Arts + Entertainment 3.14.24

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DEFTLY WOVEN: Asolo Rep produces Lynn Nottage’s class-conscious ‘Intimate Apparel.’ 3 >

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

BACK IN THE GROOVE

The festival returns to Sarasota Municipal Auditorium for the first time since COVID.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER

ARTS

If you love jazz in all of its forms, Sarasota is a good place to live and visit.

During season, you can see jazz twice a week — on Friday afternoon at Unitarian Universalist Church and on Monday night at Florida Studio Theatre’s Court Cabaret.

All year round, you can hear different types of jazz monthly on the Marcy & Michael Klein Plaza at the contemporary Sarasota Art Museum.

But if you’re a true jazz aficionado, the best time of year to be here is during the annual Sarasota Jazz Festival, which takes place this year from March 16-23.

All of these jazz-related events are brought to you by the Jazz Club of Sarasota. You don’t have to be a member of the Jazz Club to enjoy its events, but you do get advance notice and a discount on some tickets. Sometimes you can bring a guest to a concert for free.

Courtesy images

Musical prodigy Grace Kelly will perform at the Sarasota Jazz Festival on Thursday, March 21.

Trombone player Wycliffe Gordon performs at the Sarasota Jazz Festival on Thursday, March 21.

Google must-see jazz festivals and you’ll find lists with storied names like Montreux, Newport and Montreal. You’ll even see Clearwater, our neighbor to the north.

From the internet’s point of view, the Sarasota Jazz Festival isn’t yet in the top tier of jazz fests. But there’s no question it’s gaining momentum and bouncing back after COVID.

You know how Orioles fans flock to Ed Smith Stadium each March for spring training games? The same thing happens in the world of jazz. What’s great for fans of both baseball and jazz is that there’s overlap of the two Sarasota runs.

For many cultural groups and venues in Sarasota, the high watermark in membership and attendance came in 2019, the year before COVID hit. Not so with the Sarasota Jazz Club, whose numbers reached an all-time high back in the 1990s.

At its peak, the jazz club had 3,000 members, says Ed Linehan, president of the Jazz Club of Sarasota.

When Linehan came on board eight years ago, the club that was founded in 1980 by former Benny Goodman publicist Hal Davis had dwindled to

fewer than 500 members.

Under Linehan’s stewardship, membership has climbed to about 1,500.

Last year’s Sarasota Jazz Festival had about 2,700 attendees, he says.

That’s up from 1,500, when Linehan took over as president.

A good sign for the future health of the Sarasota Jazz Club is that it’s attracting younger members. One reason for that is that it’s “broadened the tent,” says board member Lousie Coogan. “We haven’t walked away from traditional jazz, but we don’t mind blues-y, bop, a little jazz fusion and experimental.”

Some of the headliners at this year’s festival, which was programmed by Terell Stafford, reflect the jazz club’s broader reach. A professional trumpet player, Stafford is the director of Jazz Studies at the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University in Philadelphia.

The Grace Kelly-Wycliffe Gordon concert on March 21 at the Municipal Auditorium is sure to bring out some younger faces. In addition to performing in public, Kelly will teach a workshop at Booker High School Visual and Performing Arts Center on March 22 that is exclusively for students of the magnet school.

A musical prodigy, Kelly is a singer/songwriter who plays the saxophone, composes songs and is a band leader. At age 16, she performed at Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration. According to her official bio, Kelly has recorded 14 albums and performed numerous sold-out concerts.

Coogan, who sits on the Jazz Club’s scholarship committee, says she received a call from a middle schooler who is going to see Wycliffe Gordon. “We’re hearing from kids,” says Coogan, who has been involved in the club’s campaign to expose students to jazz.

Gordon, whose nickname is “Pinecone,” is a trombonist, arranger, composer and band leader who also plays the didgeridoo, a wind instrument used by Australia’s indigenous people, not to mention the trumpet, soprano trombone, tuba and piano.  Stafford will appear on opening night of the jazz fest along with legendary vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater. In addition to being a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, Bridgewater was host of an NPR radio show for 23 years. She won a Tony Award for her performance as Glinda in “The Wiz,” in 1975.

This year, the Sarasota Jazz Festival is returning to the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium for the first time since COVID forced it to pull the plug on its 2020 edition. When the festival resumed live performances in 2022, the decision was made to hold performances outdoors, but “not everyone wants to be outside at night,” notes Linehan. This year’s festival has something for everyone — from Municipal Auditorium concerts to a jazz trolley/public crawl ride, a documentary at Burns Court Cinema to free, latenight jam sessions that local musicians are invited to participate in.

