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Featured Artist
Betty Griggs

Betty studied at the School of Fine Arts of Yale University. Prior to moving to Sarasota in 2002, she lived in Puerto Rico for many years. Now Betty divides her time between Sarasota and Verbier, Switzerland. The love of travel and exotic places is evident in Betty’s paintings, many of which are series based on specific locations throughout the world. In fact, Betty just returned last month from Switzerland, where she had a special exhibition of her works featuring the snowy scenes around Verbier. Her work has won numerous awards and has been shown in collections throughout the world. Take a moment to check out Betty’s art. (click here to nominate our next artist)

The new AnythingArts.com will be coming to a computer screen near you in March. As you have no doubt heard, AnythingArts.com is offering Artists, Actors, Photographers, Writers, etc, a free web page like these: Artist Page, Actor Page, Photographer Page (sans working links for sample pages). Just send us something fairly similar to this: some photos and a description of you and your work and your contact information and we will do the rest (actually Christine will). (the sample links are for example only and the links on the pages you look at will not work, it’s a surprise for later!)

If you haven’t seen O’Leary’s since the remodel, you haven’t seen O’Leary’s: tile floors, granite counters, a dining room and LIVE MUSIC by a variety of great musicians and bands during lunch and dinner every day. It really is worth a visit, like a little vacation without leaving downtown.

Right now at Florida Studio Theatre you can have your choice of entertainment: First, you have “In the Belly of the Beast,” a high powered drama about a guy who was imprisoned at a young age, cut off from any nurturing or human contact for over 20 years. He has to learn to survive and remain “human,” balancing the beast inside him with the last strands of decency he can muster. Or, try “Jewtopia,” a comedy about when a “goy meets girl” and the trials and tribulations of a comic romance. And, last but not least, this week in Sarasota, in fact every Tuesday night, you can enjoy the side-splitting antics of the FST Improv Troupe. Call FST for exact show dates and times on all three of these at 941-366-9000. 

The Asolo Rep is staging Smash, based on George Bernard Shaw’s “An Unsocial Socialist” as adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher. The story in a nutshell: Millionaire leaves his bride on wedding night to fulfill his dream of overthrowing the government. The plan goes a little crazy and he finds himself at a college full of girls and wild characters that leaves him questioning all he ever thought about life, politics and women. Call the box office at 941-351-8000 or click the link.

The Venice Little Theatre presents “My Fair Lady.” You know the story: Professor ‘Enery ‘Iggins tries to teach Eliza Doolittle a thing or two and along the way teacher becomes student and love blooms. You also know the songs like “Get Me To the Church on Time” and “I Could Have Danced All Night.”

They say that “Candide” is part sophisticated operetta and part wacky comedy like Monty Python. What a mixture! The Players Theatre presents this tour de farce opening this week in Sarasota. Call 941-365-2494 or buy tickets on-line via this link. 

The Englewood Art Center’s Pottery Studio will be having an open house from 1:00 -3:00 pm; 350 South McCall Road, Englewood. All adults and children are invited to become familiar with the pottery program at the Art Center. There will be demonstrations by instructors. Call 941-474-5548 for information.

Gary Lewis and The Playboys rock the house at the Venice Little Theatre with songs sure to give you flashbacks. Remember “This Diamond Ring” and “Sealed with a Kiss”? Watch a classic video of “Little Miss Go Go” by clicking here. 

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, in collaboration with The Players Theatre, presents “Freedom Song,” an evening of music, dance and narration celebrating the accomplishments of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. The show is a special presentation for Black History Month and will be performed at 8:00 pm at the Players Theatre. Tickets are $18 for adults/$12 for students. Call The Players Box Office at 941-365-2494 to reserve your ticket or buy tickets on-line via this link.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) travels south for six concerts throughout Florida beginning here in Sarasota at the Van Wezel. The tour marks the second consecutive year that the PSO has performed in Florida. The tour is led by Principal Guest Conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier. Call 941-953-3368.  
 

You probably recognize Tim Wilkins’ face from Studio 10, a talk show on local tv in Tampa and Sarasota. Well, Tim is also a touring comedian, having appeared on The Tonight Show and The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show. This is a smoking show, but McCurdy’s has other nights and times that aren’t.

Dave Beaton’s press release said, “Free kazoos, impeccably tailored outfits, rowdy sing-a-longs, furious banjo strumming, and a set full of quirky, clever, sometimes-naughty original tunes. That’s The Two Man Gentlemen Band’s formula for a good, old-fashioned musical spectacle. They will be performing along with Christabel and the Jons (sultry Southern swing) at Mother’s Bakery. Show starts at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available by calling 941-894-6469 or online at here. The show is presented by WSLR-LP 96.5, Sarasota’s Community Radio Station.” Watch a video clip by clicking here.  

