Arts + Entertainment 10.13.22

A+E INSIDE: <‘LOOKING FOR ITHACA’: Asolo Rep on Tour revises Homer’s The Odyssey for a new age. 3

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT OCTOBER 13, 2022

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FROM ARGENTINA WITH LOVE

Photo courtesy of Frank Atura

Macarena Giménez, center with Ricardo Graziano, and Maximiliano Iglesias, part of the second couple from left, will make their Sarasota debut in the Premieres program.

Macarena Giménez and Maximiliano Iglesias uprooted their lives and are learning a new language with a new dance company in a new country.

SPENCER FORDIN A+E EDITOR

M “We’ve been here two months. But it’s felt like a year because we’ve done so many things.”

— Maximiliano Iglesias

acarena Giménez and Maximiliano Iglesias are just like any young couple who are busy raising a daughter, learning a new language and adapting to living in a new country for the first time.

Except they’re also the Sarasota Ballet’s newest principal dancers.

Giménez and Iglesias are embarking on a new life adventure after long careers with the Buenos Aires-based Teatro Colón ballet company, and they say they’ve barely had time to breathe let alone go to the beach.

So far, the company’s newest dancers have everything they need.

“We have the three of us. We’re so close now,” says Iglesias. “We’re learning to live here together without our family and without our friends.”

“We’ll make new friends,” adds Giménez cheerily from the seat next

to him.

The couple are preparing for the Sarasota Ballet’s season-opening program, Premieres, which will run from Oct. 21 to 23 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

Giménez and Iglesias moved with their daughter Emma to the U.S. this summer and joined the company for its engagement at the Joyce Theater in Manhattan in August.

A few weeks later, after they had returned to Sarasota, they chatted a bit with the Observer.

Neither Giménez nor Iglesias have ever lived in another country before.

They’ve learned a little bit of English from ballet instructors and dancers they’ve worked with in the past, but they’re fully immersing themselves in the language for the first time.

At home, says Iglesias, they keep the TV show “Friends” playing in the background on a loop to aid in the process of learning English.

“We’ve been here two months,” says Iglesias. “But it’s felt like a year because we’ve done so many things. Emma is already in school.

I’ve started to drive; I didn’t drive in Argentina. It was easier to learn here because in Argentina we don’t have automatic. It’s manual drive.”

A year ago, they probably never Photo courtesy of Meybis Chavarria

SEE BALLET, PAGE 2

Macarena Giménez and Maximiliano Iglesias back stage at the Joyce Theater.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022

Ballet

Macarena Giménez leaps across the stage at the Joyce Theater.

FROM PAGE 1

could’ve imagined leaping out of their comfort zone.

Both Giménez and Iglesias started at the Teatro Colón’s Instituto Superior de Arte as youngsters and became principal dancers at the 120-member Teatro Colón company as teenagers.

Then they spent a decade there, dancing together and learning from world renowned instructors.

They formed a relationship, starting at age 18, dancing together and realizing their personal and professional ambitions. Then suddenly, last December, they found themselves in London taking classes with the Royal Ballet, and fate decided to throw them a detour.

“At that time,” says Iglesias of the trip to London, “We were not looking for a job in America.”

“We didn’t have a visa,” adds Giménez. “It seemed impossible. But nothing is impossible.”

The ballet world is small, and one of their friends, a London-based dancer, had worked with Sarasota Ballet’s Iain Webb and Margaret Barbieri. Soon they were making their introductions, and the timing was perfect for everyone.

Iglesias and Giménez had spent a dancer’s lifetime with one company, and Sarasota Ballet was in the market for new dancers because principal dancer Victoria Hulland was heading toward retirement. The easy part was making the decision, and the hard part making it happen.

“Teatro Colón was my first job. My only job,” says Iglesias. “We spent so much time with Teatro Colón, so it was hard to leave. But we felt it was time to prove ourselves in another place with another company, with new people and experiences.”

“Teatro Colón gave us so many opportunities,” adds Giménez. “It was everything to us. It’s a good moment to do new ballets, learn new steps and dance with new partners.”

