The annual Glass Coast Weekend returns to Sarasota this weekend, as Ringling College of Art and Design and Detroit-based Habatat Galleries team up once again to celebrate the vibrant and surprisingly versatile medium with a whole regimen of dinners and docent tours, artist talks and activities, sprawling across two cities and at least four museums. But even for those not on the RSVP list, it means a weekend of glass art opportunities open to the public, including a four-day Glass Art Fair featuring more than 300 pieces of glass art from around the world and 20 visiting artists. “We’re looking at the pinnacle of glass art from around the world today,” says Aaron Schey, co-owner of Habatat Galleries. “Just walk through the doors and it’ll change your life.”

Housed in one of the Ringling College soundstages, the Glass Art Fair transforms that filmmaking space into a storytelling device of a different sort, as multiple exhibitions within the fair help tell the tale of a medium both classic and celebrated, as well as modern and innovative. This includes an exhibition of work by acclaimed glassworking duo Philip Baldwin and Monica Guggisberg, as well as four themed exhibitions featuring a variety of artists and selected historic works from Habatat’s yearly glass auction. “It’s so much more than sculpture on a pedestal,” Schey says. “It’s something you have to see in person. Walk around it. Watch the light refract. See the artist’s intentions.”

Optical Allusions celebrates artists working in clear glass, coaxing the maximum from some of its most fundamental qualities of refraction and reflection, while Fluid Forms highlights practitioners working in the abstract, emphasizing shape and flow, and Crystal Forest embraces the whimsical and representational with glass art inspired by nature. The fourth and final thematic exhibition, Beyond the Material, takes a look at one of the latest trends in glass art, with younger artists exploring glass as just one material in their mixed-media work. Artists featured in the fair include German artist Wilfried Grootens, who builds intricate interiors within layered panels, creating images both geometric and organic that shift as the viewer moves, as well as the famous Dutch artist Peter Bremers, whose large-scale cast glass is inspired by his global travels, and Raven Skyriver, a Seattle-based glass artist trained under a student of Dale Chihuly and known for marine sculptures of sharks, whales and more.

“These incredible artists have given their entire lives to creating these sculptures and it’s a very personal thing they share with the world,” says Schey. “We’re honored to show them.”

As if that weren’t enough art of the most breakable kind, in addition to the Glass Art Fair in the soundstage, Ringling College is also currently hosting a pair of exhibitions dedicated to the Richard and Barbara Basch Collection. At the Sarasota Art Museum, Contemporary/Traditional: Selection from the Basch Glass Collection features more than 40 works from masters around the world, including Dale Chihuly and Lino Tagliapietra, putting a range of techniques on display. Meanwhile, in the Basch Gallery on campus, Che Colore! celebrates all the ways that artists infuse and enhance color in their work.

The Glass Art Fair runs through Sunday at Ringling College. Contemporary/Traditional will be on display at the Sarasota Art Museum through February 11, and Che Colore! through March 22. 

Pictured: A Multicultural Celebration by Philip Baldwin and Monica Guggisberg. Photo by A. Ramsay.

For more than a decade, Theresa Caputo—known worldwide as the Long Island Medium, and star of the new Lifetime Series Raising Spirits—has touched the lives of millions of fans, comforting supporters when they need it most. Now Sarasota fans will get their chance at healing when the acclaimed medium and beloved personality appears live at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Thursday, April 11 at 7:30pm. Tickets on sale Friday, February 9 at 10am EST. Known for her unique ability to communicate with those who have passed on, Theresa Caputo Live: The Experience  brings Theresa face-to-face with her fans as Spirit guides her through the audience—a full-stage video display ensures that everyone in the theater has an up-close experience regardless of seat location. Through personal life stories, candid humor, and intimate details about her gift to communicate with those who have passed, the beloved television personality and best-selling author delivers healing messages to her audience, reassuring them with the revelation that their deceased loved ones are still with them—just in a different way. “The Experience isn’t about believing in mediums. It’s about seeing something life-changing” says Theresa Caputo. “It’s witnessing first-hand spirit communication.” Theresa’s new television series, Raising Spirit will debut in December on Lifetime Television. In addition to her television series, Theresa has appeared on such programs as The Drew Barrymore Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Live with Kelly and Mark,The Kelly Clarkson Show, Tamron Hall and The Today Show.  She has authored five books including NY Times Best Sellers Good Grief: Heal Your Soul, Honor Your Loved Ones, and Learn to Live Again (2017) and You Can’t Make This Stuff Up (2014). Her Ambie-nominated podcast, “Hey Spirit”, helps guests work through their grief to allow them to heal and move forward with peace and self-assurance, Recognized as one of the most renowned mediums for over 20 years, Theresa Caputo Live: The Experience is the awe-inspiring event you won’t want to miss. Learn more about Theresa at www.theresacaputo.com. Tickets start at $64.23 and can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726. Pre-show dining is available through Mattison’s at the Van Wezel which is located inside the theatre. Reservations can be made on VanWezel.org or through the box office. 

