Arts + Entertainment 11.13.25 by The Observer Group Inc.

< THIS WEEK: Eddie Weaver stars in Florida Studio Theatre’s cabaret show, ‘Three Pianos.’ 4

GRANDE SOIRÉE: Women in Philanthropy celebrates seven leaders of distinction. 7 >

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

BLACK TIE INSIDE: proposal

Learn about Sarasota signature buildings and have fun along the way during Architecture Sarasota’s MOD Weekend.

A MODest

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

In his 2017 book, “Fantasyland” Kurt Andersen explores the American love of simulacra, broadly defined as an imitation of a place that doesn’t exist anymore or never did.

Walt Disney was the master of creating places that were better than real life, such as Main Street USA in Disneyland.

Las Vegas is a bonanza of simulacra, with resort casinos like New York, New York, the Paris and the Venetian offering visitors a taste of cosmopolitan cities without leaving the environs of the Strip.

Those lucky enough to be in Sarasota Nov. 14-16 will have the chance to visit a mythical theme park we’ve dubbed Modernism USA. As part of its annual MOD Weekend, Architecture Sarasota is hosting parties, tours and lectures dedicated to the buildings, design and lifestyle originated by the Sarasota School of Architecture.

When it comes losing yourself in a Mid-Century Modern fantasyland, there is no better place than Sarasota, except perhaps Palm Springs, California, which began hosting its Modernism Week in 2006.

With its proximity to Hollywood, Palm Springs has long been the playground of entertainers, many of whom built ostentatious Mid-Century Modern hideaways. Here’s looking at you, Bob Hope!

In Sarasota, the style of buildings designed by Paul Rudolph, Ralph Twitchell, Carl Abbott, Victor Lundy and others wasn’t as glitzy as their Palm Springs cousins. Sarasota style

is simpler, and some might say, more elegant.

In the end, the question of who wins the modernism paradise contest comes down to whether one prefers the desert or the beach. The latter comes with greater vulnerability, as last year’s destructive hurricanes painfully demonstrated.

Living with environmental vulnerability plays to the strengths of Architecture Sarasota’s president, Morris “Marty” Hylton III.

In late 2022, he was named to lead the organization formed by a 2021 merger between the Sarasota Architectural Foundation and the Center for Architecture Sarasota.

Since his arrival, Hylton has energized Architecture Sarasota with a slate of well-attended lectures, not just during MOD Weekend. In 2024, it compiled a list of 100 Moderns That Matter, a registry of iconic places in Sarasota with input from the public.

That project has given rise to a coffee table book, a website and a map on the walls of Architecture Sarasota’s headquarters in the McCulloch Pavilion (No. 83 on the list) at 265 S. Orange Ave.

Emblazoned with a yellow dot that echoes the Florida sun, Moderns That Matter is a popular gift and is available along with other books as well as merch devoted to Mid-Century Modern design in the Architecture Sarasota shop.

When Hylton got the Architecture Sarasota job, he quipped that he “had been preparing for it for 40 years.”

The Kentucky native’s resume includes spearheading a crusade to save the original Riverview High School while he was director of preservation at the University of Florida.

Hylton first saw the Paul Rudolph building while on vacation with his family as a teenager in Sarasota. To hear him tell it, it was love at first sight. The architectural “meet cute” led Hylton to become an architect and preservationist specializing in the Sarasota School of Architecture.

But one of the pitfalls of being a preservationist is that you don’t always win the battle: Hylton’s heart was broken when Riverview High was demolished in 2006 despite all the effort that went into saving it.

During his career, Hylton worked at the World Monuments Fund, which safeguards treasured global sites against threats such as conflict, natural disasters, development and tourism. After Hurricane Katrina hit 2005, Hylton was called to New Orleans to help salvage its unique architecture devastated by flooding.

CHANGING DIRECTION AFTER THE HURRICANES HIT

When Sarasota was hit by back-toback hurricanes last year, Hylton was uniquely equipped to help the community assess the aftermath and help restore signature buildings damaged by the storms.

