SRQ DAILY Mar 22, 2024
Friday Weekend Edition
"The mystery is, first of all, how could she be so bold during the 50s when the Klu Klux Klan ran rampant, to shoot this man?"
Sarasota film fans and aficionados convened at The Sarasota Modern last night for the kickoff of the 26th Sarasota Film Festival, as festival chairman and president of the board Mark Famiglio took the mic to announce this year’s slate of films and celebrity attendees. Highlights of the evening announcements include the upcoming Florida Premiere of The Listener, a drama starring Tessa Thompson (Thor: Ragnarok) and directed by Steve Buscemi (Reservoir Dogs, Boardwalk Empire), who will be in attendance for a festival Q&A, as well as the reveal of a new documentary about blues-rock band The Black Keys, the Florida premiere of a new award-winning thriller starring Sarasota native Austin Abrams (Euphoria, The Walking Dead), and a presentation of the entire slate of the Oscar-nominated short films of 2023. “Putting us on the map to be an Oscar festival,” says Famiglio.
Running from April 5 through April 14, the Sarasota Film Festival promises nearly 10 days of nonstop film programming, where audiences can find everything from thrillers and character dramas to socially conscious documentaries and sports flicks. After the opening night film, Bull Street, a legal drama starring Amy Madigan (Uncle Buck, Gone Baby Gone), the festival splinters into various threads, depending on the viewer’s interest.
For documentary fans, the Documentary Feature Competition includes Sundance award-winner Sugarcane, exploring the investigation into unmarked graves at an Indian residential school in Canada, as well as Into The Spotlight: The Jake Ilardi Story, about the Olympic journey of the Osprey native, and Porcelain War, an unflinching look at three Ukrainian artists living through the Russian invasion. And while the Independent Visions Competition provides a platform to American independent films like Art Thief and the twisted comedy Puddysticks, the Narrative Feature Competition brings in foreign films ranging from Sudan to Canada.
As before, the Sarasota Film Festival this year also makes room for socially conscious films using the art of cinema to spread a message of change or hope. A dedicated slate of films focusing on the environment includes films from India and Madagascar, bringing viewers around the world to celebrate everything from endangered lemurs to reclusive Himalayan moths. Similar programs are dedicated to highlighting films and filmmakers dedicated to the African-American experience, women filmmakers, Jewish icons, and LGBTQ+ films.
Festival films will be presented both at Regal Hollywood Cinemas and Cinebistro, among other venues. And as with previous years, film screenings will be supplemented with not only artist Q&As but also community discussions and talkbacks, giving audience members and local experts the opportunity to weigh in on the films and topics presented in the festival, including a panel discussion at Ringling College dedicated to examining the pros and pitfalls of artificial intelligence.
For a complete rundown of this year’s Sarasota Film Festival programming, and to purchase tickets to screenings and events, visit sarasotafilmfestival.com.
Pictured: Sarasota Film Festival Chairman Mark Famiglio celebrates with festival supporters at the 2024 kickoff. Photo by Phil Lederer.
A new musical has made its world premiere at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, with this show just as powerful and engaging as the company has ever done. After extended delays due to COVID-19, Ruby finally premiered at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe on February 28 and will run through April 7. The show, directed by WBTT founder/artistic director Nate Jacobs, with the book written by his brother Michael, chronicles the true story of Ruby McCollum, a Black woman who killed a white doctor in 1952 in Live Oak, Florida.
Ruby and her husband Sam were an unusually wealthy and prominent black family, especially living in a small town during the Jim Crow era, where African-Americans were essentially disenfranchised. “Ruby and Sam were so prestigious that it was odd, it wasn’t normal for Black people in the 1950s to have a two-story mansion in the middle of Live Oak and drive the kind of cars they drove and so they were a phenomenon for the white community as well as the Black community,” says Director Nate Jacobs. It was later found out, that amongst other things, the McCollums amassed their wealth through running an illegal gambling ring.
For some years before 1952, Ruby had been seeing Dr. C. Leroy Adams for medical counsel, a prominent white doctor and the only physician in Live Oak who saw Black patients. However, one Sunday in 1952, seemingly out of the blue, Ruby walked into Adam’s office and shot him dead with a revolver. “The mystery is, first of all, how could she be so bold during the 50s when the Klu Klux Klan ran rampant, to shoot this man? It became a national case and Zora Neale Hurston, an incredibly prolific writer at the time, was hired by the Pittsburgh Courier to cover the case,” says Jacobs.
