Arts + Entertainment 12.12.24

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT DECEMBER 12, 2024

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s ’ T T WB

L U F JOY

Nate Jacobs built a Sarasota theater dedicated to the African American story — with a little help from friends.

WBTT’s Orange Street campus.

Image courtesy of Mark M. Odell

“We’re one of a kind. We don’t have any peers.

People call us the miracle theater.”

E S I NO

— Westcoast Black Theater Founder and Artistic Director Nate Jacobs

Catara Brae played a woman accused of murdering a doctor in Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s original musical “Ruby.”

Images courtesy of Sorcha Augustine

Sheldon Rhoden is starred in Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s “Marvin Gaye: Prince of Soul,” last season for the fourth time.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

H

ave you ever wished for a fairy godmother who would wave her magic wand and make

your dreams come true? Many people would dismiss such an idea as a childhood fantasy, but not Nate Jacobs.

When his fledgling Westcoast Black Theatre was teetering

Janet Combs

WBTT Executive Director Julie Leach with Founder and Artistic Director Nate Jacobs

on the edge of insolvency, he

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is presenting “A Motown Christmas” through Jan. 5, 2025.

prayed for help — and he got it in the form of a hard-nosed yet gracious businesswoman named Christine Jennings.

“God sent an angel to me,” Jacobs says. Anyone who has met him knows he’s not joking.

IF YOU GO

Leon Pitts and Christine Jennings

As he prepared to mark WBTT’s 25th anniversary this past month, Jacobs reflected on the success of his theater dedicated to telling African American stories and nurturing talented young people — and how close he came to failure.

Joining the conversation were Jennings, longtime WBTT member Leon Pitts and WBTT Executive Director Julie Leach.

Those attending one of WBTT’s

original musicals or its productions of Broadway hits like “Fences” or “Once On This Island” in its modern Donelly Theatre, with up-todate lighting and sound systems and 200 comfortable seats, may assume things have always been that way at 1012 N. Orange Ave. But nothing could be further from the truth.

SEE JOYFUL NOISE PAGE 2

‘A MOTOWN CHRISTMAS’ When: Through Jan. 5 Where: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave. Tickets: $22-$57.

Info: Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024

JOYFUL NOISE FROM PAGE 1

When Jennings came on board for what she thought was a six-month gig in 2009, WBTT was hanging by a thread. The theater company Jacobs founded in 1999 didn’t have a permanent home, was $150,000 in debt and was without financial management systems.

Jennings met with Jacobs at the behest of Howard Millman, a longtime mover and shaker in Sarasota theater circles. Millman, a WBTT board member, was formerly producing artistic director of the Asolo Repertory Theatre and is the man Jacobs calls his mentor.

At the meeting, Jennings said she would think about helping WBTT. The next day she agreed to come on board as a consultant for six months.

“I left five years later as executive director,” Jennings says.

One of the first things that Jennings did upon joining WBTT was to rent a small office downtown. The former banker also instituted business hours, informing Jacobs that he must come to the office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “That was a big change for me,” Jacobs says. “I was used to coming and going at all hours.”

Pitts, who first met Jacobs as a 5-year-old student when the future theater founder was an elementary school teacher, recalls how in WBTT’s early days, they used to rehearse for their shows at Jacobs’ apartment on Cocoanut Street. “We were right down the street from here,” he says.

What really gave WBTT financial stability came after first Jennings and later Leach reached out to Sarasota’s well-heeled arts patrons to help support the theater. Leach joined the WBTT board in 2010 and became executive director in 2015.

One of the most generous donors was the late Geri Aaron, who gave $1 million toward the $6 million capital campaign that WBTT launched in 2016 to upgrade the theater it was able to buy in 2013. The renovated theater opened in 2020, just before COVID forced it to close temporarily.

Presents

Courtesy image

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe last presented “Five Guys Named Moe” in 2011 and will reprise the show in 2025.

ALWAYS SAY THANK YOU

One of the lessons that Jennings taught Pitts and Jacobs, they both said, was to always thank donors and patrons. “To this day, I keep thankyou notes in the glove compartment of my car, so I have them handy when I need them,” Pitts says.

The tradition of expressing gratitude endures today at WBTT, where actors, musicians and others come out to the lobby to thank audience members after the show. “Nothing is more important than thanking people,” says Jennings.

While Jennings, Leach and others helped put WBTT on sound financial footing, Jacobs was able to focus on what he does best — identifying talent, and writing, directing and producing. Awards and acclaim have followed.

In Sarasota, Jacobs received the Arts Leadership Award for Artistic Achievement from the Arts and Cultural Alliance in 2018 and the Perfect Pitch Award in 2021 from Key Chorale, which honored him for his collaborations with other arts groups.

In 2015, Jacobs received the Larry Leon Hamilton Producer Award for

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his contributions to Black theater at the National Black Theatre Festival.

WBTT performances have become a mainstay at the biannual festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, now known as the International Black Theatre Festival.

This summer, the company brought the Solid Gold Edition of its “Soul Crooners” show to the festival.

Ticket sales at regional theaters across the country haven’t bounced back since COVID to pre-pandemic levels, but WBTT and other Sarasota theaters are an exception.

