Arts + Entertainment 4.25.24

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

EYE ON THE PRIZE

Sarasota Contemporary Dance wants to preserve its legacy with the help of a major donor.

ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Many dancers spend so much time training and trying to land a job with a company that they rarely think about their second act. What will they do when their bodies grow older or injured and can no longer perform?

At Sarasota Contemporary Dance, Artistic Director Leymis Bolaños Wilmott is thinking about that for them.

Each of the dancers has a job in the company besides performing. Monessa Salley is the production lead, handling lighting and running the In-Studio Series of performances in the company’s studio at 1400 Boulevard of the Arts. Juliana Cristina is responsible for development and marketing. MaKayla Lane is the company’s administrative assistant. Those are just a few examples of the dual roles that SCD team members hold.

The pay structure at the nonprofit dance company is also unusual. “We don’t have a Christmas tree pay structure where the person at the top makes all the money,” says Bolaños Wilmott. “Everybody gets paid the same.”

In case you’re wondering what

IF YOU GO

‘Voices: SCD Rising Choreographers’ When: May 2-5

Where: Jane B. Cook Theatre at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail.

Ticket: $20-$55 Info: Visit SarasotaContemporaryDance.org.

that number is, SCD is advertising on Indeed.com for a part-time general manager to work 30 hours a week.

The pay is $17.50 an hour.

Like other dance companies, SCD brings in revenue by selling tickets to performances like its upcoming show, “Voices: Rising Choreographers” May 2-5 at FSU Center for the Performing Arts. The company

Sarasota Contemporary Dance will perform its “Voices: Rising Choreographers” program May 2-5 at FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

also teaches different types of dance to children and adults in the community.  SCD’s summer intensive series is the pipeline for recruiting new members and artistic works for its company from outside Sarasota. The “Voices” show at FSU showcases the work of choreographers from the SCD 2023 Summer Intensive Series selected by Bolaños Wilmott. To obtain funding, Bolaños Wilmott applies for grants. SCD also holds an annual fundraiser. Its most recent one was March 2 at the Venice Airport and had the theme “Come Fly With Me.” The event was modeled on TV’s “Dancing With the Stars,” with attendees paired with SCD professionals to compete for prizes.

The daughter of Cuban immigrants, Bolaños Wilmott grew up in Hialeah outside Miami and received all her dance training through public schools. As a child, she knew she wanted to dance, choreograph and teach. She earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida and a master’s degree at Florida State University. “When I look back at my

MONICA

Image courtesy of Sorcha Augustine

prayer journals, I see I wanted to have a movement studio,” she says. But she didn’t dream about founding her own dance company. That came about “organically” 18 years ago after she moved to Sarasota to run a dance outreach program for FSU.

“At the time, I was teaching a class at the YWCA with students who had gone to Booker High School, left Sarasota for college and come back,” Bolaños Wilmott says. “We got together to do a performance at Arts Day, which was big outdoor festival that the Arts Alliance used to host.”

AN INTRODUCTION

One thing led to another. It wasn’t long before SCD’s first president, Nelson Neal, mentioned the company during a Q&A following a performance by the Martha Graham Dance Company at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. “When Nelson stood up and identified himself as the president of Sarasota Contemporary Dance, the audience went, ‘Oooh,’” Bolaños Wilmott says.

Bolaños Wilmott was convinced that any respectable arts town needed a contemporary dance troupe. “I realized there was a need,” she says. “The ballet was going strong, but there wasn’t a contemporary dance company here.”

Other people shared her belief, including Muriel Gordon Mayers, a dance educator and fiduciary accountant who became SCD’s founding board member. Gordon Mayers, who is in her mid-90s, is still active on the board.

When Gordon Mayers turned 90, SCD honored her by putting her name on the box office.

Another early supporter was Deborah Vinton, who let the company rehearse in a warehouse she owned before SCD got its own home on 1300 Boulevard of the Arts seven years ago. Booker High School and New College also allowed SCD to rehearse in their spaces.

Getting its own studio at a marquee address next to the Sarasota Ballet School was a game changer for SCD. Using floor-to-ceiling black curtains in the third-floor studio, the company is able create a black box performance space for its own shows and those of other artists.

“We started these black box series for artists in development,” Bolaños Wilmott says. “We’ve had poets in here. We’ve had actors. We’ve had musicians and we’ve had dance. We love to collaborate. Our company is known to collaborate with visual artists and musicians.”

