SRQ MAGAZINE | 2018-19 Culture Primer :: Preview to the Season

Theater Performances Museum Exhibits Art Galleries Festivals Dance

CULTURE PRIMER

2018-19 GUIDE TO THE ARTS+CULTURE SEASON

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Sarasota Bradenton Venice

530 Burns Gallery 530 Burns Gallery is a contemporary art gallery beneath the banyan tree in Sarasota’s historic Burns Court. Known for featuring art and jewels by emerging and established artists and jewelry designers, the gallery is committed to showing fine art and curating cross cultural events within the community and beyond. 530burnsgallery.com

ing gallery, and on display for the same period of time, the Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society will also be showing work from its member-artists.

Bill Buchman, Duncan Chamberlain, Elena De La Ville, Gay Germain, Grace Howl, Jack Dowd, Joseph Melancon, Larry Forgard, Tim Jaeger, Tom Stephens and Vicky Randall.

Fur, Feathers, Flora & Fauna

Cycle 4 Mar 14–Apr 19. Through a

May 21–Jun 21. An all media, open exhibition throughout all galleries. Includes Art & Animals on June 1—a fun family day with animals and art, nonprofit organizations, information, activities and photo opportunities. Guests are invited to bring their leashed, well behaved pets.

visceral mixing of oil and acrylic paint, Walter Matthews’ densely worked canvases create a reflection of the artist’s intensity and anxiety. Continuing the annual tradition, Spectrum IV embeds the independent work of three natural solo artists into an experimental installation that blurs the lines between collaboration and contamination. Split between a series of micro-exhibitions, New Realities features the perspectives and studio practices of junior level Fine Art students attending Ringling College of Art and Design.

By the Sea Nov 9–Dec 10.

This group exhibition celebrates the beauty of glistening waterscapes with inspired artwork. Sarasota-based and nationally acclaimed artist Linda Richichi presents oil and pastel paintings along with Florida landscape artist Gary Borse and other gallery talents.

Art and Jewels Dec 14–Jan 7.

This intersectional exhibition pairs specific paintings and wall sculptures with vignettes of art jewelry that create a collaboration and conversation between the two. Representing nearly 30 different artists and jewelry designers, 530 Burns blurs the lines between art and jewelry.

ArtCenter Manatee Founded in 1937, ArtCenter Manatee stakes its claim as the nexus of Bradenton’s visual arts scene. Within the 10,000square-foot complex, three galleries bring new exhibits monthly, five classrooms provide arts education to more than 3,000 students and the gift shop offers singular and handcrafted items from local artists. artcentermanatee.org.

Art Center Sarasota Located off Tamiami Trail, Art Center Sarasota has made a name for itself as the community gallery for the city and county. Between bringing artists from across the state and beyond for solo and collaborative exhibitions, and the Center’s many open and juried competitions seeing submissions from hundreds of local artists across the region, Art Center Sarasota keeps all four of its galleries filled as much as possible, with multiple shows each Cycle, free and open to all visitors. artsarasota.org.

Cycle 1 Oct 11–Nov 16. Haunting and poetic, the first exhibition of Brooklynbased artist Natalie Lerner, daughter of Leslie Lerner, features a series of intimately scaled etchings and graphite on paper drawings. Miami-based installation artist Brookhart Jounquil brings his mesmerizing and illusory glass- and light-based sculpture to Art Center Sarasota. Based in Antwerp, Belgium, An Onghena brings her diaristic take on traditional and contemporary printmaking to create a series of unique, daily prints. Curated by Kurt Vanbelleghem.

National Sumi-e Society Oct 30–Nov 30.

Celebrating the Japanese art of ink wash painting, also called Sumi-e, this exhibition brings art from around the country to Bradenton for a show dedicated to the delicacy, beauty and history of the medium.

Spanning across all three galleries, this is another flagship exhibition for one of Bradenton’s leading art centers.

American Watercolor Society Jan 15–Feb 22. The galleries fill to the point of overflowing with more watercolor, as the American Watercolor society brings its best to Bradenton. Artists are local, national and international, and ArtCenter Manatee is one of only five venues in the country to host the exhibit. Admission is $5. In a neighbor-

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Cycle 5 May 30–Jul 5. In Gallery 1, Monumental, a group show, features smallscale sculptures. Next door, local artist Keith Crowley will exhibit a recent series of his meticulously layered photographically-based oil and watercolor paintings in his first solo exhibition at Art Center Sarasota. In Gallery 3, and featuring incisive and satirical investigations of the ego, sexuality, and competitiveness found on full display at gyms, Caitlin Albritton’s paintings and drawings of contorted figures address questions of gender issues and body politics.

Artist Series Concerts With a mission to present concerts to the community that promote both enjoyment and cultural appreciation, Artist Series Concerts presents primarily classical music programming, with a focus on piano and voice, but its versatile performers regularly expand the repertoire to incorporate Broadway, cabaret, opera and even the sounds of cinema. artistseriesconcerts.org

Cycle 2 Nov 29–Jan 4. Art Center Instructors exhibition will feature the talented local and visiting Art Center Sarasota instructors.

A second gallery will offer Stephen McMennamy, an Atlanta-based artist, his first solo exhibition featuring his time-based video collages. McMennamy is known for his humorous and satirical photo combinations.

In the third gallery, artist Peter Gatzambide will exhibit a recent series of assemblage paintings and works on paper in his first solo exhibition at Art Center Sarasota.

Nov 3–4. Inspired by the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI, this performance explores timeless themes of longing, loss, love and the search for peace in the wake of catastrophe. Musical selections range from Schubert’s “Der Wanderer“, to Vaughan Williams’ “Songs of Travel”, to Ives’ “They Are There”. Featuring baritone John Brancy and Peter Dugan on piano.

SVAS Pop-Up Jan 7–12. Sarasota Visual

Who Stole The Mona Lisa? Jan 12–13.

Artists Studios will present an exciting one week Pop Up Art exhibition featuring the work of Andrea Dasha Reich, Barbara Banks,

“Who Stole The Mona Lisa?” is a whimsical and imaginative animated film that offers a delightful, multimedia, classical music

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Armistice: The Journey Home

cover: Perfect Pairs, The Naughton Sisters, Sarasota Orchestra. this page, l-r: Cast of Asolo Rep's production of Evita (2017). Photo by Paul Miller. Asolo Rep’s The Crucible, directed by Michael Donald Edwards.

performance presented in synchrony with a live performance of Igor Stravinsky’s Suite from The Firebird. Live and visual pairings of Babar the Elephant and Pictures at an Exhibition complete the program.

Asolo Repertory Theatre

Feb 28. This interactive program of popular Russian and folk songs from the Barynya Russian Balalaika Duo incorporates colorful costumes and dance into a full experience.

Highlights include “Tara’s Theme” from Dr. Zhivago, the Russian Gypsy dance “Two Guitars,” the “Cossack Dance,” a charming “Tongue Twister Medley” and more. Instrument highlights include the balalaika, garmoshka and contrabass.

A leading artistic force on the creative coast. Asolo’s theatrical scene is a major contributor to Sarasota’s rich cultural atmosphere and is well known for its diverse spread of yearly productions.

With inspiring and engaging performances, the theatre never fails to envelop its audience in a vibrant and entertaining environment. Every season, Asolo Rep revives old classics and brings brand new productions, providing both escapist entertainment and needed social commentary. asolorep.org

Stan Kenton All Star Big Band

The Music Man

March 17. With a 17-piece orchestra, the program includes such well-loved favorites as “Here’s That Rainy Day,” ”September Song,” “Over the Rainbow,” “Minor Blues,” “Artistry in Rhythm” and many more from the American popular music and jazz artist.