Still, don’t make the mistake of putting WBTT in any category, whether it be Black theaters or Sarasota cultural groups.

“We’re one of a kind. We don’t have any peers. People call us the miracle theater,” Jacobs told the Observer after returning from Winston-Salem.

Like other theater companies, WBTT frequently revives previous productions, as it is currently doing with “A Motown Christmas,” which runs through Jan. 5. The holiday Hitsville tribute made its debut in 2015 and was performed again in

2017 and 2019.

Other WBTT revivals waiting in the wings for 2025 are August Wilson’s “Fences,” which first ran in 2007, and Clarke Peters’ musical, “Five Guys Named Moe,” which WBTT first staged in 2003 and revived in 2011.

WBTT AUDIENCES CAN’T GET ENOUGH MARVIN

When it comes to WBTT revivals, nothing can top “Marvin Gaye: Prince of Soul,” which the company brought back for the fourth time from April 17 through May 26.

After it sold out almost immediately, WBTT extended the run to June 2.

Each time WBTT has staged “Prince of Soul,” Sheldon Rhoden has played the charismatic activist singer who was killed by his father.

In an earlier interview, Jacobs recalled how stunned Rhoden was after making his debut as Marvin Gaye in “Prince of Soul” during the 2010-11 season.

“Sheldon wasn’t familiar with the theater and he didn’t understand that audiences don’t always go crazy,” Jacobs recalls.

With each run of “Marvin Gaye: Prince of Soul,” Jacobs has made the production more elaborate, expanding the libretto and increasing the amount of acting required of Rhoden, who has risen to the occasion.

There have even been talks between Jacobs and Broadway producers about taking the show to New York.

Stay tuned.

While Jacobs has been writing musical cabaret shows since his days as a teacher as a way to keep his students engaged, he moved outside of his comfort zone last season with “Ruby.”

The musical, about a prosperous Black woman in 1950s Florida who killed a white physician, was a first for WBTT: It was fully realized production, not a revue. Jacobs credits WBTT’s evolutionary leap to his brother, Michael Jacobs, with whom he wrote the book for “Ruby” and who wrote the lyrics, and to composer Nehemiah Luckett.

Like other arts organizations in town, WBTT has been dodging hurricanes lately. The company was performing in North Carolina as Hurricane Debby approached Florida.

They nearly got stranded in Atlanta, where they were changing planes.

After flights to Sarasota were repeatedly canceled, Leach decided to rent vans to drive home while Jacobs was able to fly to New York City for meetings. The storm had passed when they arrived in Sarasota.

After Hurricane Milton closed the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall until 2025, WBTT’s 25th anniversary gala was moved to The Ora on Nov. 14.

The event raised more than $350,000 toward WBTT’s seven-year, $10 million “Solid Gold Campaign.” More than 450 guests attended the celebration, which was co-chaired by Doris Johnson and Richard Perlman, and featured performances by WBTT members, students and its house band.

The November fanfare was a far cry from the dark days of 2009, but Jennings doesn’t dwell in the past.

Her parting words to an interviewer? “Don’t miss ‘Five Guys Named Moe.’” We won’t.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024

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Sarasota Ballet serves up a festive feast MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

I

n Sarasota, we’ve been hearing and seeing the old question, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” quite a bit lately because it’s lit up in neon above the stage at the Asolo Repertory Theatre’s production of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.”

The answer, of course, is “Practice.”

Asked how one gets to be a commander of the British Empire, aka a “knight,” Sir David Bintley says, “It’s the same answer as it is for Carnegie Hall — practice.”

Pressed further, Bintley (call him Sir David if you meet him) allows that receiving a tap on the shoulder from a sword held by Queen Elizabeth was a bit more complicated than that. “In terms of the knighthood, I was given it for services to dance,” says one of Britain’s leading classical choreographers.

“I’ve been around a long time. I was a dancer, I was a good character dancer, I became a principal and I directed the Birmingham Royal Ballet company for 24 years,” Bintley explained in a choppy Zoom interview that would have prompted most people to pull the plug. “If you stick around long enough, they’ve got to give you something.”

Sir David, and his former colleague and friend, Sarasota Ballet Director Iain Webb, are nothing but persistent. Neither has gone away over the decades and both have remained committed to bringing Bintley’s ballet, “The Spider’s Feast” to Sarasota, despite obstacles such as pandemic shutdowns and scheduling.

“I’ve lost track. Was it three or four times that it’s been postponed?”

Bintley asked. In the end, it doesn’t matter because the long-awaited world premiere “The Spider’s Feast” is finally happening.

Sir David Bintley’s “The Spider’s Feast” will make its world premiere at Sarasota Ballet.

Image courtesy of Frank Atura

IF YOU GO ‘THE SPIDER’S FEAST’ When: Dec. 20-21 Where: Sarasota Opera House Tickets: $35-$125 Info: Visit SarasotaBallet.org.

It’s being served up Dec. 20-21 by Sarasota Ballet dancers and members of the Margaret Barbieri Conservatory. “The Spider’s Feast” is part of Program 3, “Fanciful Journey,” which also includes Sir Frederick Ashton’s “Les Patineurs” and George Balanchine’s “Rubies.”