That’s what they’ll be doing in Premieres; not just dancing with each other, but also dancing to choreography that has never been danced to before. They say that’s a new thing

Photo courtesy of Frank Atura

for them; they’re more accustomed to dancing full-length ballets of established choreography.

The three acts of the Premieres program are choreographed by Gemma Bond, Sarasota Ballet principal dancer Ricardo Graziano and junior principal Richard House.

Giménez danced with Graziano in New York, and she said he’s been really kind in their transition.

“He speaks a little Spanish,” she says. “He’s great with Emma.”

The new dancers are fitting in as well as you might expect.

Barbieri, the company’s assistant director, says they’ve been a perfect addition to the existing company.

“It is a sheer joy to work with Macarena and Maximiliano,” she says. “They bring their vast experience and exceptional quality to every role they perform both onstage and in rehearsals. The Sarasota Ballet is delighted to welcome such incredible talent to the company, and we are looking forward to next season with

IF YOU GO

SARASOTA BALLET: PREMIERES When: 7:30 p.m., Oct 21 and 23; 2 p.m., Oct. 22 Where: FSU Center of the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail Tickets: $35 and up Info: SarasotaBallet.org.

them and all our wonderful dancers.”

Giménez and Iglesias are dancing together in Graziano’s piece, which is appropriate because their entire life is a dance. They’re waking up early to get Emma to school and to exercise before their first class with Sarasota Ballet, and they work all the way to 5 p.m. Then they go to pick up Emma and go home to do homework, dinner, bedtime and laundry. And then they go to sleep and do it all again.

“I always say the same thing when

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people ask what it’s like dancing with your partner,” says Iglesias. “It’s great. We work the six hours in the studio. And maybe we can talk about it at dinner. ‘Hey, what do you think of this part of the ballet?’

“It’s a 24-hour rehearsal.”

It’s hard. But that’s why they love it. The dancing discipline takes over what they eat and when they sleep, and it requires diligence and a bit of an obsessive nature to be good at it.

They pour so much of themselves into their craft that they get as wrapped up in the performance as the audience does.

Sometimes, Giménez says, she sees Iglesias dancing with another partner and it feels too real.

“When we danced Romeo and Juliet, we didn’t dance together and it was hard to see him kissing with another girl,” she says. “It wasn’t bad, but it was weird. It was like, ‘Max, what are you doing?’”

Giménez began her dance career at age 3, and she says it’s been her

whole life. She danced a Makarova program when she was seven weeks pregnant with Emma, and she was taking classes all the way to 37 weeks.

But both Iglesias and Giménez say they don’t think they’d steer their daughter to ballet.

“I think I will show her other things to do,” says Giménez.

“I love ballet. But it’s so hard. And she knows that so that’s good.”

Iglesias and Giménez are building a new world of opportunity for Emma while learning a new language and new choreography. They’re excited about their new home. And they hope to be here a long time.

“The dancers, Iain and Maggie, the ballet masters, the people in the office, they’ve been amazing,” says Giménez. “We’re so comfortable and happy. And Emma too.

“That’s the most important. We’re so happy to be here and so excited about the season. And the next season. And the next season. We feel at home and that’s amazing for us.”

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IF YOU GO ‘LOOKING FOR ITHACA’ Runs at various times and locations When/where: 4 p.m., Oct. 16, at Sarasota Art Museum; 4 p.m., Oct. 16, at The Green at University Town Center; 6 p.m., Oct. 22, at Waterside Place at Lakewood Ranch; 5 p.m., Oct. 27, at The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art; 10 a.m., Oct. 29, at G.T. Bray Recreation Center, Bradenton; 3:30 p.m., Oct. 30, at Bay Preserve at Osprey.

Tickets: Free INFO: Call 351-8000 or visit asolorep.org/conservatory for more information.

Sophia Marquart

Jerald Wheat and Imani Lee Williams in Asolo Rep on Tour’s “Looking for Ithaca.”

A Script Odyssey It was hard enough to adapt Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ for the modern day. And then Hurricane Ian came along.

MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR

Odysseus went on a long, strange trip more than 3,200 years ago. Today, in 2022, the same holds true for the playwright, composer and lyricist who reimagined Homer’s epic journey for the stage.

They created their adaptation for the Asolo Rep on Tour program.

