The famous, or infamous, Florida Studio Theatre Improv Troupe is BACK! Catch the wave every Tuesday night in FST’s Cabaret at
8:30 pm. AnythingArt’s own Christine Alexander is part of the troupe and longs for attention. So, here’s your bone, Christine: Christine Alexander, yadayada, great, yada, funny, yada, smart- ok, where’s my journalistic integrity? Enough already. Call the FST Box Office at 941-366-9000 for tickets or buy them online.

About the Duchess of Malfi; “This is a terrific piece of Jacobean theater, full of passion and fury and huge characters in a very
heightened drama,” says FSU/Asolo Conservatory director Greg Leaming. “It's one of the great plays of world theater, and still as
disturbing and violent as when it was first produced in the 17th century. It's an extremely challenging play and presents our students with huge and exciting challenges.” Order tickets now for this production at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory opening February 27. (FSU/Asolo Conservatory students DeMario McGrew, Jason Peck, Elisabeth Ahrens and Dolph Paulsen in The Duchess of Malfi. Photo by Frank Atura)

The award-winning Banyan Theater Company presents Yasmina Reza's "The Unexpected Man" at the Historic Asolo Theater, 5401
Bayshore Road, inside the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Visitors Pavilion. Nona Pipes and Robert Hefley, married in real life, portray strangers on a train in this “enthralling ... stimulating, amusing, perceptive play.” (Daily Telegraph) Show times are 8:00 pm and an extra 2:00 pm performance on Saturday. Get tickets by calling 941-360-7399.  

Rarely seen works from the Ringling Museum Collection will be displayed February 9 – May 25 in the exhibit “Old Mater Drawings from the Ringling Museum of Art.” Assistant Curator and organizing curator for this event, Alexandra Libby, says, “Although better-known for its world-renown collection of European paintings and sculpture, the Ringling Museum has a small but choice collection of Old Master drawings. This group of works on paper is comprised of first-rate examples by recognized artists as well as masterpieces by lesser known figures. The scope of the exhibition spans the late-15th to the late-18th centuries and contains forty-eight drawings.” (shown: Giandomenico Tiepolo, Italian, 1727-1804 Flying Cherubs on Clouds 7 1/2 x 11 3/16 in. (19.1 x 28.4 cm) Pen and brown ink with brush and brown and grey wash over traces of graphite) 

The Metro, the coffee and wine joint on Osprey, seems to have filled a niche with it's Artist’s Market. So much so, in fact, The Metro
is expanding it to two Saturdays per month. The Artist’s Market is a place for artists and patrons to mingle, show their work, sell some things, eat, drink and be merry. The fun runs from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm because they are there when you can make it. “There has been such a positive response from everyone in our community,” says Artists’ Market Coordinator, Brandy Boyd. “This market has far surpassed my expectations. Sarasota is indeed a community that embraces art culture. We hope more and more local artists will participate.” For more information or to participate in the Artists’ Market, contact Brandy Boyd (email) or visit this site.

Greens Contemporary is exhibiting the new work of Sabrina Small: “The Space In-Between” throughout the month. On Friday, February 8 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm the public is invited to an artist’s reception. Sabrina was born in Philadelphia, educated at the Maryland Institute of Art before living in Sarasota and, ultimately, Berlin. This summer Sabrina will be an Artist-In-Residence at The Hermitage Artist Retreat.

The Sarasota Ski-A-Rees are back in action with performances every Sunday at 2:00 pm through May 4th at Ken Thompson
Parkway... FREE. It’s like dancing and skiing and acrobatics all thrown together in the water. 

February 10 & 11
[ jewish art ]

Temple Sinai presents a Scholar/Artist Residence Program with Professor Michael Chernick and artist Miriam Stern. The programs will explore the connections between Jewish texts and art. On the 10th at 11:00 am, “The Word as Art” and at 3:30 pm “Thou Shalt Make No Graven Image." Then on the 11th, “Art as Midrash." Call 941-924-1802 for details and information.

They still call it “late night”, at its 8:00 pm! The Food of LOVE: A Valentine’s Day Inspired Event at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory’s Cook Theatre. Students will perform everything from Shakespearean verse to Sam Shepard's poetry. Call 941-351-8000 for more information.