Having her own studio was a bigger deal for Bolaños Wilmott than it might have been for other artists. When she was growing up in a family as one of three girls, all her dance classes took place at public schools.

If one of the daughters got something, all of them got it. “My parents didn’t have the money to send three girls to lessons at a private dance studio,” she says.

CUBAN-AMERICAN ODYSSEY

To honor her family’s history, Bolaños Wilmott choreographed a program called “Cuban Project: Mi Historia, Tu Historia, y Nuestro Historia (My Story, Your Story, Our Story)” that was been performed in Sarasota, Bradenton and Miami.

Set to music by José G. Martinez and Hugo Viera-Vargas, the show tells the story of Cuban children who came to the U.S. in the early 1960s unaccompanied by their parents through a clandestine program called Operation Peter Pan.

Both of Bolaños Wilmott’s parents emigrated to the U.S. through the initiative, designed to protect children from the Communist policies of Castro. They were later reunited with their parents in the U.S.

While it brought them to the U.S., Operation Peter Pan created upheaval and trauma among its 14,000 child participants and their families, which Bolaños Wilmott attempts to embody with “Cuban Project.”

Although Bolaños Wilmott’s parents both were part of Operation Peter Pan, they didn’t meet until they were in high school.

Bolaños Wilmott says she expects to produce the program again, but she will probably not let her daughter dance in the next iteration because she is getting old enough to understand the painful implications of the piece.

There were some tough times for Bolaños Wilmott’s family members, including a stay in an orphanage for her mother, cramped quarters and infrequent luxuries like “a half-gallon of ice cream on Saturday night where each person got a scoop.”

As Bolaños Wilmott puts the finishing touches on SCD’s 2023-24 season and gets ready for its sum-

mer intensive program, there are still some things on her wish list.  One is no secret. Anyone who looks at the wall in SCD’s lobby can read the words “Future SCD Donor Wall ... ” Bolaños Wilmott is looking for a major benefactor that can help secure the company’s legacy and underwrite its rent costs. Despite Sarasota’s seeming abundance of generous arts patrons, that person isn’t easy to find, she says, because the company doesn’t have the funds to attend Black Tie events, where seat prices can be as high as $500.

“We’re thankful to our smaller donors,” she says. “But getting substantial foundation money, we’re still working on that.”

Still, serendipity and hard work have brought Bolaños Wilmott and SCD this far. Surely, the company’s winning streak will continue and the Donor Wall won’t remain empty.

EATING WITH EMMA

Let’s get knotty for National Pretzel Day

Where to find the best hot pretzels in Sarasota and Bradenton.

If you know anything about my husband, you know he loves baseball.

His admiration for the sport began as a kid, when he would follow his late grandpa Ray down to the furnished basement to watch the game on TV while everyone else chit-chatted upstairs.

His grandpa’s wealth of baseball knowledge was passed on to my husband, who continues to study the game. He knows every team, player, stadium, championship or random statistic. (This comes in handy when we are playing trivia or watching “Jeopardy.”)

But love of the game extended beyond that basement, past the diamonds he pitched on as a kid and farther than trivia nights. Baseball stadiums happen to be one of my husband’s favorite places to eat.

Why? Hot pretzels during the seventh-inning stretch.

For National Pretzel Day, I figured I’d treat my MVP husband to one (if not all) of the best local places to savor a warm, salty and twisted dough of deliciousness.

FOOD + BEER

4804 14th St. W., Bradenton, 941751-2675; 5446 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, 941-444-7823; 6529 Superior Ave., Sarasota, 941952-3361; 1525 Fourth St. Unit B, Sarasota, 941-444-1101; and 301 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, 941-8673780; EatFoodDrinkBeer.com

Don’t Be Salty: My husband and I were driving back from visiting my 96-year-old grandmother in

Hilton Head, South Carolina, when he looked at me and said, “When we get home, I want a hot pretzel.”

My husband does so much for me: He lets me have my hooligan friends over without warning, he goes to Taylor Swift concerts with me, and he has been caught wearing Chicago Cubs gear to support my preferred team. The least I could do was find this man his favorite salty snack. Leave it to Food + Beer, open until 1 a.m., with a menu ranging from Mexican to Italian and everything in between, to deliver its giant Bavarian pretzel ($11.49) right to our doorstep with a side of honey mustard and a side of white queso.