Nov 17–Dec 29. The winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, this American institution with its one-of-a-kind score features fast-talking salesman Harold Hill, who brings trouble to River City, Iowa when he cons the townspeople into buying instruments for an imaginary band—but his plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when his heart is stolen by the town librarian.

Tony Award-nominated Jeff Calhoun directs.

Russian Folk Music and Dance

Mallets and Forethought March 21.

A percussionist of great versatility and virtuosity, George Nickson brings the marimba to the fore in this concert that includes selections from Debussy’s “Children’s Corner Suite” and “Over The Rainbow” by Harlan/Oetemo. Principal percussionist for the Sarasota Orchestra and founding member of ensemblenewSRQ, Nickson has been hailed across the country, including as “a performer handling his role with ease and flair” by The New York Times.

The Crucible Jan 11–Mar 10. One spring night in 1962, a Salem village reverend discovers a group of teenage girls dancing devilishly around a fire in the woods. When his daughter exhibits strange catatonic symptoms the following morning, the townsfolk are frenzied with rumors of witchcraft. A timeless

parable about morality, silence and the devastating consequences when fear takes root in a community. Directed by Michael Donald Edwards.

Sweat Feb 6–April 13. Winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play, Lynn Nottage’s timely play looks at life in the heart of working-class America. It’s the year 2000 in the steel town of Reading, PA, and all that best friends Tracey and Cynthia need are their steady factory jobs, their favorite bar and each other. But when layoffs and picket lines begin to chip away at their trust, the friends find themselves pitted against each other in the hard fight to stay afloat. Directed by Nicole A. Watson.

Noises Off Mar 22–Apr 20. A comedy of epic proportions, with opening night just hours away, a motley company of actors stumbles through a frantic, final rehearsal of the British sex farce Nothing On, and things couldn’t be going worse. Lines are forgotten, love triangles are unraveling and sardines are flying everywhere.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street May 4–26. Wrongly imprisoned for 15 years, barber Sweeney Todd returns to take his revenge on the judge who took him from his wife and young daughter. Todd’s craving for vengeance becomes homicidal—and

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this page: Art Center Sarasota, Cycle 1, Brookhart Jonquil, Day Follows Night.

stage and the Bowne’s Lab Theatre— with productions both original and classic. With an ongoing dedication to the improvisational and cabaret arts, audiences can find everything from the traditional straight play to a night of impossible-to-predict shenanigans. floridastudiotheatre.org.

Unchained Melodies

profitable—when he partners with the unscrupulous Mrs. Lovett and opens a barber practice above her meat pie shop. With his razors and her new secret ingredient, their notoriety soars until Todd comes face to face with the judge. Directed by Peter Rothstein

The Cake In the Cook Theatre April 5–28. Thirty-something Jen wants her deceased mother’s best friend Della, a talented but struggling baker, to create her wedding cake. She returns from New York with her betrothed to her North Carolina hometown and finds that Della is more than happy to honor her wish, until she discovers that there isn’t just one bride in the picture. Moral quandaries, reality TV and lots of butter collide in this touching new play told with generosity, humor and more than a few surprises.

Around the World in 80 Days June 6-23. Eight actors, 109 characters, six trains, six boats, four flights, one storm, a circus act and an elephant take center stage when Asolo Rep partners once again with UK’s Kenny Wax Family Entertainment (Hetty Feather) to bring Around the World in 80 Days to Sarasota. When the mysterious and fabulously wealthy Phileas Fogg and his faithful servant Passepartout board the train in London in 1875, he has only 80 days to travel around the world to win a wager with his fellow members at the Reform Club.

Directed by Theresa Heskins

Discover Sarasota Tours Discover Sarasota Tours offers entertaining, interactive and informative air-conditioned trolley tours of the most interesting people, intriguing places and amazing stories that shaped

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Sarasota’s rich cultural past. Founder and CEO Tammy Hauser says, “Sarasota is home to educated, curious and passionate residents and visitors who want to learn more about their multi-layered past. Our tours bring the past to life in a fun, engaging and interactive way.

The Discover Sarasota Tours will embark from the Downtown Trolley Depot, a 1930s charming cottage at 1826 4th Street with on-site shaded parking October-May. Daily “City Sightseeing” and “Circus City” tours, as well as nighttime “Ghost Tours” and “Scandals of Sarasota,” are scheduled. Additional Public Art Tours, Ladies of Sarasota’s Past, and Gospel Sunday Tours will begin in November. Visit the gift shop in the Trolley Depot to find Sarasota memorabilia and souvenirs celebrating history, lost places and key figures. discoversarasotatours.com

Florida Studio Theatre

Oct 3–Feb 3. An original Florida Studio Theatre Production by Richard Hopkins and Rebecca Hopkins with arrangements

by Jim Prosser. Get ready for an evening of heartwarming harmonies. Beginning with doo-wop groups like The Drifters and The Platters, Unchained Melodies celebrates male harmony groups and the swingin’ sounds of the ‘50s and ‘60s. With hits like “Blue Moon,” “16 Candles,” and “Working My Way Back to You,” you won’t want to miss this musical trip down memory lane.

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder Nov 7–Mar 1. Four-Time Tony Award-Winner, including Best Musical.

Florida Studio Theatre’s Mainstage presents its largest marquee season in over a decade with two multi-Tony Award winners, an Obie-Award-winning playwright, a play fresh off Broadway, and a World Premiere. Kicking off their 45th Mainstage Season is A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, a Broadway hit that follows main character Monty Navarro, who after discovering that he is a distant heir to a large family fortune, works to speed up the line of succession by using a great deal of charm…and a dash of murder. The New York Times calls it “Inspired and hilarious,” and Time Out Chicago says it’s “One of the best musicals in years.”

Straight White Men Located in the heart of downtown, Florida Studio Theatre is one of Sarasota’s oldest and funkiest professional theaters, filling its veritable village of theaters—the historic Keating and Gompertz theaters, the Parisian-style Goldstein, the John C. Court Cabaret

Dec 12–Mar 1. The Broadway hit from provocateur playwright Young Jean Lee, when Ed and his three adult sons come together to celebrate Christmas, they enjoy cheerful trash-talking, pranks and takeout Chinese. Then they confront a problem that even being a happy family can’t

“Florida Studio Theatre is first and foremost very contemporary. It deals with the world of today, the issues of today, and most importantly, the people of today. Whether you’re in the mood for a Broadway hit, a musical revue, or family fun, there’s something for everyone this season at FST.” — Richard Hopkins, Producting Artistic Director, Florida Studio Theatre

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left: Artist Series Concerts features acclaimed pianist Alexandre Moutouzkine in its “Images” program.

school students. The spirit of the group can be found in four words: innovation, community, collaboration and creativity. keychorale.org

American Roots: Digging Deeper Oct 27. Come “Down in the River to Pray” as the Key Chorale Chamber Singers celebrate the music of Appalachia. Back by popular demand, this new concert will highlight the rich heritage of the shape note tradition and the roots of American Bluegrass from its origins to today. Three Key Chorale-commissioned world premieres from arranger Keith Christopher will feature banjo, mandolin, fiddle, guitar and string bass in a fusion of Bluegrass and the choral arts.

Misatango

solve: when identity matters, and privilege is problematic, what is the value of being a straight white man?

