Yes, you can hear Cliff Roles interview a variety of local artists and performers, among other guests, everyday on our local WSLR radio from 4:30-5:30 pm. Coming up in the next week; October 1 Greg Leaming the director of the FSU/Asolo; October 3 Murray Chase the Artistic/Managing Director of the Venice Little Theatre and on October 5 actress and film producer Monica Kennedy.

Now on exhibit at Selby Gardens, Jon Stout’s Intimate Views of Nature. As Jon says, “I enjoy bringing my viewer close to nature, which I believe all of us can appreciate. The nature around us is not just woods and water and gardens, but is made up of various elements – the tapestry of the various leaf shapes, the visual movement in the arching and twisted branch, the weaving of the hanging moss or clinging vines, the uniqueness of the flowers and plants, and the often unobserved colors - with the potential of bringing you into a more enlightened state of awareness and presence.”

Live and in your face at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, it’s Louis C. K. “One of the most brilliant, biting, controversial comics of recent times. He is an Emmy Award winning writer and performer with his own HBO Comedy Series. He has appeared numerous times on The Tonight Show, Letterman, and Conan. He wrote and produced The Chris Rock Show and has had his own comedy specials on HBO and Comedy Central.” Reach the box office at 941-925-FUNY (3869).

Good music and good food in a casual setting… good dog. Live at The Flying Dog Café on September 21 it’s Pat Walsh & The Arch. Then on the 28th, from 8:00 - 11:00 pm, enjoy the Schmitz Brothers. You’ll be grateful.

If you miss Tim and the FST Improv gang, better hurry. There’s only a couple more Saturday night performances of the popular yucksters before returning to the Season schedule. Get tickets in advance by calling the box office at 941-366-9000.

Sing Out Louise returns to the East Village Cabaret at 8:00 pm for one show only. It’s a musical night of Broadway music and just about any song you can think of. The audience can sing along with the songbooks provided or just listen and enjoy.

The Sarasota Folk Club hosts the Sailing Squadron Concerts on the last Monday of every month with open mic at 7:15 pm and headliners at 8:30 pm. Just a $5 donation to enjoy the outdoors at 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway. Call 941-377-9256 or email for more information.  Also, mark your calendars for the upcoming Sarasota Folk Festival scheduled for October 20 at the Crowley Museum & Nature Center. 

The Golden Apple Dinner Theatre opens its new season with Neil Simon’s hilarious Laughter on the 23rd Floor. The comedy is based on Simon’s early writing life with the likes of Mel Brooks. Woody Allen and Carl Reiner when the group wrote for Your Show of Shows. Follow the antics of the writer’s room and the behind the scenes mayhem of producing a television show. Tickets are available at 941-366-5454 or online. 

The Players Theatre opens its 78th Broadway Musical Series with Fame Forever. The energetic musical production runs through October 7. As an added feature, the writer and creator of Fame-The Musical and Fame Forever, David DeSilva, will be attending the Sarasota premiere. A luncheon with DeSilva is scheduled for September 27 at the University Club. Tickets for both the production and lunch are available via The Players box office.

Studio 84 Productions presents The Dining Table at Manatee Community College’s Neel Performing Arts Center. Directed by Dean Anthony, the play is a series of stories about an upper-middle-class WASP family. The cast of fourteen actors take on many roles and depict various stages in the lives of their characters. Call 941-752-5252 for more information.

Friday Fest on the Bay is a free music series held once-a-month, May through October, drawing together the best of the Gulf Coast. The event is a community celebration bringing together everyone who enjoys great music, food, fun, and the beautiful Sarasota Bayfront. This month enjoy the Project SRQ; “Project SRQ has the sound audiences will rave over. Each band member is a resident of Manatee and Sarasota Counties and each has greater than 25 years musical experience in various music genres. Project SRQ is Louis Robison; percussionist, Melvin Price; soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, Mario “O”; keyboards, Bill Hileman; electronic drums, Tony Rizzo; guitar, Jim Klein; six string bass, Louis Esposito; sound engineer.” This free event is on the grounds at the Van Wezel and more information is available at 941-953-3368 and 941-955-7676.