In terms of community participation, Linehan says the festival is still recruiting volunteers, particularly people who are experienced in retail sales and comfortable working with technology.

There’s a good crew of ushers in place, he says.

“Our idea of a festival is for people to come early, have a drink, buy a poster and maybe some artist merchandise,” he says.

During a Zoom call with Coogan and a reporter, When surveying the real of jazz in Sarasota, Linehan says things are on an upswing, thanks to population growth in the area and a new generation of jazz fans.

“It’s amazing it (the jazz club) has lasted for more than 30 years,” says Linehan. “Let’s make sure it lasts until it’s 50.”

IF YOU GO

SATURDAY, MARCH 16

SRQ Jazz Festival Kickoff — Jazz in the Park Noon at Civic Green at Bay Park $12-$15

TUESDAY, MARCH 19

Jazz Trolley/Pub Crawl 5:30 p.m. Downtown Sarasota $20-$25

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

Terrell Stafford-Dee Dee Bridgewater 6 p.m. at Sarasota Municipal Auditorium $48-$120

THURSDAY, MARCH 21

‘Girls in the Band’

documentary 9 a.m. at Burns Court Cinema $12-$15

Grace Kelly-Wycliffe Gordon 6 p.m. at Sarasota Municipal Auditorium $48-$120

FRIDAY, MARCH 22

Jeff Hamilton-Valerie Gillespie 6 p.m. at Sarasota Municipal Auditorium $48-$120

Late Night Jam 9:45 p.m. at Cohen Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail $20

SATURDAY, MARCH 23

Houston Person & Chucho Valdes 6 p.m. at Sarasota Municipal Auditorium $48-$120

Late Night Jam 9:45 p.m. at Cohen Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail $20

A VIP ticket package covering all events is available for $750. For information and tickets for all events, visit SarasotaJazzFestival.com.

Courtesy image

Jeff Hamilton will play the Sarasota Jazz Festival on Friday, March 22.

File photo

Crowds get ready for La Lucha and Arturo Sandoval on the final day of the 2022 Sarasota Jazz Festival.

Asolo Rep weaves a tapestry of lives in ‘Intimate Apparel’

Cing house in New York City in 1905. Esther (Aneisa J. Hicks) specializes in racy “intimate apparel,” although her own life is romantically frustrated. She’s surrounded by a constellation of five other characters, each with their own invisible barriers. As the director describes it, “Intimate Apparel” explores the tension between the characters’ authentic inner selves and what they’re willing to let other people see. According to Van, that human dynamic is timeless.

“‘Intimate Apparel’ is about a Black seamstress who’s dealing with unrequited love and her ambitions in early 20th-century New York,” Van says. “But the playwright really looks at the way we draw lines and separate ourselves from other people. In 1905, the characters segregate themselves from other human beings because of fear, traditions or ignorance. That’s not a thing of the past. The divisions Esther dealt with haven’t gone away.”

In 1905, a progressive journalist might have blamed those divisions on prejudice. Today, we’d probably blame compartmentalization.

Nottage’s deft use of language evokes the characters’ authentic personalities and heritage. The playwright has a keen ear for dialect and

speech patterns. Patricia Delorey, this show’s voice and dialect coach, translates the text in her script to spoken language. On stage, it all rings true.

Sasha Andreev plays Mr. Marks, an Orthodox Jewish refugee from Romania. Andreev shares that, “My character grapples with his cultural and religious heritage under the circumstances of his newfound life in America. His immigrant experience is not uncommon. As an immigrant myself, I can certainly relate to it.”

He adds that Nottage has perfectly captured the imperfections in his character’s speech pattern.

“In analyzing my character’s dialogue, I found inconsistencies in the way he structures sentences. His grammar fluctuates, and the brokenness of his English adds to his vulnerability.”

Hicks finds similar insights in her character’s speech.

“Esther’s dialect isn’t too far from my family’s when I grew up,” she says. “The Great Migration of African Americans led to southern dialects and accents making their way up north, west and east. When I was little, Esther’s voice was my grandmother’s, grand-aunts’ and granduncles’ voices.”

There are no false notes in how the play’s characters speak. What they have to say is a different story,

In a spin on “Cyrano de Bergerac,” Esther corresponds with George (Curtis Bannister), a native of Barbados working on the Panama Canal. As their letters fly back and forth, their words create a bond of love. But those words are borrowed. It turns out both characters are illiterate. Their effusive love letters were penned by other people.

The play’s costumes also tell truths and lies. Mathew J. LeFebvre’s beautiful costume designs make the para-

dox of accessorized identity plain to see.

