Two months before Neil Armstrong made his historic first steps on the lunar surface, newspapers across the nation carried the story of another moon landing—this time by a dog. Not the cosmonautic corpse of some less-lucky Laika, but an all-American cultural icon loved by families everywhere. That Snoopy the Beagle was entirely fictional and his spaceship looked suspiciously like a doghouse were mere quibbles. From Apollo to Artemis, Snoopy has been part of the NASA family since 1968, when he became the organization’s first safety mascot. And in the latest exhibition on display at the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, families can experience the full story of the historic partnership between America’s astronauts and its premiere illustrator.

Called To the Moon: Snoopy Soars with NASA, the traveling exhibition on loan from the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center takes museum-goers all the way back to 1967, when NASA and the nation were reeling from the Apollo 1 fire, which took the lives of three astronauts. Looking for their own Smokey Bear to promote a culture of safety, NASA reached out to Schulz, who readily agreed to send Snoopy into space. Visitors to the exhibition will get a chance to see all sorts of artifacts from the beginning of this fruitful collaboration, including copies of those original Peanuts comic strips and a reproduction of the first drawing Schulz ever made of Snoopy in his astronaut gear. Also on loan, a film composed of archival footage and interviews, including with Schulz himself, about the Apollo 10 mission, with its Command and Lunar modules affectionately dubbed “Charlie Brown” and “Snoopy” by the astronauts who flew them.

In addition to the objects and displays on loan from the Schulz Museum, The Bishop has augmented the exhibition with items on loan from local collectors. These include a rare Snoopy astronaut doll autographed by an Apollo 10 astronaut, as well as a coveted Silver Snoopy pin. An award conferred by NASA for significant contributions to safety and mission awareness, the Silver Snoopy is given to less than 1% of NASA employees and contractors and always presented by an actual astronaut.

With plenty of opportunity for fun with the kids, the exhibition also features a large-scale photo backdrop of Snoopy on the moon, complete with space-themed props so that kids can pose for pictures, as well as multiple “life-sized” Snoopy printouts guiding audiences through the experience and just generally being adorable. And for those looking to get even more hands-on, the Mosaic Backyard Universe has a station where kids can design and build their own mission patches.

The exhibition is a “natural fit,” says Director of Museum Experience Ashley Waite, for an institution already home to its own planetarium and a moon rock on loan from NASA. “Not many people know that Snoopy is so involved with NASA and its flight program,” Waite says. “So it felt like a really fun story to tell this summer.”

Currently on display at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, To the Moon: Snoopy Soars with NASA runs through August 15. To the Moon: Snoopy Soars with NASA is organized and toured by the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center, Santa Rosa, California. 

Pictured: Image courtesy of Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center.

In the little town that runs along Odella Creek, children are never safe. ‘It’s 7pm. Do you know where your children are?’ is the premise of Oak by Terry Guest which will make its world premiere on May 31 at Sarasota’s Urbanite Theatre.  Oak, which has been in development at Urbanite since receiving the organization’s 2020 Charles Rowan Beye New Play Commision, is a Southern Gothic horror at its core, mixing bone-chilling scares with themes of racial identity and prejudice.

“In  Oak, children have been disappearing in this town along the Odella creek for a very long time. There is a town urban legend that the monster Odella will snatch you after dark. Within the story, there’s a lot of symbolism about who the monster is or isn’t,” says Summer Wallace, Producing Artistic Director of Urbanite. “We meet the characters of Suga, Big Man and Pickle. Big man and Pickle are brother and sister and Suga is their cousin. Suga gets snatched and disappears, so Big Man and Pickle go on an adventure to not only find Suga, but escape the Odella monster as well.”

Oak uses the construct of the Odella creek monster to explore the more pertinent themes of racism and motherhood. The legend has it that Odella was a slave that was forced to leave her baby behind when pursuing her freedom. “After Odella left her baby behind, she stopped and turned, heard her baby’s first words of ‘hey mama’ and just decided to keep going. She later drowned,” says Wallace. “Odella the creek monster is basically her–or is it? Kids have been disappearing all throughout this part of this Southern town because of racial violence. This play delves into that and also looks at what happens when a mother chooses herself?”

 Oak is directed by Mikael Burke and comes from the pen of Guest, a two-time Jeff Award winner and writer of multiple award-winning plays including At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen which was a hit for Urbanite during the organization’s 2021-2022 season. 

Meet Joe Abel--Sarasota’s own living, breathing statue. Plated in gold and silver, Abel is known for his sport-inspired character statues, like “Happy Stillmore”, “Gold E. Glover”, and “Goldie Howe”.

Abel began his entertainment career at the ripe age of six years old. In his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, Abel found himself bored at a craft fair his parents were running. “My mom didn’t have time for me, because she was getting all the vendors checked in.” Abel recalls, “So she told me what any good mother would say, ‘Go streaking’. I went into the bathroom and ran out wearing only underwear.” The following year, Abel performed as a clown for the first time, quenching his thirst for activity and occupying his passion for a lifetime.

