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ON THE FLIP SIDE: A+E BACK ON STAGE: Ballet opens with a retrospective of unique work. LOVE LUNCH: Visible Men shares the love with scholarships. 5

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Photo courtesy of Cliff Roles

The Fearless Force — composed of Alison O’Donoghue , Tomeika Hunter-Koski, Lesley France, co-chairwoman Ariane Dart, Amanda Morris, Katie Hollingsworth, and co-chairwomen Jamie Becker and Jennie Lascelle — were the fiercest fundraisers of them all, raising $28,039 for SPARCC.

Raise The Roof Party Saturday, Oct. 12 at Michael’s On East | Benefiting Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center HARRY SAYER BLACK TIE REPORTER

S SPARCC President and CEO Jessica Hays and Director of Development Mary Ellen Mancini

Photos by Harry Sayer

Above: Kurt Lucas, Renee Phinney and Glen Reith

Right: Valerie Moulds and Sherri Baker

arasota was transformed into a veritable treasure map as 160 players raced across the city during SPARCC’s Amazing Raise scavenger hunt Oct. 12. Participants worked out clues and drove to hotspots across Sarasota to win points to put themselves on the board. Teams competed in challenges including a Christmas ornament toss, NERF target practice, dunk tanks, relay races and bikeriding contests. The players returned to Michael’s On East for the SEE PAGE 2

Brian and Stephanie Hanson

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

Photos by Harry Sayer

The #CiaoBellas — Tammy Karp, Umbreen Khalidi-Majeed, Donna Koffman, Melissa Morsli, Ashley Kozel, Lauren Bermudez, Shari Phillips and Elisabeth Waters — won this year’s Amazing Raise scavenger hunt with the help of their driver, Rolland Jet Ford (left)

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raucous Raise the Roof after-party when the race finished. When the points had been tallied, The #CiaoBellas and the Fearless Force were celebrated as the scavenger hunt winners and the top fundraisers, respectively. SPARCC raised more than $104,000 by the end of the night.

Above: Hank and Charlotte Hinman Right: Melissa Perrin, Megan Heller and Heather Suescun, with the “Atomic Blondes.”

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

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HARRY SAYER which is why #CiaoBellas team members agreed to the challenges and started as quickly as possible every time. “Whoever was first in the door said yes to what the challenge was, without even knowing what we were getting into,” Khalidi-Majeed says. “That saves time because there wasn’t any discussion. And then the next three people in the door would just do it.” 2. WATCHING THEIR SURROUNDINGS No team plays in a vacuum, and it’s good to use every advantage you have. The #CiaoBellas were second in line at an exercise challenge at Mantra Fitness and used that to watch how the team used the equipment. That way when it was their time to start, they knew exactly what to do.

Harry Sayer

The #CiaoBellas finish a challenge at Sprouts Farmers Market.

Race hard, party hard SPARCC’s 2019 Amazing Raise scavenger hunt and Raise the Roof after-party has come and gone, and I, for one, did not realize how much fun it would be. Our OMG team might not have won — though we did send a person tumbling into the dunk tank with only three throws — but it was still a blast to race across Sarasota and compete in different challenges. The real winners of the day were the

Fearless Force — who raised $28,039 for SPARCC — and the #CiaoBellas, who walked away with their second scavenger hunt victory in a row. #CiaoBellas team member and navigator Umbreen Khalidi-Majeed gave some thoughts on why her group won the gold. 1. A CAN-DO ATTITUDE The Amazing Raise scavenger hunt is a numbers game, so finishing each challenge as quickly as you can is crucial,

3. NO FEAR Some of the challenges were a little nerve wracking — you try texting while riding a tiny bike without having any noticeable brakes — but it’s good to have a hold on your nerves. Melissa Morsli, for example, jumped at the chance to skip past her gluten allergy and eat some flourfree chocolate cake while blindfolded. “She just went to town; she had no strategy, but she nailed it,” Khalidi-Majeed says. “We were in and out the door in a minute.” Khalidi-Majeed also said Morsli was the team’s MVP, and honestly, can you blame her? 4. TRUST YOUR DRIVER The secret weapon for every team is the driver, and it’s important to give them the respect they deserve. (Looking at you, George.) Khalidi-Majeed said Rolland Jet Ford, the #CiaoBellas’ driver for the second year, understood the spirit of competition and kept the wheels moving.