Here’s how it works …

Every year, a team of creative minds distills a classic narrative into a 45-minute play. Third-year acting students from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory take their edited epic on

tour to schools and community venues throughout the state of Florida.

Previous touring productions have adapted classics by heavyweights from Shakespeare to Sophocles.

Homer’s “Odyssey” is this year’s classic. Playwright Jess Shoemaker and composer Lizzie Hagstedt are the creative team, and the work was directed by Gaby Rodriguez. Adapting “The Odyssey” is not a job for amateurs. Depending on the edition, the tome clocks in at 400-500 pages.

They had to cut it down to 45 minutes. Without dumbing it down. And they only had six months to do it.

Rodriguez first conceived the idea, and then developed it with Shoemaker. The director knew one thing from the start. Her adapted “Odyssey” needed a fresh angle.

From James Joyce’s “Ulysses” to the Coen brothers’ “O Brother Where Out Thou?,” the tale had been told and retold ad nauseam.To reach a new audience, Rodriguez had to

show them something new.

She wouldn’t change or contradict the story. But she could explore the stories “The Odyssey” left out. So what was Homer’s epic missing?

The hero’s family. The wife and son he’d left behind on Ithaca.

“I realized the tale is almost always told from Odysseus’ perspective,” Rodriguez says. “We hear about his journey and his struggle with gods, monsters and the sirens. But we don’t hear about his family on Ithaca. Odysseus fights a war for 10 years.

He’s lost at sea for another 10 years.

What happened to Telemachus and Penelope during those years of separation? When he returns, how will the family try to start again? That was the story I wanted to tell.”

The director shared her idea with the playwright. Shoemaker loved it.

They explored the idea over several brainstorming sessions. Then Shoemaker hit the keyboard and slowly transformed the idea into a story.

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Shoemaker describes Rodriguez as “a fountain of ideas who shaped the story every step of the way.” Hagstedt’s music also inspired her.

And the conservatory actors were essential to the playwriting process.

“Before rehearsals began, I was feeling a little stressed,” Shoemaker says. “I knew where the story had to go, but I didn’t know to get there. ...Once the actors started speaking my words in character, the script just flowered.”

A STORM IS COMING

On Friday, Sept 23, the director, playwright and cast had all gathered on stage in the Cook Theatre at the FSU Center for the Arts. It was the night of the final closed rehearsal. Public previews were set to begin Monday.

But Hurricane Ian had other plans.

“We were ready to go with lights and tech,” recalls Rodriguez.

“But we also kept getting news about the hurricane.”

Hurricane Ian had changed course.

The tempest’s predicted path had shifted from the Florida panhandle to the Gulf Coast. Rodriguez gave the cast the direction they needed.

“I looked at the actors and said, ‘Let’s go out there and enjoy the run.

This might be the only show we get to do it in this theater, so let’s do it.”

While the acting students nodded “yes,” they still looked stunned.

The same thought had occurred to all of them. In Homer’s epic, Odysseus blinded a gigantic Cyclops before he could barbecue his crew.

They escaped. In a bit of bad luck, the monster was Poseidon’s son.

The God of the Sea was outraged — and creates a horrific storm that sent their boat off course. Unbelievably, it looked like their play would suffer the same fate. The young actors kept pelting Rodriguez with questions.

“Are you kidding me? Did we anger Poseidon? Like what are the odds that a play about the Odyssey gets canceled because of a giant storm?”

They weren’t entirely joking.

Rodriguez shrugged. They could worry about it after the storm.

Tonight, the show must go on.

Actors and artists hunkered down for the rest of the week. When they emerged, their home theater was battered, but standing. Venice Theatre wasn’t so lucky. Nobody cheered.

They just got back into character.

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“Gaby gave me a note when I first started out,” says Shoemaker. “‘We usually think about the obstacles on Odysseus’s’ journey — the Cyclops, the sirens, etc. I don’t want to eliminate them entirely. But could you cut them down to two pages?’”

She could and did. Shrinking the monsters created space for Odysseus’ family. Including the family’s experience gave the ancient epic contemporary relevance.

War divided Odysseus from his family. That separation was brutal to the family at home.

