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LIGHTS IN BLOOM: Selby Gardens glows with holiday spirit. > < THEATER: Motown Christmas: A soulful celebration 12

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

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Flowers in Focus

Photographer David Leaser shows off his floral works of art, composed of dozens of layered images. PAGE 4

EAT THIS Photos by Nick Reichert

Emily Wyatt, coach and circus arts training program assistant, leads the more than 100 area students in a pre-practice meeting.

Below: Ariana Aristimuno, 14, a Sarasota Middle School student, flies up above the Circus Arts Conservatory’s practice and performance facility.

The Rosemary

This new north-ofFruitville restaurant brings influences from around the world. PAGE 6

DO THIS

BIG TOP 101 The circus arts aren’t for the meek.

Students in Circus Sarasota learn that lesson, and many others, as they train for their upcoming show.

NICK REICHERT A+E EDITOR

A

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Whether you want to hit the town and party or catch a performance, learn the best places to ring in the new year. PAGE 8

fter school, many students have extracurricular activities.

When the bell rings at the end of the day, some of them lace up their sneakers and hit the basketball court; others head to football practice. In Sarasota, some of them spend the rest of their afternoon walking the high wire under the big top.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

Underneath the Big Top FROM PAGE 1

For more than 65 years, the Sailor Circus, a division of the Circus Arts Conservatory, has been entertaining audiences and training local students through daily after-school practices to build each student’s circus routine. Each year, approximately 110 students, in grades 4 through 12, train with the circus to learn the circus arts and to put on a show each semester.

Welcoming each of the student clowns, tumblers, acrobats, and wire-walkers-in-training is a staff of 30 coaches, led by Emily Wyatt and Karen Bell, education and training managers at the Circus Arts Conservatory.

Bell, Wyatt and the coaching staff have a lot of to accomplish in the next few weeks. With Sailor Circus’ annual Holiday Celebration show opening Dec. 26 and running for seven performances through Dec. 29, Bell and Wyatt must put the finishing touches on a show the students have been training for since August.

It’s Wyatt and Bell’s job to take 14 different routines and more than 100 students and combine them into one cohesive show. And even though their role is exclusively behind the scenes, Bell and Wyatt’s influence reaches as high as any high-wire act.

The duo are not only ready to teach the students the art of circus, but, also how to be strong,

confident and good people.

“The students learn a lot of life lessons here that they’ll take on with them once they graduate from the circus,” says Wyatt.

“From performing and learning the circus arts they gain selfesteem, responsibility, trust and dedication.”

The afternoon begins with Wyatt, Bell and a few of the other coaches gathering the students around for a pre-practice huddle.

The team itself is the size of a small school. The students sitting on rows of chairs have stopped chatting, checking their phones, and ceased working on their homework. It’s time to listen.

Wyatt and Bell share with the students the plan for that afternoon’s practice. In the next threeand-a-half hours, until about 8 p.m., the students will rehearse every play, movement and routine at least three times. After Wyatt and Bell count attendance, the students disperse to get started.

“What I love about (the circus) is the combination of the athletics and the art form,” Bell says.

“You’re able to meld these really interesting pieces of music and costumes, all the while working with really interesting people and students.”

IF YOU GO Sailor Circus 2015 Holiday Celebration

“The students learn life lessons here that they’ll take on with them once they graduate from the circus. From performing and learning the circus arts they gain self-esteem, responsibility, trust and dedication.”

Where: Circus Arts Conservatory, 2075 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota When: 2 p.m. on Dec. 26, runs through Dec. 29 Tickets: $15 to $20 Info: Call 355-9805

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RINGMASTERS

Photos by Nick Reichert

Karen Bell (left) and Emily Wyatt (right) spend hours every day teaching Sailor Circus students like Owen Leonard and Kevin Moore big top basics.

Wyatt and Bell are no strangers to circus life. Wyatt’s family was in the circus. She, along with her two older sisters, joined Sailor Circus when Wyatt was 8.

She says that, unlike her other friends growing up, who pursued softball or tennis, she got to run away every afternoon to the circus. After attending State College of Florida, Wyatt began volunteering at the circus’ summer programs and realized that she was happiest when she was working with the students.

Bell, originally from Colorado, has been a clown for 30 years.

She caught the circus bug in 1985, after attending the Ringling Brothers Clown College in Venice.

She joined the Circus Arts Conservatory in 2004 and started managing the Sailor Circus program in 2011.

While they still get to perform every so often, now it’s Wyatt and Bell’s job to create a show out of the students’ acts. They, along with the rest of the coaching staff, work from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the school year to write, plan rehearsals and prepare that semester’s production.

Armed with a PA system and a microphone, Wyatt leads the students through the different moments of the show while Bell looks on and makes sure each section of students — ringleaders, clowns, acrobats and aerialists — are in the right place at the right time, always keeping a watchful eye for timing, placement and, of course, performance quality.

“We want all the elements to work so the audience can connect with the acts, the music and the show,” says Wyatt. “The production team writes the whole show and then we look at it and see

what music and act fits the written show. At this point, we have time. If something doesn’t feel right for the students or we think the audience won’t connect, we make a change.”