The case became a national story, as the presiding judge put a gag order on Ruby preventing her from speaking to the press. In front of an all-white jury, Ruby stated that Dr. Adams had sexually assaulted her and was the father of her most recent child. However, despite all of this, Ruby was convicted and sentenced to death in the electric chair. Later on, however, the conviction was appealed and the case went to a second trial, during which Ruby was declared unfit to stand trial and was committed to the Florida State Hospital for mental patients where she resided until 1974. WBTT’s musical explores this challenging and intriguing true story, framed through the lens of Hurston’s coverage of the case for the Pittsburgh Courier.
Ruby runs from February 28 to April 7, 2024. West Coast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota, westcoastblacktheatre.org.
Pictured from left to right: The cast of Ruby includes Ashley Elizabeth Crowe, Catara Brae, Maurice Alpharicio and Larry Alexander. Photo by Sorcha Augustine.
Sarasota Music Festival announced its concert programs for the 2024 Festival season. Celebrating its 60th anniversary, this year’s Festival is themed “Music Unbound.” The three-week Festival runs from June 2 – 22 and features a schedule of 14 different concerts, and events, as well as a wide range of masterclasses, coaching sessions, and rehearsals. Nearly 500 fellows from top music programs at colleges and conservatories worldwide audition to participate in the Festival each year, but only 60 are accepted. Selected musicians work side-by-side with a group of 40 faculty artists who represent many of the most renowned music schools and conservatories. “Over the course of three weeks, fellows will have the opportunity to experience and participate in the many ways in which composers and performers of the past and present have explored the interaction between very different musical languages and modes of performing,” says Music Director Jeffrey Kahane. Programming will spotlight the beauty that results when some of the world’s most versatile musicians join together to share their gifts, highlighting the transformative magic that occurs when differing musical genres and performance styles are brought into intentional and dynamic relationship with each other.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is thrilled to announce its 2024-2025 Season Subscription Series, featuring nine Broadway blockbusters and a variety of specials. Anchoring the season is the 10-time Tony Award-winner, Moulin Rouge The Musical, March 18-23.
The Broadway Subscription Series features seven Sarasota Premieres starting with the Tony and Grammy Award-winning sensation, Dear Evan Hansen, which follows the story of a high school student who always feels like he’s on the outside looking in. This is followed by the uplifting comeback story like no other, TINA: The Tina Turner Musical. Set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits, TINA: The Tina Turner Musical is the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll.
Ring in the new year at Clue, the uproarious new play based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game. The glorious Broadway revival of Funny Girl, dazzles with celebrated smash-hit songs, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” On the heels of Wednesday, the 3rd most-watched show on Netflix of all-time, The Addams Family, is the devilishly delightful musical comedy based on the bizarre and beloved characters by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams.
Returning to the Van Wezel this season is Come From Away, the stirring and inspiring musical that takes you into the heart of the remarkable small town in Newfoundland that opened their homes to 7,000 stranded traveler on 9/11. Also returning is Les Miserables, the world’s most popular musical. Completing the Broadway lineup is Beetlejuice, the hilarious new musical based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film.
This season also features eight Subscriber Specials, starting with the holiday crowd favorite Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert, Menopause The Musical 2: Cruising Through ‘The Change’ and H.M.S. Pinafore. There is also Forever Tango, Neil Berg’s 115 Years of Broadway followed by Twyla Tharp Dance: Diamond Jubilee. Finally, there’s the violin legend Itzhak Perlman and the Branford Marsalis Quartet.
Patrons are now able to reserve their subscriptions for the upcoming season. Subscription packages are available for purchase online 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.
All Angels Church, 563 Bay Isles Road, Long Boat Key, is delighted to be hosting an extraordinary original icon exhibition from April 2- June 28. This unique exhibition of Byzantine style icons is able to be viewed during church office hours, Monday through Thursday, 9am-1pm, or by appointment by calling the church office. Ms. Simoneau Hales has studied icon writing in the USA and abroad for many years, traveled to Russia for more study, and is now teaching online Icon writing retreats. Her work is highly sought after by collectors and churches, and she has won several grants and awards for her paintings and icons. Creating original egg tempera and gold leaf gilded icons in a both traditional and modern style, she has completed several large commissions for churches in the USA and abroad. Ms. Simoneau Hales’ work has been featured on WEDU Arts Plus: https://youtu.be/0crGeY7Mhoo?si=BqbONbd7Yed83f6N , and her book about Icons, “Eyes of Fire, How Icons Saved My Life as an Artist” is available on Amazon.com. Please join us in welcoming this beautiful work, April 2-June 28, Monday-Thursdays 9am- 1PM. There will be a reception on April 14, 11:15 am, all are welcome!
