Saturday Nights in October

FST Improv is ready to unleash a sugar rush with the premiere of a brand new comedy show: JUST DESSERTS! opening in the Gompertz Theatre on Saturday, October 1 at 8:00pm and will run for five weeks on Saturday nights.

Created by Rebecca Hopkins and Jeremy Lamb, JUST DESSERTS is a competition of wits with Four improv artists duking it out in a full-on showdown complete with short scenes, sketch comedy, and games... Which team will the audience choose as the ‘sweetest treat’ of the evening? The audience will cast votes for the winning team, and the losing team not only loses - but will be punished.

JUST DESSERTS Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 941-366-9000. The cast of the JUST DESSERTS show will include Jeremy Lamb, Christine Alexander, Catey Brannan, Adam Ratner and Steve Turrisi.

Now through October 16
[ swim team reunion ]

THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB just opened at Venice Theatre this week and is running Tue–Sat, 8pm, Sun 2pm, now through Oct. 16. The American play writing team Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten tell the story of five Southern women who met many years ago on their college swim team. Each August they get together at a beach cottage on North Carolina’s Outer Banks to re-charge their relationships. Tickets through the box office or 941-488-1115.

October 4
[ young talents at scf ]

The State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) Music Program will present The Fall Festival of Music at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 4, in Neel Performing Arts Center at SCF Bradenton (5840 26th St. West, Bradenton). With a wide variety of music from classical to jazz, the program includes Concert Choir and Chamber Choir, directed by Melodie Dickerson; Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo, directed by Marc Mannino; Guitar Ensemble, directed by Rex Willis; and Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, directed by Robyn Wilkes. The SCF Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra also will join in performing a work featuring solo organist Michael Edward Stuart. General admission is $8. Tickets are $4 for students and SCF employees. For more information, call the Neel Performing Arts Box Office at 941-752-5252 or the music department at 941-752-5351. A complete list of SCF music events is available at scf.edu/musicevents. Maps and directions.

October 5
[ salsa y merenque at scf - ¡ que fantastico! ]

The State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a free Latin Dance Exhibition on Wednesday, Oct. 5, from noon – 1 p.m., at the Performance Pavilion at SCF Bradenton, 5840 26th St. West. The event is free and open to the public. ¿No habla Salsa? Dance instructor Katherine Woodward will teach Merengue and Salsa dances at the event sponsored by the SCF Diversity/Multicultural Awareness Committee. For more information, contact Gloria Tracy, via email or 941- 752-5323.

October 5
[ mystical landscape ]

Bettina Sego is presently showing paintings of her "Mystical Landscape" series as well as several abstract paintings at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center. Artist's reception will be on Wednesday, October 5, 2011, from 5:00 – 6:30 pm. The artwork will be on display until November 4.

Opening Reception October 6
[ provacative petticoats ]     

This  57th annual exhibition of the exuberant work of the 18  member artists of Petticoat Painters will kick off Sarasota’s sARTee Arts Festival, which will run concurrently with the Ringling International Arts Festival.  Long Boat Key Center for the Arts 941-383-2345, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. (Artwork: All the Things They Promised Us - Sally Sloan)

October 9
[ gartenfest ]

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens presents GartenFest, a fall performance series presented in conjunction with Festival sARTée. Enjoy some of the area’s top local performing artists in a biergarten atmosphere under Selby Gardens’ majestic banyan trees. GartenFest takes place on four consecutive October Sundays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Bratwurst, knockwurst, sauerkraut, old Heidelberg pretzels, German beer, and wine will be available for purchase. Bring your lawn chairs and raise your beer mugs to GartenFest. For details on featured performers call 941-366-5731. Eins, zwei, zuffa!

October 9
[ rpm 25 and mainstage ]

Celebrating their 25th anniversary, guitarist Randy Walsh and bassist Mark Waelti, the R.P.M. duo has been entertaining audiences along the west coast of Florida for a quarter century. They’ll be front and center in a Mainstage Concert, 8 pm at the Venice Theater.

With four albums to their credit and twice named Duo of the Year by SRQ Magazine, R.P.M. harmonies have been a popular mainstay in the local music scene. They are well worth the ticket, whatever the price, so call 941-488-1115 or visit online to learn more.

October 10
[ trio voila! ]

There is a flutist in town that just seems to be everywhere, performing, teaching, whatever. Jane Hoffman is performing with her Trio Voila, comprised with two more exceptional musicians. Violist Laura Jensen-Jennings is a familiar face as principal second violin of the Sarasota Orchestra and guitarist Thomas Koch, founder of GuitarSarasota, a series of guitar oriented concerts which 5 pm at Pine Shores Presbyterian Church and OCTOBER 10, 7:30 pm, Sarasota Bay Club.

