SRQ DAILY Apr 12, 2024
Friday Weekend Edition
"We are going to have professional aerialists up in the air during all of the DJ sets, dancing stilt walkers and LED robots throughout the evening."
This Saturday night, head down to the Circus Arts Conservatory’s Sailor Circus Arena for the organization’s second annual WONDERBALL concert and fundraiser. A success in 2023, headlined by celebrity DJ and music producer Steve Aoki, the high-octane EDM concert returns in 2024 with another star studded lineup of EDM DJs. Proceeds from the event will benefit the CAC’s youth education programs, which include the Sailor Circus Academy, the nation’s oldest youth circus, spring break and summer camps, circus magnet programs at Booker Middle School and Sarasota High School and the company’s Arts Integrated Education Program.
“We have this incredible arena here at the CAC and as our youth and educational programs expand tremendously, we’re always looking for ways to fund them. When we bring our school programs to Booker Middle or Sarasota High and then bring those students to our facilities, they have come of course at no cost to the students or the schools, but there is a cost there,” says Jennifer Mitchell, executive vice president/COO of the CAC. “WONDERBALL is designed to amplify the message of what we’re doing with the youth and bring something a little more youthful to our community. It’s not your typical fundraiser or concert, it’s really an electronic dance experience.”
Headlining WONDERBALL 2024 will be Norwegian DJ and producer Alan Walker, an award-winning and chart-topping artist with over 115 million followers across his social media platforms and 50 billion audio and visual streams. Walker, who is the second most followed DJ on Youtube and is in the midst of another sold-out arena tour, is sure to bring the energy. The concert will be replete with lights, LED lasers and video screens in keeping with the vibe of Walker’s concerts.
“We are going to have professional aerialists up in the air during all of the DJ sets, dancing stilt walkers and LED robots throughout the evening. We’re also going to feature this one special moment, a mission moment, where the students of the Sailor Circus Academy and the other youth programs are going to be performing with one of the opening DJ’s, DJ Pete DiCaro,” says Mitchell. “It’s going to be an opportunity for us to raise some funds in the community for their programs and support these kids who are really special artists and student performers.”
Saturday, April 13, 7 p.m., Sailor Circus Arena, 2075 Bahia Vista St, Sarasota. 
Pictured: DJ Alan Walker on stage. Photo courtesy of Circus Arts Conservatory.
The Venice Symphony’s 50th Anniversary season concludes on April 26-27 with its largest concert ever, The Crown Jewel Finale. Performing with the orchestra will be Sarasota’s Key Chorale and acclaimed vocalists Deanna Breiwick and Dashon Burton. Concertgoers will feel like royalty as the orchestra serenades them with Hans Zimmer’s Main Title from The Crown, William Walton’s Crown Imperial, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ English Folk Song Suite, and the choral masterwork Dona nobis pacem by Vaughan Williams. A native of Seattle, WA, American soprano Breiwick has been hailed by The New York Times for her “sweet sound and floating high notes” and for being a “vocal trapeze artist.” She is a Metropolitan Opera National Council Grand Finalist, a Grand Prize Winner of the Sullivan Foundation Vocal Competition, and a First Prize Winner of the Gerda Lissner Foundation International Vocal Competition. She also holds awards from the George London Foundation, the Giulio Gari Foundation, the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation, and the Richard F. Gold Career Grant.Hailed by the Boston Globe as an artist “alight with the spirit of the music,” three-time Grammy Award winning bass-baritone Burton appears regularly throughout the US and Europe. As a multiple award-winning singer, he won his second Grammy Award in March 2021 for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album with his performance featured in Dame Ethyl Smyth’s masterwork The Prison with The Experiential Orchestra. As an original member of the groundbreaking vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth, he won his first Grammy Award in 2013.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT) is pleased to present the eleventh year of its annual Young Artist Program, through which Troupe members can showcase their talents with self-produced, one-person shows. WBTT’s second Young Artist Program showcase of the 2023-2024 season will feature Troupe member Ariel Blue as she presents two performances of On Love’s Boulevard on April 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. Since its inception, WBTT has mentored and inspired many young artists through their participation in the company’s productions and, in more recent years, Stage of Discovery and other youth training opportunities. Many of the aspiring professional artists trained in the organization’s performing arts program have gone on to work with regional and national companies and even achieved major-label success. Young Artist Program showcases take place in The Donelly Theatre at WBTT (1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $27 general admission; sponsor tickets, which include reserved preferred seating and playbill recognition, are $100 (prices include ticket fees). Call the Box Office at 941-366-1505 or purchase tickets online at westcoastblacktheatre.org.
Pictured: Ariel Blue will be featured in two performances of her WBTT Young Artist Program showcase, On Loves Boulevard, on April 21 and 22. Photo by Sorcha Augustine.