All You Knead: My husband’s second favorite menu item is rice bowls. This local chain has a menu full of bountiful bowls. The Cali hot Cobb ($13.99) with Buffalo stewed chicken, cheddar, guacamole, bacon, pico de Gallo, black bean and corn salsa and tobacco-fried onions on rice is our most-ordered bowl.

PEACHEY’S MOBILE BAKESHOP

PeacheysBakingCo.com

Don’t Be Salty: While the local truck may be shutting down early this year, I couldn’t leave out this perfect pretzel place. You frequently can find the phenomenal twisted knots of amazingness at Phillippi Farmhouse Market on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Peachey’s is a family owned business serving up authentic Amish baked goods from a food truck. But a little foodie birdie told me there may be a storefront opening at The Landings this fall. So keep this on your must-eatbefore-I-die-or-leave-Sarasota list. You won’t regret the pleasant feeling left in your belly from this pretzel.

All You Knead: “Do nut” forget a glazed doughnut. Whatever kind

of day you’re having, after one bite of a Peachey’s delectable pastry, it will only get better. If you have the opportunity to get a specialty doughnut (chocolate iced, strawberry or coconut flakes), be sure to get in line before they sell out!

SIEGFRIED’S RESTAURANT

AND GERMAN BIERGARTEN

1869 Fruitville Road; 941-3309330; Siegfrieds-Restaurant.com

Don’t Be Salty: My dad and my husband would always get into trouble at this German establishment. The owners, Kim and René, are originally from Erkelenz, Germany (the town over from where I lived in Cologne for a short stint). They are two of the most hospitable and kind people you will ever meet. They employ people with the same drive, heart and passion for good food — making it one of the best places to celebrate Oktoberfest. I would understand if their patience

was tested when my dad and husband started drinking das boots! But they would be tolerable as long as one giant bretzel & snef ($12.90) was at the table. The larger-thanlife pretzel is served with sensational sweet Bavarian mustard and medium-spicy mustard from the owners’ hometown.

All You Knead: My dad’s favorite were the rheinische reibekuchen ($14.90). They will forever remind me of him and the smile he had scarfing down the disks of deliciousness. Order these crispy potato pancakes with applesauce (our pick) or cucumber cream cheese, spring salad mix with raspberry vinaigrette and German pumpernickel bread. Add smoked salmon for $4.90.

3 KEYS BREWING AND GASTROBREW

2505 Manatee Ave. E, Bradenton; 941-218-0396; 3KeysBrewing.com

Don’t Be Salty: My brother-inlaw works for a brewery up in North Carolina. One of the things he and my husband bond over, in addition to their addiction to chess, is their love of the dynamic duo of pretzels and perfectly poured beer. 3 Keys is full of great people, even better beer and the get-out-of-here ginormous Bavarian pretzel ($10). The pretzel served at this Bradenton brewery comes with spicy pub mustard or honey mustard. Patrons who love pretzels can also add the delicious warm 3 Keys beer cheese that makes everyone a little less salty.

All You Knead: The munchies section of their menu is limitless, but the Two Hot Chicks is my choice: Buffalo chicken eggrolls with jalapeño ranch. What more could you want with a cold beer?

MANDEVILLE BEER GARDEN

428 N. Lemon Ave, Sarasota; 941954-8688; MandevilleBeer.com

Don’t Be Salty: My husband and I have been living in our 1,300-square-foot home with two 20-pound cats and Zoey, our family dog, who is a 12-year-old lab-boxer-Australian cattle mix. Zoey loves to join us out at eateries, preferably with picnic tables so she can sit with us. Mandeville’s outdoor patio makes her happy. The fresh baked pretzel ($12) makes my husband ecstatic while the beer choices make me tipsy in love. Their jumbo Bavarian-style pretzel is served with Gruyere beer cheese and house mustard.

All You Knead: Save room for the buttermilk chicken sandwich ($14). My friend from Palmetto would drive down daily if she could for this sammy made with spicy ranch, lettuce, tomato, red onion on a brioche bun.

Emma Burke Jolly

Siegfried’s Restaurant and German Biergarten giant bretzel & snef ($12.90).

THIS WEEK

THURSDAY HANNEKE CASSEL

7 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court

$12-$24

Visit WSLR.org.

Boston-based fiddler Hanneke Cassel and her band play a program reflecting influences from the Isle of Skye and Cape Breton, as well as Americana sensibilities.