When the war ended, Odysseus’ return became a refugee’s flight.

Millions today know exactly what the family endured. Homer’s heroic epic was always a homecoming; Odysseus was looking for Ithaca.

In this adaptation, he still is. But Penelope and Telemachus are, too.

The Trojan War and family separation have turned their home life upside down. They can’t go home again, even if they live there.

But they don’t stop trying.

The Ithaca they live in is not the hometown where they grew up.

They’re all trying to re-create their lost sense of home and togetherness.

Big ideas are interesting.

Transforming them into moving scenes with believable dialogue is the playwright’s art.

But this time, writing the script was part of a larger team effort.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022

THE CYPRESS BRASS IN CONCERT 5 p.m. at Pine Shores Presbyterian Church, 6135 Beechwood Ave. Free Visit PineShoresPres.org.

THIS WEEK THURSDAY JAZZ THURSDAY: THE BARKER PROJECT 5:30 p.m. at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail $20 Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

The Sarasota Art Museum is staying open late, and The Barker Project will keep you grooving through the evening. The band is the vehicle of bassist and multi-instrumentalist Johnnie Barker, and they’ll keep the Marcy & Michael Klein Plaza rocking while you peruse the art galleries and dine on light bites at Bistro.

GREAT ESCAPES: A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES 7:30 p.m. at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail $45-$108 Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

The music moves you, and it propels you from scene to scene. But have you ever enjoyed it by itself? The Sarasota Orchestra, led by guest conductor Lawrence Loh, will take you through some of the best loved musical themes in movie history, including celebrated tracks from “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Jaws,” “Star Wars” and more. The program will run through Oct. 15.

‘LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS’ 7:30 p.m. at Studio 1130, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail $23 subscribers, $30 general admission, $13 student Visit ThePlayers.org.

Hurricane Ian threw The Players’ schedule off a little bit, but “Little Shop of Horrors” will be available for an abbreviated stint running through Oct. 16. The musical — which made its Off Broadway debut in 1982 — is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and it remains an enduring classic.

FRIDAY JAZZ @ 2 WITH BRYAN POST’S OCEAN’S ELEVEN BAND 2 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road $15-$20 Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

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Jazz season is back! Bryan Post’s Ocean’s Eleven Band, fronted by vocalist John Rinell, will be the first act of the Jazz Club of Sarasota’s “Jazz at Two” season. Drummer Bryan Post leads the big band, which will play a bunch of favorites from the swing era including tunes made famous by Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman.

SARASOTA ROCKTOBERFEST 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at JD Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Drive Free Visit ParagonFestivals.com.

Food, big beers and live music. What more could you want for an October weekend? Paragon Festivals and the Downtown Sarasota Enrichment Association are teaming up for a three-day Oktoberfest experience that will feature the best of the wurst. Bring your dog and share a Schweinshaxe (roasted ham hock.)

The festival runs through Oct. 16.

SUNDAY LEANNE MORGAN: THE BIG PANTY TOUR 4 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $38-$71 Visit VanWezel.org.

This lady isn’t getting too big for her britches. Leanne Morgan has established herself over two decades of work in the standup comedy game, and she has a notable appearance at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal under her belt. Morgan’s special, “So Yummy,” has reached more than 50 million views on YouTube.

Cypress Brass, a group of professional horn players from the Tampa Bay area, will be the guests of honor at Pine Shores Presbyterian Church. You’ll hear Baroque compositions and straight-up jazz, and the Cypress Brass counts Bach, Gabrieli, Ewazen, Gershwin, Bernstein and Michael Tilson Thomas as part of their repertoire.

HARD HEART BURLESQUE 8 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.

Tickets $37 Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

Miss Marina Elaine and Karma Kandlewick are here to provide all the tricks and treats. Hard Heart Burlesque’s October show will have a Halloween theme to it, and it will bring showgirls, vocalists and a few Vaudeville surprises. It’s a night at McCurdy’s where the laughs come with a side of titillation.

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

Drummer and composer Paul Gavin will bring his band to entertain the crowd at Florida Studio Theatre’s intimate John C. Court Cabaret.

Gavin, a graduate of the University of South Florida, is based in the Tampa Bay area, and he’s kept himself busy not only by playing several local clubs but also by teaching music.