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Jan 23–Mar 17. Winner of Four Tonys and Seven Olivier Awards, including Best Play. This international hit brings Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel to life onstage. Christopher Boone is exceptionally intelligent, but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He sets out to investigate the bizarre death of a neighbor’s dog, inspiring a series of events that expose far greater mysteries. This British blockbuster play takes you inside the extraordinary mind of a boy who views the world as most can only imagine. The Guardian calls is “ingenious,” and Hollywood Reporter says it is “smart, original, and brimming with humanity.”

Key Chorale One of the Suncoast’s premier symphonic choruses, Key Chorale’s programming honors the history of great choral music, presents world premieres, includes guest artists, collaborates with other performing arts organizations and provides opportunities to area high

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Nov 25. Misatango, a tango mass from Argentina, combines the passion of tango with the ancient beauty of the Latin mass sung to the melodies and rhythms of the streets of Buenos Aires. Dancers from Sarasota Ballet’s Studio Company, choreographed by Elizabeth Bergmann, perform while Argentine composers Astor Piazzolla, Martin Palermi and Ariel Ramirez’s evocative Misa Criolla captures the sounds of Argentina with guitars, accordion, strings, voices and percussion.

Mendelssohn’s Elijah March 10–11. Mendelssohn’s powerful choral masterpiece brings to life some of the most dramatic moments in the Old Testament. Fire comes from the heavens, storms gather and the people cry for vengeance. From the prophet’s curse of drought, to confronting an evil queen, to his ascent to heaven on a fiery chariot, Elijah is an extraordinary musical experience.

Cirque Des Voix Mar 22–24. A Key Chorale special event, Cirque des Voix is a performance unlike any other. See world-class circus artists combine with the 100+ voices of the Key Chorale and the musical mastery of the 40-piece Cirque Orchestra to produce one of the most unforgettable productions you’ll ever experience.

Tomorrow’s Voices Today May 3. Witness a choral festival with more than 200 singers of all ages. Maestro Caulkins inspires music-making at the highest levels, planting seeds that will ripen throughout students’ lives with an eclectic program from classics to contemporary.

Key Chorale’s 6th annual collaboration

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with the Sarasota County Schools will feature Pine View, Venice and North Port High School choirs performing separately and alongside Key Chorale

La Musica Specializing in chamber music presentation and production, La Musica has carved a place in its decades-long tenure as a musical meeting of the minds, bringing esteemed performers from Europe and the US together for collaborative performances. Under the direction of Artistic Director Bruno Guiranna and President Sally Faron, La Musica continues to explore this season. They produce an annual La Musica Chamber Festival every April. lamusicafestival.org.

Sonata a Due Dec 4. Enjoy the festive, elegant splendor of The Field Club as La Musica kicks off its 33rd season. Take in the beauty of the bay and the historic mansion during the cocktail reception. Sit back and relax while a duo of musicians performs a recital. Cap the evening with an exquisite dinner in the Club’s flagship dining room—a space designed by architectural icon Tim Siebert.

“Truthful & Timeless” International Chamber Music Festival April 8–17.

Hosted at the Sarasota Opera House, La Musica stages four concerts for a springtime festival celebrating musical virtuosity and the grandeur of the concert stage. With single tickets at $45 and bundled packages for the entire festival run, rehearsal passages are also typically made available as well, for those wanting a behind-the-scenes look at how professional musicians prepare for their next performance.

Musical Chefs Interactive Dinner April 10. A lively, interactive dinner event featuring La Musica artists joining Philip Mancini and Michael’s On East’s Executive Chef Jamil Pineda in Michael’s Wine Cellar to lead guests in cooking demonstrations to create the evening's meal. An event as fun as the food is delicious, Musical Chefs will sell out, so reserve early.

Manatee Performing Arts Center Housed in the Manatee Performing Arts Center, the Manatee Players reign as Bradenton’s most prominent theater and performing arts troupe. With producing artistic director Rick Kerby at the helm, The Manatee Players showcases the area’s extensive talent pool through comedies, dramas and musicals, sometimes wrangling it all together for one big community event. manateeperformingartscenter.com

Cabaret Oct 25–Nov 11. It’s 1930s Berlin, and on the horizon looms an ugly and dangerous threat, but that’s no concern for sensational cabaret singer Sally Bowles, whose only goal in life is to have a good time. As Sally loses herself in a young writer from America, around them the lives of citizens go from ordinary to a nightmare. Will Sally escape her bubble, or will she look to the ground as the Nazis steamroll over everything she holds dear? Be part of the action with limited on-stage seating.

Pirates. At eight years of age, Frederic was apprenticed to a group of fun-loving, soft-hearted pirates. Now 21, he decides to leave the pirates to lead “a blameless life.”

He makes it his goal to eradicate these pirates. Fun and mayhem follow.

Mary Poppins Feb 14–Mar 3. Set in London, 1910, Bert, a jack-of-all-trades, guides audiences into the dysfunctional home of the Banks family, where the children have gone through numerous nannies. Mary Poppins magically flies into their lives bringing whimsy, magic and common sense discipline for both the children and grown-ups, and everyone learns that “anything can happen if you let it.”

Barnum Apr 25–May 12. The story of Phineas Taylor Barnum, who, despite his wife’s objections, created a show highlighting the freaks of society: the oldest living woman, the smallest man and a glamorous Swedish songbird, Jenny Lind. He leaves the show to lead a normal life, but once his wife dies, he partners with James A. Bailey to form The Greatest Show on Earth.

Elf - The Musical Nov 29–Dec 16. Santa Claus narrates the story of Buddy, who was raised at the North Pole. Prior to Christmas, Buddy learns he’s human, not an elf. He convinces Santa to let him return to New York City to find his real father. He finds his father (who’s on the naughty list) and a step brother who doesn’t believe in Santa. Buddy decides it’s up to him to bring back the spirit of Christmas to his family and all of New York.

Pirates of Penzance Jan 10–27. This rollicking, music-filled farce, which premiered in 1879, includes home-town references to our own Pittsburg

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Originally the home of William and Marie Selby, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens today is an urban, bayfront oasis showcasing a living collection of rare and beautiful tropical plants.

The Gardens is also a respected world leader in the study and conservation of plants, particularly epiphytes–plants adapted to live in the tree canopy, including orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads and ferns. selby.org.

The Orchid Show: Endless Forms Oct 12–Nov 26. This year’s Orchid Show will amaze visitors with never-before-seen displays of orchids that celebrate the plant family’s dramatic diversity of colors, shape and even scents. With November’s Orchid Evening, experience the Orchid Show in a whole new light with an orchid-inspired cocktail reception and an exclusive, afterhours lighted viewing to the latest exhibition at Selby Gardens.

Gauguin’s Voyage to Paradise Feb 10–Jun. Just as Paul Gauguin left an indelible mark on the post-Impressionist art world, the deep impact of botanical imagery on his work cannot be denied. This exhibition will highlight the essential role of botanicals in achieving the artist’s vision of the savage, primitive and exotic. Together with lush displays of tropical plants in the conservatory and gardens, the show will feature dramatic woodcuts and rarely seen works in other mediums by the artist.

Keynote Lecture: Gauguin’s Voyage to Paradise with Dr. Carol Ockman Feb 12. Dr. Carol Ockman, curator-at-large for Selby Gardens, presents an engaging talk about the featured artist, Paul Gauguin, whose work inspires and is displayed in the annual Jean and Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Series.