The Palm Literary Society and The Sarasota Reading Festival have partnered and, along with corporate sponsors, present Lee Woodruff’s “In an Instant: A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing.” The release says, “In this dual memoir of love and courage, Lee Woodruff, along with her husband Bob Woodruff, shares the couple’s never-before-told story of romance, resilience and survival following the tragedy that transformed their lives and gripped a nation.” Tickets are available by contacting Christa Southgate at
941-329-2604 or visit here to purchase tickets by credit card. 

SiLL, Sarasota Institute for Lifetime Learning, hosts Music Mondays at 10:30 am at the West Coast Symphony’s Holley Hall. On
February 11th enjoy Bach with Eugenia Zukerman: A Renaissance Woman. Zukerman is an internationally known flutist, author, and CBS Sunday Morning music commentator. Her discography stretches from works by Bach to the 21st century composer, Lowell Liebermann. On the 18th, Bellini with speaker Joseph Colaneri. Conductor of opera, oratorio and symphonic works, educator and lecturer, Colaneri has been a leading conductor at the Metropolitan Opera for almost a decade and, concurrently, serves as Artistic Director of the Opera Program at Mannes College of Music in New York City.

The Sarasota Opera Guild hosts weekly Prologues to introduce audiences to this year’s season , in advance. On the 11th Cosi tan tutte Prologue; on the 18th I due Foscari Prologue; the 25th features la Rodine Prologue. All Prologues are at the Unity Church at 3023 Proctor Road at 7:15 pm. Contact Carol von Allmen 941-346-8057 with any questions about Sarasota Opera Guild and it’s events. (**Editor’s Note: I have no idea what I just wrote about, whether I made sense, spelled things correctly or not. So, definitely call Carol if you need info.) 

February 12
[ la la la luncheon ]

The Sarasota Opera Guild’s 30th Annual “Sweetheart of the Opera” luncheon is at Michael’s on East at 11:00 am. There will be performances by opera singers and a tribute to Madame Virginia Zeani. Contact Carol von Allmen 941-346-8057 with any questions about Sarasota Opera Guild and it events.

February 12
[ artist reception & show ]

“Color & Light: Two Part Harmony”, a photography exhibit by Judy Kramer, is on display through the 28th the Harmony Gallery in the Friedman Symphony Center. A special artist’s reception is scheduled for the 12th from 5:00 - 6:30 pm. RSVP at 941-953-4252. A portion of the proceeds for the sale of art will benefit the Florida West Coast Symphony. 

Former star of the Metropolitan Opera, Sherrill Milnes will share a lifetime of memories in Sherill Milnes, American Aria: Encore at the Historic Asolo Theater at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art at 5:30 pm. Milnes is internationally recognized as one of the greatest Verdian baritones of his generation. Shortly after a serious, but non-career-ending ailment, he retired from the stage and has become a highly sought-after vocal teacher and trainer. Click here to see a short video performance of Milnes singing the Prologue from I Pagliacci. Tickets are available at the Historic Asolo Theater Box Office by calling 941-360-7399 or online.

Opening February 13
[ hell ]

Gale Fulton’s Ross’ “Divine Comedy; Hell-Purgatory-Paradise." The Discovery: The Journey one takes on the road to artistic enlightenment. The exhibit is at The Gallery, 252 South Links Avenue and includes some fascinating watercolors and pen & ink drawings. Call 941-308-1986 for more information.

February 14
[ limeliters ]

Straight out of the press release: This Valentine’s Day share your love with those who need it most and come out and support Family
Promise in their efforts to assist homeless families in Manatee and Sarasota counties. WSLR has teamed up with the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, Crossroads Church and Family Promise to present a special Valentine’s Day concert featuring “The Limeliters." Time Magazine summed up the appeal of The Limeliters with the following memorable quote: "If the button down scrubbed looking Kingston Trio are the undergraduates of big-time folk singing, The Limeliters are the faculty." The Limeliters will perform on Thursday, February 14th at 7:00 pm at Crossroads Church, 4726 N. Tamiami Trail. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online or by calling 941-894-6469. Click here to watch and hear the Limeliters.