Gifts of love The Visible Men Academy’s third annual Love Lunch was, much like the Wu-Tang Clan, for the children. This year’s event, supporting the school’s education programs, highlighted the school’s young students by having five VMA Sun second grade students perform spoken-word poetry for the crowd. Two paintings — created by artists Cliff McDonald and Lipstick Lex — were up for auction during the show, but guests could purchase a number of donated jewelry pieces as well. A big draw was heart-shaped bowls called mini masterpieces, which sold quickly.

Harry Sayer

Stacey McKee shows off one of the popular heart-shaped bowls called mini masterpieces.

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Love Lunch Thursday, Oct. 10, at Michael’s On East | Benefiting Visible Men Academy scholarships

Photos by Harry Sayer

Visible Men Academy founders Louis Parker, Cindy Cavallaro Day, Shannon Rohrer-Phillips and Neil Phillips

Top: Co-chairs Diana and Brian Roberts Above: VMA parents Lena Clark and Frank Clark Sr.

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Reinvention Luncheon Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Michaelâ€™s On East Benefiting Choral Artists of Sarasota

Photos by Harry Sayer

Guest speaker Todd Craven and Artistic Director Joseph Holt

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EINSTEIN’S CIRCLE

Photos by Harry Sayer

Event hosts Mike Marracini, Joe Feldman and Jeremy Hammond

Autumn Harvest Dinner

Oct. 30 WEDNESDAY 2:30-4 pm

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Friday, Sept. 27, at Benderson Family Campus | Benefiting All Faiths Food Bank

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

Sarasota Orchestra Dinner Series Friday, Sept. 27, at Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

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FA M I L IAR FACES: BRIAN LIPTON

Home is where the heart is After years of traveling, Lipton is proud to call Sarasota his home. HARRY SAYER BLACK TIE REPORTER

he idea of “home” has been an interesting thing for Brian Lipton to define for most of his life. The regional director of the American Jewish Committee West Coast Florida has lived in many places, to be sure. He was born in Hartford, Conn., and raised in Long Island, N.Y., before attending law school in St. Louis and studying in London and Israel. His 20-year stint in the retail industry had him living in five states in 10 years, not to mention his time living abroad, including in Hong Kong. The point is, he has been around and seen some things. To him, home is a place of acceptance, where people embrace who you are. It’s important to him, as a gay, Jewish man. The one thing he didn’t see coming, as someone who loves trees and mountains, was finding that home in the Sunshine State. “I never thought I’d live in Florida,” Lipton says. “It was never a dream of mine. I moved here for a job that lasted about a year.”

He quickly met his soon-tobe life partner, Joseph Gianguzzo, and Sarasota became their place. Now at 14 years with global human rights organization AJC, Lipton is happier with his home than ever before. He does good work, the kind that helps people here and in countries all over the globe. AJC deals in promoting human relations, fighting antiSemitism, supporting Israel and promoting democratic values across the world — and to ensure America doesn’t retreat from the world. Lipton says he is just grateful that he has found an organization and place that shares his emphasis on empathy and acceptance. “[How to get along with one another] is the greatest question of our time,” he says. “We need to be open to the differences of other people. We don’t want to just be tolerant of other people. … We want to embrace other people’s differences. We’re stronger to have other points of view.” There was always a natural pull for Lipton to join the Jewish nonprofit community. His mother joined a Jewish non-

Courtesy photo

Brian Lipton has been part of AJC West Coast Florida for 14 years.

profit in Alabama after her retirement, and Lipton remembers seeing this process of giving back while he was in college, something that he says left a mark on him. After a year in Sarasota, Lipton was approached by AJC members in 2006 with an offer to be the organization’s development director. He hadn’t grown up with AJC and wasn’t familiar with the group, but

Gianguzzo had admired the group’s mission and encouraged Lipton to join. “In Judaism, giving back is very important,” he says. “The Jewish beliefs were important to me — helping other people and helping the world.” Although many Sarasota organizations have a local focus, AJC West Coast Florida deals in local advocacy but operates on a global scale.