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The Duchess of Malfi opens at the Asolo Conservatory with a contemporary twist. The play, by John Webster, debuted in 1614 in London’s famed Globe Theatre. There’s a love story, classism, political intrigue and violence. Some things never change! Call 941-351-8000 for information and tickets. 
 

(At the Selby Gallery at the Ringling College of Art and Design) Composer Richard Festinger premieres new work, Insect Voices, a set of three songs for chamber ensemble in conjunction with Selby Gallery exhibition, Interiors/Exteriors: Brenda Brown, In Situ. Festinger’s songs are set to poems on insect voices and insect sounds serve as additional musical instruments while Ms. Brown employs recorded sounds from specific locations in her explorations of the reciprocal revelations of landscapes and their sounds. Following the performance, Brown and Festinger will do a joint presentation on the composition process, the music and their collaboration. The evening is free and the reception begins at 6:00 pm followed by music and the joint presentation. Call 941-359-7563 for more information.  

A “George Pappas Retrospective” exhibit by the talented artist-educator will open with a reception from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Friday, Feb. 29, in the fine art gallery, building 9A, MCC Bradenton, 5840 26th St. West. The reception is free and open to the public. The artist’s Greek heritage and mythology, archeology, literature, social issues and art history are what he describes as “roots that feed my form and content.” Pappas’ paintings typically focus on a theme that evolves into a series of related works. The MCC exhibit will showcase artworks dating from the 1950s to today. It includes works from beach and landscape, domestic relationships, archeological sites, artists’ portraits, crime scenes and barriers, and literary digest and excavations series. Call 941-752-5225 for details. (shown: Silent Intruder)

Woo hoo…. the following makes it in to this issue, with ease, because the press release was laid out just like our stories. Here it is exactly as we received it (Little Bookworms is on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch. This event is free and runs from 12:00 – 1:00 pm) “Cigma - magician's camp, a summer day camp that teaches children the art of magic and turns fun into an art form, and Little Bookworms, a one-of-a-kind children's bookstore, have teamed up to sponsor a family magic show. This show is for families with children 7- 13 but all are welcome! Our show is 45 minutes in length. Stop by and say "hello" to Cigma and Little Bookworms after the show!” 941-907-3808  

Daniel Petrov's "Tropical Nudes" will soon be on display at the Gallery at the Canvas Cafe, 1912 Adams Lane in Towles Court. There is a special artists reception on March 14 from 5:30 - 9:30 pm during the Towles Court evening. Of his work, Daniel says, "To a degree, my nudes are based on observation. I work from a specific individual posing in an unclothed state. But I don’t just copy the anatomy before me. Actually, I use quite a bit of artistic license. I try to extract what to me typifies femininity, stylizing and even idealizing wherever I see fit. I expand thighs, contract heads, stretch hands, fingers, limbs, and necks, and bend them into unlikely, though to me innately feminine and incidentally beautiful, gestures. In doing so, I am not correcting nature, but rather conveying nature. To me the female form is nature and I use this form to express my feelings about all that is alive."  

The 28th Annual Sarasota Jazz Festival is packed with 13 events over 7 music-filled days, including international stars, free concerts, lectures and more. Call 941-366-1552 or 941-953-3368 for all the details and schedule.

“Watching the Intervals” is an exhibition of paintings by Jim Stewart at the Harmony Gallery at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center. The painting, the “Edge of Accord” (shown), was the winning poster art for the music festival in 2007. A portion of the exhibit’s sales will benefit the Florida West Coast Symphony. Located at 709 N. Tamiami Trail.

Art Center Sarasota has three exhibits opening on March 4. “Hidden Cultures” examines art with no boundaries, as found in various cultures, religion and literature. Kim Litch’s “I Know Nothing,” an exhibition of sculpture and conceptual drawings related to sculpture and an exploration of past art movements. “Tattoo and Graffiti” is both an exhibition and discussion about whether a tattoo is art, graffiti or self mutilation. An Opening Reception is March 13 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Call 941-365-2032 for more information. (shown: Kim Litch; “Who’s got the biggest?” [installation view] latex, cast iron bullets, mixed media) 

Voice of Fuzion - An Evening of Contemporary Dance at the Historic Asolo Theatre. The performance will include work by Leymis Bolanos Wilmott that was inspired by a Contemporary Cuban Art exhibition at the Ringling Museum. The concert will also showcase guest choreographer Geri Houlihan’s signature piece “Every Little Movement.” For more information on this exciting program, check the links or call 941-345-5755. For tickets call the Historic Asolo box office at 941-360-7399. (photo: “aftermath” performance)

Backstage Onstage! Enjoy the first full-length performance of Sarasota’s hilarious all-male cabaret ensemble, Backstage, combining close harmony singing with a “slightly skewed look at the human comedy.” Performing songs from the ‘30s to today, from ‘N Sync to the Andrews Sisters, these men play all the parts. Backstage features the antics of Doug Berger, Oliver Dill, Howie Kaplan, Frank Maggese, Bill O’Shea, John Sorbo, and Music Director George Drummond. With Special Guest Star Jim Hilderbrandt as Dr. Bruth and a cameo appearance by talented Shawn Cochran. Show time is 8:00 pm at the Church of the Trinity, 7225 Lockwood Ridge Road. Call 941-727-0308 for more info and tickets. 

