“Imagine if ‘Florida Man’ were a female choreographer.”

And so director Rosie Herrera cheekily sums up her latest dance theater project, a tragicomic social commentary bringing everything from Pub Subs and live alligator wrestling to the Historic Asolo Theater stage. Entitled Florida Woman and co-created with Moving Ethos Dance Company founder Leah Verier-Dunn, the show promises a heady mix of the serious and the surreal, the activist and the absurd, as the performers examine the changing political climate in the Sunshine State, while reveling in the raucous mythology that surrounds its people. “Florida has this reputation for being a bastion for all that is wild,” Herrera says. “But in reality, the government is becoming more and more strict, specifically with women’s bodies.” With Florida Woman, Herrera and Verier-Dunn hope to shine a light on this strange juxtaposition—and how it plays out in everyday life.

Not to be confused with a contemporary dance performance, Florida Woman blends dance and theater to craft a single narrative over the course of one-hour of interwoven stories told through uninterrupted performance. So it’s not so much an operation in esoteric movement and physical abstraction, as it is classical storytelling told through dance. Actors inhabit roles and these characters have their arcs, it just so happens that most of their “dialogue” is spoken with their bodies. And by focusing on the personal journeys of these characters, as opposed to the politics, Herrera and Verier-Dunn find a way to be pointed without being preachy. “We’re not focusing on those big picture questions,” says Verier-Dunn. “We’re focusing on how the big picture affects us personally and telling that story.”

What it means to be a woman in Florida. What it means to be a parent. These were the questions running through Herrera and Verier-Dunn’s minds when creating Florida Woman, spurred on by the transformation they were seeing within their own communities, whether it be Verier-Dunn witnessing rightwing politics take hold of her local school board or Herrera watching gentrification upend families and neighborhoods in Miami. “We’re two people who are deeply passionate about living here and are slowly feeling pushed out,” Herrera says. “It’s that feeling of having a clear sense of home and then also questioning if it’s feasible to even stay.” But at the same time that Florida Woman critiques these growing issues, it also celebrates the singular wildness that made ‘Florida Man’ a nationwide meme.

“The delightful comedy of Florida is something we put in the work because we know it speaks to our audiences here in Sarasota and Miami,” Herrera says, and so the show plays with a fair bit of the iconography specific to Florida, whether that be the aforementioned Pub Subs and alligator wrestling or an obsession with orange juice and pageants of all sorts. “I hope that Floridians who love this state will see themselves in the work, and see our love for Florida,” she says.

“And if you don’t already know the Florida Anthem,” Verier-Dunn adds, “you’ll know it by the end of the show.”

Florida Woman opens next Friday, March 22, at the Ringling Museum and runs for only three nights, closing on March 24. 

Pictured: Rosie Herrera and Leah Verier-Dunn in Florida Woman. Photo by George Echevarria.

“If I could go back in time I’d choose to go to early 20th century New York City. I’d give anything to spend a day there,” says Peter Rothstein, Producing Artistic Director of Asolo Repertory Theatre.

Such is the setting of Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage, which is now playing at the Asolo Repertory Theatre through April 18. Intimate Apparel tells the story of Esther, a black seamstress living in a boarding house in New York City’s Lower East Side in 1905, who sews intimate apparel for a wide range of female clients. “I think that it is such an interesting time period and it is a location that I’m so fascinated by, the area in many ways birthed American popular song and culture,” says Rothstein. “There’s this intersection of African-American’s who’ve come north during emancipation and immigrants pouring into the Lower East Side–the fusion that grew out of that is so fascinating and has had a profound impact on every facet of American life.”

Although Esther is successful financially, she is lonesome and pines for a love of her own, with the dream of finding a husband and eventually opening a beauty parlor where black women will be treated equally to the white women she sews for. When Esther receives a letter from a Barbadian man working on the Panama Canal, they begin a correspondence that eventually leads to their marriage–despite the fact that her heart lies with the Hasidic shopkeeper from whom she buys her fabric from. “Intimate Apparel is a very intimate story, the world is so rich and at the heart of it is this intersection of this black woman who is a seamstress and a Jewish man who sells fabric. It’s a beautiful play pulled from the black perspective, which is a perspective that we still don’t hear from that often,” says Rothstein.

*Audiences must be 18 or older. February 28 to April 18, 2024, Box office: 941-351-8000 / 800-361-8388, 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 

Pictured: Curtis Bannister plays George and Aneisa J. Hicks plays Esther in Asolo Rep's Intimate Apparel. Photo courtesy of Curtis Bannister plays George and Aneisa J. Hicks plays Esther in Asolo Rep's "Intimate Apparel.

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This year’s Hermitage Greenfield Prize Celebration includes the world premiere of the Hermitage Greenfield Prize commission from 2022 HGP Winner Angélica Negrón, presented in partnership with ensembleNewSRQ; a conversation with playwright and 2024 HGP winner Deepa Purohit, presented in partnership with Asolo Repertory Theatre; and a panel discussion on South Asian arts in America with Deepa Purohit joined by two award-winning Hermitage Fellows, musician Kavita Shah and playwright-performer Nandita Shenoy. 