He was only in the position a year before being promoted to regional director. The office was struggling at the time and was one of the lowest-producing locations in the country. Today, the office is ranked in the top fifth, something Lipton credits to his team. He also now works as the AJC staff liaison for the AJC Adenauer Leadership Exchange Program in Berlin. One program he is particularly proud of is the Third Generation Initiative, for which he connects grandchildren of Holocaust survivors with German citizens the same age whose grandparents had been in the war. It’s a 12-day period of bridge building and understanding. Lipton believes the world could use some more of that, especially now. Hate crimes have been on the rise for the past few years, with many targeted toward people of Jewish faith. But the good work still needs doing, and Lipton still has hope for the future. “I tend to be a hopeful, glassis-half-full type of person — I always have been,” Lipton says. “I think people are inherently good. I do see hope for the future. I look at our young people, and I see many young people being much more accepting of diversity — different than when I was growing up — and I think that’s something to be hopeful about.”

Help them prevent the cycle of child abuse Marking 40 years of services provided by the Child Protection Center, Chairwoman Alisa Pettingell created the 40th Anniversary Captains Initiative. Serving as ambassadors of CPC within the community, 40 captains are charged with the goal of raising $10,000 each for a collective total of $400,000. The funds will go directly toward furthering CPC’s mission of prevention, intervention and treatment of child abuse. Dr. Thomas and Linda Doan are proud to serve as part of this initiative.

“Being the parents of three daughters, we know the value of creating a safe environment for the future generations to come. When we can take the first steps in creating a ripple, we can make waves in helping the children in our community. Let’s break the cycle of abuse together.” - Dr. Thomas and Linda Doan, Exceptional Dentistry of Sarasota THE GOAL: Raise $400,000 by November 2019

$100 buys 7 Sootheze therapy toys $250 pays for 1 personal safety education workshop in Sarasota County schools $500 allows 3 intakes for supervised visitation $1,000 funds 8 hours of therapy for a child and their family $2,500 provides 5 forensic medical assessments FOR MORE INFO 941-365-1277

DONATE TODAY!

By check: Payable to Child Protection Center, 720 S. Orange Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236 By credit card: 941-365-1277 Online: cpcsarasota.org/40-anniversary/40th-anniversary-1

Child Protection Center, Inc. (CPC) is a non-profit organization under Federal Tax Code 501(C)(3). Contributions made in support of CPC are tax deductible less goods and services received. The Federal Tax ID number is 59-2113850. CPC is registered with the State of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs (registration number CH159) and receives 100 percent of all contributions. CPC does not contract with professional solicitors. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Florida Division of Consumer Services by calling toll free (800) 435-7352 within the State. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the State. 308256-1

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< AMAZING RAISE: Teams hit the town for SPARCC. ASOLO: A modern-day ‘Romeo and Juliet’. 10>

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

YOUROBSERVER.COM

SEE THIS

Cringe Blog

A chilling disease allegory and dissection of the horror genre itself are this week’s picks. YOUROBSERVER.COM

WATCH THIS

To celebrate its resident choreographer’s 10-year anniversary, the Sarasota Ballet opens its season with a retrospective of his work.

DREAMS ON STAGE Whitney Elfstrom

Ricardo Graziano, who became a principal dancer in 2011, leads members from the company through a move from “En las Calles de Murcia.”

WHITNEY ELFSTROM STAFF WRITER

Songs with Soul

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe pairs up with Key Chorale for a night of inspirational music. PAGE 6

HEAR THIS

of his older sister, Valéria. And after

intently studying each move, he would

He grew up in Mogi das Cruzes,

when he was 8 years old, his mother

Brazil, watching the dance recitals

ushered him into classes.

ike many young dancers,

rush home to perform the routines

Ricardo Graziano’s first stage

himself. When his sister’s school

was his living room floor.

began accepting male dance students

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Oldies but Goodies

The Artist Series Concerts goes cabaret in its first performance of the season. PAGE 8

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

YourObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

Photos by Whitney Elfstrom

Graziano goes over a step from “En las Calles de Murcia” with members from the company.