Fans of Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker,” don’t fret: Sarasota Ballet will perform that holiday standard

on Dec. 22-23. It will be a whirlwind four days for Sarasota balletomanes.

Bintley first created the predecessor to “The Spider’s Feast” for the Royal Ballet School’s Golden Jubilee in 1997, which was attended by none other than founder Dame Vanette de Valois, who was 100 at the time.

First called “A Spider’s Banquet,” it was based on an earlier French ballet first performed at the turn of the century to the music of Albert Roussel. That production, about a spider accumulating insects in preparation for a giant meal, was a serious affair.

In his 1997 dance, Bintley decided to take a humorous approach. “When I thought about doing it, the idea was to make it comedic. In the original, the spider amasses enough food for his feast by killing other insects,” he

said. “In my version, every time it looks like he’s going to make a kill, he’s deprived.”

Bintley had long toyed with the idea of adapting “The Spider’s Feast” for adult dancers. He has done that for the Sarasota rendition, which also features younger dancers in secondary roles.

“When I first made it, it was pretty challenging for the students (at the Royal Ballet School),” recalled Bintley. “It wasn’t so much the choreography as it was the way they did the steps. It’s a comedy. Young people are not really experienced enough to fully develop comedies, whereas professionals are.”

Bintley spent two weeks in Sarasota earlier in the season rehearsing with the Sarasota Ballet. He was due to return Dec. 7 to put the finishing touches on the production, which features design by Dick Bird and lighting design by Ethan Vail.

Commenting on the preparations for “The Spider’s Feast” and meeting members of the Sarasota Ballet for the first time, Bintley said, “I loved working with them. They are going to be really good. We had a good budget for the piece and my designer has done a wonderful job. It’s going to be very beautiful.”

LONGSTANDING TIES PRODUCE WORLD PREMIERES

Bintley’s decision to bring his new creation to the Sarasota Ballet is due to his longstanding relationship with Webb, whom he met when they both were dancing for the Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet. At the time, Sadler’s Wells was touring company of the Royal Ballet based in London.

The company moved to Britain’s Midlands district in 1990, attracted by economic development money and a market with less cultural competition than London. It was then christened the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Five years later, Bintley succeeded Sir Peter Wright as director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, a post he held for 24 years. From 2010-14, he was concurrently artistic director of The National Ballet of Japan.

Viewers of Netflix’s series about

Britain’s royal family, “The Crown,” may recall that Princess Margaret takes a drubbing from her normally composed sister, Queen Elizabeth, when she misses an opening night performance of the Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet.

The mishap happened in the 1960s, before Bintley’s time. Did Netflix blow the incident out of proportion? Perhaps.

In any event, Bintley says the missed appearance was not representative of Princess Margaret’s behavior toward the Royal Ballet, of which she was the first president in 1957. She was later patron of the Sadler’s Wells Foundation.

“I knew her very well,” Bintley says. “Princess Margaret was devoted to the Royal Ballet and visited us often.”

Like his friend Bintley, Webb has been around for a long time in the world of English ballet and has been at the helm of the Sarasota Ballet since 2007. He hasn’t been knighted yet, but this summer he did receive the 2024 British National Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Webb was able to pick up De Valois Award in person. He and the Sarasota Ballet were in London for the Ashton Celebrated festival at the Royal Opera House, where they shared the program with the Royal Ballet from June 4-9.

Unfortunately, Bintley had to miss the tribute to Sir Frederick Ashton because he was in Japan at the time.

Asked to put Webb’s contribution to dance into perspective, along with those of his wife, Sarasota Ballet Assistant Director Margaret Barbieri, Bintley said, “They have a distinct artistic vision and they are devotees of Ashton, who typifies the British approach to dance.”

But Webb and Barbieri aren’t merely content to perform the classics of Ashton and Balanchine, he notes.

“Somehow Iain manages to commission things. It’s really quite ... ” he said before technical difficulties on the Zoom call ate his words.

We’ll let Sarasota Ballet audiences finish the sentence.

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Sir David Bintley’s fanciful world premiere follows a spider’s search for food.

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024

GREAT ESCAPES 2 — MERRY AND BRIGHT 5:30 p.m. Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail $46-$63 Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Want to see your show before dinner? Sarasota Orchestra’s Great Escapes series at Holley Hall has just the ticket with shows at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Get into the spirit of the season as one of Sarasota’s most beloved cultural institutions plays “A Klezmer Nutcracker,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Skater’s Waltz” and “Joy to the World.” Runs through Dec. 15.

Courtesy images

“Shinique Smith: Parade” runs through Jan. 5 at The Ringling Museum of Art.

THURSDAY ‘SHINIQUE SMITH: PARADE’ 10 a.m. at The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road Free with admission of $25 Visit Ringling.org.

The yearlong exhibition of Shinique Smith’s colorful fabric sculptures in conversation with The Ringling’s Renaissance masterpieces is coming to a close. It’s a spectacle not to be missed. The show embodies the universality of the human experience while incorporating voices of the African American diaspora, circus and other stories. The end result is nothing short of monumental. Runs through Jan. 5.