“I don’t really believe that everything happens for a reason, but ...” Hylton says. He doesn’t finish the sentence, but one could infer that providence placed him where his skills were urgently needed.

In the wake of the hurricanes, Hylton changed tack for last year’s MOD Weekend. After a year of planning, the design nonprofit canceled all of the events that had been planned to show off Moderns That Matter.

Images courtesy of Ryan Lester

Architecture Sarasota’s MOD Weekend 2025 kicks off with a party at the Umbrella House, designed by Paul

son Hiss. Both were members of the Sarasota School of Architecture.

A Gulf Gate house that will be included in Architecture Sarasota’s house tour on MOD Weekend.

Abbott’s Dolphin House will be on the Moderns That Matter tour.

Image courtesy of Julian Cassady

Instead, Architecture Sarasota devoted MOD Weekend 2024 to “Restoring a Sense of Place.” Hylton and others rolled up their sleeves to help owners of landmark residences and pick up the pieces after the storms, including how to navigate the labyrinth of laws governing the restoration of historic properties and how to obtain government aid.

“Our symposium had four speakers, two of whom offered practical advice about how to put your house back together after the storm,” Hylton says.

One of the structures destroyed by Hurricane Helene was another favorite of Hylton’s. Swept away was the Sanderling Beach Cabanas, the beach club designed by Rudolph in 1952 that ranked No. 21 on the Moderns That Matter list. Whether it can be rebuilt is a story for another day.

The recovery efforts haven’t stopped at Architecture Sarasota, but this year it’s back to Moderns That Matter for MOD Weekend.

“This year, we’re going to have homes on our tour that have never been open to the public before,” Hylton says. “The eight houses are just stunning, not only the architecture and the landscaping, but the furniture and the styling.”

For reasons of privacy, all the homes cannot be revealed here.

But two show-stoppers are the Carl Abbott-designed Dolphin House on Siesta Key (No. 31 on Moderns that Matter) and the Hilton Leech Art Studio (No. 36), also known as the Round House.

COMING FULL CIRCLE

During MOD Weekend, Architecture

Sarasota will honor the World Monuments Fund with the Philip Hanson Hiss Award for its Modernism at Risk program. “It’s a full circle moment for me,” Hylton says. “I helped create the program, and I’m now running the organization that got the first grant 20 years ago.”

Another highlight of MOD Weekend will be the publication of what Hylton calls an “impact report.” Officially called “Strategic Framework: 2030,” the document outlines the “values, principles and priorities” that will guide Architecture Sarasota as it protects the legacy of

the Sarasota School of Architecture and promotes good design and environmental sustainability.

On a mundane level, that lofty mission means celebrating the opening of the new Design Within Reach store in UTC with an invitation-only party on Nov. 13.

Some conspiracy-theory types might view Architecture Sarasota’s impact report as a blueprint for the domination of Mid-Century Modern design. That’s a dark view that we’ll leave others to debate.

With a public event like MOD Weekend, there’s always the tension between the academic and the popular. A couple of years ago, a visitor told Hylton that Palm Springs’ Modernism Week is 80% entertainment and 20% education. The percentages are reversed in Sarasota, he says. In the last 20 years, 140,000 people have moved to Sarasota County, Hylton notes. “They don’t know what the Sarasota School of Architecture is,” he says. “We want participants in MOD Weekend to come away with a better understanding of the role of design in transforming communities.” Let’s drink to that!

Canadian Brass Holiday Concert

Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025, 7:30 pm Sarasota Opera House

The Canadian Brass returns to Sarasota with their popular Holiday Concert, showcasing their musical virtuosity, engaging wit, and brilliant showmanship. Join us for their Holiday Concert which includes original arrangements, and signature takes on beloved holiday classics, including “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and “Christmastime is Here.”

Monica Gagnier Architecture Sarasota President Morris

“Marty” Hylton III stands in front of a map marked with the 100 Moderns

That Matter that the nonprofit group identified with community input.

Give me pumpkin over peppermint, please

Halloween’s over, but it’s still pumpkin season until Thanksgiving, if you ask me.