Ricardo Graziano watches intently as the dancers run through rehearsal. The Sarasota Ballet will honor the dancer and choreographer’s 10-year anniversary with the company by presenting a retrospective of three of his works.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“My mom was like: ‘OK, now you should give this a try. I don’t want you dancing in the living room anymore,’” Graziano, 32, says. “And I fell in love with it, of course.” To celebrate Graziano’s 10-year anniversary with the Sarasota Ballet, the company is opening its season with a program devoted to three works that Graziano has created over the years for it. The show, titled “Graziano, Retrospective,” will feature his first choreographed ballet, “Shostakovich Suite,” as well as “En las Calles de Murcia” and “State of Weightlessness.” Chosen by Sarasota Ballet Director Iain Webb, the works

represent three distinctive styles. “Suite” focuses on classical ballet, while “de Murcia” has a folk feel in its music and contemporary movement, and “Weightlessness” encompasses 10 modern pas de deux. When choosing which ballets to feature from Graziano’s repertoire of the 10 he has created for the company, Webb said he looked for three ballets that would flow together from a choreographic and musical standpoint. “In many ways, programming is like preparing a three-course meal,” Webb says. “One needs an appetizer to introduce the performance to the audience, a [main course] middle piece and then a dessert to send the audience off with. For this, choosing ‘Shosta-

kovich’ was an obvious [beginning], especially as it was the first ballet Ricardo choreographed. To end the evening with ‘Weightlessness,’ is the perfect close to the program, like a fine wine to end your experience with.” PERFORMER TO CREATOR

Graziano came to Sarasota after stops in Europe and the Tulsa Ballet, his first job in the states. He joined the Sarasota Ballet in 2010 and was promoted to principal dancer the following year. But soon after Graziano’s arrival, Webb saw his potential as more than just a dancer. After Graziano’s first year with the Sarasota Ballet, Webb asked if he would consider creating a pas de deux for “Theatre of Dreams”

(then known as “Spring Surprise,”) a ballet that showcases the choreography of company dancers. Graziano answered with a resounding no, believing that he wasn’t ready. But after some consideration, he changed his mind. “I didn’t sleep at all that night because I went home and [asked myself]: ‘What did I just say yes to? Ricardo, are you crazy? This is a professional company, and you’ve never created anything professionally. What do you think you’re doing?’” Graziano says. “And then I ended up coming up with three ideas for three different ballets.” Webb selected two of the pieces Graziano presented. Webb said Graziano’s modern piece was the right fit for the “Theatre of

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This year's Safari Sarasota events will bring celebrity guests from South Africa including author and co-owner of Londolozi Game Reserve, Dave Varty; international author and wildlife activist, Boyd Varty; CEO and Co-Founder of the Good Work Foundation, Kate Groch; Leanna's original safari guide from Londolozi Reserve, James Tyrrell; and returning to lead the culinary team is Londolozi Game Reserve Executive Chef, Anna Ridgewell. For ticketing and more information, visit www.SafariSarasota.com

Since 2013, the All Heart Fund, in partnership with Good Work Foundation, has helped build five new schools that currently provide digital literacy access to over 7,000 South Africa school children and young adults each week! The All Heart Fund has been able to accomplish this through bi-annual Safari Sarasota events. Funds raised by previous Safari Sarasota events have also sponsored three Sarasota County teachers to travel to South Africa and work

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

YourObserver.com

Courtesy photo by Frank Atura

The company performs a number from Graziano’s “En las Calles de Murcia.”

GRAZIANO, RETROSPECTIVE When: Oct. 25-27 Where: FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail Tickets: From $35 Info: Call 359-0099.

Dreams” production, which would close out the following season. But Webb said he wanted to take a deeper look at Graziano’s classical idea and potentially use it to fill the opening spot in the upcoming season. Graziano says

Webb told him to work with a few of his friends to create the opening scene, so they could get a feel for what the ballet would look like. The ballet became “Shostakovich Suite,” which opened the 2011-12 season and opened Graziano’s eyes to his possibility as a choreographer. From there he went on to choreograph the ballets “Symphony of Sorrows” in 2012, “Pomp and Circumstance” in 2013, “Valsinhas” in 2013, “Before Night Falls” in 2014, “En las Calles de Murcia” in 2015, “In a State of Weightlessness” in 2015, “Sonata in Four Movements” in 2016 and “Amorosa” in 2016.