‘WESTMINSTER’

7:30 p.m. at Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St. $5-$31

Visit UrbaniteTheatre.org.

Directed by Urbanite Artistic Director Summer Wallace, “Westminster” tells the story of a woman who receives a rescue dog as a surprise present from an old friend. The gift triggers unexpected consequences. Runs through April 28.

GREAT ESCAPES 6: FANTASTIC VOYAGE

7:30 p.m. at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota From $47

Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Christopher Confessore conducts the Sarasota Orchestra in a musical journey featuring Strauss’ “Blue Danube” and works by Puccini and Elgar. Concertmaster Daniel Jordan marks 25 years with the orchestra with a performance of Johan Svendsen’s “Romance for Violin and Orchestra.” Runs through April 27.

‘SUNSET SERENADE’

7:30 p.m. at SCF Neel Performing Arts Center, 5840 26th St. W., Bradenton

$15

Visit SCF.edu/Neel.

DON’T MISS

‘TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT’

The prolific team of Rebecca Hopkins, Richard Hopkins and Sarah Durham unveil a new musical revue paying homage to the artists and songs of the 1970s folk rock era. Arrangements by Jim Prosser.

IF YOU GO

When: Through April 28

Where: at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave.

Tickets: $18-$39

Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Join SCF’s Symphonic Band, Jazz Big Band, Concert Choir and other groups as they say farewell to another year of making music with talented students and dedicated audiences.

‘KISS ME KATE’

7:30 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton $30-$42

Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter. com.

Winner of the first Tony Award for Best Musical, “Kiss Me Kate” tells the story of an estranged showbiz couple playing Petruchio and Kate in Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew.” Runs through May 11.

‘TROUBADOUR’

8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St., Sarasota $39-$56 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Featuring music by Sugarland’s Kristian Bush, “Troubadour” tells the story of a country music legend’s son in the 1950s who is trying to carry on his father’s legacy. When he joins forces with unlikely allies, the world of country music is changed forever. Runs through May 19.

FRIDAY

JAZZ @ TWO: JAMES SUGGS QUARTET

2 p.m. at Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road $20

Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, James Suggs is now one of the most popular jazz musicians in the Bay Area and has performed tribute shows to Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and Harry James.

SIGHTS + SOUNDS AT WATERSIDE PLACE

6 p.m. at Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch

Free

Visit LakewoodRanch.com.

The youth choir of Rise Above Arts will perform songs from such popular musicals as “Mary Poppins,” “Hairspray” and “Something Rotten.” There is limited seating available so please feel free to bring a lawn chair. No outside food or drinks permitted.

‘MARVIN GAYE: PRINCE OF SOUL’

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

Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.

Sheldon Rhoden reprises the title role in “Marvin Gaye: Prince of Soul,” written, adapted and directed by WBTT Founder and Artistic Director Nate Jacobs. Gaye was a trailblazer in Black music with musical partner

Tammi Terrell at Motown before touching a nation with haunting solo ballads like “What’s Going On?” that still resonate today. Runs through May 26.

‘THE

8 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $47-67

Visit VanWezel.org.

Come on down to the Van Wezel to see and play the interactive stage version of TV’s longest-running game show. Eligible audience members will have the chance to walk away with an appliance, a vacation and possibly a new set of wheels.

SATURDAY

JOHNNY MATHIS: THE VOICE OF ROMANCE TOUR

8 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $90-$120 Visit VanWezel.org.

Known for hits such as “Misty” and “Chances Are,” Johnny Mathis has recorded 80 albums, including seven Christmas LPs, and is still touring, pursuing solo projects and collaborating with other artists.

MONDAY

SHANNON LEE, VIOLIN, AND YING LI, PIANO

4 p.m. at Fischer/Weisenborne Residence, 7459 Cabbage Palm Court $60

Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.

‘INSPIRATIONS’

For its closing show of the 2023-24 season, Sarasota Ballet performs Tony Award-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s “The American,” set to Dvorak’s string quartet and evoking the endless horizon of the Great Plains. It is followed by the company’s premiere of Jessica Lang’s “Lyric Pieces” and Sir Frederick Ashton’s challenging abstract work, “Sinfonietta,” a ballet in three parts. Runs through April 27.

IF YOU GO

When: April 26-27

Where: at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.

Tickets: $35-$125

Info: Visit SarasotaBallet.org.