RAISE YOUR VOICE 11 a.m. at Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd. $70 Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.

Artist Series Concerts presents Joseph Parrish, an award-winning vocalist known for his performances in both opera and popular music.

He is joined by pianist Jesse Martins from the Sarasota Opera in a program featuring the music of William Grant Still, Donizetti and Rachmaninoff.

‘BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL’ 7:30 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail $35-$98 Visit AsoloRep.org.

Not just another jukebox musical, Asolo Repertory Theatre’s production of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” tells the story of King’s life, from her early days churning out songs for other artists with thenhusband Gerry Goffin to her rise as the voice of her generation. Runs through Jan. 5.

‘WAITRESS’ 8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. $39-$59 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

For fans of Sara Bareilles, Florida Studio Theatre’s production of “Waitress” needs no introduction.

The Grammy-winning singer/ songwriter wrote the music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical.

Spoiler alert: Pie is always the answer! Runs through Jan. 5.

FRIDAY

DON’T MISS THE POPS ORCHESTRA: A WICKED FUN HOLIDAY Want more “Wicked” after seeing the blockbuster movie? This perfectly timed concert by The Pops Orchestra features Tiffany Haas, who played Glinda in the touring production of “Wicked” and the understudy to Kristin Chenoweth in the Broadway show. Conducted by artistic director Robyn Bell, The Pops moves to Bradenton on Dec. 16 for a 7:30 p.m. performance at SCF/Neel Performing Arts Center.

IF YOU GO When: 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 Where: Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way Tickets: $35-$65 Info: Visit ThePopsOrchestra.org.

1734 South Tamiami Trail Venice, FL 34293 941.493.7441

HERMITAGE CROSS ARTS COLLABORATIVE 5 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $5 with registration Visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

With all the arts organizations in Sarasota, the opportunities for cross-pollination are endless. The Hermitage Artist Retreat makes the most of it, this time with a program featuring Sarasota Opera’s Anthony Barrese and Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s Raleigh Mosely II.

4551 N. Washington Blvd.

Sarasota, FL 34234 941.355.8437

2510 1st Street West Bradenton, FL 34208 941.748.4679

Nothing says the holidays like the circus, especially when the star is Sarasota’s hometown hero, Nik Wallenda. For the second year in a row, Wallenda teams up with the Circus Arts Conservatory to present “Illuminate,” a new circus show for the family that’s got all the holidays covered. Runs through Jan. 5.

‘RECIPE FOR THE HOLIDAY’ 7:30 p.m. at Tree Fort Productions, Crossings at Siesta Key Mall, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail $40 Visit TreeFortProductions.com.

OUR PICK

‘ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914’ Thanks to a partnership between Asolo Repertory Theatre and The Ringling, Asolo Rep is presenting “All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914” in the jewelbox Historic Asolo Theater.

Written and directed by Asolo Rep Producing Artistic Director Peter Rothstein, “All is Calm” tells the true story of an impromptu holiday ceasefire between English and German soldiers during World War I using word and song.

IF YOU GO When: Through Dec. 22 Where: The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road Tickets: $39-$67 Info: Visit Ringling.org.

Don’t miss Tree Fort Productions founder Katherine Michelle Tanner’s Yuletide show, “Recipe for the Holiday,” which follows a radio show shrink dispensing much needed advice during a stressful time of year. Runs through Dec. 15.

941-907-4123 to check on ticket availability.

SATURDAY

MONDAY

‘DECK THE HALLS’ 10 a.m. at FST’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave. $12 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

MONDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT THE CABARET: GREG CAPUTO QUINTET 7:30 p.m. at John C. Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. $34-$39 Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

Celebrate the holidays in Florida style with palm trees decorated with twinkling lights, sand snowmen and Santa on a surfboard. The familyfriendly show returns this year with new sketches and songs. Runs weekends through Dec. 24.

MEAN MARY 8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court $24 Visit WSLR.org.

Looking for a break from sugarcoated holiday entertainment?

Head to Fogartyville for Mean Mary and her brother Frank James.

Together they’ll play favorites like “Iron Horse” and “Blazing,” new hits like “Tarzan” from the new “Woman Creature” album and yes, even a couple of festive tunes. There’s no escaping Christmas music.

SUNDAY MELODIES FOR THE SEASON Suncoast Concert Band 3 p.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 6161 Oak St. $5 Visit SuncoastConcertBand.org.

Celebrating its 92nd season, Suncoast Concert Band presents a program of holiday favorites played by its veteran musicians. Call

In the theater world, Mondays are traditionally a “dark” night. Not so in Sarasota’s jazz community, where Jazz Club of Sarasota hosts Monday Night Jazz at the Cabaret in partnership with Florida Studio Theatre. This week’s show features Greg Caputo Quintet, which plays Gypsy jazz. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for food and beverage service.

TUESDAY ART AT NOON GALLERY TALK Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Free with $20 admission Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.

Whether you’re a local, a snowbird or a tourist, take time during this busy holiday season for a tour of the contemporary Sarasota Art Museum, a unit of Ringling College of Art and Design. This gallery talk is just the excuse you need to go see “Joe Fig: Contemplating Vermeer” and other exhibitions inside the museum and the Embracing Our Differences retrospective of billboard-sized art outside. Plus, you can pair it with a meal at the museum’s Bistro, right on campus.