SATURDAY ‘CHARLOTTE’S WEB’ 10 a.m. and noon at FST’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave. $10 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

This isn’t Animal Farm, although some themes intersect between the two. “Charlotte’s Web” explores the lives of animals on a farm and tells the story of Charlotte, a barn spider who makes it her life’s mission to save a pig named Wilbur from slaughter. The book was written by E.B. White all the way back in 1952, and it was later adapted into a stage musical by theater professor Joseph Robinette in 1989.

FALL PAINT AROUND 2 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W. Free Visit ParrishArtsCouncil.org.

Watch as five talented artists paint a beautiful watercolor picture right in front of you. Five artists — Sally Wooldridge, Karalee Hammes, Diane Simon, Sue Lynn Cotton and Joanna Coke — will produce an artwork within two hours at this event, and the results will be raffled off at the end of the night.

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a Sarasota masterwork. Visitors to the museum can also peruse Lead With a Laugh, which is an exhibit housing many of the works the Ladd brothers have created over the last decade.

IF YOU GO When: 11 a.m., Oct. 16 Where: Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Tickets: Free with museum admission Info: SarasotaArtMuseum.org.

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DON’T MISS

VOICES: RISING CHOREOGRAPHERS Catch the rhythm of the world through the movements of some hungry choreographers. Sarasota Contemporary Dance begins its season by bringing tomorrow’s routines to you today courtesy of dancers and choreographers Alexis Diggs, Rebecca Eurom, Matthew Sommers, Sarah Emory and Xiao-Xuan Yang Dancigers.

The Sarasota Contemporary Dance Ensemble will kick off the show with steps choreographed by Laura Chambers. Runs through Oct. 16.

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IF YOU GO When: 7 p.m., Oct. 13 Where: FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail Tickets: $10-$45 Info: SarasotaContemporaryDance. org.

TUESDAY ‘STAY PRAYED UP’ 7 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court Free Visit WSLR.org/Fogartyville/.

Be a fly on the wall for the creation of a landmark album. Lena Mae Perry and The Branchettes entered the studio to record a live gospel album, and the cameras stayed rolling. Watch as they navigate the complexities of recording to put art down for posterity.

WEDNESDAY PROFESSORS TALK MUSIC SERIES: DR. ROBYN BELL 10:30 a.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St. Free Visit SarasotaMusicArchive.org.

You won’t be graded on this lecture. Robyn Bell, conductor of the Pops Orchestra and director of Instrumental Studies at State College of Florida in Bradenton, will give you a symposium on music at Selby Library. Bell earned a doctorate in musical arts from Boston University in 2015.

Go to yourobserver.com and click on the Contest tab.

Click the It’s Read Everywhere Contest and submit your photo!

‘POINT OF VIEW’ BY LEYMIS BOLAÑOS WILMOTT 6 p.m. at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail $20 Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.

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Leymis Bolaños Wilmott, the artistic director of Sarasota Contemporary Dance, will hold court at Sarasota Art Museum and chat about one piece in the museum’s collection that inspires her. Museum guests are encouraged to ask questions, to spark discussions about the piece and to generally experience art in ways they haven’t before.

JANET WILLIAMS AKA THE TENNESSEE TRAMP 7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd. $25 Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

Don’t shoot the messenger. Janet Williams is described as “middle age, trailer trash” in her McCurdys program bio, and she’s brought her Southern sass and charm to comedy clubs all over the country.

Williams will play her first of seven shows on Wednesday, and she’ll play six more shows running through Sunday night.

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Damaged, not destroyed The Hermitage Artist Retreat and Venice Theatre will need time to recover from Hurricane Ian. SPENCER FORDIN A+E EDITOR

T

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he damage is profound, but it isn’t irreparable.

Two local arts organizations, the Venice Theatre and Hermitage Artist Retreat, were hit hard

by Hurricane Ian and will face an extensive path to renovation.

Murray Chase, the producing executive director of Venice Theatre, wants people to know that renovations will cost upwards of $3 million.

“They can look a lot worse than they are. But they’re really bad,” says Chase of photos showing the damage. “At first glance, you think, ‘Oh, the theater is totally destroyed.’