BACK ON STAGE

Although each of the ballets in this program has been performed previously, Graziano, named resident choreographer in 2014, is taking this opportunity to fine tune them with the benefit of fresh eyes. To get back into the mindset of each ballet, Graziano watched videos of past performances. As he studied the movements, he took note of the little parts he wanted to change or fix. Audience members might not recognize any changes, but there are little tweaks in certain steps to make sure each ballet complements the dancers. “I’m always so open to changing and making what’s best for

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maintain the foundation of the choreography but also to change it to make it more exciting and alive. “I get the sense that’s what he’s trying to do with all of the pieces,” Pratt says. “It’s still the [same] steps and choreography, but then [he’s trying to] see how we can make it even more impactful.” The trust that comes with having worked with Graziano as a fellow dancer and choreographer allows for a better conversation throughout rehearsal, the dancers say. “He knows us as people,” Pratt says. “The fact that he’s sweating with us every day means he really knows our strengths and weaknesses, and he knows us quite personally. When it comes to choreographing us, he has a very good idea about where we would fit in a piece, and he is good at drawing out our strengths.” “[Graziano] is really good at giving individual attention and treating everyone in the rehearsal space with the same amount of attention,” Wood adds. “It makes it a nice process, which then colors the way you remember a ballet.” Graziano says his years as a principal dancer and choreographer have helped him find his strengths and his voice. “I’m still learning … from things I did back then, and I’m questioning why I did that [step] or realizing that [move] was actually really smart,” Graziano says. “I often tell myself to not be afraid of doing something silly or stupid because it might work. And then if it doesn’t, then you just change it.”

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them,” Graziano says. “I want to make sure that they look their best because I’m not [the one] going on stage.” So how does a ballet go from an idea to performance? Before Graziano steps into the studio to work with the dancers, he has the majority of the ballet formatted in his head. For most of his pieces, finding the right music choice is followed by the choreography forming in his head — though with “Weightlessness,” he said the process was just the opposite. He had decided on the name of the ballet, the storyline, the movement, the costumes and even the lighting direction before he found the music, which is something he said makes the process difficult as it sends him on a hunt for the music playing inside his head that he’s not sure exists. Once he has the pieces, he then looks to edit. It all comes back to how the choreography works with the dancers’ bodies. In rehearsals, Graziano pays close attention to how each move flows with the dancers. In the learning stage, he and the dancers will brainstorm how a move can work better for each couple or how to make a step safer, such as changing the footing in the landing of a jump. Amy Wood and Daniel Pratt, “de Murcia” dance partners, recognize the importance of being open about how the different steps work for them as dancers. “[Graziano] might go: ‘You know what, this didn’t work so well last time. I’m going to do something different here,’” Pratt says. While reworking a lift from “de Murcia,” Pratt says Graziano was collaborating with the dancers to

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

TOWLES COURT ART WALK 5 p.m. at Towles Court, 1938 Adams Lane Free Call 266-7318. Every third Friday, enjoy a stroll through the Towles Court Artist Colony for food, various types of art, live music by Latin Rendezvous and food at Bodhi Tree Cafe. ‘AMERICAN ROOTS: THE GOSPEL EXPERIENCE’ 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. $30-$40; preferred seating $75 Call 366-1505. Key Chorale and Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe unite for a show dedicated to a genre the chorale’s audience doesn’t hear often: African American gospel music. This third installment in the “American Roots” concert series is a chamber music adaptation of the WBTT show “How I Got Over,” which focuses on the rich history of spiritual music. A second performance will be 4 p.m. Saturday at St. Boniface Episcopal Church, 5615 Midnight Pass Road.

THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

UNDERSTANDING OPERA: THINGS CHANGE 5 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $25 Call 328-1300. From an opera’s world premiere to its final form, the work often goes through quite a bit of alterations. Sarasota Opera Executive Director Richard Russell and Director of Artistic Administration Greg Trupiano discuss how subsequent productions evolve after the first performance. Program will continue Oct. 24, Oct. 31 and Nov. 7 CARMEN CIRICILLO 7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd. $20 Call 925-3869. Nobody knows how to laugh at themselves better than a parent. Carmen Ciricillo’s 25 years of marriage and raising a family gave him material most men wouldn’t dare joke about in public — yet this comic has made a whole career out of it. Get your weekend started, and laugh off all your domestic issues at this hysterical show. Runs through Sunday.