Through February 29
[ do it ]

The Dabbert Gallery is exhibiting Sarasotan Craig Rubadoux’s Recent Works. Craig says, “In my work, I endeavor to express exuberance, the joy of life, a spontaneous celebration. With line and color I try to express the inner energy, the spirit, the essence of life." (Shown: "Duet" by Rubadoux Oil on Canvas 40 x 36")

The Sarasota Shell Club is having a Shell Show at the Municipal Auditorium. In addition to a juried shell show of specimens collected from around the world, there will be arts & crafts, jewelry, arrangements and more. Call show chairs for more information; Harry Berryman, 941-429-8230, and Fran Schlusemann at 941-739-0908.

Imperial Fine Art welcomes an exhibition of new works by internationally renowned artist Katherine McNeill. The Colorado artist, known for her Aspen landscapes and vibrant florals, will also be conducting painting demonstrations both days. 941-954-8901  
(Shown: McNeill’s “Shasta Daisy)

Venice Little Theatre’s production of “My Fair Lady” runs February 19 through March 16. The now-familiar story of the Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, and her makeover by the arrogant Professor Henry Higgins, has graced stages around the world since 1956, when Lerner & Loewe’s musical first opened on Broadway. It went on to win seven Tony awards that season and a London production quickly followed. The show has now been revived three times on Broadway - in 1976, 1981 and 1993 - and London staged a revival in 2001. Call 941-488-1115. Click here for the Box Office. 
 

The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe presents “A Soldier’s Play” at the Historic Asolo Theater to recognize and celebrate Black History Month. From Wikipedia, “A Soldier's Play" was a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama written by Charles Fuller in 1982. This play uses a murder mystery to explore the complicated feelings of anger and resentment that some black Americans have toward one another, and the ways in which many black Americans have absorbed white racist attitudes. The play was originally staged by the Negro Ensemble Company. The cast included Adolph Caesar as Sergeant Waters and Denzel Washington as Private Peterson. Both Caesar and Washington reprised their roles in the movie version, A Soldier's Story, which was directed by Norman Jewison.

Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams will perform in benefit for WSLR-LP 96.5, Sarasota’s Community Radio Station,
and WMNF 88.5, Tampa Bay’s Community Radio Station. The performance will be at 8:00 pm at Holley Hall in the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center. Tickets are $16 in advance and $20 at the door, and available by calling 941-894-6469 or online at here or here. "This band is a riveting, mesmerizing, crazy, amazing machine of music that gives you chills both through the playing of their eclectic musical devices, as well as through their spiritually evoking lyrical content." --Bottomline NYC Concert Review. 

The Sarasota Ballet presents world-renowned dancer/choreographer Dominic Walsh’s own Dominic Walsh Dance Theater in their Sarasota debut with five performances at the FSU Center for Performing Arts. Walsh established Dominic Walsh Dance Theater in 2002, shortly before retiring from the Houston Ballet where he danced to great acclaim for 15 years. In the brief years since, Walsh has attracted some of the world’s most promising choreographers and dancers who have come to him because of his reputation for the highest standards in performance and his spirit of collaboration and exploration.

The Selby Public Library’s 10th Annual Invitational Art Exhibit is in full swing, featuring artists Gwen Fryer, Jean Germain, Tim Jaeger, Margaret Murphy-Reed and Tim Stephens. Naturally, there is no cost to go in and check it out…heck, maybe read something while you’re there. Call 941-861-5000 for details.

Sarasota Magazine is having a photography contest and you could win money, an overnight at Hotel Indigo and have your photos run in the magazine. Click here for all of the details and enter soon. 

[ improv class ]

Act Your Way Into Being, the on-going improvisation class, in its 16th year, runs each Tuesday night from 7:30 - 9:30 pm in a classroom at Unity of Sarasota, 3023 Proctor Road. The fee is $10 per class. This class is open to anyone ages 18 to 80+ who has the courage to attend and enjoy, says instructor Zan Benham. She can be reached at 941-922-7839 or email. Visit her site.

The Englewood Art Center features a Landscape Workshop on the 18th and 19th and Flower Workshop on the 20th and 21st. The workshops will be lead by Paul Allen Taylor. For more information call 941-474-5548. 

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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