+ Ballet soloist dancing for two
Those of you who travel in the Sarasota Ballet circle probably already know that dancer Tracey Tucci and husband Michael are expecting their first child, a boy, due Sept. 15.

Tucci, a native of Clarendon Hill, Ill., joined Sarasota Ballet in 2004. A soloist with the company, Tucci has danced in Mikhail Fokine’s “Les Slyphide,” John Cranko’s “Pineapple Poll,” Andrew Prokovsky’s “Anna Karenina,” Renato Paroni’s “Rococo Variations” and George Balanchine’s “Divertimento No. 15.”

In 2008, she played the Red Girl in Sir Frederick Ashton’s “Les Patineurs” and the Red Queen in Dame Ninette De Valois’ “Checkmate.”

But perhaps her most prescient role to date was in last fall’s “Contact,” at the Asolo Repertory Theatre, when Tucci, not yet pregnant, was cast as a pregnant woman.

The couple plans to name their tiny dancer Luca Alexander.

+ ‘Hot August Night’ rescheduled
Neil Diamond groupies will have to wait another month to see Las Vegas impersonator/singer Jay White belt out “Sweet Caroline” at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium.

The folks behind the upcoming Sarasota film, “Beautiful Noise,” have decided to reschedule their Aug. 26 benefit concert, “Hot August Night,” for sometime in mid-September.

According to Steve Tatone, the film’s producer/writer/director, the concert, which was billed as a fundraiser for the low-budget musical-drama, has been pushed back to accommodate the movie’s August shooting schedule.

In other “Beautiful Noise” news, singer Joni Mitchell granted Tatone the rights to re-record her “Free Man in Paris” for the film’s soundtrack.

+ Jeff Hazelton extends his 3D art exhibit
Missed artist Jeff Hazelton’s trippy exhibit at G.WIZ The Science Museum, or just looking for another excuse to rock the 3D glasses-look again?

Hazelton’s “Avatar to Art” exhibit, which opened July 2, has been extended through Sept. 19. The artist’s enormous 3D canvases have been a welcomed summer spectacle for the downtown science museum.
Hazelton, who works out of his downtown Sarasota studio, is also a medical animator, whose work has appeared in television ads, including commercials for the asthma medication, Symbicort.

The artist will add new pieces to his show Aug. 19. For more information, visit www.3Dfineartist.com.

+ Mystery authors plan to haunt the Hyatt
The secret is out. Sarasota’s Hyatt Regency is hosting the 2010 Mystery Florida Conference Aug. 13 and Aug. 14.

The two-day mystery writers conference, which (appropriately) kicks off Friday-the-13th, will feature writers Tim Dorsey, Lisa Black, Mary Jane Clark, Michael Connelly, Karen Rose, James Swain and many more.

The conference itself costs $200 for both Friday and Saturday sessions, but the Mystery Mingle is free and open to the public.

Dubbed the largest book signing in the state of Florida, the Mystery Mingle is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 13. For more information, visit mysteryflorida.com.

Below: Mary Jane Clark

+ Documentary film classes
State College of Florida is offering two film classes taught by longtime director and cameraman Don Guy: Intro to Digital Film Production (every Friday, Aug. 27 through Dec. 10) and Intro to Documentary Film Production (every Wednesday, Aug. 25 through Dec. 15).

For more information, call 752-5251.
 

 

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