Leaping, running and clowning around on the floor of the Circus Conservatory stadium among the crowds of Sarasota students are high school students who have spent multiple years at Sailor Circus. For some of them, this will be their fourth or fifth holiday show.

The high schoolers acts as Wyatt and Bell’s point people under the big top to make sure the younger, less-experienced performers have everything prepared for opening night.

Lillian Hafner, a high-wire walker from Pine View High School and Kevin Moore, an acrobat from Sarasota High School, have each spent a combined eight years performing at Sailor Circus.

Coaches like Wyatt and Bell look to them to help lead and manage some of the younger students who are performing for the first time in front of an audience.

“Starting off at a young age it seems intimidating when you first get here,” says Hafner, “but when you realize that you’re doing it with all your friends who you trust, it never seems scary.”

The years of almost daily practice are evident as the older students work with the younger ones. Hafner, Moore and Leonard help all of the younger students in their section. Whether that’s by double checking their section’s pre-show preparations like costumes and entrance timing to one more practice on that series of group back flips, they are slowly growing into being coaches themselves.

“Each year it’s cool when new

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kids come in and you can help them out,” says Moore. “Since you’ve seen every problem or difficulty in the act, it’s easier to help them learn it. As I’ve gotten older in the circus, it gets easier for me, but the best thing is that I get to teach as well, which is a lot of fun.”

Fun, flips and flying in mid-air are Sailor Circus’ main attractions for families who attend the troupe’s show every semester. But it’s what the audience doesn’t see where the real transformation

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

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happens. For coaches Wyatt and Bell, that’s watching the students learn and grow not just as performers, but as people — that’s the real joy.

“By the time they graduate, a lot of kids feel like this program is their second home and that we’re a family,” says Wyatt. “We spend a lot of time here, some up to 15 hours a week. They do their homework here, eat dinner here, we spend a lot of time together.

We’ve just transformed into a family over time.”

Acrobat students at Sailor Circus rehearse one of the intricate movements in the company's holiday celebration.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

FLOWERS

“I’ve always tried to provide the viewer with something new, different or something they’ve never seen before.”

FACE TO FACE

– David Leaser

Photographer David Leaser captures the microscopic beauty of nature at the Selby Gardens

Courtesy photos

Though he hails from California, David Leaser has been finding his photographic inspirations in Florida's gardens and wildlife.

A+E EDITOR

D

avid Leaser isn’t the type of photographer who hides behind his camera. A lot of nature photography requires shooting subjects from a distance, whether it’s landscapes or wildlife. But for Leaser, the fun lies in getting up close and personal.

This month, Leaser shares his intimate, larger-than-life photos of flowers at one of the places

where his photographic journey began: the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Running from Dec. 18 to 30 as a part of Selby Gardens’ “Lights in Bloom” holiday exhibit, Leaser’s portraits will be on display through a partnership with the State of the Arts Gallery.

Proceeds from sales of Leaser’s work will go toward continuing the gardens’ year-round plant conservation and study programs.

Growing up, Leaser and his family took annual vacations to visit his grandparents on Treasure

IF YOU GO David Leaser exhibit Lights in Bloom Holiday Gala Where: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens When: Dec. 18-30 Tickets: $5 to $19 Info: Call 3665731

Island.

It was during those adolescent summer excursions that the inquisitive California native became obsessed with the tropical plant life. Even when he had entered the professional world as a business development executive at IBM, he still would return any chance he could to Florida.

With his camera constantly by his side, Leaser began to casually capture the beauty of the flowers and visit area gardens and nature preserves, including the Marie

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Selby Botanical Gardens. In 2003, Leaser decided to pursue his hobby more seriously.

Adapting equipment and software from NASA and Nikon, Leaser’s developed his own unique style. His plant portraits consist of dozens of individual, high-resolution shots, layered on top of each other. His camera takes anywhere from 25 to 100 photos within seconds, with Leaser placing his camera just inches away from his floral subject. He then layers the individual photographs into one composite, so each miniscule petal and color is in crisp focus. The results show flowers no larger than a thumbprint in intricate, colorful detail.

“I’ve always tried to provide the viewer with something new, different or something they’ve never seen before,” says Leaser. “I hope that my work gives people who never think about plants in their day-to-day lives a heightened appreciation of nature and a smile on their face.”

The high-tech business man turned plant portraitist shares his insights on his meticulous photo-layering process and the key to getting his floral models in the right pose.

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“I WAS involved in yearbook as a kid and took photos casually ever since. I went to Los Angeles for work and ran into a guy who worked at National Geographic.

I came back to Florida and took a number of photos of plants and landscapes using his tips. He completely changed my game.

Those photographs, including ones taken at Selby Gardens, ended up in my first book in 2005.”

“FOR ONE of my last books, I was in the Amazon rainforest, and I was trying to figure out what to do next. During that trip, I was taking photos of flowers on the floor of the rainforest

and wanted a bird’s-eye view of these beautiful flowers, so I would lay down on the ground and get my camera as close as possible. But my normal cameras couldn’t capture the detail that I wanted.”