OUR SHOWROOMS ARE OPEN

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THIS WEEK

WONDERLAND CIRCUS: ‘ILLUMINATE’ 7 p.m. at the Big Top at UTC, 195 University Town Center Drive $30-$100 Visit CircusArts.org.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024

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N I K W A L L E N D A & T H E C I R C U S A R T S C O N S E R VAT O R Y

Sarasota Players’ ‘Little Women’ aspires to be astonishing

ALL NEW SHOW! NI K WAL LE ND A

Director Amanda Finnerty weaves a colorful quilt with remnants from a canceled show and a fresh cast.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

M

AND JOHNNY ROCKETT

Courtesy image

IF YOU GO ‘LITTLE WOMEN: THE MUSICAL’ When: Through Dec. 15 Where: the Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130 Tickets: $15-$34 Info: Visit ThePlayers.org.

en: The Musical” became a Broadway hit in 2005, there were several plays produced on the Great White Way, starting in 1912.

Over the years, Hollywood has brought the heartwarming story to the silver screen no less than seven times. The latest, in 2019, was directed by Greta Gerwig before she made her megahit “Barbie.”

Against the backdrop of such history, does Finnerty feel any pressure?

If she does, she doesn’t show it. “I love this story so much,” she says. “I just want to be able to tell the story well.”

Besides the rescued remnants from the Venice Theatre production, Finnerty draws confidence from her cast, including Lexi Lowther in the role of Jo. In the Broadway show, Sutton Foster played Jo and made “Astonishing” the anthem of young girls everywhere who dream big.

Lowther, a newly minted graduate of Florida Southern University, is a veteran of the Sarasota Players’ children’s theater.

While “Little Women” isn’t a holiday story per se, it does begin with a Christmas scene as the comingof-age tale unfolds over a two-year period.

“It’s a feel-good musical, so we decided to put it in the lineup for the holidays,” Finnerty says. “It’s something everybody in the family can enjoy.”

The Sarasota Players presents “Little Women the Musical” from Dec. 5-15 at The Players studio in the Crossings at Siesta Key mall.

presents

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armee would be proud of Amanda Finnerty.

Who is Marmee? She’s the mother of the four March sisters in Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women.”

Finnerty is directing Sarasota Players’ production of “Little Women: The Musical,” which runs through Dec. 15. In the process, she’s embodying some of the Yankee values of thrift and resourcefulness that inform the classic 1868 novel set in New England during the Civil War. You see, Finnerty was supposed to direct “Little Women: The Musical” for Venice Theatre before Hurricane Ian hit in 2022 and the show was canceled.

Like the Sarasota Players’ temporary home in The Crossings at Siesta Key mall, Venice’s Pinkerton Theatre has a stage surrounded by the audience on four sides. Staging a production for a theater in the round can be a tricky proposition.

“The hardest part of directing any play is the staging,” Finnerty says, “but it’s particularly challenging with theater in the round because you can’t have one section of the audience looking at the characters’ backs the whole time, so they have to move. At the same time, you don’t want something to look contrived.”

Since she still had notes from her canceled 2022 production, Finnerty says she felt confident going into the latest show.

Her interpretation of “Little Women” uses a fire motif. Each of the four March sisters wears a flame-inspired color that is hers alone. Jo, the tomboy of the family and future author, wears red. Meg, the oldest sister who is driven more by love than money in her search for a husband, dresses in purple.

Beth, the beloved sickly third sister, wears orange, while Amy, the youngest, dons yellow hues as she looks for a wealthy man who will appreciate her artistic gifts.

“My team has been really great — the music director, the set designer, the costume shop. The costumes are kind of crazy because they are hoop skirts. That took a little getting used to by the actors,” Finnerty says.

Before Allen Knee’s “Little Wom-

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024

EATING WITH EMMA

A foodie guide to ‘A Christmas Story’ in Sarasota There are so many culinary revelations in the classic holiday film that I explored them right here in our neighborhood.

EMMA JOLLY CONTRIBUTOR

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ach year, my dad would count down to the moment: gifts unwrapped (check), trash bags stuffed with torn paper (check), breakfast devoured (check) — all so he could bask in the all-day marathon of “A Christmas Story” on TBS. He’d doze off in the middle of the leg-lamp scene, wake up for the BB gun saga and drift back to sleep, only to repeat each step (at different parts) with the next airing ... and the next ... and the next.

As a kid, I thought it was overkill, but now I see the magic that he homed in on for hours each holiday. For him, “A Christmas Story” wasn’t just a movie — it was a portal to simpler times, wrapped in a “frah-gee-lay” bow.

For one day, my dad relived his lost list of childhood mischief during snowy Chicago winters, involving his own flagpole mishap and a longing for the Red Ryder BB gun.

Here’s a toast to my dad and simpler times, where all you had to worry about was not shooting your eye out, remembering to drink your Ovaltine and not saying “the

queen mother of dirty words,” the F-bomb.