Sarasota Opera is pleased to announce the lineup for its 2024 movie series: Classic Movies at the Opera House and HD at the Opera House. The Classics at the Opera House series will open with The Godfather Part II on Friday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. with tickets at $12. The HD at the Opera House series featuring filmed performances of opera, theater, and ballet from around the world will open on Sunday, June 9 at 1:30 p.m. with Charles Gounod’s Faust from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London, with tickets at $20, and $18 for Sarasota Opera subscribers. Student tickets for HD at the Opera House are $12. Tickets will go on sale starting Monday, April 22. “The Sarasota Opera House was originally a movie and vaudeville theater, so this is a perfect way to celebrate that tradition,” said General Director Richard Russell. “We are pleased to once again present our HD at the Opera House series after we were not able to present these films last year. We are also thrilled to be showing the 1952 classic film The Greatest Show on Earth which was filmed in Sarasota and had its world-premiere screening here at our Opera House.” All seats are general admission. Ticket buyers are encouraged to purchase tickets before arriving at the theater. Information and tickets can be found online at SarasotaOpera.org or by calling (941)328-1300. Sarasota Opera subscribers who wish to purchase discounted HD at the Opera House tickets must contact the Sarasota Opera box office directly.
Sarasota Opera, 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, 941-328-1300.
VERSATILE VENUE | The Ora, Sarasota's new event venue, sets the scene for Gulf Coast galas and gatherings, April 2024.
The Venice Symphony is proud to present the fifth annual Patriotic Pops and Fireworks Concert, American Heroes, on Saturday, May 25 at 7:30 pm at CoolToday Park, the Spring Training home of The Atlanta Braves. A spectacular fireworks display will follow the concert. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Visit the CoolToday Park Box Office at 18800 S. West Villages Parkway, Venice, or call 941-413-5004 or visit Ticketmaster to purchase tickets.
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. Bring blankets or lawn chairs, take in the music and the sunset, and enjoy food and beverages from local vendors.
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.
Annette Dignam State College of Florida Residency in Literature at the Hermitage presents Writing for the Stage with Hermitage Fellow Sarah Gancher, Wednesday, April 24, 3:30pm: An Obie Award-winning playwright whose work has been produced at some of the top theaters in the country, Hermitage Fellow Sarah Gancher is no stranger to writing for the stage. From works such as the recent Off-Broadway play Russian Troll Farm to collaborative musical projects like Hundred Days and The Lucky Ones with The Bengsons, Gancher has done it all. In this special program, Gancher will offer insight into how she approaches a range of projects, give updates on what is next for her, and share samples of her original works. Presented in partnership with State College of Florida. Registration is required at HermitageArtistRetreat.org. $5/person registration fee. State College of Florida, Venice Campus, 8000 S Tamiami Trail, Venice.
Experiencing an increase in demand during the summer can be exciting for small business owners, but finding the right hire to meet that demand can be challenging. In this webinar, we will dive into the fundamentals of hiring a seasonal worker and the strategies you can use to hire the right employee fast while staying compliant with regulations. From posting job listings to on-the-job training, we will cover everything you need to know about the hiring process. Free, online webinar. score.org/manasota.
For many business owners, succession planning and retirement planning are often placed on the back burner as an endless list of day-to-day obligations take precedence. However, a focus on long-term succession goals is a good business strategy as it provides a defined roadmap for the business. This webinar will highlight the need for having a formal succession plan in writing with examples of missteps. It will also provide a guide for business owners looking to formalize the often-overlooked aspect of succession planning and implement a robust succession strategy, ensuring continuity and success not only for themselves but also for their organization. Free, online webinar. score.org/manasota.
Founded in 2008 by the husband-and-wife team of internationally renowned pianists Catherine Lan and Tao Lin, Duo Beaux Arts takes the power of the piano and doubles it. Known for their adrenalized performances, this dynamic duo has performed to critical acclaim across the U.S., Europe, and China. This recital features works for piano four hands and two pianos, including Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, K448 by Mozart, Fantasie in f minor for piano four hands, Op 940 by Schubert and pieces by Vivaldi, Debussy, and Strauss. The pair will perform at the Studio for Performing Arts Recital Hall at State College of Florida on April 16 at 7:30 pm. Single ticket: $40. For tickets and more information, visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org or call 941-306-1202.
The Eyes on Seagrass Program is a bi-annual citizen science event in partnership with Florida Sea Grant, Mote Marine Laboratory, and Sarasota and Manatee counties to measure macroalgae and seagrass coverage. The program was expanded from Charlotte Harbor to cover Sarasota Bay in 2021 in response to a data gap in macroalgae monitoring. During a sampling window in April and July, participants travel to various locations throughout Sarasota Bay to collect information on macroalgae and seagrass coverage. Results are then integrated into the Sarasota Bay Ecosystem Health Report Card. To learn more and participate, visit sarasotabay.org.
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 |
Powered by Sarasota Web Design | Unsubscribe