“I STARTED experimenting with the technology and discovered this NASA technology and software that will allow you to stack images together and go pixel by pixel and modify the dozens of images into one crystal-clear composite. I started putting together these technologies and took images that had complete clarity. I could photograph flowers the size of a

Using software developed by NASA along with his Nikon equipment, David Leaser has created an unique method of taking botanical portraits.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

LEASER’S WORK

thumbnail in complete focus and blow them up into large portraits. You get the best perspective of a flower that has ever been seen before.”

“Nightstar” is a part of David Leaser’s first Nightflower series. Though a native of California, Leaser’s work was inspired by his time in Florida and his first photos taken at Selby Gardens.

“IN SOME CASES, it takes a year from start to finish. What I’ll do is select the flower subjects. Sometimes, they’re from catalogues, botanical books or just my backyard. I chill them for 60 days at 40 degrees in a fridge.

Then I have to prop them up and put them in a greenhouse, and two weeks later, I’ll have a subject.”

“Marilyn,” is a part of Leaser’s first Nightflower series.

Leaser earned the silver medal at the 2015 International Photography Awards. Eleven of Leaser’s photos have been added to the Huntington Library’s permanent collection.

“THEN I’LL bring the flowers into the studio and they have to acclimate to the studio. Flowers are moving all day long outside, and if I take too long to take a photo series, they’ll start to move and react to the light of my camera. Flowers are so sensitive to light and temperature that I give them two weeks to completely open up. I take up to 100 photos per flower really quickly, because if the flower moves or adjusts to the light, then most of those images won’t be able to stack up into one composite and I’ll have to start all over again.”

“Hokulei” is a part of Leaser’s second Nightflowers series.

Out of 20,000 juried artists, Leaser was the only photographer exhibited in the 2013 London Art Biennale, one of the largest art fairs in the world.

“SOME OF the flowers have extremely strong personalities depending on their panel arrangement and composition. I’ll audition the flowers by bringing them into the studio and placing them on a posing table. My studio looks like a fashion photography studio most days. I have full blown strobe lights and seamless backgrounds. I have the typical equipment for a fashion photo shoot.”

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

Eclectic Eats

Nick Friedman

With The Rosemary's eclectic menu, George Armstrong hopes to showcase his favorite foods from different cities in which he's lived.

Below: Huevos Rancheros

The Rosemary brings worldly inspiration to a neighborhood restaurant.

NICK FRIEDMAN A+E MANAGING EDITOR

Growing up in a military family, George Armstrong was used to life on the road. His father was in the Air Force, and the family would move to a new city every two years. With every new home came new surroundings, new friends and most importantly, new foods.

The Bermuda native says he’s lived in more cities than he can count, and the thing he always remembers most about a city is its signature dish.

“My brother and I talk about different places we’ve been,” he says. “It always comes back to food. My family was always really focused on food. We’ll talk about cities based on the foods we remember eating there.”

As the former general manager of Treviso, at The Ringling, Armstrong says he was given the freedom to experiment with different cuisines, and he built a loyal following among the arts enthusiasts who dined there. In June, Treviso’s contract with the museum expired, and TableSeide Restaurant Group won the bid to take over as the new on-site restaurant and catering company.

Armstrong saw an opportunity. Maintaining almost all of his staff, he decided to purchase

a restaurant in the Rosemary district, formerly occupied by The Savory Street, where he could showcase all his favorite dishes from the different cities in which he’s lived.

The Rosemary, located at 411 N. Orange Ave., is a blend of traditional and contemporary American cuisine.

“My vision was to open a restaurant that reminded me of all the different places I’ve lived,” he says. “I used to eat in The Savory Street, and it always gave me the feeling of being somewhere else. I didn’t feel like I was in Sarasota. I wanted to create that environment for other people, too.”

Several weeks after opening The Rosemary, Armstrong sat down to talk about his new endeavor, his love for the neighborhood and the best way to reuse tortilla chips.

“MY BEST ideas come to me when I’m under pressure.

When we didn’t get the bid at The Ringling, I really didn’t know what I was going to do.

Should I move? Should I buy another restaurant? But the pressure helped motivate me.”

“I SPENT a lot of time living in Austin, and you’ll see a lot of that on my menu. Of course, there’s the brisket,

and there’s breakfast tacos, but we also have migas. That was my favorite food in Austin. It’s typically made with leftover tortilla chips, which are crumbled into a scramble of eggs, pico de gallo, Monterey Jack and red and green chile sauce. We make ours to order, but in Austin, today’s chips become tomorrow’s breakfast.”

“I DON’T ever see myself not working. Life’s meant to be a sprint, and I like to fit as much in as I can, because when it’s over, it’s over. My aunt used to say, ‘You can sleep when you’re dead.’”

“I THREW around a lot of different names for the restaurant. I was going to call it Port of Call, as a tribute to Bermuda, but I stuck with “The Rosemary.” I love this neigh-

Courtesy

borhood, and I hope to become a destination here.”

py. That’s something you miss out on if you’re not working.”

“IF I WEREN’T in the restaurant industry, I’d probably be a travel editor. My dad used to be the travel editor for the Toronto Star, and I used to go on some of his trips with him.”