WEDNESDAY

‘THE IMMIGRANT’

7:30 p.m. at The Players Centre, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Studio 1130 $28-$36

Visit SarasotaJewishTheatre.org

Directed by Gus Kaikkonen, Mark Harelik’s “The Immigrant” tells the story of a Russian-Jewish newcomer Haskell Harelik (Michael Raver) to Texas in the early 20th century who makes his way in a devout Christian community. The play also features Vickie Daignault as Ima Perry, Christ Casell as Milton Perry and Noah Friedman as Leah Harelik. Runs through May 12.

Artist Series Concerts presents Shannon Lee on violin and Ying Li on piano. Both are first-place winners of international competitions.

Image courtesy of Frank Atura Courtesy image

Image courtesy of Sorcha Augustine

26th Sarasota Film Festival wraps

It’s a wrap! Liam Jordan’s “Into the Spotlight: The Jake Ilardi Story,” a documentary about the Sarasota skateboarder who has competed in the Olympics, won the Local Audience Award at the 26th annual Sarasota Film Festival, which ended April 14.

The Industry Audience Award went to Dawn Porter’s “Luther: Never Too Much,” a biopic about the late superstar singer Luther Vandross, who struggled with his weight and the search for love before succumbing to complications of a stroke at age 54 in 2005. Both awards were based on votes submitted by audience members during the 10-day festival.

The Narrative Feature Jury Prize was awarded to “Thelma,” Josh Margolin’s feature celebrating age starring June Squib and Richard Roundtree.

“Sugarcane,” directed by Emily Kassie and Julian Brave NoiseCat, won the Documentary Feature Jury prize. The film explored the legacy of trauma following the abuse of First Nations students at St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School in British Columbia, Canada.

The Documentary Feature Jury also recognized Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev’s “Porcelain War” with a Special Jury Mention. The film used a story of artists turned soldiers to express Ukraine’s resistance to annexation by Russia and the obliteration of its cultural heritage.

WSLR/Fogartyville founders step down

Arlene Sweeting and Dave Beaton, who founded the radio station WSLR and the nightclub Fogartyville, are stepping down and moving to Michigan.

The couple founded Fogartyville in Bradenton in 2002. They closed five years later after they moved to Sarasota and obtained a license for WSLR.

The combined radio station and club opened in 2013 in Sarasota at its current location, 525 Kumquat Court. In 2018, the board approved the purchase of the premises in the Rosemary District, which also houses the Peace Education and Action Center.

Sweeting and Beaton will continue their work for social justice in Elberta, Michigan, through a nonprofit they’ve established, the Elberta Labor Heritage Center.

Jesse Coleman, WSLR station manager, will become the organization’s new general manager.

Leon Kerber will become the WSLR program director. Ariel Aparicio is the new Fogartyville house manager for events.

Fogartyville will say farewell to Sweeting and Beaton on April 27 with a special event called “Rooted in Community: Celebrating Our Past and Building Our Future.”

The couple plan to become snowbirds and return to Sarasota when it gets too cold in Michigan, Sweeting said in an email.

Miró Quartet

May 5, 4:00 pm

• First Presbyterian Church, Sarasota

First prize winner in the Banff International String Quartet Competition and the Naumberg Chamber Music Competition, Miró Quartet’s program includes Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 14, Op. 131, the piece around which the 2012 film “A Late Quartet” was based. Violinist Sandy Yamamoto and pianist Julio Elizalde join the quartet to perform Chausson’s Concerto for violin, piano and string quartet.

Trio Gaia

May 14, 7:30 pm

Studio for Performing Arts Recital Hall at State College of Florida New England Conservatory’s graduate piano trio in residence won first prize at the 2022 WDAV Young Chamber Musicians Competition. the program includes music inspired by folk tunes, including Charles Ives’ daring trio and Antonín Dvořák’s iconic “Dumky” Trio.

Image courtesy of Dylan Jon Wade Cox Sarasota Film Festival Rising Star Award winner Austin Abrams, SFF President and CEO Mark Famiglio and “The Listener” Director and Producer Steve Buscemi at the 2024 Sarasota Film Festival.

FST’s ‘Troubadour’ celebrates country music’s reinvention

The sweet musical by Sugarland’s Kristian Bush winds the clock back to Nashville in 1951.

IF YOU GO

Nashville

Not

sings a song

Robert Altman’s

dreams

movie;

the days of AM radio, the Grand Ole Opry and a new wave of country music created by soonto-be legends like Hank Williams, Patti Page and Waylon Jennings.