Mr. Marks dresses only in back. That’s no affectation. It’s an honest expression of his Orthodox Jewish faith and also a highly personal connection to his ancestral heritage. His suit once belonged to his father. When he wears it, his bond becomes more than skin deep. But clothes can also create false impressions. They project the image that characters want other people to see, and what they aspire to be.

For the women of 1905, projecting an idealized image of femininity could be literally breathtaking. With a few suffragette exceptions, women of this time stitched themselves up in corsets. The cult of thinness was in full force. And it hasn’t gone away.

“Then and now, women are pressured to ‘look feminine,’” says Van. “Makeup, wigs, high heels — all that stuff. But that pressure doesn’t

IF YOU GO

“INTIMATE APPAREL”

When: Through April 18

Where: FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555

N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

Tickets: $35-$95

Info: Call 351-8000 or visit AsoloRep.org

come from us. Those constraints are man made. This play shows us that Esther’s empowerment and self-possession don’t depend on her appearance. She really comes into her own.”

Clothes can also fake the man. At one point, Esther sews George a three-piece suit that makes him look like a successful man of means. (He really isn’t.)

“Intimate Apparel” has a lot of moving parts. For the director, stitching it all together in a fastpaced repertory production was a unique challenge.

“It’s a different beast,” said Van with a laugh. “Asolo Rep rehearses and produces several plays simultaneously. It’s one of only five repertory theaters in the nation that still does that. You have to communicate better, be clearer, stay flexible, and move a little faster. It’s definitely been a learning experience!”

For the director, the experience was definitely worth it.

“‘Intimate Apparel’ has a lot to say about racial equity, class and gender roles,” says Van. “In the end, it’s ultimately a character study. Esther begins and ends as a self-reliant character. She suffers cruel setback and reversals in the course of the play. But it doesn’t break her. Esther winds up in touch with who she really is beneath surface appearances. That’s her true source of strength.”

Compelling characters reveal their inward and outward selves in a story set in the early 20th century.

Image courtesy of Kayla Emy

Curtis Bannister plays George and Aneisa J. Hicks plays Esther in Asolo Rep’s “Intimate Apparel.”

THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

ART CENTER SARASOTA

OPENING RECEPTION

6-8 p.m. at Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail Free

Visit ArtSarasota.org.

Celebrate the opening of four exhibits at Art Center Sarasota. The artworks on display and for sale are Natasha Dikareva’s ceramic sculptures, Angela Pilgrim’s prints, paintings and mixed-media pieces and Michael Kinsey’s photographs. The fourth show, “Great Artists Steal,” is an open, juried exhibit in which works are inspired by famous artists and artworks. Runs through April 20.

‘BORN WITH TEETH’

8 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail $29-$75 Visit AsoloRep.org.

A tale of rival playwrights Shakespeare and Marlowe, “Born with Teeth” offers an alternative to the conventional wisdom with plenty of court intrigue thrown in for good measure. Runs through March 29.

‘PARADE’

7:30 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton

DON’T MISS

Directed by Robyn Bell, the Pops Orchestra will be accompanied during the course of the show by Scottish bagpipes, soprano Johanna Davis, and bold Irish and Highland dancers. The show continues at 7:30 p.m. on March 18, at SCF Neel Performing Arts Center, 5840 26th St. W., Bradenton.

IF YOU GO

CELTIC POPS

When: 3 p.m. Sunday, March 17

Where: Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way

Tickets: $5-$60

Info: Visit ThePopsOrchestra.org.

$30-$40

Visit ManateePerforming-ArtsCenter.com.

Directed by Scott Keys, “Parade” is based on the real-life story of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory manager accused of murdering a young female employee and explores the theme of antisemitism. Runs through March 17.

‘RUBY’

7:30 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave. $20-$50

Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.

WBTT’s homegrown musical “Ruby” tells what happened when the blackowned Pittsburgh Courier sent Nora Zeale Hurston to Live Oak, Florida, to report on a prosperous Black woman accused of murder in the 1950s. “Ruby” is directed by WBTT founder Nate Jacobs, who wrote the book with his brother, Michael Jacobs, who wrote lyrics. Through April 7.

‘UP ON THE ROOF’

8 p.m. at FST’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave.

$37 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Created by Rebecca Hopkins and Richard Hopkins with musical arrangements by Jim Prosser, “Up on the Roof,” pays tribute to Brill Building duos such as Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and others. Runs through March 24.