“DOING BREAKFAST, lunch and dinner is tough. But I’m up for the challenge, and I really want to make it work.”

“I LOVE restaurants because of how many people you get to meet. I like to talk to people and learn what makes them tick — what makes them hap-

“IF I COULD only eat one thing on my menu for the rest of my life, it would have to be the breakfast tacos. I like the fact that there’s not a lot of ingredients behind all that flavor.”

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

THIS WEEK

NEW YEAR’S EVE EVENTS New Year’s Eve at Social Eatery & Bar 5:30 p.m. at Social Eatery & Bar, 1219 First St. $100 Call 444-7072 Close out 2015 with a fourcourse, farm-fresh meal, then toast to the new year at midnight. Reservations required.

THURSDAY

‘The Ten Tenors’ 7 p.m. at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $50 to $80 Call 953-3368

Holiday Lights Spectacular 6 to 9 p.m. at Sarasota Jungle Gardens, 3701 Bay Shore Road $6 to $11 Call 355-5305 Take the family to see the 75-year-old Sarasota garden, all dressed up for the holidays. The Sarasota Jungle Gardens will be decked out in dazzling light displays, which will also feature live music, marshmallow roasting and photos with Santa Claus.

Not Quite Friday 5k 6 p.m. at JDub’s Brewing Co., 1215 Mango Ave. Free Call 955-2739 JDub’s Brewing Co. invites local runners and beer lovers to this weekly 5k run around Ed Smith Stadium and neighboring communities. Runners receive 10% off all beer after the run, free water and towels at the finish line as well as a punch card for free prizes after runs 10, 25 and 50.

A Motorworks Brewing Christmas 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. at Motorworks Brewing Co., 1014 Ninth St. W., Bradenton Free Call 567-6218

Some of Australia’s finest vocal talents are spending their New Year’s Eve with Sarasota’s music fans. The Ten Tenors have performed to more than 90 million people worldwide and will keep the holiday spirit going with performances of Christmas favorites, including “Sleigh Ride” and “White Christmas.”

When family time has come to an end, keep the party going at Motorworks Brewing Co. Enjoy holiday movies on the projectors, play games in the beer garden and listen to the Messenger Band.

New Year’s Eve at Selby 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 900 S. Palm Ave. $250 Call 366-5731

FRIDAY

Ring in 2016 surrounded by natural beauty and the lights of fireworks shimmering over Sarasota Bay. Guests can enjoy the Lights in Bloom displays, dinner, live music, dancing and top it all off with fireworks inside Sarasota’s favorite natural oasis.

SATURDAY Sailor Circus Holiday Show 2 and 7 p.m. at the Circus Arts Conservatory, 2075 Bahia Vista St. $15 to $20 Call 355-9805 The annual high-flying holiday tradition returns as more than 100 local Sailor Circus students perform some of their best routines, all set around a wintry theme. The oldest youth circus in the world, Sailor Circus will entertain the whole family.

New Year’s Eve with Happy Cole 7:30 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd. $56 Call 925-3869

Santa Stumble 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the Siesta Key Village Free Call 349-8697

Celebrate the end of 2015 with plenty of laughs with Tampa stand-up comedian Happy Cole. Master of ceremonies Les McCurdy will lead Cole and several special guest comics through the night, and at midnight watch the Times Square ball drop on the theater’s giant television screens.

Just because Christmas is over doesn’t mean you need to lose your holiday spirit. Head to the Siesta Key Village for this festive party, featuring a Santa costume sack race with a $400 prize, live music and T-shirt giveaways.

The American Swing Experience 8 p.m. at the Venice Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice $49 Call 488-1115 If you want to swing into the new year, the Venice Theatre has just the fix for people who can’t put down their dancing shoes. Local singers David and Michele James-Pruyn, backed by a 15-piece orchestra, will perform the greatest jazz and swing standards of all time.

WSLR 96.5 Drops the ‘Quat 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court $10 Avoid the downtown crowds at this party, featuring psychedelic rockers, The Schmitz Brothers, folk musicians Washbaer and reggae band Treedomm.

Potluck and Kumquat Drop at midnight.

John Russo 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at the Starlite Room, 1001 Cocoanut Ave. $75 Call 702-5613 John Russo will sing classics by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and more. Ticket includes dinner, Champagne toast at midnight and rooftop fireworks viewing.

Evie’s Tavern, Main Street, New Year’s Eve Party 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Evie’s Tavern, 1560 Main St. Free Call 366-7711 Join in the downtown festivities at this party, featuring drink specials, bottle discounts and live music, and watch the pineapple drop at midnight.

James Bond 007 New Year’s Eve 9 p.m. at Beach Club, Siesta Key, 5151 Ocean Blvd. $10 Call 349-6311 Enjoy your new year shaken, not stirred. Beach Club Siesta Key hosts its first James Bond-themed New Year’s Eve celebration, featuring prizes, Champagne and live music by the Guilty Pleasures band and DJ Xtreme.

