime friends Nadir and Zurga are reunited. Their friendship had faltered when they shared the same forbidden love for the priestess Leila - a love they swore to renounce. The Pearl Fishers will run from March 5 until March 19, 2022.
The Sarasota Jazz Festival Swinging Under The Stars will take place from March 13 through 19 at Nathan Benderson Park. Main stage performers are Shelly Berg, Dick Hyman, Russell Malone, Ken Peplowski, Houston Person, John Pizzarelli, Catherine Russell, Arturo Sandoval, Terell Stafford, Tierney Sutton, and La Lucha Trio. Free Jazz in the Park on March 13 from 3pm to 6pm, Trolley Pub Crawl at UTC on March 15 from 6pm to 10pm, VIP Reception from 5pm to 6pm and Main Stage Concert at 6:30pm on March 16, Morning Jazz Film from 9:30am to 12pm and Main Stage Concert at 6:30pm on March 17, Main Stage Concert at 6:30pm and Late Night Tower Jazz Jams from 9:30pm to 11:30pm on March 18, and Afternoon Jazz Party from 12pm to 5:30pm, Main Stage Concert at 6:30pm, and Late Night Tower Jazz jams from 9:30pm to 11:30pm on March 19.
Experience LeMarche Bohemien Parisian-Inspired Outdoor Marketplace on Saturday, March 19, 2022 from 10am to 5pm downtown Sarasota in Five Points Park. Admission is free. Discover an array of one-of-a-kind pieces created by some of the region’s most talented artisans featuring Parisian vocalist, Michelet Innocent. The marketplace is a vintage collector’s paradise, with wearable clothing and accessories that feature vintage photographs and re-purposing vintage apparel. Other artists will showcase re-purpose furniture and home accessories using chalk paint and stencils in intricate designs. From wall hangings crafted from stained glass and natural elements to sculpted work and intricate jewelry created from antique buttons, sterling silver and semi-precious stones, and MORE.
Join an unfolding murder mystery as the orchestra, conducted by Steven Jarvi, travels the fabled route of Europe's most famous train, enjoying the music along the way on Wednesday, March 16 at 5:30pm, Thursday, March 17 at 7:30pm, Friday, March 18 at 5:30pm, Saturday, March 19 at 8pm, and Sunday, March 20 at 4pm at Holley Hall.
David Budd: Motion Within Stillness from October 9 to March 20, 2022. After painting for only six years, David Budd (1927-1991, Florida) dove into the New York art scene in the 1950s —immersing himself in Abstract Expressionism and working alongside iconic names of the movement, such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Franz Kline. His paintings, like others of the time, relied on the bodily relationship between the artist and canvas —each stroke and mark of the artist encapsulated in viscous gestures of paint—and spontaneity; although, this is not to say that Budd painted hastily—each mark was placed with intention to animate the canvas’s surface.
On Sunday, March 20 at 7:30pm, the historic Sarasota Opera House will be filled with singers of all ages and experience, along with a full orchestra, to present “Voices of Sarasota Opera.” This festive concert will feature Principal Artists, Studio and Apprentice Artists, the Sarasota Youth Opera, and the Sarasota Opera Orchestra, performing beloved arias, ensembles, and orchestral passages, conducted by Jesse Martins. Other operatic excerpts will include selections from Bizet’s Carmen, Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Puccini’s Turandot, and many more. The concert will also include the American premiere of ballet music for Verdi’s Nabucco, and a sing-along of the grand chorus “Va pensiero” from Nabucco, conducted by Maestro DeRenzi. Sarasota Youth Opera alumni of all ages are invited to participate in the singing of “Va pensiero,” and can register for this and other alumni activities at https://form.jotform.com/213504774806155. Tickets to “Voices of Sarasota Opera” are $10 for adults, and $5 for students.
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is pleased to announce that they are once again offering guided tours of the Bayfront Gardens. The tours will start Nov. 1 and run through March 28, 2022. Garden Tours are available Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, beginning at 10:30am. This walking tour led by volunteer guides will introduce guests to interesting botanical specimens on the 66-acre campus while providing a historic overview of the development of the estate. The Ringling’s grounds have been accredited as a Level II Arboretum through ArbNet. The property boasts over 2350 trees within the arboretum representing native, exotic, historical and culturally significant trees. The Bayfront Gardens tours last approximately 90 minutes and cover about 1 mile in distance. Guests are encouraged to bring bottled water, and wear appropriate closed-toe footwear, sunblock and hats. There will be a maximum of 10 participants per tour. Tours are subject to weather conditions. Tickets will be available 30 days before each tour. Price: $15 / $10 for Members. More information and tickets are available at: https://www.ringling.org/events/bayfront-garden-tour.
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