Kristian Bush’s songs in this show capture the electricity of their game-changing hits. The man knows what he’s doing. (He’s half of the Sugarland country duo and a Grammy-winning singer/ songwriter.) Playwright Janece Shaffer wrote the musical’s sharp script. She’s good, too.

Billy Mason (Scott Wakefield) is the show’s imaginary legend. Once upon a time, he was the “King of Country Music.” Now his body’s failing him, and he’s bowing off the stage. As “Troubadour” opens, he’s gearing up for a farewell concert at the Grand Ole Opry.

Billy’s son Joe (Caleb Adams) will sing backup and stay in the shadows. Joe’s legendary father clearly passed on his looks and musical talent to his offspring. But Billy (either selfishly or selflessly) wants to keep his son out of the spotlight.

When: Through May 19 Where: Florida Studio Theatre’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. Tickets: $39-$59. Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

A good-ole-boy DJ who goes by the name of “Pooch” (Kevin Bernard) wants Joe to sing a duet with his daddy — even if his daddy doesn’t. Speaking of wants: Inez (Sarah Colt), a wannabe country songwriter, dearly wants Joe to sing her tunes. She also wants Joe. (The feeling’s mutual.)

Izzy (Sheffield Chastain), a master tailor who fled Russia’s antisemitic persecution, wants Joe to wear his fancy shirts. After that, he wants to be Joe’s manager.

Sexy Ludee Feeback (Deanna Ott) wants Joe to get the hell off the stage and out of her hipshaking way. These folks can’t all get what they want. When the concert’s over and the music stops, something’s got to give. Or somebody.

Director Kate Alexander takes a sly, voyeur’s approach with these colorful personalities. On her stage, nothing feels staged. It’s like you’re spying on off-

the-cuff, real-life conversations. (Coincidentally, this was Altman’s approach to directing “Nashville.”)

The actors have a blast with their characters. Wakefield’s Billy is deeply religious, and deeply troubled. Being a country music superstar never set right with him. Many of his songs are religious, but the music biz is still too darn secular, and being the “King of Country Music” stinks of the sin of pride.

When Billy detects any sign of pride in Joe, he nips it in the bud. Adams’ Joe puts up with his putdowns. His character’s support for his father never wavers, even when the old man cuts him down.

Joe wants to make his father proud. But he also wants to make his own kind of music. Country music is his calling. When Billy asks Joe to give it up for the life of a preacher man, Joe finally stands up to him.

Colt’s Inez is a bubbly force of nature. Inez is a brilliant per-

former, until somebody starts watching. But she gets over that stage fright. Her fear’s a surface emotion, and it doesn’t run deep. Inez knows she’s good.  Colt’s good, too. Her singing is as good as it gets. (Colt’s and Adams’ characters have real romantic chemistry.)

Ott’s funny as Ludee, the brassy runaway beauty queen. Her character’s a second-tier musical talent. Ludee figures her looks will get her anywhere. (They have so far.)

The FST band’s not perfect, put pretty darn close. Darren Server (this show’s music director) plays piano; Kroy Presley strums upright bass; Gary Grall makes his guitar sing.

They do a sizzling job with Bush’s songs like “American Original,” “Ice Cream and Lollipops” and “God Made Rhinestones.” They stay in the shadows for most of the time — then finally step into the spotlight.

Joe comes out of his father’s shadow, too. Izzy’s new clothes provide the magic. Once Joe puts on Izzy’s shimmering, multicolored, look-at-me duds, he takes a giant evolutionary leap to country music’s Rockabilly future.

That leap cuts him off from his father. Billy hates his son’s new look. He calls it an “abomination.” Joe won’t go to Bible school; Joe thinks he’s in his father’s musical league; Joe won’t do as he’s told.  Billy’s put up with all that. But Joe’s sinful new peacock style is the last straw. It’s why Billy won’t share his final stage with Joe at the Grand Old Opry. (Spoiler alert: A father-and-son reunion is their destiny.) Joe and Inez sing a duet, too.

“Troubadour” is sweet, but not short. With 135 minutes to kill, this musical takes a rambling road. I’m guessing that’s a creative choice. This show treads familiar genre territory. (“A Mighty Wind” comes to mind.)

A tighter run-time would’ve made its story beats predictable. Stretching it out makes the show more like a family visit. Expect to settle in, set a spell, dig the music, have a laugh and get to know the characters. Don’t expect to hit the road anytime soon.