Pineapple Drop 9 p.m. to midnight on Main Street Free Celebrate New Year’s Eve in true Florida fashion at the annual downtown Pineapple Drop. Live music

by Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones and Big Night Out. Pineapple drops at midnight.

‘It Was A Very Good Year’ 10 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton $25 to $27 Call 748-5875 Celebrate Ol’ Blue Eyes’ 100th birthday with this musical tribute concert.

Performer Tony Sands embodies Frank Sinatra and sings songs from throughout his career and retells his life story.

New Year’s Spectacular 10:30 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1646 10th Way $85 Call 366-1505, Ext. 106 Even though Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s celebrated original seasonal production “A Motown Christmas” will have just ended, the show is far from over. The party will continue at the theater’s first New Year’s Eve Spectacular with Champagne, a live band, singing and dancing.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

Fill your stocking with one of the most influential musicals of all time.

Asolo Rep’s production of “West Side Story” has been the highest grossing production in the theater’s history, so catch it before it closes.

DON’T MISS Moscow Ballet ‘Great Russian Nutcracker’ Monday, Dec. 28, 3 and 7 p.m. at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $34 to $192 | Call 953-3368 If you’re a traditionalist when it comes to your brand of “Nutcracker,” then the Moscow Ballet’s touring production of the Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky dance classic is for you. The Moscow Ballet will enchant and dance onstage with playful puppets and handmade sets and costumes.

TUESDAY ‘The Liar’ 7:30 p.m. at Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail $13.50 to $27 Call 351-8000 The FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training brings French farce back to life in David Ives’ adaptation of Pierre Corneille’s 1644 comedy, “The Liar.” The protagonist, Dorante, is a pathological liar and must charm his way out of every white lie he spins.

WEDNESDAY ‘The Producers’ 8 p.m. at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $50 to $75 Call 953-3368 Mel Brooks’ record 12 Tony Awardwinning hit musical arrives in Sarasota. The musical focuses on the devious plans of unlucky Broadway producer Max Bialystock and his unwitting, shy accountant, Leo Bloom, as they attempt to cheat millions of dollars from investors by producing the biggest flop in Broadway history: “Springtime for Hitler.”

ANNA DEARING DANCE CRITIC

The Nutcracker always makes the festive holiday season seem complete. But the Sarasota Ballet’s rendition, “John Ringling’s Circus Nutcracker,” makes Sarasota’s holiday season complete.

Based loosely on the story of John and Mable Ringling and the iconic circus show they created, Sarasotans can feel connected to this production, choreographed

by Matthew Hart.

The moment the nutcracker face adorning the curtain opened its mouth and cracked a giant walnut, the audience’s gasps revealed they knew they were in for a holiday treat. The Sarasota Orchestra, directed by Andrew Lane, playing the classic Tchaikovsky score, as well as the fantastic sets and costumes designed by Peter Docherty, only added to the excitement.

The Circus Nutcracker begins at Grand Central Station in New York, where Clara and her brother, Fritz (Alex Harrison), see the Ringling Circus loading up for its winter residency in Sarasota.

Clara, danced by the sprightly Jessica Cohen, is fascinated with Sugar and Prince (Kate Honea and Ricardo Graziano), but she and Fritz are quickly hauled away by their parents, the Stahlbaums (Danielle Brown and Ricardo Rhodes), to travel by train to a hotel Christmas party.

The hotel manager, Jamie Carter, completely steals the party scene with his comedic expressions and grand movements, just like he did in the last production, in 2013. The Ringling circus cast, led by John Ringling (David Tlaiye) and his nephew, John Ringling North (Logan Learned) join the party and present Clara with a nutcracker and Fritz with a wind-up mouse, which he pertinently dislikes and uses to disrupt the party.

Cohen dances with lovely, effortless movements as she and other party girls (students of the Sarasota Ballet School) danced with their new presents. Hart’s version of the classic party scene is probably the most engaging and amusing seen yet.

After the party ends and the clock strokes midnight, the Christmas tree turns into a giant one towering over a New York

File photo

Kate Honea and Ricardo Graziano as Sugar and Prince.

City skyline, the wind-up mouse turns into the Mouse King (Harrison) and the Nutcracker comes to life. The Nutcracker (Learned) engages into a wild battle with the Mouse King and his Gangster Mice, who dance like the zombies in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video.

The Hotel Manager and Clara come up with a brilliant plan to help the Nutcracker defeat the Mouse King by using a shoe to knock the Mouse King out.

Then Mable Ringling (Victoria Hulland) descends from above on a half-moon to revive the Nutcracker and turns him into John Ringling North. Mable transforms the set into the snow scene where the snowflakes led

by Snow Queen (Brown) and King (Rhodes) perform a rockette-style revue complete with rotating high, leg-kick chorus lines.

Clara and the nephew run off to join the circus in Act II and are transported in a bellman luggage cart train to the Kingdom of the Circus. The entire circus cast welcomes Clara and the nephew with Trapeze Stars Sugar and Prince floating from above on their trapezes. Here John Ringling appoints his nephew as the Ringmaster to run the show under the Big Top in honor of Clara.