HERMITAGE SUNSETS @ NATHAN

BENDERSON PARK

6:30 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park Family Finish Tower, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle $5 with registration

Visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

Hermitage alumna Kamala Sankaram, an opera composer, and 2022 Hermitage Greenfield Prize finalist and Guggenheim Fellow Etienne Charles, a trumpeter and composer, come together for a memorable evening exploring different cultures and musical styles.

DENNIS BLAIR

7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd. $26

Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

An 18-year veteran of George Carlin’s tour, Blair has performed on “The Tonight Show” and at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Runs through March 17.

NEIL BERG’S 114 YEARS OF BROADWAY

7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $47-$68

Visit VanWezel.org.

Neil Berg’s annual tribute show returns with some of Broadway’s brightest stars singing songs from the Great White Way’s most beloved musicals.

STRINGS CON BRIO CHAMBER

ENSEMBLE

7:30 p.m. a Glenridge Performing Arts Center, 7333 Scotland Way $15-$20

Visit StringsConBrio.org.

Conducted by Kenneth Bower-

meister, Strings Con Brio Chamber Ensemble will play pieces from the Baroque era and Broadway medleys from “The King and I” and Disney’s “Aladdin.” Andi Zdrava, conductor of the Illyrian Symphony Orchestra, is featured as a pianist in Ernest Bloch’s “Concerto Gross No. 1 for Strings and Piano Obbligato.”

MASTERWORKS 6: RHAPSODY IN BLUE @ 100

7:30 p.m. at Neel Performing Arts Center, 5840 26th St. W., Bradenton $35 and up Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

It’s a double anniversary as the Sarasota Orchestra celebrates its 75th birthday while honoring the centennial of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” Creative Partner Peter Oundjian conducts the orchestra as it performs a classic of American music with pianist Michelle Cann, who also plays Florence Price’s “Piano Concerto.” Moves to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on March 15-17.

‘LUISA MILLER’

7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.

$32-$155

Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

One of Verdi’s lesser performed operas, “Luisa Miller” returns to the Sarasota Opera for the first time in 25 years. The tale of forbidden love that leads to tragedy is filled with unforgettable arias and passionate ensembles. Runs through March 24.

FRIDAY

‘DECEIT OUTWITTED’

7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $32-$155 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

In “Deceit Outwitted,” the peasant Filippo (David Walton) prays his daughter Sandrina (Yulan Piao) will marry the wealthy farmer Nencio (William Davenport) rather than her true love, who is poor. All is resolved through comic twists, that include disguises, in Hadyn’s lesser-known comedic opera. Runs through March 23.

SATURDAY

‘LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR’

7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.

$32-$155

Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

Last seen at the opera in 2012, “Lucia di Lammermoor” stars soprano Ashley Milanese, making her company debut in the title role. Christopher Oglesby plays Lucia’s star-crossed lover Edgardo and Jean Carlos Rodriguez is Enrico, Lucia’s brother. Runs through March 23.

ROY BOOK BINDER

8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court $13-$26 Visit WSLR.org.

Blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Roy Book Binder will mesmerize you with his virtuoso finger-picking and storytelling. He will be joined by Sarasota’s Pedro Arevalo.

FST IMPROV PRESENTS ‘LIFE’S

A BEACH’

8:30 p.m. at FST’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St. $15 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Whether you’re a snowbird or a native, you’ll get a kick out of FST Improv’s show poking fun at the rituals of life in Sarasota. Runs Saturdays through March 23.

Black Theatre Troupe’s original musical “Ruby,”

runs through April 7.

Catara Brae plays a woman accused of murdering a doctor in Westcoast

which

Image courtesy of Sorcha Augustine

Image courtesy of Rod Millington

OUR PICK

SARASOTA CONTEMPORARY DANCE: ‘DANCEMAKERS’

SCD presents Frances Bradley-Vilier’s tap, Courtney Jones’ jazz and Andrea Ward’s interdisciplinary work. The program closes with Vincent Hardy’s “Justice,” a triumphant piece that explores the challenges of building equality in a world recovering from a pandemic. Runs through March 16.

IF YOU GO

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, March 14

Where: at Jane B. Cook Theater, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail

Tickets: $20-$55

Info: Visit SarasotaContemporaryDance.org.

SUNDAY

‘BELLES OF BROADWAY’

7:30 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave. $27 Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe young artist Delores McKenzie pays tribute to some of the iconic women of Broadway with her renditions of hits from “Wicked,” “Chicago,” “Hamilton,” “Waitress: The Musical” and many more. Continues through March 18.

MONDAY

PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY

7 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $30-$80

Visit VanWezel.org.