EMMA JOLLY CONTRIBUTOR

I’m disturbed by the number of holiday commercials invading my screen while I’m still slowly and reluctantly putting away my Halloween decorations in their labeled boxes in the garage.

But I get it. When the world feels like it’s teetering on the edge of spooky, the holidays give us something to look forward to. Still, who decided that gingerbread and peppermint should try to edge out pumpkin season?

Halloween has always been the holiday I crave most. One year, my dad took me to the local graveyard on Halloween night. I may or may not have been scared out of my gourds, but it’s a memory I’ll never forget. I dream of the day when I will

have enough money and storage to become that house on the street — you know, the one covered in skeletons coming out of their graves, glowing larger-than-life ghosts, a fog machine working overtime. In my fantasy, I fill the entire neighborhood with the sweet smell of pumpkin (my true seasonal flavor soulmate).

So while the rest of the world fast-forwards to Santa and sleigh bells, I’ll be here sipping a pumpkinflavored latte and soaking up every last bit of spooky season magic as we wait for Thanksgiving. Hey, the Pilgrims liked pumpkin, too! Here are the best spots to snag your pumpkin-flavored items while you still can.

ROOT & SEED

8209 Natures Way, Suite 107, Lakewood Ranch; 941-362-2006; RootNSeed.com

Pick of the patch: Pumpkin spice donuts ($7.70) to start the day?

Twist my arm. Out in Lakewood Ranch, these vanilla cake beauties are giving fall flavor a serious glow-up. Each bite blends pumpkin spice and organic pumpkin purée into a soft, sweet and perfectly spiced moment of morning bliss. The best part? They’re vegan, 100% gluten-free and refined sugar-free, proof that indulgence doesn’t have to come with guilt. Consider your breakfast officially gourd-geous. Spice, spice baby: Go ahead and order your granola bowl ($14) and add the seasonal twist of pumpkin granola to feel that fall vibe even if it’s in the low 80s.

YODER’S PIE CRAFT & COFFEE CO.

3404 Bahia Vista St., Facebook. com/YodersPieCraftCoffee

THUR, DEC 4 • 7PM

Pick of the patch: Unless you’re brand new to town (or have been living under a rock without Wi-Fi), you already know Yoder’s would make any respectable pumpkin list. But what might surprise you is their newest sweet endeavor. At the newbie Yoder spot, you’ll find weekly mini pies stealing the show, from the rich, velvety pumpkin cheesecake to the local legend itself, the pumpkin cream ($7.99 and up). One bite and you’ll understand why this Amish-inspired favorite continues to pie-oneer Sarasota’s dessert scene. Spice, spice baby: Don’t be surprised when I let out a squeal over these fall special drinks at the craft coffee company. Pumpkin cheesecake latte ($4.95 and up), apple pie chai, maple cinnamon macchiato are three of the phenomenal fall offers.

BIG TOP BREWING

3045 Fruitville Commons Blvd., Sarasota; 941-225-8433; 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 941371-2939; BigTopLive.com; 2507 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton; 941-708-2966; BigTopBrewing. com

Pick of the patch: This marks my ninth fall in Sarasota and my ninth year making sure my taste buds get their annual treat of Pumpkin Stiltskin ale from this beloved local brewery. When it disappears from taps, it haunts me (in true spookyseason fashion). When I finally spot it again, I’m filled with boo-tiful relief and — let’s be honest — a pretty happy buzz, thanks to the ale’s 8.9% ABV. With flavors of baked pumpkin, cinnamon, roasted honey, brown sugar and fresh vanilla bean, this brew is pure pumpkin

perfection. Oh my gourd, it’s scary how good it is. Spice, spice baby: Comparing apples to pumpkins here, both autumnal aromas that I will be sipping right through Turkey Day. The Apple Cider traditional ($4 and up) comes in at 4.7% ABV, and it’s a patch made in heaven.