The show begins with Samantha Benoit as the Equestrienne leading her stable of Zebras, Sam O’Brien, Juan Gil and Alex Harrison, who flip and turn her into multiple lifts. A stunning

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REVIEWS

‘Circus Nutcracker’ belongs to Sarasota

SUNDAY

9

giant elephant escorts Arabian Christine Windsor into the stable, then tows a cage full of wild cats that taunt Arabian Daniel Rodriguez. A lively crew of five male acrobats performs flips and creates human pyramids. Elizabeth Sykes, Angela Zintchenko, Sareen Tchekmedyian, Nicole Padilla and Mirella Costa Neto were adorable tightrope walkers that pranced and hopped en pointe and assisted Clara with a try on the tightrope. Sarah Monkman and Ricki Bertoni pulled a clown-car stunt with a tiny electric car delivering an entire cast of eight clowns danced by students of the Sarasota Ballet School.

The traditional waltz of the flowers was transformed into the Waltz of the Roses in honor of Mable Ringling’s rose garden.

Mable (Hulland) reappeared from above and danced in and out of the rose dancers while Ringling weaved in and out among the dancers as if chasing after her.

The ballet culminated with Sugar and Prince’s pas de deux, which is based on the classic Sugar Plum Fairy pas de deux, with circus flair. Honea performed multiple fouetté rond de jambe en tournant sequences and piqué turn manèges in the coda with Graziano equally wowing with multiple double tour en l’air and grand jeté manèges.

The audience gave its resounding approval to the fantastic show with a boisterous standing ovation.

OPENS JANUARY 8TH WINNER OF THE 2014 TONY AWARD FOR BEST PLAY

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YourObserver.com 11

REVIEWS

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

|

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

The Gospel According to Motown MARTY FUGATE THEATER CRITIC

IF YOU GO

Detroit is 3,302 miles from the North Pole, and Santa’s sled wasn’t made in Motor City.

But that doesn’t stop the West Coast Black Theatre Troupe from putting a Motown spin on the holiday spirit with its current revue — “A Motown Christmas.”

Nate Jacobs conceived, created and directs the show.

Music director James E. Dodge II and choreographer Donald Frison handle the song and dance.

While the show isn’t televised, it has the vibe of an old-school Christmas special. Although the revue offers a nod to Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, this isn’t “Motown Holidays.” Christmas is what it’s all about—a blend of Motown hits and Christmas standards. These may seem like odd bedfellows, granted the sensual Motown mojo. But it actually works in practice.

In the first act, the stocking is stuffed with secular holiday standards (or overlooked songs that should be standards) and chart-toppers by The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, The Supremes, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and other Motown legends.

Christmas carols dominate the second act.

The singing, dancing ensemble is consistently first-rate.

Ariel Blue, Mandi Jo John and MaRah Williams are the female

‘A Motown Christmas’

When: runs through Dec. 31 Where: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1646 10th Way Info: Call 366-1505, or visit wbttroupe.org for more information.

Courtesy

MaRah Williams, Mandi Jo John and Ariel Blue pay homage to Motown legends in this Christmas revue.

talent. Christopher Eisenberg, Nate Jacobs, Michael Mendez, Leon S. Pitts II and Sheldon Rhoden supply the male half of the equation. (Josh Thompson and Derric Gobourne Jr. don’t sing, but they can definitely dance.) Seen only in silhouette behind the stage, the band sizzles and cooks — and gets everybody moving. Dodge (aka the music director) plays bass guitar, accompanied by pianist

Todd Bellamy, keyboardist J.L. Cash Jr., drummer Sheldon Graham and lead guitarist Willie Thompson.

Under Jacobs’ direction, this talented team pumps out the joy with no weak links or dead moments. As an ensemble, the performers hum like a precision watch, matching flawless vocals with the high-energy, crisp choreography for which Motown’s musicians were

famous. Kudos to Frison for the electrifying, precision dance moves and to Dodge for fine musical direction. Bad arrangements can turn great talent into musical mush. Here, despite the powerhouse band, the singers’ voices ring out loud and clear. You can hear every word and savor every note. Bravo.

It’s one great performance after another, from the male

performers’ spot-on recreation of The Tempations’ music and choreography, to the female performers’ supreme homage to The Supremes, to MaRah Williams’ rendition of “My Christmas Tree” (an ode to a bedraggled tree only Charlie Brown could love), to dancers Thompson and Gobourne’s mercurial moves on “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Little Drummer Boy.” Costume designer Cristy Owen supplies the wrapping—Rudolph-red evening dresses for the women and spangled vests for the men. Scenic designer Michael Newton-Brown decks the stage with giant presents, Christmas paraphernalia, and the bright shining “M” of the Motown logo above it all.

If you’re feeling the holiday blues, this revue is just what the doctor ordered. Whatever your mood when you came in, you’ll leave with a smile on your face. The Grinch himself would get the Christmas spirit.

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Dinner, Dancing, Card Games and After Party $125 per person

Richard Hopkins, Producing Artistic Director

Ryan Connolly and Luke Minx. Photo by Matthew Holler.

- The Observer

Shane Taylor an Eric Hoffmann. Photo by Matthew Holler.