Celebrating its 70th anniversary, Paul Taylor Dance Company perfTaylor’s iconic “Promethean Fire,” choreographed after 9/11. Also on the program is Taylor’s “Gossamer Gallants,” where dancers perform as insects, and the Florida premiere of “Echo,” from company’s resident choreographer Lauren Lovette.

WEDNESDAY

‘WOMEN OF RESISTANCE’ OPENING RECEPTION

5-7 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court Free with registration Visit WSLR.org.

Come celebrate the women who helped defeat the Nazis during World War II at this exhibition of paintings by Vicki Chelf. Among the female heroes portrayed in Chelf’s paintings are Nancy Wake, Hedy Lamarr and Lee Miller. An artist talk is followed by a performance from Ballet Endedans and live music.

Exhibit runs through April 14.

‘THE WHITE CHIP’

7:30 p.m. at FST’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St. $29

Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Follow a theater manager whose life threatens to spin out of control as he closes in on his dream job. He takes an unusual journey to sobriety in Seth Daniels’ “The White Chip,” part of Florida State Theatre’s edgier Stage III fare. Runs through April 12.

10th Annual Sarasota Garden Club

Premier Garden Tour of Private Gardens

Friday, March 29, 7:30

| Riverview Performing Arts Center

escape the conclusion that Bruce Liu’s performance as part of this year’s Edinburgh International Festival is likely one of the finest recitals the city, indeed the country, has ever seen. ” - The New York Times

First Prize winner in the 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition, and the pianist who brought down the house two years ago in Sarasota with his incredible virtuosity, Bruce Liu returns to Sarasota in a solo recital.

RAMEAU - Selections from Pieces de clavecin

CHOPIN - Variations on “Là ci darem la mano” from Mozart’s Don Giovanni

RAVEL - Miroirs

LISZT - Réminiscences de Don Juan

Saturday, March 23, 2024 9:30am to 4:00pm

Garden Tour of 5 Beautiful Private Gardens Come Rain or Shine!

Advance Tickets:

Member $40/person · Non-Member $45/person

Day of Tour: $50/person

EATING WITH EMMA

May your glass be ever full at these local pubs

My ancestors would be pleased with how I savor a properly poured Guinness and flawlessly cook meat and potatoes.

EMMA BURKE JOLLY CONTRIBUTOR

As Earth continues to orbit the sun, I realize each morning as I look into the mirror that I’m not getting any younger. (The luck of the Irish only takes you so far.) The silver lining: I’m getting better at counting my blessings.

I’m humbly honored to have been raised by strong-willed and selfless humans who taught me I can face any storm (including the one that altered my wedding).

I’m eternally joyful to have landed a “I must have done something right in a past life” partner — my very own Saint Patrick. I try to remind myself that he is also lucky to have me.

I’m pleased with the curly red hair that I once flat-ironed each day.

I’m delighted, as my ancestors would be, of how I can savor a properly poured Guinness and cook up any meat-and-potato-based dish in a flawless way to appease the mouths willing to gobble it up. Did I mention that I’m prouder than ever to be Irish?

My heritage has been my compass as I navigate a world without my father. So Dad, until we meet again, I know exactly where I will go to say, “Sláinte!” to you this St. Patrick’s Day.

To my fellow Irishmen, women and anyone feeling lucky, please raise a glass at one of these local pubs. Join me in a toast to who we were, who we are and who we will be forever more.

THE SHEBEEN IRISH BAR AND KITCHEN

6641 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key; 941-271-4714; Facebook.com/Pub32

May the Road Rise Up to Meet

You at a pub on Siesta Key where everyone feels Irish. This might only be the second Shebeen St. Patty’s Day celebration, but its predecessor, Pub 32, hosted one for years. Enjoy the sweet sounds of Irish music all day long on March 17 with performances by Ross the Piper (playing for 32 years), Fresh Air (a grandfather and grandson duo), Emily Ann Thompson (who plays Irish, Scottish and Canadian fiddle), Prodigal Sons (Dana has fronted for Kettle of Fish) and performances by Drake School of Irish Dance.

Delira and Excira: You won’t go wrong with whatever your eyes, mouth, tummy, heart and soul desire on this delicious dining menu. Treat yourself to the Irish appetizer platter ($25), which comes with two potato boxty, two sausage rolls, two leek and mushroom croquettes, two pretzels with beer cheese and gravy — perfect for you and your “a stór.” But save room for that Shebeen pub Reuben ($16) made with slow braised corned beef, pickled red cabbage, Thousand Island dressing and Swiss on rye with homemade crisps.