DETWILER’S FARM MARKET

6000 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota; 941-724-8304; 1250 U.S. 41 Bypass, Venice; 941-234-4577; 6100 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota; 941-724-8300; 1800 U.S. 301, Palmetto; 941-803-7518; 2881 Clark Road, Sarasota; 941-263-4305; 3500 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton; 941242-1580; DetwilerMarket.com

Pick of the patch: Made with a slice of their scratch-made pumpkin pie and a scoop of local pumpkin swirl ice cream, the Detwiler’s Pumpkin Pie Milkshake ($5.99) is the kind of treat that bring all the ghouls and goblins to the yard, even long after Halloween has passed.

Creamy, spiced and perfectly indulgent, it’s fall in a cup. If pumpkin isn’t your only autumn craving, try one of the apple cider milkshakes they’re shaking up for anyone chasing that cozy, crisp-fall flavor. Spice, spice baby: Still craving something sweet? The bakery released pumpkin delight cups with a holy trinity layer of ginger snap crust, pumpkin pudding and whipped cream.

TRADER JOE’S

4101 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-922-5727; 8111 Cooper Creek Blvd., Bradenton; 941-355-2394. TraderJoes.com

Pick of the patch and spice, spice baby: This entire article was inspired by my seasonal addiction of the honey roasted pumpkin raviolis described by Trader Joe’s team as sweet pumpkin “slathered with honey and a bit of brown sugar and molasses, then roasted, pureed, and blended with ricotta and mozzarella cheeses.” Chef’s kiss.

“Elvira” “Bobbie Sue” “American Made” “Fancy Free” SUN, NOV 30 • 7PM

SPONSORS: Gettel Automotive

NOV 28 • 7PM

Courtesy images

Root & Seed displays seasonal deliciousness that is all gluten-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free.

Apple cider and pumpkin pie milkshakes from Detwiler’s Farm Market are the ultimate autumn craving.

THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?

11 a.m. at Palm Aire Country Club, 5601 Country Club Way

$75 Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.

Music fans will get the joke in the title of this Artist Series concert when they see the instruments showcased in the program of music by Bach, Mozart and Piazzolla. It features Eleni Katz on bassoon and Nina Bernat on double bass.

‘LUCKY STIFF’

7 p.m. at Florida Studio Theatre’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.

$39-$59 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

“Lucky Stiff” tells the story of an English shoe salesman whose $6 million inheritance depends on passing off a recently embalmed body as his live uncle. What could go wrong? Runs through Dec. 28.

NEIL BERG’S 50 YEARS OF ROCK

’N’ ROLL

7 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $41 and up Visit VanWezel.org.

Bob Seger sang, “Rock and roll never forgets” and the dedicated followers of Neil Berg’s musical shows don’t either. Berg’s “50 Years of Rock ’N’

DON’T MISS

‘ENCORE’

This is it! Finally, Azara Ballet is performing in Sarasota proper. The startup company dedicated to dancer and audience well-being is opening its third season at Riverview Performing Arts Hall with “Encore.” The program features two works by company co-founder Martin Flowers — “Kodumaa” and “Lost & Found” — alongside several other pieces exploring identity, connection and transformation. Continues Nov. 15.

IF YOU GO

When: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14

Where: Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way

Tickets: $35 and up

Info: Visit AzaraBallet.org.

Roll” traces the roots of the genre in the 1940s, continues through the doowop days of the ’50s, the British invasion of the 1960s and that peaceful easy feeling of the 1970s. The trip ends shortly after “Video Killed the Radio Show” in the 1980s.

‘EMMA’

7:30 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail

$15-$30 Visit AsoloRep.org/Conservatory.

See second-year students from FSU/Asolo Conservatory perform in Kate Hamill’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved novel about a clever but self-satisfied young woman who fancies herself a skilled matchmaker. Runs through Nov. 23.

‘COSÌ FAN TUTTE’

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

Sarasota Opera revives fall opera with Mozart’s “Così fan tutte.” The humorous tale follows two soldiers who test the fidelity of the sisters to whom they are engaged. Runs through Nov. 15.