Next Wednesday, on February 7, Florida Studio Theatre will unveil their latest show in their Winter Cabaret series, The Flip Side. The cabaret, which is written by Rebecca and Richard Hopkins with musical arrangements by Jim Prosser and directed by FST Associate Artist Catherine Randazzo, aims to take a slightly different look at life by celebrating some of the best comic songwriters of the 20th century.

“The show looks at life in a slanted way. It’s actually the way I look at life, so I feel like I was just right for this show because I think that the world is strange and quirky and kind of marvelous at the same time,” says Bill Selby, one of the cast members. “We sing songs about the odd and the peculiar, things having to do with age and even dying, in a very positive light. It’s a lot of fun to play and it’s a very funny show, we have all kinds of characters that we portray that are highly amusing.”

Although Selby, a veteran of FST and the cabaret world, is just one of three cast members, he plays a bevy of characters. For some, it may be a challenge that seems too daunting, but for Selby and his castmates, it’s just as exhilarating as it is difficult. “For me, it’s easier to switch between characters because I spent a large part of my life with the show Forbidden Broadway, where we switch between portraying different Broadway stars very, very quickly,” says Selby. “A lot of that happens in this show: you go off stage, you put something on and you go back out as a cowboy. You go off stage, you put something else on and you’re a 12 year old. It’s a kind of natural, unnatural world for me.”

In Killed by a Coconut, Selby plays four different characters within the song. In other moments of the show, he plays the psychiatrist Sigmund Freud. The cast’s ability to do so is what makes the whole show work–something that Selby attributes to his chemistry with his fellow cast mates along with the steady direction from Catherine Randazzo. “We have a wonderful director that prepares us so well. Catherine Randazzo is very specific and she wants to be sure that we understand the story and are playing that story to the audience very clearly,” says Selby. “I love specifics. She wants to be sure that things are bright, because some of the material, especially when talking about death can be a downer, but we don’t play it that way. We play against it.”

February 7 to June 16, 2024, FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First Street, Sarasota,941-366-9000. 

Pictured: The Flip Side 3: (from left to right) Marcel Werder, William Selby, Chris Richie. Photo by by John Jones.

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Al Fuller and The Moonlight Movers are going to rock the outdoor stage at The Bazaar on Saturday, Feb 3rd from 6-9pm. Al Fuller is no stranger to the Sarasota music scene. He has been singing, playing, and composing music for most of his life. His music ranges from original songs, rock and roll to blues. His band, the Moonlight Movers include Barry Sikes on bass guitar, and Rich MacDonald on drums. Get ready for some dancing to songs like The Thrill is Gone, T-Bone Shuffle, Paint My Mailbox Blue, Black Magic Woman, and other blues and rock classics. No Cover. Hamlet’s Eatery will be open for dinner. Craft Beer, wine, Prosecco on tap are available for sale. This is an outside venue so dress accordingly!

821 Apricot Ave in Sarasota. For more information call 941-445-1938 or visit, www.hamletseatery.com. 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat (Sarasota County, Florida) is pleased to announce the third annual concert in the Ruby E. Crosby Alumni Music Series at the Hermitage, featuring award-winning composer and pianist Conrad Tao. This event will take place on Thursday, March 28 at 7pm, at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in downtown Sarasota. This alumni music initiative was launched in 2022 to a full-capacity crowd at Selby Gardens with “Soulful Strings: An Evening of Harp Music,” featuring celebrated harpist and Hermitage alumna Ashley Jackson. Last year’s concert, “The Pop-Folk World of Zoe Sarnak,” featured award-winning New York City-based Hermitage alum Zoe Sarnak, with Sarasota-based vocalists and musicians performing Sarnak’s original songs in partnership with the Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy. This year, the Ruby E. Crosby Alumni Music Series at the Hermitage returns to classical music with world-renowned pianist, composer, and Hermitage Fellow Conrad Tao. Tao is a leader within a new generation of contemporary classical music. A former prodigy, Tao has emerged as a mature, thoughtful, and thought-provoking artist with both a singular vision and the talent to realize it. He has appeared worldwide as a pianist and composer and had been dubbed "the kind of musician who is shaping the future of classical music," by New York Magazine, and an artist of "probing intellect and open-hearted vision," by The New York Times. This outdoor event is free and open to the public with a $5/person registration fee. Tickets will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis, at which time registration will shift to a waitlist; this series has frequently reached capacity. 