“Crisp vocal harmonies”

By Richard Strand

“THIS PLAY’S GOT EVERYTHING”

Sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the State of Florida.

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YOUROBSERVER.COM

TIE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE PREVIEW Thursday, Dec. 17, at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Benefiting Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

S

elby Gardens flipped the switch on its lights display Thursday, Dec. 17, during the “Lights in Bloom” preview party. More than 100 guests gathered in the Ann Goldstein’s Children’s Rainforest Garden, where they enjoyed light bites from Michael’s On East before Selby Gardens President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki said a few words and instructed the light crew to flip the switch on the more than 500,000 lights that adorn the gardens for the holiday season. Those in attendance then strolled the gardens or hopped on golf carts for a tour of the beautifully lit grounds.

The “Lights in Bloom” exhibit will run for 11 evenings, and guests can come enjoy the gardens full of lights with live music, Santa and festive holiday fare from the Selby House Cafe by Michael’s On East.

SEE PAGE 2 HEATHER MERRIMAN-SABA BLACK TIE EDITOR

Photos by Heather Merriman Saba

Above: Brad and Jane Robbins with Cathy Layton and Pete Russell Left: Rebecca Tompkins and Kathy Schembechler

LIGHTS IN BLOOM

More than 500,000 lights lit up Selby Gardens Thursday, Dec. 17, at the “Lights in Bloom” preview party. Top: Jennifer and Rob Rominiecki

2

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

Lights in Bloom FROM PAGE 1

Left: More than 500,000 lights lit up Selby Gardens Thursday, Dec. 17, at the “Lights in Bloom” preview party.

Photos by Heather Merriman Saba

Suzanne and Jon Anderson

Carol Ochman and Emily Chalker Lane Left: Cornelia and Dick Matson David and Denise Leaser, Terrance Leaser and Tre Michel

The Perlman Music Program

EXHIBITIONS ON VIEW

DECEMBER 10, 2015 - JANUARY 16, 2016 PRESENTS THE 12TH ANNUAL

PMP Sarasota Winter Residency December 20-31, 2015 • USF Sarasota-Manatee Schedule & Tickets at PMPSuncoast.org or 941-955-4942

Celebration Concert Saturday, January 2, 2016 at 5 pm Sarasota Opera House

PMP String Orchestra - Itzhak Perlman, Conductor PMP Chorus - Patrick Romano, Chorus Master HUGH DAVIES

Tickets: $40, $60, $80 PMPSuncoast.org or 941-328-1300

DECADE: SELECTED PAINTINGS BY HUGH DAVIES

Solo exhibition by acclaimed painter and Ringing College faculty member, showcasing 10 paintings—one from each year of the last decade

CHALK IT UP COMMUNITY CREATED INSTALLATION Express your creative self and inner child by drawing all over the walls.

The gallery is your canvas, choose your chalk and leave your mark

ART CENTER SARASOTA INSTRUCTORS SHOW

Original works in all media by Art Center Sarasota’s exceptional instructors

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

|

SOCIAL CALENDAR Fill your calendars with these upcoming events.

THURSDAY, DEC. 31

NEW YEAR’S SPECTACULAR Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe 10:30 p.m. at WBTT Theatre Tickets $85/party only ($127 includes final performance of “A Motown Christmas” at 8 p.m.)

Call 366-1505.

NYE @ SELBY: A NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 8 p.m. at the Great Room, Selby Gardens Tickets $250. Call 366-5731.

SATURDAY, JAN. 2

‘EVENT UNDER THE TENT’ The Perlman Music Program/ Suncoast 5 p.m. — 12th annual Celebration Concert at the Sarasota Opera House followed by cocktails and dinner in the performance tent on the campus of USF SarasotaManatee (7 p.m.)

Chairs: Edie Chaifetz and Nadia Ritter Tickets $625. Call 350-2338.

TUESDAY, JAN. 12

DINING FOR A DIFFERENCE Designing Daughters of Sarasota At various restaurants Chairs: Elli Baldwin and Sarah Murphy Contact: Dining4Difference@ gmail.com

FRIDAY, JAN. 15

FOURTH ANNUAL WOMEN IN MEDICINE LUNCHEON Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation 11:30 a.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota Chairs: Charlie Ann Syprett and Deb Kabinoff Tickets $100. Call 917-1286.

FIFTH ANNUAL GOURMET BEER AND WINE DINNER Junior League of Sarasota 6:30 p.m. at Mattison’s 41 Tickets $80. Call 953-5600.

Courtesy

NYE @ Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

An Evening with

Ehud Barak february 8, 2016

EWCOMERS

R

ECEPTION

Thursday, January 7 • 5:00-7:00 pm MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS Great Room By The Bay 811 S. Palm Avenue • Sarasota, FL 34236

New to the area? New to Federation?