‘SALUTE TO ARTHUR FIEDLER’ 7:30 p.m. at Holley Hall, Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 N. Tamiami Trail From $40 Call 953-3434.

SUNDAY ART EXHIBIT OPENING RECEPTION 11:30 a.m. at Lexow Wing Gallery, Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road Free Call 371-4974.

Sarasota Orchestra’s “Great Escapes” series continues with guest conductor Steven Jarvi. The program will include classics from Nicolai, Anderson and Beethoven, as well as hits from “The Godfather,” “Mary Poppins” and “The Music Man.” Runs through Oct. 19.

Lexow Wing Gallery opens “Goddesses Ancient and Modern” by Peg Green and “Pine Needle Baskets” by Kathryn Erickson. Green’s series is based on ancient Mother Goddess and Venus figurines. Erickson brings historical pine needle basket weaving to the modern age. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and after Sunday church services. Exhibits run through Nov. 7.

THE PLAYERS BACKSTAGE: ‘THE UNDERPANTS’ 8 p.m. at The Players Centre for Performing Arts, 838 N. Tamiami Trail $21.50; students $14 Call 365-2494. “Underpants”: The word alone can send children into giggling fits. Polite, bourgeoisie civilization depends on unmentionables, after all. Actually exposing your knickers could shame you for life. So what’s the big deal? Steve Martin took a stab at answering that question in this edgy, backstage production that will leave you rolling in the aisles. (Be sure to bring a fresh change of underwear, just in case.) Runs through Sunday.

FRIDAY JAZZ AT TWO: EDDIE TOBIN AND FRIENDS 2 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road $10-$20 Call 366-1552.

TRIO VOILA IN CONCERT 5 p.m. at Pine Shores Presbyterian Church, 6116 Crestwood Ave. Free Call 922-1597.

Jazz Club of Sarasota presents local favorite Eddie Tobin for the next installment of its weekly afternoon concert series. Tobin was the pianist, music director and conductor for English pop singer Engelbert Humperdinck for eight years, and now he performs regularly at several local restaurants.

This is an ensemble like you have never seen before. Flutist Jane Hoffman, of the Sarasota Orchestra; guitarist Thomas Koch, of Guitar Sarasota; and violist Laura Jensen-Jennings, of the Sarasota Orchestra, offer a unique experi-

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DON’T MISS SARASOTA OKTOBERFEST Grab a big pint of beer and “prost” to Paragon Festivals’ Sarasota Oktoberfest. Chow down on smoked sausages, sauerkraut, pretzels and several other Deutschland delicacies. Not into German food? Give German music and dance a try with performances by Triggerfish, along with Alpine Doc on Saturday and Ocean’s Eleven Big Band on Sunday. Runs through Sunday. IF YOU GO When: 4 p.m. Friday Where: JD Hamel Park, 33 S. Gulf Stream Tickets: Free Info: Call 487-8061.

ence of music dating back to the 18th century as well as from contemporary composers. DRAG QUEEN BINGO BONANZA 8 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd. $20 Call 925-3869.

LDG Productions presents Sarasota’s beloved queen, Beneva Fruitville, in the naughtiest game of bingo in town. Enjoy performances by special quests and plenty of surprises. You’re in for a wild night.

HALLOWEEN PICKS FST IMPROV PRESENTS: ‘WE’RE DOOMED’ 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave. $12-$15 Call 366-9000.

TUESDAY CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS 7 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail Free Call 365-5118. Arts and Cultural Alliance’s annual event recognizes members of the local arts and culture community with Arts Leadership Awards. Performances will include Westcoast Gospel Choir, Florida Studio Theatre Suffragist Project and the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School. SOG PROLOGUE: ‘RIGOLETTO’ 7:15 p.m. at Church of the Redeemer, 222 S. Palm Ave. $20 Call 966-6351. Sarasota Opera Guild presents a background insight series to its coming performances. Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” which runs Nov. 1-17, is a tale of a protective father, a lecherous Duke and a woman who discovers that love isn’t always true. ‘PECULIAR DREAMS’ 8 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1031 S. Euclid Ave. $20; students $10 Email ensemblenewsrq@gmail. com. The evening begins with Luciano Berio’s Sequenza XIV for cello be-

fore launching EnsembleNEWSRQ into orbit with Andrew Norman’s “Peculiar Strokes” and Elizabeth A. Baker’s “Cosmic Dreams.” The program will then bring you safely back to Earth by finishing with Krzysztof Penderecki’s Sextet. A reception will follow.