LYNCHES PUB & GRUB

19 N. Boulevard of the Presidents, St. Armands Key; 941-3885550; Lynches.pub

May the Road Rise Up to Meet

You at St. Armands Circle. “Top of the mornin’” toasts start at 11 a.m. at Lynches with live entertainment on this international holiday. Have a pint — or three — of Guinness. If you’d rather quench your thirst with Irish whiskey, you’ll find what you’re looking for, with more

than 100 different bottles to pick from. Order from the limited Irish menu, which will be served all day, in between dancing alongside Irish bands, bagpipers and a rock band.

Delira and Excira: Nosh on the breakfast of kings, the “Irish” chicken egg rolls ($12) made with crispy chicken, cabbage, carrots, celery and onions. What a fantastic snack to coat your tummy for a day full of heavy beer! Want something a bit more filling? The Irish stew ($14) comes with a crusty baguette.

MCGRATH’S IRISH ALE HOUSE

8110 Lakewood Main St., Lakewood Ranch; 941-210-4398; McGrathsIrish.com

May the Road Rise Up to Meet

You at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. Continue your celebrations on the street outside McGrath’s Ale House and round up a feast of your favorite Irish food and, of course, a

bounty of beers. Get ready to jig to live Irish music and be outdone by professional Irish dancers from Finnegan’s Academy of Irish Dance and Drake’s. The festivities, fun for the entire family and kids of all ages, go on until 9 p.m.

Delira and Excira: Get into your green gear and hope that they are serving the Guinness cheddar burger ($14) cooked to your liking with a Guinness glaze and onion rings. Craving something more traditional? McGrath’s fish and chips ($18) served with minted pea, tartar sauce and lemon will have you feeling like you found a pot of gold.

MOLLY’S PUB

1560 Main St., Sarasota; 941-3667711; EviesOnline.com

May the Road Rise Up to Meet

You on Main Street in Sarasota. The Emerald Isle meets the Gulf Coast at Molly’s Restaurant and Pub. This cozy spot has a secret tasting room

for whiskey aficionados and admirers alike that transports you across the pond. But as the sun sets, this rowdy Main Street location knows how to party. On St. Patrick’s Day, this pub is dishing out food specials like corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie and green-dyed deviled eggs. Enjoy traditional Irish flair with Colleen Cory’s live music and DJ Xtreme at 8 p.m.

Delira and Excira: Aside from the holiday, you might need a Wednesday night pick-me-up one of these weeks. Appetizers are half off with the purchase of an entrée on Hump Day. Sign this ginger up for some honey ginger grilled wings ($10) to warm my heart midweek.

May the winds of fortune sail you, may you sail a gentle sea. May it always be the other guy, who says, ‘This drink’s on me.’

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all!

Courtesy images

The Emerald Isle meets the Gulf Coast at Molly’s Restaurant and Pub. McGrath’s Irish Ale House Guinness cheddar burger ($14).

‘The Lehman Trilogy’ captures rise and fall of family empire

The Horatio Alger tale unfolds in a three-hour-plus play masterfully directed by Richard Hopkins.

MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR

Stefano Massini’s “The Lehman Trilogy” tells a big story. Not surprisingly, it’s a big play. This heavyweight three-act contender weighs in at three hours. (Three hours and thirty minutes, if you include the intermissions.)  While I love theater, I wasn’t sure if I loved it that much. Turns out, I did. Massini is a world-class storyteller. He originally told the story in Italian. Nothing’s lost in Ben Power’s English translation. The same can’t be said for the following plot summary. But here goes …

Once upon a time, there were three Lehman brothers: Henry (Howard Kaye), Mayer (Rod Brogan) and Emanuel (Beethovan Oden). They lived in a village in Bavaria, but they weren’t happy.

The Brothers Lehman decided to come to America. In 1844, Henry got there first; Mayer and Emanuel arrived later. The brothers set up shop in Mobile, Alabama. In the early days, they sold dry goods to cotton growers. But cash-poor farmers asked if they could trade raw cotton for supplies. The brothers said yes — and quickly reinvented their business.

Their reinventions didn’t stop.

The long list of new ventures includes: cotton trading, railroads, stock trading, commodities trading, coffee speculation, America’s first TV set and investment banking. Thanks to all these reinventions, the Lehman brothers (and the firm they started) made lots of money. Their bets all paid off — until they didn’t.

Back in the early 2000s, the grand old investment bank added a mortgage-backed securities division. The new kids made a lot of money disappear. In 2008, the Lehman Brothers crashed and burned. They also got blamed for the housing crisis, but that’s another story.