RAZUMA STRING QUARTET

7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak St. $30-$40 Visit PerlmanMusicProgramSuncoast. org.

The Perlman Music Program Suncoast presents Razuma String Quartet featuring PMP alums Sophia Werner and Emma Servadio on violin, Janice Leung on viola and Nathan Francisco on cello. Their program features Hadyn, Reena Esmail and Beethoven.

FRIDAY

‘HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL’

7 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $50 and up Visit VanWezel.org.

Everyone knows the story of the curmudgeonly green monster

OUR PICK

‘COME FROM AWAY’

Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s musical is based on a true story. When the U.S. shut down its airspace after the 9/11 attacks, thousands of inbound travelers wound up stranded in the small town of Gander, Canada. Newfoundland locals dubbed the travelers “Come From Aways” — and welcomed them with open arms. With its driving Celtic-rock rhythms and heart-wreching humor, this ensemble production by Asolo Repertory Theatre reminds us how trying times can bring out the best in people. Directed by Peter Rothstein. Runs through Dec. 28.

IF YOU GO

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13

Where: FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail

Tickets: $35 and up

Info: Visit AsoloRep.org.

In this Arts Advocates tour, a docent leads a tour of the paintings and sculptures. Participants then step onto the stage where a Van Wezel guide shares stories and anecdotes.

TUESDAY

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS

who tries to deprive the citizens of Whoville of a festive yuletide. You’ve read the Dr. Suess book, watched the TV special moderated by Boris Karloff, but you’ve never seen the Grinch like this before. Runs through Nov. 16.

SATURDAY

THE ORCHID SHOW 2025

10 a.m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St. $30; $28 online Visit Selby.org.

This year’s Orchid Show features an immersive art installation of preserved flowers by British contemporary artist Rebecca Louise Law in The Museum of Botany & the Arts. Law’s installation is juxtaposed with a vibrant display of live orchids and other plants in the living museum’s Display Conservatory.

SUNDAY

STRAUSS AND HIGDON

4 p.m. at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail $48 and up Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Sarasota Orchestra musicians perform in this chamber music concert featuring the works of Richard Strauss and Jennifer Higdon, one of America’s most frequently performed composers.

JAY NASH WITH OPENER

MATTHEW FROST

7 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court $25 Visit WSLR.org.

During a career that the artist himself describes as “under the radar,” Jay Nash has traveled the globe entertaining audiences with a gravelly voice, songs that pull at your heart strings and masterful guitar playing.

MONDAY

BEHIND THE CURTAIN: EXPLORING THE VAN WEZEL

1:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $15 Visit ArtsAdvocates.org.

7 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $56 and up Visit VanWezel.org.

By Dec. 1, many people are sick of holiday music. That’s why it’s a good thing Mannheim Steamroller Christmas is arriving before Thanksgiving. A tradition for more than 40 years, Chip Davis leads an ensemble featuring 15 musicians playing more than 20 instruments.

‘BLACK NATIVITY’

7:30 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave. $54 adults, $24 students 25 and under and active military Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe presents a Nativity story that blends gospel, blues, spiritual and Christmas music with the poetry of Langston Hughes and the creativity of Nate Jacobs’ theater company dedicated to African American stories. Runs through Dec. 21.

‘THREE PIANOS’

7:30 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. $18-$42 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

“Three Pianos” is an ode to superstars of the keyboard such as Ray Charles, Elton John and Alicia Keys. These mavericks didn’t tinkle the ivories; they tore up the rulebook. Runs through April 19.

WEDNESDAY

‘ART DECO: THE GOLDEN AGE OF ILLUSTRATION’

10 a.m. at the Sarasota Art Museum campus of Ringling College, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Free with museum admission Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.

The Sarasota Art Museum celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Art Deco movement. More than 100 posters from the Crouse Collection as well as industrial furniture, home furnishings and other objects loaned by the Wilsonian-Florida International University are on display. Through March 29, 2026.