The Sarasota Players presents the classic musical The Secret Garden April 3 through 21 at The Crossings at Siesta Key (3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239). This haunting piece is family-friendly and based off the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett.This enchanting classic of children's literature is reimagined in brilliant musical style by composer Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of 'Night Mother. Orphaned in India, 11-year-old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald and his disabled son Colin. The estate's many wonders include a magic garden which beckons the children with haunting melodies and the "Dreamers," spirits from Mary's past who guide her through her new life, dramatizing The Secret Garden's compelling tale of forgiveness and renewal.
April 3 – Preview, April 4 – 6, 10-13, 17-20 at 7:30pm, April 7, 14, 21, 2024 at 2pm, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130, Sarasota. Please park and enter the mall by Connor’s Steak and Seafood.
PEACHY KEEN | Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Pantone's Color of the Year Profram with Peach Fuzz, March 2024.
Irish dancers and musicians from Edmonds Herbert W. Armstrong College and Armstrong Dance will embark on their fifth U.S. tour beginning May 5, visiting 10 states over seven weeks with their show Celtic Throne, The Royal Journey of Irish Dance. Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall will host a one-night performance at 7:30 p.m., June 2. Celtic Throne, The Royal Journey of Irish Dance explores the ancient origins of Irish step dance and celebrates the millennia-long journey of a music-and-dance-loving people as they migrate from the ancient Near East to Ireland, Scotland, England and the United States. Tickets to Celtic Throne, The Royal Journey of Irish Dance begin at $25 and can be purchased at VanWezel.org. For more information, please visit celticthrone.com.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is excited to welcome Jimmy Failla to Sarasota on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 8pm. Tickets for the Everybody Calm Down Tour go on sale this Friday, February 23 at 10am EST. Tickets start at $20.70 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 Mattisons at the Van Wezel which is located inside the theatre. Reservations can be made on VanWezel.org or through the box office.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is excited to welcome Kenny G to Sarasota on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 7pm. Tickets start at $40 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 Mattisons at the Van Wezel which is located inside the theatre. Reservations can be made on VanWezel.org or through the box office.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is excited to welcome The Concert, A Tribute to ABBA to Sarasota on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 8 p.m. The Concert: A Tribute To ABBA continues to be the top ABBA tribute group in the world, dazzling all who see with their fantastic performance while playing the most iconic hits from ABBA, including Mamma Mia, S.O.S, Money, Money, Money, The Winner Takes All, Waterloo, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, and Dancing Queen. Tickets are $30-$75 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 Mattisons at the Van Wezel which is located inside the theatre. Reservations can be made on VanWezel.org or through the box office.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is excited to welcome George Thorogood and The Destroyers to Sarasota on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 7:30pm. Five decades, 15 million albums and more than 8,000 performances later, few bands can still rock the house like George Thorogood and Destroyers. Tickets start at $41.50 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.
UF/IFAS Extension South Florida Beef-Forage Program is hosting Ranching Foundations on Friday, April 26 from 9 A.M.-3 P.M. This program is perfect for beginners new to ranching as well as established professionals looking to stay up to date on the latest research. Located at the Range Cattle Research and Education Center in Ona, participants will rotate through cattle management classes covering topics such as calf care, heifer management, cow management, bull management, and the legality of selling meat from the ranch. Admission is $40 per person and includes lunch and educational materials. Register at ranchingfoundations.eventbrite.com.
The highly anticipated Sarasota-Manatee Originals Set the Bar Cocktail Competition is back for a 2024 edition, scheduled for Sunday, April 14, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. 25 accomplished mixologists, representing restaurants from across Sarasota and Manatee Counties, will present their innovative concoctions in five distinct spirit categories. In addition to a panel of industry experts, attendees will have the opportunity to sample these creations and vote for their favorites, with the judging criteria encompassing flavor, appearance, bartender presentation, and imagination. The competition is partnered with Children First, a local non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the healthy development of children and families. All proceeds from a silent auction will benefit this important cause. Tickets are now on sale for $85 each, with a limited number available. At-the-door tickets will be offered at $95 per person, subject to availability. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit eatlikealocal.com/events/setthebar.