WEDNESDAY ‘THE FANTASTICKS’ 7:30 p.m. at The Players Centre for Performing Art, 838 N. Tamiami Trail $29; premium $34; student $14 Call 365-2494.

Horror, satire and improv — what more do you need? The audience provides a title, and the FST cast will improvise a horror movie, and they’ll be making fun of all the classic tropes along the way. A second “We’re Doomed” event will be Oct. 25. ‘THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW’ 9 p.m. Friday, at Sarasota Sky, 1927 Ringling Blvd. Advance $15; Door $20; VIP $40 Email srqsky@gmail.com. It’s just a jump to the left … The cult-classic movie experience is back and better than ever. By the end, you’ll be chanting for “more, more, more!”

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

Costumes are encouraged, and props will be provided. VIP tickets include seating in the splash zone, a bottle of champagne and a specialty prop basket. Come prepared in Transylvanian mode for an evening of amazing drinks, late-night treats and an atmosphere like no other. ‘THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW’ 11 a.m. Saturday, at Sarasota Polo Grounds, 8201 Polo Trail $20; child $10; family four pack $40 Call 365-2494. Prepare to be spooked at this Players Centre for Performing Arts special performance. This outdoor family-friendly show centers on Ichabod Crane, a somewhat goofy schoolmaster who just moved to town and is on the prowl for a well-off wife. He’s out of luck, however, because not only is the woman he wants taken, but also the local graveyard is haunted by — what else? — a headless horseman. More performances will be at 2, 4 and 6 p.m.

In 1894, a French dramatist wrote a play about two fathers who fake a feud to trick their kids into falling in love. In 1960, a composer and a lyricist retooled it as this hit Broadway musical. Boasting weepers “Try to Remember” and “Soon it’s Going to Rain,” this heartstring-plucking perennial soaked untold handkerchiefs in the years that followed. And it still does. This reverse “Romeo and Juliet” is sure to be fantastic. Runs through Nov. 10.

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MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR

estcoast Black Theatre Troupe and Key Chorale are joining forces to sing the praises of black history and heritage. “American Roots: The Gospel Experience” will celebrate the legacy of African American worship music at three area churches this month. What’s the heart of that legacy?

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Nygel D. Robinson and Emily Dennis. Photo by Matthew Holler.

Songs of Inspiration Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and Key Chorale celebrate the living legacy of African American worship music at three area concerts.

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“American Roots” is the first time Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and Key Chorale have collaborated.

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‘AMERICAN ROOTS: THE GOSPEL EXPERIENCE’ When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 Where: First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. When: 4 p.m. Oct. 19 Where: St. Boniface Episcopal Church, 5615 Midnight Pass Road When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 Where: Venice Presbyterian Church, 825 The Rialto, Venice Tickets: $40; preferred seating $75

“Inspiration,” WBTT Artistic Director Nate Jacobs says. Joseph Caulkins, Key Chorale’s artistic director, says “amen.” It’s an overused word. People eat “inspiring” ice cream cones and go on “inspiring” vacations. But Jacobs doesn’t use the term loosely. “Inspiration literally means being filled with the spirit,” Jacobs says. “Without the spirit, it isn’t really gospel music. A true gospel singer never goes through the motions. You have to come from a place of conviction and truth to deliver it right.” Jacobs notes that was true for the hymns and spirituals of the original African diaspora. And it’s still true for the black gospel music of today. “This music has an amazing power,” Caulkins says. “It immediately transports you to a better place and fills you with joy.” The concert’s joyful music includes “Ezekiel Saw the Wheel,” “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” “He’s Got the Whole Word In His Hands” and “Amazing Grace.” The accompanying narrative frames these songs in the context of African American history. Without knowing that painful history, you would never think gospel music was born in the fields of slavery. These are songs of inspiration.