Image courtesy of Adrian Van Stee

Asolo Repertory Theatre’s production of “Come From Away,” a musical about travelers welcomed by Canada after 9/11, plays at FSU Center for the Performing Arts from Nov. 13 through Dec. 8.

Nik Wallenda teams up with LECOM for holiday circus

The medical college bought three-year naming rights to the new Wonderland tent.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

here’s a new tent in town.

TIt’s black inside and has plush seats with cupholders. It belongs to Sarasota superstar aerialist Nik Wallenda, who bought it for his annual holiday Wonderland Circus.

For the first two editions of Wonderland, Wallenda borrowed a tent from the Circus Arts Conservatory, the Sarasota nonprofit.

Besides his new tent, Wallenda has new partners for Wonderland, whose theme is “Believe” this year. LECOM, the acronym for the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, has signed a three-year deal with Wallenda’s circus.

One of the largest medical schools in the country with campuses in Pennsylvania, Upstate New York and Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch, LECOM’s name may be familiar to locals. It owns naming rights for LECOM Park, where the Pittsburgh Pirates play, oldies radio WSRQFM 88.5, and sponsors the LECOM Suncoast Classic, a pro golf tournament that takes place annually at the Lakewood Ranch National Golf Club.

Operating a radio station and sponsoring baseball parks, a golf tournament and a circus might seem like a strange marketing strategy for a company that owns hospitals, senior living centers and medical schools. But it makes sense to LECOM.

The goal is to improve life in the community, says Jim Schaffner, special assistant to the CEO of LECOM.

Putting LECOM’s name in front of young students and their families attending Wonderland Circus is a no-brainer, according to Schaffner.

“Nik Wallenda is an international star and a local hero. He goes out of his way to do good things for Sarasota and Bradenton,” says Schaffner, who is a snowbird here.

Wallenda said finding new partners was essential due to “a change in management” at the CAC. In 2024, Dolly Jacobs and Pedro Reis stepped down from day-to-day management of the nonprofit they co-founded in 1997.

Jennifer Mitchell moved up to CAC president and CEO from executive vice president and COO while Jacobs continues her involvement in the conservatory.

In a brief interview, Mitchell emphasized the importance of the

nonprofit’s educational activities, its main priority. “While we support circus at all levels, we must remain focused on our nonprofit mission,”

she says.

The matchmaker on the Wonderland/LECOM deal was Matt Moldovan, the former director of sales at ABC 7 TV who is now vice president of sales at Dealers United, a digital marketing company.

Dealers United was founded by Matt Buchanan of Sarasota Ford and entrepreneur Jesse Biter, founder of Homenet, an auto sales software firm that he sold to Cox Automotive.

You may wonder how Wallenda, whose family traces its circus roots to Austria-Hungary in the 1700s, got hooked up with folks in the car business.

It’s an interesting story. “When I was doing my walk across downtown Sarasota in 2013, I knew I wanted to stop traffic on U.S. 41 to get statewide attention,” he says.

Wallenda identified the Marina Tower unit where he wanted to string the wire to Bayfront Park and found the owner. That person was Biter.

Wallenda did the same thing when he walked across Times Square. “You get to know the people and you become friends,” he says.

Hey, you may even go into business with them.

Courtesy image

Daredevil clown Johnny Rockett, the Grinch and superstar aerialist Nik Wallenda pose in front of Wonderland’s new tent near UTC.

IF YOU GO ‘LECOM PRESENTS WONDERLAND: BELIEVE’ When: Nov. 21-Jan. 4, 2026 Where: UTC, 195 University Town Center Drive Tickets: $39-$99 Info: Visit Wonderland. org.

Maestro takes Sarasota Orchestra to new heights in debut concert

Giancarlo Guerrero delivers a performance full of promise for the future and unmatched partnership with the orchestra.

GAYLE WILLIAMS

MUSIC CRITIC

n this much-anticipated opening concert of his first full season as music director of the Sarasota Orchestra on Nov. 7, Giancarlo Guerrero revealed an unmatched partnership with the orchestra and an ability to take it to yet unreached heights.

That is certainly the hope for this community, given that a world-class acoustic hall is clearly in sight, if not yet built.