Foodies, I present to you “A Christmas Story” menu journey through Sarasota.

peppermint stick to gooey sea-salt caramel, rich maple walnut and dreamy chocolate peanut butter, Kilwins has a flavor for every sweet tooth. At $11.99 per half pound, this melt-in-your-mouth magic has been made the same way since 1948, when Don and Katy Kilwin originated the recipe on their marble table.

YARD HOUSE

115 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota; 941-536-0778; YardHouse.com

Emma Burke Jolly

My sister-in-law, husband and I stand in front of “The Christmas Story” house in Cleveland, Ohio.

DER DUTCHMAN

3713 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota; 9341-955-8007; DHGroup.com

“Meatloaf, smeatloaf, doublemeatloaf.” Growing up, I was much like Ralphie’s younger brother, Randy. I was always playing with my food until someone excused me from the table — especially if it was meatloaf. Nowadays, my friend and I planned a meatloaf competition and drool over the thought of one day making it as tasty as Der Dutchman’s version. The homemade meatloaf ($16.29) is Amish-style and slow cooked, served with special sauce and includes homemade white or wheat dinner rolls and your choice of two side dishes such as creamy coleslaw, tender green beans, homemade dressing (or as this Connecticut-raised gal says, stuffing) with gravy, real mashed potatoes or crispy onion rings.

ALBRITTON FRUIT COMPANY

5430 Proctor Road, Sarasota; 941-923-2573; AlbrittonFruit.com.

“I just thought that you’d be getting tired of the same old stuff.” Want to channel your inner Ralphie and gift like a pro? While everyone else is handing over boring trinkets, you can roll in with a

“It was all gone ... no turkey sandwiches!” It might not be the typical turkey dinner as you envision it, but the stacked turkey club ($16.99) fills you up all just the same. Loads of roasted turkey, crispy bacon, Swiss cheese, avocado that doesn’t cost extra, tomato (or none, diner’s choice), fresh Boston lettuce and mayo, all on toasted brioche and served with house French fries. Gluten-free foodies, don’t fret— you have options! Pair it with their house Belgian White draft beer, and you’ve got yourself a holiday meal worth caroling about.

Merry munching to all, and to all a delicious night!

ADELINE

1920 Hillview St., Sarasota; 941-444-7692; AdelineSRQ.com

Courtesy images

Hillview restaurant Adeline serves up its version of roasted duck ($55).

show-stopping fruit basket that’ll make you the MVP of holiday gifting. This local gem serves up fruit baskets, sweet treats, jams, jellies and cakes year-round, so your gifting game can always be juicy.

The wreath full of citrus ($42.99$65.99) is a crowd-pleaser, packed with navel oranges, ruby red grapefruit, mandarins, honeybell marmalade and fruit-filled strawberry candy. Basically, it’s a flavor-packed holiday hug in a basket.

KILWINS

1561 Lakefront Drive, Unit 107, Sarasota; 941-358-7444; 5140

Don and Katy Kilwin made the fudge recipe in 1948 that is still used today at Kilwins.

Ocean Blvd. Siesta Key; 941-3463699; 312 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota; 941-388-3200; Kilwins.com

“Oh, Fudge.” This scene always cracks me up. It takes me straight back to the first time I accidentally let a swear word slip in front of my dad while shooting hoops (Spoiler: He laughed.) But it also makes me crave something sweet, like Kilwins legendary fudge. From festive

“Yes, it’s a beautiful duck.” We all know the scene when the Parkers’ holiday dinner leads them to the Chinese restaurant. (Fun fact: Melinda Dillon, aka Ralphie’s mom, had no clue the duck was coming.

Her legendary shriek? Totally real.)

I absolutely love duck, and Adeline’s tender, juicy roasted duck ($55) with a fluffy bao bun, sweet pear, tangy kimchi and hoisin sauce is the best there is. This chic chef’s counter is a bucket-list spot for foodies. Bold, comforting flavors waft through the restaurant while Chef Drew Adams and his crew whip up magic right before your eyes. It’s part dinner, part live art show and the perfect gift for any time of year.

Fanciful Journey PROGRAM THREE DECEMBER 20 – 21, 2024 Sarasota Opera House Accompanied by the Sarasota Orchestra

Sir Frederick Ashton’s Les Patineurs George Balanchine’s Rubies

PROGRAM SPONSOR

Sir David Bintley’s The Spider’s Feast (World Premiere)

941.359.0099 | SarasotaBallet.org 430651-1

Jennifer Hackbarth and Ivan Spitale in Sir David Bintley’s The Spider’s Feast | Photo by Frank Atura

YourObserver.com

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024

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BRIEFS Image courtesy of Barbara Banks

Mary Davis Wallace (left) is the new board chair of Art Center Sarasota and Katherine Ceaser has been named executive director.

MASSAGE | FACIALS | STRETCH

SARASOTA SOUTH 4055 Clark Rd (941) 927-6200 SARASOTA-MIDTOWN 1279 S Tamiami Trl (941) 308-7600 SARASOTA NORTH 2855 University Pkwy (941) 556-6400 MASSAGE | FACIALS | STRETCH

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Art Center Sarasota has promoted Katherine Ceaser to executive director from director of education and named Mary Davis Wallace as board chair.