In Massini’s play, the Lehman story unfolds against a backdrop of births and deaths and other spins of the karmic wheel. Yellow fever claims Henry. Mayer finds a wife. Life goes on until it doesn’t. But the life of business is always the main story.

But “tale” would be a better way to put it.

“The Lehman Trilogy” breaks the key rule of playwriting. “Show, don’t tell.” There’s a whole lot of telling here. The actors constantly break character to provide segues, setups and narrative descriptions. At times, it feels like they’re reading stage directions. At other times, it feels like a poetry reading. But it works.

IF YOU GO

‘The Lehman Trilogy’

When: Through March 24

Where: Florida Studio Theatre’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.

Tickets: $39-$59.

Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

child. He’s smart and cocky, and puts the business first — whether he likes it or not.

But don’t get the wrong idea. Emanuel’s self-sacrifice is selfinterest. He likes big stuff and nice things. He’s the driving force in the move to New York City. “Always more, always better” is his credo. (His logic is what changes Henry’s mind.)

Brogan’s Mayer is the soft-spoken baby brother. Cool head, warm heart. He’s typically the peacemaker between Henry and Emanuel. Thanks to his soft face, his brothers nickname him “the potato.” They ultimately discover how far they’ve underestimated him.

Along with the three Lehman brothers, the actors portray all the other characters in this play. That probably sounds like an athletic performance. It is.

Throughout this narrative, Jim Prosser is banging away on an old piano in the corner. His clever music arrangements have an oldtime music hall feel. Thom Korp’s projections flood the back of the stage with slices of lost time. Liz Bourgeois’ costumes express the 19th-century bourgeoisie respectability the brothers strive to project.

Isabel and Moriah Curley-Clay’s staging is unconventional and inventive. Their minimalist set is a rotating platform with a few chairs, one long table and lots of banker’s boxes in constantly changing permutations.

Those boxes supply every prop or symbol the play requires. Most poignantly, they stand for the Lehman brothers’ rise and fall. The firm’s last day frames the play. 9-15-2008: the day they cleared out the office. The space is empty, dead. No action, no trading, no life. The boxes are scattered around like cardboard coffins.

“The Lehman Trilogy” is a captivating slice of American history. It’s a Horatio Alger rags-to-riches story; an immigrants’ story; a story of constant reinvention. But it’s oddly out of step with the 21st century.

Richard Hopkins directs Massini’s high-density material with high-energy verve and laser-beam focus. It doesn’t feel like a threehour play. If Hopkins weren’t so good, it would feel longer.

The three actors hit it out of the park. Kaye’s Henry is the big brother in charge. He’s smart, adaptable and fiercely proud of what he’s created. He doesn’t know the meaning of the word quit. Despite that stubborn streak, a good argument will change his mind.

Oden’s Emanuel is the middle

Massini is a great storyteller. His three-hour tale held my interest. But his big story left one big thing out. That sin of omission? The legacy of American slavery. It’s barely mentioned. Cotton laid the foundation of Lehman’s financial empire. That cotton didn’t pick itself, after all. One brother feels a dark shadow of guilt in a passing conversation. That’s about it.

“The Lehman Trilogy” could’ve been all about that. How American capitalism built its equity on the backs of an unpaid workforce. An African American playwright like the late John Sims could’ve written that play. But it’d be a different play. Ultimately, this play tells the story of what happens when the American dream comes true.

And what’s left when that dream is over.

Courtesy image

Florida Studio Theatre’s “The Lehman Trilogy” follows a three immigrants as their family reinvents itself in a story that spans 163 years.

TIE BLACK

50TH ANNIVERSARY

March 4 at Florida Studio Theatre Benefiting Florida Studio Theatre

ith spring in the air on the evening of March 4, just a few sprinkles of rain and 200 people mingling and enjoying cocktails and appetizers on the corner of Cocoanut and Palm avenues, Florida Studio Theatre enjoyed a birthday celebration in style. ith 50 years behind the theater and a bright future ahead, guests enjoyed a show featuring performances by FST cast members and others. Managing Director Rebecca Hopkins gave a warm welcome, and after the show, guests tucked into a threecourse dinner.

In addition to celebrating its anniversary, FST presented its Spelman Award to Patrick and Mary Mulva, supporters of the studio’s diverse programming since 2018. Patrick is also on the board of trustees.

Intent on bringing an alternative touring group to isolated and underserved audiences, artist John Spelman founded FST in 1973. Named in his honor, the Spelman Award is presented to an individual or institutional sponsor who provides FST with stewardship, enthusiasm and financial and or in-kind support.

