What a great time your kids, ages 15 - 18, will have learning theatre skills in France this summer with Encore! Ensemble Theatre Workshop. Students study (obviously) stage craft, make-up, dance, voice, directing , improvisation, lighting, movement and more. The educational value of working as part of an ensemble, IN FRANCE, is priceless. Click the picture at the right or the underlined letters above for more information. Enrollment is limited to 24, so don’t delay for this life changing experience. Phone 941-306-3383.

The Venice Little Theatre presents Over the Tavern by Tom Dudzick. The play is about growing up Catholic through the eyes of a twelve year old boy (I think it is some kind of divine test to see if I can write this without commenting on the subject of the play; I think I passed) Call 941-488-1115 or go to the website for tickets.

At the Backlot, Always A Part of Me written by Jeff Kin and starring Beau Williams, Cliff Roles, Bob Trisolini, Tom Apsoporos, Steve Ivestor and Jack Edelman. The “comedy with issues” was a finalist in The Plays the Thing and has had productions in other parts of the country; this is its Sarasota debut. Information about the play and tickets are available by clicking here.

anythingarts.com is bringing a very special workshop to Sarasota in the Fall and those interested should get on the list for further information now. Diana Weynand is the author of the Apple Pro Training Series text book for Final Cut Pro. Weynand’s book is used by instructors throughout the world who teach Final Cut editing. anythingarts.com is bringing Diana here so that you get training directly from the Weynand group. This is a rare opportunity to have the training right here in Sarasota. Email us to get on the list for future notifications as we finalize the details.

Peter Paul Gallery announces the opening of the “Larisch on Palm” . Kurt Larisch and daughter Linda will show paintings and sculptures until June 26, 2007. The gallery is located at 45 South Palm Avenue in Sarasota.

The Friday Fest on the Bay returns to the Van Wezel with Jose Valentino and his jazz band. The free, outdoor, concert is from 5:00 - 9:00 pm.

Believe it or not, a Magnum photographer is not someone who shoots pictures of Tom Selleck. In fact, Magnum photographers are world-renowned for their art and craft and have captured some of the most widely seen and appreciated photographs in history. The Ringling Museum is presenting a special exhibit called In Our Time: The World As Seen By Magnums Photographers. The exhibit includes over 150 great shots like the one at right by Leonard Freed of MLK, Jr. in Baltimore in 1963 after having just received the Nobel Peace Prize.  Check out other Magnum photos by clicking here.

The work of renowned artist, Eleanor Merritt is on exhibit at the Ringling College of Art's Selby Gallery. The special reception is open to the public from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. The exhibit runs through June 18. Call 941-955-5409 for more information.

The Rocky Horror Show is about to open at the Venice Little Theatre. Are you ready to do the time warp again? Buy tickets here.

The abstract work of Jaret West, Marcy Corridino and Pat Mumper is on display at the Francis T. Bourne Jacaranda Library in Venice. You are invited to an artist reception from 6:00 – 8:00 pm and you can call 941-861-1270 for information. The exhibit runs through June.

Camp Cigma is running three summer camp sessions this summer that are purely magical. Really, just say the magic words and your kids, ages 7 - 13, will disappear a few days this summer to learn magic, juggling, theatre arts, discipline and confidence. Adults can play too with a “big kids” magic summer camp. Directors are professional magicians Elia Chesnoff and Josh Corn.  Call 941-377-3971 for details.

The Players Theatre will host an encore run of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Sweeney Todd .  The Manatee Players production recently won “Best Production” at the Southeastern Theatre Conference in Atlanta and will compete for its second consecutive national community theatre title later in June. Sweeney Todd is a chilling, suspenseful, heart-pounding masterpiece of murderous “barber”-ism and culinary crime which tells the infamous tale of the unjustly exiled barber who returns to 19th century London seeking revenge against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. Call the box office at 941-365-2494 and click here to go to home page.