Not the songs of a broken people. Jacobs says that’s the paradox of black gospel music: It doesn’t sound like the music of slaves. “It’s triumphant, not beaten down,” he says. “Even the songs that deal with suffering always speak of getting through it, not surrendering.” Jacobs adds that the earliest spirituals and field songs worked on many levels. These songs preserved the past by incorporating traditional African rhythms forbidden by the white power structure. In the oppression of the present, they offered a way of getting through the day. But they also looked to a better day. They were songs of faith in a better world to come but also sang of liberation in this world, often in a kind of code. “There’s so much richness to this music,” Jacobs says. “You can delve into the history and heart of these songs and go as deep as you care to go.” “Black gospel music offers infinite variety,” Caulkins adds. “It’s a musical universe of kaleidoscopic colors. The possibilities of expression are endless.” Within that infinite variety, one constant remains: inspiration. Jacobs shares that, to the African American people who first created these songs, inspiration was a matter of survival. “Gospel music rejects the council of despair,” he says. “From the songs of the field slaves to black folk today, it’s always been a way for our people to get over the struggle.” These collaborative, highenergy concerts will bring that music to glorious life. The choir will combine 20 vocalists from WBTT and 32 from Key Chorale. WBTT’s featured singers include Tarra Conner Jones, Ariel Blue, Syreeta Banks, and Jacobs himself. Key Chorale’s featured vocalists are Amy Connours and Jamal Sarikoki. Needless to say, they’re all inspired.

CLASSICAL ROMANCE

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GERARD SCHWARZ Conductor Laureate Seattle Symphony

Gerard Schwarz leads Sarasota Orchestra and guest pianist Lise de la Salle in a concert of exhilarating classical masterpieces by Mozart, Dvořák and Strauss. Don’t miss this experience of the great masterpieces of classical music.

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Symphony No. 6

Piano Concerto No. 20

“The exhilaration didn’t let up for a second.” - Washington Post Lise de la Salle, piano

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Presented in partnership with the Jewish Book Council, the series features six programs on a variety of topics that are sure to delight, educate and intrigue!

December 5, 2019 • 7:00 pm • $10 Beatrice Friedman Theater 582 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota

Despite the extra room in the audience, the 1960s-themed cabaret amazed as the opener of The Artist Series Concerts’ 24th season.

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he Artist Series Concerts chose to open its 24th season with a “Pops Extra” featuring singer Jennifer Sheehan and her trio Oct. 5 at the Sarasota Opera House. Normally, the series would open with its usual more classical fare, but this one somehow just seemed to fit in with a bit of autumn spirit and the adjacent street fare. Sheehan is no stranger to Sarasota audiences, having appeared here several times under the auspices of the Artist Series Concerts. She certainly had her fans in the opera house audience, which seemed only a bit over half capacity, yet was most enthusiastic. Sheehan is a vocal graduate of the Juilliard School, but her classical training doesn’t get in her way the least bit in putting over her songs. She is devoted to the Great American Songbook

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A Surrealist in Hollywood

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JACK FAIRWEATHER / SARAH ROSE April 21, 2020 • 10:30 am • $10 Beatrice Friedman Theater 582 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota

Heroes of the Resistance

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of popular songs we used to call “standards,” which with few exceptions are a far cry from the music of the late 20th and early 21st century, which seems to be everywhere. This year’s theme — more cabaret than concert — was entitled “I Know a Place,” with her own subtitle of “Do You Remember the ’60s?” She sings with a lovely sound that is truly on pitch, and her performances, especially ballads, are lyric-driven in a style reminiscent of the late and great Barbara Cook. Those ballads were a bit few and far between in this rocking and rolling journey through the music of the 1960s, but when they were, everyone was listening intently. Sheehan has a confident and relaxed stage manner, no doubt gained from her appearances in top cabaret venues of New York City and elsewhere, and she can completely charm an audience. This trip down memory lane seemed to hit every musical station on her ’60s journey from the sophisticated sounds of Burt Bacharach, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Henry Mancini and Barbra Streisand through Motown favorites of The Shirelles, Fats Domino and on and on. Of course, there were tributes to Joni Mitchell, Spanky and Our Gang, The 5th Dimension and The Beatles. There was a lot

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January 29, 2020 • 10:30 am • $10

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