Proceeds from the 2024 Shindig will go to support FST’s general funding, and a paddle raise was held to help support the development of a new play.

— JANET COMBS

Jim and Zoe Zakovec with Bob Grady

FST Producing Artistic Director Richard Hopkins, Director of Improvisation Will Luera and Maria Schaedler

Gigi Delpero, Noah Sieg, and Doris Lemolo check guests in at Florida Studio Theatre’s 50th anniversary Shindig.

Photos by Janet Combs

FST Marketing Director Robert Whyte, Development Associate Helena Rankin, Acting Apprentice Lorelei Frank and Children’s Theatre Associate Kacy Jones

FST Managing Director Rebecca Hopkins, Megan Schroeder and Ana Temple FST Improv cast includes Kathryn Parks, Sylvia Day, Sarah Durham, Will Luera, Kevin Allen and Helena Rankin

D. Franklin and Bruce Price

20th Anniversary Gala

March 7 at Hyatt Regency

Sarasota | Benefiting Cat Depot

Happy purr-thday to Cat Depot. Celebrating with a gala held at the Hyatt Regency on March 7, with about 225 cool cats who attended, it was a night filled with a silent auction, wine pull, live music, dinner, dessert and no “kitten” around. Three tortoise kitties with human names, Ivy, Laurel and Noel, stole the show.

Cat Depot’s vice president is co-founder Linda Slavin, and her husband, Ken, serves as president. With a mission to improve the destiny of homeless cats, they work together with a team of volunteers, advocates and partners in addition to their staff of devoted cat lovers. Cat Depot has placed more than 19,000 stray cats to date, and recent stats show 165 cats have been adopted in 2024.

—JANET

In 2003,

Linda Slavin co-founded Cat Depot, and she always has full support from her husband, Ken, and of course, Noel.

COMBS

The lone wearer of cat ears is Kendra Simpkins, with Carrie Dennison.

AVAILABLE:

CHILDRENFIRST.NET/SPONSORSHIPS FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL (941) 953-3877, ext. 1126

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Planned Parenthood Annual Gala

March 7 at Circus Arts Conservatory | Benefiting Planned Parenthood of Southwest, Central Florida

More than 400 guests came to celebrate at Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida’s annual gala March 7. The Circus Arts Conservatory arena was decorated in pink and black to help amplify the theme of the evening: BRAVE.

The event, co-chaired by Pam Brown, Sharon Patrice and Clare Segall, welcomed keynote speaker Amber Tamblyn, an Emmy-awardwinning actress and activist. Proceeds from the event directly support the nonprofit’s mission of providing affordable access to comprehensive reproductive health care, education and advocacy.

—OBSERVER STAFF

Sunset Polo Happy Hour

Every Thursday at 5:30pm beginning March 14 through April 11, 2024. The most Unique after-work party in Lakewood Ranch. Enjoy food, drinks, polo and live music against a backdrop of a breathtaking sunset.

Guy and Jenna Salani

Photos by Lori Sax

Lissa Murphy, retired CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida Barbara Zdravecky and Barbara Banks

Yasmine Carr and Ella Pysczynski

March 2 at Universal Flight Training | Benefiting Sarasota Contemporary Dance

Sarasota Contemporary Dance held a gala at Universal Flight Training at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, which was fittingly called, “Come Fly With Us.” Its theme was similar to TV’s “Dancing With the Stars.” With perfect weather on March 2, the fourth annual benefit got underway in the hangar with cocktails, appetizers and dinner enjoyed around the airplanes.

Founded by Leymis Bolaños Wilmott and Rachael Inman, SCD is a professional company specializing in contemporary dance performance and education.

—JANET

Photos by Janet Combs Matt Muffelman and Marina Traub Julianna Cristina, David Koffman, Monessa Salley, Shak Teymuri, Jordan Leonard, Gianni Valenti, Samantha Miller, Ronnie Shugar, Mark Smith and Xuan Dancigers dance in the SCD dance competition held on March 2.

SCD dancer Zoe Austin’s baby boy is due on May 20, and Studio Coordinator/Co-director Melissa Rummel’s baby girl is due on April 19.

Ron Lewis, SCD Artistic Director Leymis Bolanos-Wilmott and Steve Miles Russell and Marilyn Weisenberg

Kingfisher Estates at Waterside Lakewood Ranch

This ultra-exclusive community of stunning custom John Cannon Homes is located within Waterside Village at Lakewood Ranch. Thirteen large home sites with boat docks sitting on the banks of Kingfisher Lake will be the crown jewel of Waterside Village.