Mote Marine Mote Marine is an independent marine research institution comprised of world-class marine scientists committed to the belief that the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans begins with research and education. Meet their

above: New Music New College Festival, photo by Alexander Perrelli.

fish and their scientists at the working aquarium which gives visitors an up-close experience with a variety of marine animals and fish, including two touch tanks and a 125,000 gallon shark habitat. Say hello to star residents like the manatees Hugh and Buffett and the sea turtles Hang Tough, Harry, Shelley, Montego and Squirt2. More than 100 species of marine life call Mote their home. mote.org

Circus by the Sea Nov 18. Join Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium and The Circus Arts Conservatory for Circus by the Sea, an exciting collaboration celebrating the arts and culture of these unique organizations right in your backyard.

Watch performances by Sailor Circus students surrounded by underwater wonders.

Performance times are 2:30pm and 3:30pm–wach performance is 20 minutes.

Community Ocean Conservation Film Festival Nov 30. Come and be inspired by the work of young conservation leaders through a showcase of student driven ocean conservation projects and films. Meet young people making a difference to protect our blue planet, and hear from ocean conservation leaders of all ages. This year’s event will feature a special screening of the awardwinning film Sea of Hope.

Perlman Music Program The Perlman Music Program (PMP) has held a winter residency in Sarasota since 2004. This intensive 17-day program was founded by Toby Perlman, wife of internationally acclaimed concert violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman. PMP offers unparalleled musical training for international students, ages 12 to 20+, who play the violin, viola, cello and bass.

With a faculty led by Toby and Itzhak Perlman and comprising some of the most gifted musical talents of our time, the PMP Sarasota Winter Residency offers an artistic and personal experience that changes students' lives forever. The winter residency's free public events include orchestra and chorus rehearsals, master classes and works-in-progress student recitals. These events take place in a heated, outdoor performance tent on the grounds of the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. Each year, the winter resi-

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dency culminates with the Celebration Concert with Itzhak Perlman conducting the PMP String Orchestra and Patrick Romano leading the PMP Chorus at the Sarasota Opera House. perlmanmusicprogramsuncoast.org

Itzhak Perlman, In the fiddler’s House, a night of klezmer Dec 17. Almost 23 years have passed since internationally-acclaimed violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman made his iconic album of klezmer music, “In the Fiddler’s House.” In this upcoming live performance at the Van Wezel Performing Art Hall, Perlman revisits this meaningful, personal project, featuring the world-renowned Klezmer Conservatory Band, with members from the original recording, released in 1995. Repertoire will include songs from the album, along with a few surprises.

Sarasota Winter Residency Dec 20–Jan 5. Featuring 20+ free or low-cost classical music events including orchestra and chorus rehearsals, master classes and works-in-progress recitals on the campus of the USF Sarasota-Manatee.

Special ticketed events include: Super Strings, Dec 29; Work in Progress Recital at Temple Beth Shalom, Jan 3; Celebration Concert, Jan 5 at the Sarasota Opera House.

The Players Centre for Performing Arts Sarasota’s longest-running community theater, the newly rebranded Players Centre for Performing Arts has woven itself into the fabric of the cultural landscape by putting the community on stage, season after season. With the annual Broadway series bringing some of the biggest musicals to town and S.N.A.P. shows offering a taste of “Something New” each season, artistic director Jeffery Kin keeps the audience guessing. theplayers.org

Sight Unseen Nov 8–18. A critically acclaimed artist has created art that is so popular, that now his works are bought ‘sight unseen.’ Happily married with a pregnant wife, the artist decides to visit his former model and lover while attending a retrospective of his work.

An artistic nod to the arts, this play is written in a non-linear progression, with forward and backward jumps in time.

Burn This Feb 7–17. A shared tragedy—the death of a young gay dancer—sets the stage for a quartet of friends to reconsider their identities, their loves and relationships. A powerful, electrifying work by the playwright whom many regard as the theatre’s finest living writer.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Feb 21–Mar 10. Visit Putnam Valley Middle School as six quirky kids fight to be the winner of its coveted annual spelling bee. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves. This Tony Award-winning musical has delighted audiences since its inception and its cast recording was nominated for a Grammy Award.

A View from the Bridge Apr 25–May 5. The limits of family bonds and personal honor are tested in Arthur Miller’s gripping tragedy. The poverty of an American working class family comes face to face with the sheer destitution of their immigrant cousins, desperate to make a new life.

POPS Orchestra With conductor Robyn Bell wielding the baton, the Pops Orchestra gears up for its latest season as Sarasota-Bradenton’s community orchestra, showcasing local musical talent and giving the town’s hidden gems a chance to shine. thepopsorchestra.org.

“John Denver-Coming Home” Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Oct 25–Nov 11. Join this eclectic group of characters in this Tony Awardwinning comedy by Christopher Durang.

Three “unique” siblings live, love and argue in their family’s home, that just happens to be located in a cherry orchard. Will they lose their ancestral home? Fun, smart and the Drama Desk Award winner for outstanding new play! Directed by Players artistic director Jeffrey Kin.

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Nov 11–12. The season kicks off with this annual salute to veterans, featuring tribute artist Tom Becker. Come hear Becker sing all of the favorite John Denver songs and wear red, white, and blue as the Pops honors every veteran with “God Bless The USA”, Salute to the Armed Forces and many more.

General reserved discounted tickets are available to veterans and their families.

“Hi, I’m Rich.”

Dec 9–10. Join masterfully musical and wickedly funny Rich Ridenour, the Pops Orchestra and local singing star and this year’s second runner up in the Ms. Florida pageant, Lauren Nielson, to brighten the stage and the holiday spirit.

“Men art from Mars, Women are from Venus” Feb 10–11. AJ Cali and Alex Zickafoose will bring back the 1960s and the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons as they present many of the great songsfrom the Tony Award-winning jukebox musical Jersey Boys. And the California Girls—the Stiletto Brass Quintet—are sure to knock your socks off.

Bradenton. Engage in the creative process, experience temporary public art and celebrate the creative youth in Manatee County.

Long Table Cars & Cuisine at Jake’s Automotive Apr 13. A locally sourced, six-course, fine dining experience prepared by distinguished local chefs. A historical automotive landmark sets the stage for this downtown experience, with rare classics, exotics and other singular automobiles on display. Supports the Bradenton Farmers’ market.

Ringling College of Art and Design Galleries

“By George, I Think We’ve Done It!” March 24–25. Enjoy iconic tunes by George Harrison sung by tribute artist Marty Scott, alongside George M. Cohen classics like Give My Regards to Broadway and You’re a Grand Old Flag, those famous sounds of George Michael’s Careless Whisper and Faith, and a plethora of George Gershwin songs including Rhapsody in Blue featuring Sarasota resident Tom Purviance on piano.

Beginning in October 2018 and running through May 2019, the Ringling College Galleries will offer a diverse array of exhibitions and related programs. The focus of these exhibitions will be to provide the visitors with numerous opportunities to engage with artists’ creativity. ringling.edu/galleries

Agitype- Sheryl Oring

Realize Bradenton A nonprofit organization dedicated to invigorating Bradenton’s cultural scene, this community-focused organization seeks to create a more active and culturally connected downtown for Bradenton, regularly organizing large-scale events in conjunction with private businesses, public resources and local artists, celebrating the city’s heritage and place within the cultural fabric of the Suncoast. realizebradenton.com.

Bradenton Blues Festival Nov 30-Dec 2. This sixth annual festival features a stellar lineup of top blues musicians,including Welch-Ledbetter Connection, Mr.Sipp, Shakura S’Aida, Chris Cain, Harper & Midwest Kind, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Kelley Hunt, & Trey Wanvig in between sets. Food, drinks and merchandise will be available for purchase on this beautiful riverfront setting.