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. 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. Recognized as one of the most renowned mediums for over 20 years, Theresa Caputo Live: The Experience is an awe-inspiring event you will not 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. 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.
Join us for a day of fun and outdoor adventure at the Wild About Nature Festival on Saturday, April 6, 2024 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Reconnect with the great outdoors and help foster a love of nature in the next generation as you spend a day in the sun on the beautiful shores of Little Sarasota Bay at Bay Preserve. Families of all ages are encouraged to take part in this fun-filled day of nature-based education and exploration. The wide variety of activities includes dip-netting, face painting, hula-hoop lessons, crafts, games, and more. There will be live music and food trucks making this a guaranteed good time. This is a FREE family festival open to all. Registration is not required. The event will take place at our Bay Preserve headquarters located at 400 Palmetto Ave. in Osprey. For more information, visit conservationfoundation.com.
Fresh Fridays is dancing its way into April and ready to sweep downtown Sarasota with a dance revolution on Main Street, its new location for the new month. The popular downtown community event is throwing a block party boogie on April 5, from 7-10 pm, between Palm Avenue and Pineapple Avenue, for their newest event, Dance Dance Downtown Sarasota. Attendees will enjoy electrifying live music from Society Hill, power up with fresh fuel from local restaurants, and bust a move with a special dance activity for the event. Guests can stay up to date by following Fresh Fridays on their social media channels or by visiting their website at www.downtownsarasotadid.com/fresh-fridays.
Norman Love Confections just relocated its Sarasota chocolate salon to a new address within The Shoppes at UTC at 8109 Cooper Creek Blvd., University Park. To celebrate, NLC will host a re-grand opening event on Monday, April 1 at 11:30 am. The grand re-opening event will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, and remarks from Chef Norman Love and Norman Love Confections CEO Lisa Fisher. Live entertainment and complimentary refreshments will follow the ceremony. The first 25 people to arrive will receive complimentary swag bags. For more information, visit normanloveconfections.com.
A sales funnel is a marketing term describing where your customers are in their purchasing journey and what marketing tools you can use to guide potential customers from interest to purchase. In this webinar, you will learn how to use sales funnels to grow your business, automate your marketing tasks, create a complete customer journey map and determine your business KPIs so you can easily track what is working and what is not. Free, online webinar. score.org/manasota.
Kids and kids at heart can enjoy fun art and nature activities on Saturday mornings, at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens on March 23, April 27, and May 25. Activities will run from 10 a.m. to noon each day, and participation is included in admission to the Gardens, which is always free for Selby Gardens members. These Family Saturdays celebrate the current exhibition on view, Yayoi Kusama: A Letter to Georgia OKeeffe. Several activity stations with different art-focused projects will be set up in the Ann Goldstein Childrens Rainforest Garden during each monthly event. The goal is to invite kids of all ages to explore the artwork of Yayoi Kusama and Georgia OKeeffe through activities that also connect them to the natural environment. Admission to Selby Gardens Downtown Sarasota campus is $26 for adults, $11 for ages 5 to 17, and free for children 4 and under. Tickets may be purchased online in advance at selby.org. Selby Gardens members always receive complimentary admission as well as discounts for guests. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit selby.org.
Spring is the perfect time to breathe new life into your landscape. Join Master Gardener Volunteers on March 23 for the Spring Plant Sale located at the Barbara Davis Educational Gardens, 1303 17th St W, Palmetto. The sale will feature blooming plants, natives, vegetables, herbs, trees, shrubs, and more all grown by Manatee County Master Gardener Volunteers. All proceeds from this event go to the operation and maintenance of the Master Gardeners Educational Gardens and Greenhouse, and to support Master Gardener educational and outreach programs. Tickets to the event are free from 9am-12pm and guests are required to register beforehand on Eventbrite. An early bird ticket is available for people who would like to start shopping at 8am for the most selection and fewer crowds. The early bird ticket is $10 per person plus Eventbrite fees. Only cash or personal checks will be accepted during the sale. To learn more, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-spring-plant-sale-tickets-801445724737.
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