“It’s not. It suffered catastrophic damage, but it can be fixed.”

Chase says that Venice Theatre will be without its main stage, the Jervey Theatre, for at least a year and probably more. The second performance space — the Pinkerton Theatre — will probably need two or three months before it’s ready to return to service.

Chase says the theater will need work to repair leaks and storm damage and also to restore electrical service to the Pinkerton Theatre.

And the main stage?

Well, the Jervey Theatre needs a little bit of everything.

“The structure couldn’t withstand the wind and collapsed,” says Chase.

“With that came the supports for the flyloft (the area above the stage that houses all the rigging). All the siding for the flyloft followed as soon as the air got inside the auditorium.

That peeled off and flew all around downtown. Some of it flew onto the roof on the other side of our building, which then caused some roof damage and some water into that.”

It’s a similar story out on Manasota Key, where the Hermitage is beginning its own recovery. Andy Sandberg, artistic director and CEO of the Hermitage, said all of his employees emerged unscathed but the organization will need time to recover.

“The good news is the campus was not washed away,” he says. “I don’t want to overplay the damage or undermine the suffering of others; there’s a lot of work to do.”

Sandberg says the Hermitage had two days of advance notice and enlisted several workers in boarding up buildings. And despite being right near the hurricane’s landfall, it did not experience any storm surge.

“We have artists and supporters reaching out from all over the world,” he says. “We’re grateful to say that there’s work ahead, but it could have been worse. There were a lot of us worried that the entire campus could be washed away.”

The Venice Theatre suffered extensive damage in Hurricane Ian, but it isn’t irreparable.

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BLACK TIE BEFORE THE BEATLES, BEFORE THE STONES,

Photos by Harry Sayer

Demond Sams and Truly Valued President Shavonne Simon

ONE KID WAS MAKING HISTORY!

Carleene Jenkins and Rebecca Stern

“That’ll Be The Day” “Peggy Sue” “Oh Boy!”

Taste of New Orleans

SAT, OCT 22 • 7:30PM SPONSOR: Lexus of Sarasota

Friday, Oct. 8, at Michael’s on the Bay | Benefiting Truly Valued

T

he Truly Valued nonprofit has spent years creating mentorship networks with schools, churches and other organizations to provide a positive impact on local youth.

Each year, though, the organization stops to celebrate its accomplishments and look to the work ahead during its annual Taste of New Orleans event. The dinner was again held at Michael’s on the Bay on Oct. 8.

Guests sipped drinks before sitting down to hear from Board Chair Tamara Williams, who spoke to the importance of continued support for Truly Valued. She then welcomed Truly Valued mentors and mentees who talked about the impact of the program.

Dozens of guests attend the event.

OPE NI OC NG FR ID TOB ER 2 AY, 8!

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T H E S EC R E T

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—HARRY SAYER

Board chair Tamara Williams starts the program.

WED, NOV 2 • 7PM SPONSOR: Herald-Tribune Media Group

presents

2022-23 SEASON VICTOR DeRENZI, Artistic Director RICHARD RUSSELL, General Director

FALL OPERA SEASON Cimarosa’s

Burry’s

THE SECRET MARRIAGE

THE SECRET WORLD OF OG

Oct. 28 - Nov. 12

Nov. 5 - 6

All operas performed in the original language with translations above the stage. © ARTWORK BY MICHAEL VOLL, 2022

WINTER OPERA FESTIVAL

Puccini’s

Mozart’s

Verdi’s

MADAMA BUTTERFLY

DON GIOVANNI

ERNANI

Feb. 18 - Mar. 24

Feb. 25 - Mar. 25

Massenet’s

SAT, NOV 12 • 8PM

THÉRÈSE

Mar. 11 - 26

Mar. 17 - 25

Monday-Friday 10-6 • Saturday 10-4 Open later Saturday and Sunday (on show days only)

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! (941) 328-1300 | SARASOTAOPERA.ORG

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(941) 263-6799 • (800) 826-9303 • vanwezel.org

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Prices, dates and times subject to change without notice.

Paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues. Additional support provided by: Gulf Coast Community Foundation; Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation; and State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, Florida Council on Arts & Culture.