Oct 12-Dec 7. Sheryl Oring examines critical social issues through projects that incorporate old and new media to tell stories, examine public opinion and foster open exchange. Using tools typically employed by journalists (the camera, the typewriter, the pen, the interview and the archive), she builds on experience in her former profession to create installations, performances, artist books and internet-based works. The exhibition will showcase a selection of her past projects. It will include a new book by Oring printed at the Ringling College Letterpress & Book Arts Center. Lois and David Stulberg Gallery.

Kindred - Recent Photographs

by Noelle McCleaf Oct 12–Dec 14.

Photographer Noelle McCleaf explores themes of memory, relationship and identity in the southern landscape. This exhibition will survey work from various series including: Convergence (2006-2008), A Bee in Her Bonnet (2010-2014), Totems (2013-2016), and Evie Lou and Laura Jane (2012-2016).

Richard and Barbara Basch Gallery.

ArtSlam

Microplastics

Mar 2. A celebration of youth and creativity.

Watch as dozens of teams of students and creatives take art out of the classrooms and studios and onto the streets of Downtown

Nov 13–Dec 14. Modern society is immersed in plastic. From household appliances to handheld gadgets, from clothes to food to beds, lined with synthetic fiber, to

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work tables laminated in plastic tops, it is all around. Microplastics are small pieces of plastic 5mm or less, either manufactured that size or degraded from larger objects. Ingested by fish and other marine life, they infiltrate tap water systems, and absorb chemicals in the water that surrounds them.

The microplastics exhibition will serve as a bridge between objective research on Microplastics and the subjective response to it, awakening a sense of social responsibility and ecological awareness in the viewer. Willis Smith Gallery.

10th Anniversary – Then and Now from the Richard and Barbara Basch Collection Jan 8–Mar 30. A Decade of Glass will feature extraordinary examples of previously exhibited work from the Basch Collection as well as new acquisitions and a few surprises. For the past ten years, Ringling College Curator Mark Ormond has worked with Dr. and Mrs. Basch to organize a variety of exhibitions focusing on subject matter, country of origin, technique or the work of renowned glass masters. The Basch Collection of nearly 300 items includes work by iconic masters of the medium. Richard and Barbara Basch Gallery.

Real Fashion Photography Jan 15–Mar 23. A Look at Current Trends in Photography and Video. This exhibition about the state of contemporary “fashion” imagery will examine the work of a variety of visual artists such as: Bon Duke, Pamela Reed and Matthew Rader, Sloan Laurits, Annie Powers, Hao Zeng and Mert and Marcus who have emerged on the leading edge of experimentation in the film-based business of promoting fashion and celebrity.

Their film-based work reflects our current obsession with recognizable individuals from the diverse worlds of art and culture.

Materials in the exhibition will include film and video as well as still images. A February panel discussion with several artists discussing their work and current “trends” and issues in “fashioning fiction” is planned.

Lois and David Stulberg Gallery.

The Ringling Situated along 66 acres on the bay, The Ringling boasts an impressive array of classics and works from the Old Masters, with a Rubens collection of note, as well as regularly hosting traveling exhibitions on the forefront of contemporary art in the United States and abroad. The on-site

Circus Conservatory houses the area’s local circus history, in addition to exploring the form’s greater reach. The historic Ca d’Zan mansion stands freshly renovated by the water, with tours available.

Rich in history, the museum’s roots date back to 1924, and the establishment serves as a legacy of the original owners, John and Mable Ringling. ringling.org

Coco Fusco: Twilight Oct 14–Feb 17 . A solo exhibition presenting recent video projects from the internationally-acclaimed writer and interdisciplinary artist, this show presents works exploring the current political and social climate in Cuba as the Revolution enters its twilight years. Fusco will be premiering her latest video project, a short video-essay on contemporary Cuba that reflects on the anxieties emerging as the country faces an uncertain future. Fusco will also be unveiling a new sculpture on The Ringling’s grounds, Tin Trump Man, which offers the artist’s satirical commentary on contemporary US politics.

National Theatre Live, King Lear Nov 2. Recorded live from London’s West End, see Ian McKellen’s moving portrayal of King Lear in cinemas. Considered by many to be the greatest tragedy ever written, King Lear sees two aging fathers—one a King, one his courtier—reject the children who truly love them. Their blindness unleashes a tornado of pitiless ambition and treachery, as family and state are plunged into a violent power struggle with bitter ends.

Woodblock Prints from Post– War Japan Nov 18–May 5. In the wake of the Second World War, woodblock prints emerged as a channel of diplomacy and friendship between Japan and the U.S. This exhibition draws from the Ringling Museum of Art’s extensive holdings of postwar Japanese prints and local collections. On display will be works by key artists including Onchi Koshiro, Hiratsuka Un’ichi, Saito Kiyoshi, Yoshida Chizuko and Hoshi Joshi, including a number of new acquisitions and neverbefore exhibited pieces.

Knights Feb 3–Apr 21. Drawn from the superb collections of the Stibbert Museum in Florence, Italy, this extraordinary exhibition reveals the figure of the knight in the Middle Ages and Renaissance through over 80 exquisite objects, including full suits of armor, helmets, corselets, swords and other

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weaponry. The exhibition explores the function and craftsmanship of these objects as well as their historical context.

contemporary dance legend Martha Graham and called “one of the great dance companies of the world” by The New York Times.

Poetry and Liberty

Sarasota Ballet Under the guidance of director Iain Webb, the Sarasota Ballet has grown by leaps and bounds, continually adding to a repertoire that includes both iconic and uncommon ballets from renowned choreographers such as Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Antony Tudor and more, in addition to commissioning new works from up-and-coming choreographers and established greats.

Garnering an international reputation, the Sarasota Ballet regularly compounds its performances with guest performances from traveling companies, bringing ballet from around the world. sarasotaballet.org

Iconographic Oct 26–28. Sarasota Ballet’s season opens with a bang, featuring the company premiere of Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring, set to the music of Aaron Copland, alongside revivals of Ricardo Graziano’s Symphony of Sorrows and Galina Samsova’s production of Paquita.

Masters of Dance Nov 16–17. Accompanied with live orchestra and operatic singers, Program 2 features the company premiere’s of Sir Frederick Ashton’s Rhapsody and Jerome Robbins’ The Concert alongside the revival of Christopher Wheeldon’s There Where She Loved.

Transcending Movement Jan 25–28. Kicking off 2019 with a bang, Program 4 features a world premiere from Sarasota Ballet’s Resident Choreographer and Principal Dancer, Ricardo Graziano, alongside David Bintley’s Four Scottish Dances and the company premiere of Sir Frederick Ashton’s Varii Capricci. This will be the eighth full work choreographed

by Graziano for the Company.

The Sarasota Ballet Presents Martha Graham Dance Company Feb 15–17. In its long-held tradition of featuring a visiting company each season, to provide audiences a different insight to the art of dance, the Sarasota Ballet presents the Martha Graham Dance Company, the oldest dance company in the States, founded by

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Mar 8–9. Accompanied by a full live orchestra, this production sees the company premiere of Sir Frederick Ashton’s Apparitions and the company’s revival of George Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes.

Originally planned for the 2016-2017 season, Apparitions was delayed in order to give greater time and care to the restoration and recreation of of Cecil Beaton’s spectacular sets and costumes.