The inaugural season of the Manatee Music Series is set to kick off March 21 from 6-8 p.m. at the G.T. Bray Amphitheater. The first concert will feature Circus Swing & American Roots artist Dean Johanesen. Originally from Long Island, NY, currently residing in Ellenton, FL, Dean is a songwriter and guitarist inspired by historical fiction, speakeasy era Americana and the sounds of Hot Club Jazz, Western Swing and American Roots Music. Trevor Bystrom & Zion Albert are scheduled to perform at the Amphitheater on April 18. Born and raised in Holmes Beach, Trevor developed a passion for world music at an early age, falling in love first with the sounds of the Caribbean and later immersing himself in the work of a wide array of African artists. At 16, he began performing live and writing his own songs. Zion hails from the island of Dominica and grew up in the U.S. Virgin Islands. His musical inspiration is Bob Marley, whose music has touched the hearts of many, spreading positivity to the world. Paul Fournier is on the bill for the May 16 concert. Accepted into Berklee College of Music in 2011, Paul decided to take a promotion job at BB Kings Blues Club in Manhattan, NY. He moved back to Florida to form more projects until recently launching as a solo act. Paul’s drive to create a world of passion and forward-thinking is inspired through self-development and empowerment birthed into reality through songwriting and performing music that brings people together and highlights psychological principles like limiting beliefs, anxiety and ADD in a way that's captivating, fun, and inspiring. In addition to the outdoor concerts in this beautiful tree covered section of the park (located at 2811 51st St. W. in Bradenton), there will be family-friendly activities by local community partners and crafts sponsored by Bayside Church. The concert series is sponsored by the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners. “We are happy to bring more great entertainment and activities to G.T. Bray,” said Manatee County District 3 Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge. “It’s a perfect way to maximize this wonderful community amenity and engage our citizens.” For up-to-date information about Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGov. 

Experience the dance legend live in Sarasota! The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School is honored to present Carlos Acosta On Before at the Sarasota Opera House on April 19-20, 2024. Carlos Acosta is a living legend, a world-renowned dancer whose artistry defined a generation and paved the way for future generations of dancers. He is an internationally recognized and beloved figure who has influenced the dance community and pop culture monumentally. On Before, Acosta’s deeply personal story told through dance, will be his first performance in the US since 2018 and his only US performance is in Sarasota. On Before is an intimate contemporary ballet for just two dancers. Acosta will dance with Laura Rodriguez from Acosta Danza, the company he founded in Havana. On Before features choreography by world-renowned artists, including Russell Maliphant, Kim Brandstrup, and Will Tuckett, alongside Acosta’s choreography. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime experience! 

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 Friday Fest, the free, outdoor summertime concert series at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall returns with an exciting lineup of bands who will bring the audience to their feet! This year the festivities kick off in May. Each event runs from 5-9 p.m. on the lawn of the Van Wezel overlooking beautiful Sarasota Bay. Opening the Friday Fest series on May 24 is Hot Tonic Orchestra. The high energy musical act mixes swing, Latin jazz, and popular music to create a unique live show like no other.  The fun continues on June 21 returning favorite, Kettle of Fish. Kettle of Fish plays festival music that features blues, soul, and funk with the energy of rock ‘n roll. They make old songs new again, and their originals sound like classics. Friday Fest will take a hiatus in the hot summer months of July and August, and will return on September 20 with Kluv & the United Funk Foundation. Kluv & the United Funk Foundation came together in 2020 during the pandemic. Kim, the lead singer and bandleader, chose the most talented musicians in Florida to complete the team. They have become the most sought-after dance, soul and R&B band in Florida. Closing out the concert series on October 4 will be Big Night Out. Big Night Out is a variety dance band that performs Latin, R&B and island dance music. A powerful horn section and grooving conga add to the commanding vocals of Joni Adno. Big Night Out, over the past 17 years, has become one of southwest Florida’s most in demand dance bands. Bring blankets or lawn chairs, take in the music and the sunset, and enjoy food and beverage from local vendors. Bringing in food, beverages and coolers from outside Friday Fest is prohibited. For additional information, visit VanWezel.org. 

Once again Sarasota Opera will produce a rarely heard work by a major composer when Joseph Haydn’s Deceit Outwitted (L’infedeltà delusa) opens, the last work in the company’s 2024 Winter Opera Festival. This charming comedy opens March 15, 2024 at 7:30 with four additional performances on March 17, 19, 21, and 23rd. This season’s production is a company premiere and the first fully-staged production by a professional company in the U.S. since 1979. Conductor Anthony Barrese and stage director Marco Nisticò have collaborated on bringing this work to life. Joseph Haydn is one of classical music’s most famous and prolific composers. He is well-known for his symphonies, chamber music, and choral music. Although opera was an important part of his life, almost all of the scores sat in an archive in Hungary until after World War II. Rediscovered in the 1950s, they are occasionally performed in Europe but are rarely heard in the U.S. Deceit Outwitted is a delightful comic opera. Brother and sister Nanni and Vespina (played by company favorites baritone Filippo Fontana and soprano Hanna Brammer) try to outwit her lover, the rich farmer Nencio (returning tenor William Davenport), who has thrown her over to make a more advantageous match with Sandrina (soprano Yulan Piao, in her company debut). Her father Filippo (debuting tenor David Walton) tries to convince her to marry Nencio. Through a series of comic disguises Vespina tricks Nencio into relinquishing Sandrina, who reunites with Nanni. Haydn expert H.C. Robbins Landon has called the score to Deceit Outwitted “the greatest of Haydn’s operatic music.” General Director Richard Russell comments that “I have always admired Haydn’s music in other genre and was delighted to discover his brilliant operatic comedy. Sarasota Opera always includes one rarely heard work in our festival each year and I’m so happy we can introduce our audience to this facet of Haydn’s genius.” Deceit Outwitted joins Bizet’s Carmen, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, and Verdi’s Luisa Miller as the four works in Sarasota Opera’s world-renowned Winter Opera Festival, which runs through March 24, 2024. Tickets and more information can be found at SaraostaOpera.org or by calling the box office at (941) 328-1300.