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BLACK TIE

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022

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BLACK TIE & TALES

HARRY SAYER

From festivals to performances and art exhibits, discover the wide variety of events happening in Sarasota and Manatee.

Get events directly to your inbox.

Harry Sayer

Samantha Kinglsey and Sharon Kunkel provide Brent Greeno with a cape and crown.

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YourObserver.com/things-to-do

And we’re back to the social season!

The lineup of events hit something of an early delay with the arrival of Hurricane Ian — where many nonprofits stepped up to raise funds for the victims — but the month of October promises a steady flow of functions and fundraisers that only look to increase as the fall rolls on.

There will be the old favorites, with Wine, Women & Shoes returning in November. There’s also the promise of new happenings on the horizon, most notably the Rock The Roof event put on by Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation on Nov. 5.

This debut event — which has been delayed several times at this point from COVID — features a jam session at the top the hospital’s west parking garage on Nov. 5.

There’s also the inaugural Mayor’s Ball event put on by the new Sarasota City Foundation — which helps raise funds for city infrastructure projects — at Waterworks on Oct. 15.

In any case, I, for one, am excited for what’s to come. October always seems to bring a change in the weather and the start of the social season, and with it comes a number of fun get togethers for a good cause. We’ll be covering many of these events and writing up the happenings at them in this column.

An Annual Luncheon Supporting Education & Community Outreach

Monday, November 7, 2022 • 11:30 AM SARASOTA YACHT CLUB - 1100 John Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34236 Event Co-Chairs: Deborah Beacham and Marie Monsky Presenting Sponsors: Audrey Robbins, Charlie Ann & Jim Syprett, Deborah Beacham, The Huisking Foundation

Celebrate with us! You’ll enjoy: Performance by the Key Chorale Chamber Singers, Student Scholars, and a special performance by the 2022 Perfect Pitch Awardee, Daniel Jordan and friends.

A Farewell to Brent For more information or to purchase tickets:

But before we get into the many events that will make up season, we need to say farewell to a figure who’s been essential to making them happen.

Brent Greeno, of the Sights and Sounds AV company, has been part of Sarasota’s social scene for more than 20 years. And in that time, he’s demonstrated himself to be

AV I VA P R E S E N T S

AN EVENING IN

a crucial component when getting events up and running and making sure that the audio works right and that the pace of the event is followed. In the middle of the glitz and glamor, Greeno has been faithfully shepherding things along (usually) without anyone noticing.

He even went on to manage emcee and announcement duties for events, much to his delight and occasional chagrin. If you were ever at an event and were taking too long to sit down, it was Greeno’s patient but probably frustrated voice on the speakers asking you to get to your table. Sometimes it was like fighting the tides, but Greeno did it all with a smile.

In any case, after two decades of calling Sarasota home, Greeno and his husband, Ryan, recently moved back to Vermont to be closer to family.

So after years of helping host events for the social scene, that community decided to finally host one for him back.

Sharon Kunkel, Samantha Kingsley and Kim Noyes put on a tropicalthemed farewell brunch for Greeno at Michael’s On East on Sept. 25.

More than 200 people attended and paid tribute to Greeno’s many years of audio work as well as his friendship and kindness.

He even took to the stage and was given a crown while heads from various nonprofits spoke to his contributions over the years.

Pour one out for the man, he’s earned it. And when you’re at a function and catch someone taking a little too long to sit down because they had a little too much to drink, keep Greeno in mind.

We’ll miss you, Brent. And thanks for everything!

LEGE FOUND L A CO

ON TI

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KeyChorale.org or 941.552.8768

43rd Annual

ITALy

Clambake

A W I N E PA I R I N G D I N N E R B E N E F I T I N G AV I VA’S BENEVOLENT FUND

Join us for THE 43RD ANNUAL CLAMBAKE This time-honored fundraising event raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for scholarships, allowing New College to attract outstanding students from around the world.

6:00 PM MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2022 MICHAEL’S ON EAST AVIVA GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES OUR SEASON PARTNERS CHAI PARTNER

Debbie and Dr. Larry Haspel

PREMIER PARTNERS

PRESENTING PARTNER

Edie & David Chaifetz

New England fare, cocktails, entertainment and a breathtaking sunset on Sarasota Bay.