Sarasota Contemporary Dance Company Bringing the best in contemporary dance to the region and creating new works right here, Sarasota Contemporary Dance is recognized in the area for its collaborative performances and eclectic choreography, which fuses various dance styles —traditional, modern, Middle Eastern, aerial, Afro-modern and even technologically-infused work. In addition to a variety of community collaborations and performances at local venues, the Sarasota Contemporary Dance Company has also been presented at the Alabama Ballet Center for Dance, John F. Kennedy Center, Merce Cunningham Studio Theatre and the Aily Citygroup Theatre. sarasotacontemporarydance.org

SCD + Now Ensemble Oct 11–14. SCD kicks off the season with an exciting evening-length, live music collaboration, featuring a world premier composition by NOW Ensemble. The evening will bring back the popular work, “Dreamfall” (co-choreographed by long time company dancer Xiao-Xuan Dancigers), as well as feature all new choreography by Artistic Director Leymis Bolaños Wilmott.

VOICES-Emerging Choreographers Dec 6–9. A performance in which four emerging choreographers—selected by adjudication through SCD’s Summer Intensive Program—will have the opportunity to expand and set their work for the main stage.

right: Mozart’s Magic Flute, Sarasota Opera

“During our 60th season of opera we are looking forward to bringing back some of our audience's favorite works. This year will be a time of celebration for Sarasota Opera and the communities it has helped grow."

— Maestro DeRenzi, Artistic Director, Sarasota Opera

Dance Makers Jan 31–Feb 3. Dance Makers offers an inspiring performance bringing together some of the most sought-out contemporary choreographers and world-class dancing.

The evening will feature new and imaginative dance works by internationally acclaimed contemporary choreographers.

Evolving/Revolving May 2–5. The final performance of the season will be comprised of diverse, new works by past company collaborators and/or dancers as well as works brought back by popular demand. This year’s production will feature Gerri Houlihan, Pamela Pietro, and an aerial work by SCD CoFounder Rachael Inman.

Sarasota Cuban Ballet Founded by Wilmian Hernandez and Ariel Serrano, the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School teaches the curriculum of the Cuban Ballet School of National Ballet of Cuba. Husband-wife team Serrano and Hernandez were influenced by the great master teachers in Cuba—Fernando Alonso, Estele Garcia, Aurora Bosch and Ramona de Saa, among others. In the Cuban tradition, they were selected at a young age to learn the art, and through their diligence, intense training and natural talent emerged to become principal dancers with various companies throughout the world. srqcubanballet.com

The Nutcracker Dec 1, 8–9. In the season opening, the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School presents a production of this timeless classic alongside Tchaikovsky’s much-loved score. Travel through this fanciful world and dance

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along with the sugar plum fairies, as Clara and her Nutcracker Prince journey into the whimsical Kingdom of Sweets.

youth opera education through its Sarasota Youth Opera program, which is currently the most comprehensive youth program of its kind in the nation.

Spring Ballet Extravaganza

sarasotaopera.org

Mar 2–3. Kicking off Spring, the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School returns to Venice to present a performance sure to delight all dance lovers, showcasing the incredible artistry, strength and passion of Cuban ballet as these young dancers present a vast and impressive repertoire.

End of Year Performance May 25. Finishing off the season with a performance at Booker High, the company— including everyone from the youngest in the School to the pre-professional—performs a wide array of classical and contemporary ballet, alongside pieces choreographed by the ballet school’s staff.

Sarasota Opera Hot off the heels of the 2016 completion of the Verdi Cycle—wherein the company and Maestro Victor DeRenzi received international acclaim for successfully performing every note the Italian composer wrote—Sarasota Opera returns for its latest season staging sumptuous classic opera and reviving rarely produced works from notable composers. Additionally, the company remains dedicated to

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The Barber of Seville Oct 26–Nov 11. Composed by Gioachino Rossini, The Barber of Seville stands as one of the most well-known comedic operas. In this two-act opera, Dr. Bartolo plans to wed his guardian Rosina, but she has other plans. Enter Figaro, the barber, who helps Rosina in sneaking, scheming and plotting to marry her beloved Lindoro— secretly, the rich Count Almaviva.

Turandot Feb 9–Mar 22. Although unfinished at the time of his death, this opera remains one of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini’s most loved works, known for being his most musically adventurous. The story opens with exiled Prince Calaf, wandering outside of the Chinese Imperial Palace, where he falls in love with the cold and distant Princess Turandot. To obtain her hand in marriage, a suitor must answer three riddles—but if they fail, they face execution. Prince Calaf declares his intention to complete the challenge and win the Princess’ heart, but a surprise test follows.

The Magic Flute Mar 2–24. Premiered in 1791 by composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, this epic opera tells the story of one of the ultimate heroic

Perfect Pairs Nov 30–Dec 2. Ward Stare leads Sarasota Orchestra in a program pairing exquisite French music with rich German orchestral fare. Twin sisters Christina and Michelle Naughton provide double the drama in Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos, while Ravel’s masterwork appropriately uses the word“delicious” in its subtitle. Mozart’s music from Thamos, King of Egypt is a rarely heard delightand German Romantic giant Richard Strauss’ operatic suite concludes the program in an explosion of orchestral virtuosity. right: The Sarasota Ballet in Christopher Wheeldon's There Where She Loved, photo by Frank Atura.

La La Land January 11–12. Relive the adventure and exuberance of the Oscar-winning smash La La Land, as the Van Wezel screens the movie musical while Sarasota Orchestra performs live. Enjoy the retro glamour and style of the film about an aspiring actress and jazz musician that won six Academy Awards.

To Sarasota with Love quests. After being rescued by the Queen of the Night’s three ladies, the Queen asks the Prince for a favor in return: to rescue her daughter from high priest Sarastro’s evil hands. And along the way, the prince learns that hero and villain are not always who they may seem.

Nabucco Mar 2–24. Sarasota Opera returns to Verdi with the story of the King of Babylon, who conquers the Hebrews, destroys their temple and takes them into captivity. His rebellious daughter Abigaille plots to seize power—and gain the affection of her sister Fenena’s lover, Ismaele, along the way.

Learning of the coup, the blasphemous Nabucco seizes the crown and declares himself god, but risks divine wrath. Will he repent and change his ways?

Rita / Secret of Susanna Mar 9–23 . These two rare one-act comedies will make for an evening full of laughs. Rita (Two Men and a Woman) by Donizetti follows Rita and her sweet, timid husband Peppe, who is terrified of his tyrannical wife. When Gaspar, Rita’s first husband whom she believed drowned, comes back, he turns Rita and Peppe’s lives upside down. In Susanna’s Secret, by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, Susanna’s husband, Count Gil, obsesses over the smell of tobacco on his wife’s clothes, convinced she is having an affair. He searches and searches, but can’t seem to ever prove it.

Sarasota Orchestra An 80-member orchestra performing more than 100 concerts in a given year, the Sarasota Orchestra has made a name for itself in the area as both entertainer and educator, offering concerts and experience to the community through a variety of performances designed to engage and enthuse. A celebrator of the classics as well as contemporary gems, Sarasota Orchestra holds the distinguished title of being the oldest continuing orchestra in the state. sarasotaorchestra.org

Musical America Oct 10–13. Conductor Alexandra Arrieche makes her Sarasota Orchestra debut with a concert of musical genres that are distinctly American. Enjoy classical and popular works

by Aaron Copland, Duke Ellington and more.

Legends Nov 2–4. Sarasota Orchestra opens its Masterworks season by featuring the legendary Tchaikovsky violin concerto. Performed

by Russian virtuoso Sergei Dogadin, top prize winner at the 2011 Tchaikovsky competition, the work is both fiendishly difficult and deeply touching. The Orchestra travels to the farthest reaches of Sibelius’ musical landscape in the monumental Symphony No. 5, inspired by a flight of swans and with its distinctive “Amen” ending. New Zealand composer Anthony Ritchie offers a luscious seasonal perspective in Yet Another Poem of Spring.