This night’s performance at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall proved the Sarasota Orchestra is ready to step into a heady group of nationally admired orchestras.

The immediately lovable “blue cathedral” by American Jennifer Higdon grounded in contemplation took us soaring above into the heavens. The layering of strings, prepared piano and the soft metallic hum of Chinese bells provided a heavenly atmosphere.

The sibling solo relationship between flute and clarinet, brought to life by longtime principals Betsy Hudson Traba and Bharat Chandra, respectively, led the emotional arch rising into the heights evoking a blue sky.

The peak of energy came with swirling phrases in winds and strings and the insistence of brass muscle. Each musical gesture, well measured and placed, brought us back to Earth as the clarinet ascended to nothingness.

Next to this neatly defined illustration, the wildly passion-

ate Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 23 by Tchaikovsky broke all bounds. With unforgettable melodies and fiery technical passages, all on stage charged past the expected frame with an inexorable primal force.

Before I drown myself in hyperbole, let me simply say pianist Alessio Bax is a stunning artist — crazy with the flash of technique but surgical with his surprising nuances of color and interpretation.

With “blue cathedral,” Guerrero was precise and clear. But leading Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances,” Op. 45, he was energetically unleashed.

Ably matching the discipline and outbursts of Bax, Guerrero urged even greater expression from the musicians. The orchestra responded — bold, bright and fearless.

“Symphonic Dances” represents the best of Rachmaninoff and is his final composition. It displays his gift for melody and his slightly twisted sense of turbulence and torment.

In three movements, we were treated to such a variety of colors and devices that was unsettling yet so beautiful.

Repeatedly the orchestra burst forth will surprising vigor, as Guerrero unleashed such a glorious sound. The musicians played with such great force and brilliance that it was obvious that the orchestra has outgrown our dear Van Wezel.

And that is the promise of Guerrero. Having guided the Nashville Symphony through a similar path to a new concert hall and greater acclaim, this concert gives me great confidence that he will do the same for Sarasota.

Urbanite stages a monster mash

In ‘Monsters of the American Cinema,’ the scary creatures aren’t only on the screen.

MARTY FUGATE THEATER CRITIC

Monsters are universal — in more ways than one. America’s movie monsters include Dr. Frankenstein’s creation, Count Dracula and the Wolfman. These homegrown horrors loom large in Christian St. Croix’s “Monsters of the American Cinema” at Urbanite Theatre. But the play’s creature feature isn’t confined to the silver screen.

The action unfolds in the dilapidated Good Time Drive-In outside San Diego. Remy (Jon Joseph Gentry), a gay, Black widower, owns and operates this run-down cinematic relic.

He inherited it from his late husband, Brian — along with Brian’s son, Pup (Tyler Gevas), a straight, white teenager full of unfocused grief and anger. They live together in a shabby RV on the theater lot, sharing popcorn, old monster movies and a sense of loss.

Their story begins as a sweet, new-family comedy. Then, like a werewolf under a full moon, it transforms into something darker. Like it or not, Remy and Pup must face the all-American beasts inside and around them.

Urbanite Artistic Director Summer Dawn Wallace directs this monster mash with cinematic timing. St. Croix’s script flips from funny to frightening. She turns on a dime with its many mood swings. The action gets surreal at times. In Wallace’s hands, the characters always feel real.

The actors paint a loving, nuanced portrait of a father-figure and his 16-year-old son. Gentry’s Remy is a thirtysomething, working-class everyman. He’s

a movie-lover, politically aware and an occasional activist. He’s no household Hitler, but he won’t put up with destructive teenage nonsense.

Gevas’ Pup is a smart kid and wannabe filmmaker. Remy gives him a camcorder to encourage his artistry. One gay adult, one straight teen — who bond over old-school scary cinema and 21st century wisecracks. They both could be stand-up comics. But what goes down in Remy’s high school isn’t funny at all. And it threatens to rip their bond apart.

Jeff Weber’s RV set is compact but not claustrophobic — and filled with sharp character details.