MEDIA PARTNER

Thursday, November 3, 2022 • 6:00pm

Isabel Anchin Becker Sheila & Jerry Birnbaum

New College Campus - College Hall Bayfront For tickets and sponsorship information, visit ncf.edu/clambake. Questions? 941.487.4800.

For sponsorship opportunities and tickets, contact Lynne Georgette, 941-203-6237 or lgeorgette@avivaseniorlife.org

2022 Media Sponsors

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TITLE PARTNER

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JOIN TODAY!

YourObserver.com

BLACK TIE

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022

Saturday, Sept. 24, at Sarasota Hyatt Regency | Benefiting SunCoast Blood Centers games to support SunCoast Blood Center’s work providing safe and reliable blood resources to hospitals and health care communities.

TIE

S

unCoast Blood Centers hosted a fun night of gambling for a cause during its 10th annual Red Hot Gala at the Sarasota Hyatt Regency on Sept. 24.

Guests mingled, sipped drinks, and played a number of casino

BLACK

Annual Red Hot Gala

Monica Horne, David Sheehan, Lachae Burress and Brad Germain

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—HARRY SAYER

Anthony and Alexandra Baldo CEO Scott Bush with Terry Platt

Renee Phinney, Glen Rieth and Allison Werner

Photos by Lori Sax

Shilpa Chadha and Sovad Dreyfus

Raquel Stillman and Jay Haren

THE BAY PARK

GRAND OPENING OCTOBER 14 - OCTOBER 23, 2022

10 DAYS. 90 FREE EVENTS HAVE A BALL AT THE BAY OCT 15, 12PM

WE THE KINGS OCT 15, 8PM

TASTE OF THE BAY OCT 16, 1PM

THE LONG RUN (BEST EAGLES TRIBUTE BAND IN US) OCT 16, 7:30PM

BOO! AT THE BAY OCT 21, 6PM

MULTICULTURAL DAY OCT 22, 12PM

PARKTOBERFEST OCT 23, 12PM

ETANA & JAH MOVEMENT OCT 23, 6PM

The Bay is a new signature public park along Sarasota Bay that preserves, restores and transforms 53 acres of precious city-owned land into a blue and green oasis - providing a sustainable bayfront gathering place for the entire community to enjoy.

655 N. Tamiami Trail (941) 203-5416 info@bayparkconservancy.org

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SUNRISE FUN RUN & WALK OCT 15, 7:30AM

10 Days at The Bay celebrates the Grand Opening of The Bay Park. With more than 90 FREE, exciting and diverse events over ten days, there’s something for everyone.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022

CE L E BRATIN G A DE CAD E OF

AWARD-WINNING INTERIOR DESIGN

Home is where the heart is!

Helping our Community!

CLIVE DANIEL HOME IS OPEN AND READY TO HELP!

We are beyond grateful to report that none of our Clive Daniel Home showrooms or warehouses were damaged by Hurricane Ian. We are back up and running at all locations. Since last week, our #1 priority has been checking in on the wellbeing of our team members. Now that we have secured safe housing for everyone, we are turning our attention to the rest of our community.

HOW YOU CAN HELP If you are in a position to do so, you can help in the following ways:

MAKE A DONATION to United Way’s SWFL Emergency Relief Fund. https://unitedwaylee.org/hurricane-ian-relief-fund/ DONATE RELIEF SUPPLIES to one of our showrooms. Our teams will coordinate with the Red Cross to distribute items as needed.

N

! n e p O ow

WINNER!

Arts Award Best Showroom Nationwide!

NAPLES

2777 TAMIAMI TRAIL N 239.261.HOME (4663)

SARASOTA

3055 FRUITVILLE COMMONS BLVD. 941.900.HOME (4663)

BOCA RATON, FL

1351 NW BOCA RATON BLVD 561.440.HOME (4663)

MONDAY-SATURDAY: 10AM – 6PM SUNDAY: 12PM – 5PM CLIVEDANIEL.COM

AWARD-WINNING | INTERIOR DESIGN | FINE FURNISHINGS

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10/3/22 12:17 PM