February 21, 23–24. Anu Tali’s penultimate concert as music director is a musical love letter to the local community. The concert features Ravel’s Boléro, with solos for all orchestra sections as its single, seductive theme builds into a compelling 13-minute crescendo. The program includes an epic love story, a magical story of adventure and a duet based on the fairytale Beauty and the Beast.

Peace and Joy April 5–7. Beethoven’s monumental choral symphony, penned when the composer was deaf, is widely considered the most iconic work of western music.

Join Sarasota Orchestra to celebrate Anu Tali’s six-year tenure as Music Director with a finale that is a true “Ode to Joy.” Opening the program is Arnold Schoenberg’s Peace on Earth, for chorus and orchestra, full of complex harmonies and rich choral writing.

It is a natural pairing for Beethoven’s beloved anthem to his cherished belief in the virtues of humankind. Concert features four guest vocal soloists and chorus.

South Florida Museum The largest natural and cultural history museum on the Gulf Coast, the South Florida Museum puts the world, both past and present, in context for its visitors through permanent collections, traveling exhibitions, a state-of-the-art planetarium and numerous community activities and

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left: The Ringling’s Knights exhibit February 3 to April 28, 2019. Photo courtesy of The Ringling | Suit of Armor, 1500-1510, Steel, leather and fabric, Overall: 73 1/4 × 28 3/4 × 19 11/16 in. (186 × 73 × 50 cm), On loan from Museo Stibbert, Firenze

writer will win an honorarium for her new work. Selections include The Space In Between by Mercedes White, Stalking by Jayne Hannah and The Violet Sisters by Gina Femia.

Dike Nov 9–Dec 16. Written by Hannah Benitez, a Cuban-Jewish-American millennial originally from Miami, Dike follows a pair of sisters from a religious family who reunite after two years of separation to navigate the cloudy waters of identity. An awkwardly hilarious and gripping exploration of love, sexuality, and sisterhood, with an all-female cast, Dike questions the limitations religion and social conditioning raise within all of us.

Angel

educational outreach programs. Explore fossil evidence of Florida’s oldest animal inhabitants (including marine life) and peruse the Montague Tallant collection of prehistoric and post-contact artifacts.

Other permanent exhibits showcase maritime history and the history of Spanish colonization (including full-scale replicas of a 16th century manor house, chapel and Hernando DeSoto’s birthplace). southfloridamuseum.org

Jan 11–Feb 17. In this regional premiere, the second work presented from Henry Naylor’s Arabian Nightmares series, Rehana just wants to go to school, but when the threat of ISIS draws nearer to her hometown in Northern Syria, her life changes. In this riveting one-woman drama inspired by the true story of a famed Kurdish sniper, Naylor tells the story of a pacifist teenager turned Angel of Kobane.

In a Word Mar 8–Apr 14. Grief and comedy collide in the regional premiere of Lauren Yee’s In a Word, as the protagonist Fiona continues to search for her son, two years after his mysterious disappearance. In Yee’s imaginative and tender look at the past, while examining her memories of that fateful day, Fiona learns that ordinary turns of phrase now hold new and ominous meanings.

Urbanite Theatre Founders Summer Dawn Wallace and Brendan Ragan make a statement each season with sold-out, cutting-edge shows performed in the black box style, shifting effortlessly from heavy drama to heady comedy. Intimate, independent and unexpected. urbanitetheatre.com.

Modern Works Festival Oct 2– 14. Presented by Summer Dawn Wallace, this festival explores breakout plays by female writers in a collection of staged readings, comprised of the highest rated scripts submitted. At the conclusion of the festival, with the help of attendees, one

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Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Playfully dubbed “The Purple Cow” by locals, this distinctive Frank Lloyd Wright creation abuts the Sarasota Bayfront, where it serves as Sarasota’s primary connection to the world of national and international touring performance, bringing storied performers and productions to the local stage as a regular stop on the regional, national and international touring circuits. vanwezel.org

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Eddie Izzard – Believe Me Tour Oct 11 . World famous comedian Eddie Izzard makes his Van Wezel premiere. With his brand of keenly intelligent humor that ranges from world history, sexual politics, mad ancient kings and chickens with guns, Izzard has built an extraordinary fan base that transcends age, gender and race. Over the course of a thirty-year career, Eddie Izzard has proved himself to be a creative chameleon, inhabiting the stage and film and television screen with an unbelievable fervor.

An Evening with Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen Nov 6. Singer, composer and actor, Lyle Lovett’s career has spanned 14 albums. Coupled with his gift for storytelling, Lyle fuses elements of Americana, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues in his live performances. Lyle’s college buddy Robert Earl Keen has blazed a trail that's earned him living-legend (not to mention pioneer) status in the Americana music world.

Jay Leno Jan 3. From “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” to stand-up comedian, best-selling children’s book author, much -in-demand corporate speaker, lovable TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering car builder and mechanic and philanthropist.

Something Rotten!

Jan 7-8. Set in 1595, this hilarious smash tells the story of Nick and Nigel Bottom, two brothers who are desperate to write a hit play. When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first musical.

Pilobolous Jan 22. In 2009, Pilobolus created Shadowland, the first show of its kind, which it has since performed in 32 countries for over a million people. Now, Pilobolus presents Shadowland: The New Adventure. Employing animation, video and live shadow theater, this madcap adventure dips its toe into the genres of science fiction, film noir and romantic comedy to tell a love story about two people and their quest to save a magical bird.

Jerry Lee Lewis Jan 27. Jerry Lee Lewis, one of the original Million Dollar Quartet along with Elvis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins, is one of the all-time best

right: Conductor Alexandra Arrieche makes her Sarasota Orchestra debut with Musical America.

singer-songwriters, musicians and pianists.

A true American Stylist, he is an architect of great genres such as Rock n' Roll and Rockabilly as well as a commander of Country music and the Blues.

New Shanghai Circus Feb 10.

New Shanghai Circus, founded in 1951, has won more Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals in domestic and international circus competitions than any other Chinese acrobatic company. Breathtaking and polished to perfection, their skills have their roots in everyday lives of the village peasants, farmers and craftsman of the Han Dynasty.

“I look forward to sharing the magical moments on stage with everyone in the Sarasota and Manatee community. It is a great honor to introduce the best and brightest talents to our audiences.”

Alan Cumming – Legal Immigrant Apr 20. Tony Award-winner Scottish-born Alan Cumming returns to the Van Wezel, celebrating his ten years as a US citizen, growing older and what it feels like to be an immigrant in today’s America. The show is a true old-fashioned cabaret, a smorgasbord of songs and tales; laughter, tears and, of course, provocation.

Venice Symphony Since its inception in 1974, the Venice Symphony has grown from a passion project playing three concerts a year in the Venice High School to the town’s premier musical performers, still playing at the Venice High School, but at its stateof-the-art Venice Performing Arts Center.

In recent years, as the symphony continues to grow, the introduction of a Pre-Concert Talk Series has brought the community even closer to the people behind the music. This season marks the debut of the symphony’s new music director and conductor, Troy Quinn. thevenicesymphony.org

Holiday Pops Dec 14–15. Steven Jarvi, guest conductor in February 2018, will lead the orchestra for a concert featuring a mix of seasonal music including selections from The Nutcracker, Brazilian Sleigh Bells, Feliz Navidad and more. Guest Soprano Soloist Johanna Fincher will present Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Bring the family to this seasonal celebration that concludes with a traditional sing-a-long.

Strauss, Schumann and Mendelssohn Jan 11–12. What joy to hear Felix Mendelssohn’s Nocturne, Wedding March from a Midsummer’s Night’s Dream performed by a full symphony orchestra.