Remy’s space is neat, but not squeaky clean. Pup’s room is packed with monster movie posters — Universal’s unusual suspects like Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster and the Werewolf.

Louis Vetter-Torres’ creepy sound design gets under your skin with subtle hints of dread. (Or not so subtle.) Lyndell McDonald’s lighting dances between mundane reality and fever dream. David Covach’s costumes are a parade of horror-show, grindhouse T-shirts. (Significantly, Pup’s final T-shirt is “The Exorcist.”)

“Monsters” cuts from America’s imaginary movie monsters to our sickeningly real demons of racism and homophobia. Tough subject

IF YOU GO

‘MONSTERS OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA’ When: Through Dec. 7. Where: Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St. Tickets: $5-$44. Info: Visit UrbaniteTheatre. com.

matter. A lesser playwright would hit the nail on the head. La Croix doesn’t. He attacks from the side — with inventive dialogue and scene construction.

Like every teen who’s ever been born, Pup wants to fit in. He wants to be normal. Attacking a weird, gay outsider proves he’s just like everybody else.

The fear of the Other; the need to attack the Other: They’re two sides of the same monstrous coin.

The playwright flips that coin. He never reduces it to a didactic message. But he does show you the battle for Pup’s soul.

In the play’s electrifying climax. Remy wrestles with the unholy hatreds (and self-hatred) possessing Pup. The poor kid’s inner demons fight back. The battle gets ugly. So, who wins? I’m not saying. That’d be monstrous.

Image courtesy of Sorcha Augustine

Jon Joseph Gentry and Tyler Gevas star in “Monsters of the American Cinema,” which runs through Dec. 7 at Urbanite Theatre.

GRANDE SOIRÉE

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Agroup of Sarasota theater, architecture and design mavens made waves in New York City at Hulaween, Bette Midler’s annual benefit for her nonprofit, the New York Restoration Project.

Most people know Midler as a Broadway and Hollywood icon, but she is also dedicated to preserving Gotham’s green spaces, particularly in underserved areas.

The theme of this year’s Hulaween, held Oct. 24 at Cipriani South Street, was “New York, New York, a Helluva Town!” and it was a star-studded affair attended by the likes of Billy Crystal, Michael Kors, Sandra Bernhard, Ben Platt, Andy Cohen and more.

For the party, a group of Sarasota residents, led by Asolo Repertory Theatre Producing Artistic Director Peter Rothstein, real estate executive Michael Saunders and architect Todd DeGarmo, wore subway-inspired costumes designed by Asolo Rep’s costume shop. Also among the Sarasota group were Morris “Marty” Hylton David

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2025

Zaccardelli, Sarah Cox, Jordan Jeffers, Diane Weaver and Omar Butt

Rothstein said DeGarmo, a New York-based architect with a home in Sarasota, was the driving force behind the Sarasota group’s whirlwind trip to the Big Apple.

“Todd is a principal at Studios Architecture in New

Asolo Repertory Theatre Producing Artistic Director Peter Rothstein and Michael Saunders, founder and CEO of her eponymous real estate firm, at the Hulaween gala.

Images courtesy of Danté Crichlow/BFA.com

Peter Rothstein, Michael Saunders, Gigi Vittadini, Adrienne Vittadini and Todd DeGarmo at the Hulaween gala in New York City on Oct. 24.

2025 Honorees – Back: Michael Saunders, Pauline Wamsler, Andria Piekarz accepting for Eugenie Clark (posthumously) and Gail Morganroth. Front: Mary Braxton-Joseph and Deb Kabinoff; Also honored (posthumously): Bertha Potter Palmer Danielle and Gregory Jacobs

Photos by Ian Swaby

Roy and Lisa Smith with Ted and Amy Langan

Co-Chairs Katherine Harris and Margaret Wise

Candice Henry, Jourdan Reinhart, Terri Thayer, Lauren Henry and Maryl Henry

Andrew Economos and BJ Creighton Carl Troiano and Charlotte Stewart

Marjorie Floyd and Caroline Amory