October 14
[ incredible india cultural celebration ]

Enjoy the exotic delights and splendor of “Incredible India” at the South Florida Museum’s Cultural Celebration. The sights, sounds and smells of this vibrant culture will come alive through classical and modern Indian dance forms, traditional music, delicacies and a diverse marketplace offering authentic treasures from the mystical East. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience a variety of traditional Indian dance forms and music in addition to learning the history and cultural significance of Mehndi (Indian henna art), Bindi dots, and other iconic Indian symbols. An Indian market will feature rich textiles, traditional art forms, jewelry, etc. A delectable Indian feast is included in the ticket price. Children's activities and performances by children’s dance groups make this a fun family event. Advance Ticket Prices (valid through October 10th): General Admission $25, Museum Members $15. After October 10th: General Admission $35, Musuem Members $25. Children Under 12: $15 Advance, $20 after 10/10. Member Children: $10 advance, $15 after 10/10.

October 18
[ the artist’s journey ]

A lively discussion led by Ilene Denton of Sarasota Magazine and Jay Handelman, theater critic for the Herald Tribune. Panel will consist of 3 artists, members of Petticoat Painters, and 3 artists who are graduates of Ringling College of Art and Design.  “The Artist’s Journey” explores the challenges of being a visual artist in our changing world. At the Long Boat Key Center for the Arts 941-383-2345, 6:30 PM.

October 20
[ visual presentation with Q&A ]

Join artist John Ebersberger as he discusses the lineage of color exploration from Claude Monet to Charles Hawthorne to Henry Hensche and beyond in a special slide presentation at Southern Atelier. All are welcome to attend! $10 4:30PM R.S.V.P 

October 20
[ seussical the musical ]

You may not like green eggs and ham, but you’ll like this show, Sam-I am. Seussical the Musical opens at The Players Theatre on October 20, 2011 at 8pm with shows running through October 30. It’s the superific musical salute to the genius of Dr. Seuss, based on the classics we’ll never forget: The Lorax, Horton Hears a Who, and The Cat in the Hat! It’s true what he says, “From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere.” Call the box office at 941-365-2494.

Ongoing
[ write your life ]

Are you an event organizer? Looking for the next big thing?
Back Patio Productions has just the ticket. Beginning in the month
of October, memoirist, writing coach, editor, writing instructor
and journalist Patricia Charpentier will be available for book
signings and workshops. Patricia’s new book, ‘Eating an
Elephant One Bite at a Time’, skillfully folds together years of
experience in teaching and writing personal history in a book
that readers have called “an exceptional guide for a difficult
task.” Charpentier, who has helped authors to write hundreds
of memoirs, will also be available to teach ‘Writing Your
Life’ workshops this October. If you would like to host an
event, contact Back Patio Productions’ front door by calling 941.587.2777 or email.

Deadline September 30
[ enviro competition ]

The Enviro-Art competition is accepting entries through September 30th. Pieces need to be created with at least 50% natural/sustainable/recycled materials. On October 21st I am holding a party in the Village of the Arts as a part of Festival sARTee. We're going to have the contestants, live music, food and wine, interactive art and a lot of people. Entries, ordering tickets to the party and all info can be found online here.

Apply Now Deadline October 29
[ elements is the theme ]

Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery announces a Juried Art Competition for the month of October with the theme “The Elements.” A Group exhibition of the top ten finalists will be held online at the Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery for the month of November 2011.  The theme is the Elements, send them your best interpretation of the theme “The Elements” now!

Submission Deadline November 25
[the next great play - a playwriting competition ]

NewRootsNews.org and Studio@620 partner to find The Next Great Play with a playwriting competition. The grand prize winner will receive the world premiere of their play as part of the Studio@620’s 2012-13 theater season. The top three submissions will receive staged readings open to the public at Studio@620, from which a winner will be chosen.

October 16 & 18
[ auditions ]
 
Venue Ensemble Theatre will hold open auditions for Passengers by Sam Bobrick, Sunday Oct 16 and Tuesday Oct 18 at 7 pm at Venue Theatre and Actors Studio, 9125 US 19N, Pinellas Park, Fl.
 
Passengers by Sam Bobrick consist of eight very different scenes that take place in a small mid-western bus station.  The scenes segue fluidly from one to another without stopping and vary from comedic to poignant.  Four actors portray seventeen different characters throughout the play. 
 
Director Mary Kay Cyrus seeks four actors:  a man and a woman who can play mid-20s to early 30s and a man and a woman in the mid-40s to early 60s range.  
 
Auditions will be cold readings from the script. All actors are paid a stipend based upon production proceeds. Production dates are Jan 12 – Jan 29, 2012.  A PDF copy of the script is available for perusal.  Email the director if you are interested or have questions.