Steve Carroll wrote and stars in “Charles Lindbergh: The Lone Eagle, “a one-man play at the Historic Asolo Theatre. Audiences will experience the triumphs, despair and personal life of one of America’s greatest heroes. Call 941-360-7399 for information. 

There is no way that we could write about this exhibit at the 711 Gallery (711 S. Osprey next to our surely missed friend, The Metro) better than what the artist says: “In Tom Joyce’s new painting series “Follies & Impertinences” the initial stages of conception originate below conscious thought and are influenced by art that he has admired, loved and hated. ‘The paintings are a composite of visual and auditory impressions of a life time, the faded memories of personal struggles and pleasures, and of late, much from the media bombardment of current events and world conditions,’ says Joyce.” Call 941-924-4004 for more information. (shown: INTRUDER [detail negative])

Theatre Odyssey presents its 3rd Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival at The Players Theatre at 2:00 and 7:00 pm. The plays will be judged and prizes awarded. The ensemble cast includes Sandra Musicante, Ted Mase and Bill Muzzillo, among others, and plays by locals like Eva Slane and John Bohane. Tickets are available at The Players Box Office. (shown: Cael Barkman and Tommy Carpenter in 2007 festival winning play "Claws and Effect" by Mike Phelan)

That wild and lively comedy “Funny Girl” opens at The Golden Apple. The crowd fav musical is the story of legendary comedienne Fanny Brice. Barbra Streisand played the role on Broadway and got the Best Actress Oscar for the film version. Order tickets online or call 941-366-5454.

Middle and high school filmmakers will be presenting their films at Film Rush 2008. The entries will premier at the South Florida Museum on Friday, March 21, from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Categories of films include narrative, documentary, experimental, animated, original music video, and public service announcement. Sponsored by the Manatee County Schools, the Film Club of Manatee Community College, the South Florida Museum, and Manatee Educational Television, the festival provides an opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to showcase their art. For more information, contact Dr. Sherry Lawrence, Arts and Gifted Specialist for the Manatee County Schools at 941-751-6550 Ext. 2107.

The Venetian tradition of Carnevale is a time to celebrate the arrival of spring, eat, drink and wear crazy costumes. The Rustic Grill and Sierra Station will be transformed and carry you from Sarasota to ancient Venice with court jesters, mandolins and other entertainment, and lavish decorations and scrumptious food. The evening is a benefit for the Child Protection Center. Call Cheryl Frampton, Tinkerbell Production, at 941-726-3086.

The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County presents a seminar by attorney Doug Cherry, from Abel Band Chartered, entitled "The Art of Protecting Your Intellectual Property: Ten Fatal Assumptions Made by Business Owners." The seminar is free and held at the North Sarasota Library at 2801 Newtown Blvd. from 3:30 - 5:30 pm. This is a great seminar for people engaged in intellectual property use (artwork, writings, logo, web designs, photos, etc.) from the artist to the end-user business owner. Don't let wrong assumptions lead you to court, come find out how to protect yourself! Email Tina at EDC to RSVP by clicking here or call 941-309-1200 for more information. 

Local filmmaker Don Guy made this short travel video about the Yucatan Peninsula and submitted it to a Conde Nast competition. Watch it and help Don win something! Click here.

POPS Extras! will hold auditions for soloists, combos and bands performing Jazz, Blues and Pop music from the 80s to present. Auditions from 10:00 pm until 1:00 am at 41 West Restaurant and Lounge, 5131 14th Street West in Bradenton. Interested parties must have own equipment, be prepared to play a full 45 minute set, and make an appointment for a specific audition time. Call 941-362-7632 or visit their site.

Venice Little Theatre is having auditions for the Summer Stock production of “Oklahoma!” on Sunday, March 9 at 2:00 pm and Monday, March 10 at 4:30 pm. Other audition times are available by calling 941-486-8679 for an appointment. Actors should come prepared to sing, with sheet music, and a prepared one minute monologue. The production is scheduled for July 31 – August 2, 2008. (we’re already moving towards summer, yikes!)

Carole Kleinberg is teaching a master class in acting for adults at The Players Studio: four sessions, March 31 through April 21 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Fee $90. This is a great opportunity to work on audition material, or sharpen your skills. Anyone interested can register by calling Michelle Pingel, 941-365-2494 or Carole at 941-232-4123.  

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