Ceaser succeeds Kinsey Robb, who resigned in September after three years at the helm of Sarasota’s oldest visual arts organization to become executive director of the national nonprofit Art Dealers Association of America.

Wallace takes over from previous board chair Ramsey Frangie, who has moved to the treasurer position.

A native of Sarasota, Ceaser has a strong background in arts engagement and community engagement.

She served as an adjunct faculty member and education adviser at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee before joining ACS in 2023. She also worked as a teacher in Sarasota County Schools.

During her tenure as the ACS education director, Ceaser doubled the number of instructors, established off-site programs and increased offerings. She also built partnerships with The Bay, the bayfront park where the institution is located.

Founded in 1926 by Marcia Rader, Art Center Sarasota is admissionfree and open to the public. Under Robb, it upgraded its premises and streamlined its submission process for juried and solo shows.

“I’m excited about honoring our legacy and connecting with the community to map out our future,” Ceaser said in a statement. “I’m committed to working with our community to discover innovative funding sources and develop programs to strengthen ACS’s long-term sustainability.”

Wallace is the founder/CEO of Cultural Planning Consultants and authored the city of Sarasota’s 2030 Public Art Plan, which was adopted by the Sarasota City Commission and is currently being implemented.

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Art Center Sarasota names new management team

YourObserver.com

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Exclusive offer for Obse rver Readers!

Give the Gift of Knowledge!

The Observer Presents:

Unwrap the past with our exciting speaker series featuring renowned scholars from top universities. Each lecture brings history to life with fresh insights and fascinating stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

THURSDAY, FEB. 6

WENDY SCHILLER Brown University

What Would the Founding Fathers Think of America Today?

Let’s look back 250 years! By focusing on key writings and speeches of founders Washington, Jefferson, Adams and others we can speculate and discuss what they’d think about federal bailouts, healthcare, the federal deficit, immigration, and much more.

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THURSDAY, APR. 10

LOUIS MASUR

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The Mind of Abraham Lincoln Discover Lincoln’s genius through his speeches, from the Gettysburg Address to his vision for democracy and equality. Explore how his legacy shaped the nation and continues to inspire generations today.

Take a journey through America’s wealthiest figures—past and present— exploring how they shaped the nation’s economy and continue to impact society today.

OBSERVER READER SPECIAL OFFER

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The Ora 10 AM – 12 Noon (Doors open at 9:30 AM) 578 McIntosh Rd. Sarasota, FL 34232

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Questions: call 941-366-3468, ext. 383 or email historyseries@yourobserver.com

Premium reserved seating in the first three rows Exclusive luncheon with the speaker at Ora’s private dining room, catered by Michael’s on East.

Lunch begins immediately following the lecture.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024

Paige Petersen and Audrey Robbins

2024 Women in Philanthropy Inaugural Honoree Award recipients. Front: Andrew Economos for Judith Economos, Marie Johnson Colbert, Mary Kay Hensen, David Peterson receiving for Lee Peterson; Back: Bill Villafranco, trustee for Virginia Toulmin Foundation; Jeffrey Peterson for Lee Peterson, Sherry Koski, Graci McGillicuddy, Nikki Sedacca, Flora Major, Ariane Dart and Teri Hansen

Women in Saturday, Dec. 7, at Cap de Joie | Benefiting area Philanthropy nonprofit organizations Soirée

Co-Chair Margaret Wise with Elisabeth Waters

B

eing in the company of Katherine Harris and Margaret Wise is a treat. These powerful women display integrity and character while being kind, compassionate and talented — and you just might end up in a downright giggle with them as if you have been friends forever.

Harris and Wise are the founders of Women in Philanthropy and, acting as co-chairs together with Creative Director Tatyana Sharoubim Stewart and Communications Director Dayle Hoffman, held the group’s inaugural Soirée Dec. 7 after being rescheduled due to the hurricanes.

The WIP mission statement reads: “To honor the indelible legacy of exceptional women philanthropists, past and present, whose virtues of integrity, compassion, humility and kindness have perennially enriched our community’s fabric for decades.

From these exemplars, we aspire to motivate and engage new generations in virtuous and intentional community enrichment and philanthropy.”

“Philanthropy is not just writing a check. These are some of the exact traits that shape a philanthropist, and we want to be sure we are properly mentoring the younger generation as we honor the past and present,” said Harris as she gave last-minute finishing touches to floral arrangements while some 300 guests enjoyed a cocktail hour in the expansive auto court of Cap de Joie, her home on Sarasota Bay. Volunteers, attired in Oscar de la Renta, and dancers from the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School graced the interior with perfect poses as guests made their way into the mansion, through the salon and out to the waterfront. “We are making philanthropy fashionable,” said Stewart.

Honored at this event and in attendance were Marie E. JohnsonColbert, Flora Major, Elizabeth Moore, Nikki Sedacca, Ariane Dart, Mary

Mimi Carlin and Inna Snyder

Photos by Lori Sax

Andrew Hawley, Catherine Avery, Bobby Birchfield, co-Chair Katherine Harris, Alicia Margoles and Mike Mulligan

Kay Henson, Sherry Koski and Graci McGillicuddy.