After a decade of craft fairs and haunted houses, Abel developed the ability to stand still for hours on end, hardly moving or blinking. During his career as an independent wrestling manager, Abel would visit downtown Sarasota on Halloween dressed in various costumes. “After three years, I decided that I wanted to do something different,” Abel recalls. “I like the attention, but I wanted a change.”

Recalling a human statue performance he saw in Mexico, Abel was certain that his skill set could be capitalized on. Only anxious about his ability to garner outfits, Abel trusted his creative ability and returned to downtown Sarasota the following Halloween dressed as a statue. By the end of the night, Abel left with a cup full of cash. Halloween fun turned into more than $100.

Abel knew he had struck gold. Before he knew it, he had a cast of characters, ranging from baseball players to a rock and roll guitarist. Fed up with his 9-5, Abel quit his job as a wrestling manager and fully committed to his characters. “I’m making more money, and I’m having more fun.”

Abel performs as Gold E. Glover, a gold baseball statue, at professional matches. This prompted him to be featured on Bally Sports, a television provider of sports media. Interviewed at a game between the Orioles and Rays, Major League Baseball took an eight second clip of the interview and uploaded it to their YouTube page. The video garnered over 96,000 views.

“I’ve never had anybody look at anything I did. You know a couple hundred, maybe a thousand. To go from that to 96,000 is amazing.” It was especially exciting for Abel, fueling his dream of working for a major league baseball team.

What’s next for Sarasota’s savviest statue? This Memorial Day, Abel will be appearing in the Lakewood Ranch Memorial Day Parade to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. On June 8th and 9th, you can see him in St. Augustine at the wrestling convention taking place at the World Golf Village Renaissance Resort. 

Pictured: Joe Abel as Happy Stillmore. Photo by Wes Roberts.

Prepare for an extraordinary evening on November 21, 2024 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall as Black Violin commemorates 20 years of musical innovation with their BV20: Then & Now tour. Tickets go on sale Thursday at 10am ET. This groundbreaking duo, renowned for their genre-defying fusion of classical music and hip-hop rhythms, is set to captivate audiences with live performances across the country once again this fall. In celebration of the bands 20th anniversary, their new single “Legends in the Making” is out now. BV20: Then & Now will showcase the incredible 20 year journey of Black Violin so far, featuring Kev Marcus on violin and Wil Baptiste on viola/vocals, joined by Nat Stokes on drums, DJ SPS on turntables, and Liston Gregory on keys. This talented ensemble will deliver a performance that transcends genres, combining the elegance of classical strings with the dynamic beats of hip-hop.  The band has lots to be proud of from their humble beginnings as highschool orchestra classmates, to triumphant winners of Showtime at the Apollo, to now being two time grammy nominated, internationally touring musicians. Black Violin is also known for being strong advocates for music education. Kev Marcus states, “We take pride in staying true to ourselves and inspiring others to do the same. Our foundation's mission of providing music education opportunities for children nationwide is a source of great pride. Our dedicated band members have been with us for almost a decade, and our entire team shares our passion and values.” In 2019, Black Violin launched the Black Violin Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth by providing access to quality music programs in their community. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience Black Violin live and celebrate two decades of music that has inspired and uplifted fans around the globe. Be part of an evening filled with celebration, inspiration, and the enduring power of dreams with Black Violin’s BV20: Then & Now. Tickets start at $36 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 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726. 

The Sarasota Players 95th Season features a lineup of musicals that will send audiences on a captivating journey through the pages of classic literature, and enchant and delight audiences of all ages. This musical theatre lineup is centered around characters who grow and pursue themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the transformative power of determination. Each production - Seussical the Musical, Little Women, Fun Home and Into the Woods -features protagonists embarking on personal journeys, facing obstacles that force them to confront their fears, doubts, and limitations. Throughout the season, audiences are taken on a journey alongside these characters as they navigate the highs and lows of their quests. Sarasota Players’ Chief Executive Officer William Skaggs said he can’t wait to share these incredible stories with the community. “We are so excited to celebrate 95 years with the community,” Skaggs added. “We’ve carefully selected each of these titles because of their emotional impact and how they connect with audiences.” The season contains four mainstage shows to take place at The Sarasota Players theatre location at the Crossings at Siesta Key mall along with extra events throughout the year including a large 95th anniversary fundraiser, Shakespeare, an interactive comedy and additional shows to feature local artists and their work. 

Pictured: Members of The Sarasota Players 95th Season Group. Photo courtesy of The Sarasota Players.

2024 WOMEN WHO ROAR APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN | SRQ Magazine invited our readers to nominate women in our community who best exemplify the attributes of professional acumen, philanthropic passion, personal integrity, and community leadership and who have deeply contributed to our community. Applications close today, May 24, 2024.