Pictured: Hermitage Fellow Conrad Tao by Brantley Gutierrez.

The Osfest Reggae Block Party, Sarasota’s celebration of reggae music, vibrance, and community, is set to make its triumphant return for its eighth year, spotlighting the rich legacy of reggae music and honoring the late, great Oswald "Ham" Caines. Hosted by Jah Movement, one of the most popular bands in the region, the event is destined to draw hundreds from across the demographic spectrum. This year's Osfest will not only be a commemoration, but an all-out musical extravaganza. Mark your calendars for February 23, 2024, when the streets of downtown Sarasota, specifically Main Street and Lemon Avenue, will transform into a celebratory haven for reggae enthusiasts and fans of good music alike. The Osfest Reggae Block Party serves as an annual homage to the late great reggae legend, Oswald "Ham" Caines, who made an indelible mark in Florida with his band, Democracy Reggae Band. This year, audiences will have the privilege of witnessing "Legendary Award Winning Artist" Everton Blender, known for his ability to seamlessly merge the roots and dancehall genres. Joining Blender on stage will be Jah Movement and an impressive roster of emerging reggae artists and DJs from the Florida scene including a young rising band under the umbrella of Jah Movement, Youth Movement Band. The main event kicks off at 5 pm and promises to keep the beat going until midnight. Post the party on Main Street, the festivities will continue inside Gator Club until 2 am. Both long-time fans and newcomers to the reggae world will be treated to a sensory experience that goes beyond just music. The Osfest Reggae Block Party will feature delectable offerings from local food vendors, refreshing libations served by The Gator Club, vibrant dance performances, special features for kids, and a myriad of retail vendors offering unique wares. The party will also serve as a charitable platform, with a portion of the proceeds dedicated to empowering the non-profit Queens of Domestic Violence Awareness. Advance tickets for the event are available for $30 at Jah Movement’s official website, with a mere $10 increase for those purchasing at the door. The tickets offer not just entry to a world-class music event but a chance to support a worthy cause. As a family-friendly event, kids under 12 can revel in the festivities at no cost. For inquirers and media needs, Shantel Norman of Jah Movement has graciously agreed to attend to all press communications leading up to the event.The 8th Annual Osfest Reggae Block Party is a testament to the community's commitment to celebrating the arts, culture, and the undying spirit of Sarasota. For detailed information on the event, and the performers, and to secure your spot in what promises to be a night of unforgettable music and memories, kindling the legacy of a reggae icon, visit www.jahmovement.com/osfestreggaeblockpartyand let the rhythm move you.

On the heels of the successful “Postcards From Ireland,” Celtic Woman will carry on its legacy of uplifting performances packed with breath-taking harmonies and instrumental virtuosity. The group today announced it will bring an all-new live show to celebrate its 20th anniversary to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 7:30pm. The Celtic Woman 20th Anniversary Tour will be delighting audiences with its fresh blend of traditional and contemporary Irish music that echoes Ireland's rich musical and cultural heritage, while reflecting the vibrant spirit of modern Ireland. In the 20 years since the global musical sensation’s debut, Celtic Woman has emerged as both a formidable musical presence and a genuine cultural phenomenon. The group's albums and DVD releases have been consistent multi-platinum best-sellers and its concert tours continue to touch the hearts of a devoted audience that spans the globe. Both an accomplished recording ensemble and a world-class performing collective, Celtic Woman introduces some of Ireland's most talented singers and musicians to the world stage. For the complete tour schedule, tickets and more information, visit www.celticwoman.com/tour-dates. Sign up for Celtic Woman’s newsletters at www.celticwoman.com to learn about new tour dates, album releases and special offers. Tickets start at $55 and can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726. Pre-show dining is available through Mattison’s at the Van Wezel which is located inside the theatre. Reservations can be made on VanWezel.org or through the box office.