You are invited to a Newcomers Reception • Connect with other members of the Jewish community • This event is FREE, but reservations are required

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS! The Ringling will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

Embracing Our Differences Annual Luncheon Tuesday, Dec. 15, at Michael’s On East Benefiting Embracing Our Differences

Above: Featured speaker Rebekah Leopold with Victoria Leopold and David Bauer Left: Commissioner Carolyn Mason and Dr. Rachel Shelley

Above: Scott Anderson, Sarah Wertheimer, Ariene Green and Gila Meriwether Left: Jeremy Lisitza, Ilene Fox and Howard Tevlowitz

Photos by Heather Merriman Saba

Gerry Levinson with Helen and Len Glaser

SUPPORTING THE ARTS HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER! A CONSIGNMENT STORE LIKE NO OTHER! 12,000-square-feet filled to the brim with hidden yet affordable treasures like Baccarat crystal, Tiffany silver, Gucci, Prada, Chicos, 14k-22k gold jewelry, high-end furniture, handmade Persian rugs and regular household items.

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Gift Card Sale Extended.

Escape the holiday rush and find the perfect gift all in one place. Take time out for a little dining pleasure at the area’s favorite waterfront restaurants and pick up gift cards for Waterfront Dining for everyone on your list! Purchase $50 or more and receive a free bonus card.

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YourObserver.com

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5

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

BLACK TIE

Sarsaota Opera hosted its Co-Producers Dinner Tuesday, Dec. 15.

Richard Russell with Rosanne and Louis Martorella

Co-Producers Dinner Arnold and Ronda Simonson with Maestro Victor DeRenzi

Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the Sarasota Opera Benefiting the Sarasota Opera

Photos by Heather Merriman Saba

Above: Edie Chaifetz with Bob and Anne Essner Right: David and Jacqueline Morton

Bev Fisher and Susan Brennan

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

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Photos by Cliff Roles

Jean Weidner-Goldstein, Iain Webb and Hillary Steele

Friends of the Sarasota Ballet Holiday Luncheon

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

Friday, Dec. 18, at The Francis | Benefiting the YMCA Foundation of Sarasota

BLACK

Y-Achievers Scholarship Partners Holiday Luncheon

TIE

Aryana Lloyd and Anitra Clark

Luisa Maza, Claudio Ramos and Debbie Ramos

Photos by Heather Merriman Saba

Above: Flori Roberts and Indigo Alexis Right: Sam Brown, Paul Bowman and Ron Morris

Ssenc Randall and Fernanda Camarillo

THIS YEAR, GIVE THEM MORE. Not more stuff. More joy. More inspiration. This holiday season, give your friends and family tickets for an extraordinary journey across cultural landscapes that will leave them amazed, inspired, and filled with hope.

Shen Yun brings profound and timeless stories to life on stage through classical Chinese dance, ground-breaking technology, and an uplifting musical fusion of East and West. This is a stunning and emotional experience they won’t find anywhere else. And the best part? You’ll be right next to them, sharing the adventure.

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BLACK TIE

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YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015

THE DETAILS

JUST MARRIED

8

LAUREN AND JOHN J

ohn Vincent Wohlwend and Lauren Elizabeth Graham have slightly different versions of the their first meeting.

He says they met in downtown Sarsaota at her 30th birthday party, when he went for a bold — and unsuccessful — approach.

“The first words out of my mouth were, ‘Hi, my name is John, and we’re going to end up dating each other,’” he says.

“Lauren declined and immediately got into a taxi and headed home.”

She says it wasn’t until a few months later, at a mutual friend’s birthday dinner, that they sat next to each other and began talking.

Either way, after that night,

John’s bold prediction became reality. The two began dating, and John says he knew right away she was the one. In January, he arranged dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Beach Club, where he proposed on the beach at sunset.

The couple was married Nov. 21, at the Church of the Palms, Lauren’s childhood church, and they held their reception at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.

Lauren says they wanted an elegant, romantic ambience to the wedding, which featured lots of white and neutral colors in the flowers, bridesmaids dresses and linens. After the ceremony, the couple had a sparkler exit before departing in a 1965 white Rolls Royce, complete with a driver and bottle of Champagne.

– BLACK TIE STAFF

Honeymoon: Napa Valley and San Francisco First dance song: “Someone Like You”

by Van Morrison Photography: Binary Flips Floral design: Tiger Lily Flowers: Patience, white, mondial and sahara roses, hydrangeas, white peonies, stephanotis and white trillium Wedding Coordinator: Choreographed Events, Maria Brady Cake: Heavenly chocolate and vanilla butter cake with vanilla cream cheese frosting by The RitzCarlton Sarasota Dress: Vera Wang Favors: Mini cinnamon-sugar doughnuts Something new, borrowed, blue: “The diamond earrings, which served as both my something new and something blue, were given to me by John as a surprise gift on the day of our wedding,” says Lauren. “John’s mother brought them over, and as soon as I saw them, I knew I wanted to wear them instead of the diamond earrings I had planned on wearing that day.

I gave John silver Tiffany monogrammed cufflinks, which he also wore on our wedding day. For the borrowed and old, I wore my mother’s diamond tennis bracelet, which my dad gave her for their 20th wedding anniversary.”

Lauren’s parents: Braun and Jeanne Graham John’s parents: Dave and Lisa Richardson; Steve and Liz Wohlwend

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Where Sarasota Gets Engaged™