“Zikes, Bleeps and Other Conversations” an invitational exhibit, curated by Miki Boni, features the works of six classically trained artists who, together for the first time, create a body of light-hearted works with elements of mystery that  weaves its way throughout the exhibit in various & surprising ways. Artists and friends Miki Boni, Kathleen Carrillo, Claudia Deschu, Pat Kaufman, LuLu Meyer & Janet Mishner will show what happens when six friends tiptoe through the primal soup! This exhibit will be presented in the Kellogg & Searle Gallery of ArtCenter Manatee. Special opening June 1 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.

During the Village of the Arts Art Walk, Chef Raymond Arpke, owner of Euphemia Haye restaurant, will be signing copies of his book “You don’t have to be crazy, but it helps,” from 6:00 – 9:00 pm at Village Voices and Eclectic Art Emporium. The beautiful books include photographs by Herb Booth and Booth Studio. Karen Jaworski, romance novelist, will be on hand Saturday from 11:00 – 1:00 pm and Jeff Nelson signing copies of his sci-fi thriller “Baby’s Breath.”

June 1 & 2
[ who done it ]

Florida’s killer scribes are coming to Sarasota once again for the 3rd Annual Mystery Florida Writers’ Conference. The Conference will open with a Mystery Mingle, featuring bookselling and signings, and casual discussion on suspense, villains, and the jagged art of murder. Visiting authors include James O. Born, Don Bruns, Blaize Clement, Tom Corcoran, Tim Dorsey, David Hagberg, current Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Stuart Kaminsky, Jonathon King, Ward Larsen, James Macomber, Claire Matturro, Kristy Montee, Bob Morris, Barbara Parker, James Swain and Randy Wayne White.  Noted local mystery writers, Wayne Barcomb and Terry Griffin will also attend. (entire press release)

Linda Ballou and Phillip (Felipe) Picciotti are featured performers in the Sarasota Senior Theater’s The Best of Times. The entertaining production runs for just one weekend at the Historic Asolo Theater. Tickets and Information 941-360-7399.

[ your story here ]

Want news about your event to show up in the next issue of anythingarts.com? Great! We are getting a ton of submissions now and, frankly, some look more like 5,000 word essays. We get dozens every week and have to choose just a fraction. So, here’s what you can do to help us and help your chances of getting in. Write something that resembles the size, layout and information contained in the stories in this issue. Include a good quality jpeg photo attachment (that you have the rights to use) and supply us with links to your event website. We can’t get every submission in or this thing would be too big and you’d all stop reading before you got through it. But we will try to present as much as possible and continue to publish a diverse sampling of local events. Heck, make it really easy for us and we may just copy and paste your submission right in to the issue! Thanks for reading and please, please, please forward this issue to everyone you know and help us spread the word. (email your story here)

Sarasota Film Commissioner Jeanne Corcoran announces that the Film Commission and the EDC are having a photography contest for pros and amateurs alike. The idea is to document all of the great locations in the County for movies, tv shows and such. Full details by clicking here. anythingarts.com will feature the winners in a future issue.

Ringmaster Needed

Want to run away and join Circus Sarasota? They are looking for a Ring Master for the February 1-24, 2008 season. Contact Pedro Reis at 941-355-9335 for audition details.

The Venice Little Theatre is offering a variety of classes for youth, teens and adults ranging from theatre skills to planning a workshop event, public speaking and improvisation. Contact the Venice Little Theatre for information at 941-486-8679.

The 13th Annual Manatee Children’s Summit is seeking local youth for volunteer entertainment.  Acts will be scheduled throughout the day on August 11 from 9:00 – 2:00 pm.  Children from K-12 grade are eligible to audition.  Those interested should bring their materials and costumes to Manatee Players Riverfront Theatre to audition Saturday May 19 at 10:00 am.  Those auditioning will be seen in the order they arrive.  Please make sure all costumes and performance materials are age appropriate.  For further information please contact Rick Kerby at 941-748-0111. 

On June 2 you can audition for a couple of upcoming productions at The Players. Greetings, directed by Bob Trisolini, and Plenty Horses, directed by Roberta McDonald. Click here for information.

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