Horns are the focus in Richard Strauss’s playful Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks.

Award-winning pianist Andrew Tyson will solo on Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto, Op. 54. The finale is William Walton’s Suite from the classic 1944 film, Henry V.

Mozart and Mahler Mar 22–23.

Festa Italia!

Nov 16–17. The Venice Symphony debut of Music Director/Conductor Troy Quinn will feature the joyous Festive Overture, op.96

by Dimitri Shostakovich, Ottorino Respighi’s lush Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome and Carnival of Venice featuring The Venice Symphony’s Aaron Romm on Cornet. Concertmaster Marcus Ratzenboeck solos on Saint-Saens’ showpiece Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, op. 28.

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— Anu Tali, Music Director, Sarasota Orchestra

Mozart’s exhilarating Symphony no. 41, (Jupiter), is the composer’s final symphony and considered by many to be among the greatest works in classical music. The second half of the concert is dedicated to Gustav Mahler’s spellbinding and electrifying Symphony no. 1, D Major (Titan).

American Roots Apr 26–27. The Venice Symphony concludes the debut season of Maestro Quinn in a salute to great American composers. From the patriotic to the iconic,

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listeners will revel in the inspirational music of Duke Ellington, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Foster, John Williams and the soaring solos by Concertmaster Marcus Ratzenboeck on Ashokan Farewell and Sweet Georgia Brown.

Venice Theatre Charming, wowing and moving audiences since 1950, Venice Theatre stands as, per capita, the largest community theater in the United States. From classics and musical favorites on the main stage to the daring and raucous productions populating the theater’s Stage II, Venice Theatre pulls out all the stops for a theater-going population always looking for something new. In the summer months, the annual cabaret festival brings countless productions to the stage for weeks of musical and dramatic entertainment. venicestage.com

South Pacific Oct 26–Dec 2. This beloved musical, winner of 10 Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, is set in the South Pacific during World War II and follows two parallel love stories that face prejudice and war.

Both a social commentary of the time and a favorite for hopeless romantics, this musical includes classics such as “Bali Ha’i,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” and “Some Enchanted Evening.”

Silence! The Musical Nov 2–25. Based on the 1991 psychological thriller Silence of the Lambs, this mischievous twist on the Oscar-winning film features a narrating, singing chorus of floppy-eared lambs, while Buffalo Bill gleefully dances a hoedown in the midst of kidnapping the unlucky Catherine Martin and Dr. Lecter sings about the life he dreams of outside the prison walls.

Always Patsy Cline Jan 11–Feb 3. In this intimate and touching tribute to one of the best-known names in country music, writer and director Ted Swindley tells the true story of Patsy Cline’s friendship with a Houston housewife and avid fan, Louise Seger, while celebrating Cline’s musical repertoire, with classics such as “I Fall to Pieces,” “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “Crazy.”

westcoastblacktheatre.org

Raisin Oct 3–Nov 11 . Raisin, one of the first AfricanAmerican shows to appear on Broadway and nominated for nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, is set in 1950s on the South Side of Chicago and revolves around a working-class black family aspiring to a better life in the wake of their father’s death. But when a $10,000 life insurance check arrives in the mail, conflict arises as the family is split over how to spend it.

Annual Festivals

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Apr 12–28. In this Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Tennessee Williams, a hot-tempered, wealthy Southern patriarch confronts his imminent demise, as his children clash in increasingly desperate attempts to secure his fortune he will leave behind.

Race Apr 26–May 12. In this provocative tale of sex, guilt and bold accusations, multiple award-winning playwright and director David Mamet grapples with America’s most controversial topic. Three lawyers in a firm, two black and one white, debate whether to take the case of a wealthy white man charged with a crime against a black woman and are forced to confront their own hidden biases in the process.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Founded in December 1999, by performer, director and playwright Nate Jacobs, this nonprofit theater is the only professional black theater company on Florida’s west coast. Through musicals—both Broadway and Jacobs originals—as well as comedies and thought-provoking dramas from such notable playwrights as August Wilson, Charles Smith and Katori Hall, WBTT explores the African-American experience onstage every year in a five-show season.

Since its inception, WBTT has mentored and inspired many African-American youth and young adults through participation in

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the company’s productions. Many aspiring professional artists who trained with WBTT have gone on to work with regional theaters and national touring companies, on Broadway and on national television, and with major record companies.

New Music New College Oct 6–Apr 27. Celebrate the twentieth anniversary of NMNC's first concert by presenting five exciting programs this season, a mix of new friends and old. The outstanding groups Sō Percussion and Ensemble Dal Niente will visit, and see welcome returns from George Lewis and Wet Ink. Eliza Ladd and Mark Dancigers will create entirely new works with New College students. And if that's not enough, NMNC will also feature the unique duo Grand Electric. newmusicnewcollege.org

CineWorld Film Festival Nov 2–11. Historically, this festival has been a non-stop marathon of films dedicated to various genres. The Sarasota Film Society anticipates this year will be no different, resulting in a collection of must-see films to satisfy each individual’s palate. Attending the Toronto Film Festival each year and selecting the best to bring back to Florida, the Cine-World Film Festival serves as one of Sarasota’s two main portals to the greater film world. filmsociety.org

Sarasota Chalk Festival Nov 9–12. Founded by local artist Denise Kowal, the award-winning and world recordbreaking Sarasota Chalk Festival returns for another installment of street art spectacles, bringing professionals from around the world and amateurs from around the country together in a celebration of the ephemeral art form and its community potential. With this year’s theme, “Garden of

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Wonders,” expect a “tribute to the marvels of the natural world and the human imagination.” chalkfestival.org

The Grand Tasting: Forks and Corks Jan 25–27. This 12th annual epicurean event will be held in the courtyard of The Ringling Museum of Art, the ballroom of Michael’s On East and other venues across the region.

This world-class weekend of food, wine and beer offers a feast for the senses through various vintner events; interactive food and wine seminars; and The Grand Tasting, which features a wide variety of wines, beers, and food sampling from top local restaurants, live entertainment and more. dineoriginal.com/forksandcorks

Florida Winefest and Auction April 4–7. An annual event held for charity, the Winefest and Auction spans four days of great wine and delectable food for those that like to throw some flair into their philanthropy. Hundreds of wineries and businesses donate products and services for the auction, ranging from exquisite dinners for two at local restaurants to vacations across the country to works of art for the wall. floridawinefest.org

Sarasota Film Festival Apr 5–14. Showcasing the latest and greatest of cutting edge and independent film, the Sarasota Film Festival takes over the town for ten days out of the year, bringing filmmakers from around the world and more than a couple stars, such as last year’s Bo Burnham, Virginia Madsen and Jon Heder, to present their latest projects and talk film with the gathered community.

With over 200 films showing and signature social events including Opening Night and the nigh-legendary festival closing party always in tow, SFF has grown to be a truly international event.sarasotafilmfestival.com

Sarasota Jazz Festival Mar 6–9 . The 2019 Sarasota Jazz Festival has added more music and a change of venue for 2019 with a move to the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Sarasota Bay. Generations of Jazz will feature some of today’s top jazz musicians—Randy Brecker, Houston Person, Dick Hyman, Bill Charlap—and new faces— University of Miami Big Band with Shelly Berg—in four star-studded evening concerts, directed by NY clarinet master Ken Peplowski. A new series of afternoon concerts will present a variety of jazz styles—blues, Latin, smooth, Dixieland and roots, plus the popular Jazz Trolley Pub Crawl and a classic jazz film. sarasotajazzfestival.org.