Y’all come back now.

Izzy’s a die-hard survivor. Russia’s pogroms didn’t stop him. American prejudice doesn’t even slow him down.  Bernard’s Pooch has a selfeffacing, downhome persona as a radio DJ. Don’t be fooled. Beneath his character’s aw-shucks grin, the wheels of his mind are always turning. Bernard convinces you of his depths. Singer, songwriter, tailor, DJ. Each in their own way, these characters are all artists. They’re also human — all too human. That’s a good thing. Until AI gets a wee bit better, the best art is still made by humans. That includes the art of country music. The tunes in “Troubadour” happen naturally in the world of this musical. Like the humans who created them, they’re not born perfect. This musical puts their messy musical birth process on stage.

Image courtesy of John Jones

Caleb Adams and Sarah Colt star in FST’s “Troubadour,” which runs through

May 19 at the Gompertz Theatre.

WONDERBALL

April 13 at Sailor Circus Arena | Benefiting Circus Arts Conservatory

If any of the 1,200 or so attendees of the second Wonderball left without sweaty clothing, achy feet and ringing ears, they weren’t doing it right.

The Circus Arts Conservatory’s fundraiser, held April 13 at the Sailor Circus Arena, was a smash follow-up to its inaugural outing last year. Grammy-winning international DJ Alan Walker, who flew in from Norway to make sure Sarasotans danced like no one was watching, kept everyone on their feet during his performance.

The dance music started around 7 p.m. and lasted late into the night, with the dance floor packed for Walker’s set.

Throughout the event, chaired by Donna Koffman with the help of a committee of Umbreen Khalidi, Nathalie Michalowski and Melissa Morsli, CAC encouraged partygoers to donate. To remind them of what they were supporting, several circus performers popped up throughout the evening to entertain the crowd, including

Photos by Lori Sax

Amy Hoskins, Ingrid Eishman, Megan Leaf, Melissa Howard, Inna Snyder and Jennifer Groff

Curt Ramage, John Vargues and Avory Black

Taleena Egglefield, Troy Grieco and Natalie Young

Mirali Chawla, Umbreen Khalidi and Nathalie Michalowski

Donna Koffman, DJ Harrison Koffman and Jennifer Mitchell

Jourdan Johnson and Kimberly Clemons

Mario Oliva and Tammy Karp

Brody Mann, Elizabeth Topp and Chip Murphy

Masterworks 7 Dinner

TRidley’s Porch, for an intimate crowd of 89. Overlooking a stunning Gulf of Mexico sunset that did not disappoint, guests were treated to a cocktail hour, dinner and a special performance by the orchestra’s principal bassist, John Miller. Joseph McKennna, president and CEO, and Paul Sciré Sr., director of donor engagement and major gifts, delivered opening remarks and warmly welcomed the orchestra enthusiasts.

With a mission to engage, educate and enrich the community through high-quality, live music, the Sarasota Orchestra hosts the dinners prior to its Masterworks concerts to give a sneak peek of what’s to come.

— JANET COMBS

Greenfield Prize Dinner

April 14 at Michael’s On East | Benefiting Hermitage Artist Retreat

The 16th annual Hermitage Greenfield Prize was held April 14 at Michael’s On East, with 300 guests in attendance.

The 2024 winner, playwright Deepa Purohit, said she was deeply grateful for the Hermitage Greenfield Prize. The award provides space, time and resources necessary to complete her new work, which will premiere in Sarasota in spring 2026.

“Deepa’s dedication to her craft and her forward-thinking outlook are reflective of the Hermitage Greenfield Prize mission: to bring into the world works of art that have a significant impact on the broad as well as the artistic culture of our society,” said Hermitage Artist Retreat Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg. Based in Manasota Key, Hermitage is committed to supporting the development and creation of new works across all artistic disciplines.

COMBS

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Sherry Koski, and her husband and board member, Tom, are long-time orchestra enthusiasts.

Photos by Janet Combs Gerri Yonover, guest Conductor Katharina Wincor, Leigh Lin, Ron Yonover and Lois Stulberg

Hermitage Artist Retreat Managing Director Stacia Lee and Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg

JANET

Photos by Janet Combs

The 2024 Hermitage Greenfield Prize winner playwright Deepa Purohit with Linda Crump

Roy Cohen and board member Ellen Berman with Fred and Bethany Niell