Included as honorees, posthumously, are Margery Barancik, Judith Economos, Lee Peterson and Virginia Toulmin.

With Becky Souflis directing her staff from Simply Gourmet by Metz, the tables were adorned in hues of blues with matching hydrangea centerpieces. The French-fare menu included artisan greens, surf and turf and a European chocolate mousse coupe.

Tom Koski served as the auctioneer for the many items, which included a rooftop dinner for 14 held atop Cap de Joie that went to a lucky buyer for $50,000. All proceeds will benefit area nonprofit organizations, including Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

Kris Ravinscroft and Tatyana Stewart

Candice and Lauren Henry

— JANET COMBS

Steve Rovner and Ariane Dart

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YourObserver.com

BLACK TIE | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024

Wonder Gala

Friday, Dec. 6, at The Ora Benefiting The Florida Center for Early Childhood

Board of directors Jeffrey Woodin, Rochelle Curley, Florida Center CEO Kristie Skoglund, Sarrah Swasey, Eddie Perez-Ruberte, Chief Philanthropy Officer Kate Reed and Neal Horen

Event Chair Sandy Humenik with event co-Chairs Alex Zimmerman and Gretchen Bauer

Photos by Lori Sax

Dianna Henderson and Rich Fembleaux

Laura and John Leeming

Denise and Eldi Deschamps with Patty and Greg Janssen

Tim and Julie Doran

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT

OLLI at Ringling College Presents: Listening to Women

A Special Holiday Event in Partnership with

Jan. 23-March 6, 2025 • Thursdays, 2-3:30 pm Listening to Women is a weekly series which recognizes women whose brilliance and fortitude have reshaped industries

For information or to register, call 941-309-5111 or visit www.OLLIatRinglingCollege.org

and who are making a difference in today’s

General Admission: $90 for the series

communities. At each session, we will hear

Listening to Women is made possible,

the personal stories of women, driven by a

in part, with support from

cause, with the passion and determination to have achieved success in a variety of fields.

Jan. 23 Government, Politics, and Friendships: Women Who Made It Happen

Feb. 13 From Cop to Captain: A Woman’s Journey Through the Ranks

Speakers: Maria Cino and Cindy Stevens

Speaker: Captain Debra Kiner

941.351.8000 asolorep.org

Moderator: Sandi Stuart

——— SHOW SPONSORS ———

Feb. 20 Straight From the Hood

Jan. 30 Beaches, Boycotts, and Court Battles: Sarasota’s Civil Rights Movement

Speaker: Chris Hernandez Voelker Interviewer: Janice Bini

Moderator: Vickie Oldham

ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914

Feb. 27

Written by PETER ROTHSTEIN Vocal Arrangements by ERICK LICHTE and TIMOTHY C. TAKACH Directed by PETER ROTHSTEIN Music Direction by ERICK LICHTE

Keeping Opera Alive: My Lifelong Passion Speaker: Martha Collins

Feb. 6 Head of the Class: Women Leaders in Higher Education Speakers: Katherine Haley, Ph.D., Lucie Lapovsky, Ph.D., Patricia Okker, Ph.D., and Laurey Stryker, Ph.D.

DEC 4 - DEC 22

March 6 Storytelling Through Placemaking: Creating Space for Personal and Family Histories

——— SEASON SPONSORS ———

Speaker: Debra Wren

Virginia B.Toulmin Foundation

OLLI is located at Sarasota Art Museum

OLLIatRinglingCollege.org

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941-309-5111

ALSO PLAYING: Beautiful

The Carole King Musical

on the Ringling College Museum Campus 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

Tickets start at just $35

“Asolo’s Beautiful is a Triumph” - Dennis Mitch Maley, The Bradenton Times

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Speakers: Shelia Atkins, Harriet Moore, Ph.D., and Sheila Sanders

Moderator: Lynne P. Brown, Ph.D.

A Remarkable True Story

YourObserver.com

BLACK TIE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024

Wednesday, Dec. 4, at The Ora | Benefiting Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center

11

BLACK

Winter Wonder Holiday Luncheon

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TIE

Logan Walters and Sarah Burnsed

SPARCC Holiday Luncheon coChairs Carolyn Castro, Melissa Silva and Allyson Galuska

Robert Rosinsky, Carlos Moreira and Steve Altier

Community Ambassador Awards

Wednesday, Dec. 4, at Michael’s On East | Benefiting Goodwill Manasota

Photos by Janet Combs

Susan Scarbrough, Sherri Morse and Sandy Piccone ponder the silent auction baskets.

Photos by Lori Sax

SPARCC President and CEO Jessica Hays and Cornelia Matson stop for a quick photo and catch-up.

Goodwill Manasota Community Ambassador honorees: Meals On Wheels Plus of Manatee President and CEO Maribeth Phillips, Community Partner of the Year; Sherry Hendrickson, winner of the Robert W. Rosinsky Achievement Award for outstanding Goodwill team member; Cliff Walters, Community Leader of the Year; Janine Lutz, Veteran Advocate of the Year; All Faiths Food Bank President and CEO Nelle Miller, Community Partner of the Year; Donn Githens, president and CEO of Goodwill Manasota

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YourObserver.com

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024

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