The Source Theatre offers high school and college students actor training and the possibility to participate in The Source’s award winning touring theatre that performs before thousands every year. A new twelve-week theatre project begins October 1 and runs every Monday from 4:30 to 6:00 pm and doesn’t cost a dime! Call KT Curran for information at 941-356-8336.

Tickets go on sale October 1 for the 2008 Sarasota Opera season. You can buy tickets in person at the box office, by phone at 941-366-8450 ext 1, or online. Also, as you are no doubt aware of the massive renovations going at the opera house, check out their blog and see photos of what a mess, I mean progress, they are making by clicking here. (photo by Lon Black)

Charlotte’s Web comes to life on the stage of the Venice Little Theatre. Charlotte’s Web is a heartwarming account of friendship, trust and sacrifice, as a bond between Wilbur the pig and Charlotte the spider sets the pace for a beloved story. 941-488-1115

In Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba, “experience the heat, passion, longing and frustration created not just by a repressive mother of 5 girls, but of an entire culture. A cast of 20 women brings this drama to the stage of the Historic Asolo Theatre in a breath taking production.” Directed by Richard Garcia and co-produced by The Backlot Theater and Margret Taylor. For tickets call 941-360-7399 or buy online here.

The Dancing Crane Gallery hosts its GRAND RE-OPENING at the First Friday Art Walk from 6:00 to 9:30 pm. This special evening shines the spotlight on the fine Sumi-e art of Ann MacLennon White. Ann is an Oriental Brush Painter inspired by a life-long love for animals. Stop in to meet Ann and her collection of Sumi-e animals.

There’s a bunch of stuff happening on-stage at the Historic Asolo Theatre. Film: (Oct. 8) Vertical Love: a film about a young couple that can only make love vertically- in an elevator; (Oct. 9) Strawberry and Chocolate: the story of a gay man who falls in love with a doctrinaire communist; (Oct. 11) Things I Left in Havana: (Oct. 12) Virgin Rose. All films are in Spanish with English subtitles and start at 7 PM. You can also experience writings, music, Clyde Butcher photos and dance all centered around Cuba- but we don’t have space here to tell you about it all. Click here for details. Tickets available at 941-360-7399.

The 9th annual Through Women’s Eyes International Film Festival  returns to Sarasota February 1 & 2, 2008. The deadline for submissions by female directors/filmmakers is October 15. All genres accepted with particular emphasis on films about the lives and issues facing women. Email Diane Mason for an entry form or submit through With Out A Box.

As provided in the release, “The Sarasota Reading Festival chair Renee Richardson Kling announces that Ellie Gibeau has been named executive director of the festival. Betty Morris will continue as festival director. Gibeau was a founder, in 2006, of Efest, the enormously successful community festival that celebrates environmental sustainability. She comes to the Reading Festival from the Home Builders Association of Sarasota County, where she was community affairs manager.” The Sarasota Reading Festival is just around the corner, visit their website for information. 

Right in Sarasota you can buy artwork made around the world and benefit the artist directly. The Artisan’s World Market Place is at 128 South Pineapple Avenue and is a very interesting place to visit and explore. Read more. Call 941-365-5994 for more information.

Theatre Odyssey is gearing up for its 2008 Ten Minute Play Festival by soliciting plays from Gulf Coast playwrights. The deadline for submission is December 31. Six play will be selected and produced in March 2008. For submission rules visit TheatreOdyssey.org.

Fuzίon Dance Artists is kicking-off the fall with dance classes; taught by company members and offering a variety of styles. All classes are open to the public: Intermediate/Advance modern classes take place every Wednesday, at 5:45 pm at the West Coast Civic Ballet, at the new location: 525 N. Lemon Avenue. Community dance classes for people of all levels take place once a month on Saturdays, at 3:00 pm at the Franklin G. Berlin YMCA, 1075 S. Euclid Avenue.
Contact 941-345-5755 or fuziondance@gmail.com for more information.

Information about show times, places and dates is assumed accurate but not guaranteed. Please contact the presenting organization directly, by the link or phone number provided, to confirm information.

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