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Arts + Culture

Jan Van Wart
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • December 8, 2010
Jan Van Wart plays an old tune (VIDEO)

Jan Van Wart's office at Neel Performing Arts Center is a virtual time capsule, filled with hundreds of old phonograph records from his personal collection.

  • Arts + Culture
Stevie Lee Romero dazzled audiences during the opening week of 'Oliver!' Photo by Denny Miller.
    By
  • Michael Eng
  • December 8, 2010
Willis Elementary student stars in Players production

Stevie Lee Romero, 10, takes the lead role in his Manatee Players debut.

  • Arts + Culture
Playwright Lindsay Price addresses students in her play.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 8, 2010
Lakewood thespians welcome playwright

Playwright Lindsay Price watched Lakewood Ranch High School drama students perform her show, 'Somewhere, Nowhere.'

  • East County
  • Schools
"He's an exceptionally pure dancer," says American Ballet Theatre dancer Julie Kent of longtime partner José Manuel Carreño. "He has a real masculine, sophisticated charisma about him. There's really no one else like him." Photo by Fabrizio Ferri
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • December 8, 2010
Festival fever pitch

The Carreño Dance Festival's 'Holiday Spectacular' brings a star-studded lineup to Sarasota and a 'hometown' ballerina back to her roots.

  • Arts + Culture
Kristin Scott-Thomas stars in "Leaving."
    By
  • Pam Nadon
  • December 8, 2010
Film Review: 'Leaving'

In the new French drama, "Leaving," director Catherine Corsini ("Replay") proves love does not conquer all, but it can be all-consuming.

  • Arts + Culture
Sarasota Ballet presented a triple bill last weekend, including "In the Upper Room," "The American" and "Spielende Kinder."
    By
  • Anna Dearing
  • December 8, 2010
Dance Review: 'The American,' 'Spielende Kinder,' and 'In the Upper Room'

The triple bill production by the Sarasota Ballet was a smashing success. The great combination of different styles of dancing made for a fabulous performance to behold.

  • Arts + Culture
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • December 8, 2010
Hall Monitor

Eccentric theater veteran Jan Van Wart takes us into his lair at State College of Florida's Neel Performing Arts Center.

  • Arts + Culture
"A lot of our spontaneous humor is based on the fact that we never had the opportunity to do an actual dress rehearsal," says Bernice Ditchfield of her family's years performing at the Opera House.
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • December 8, 2010
Ditchfields take Christmas act east of the interstate

After 10 years at the Sarasota Opera House, Stephen and Bernice Ditchfield move the family's beloved Christmas concert to a new venue.

  • Arts + Culture
Bijou Café owner J.P. Knaggs and Gloria Moss
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • December 8, 2010
Edibles: A Sarasota classic picks a Sarasota classic

In this week's Edibles column, Gloria Moss discusses his favorite restaurant, The Bijou Cafe.

  • Arts + Culture
Michael Redding
    By
  • June LeBell
  • December 8, 2010
Music Review: Sarasota Orchestra 'The Dream of America'

The Sarasota Orchestra's recent program at the Sarasota Opera House, "The Dream of America," was a moving tribute that combined 20th- and 21st-century orchestral music with a cast of actors, a singer, videos, photographs and texts.

  • Arts + Culture
Zachary Zimmer, who plays Jim Hill, complains about having to work in the summer heat.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • December 3, 2010
Ranch thespians debut 'Somewhere, Nowhere'

Lakewood Ranch High School students hit the stage Thursday night, debuting the play "Somewhere, Nowhere." Another performance will be offered tonight at 7 p.m., in the school's auditorium.

  • East County
  • News
Giraffe by Scott Causey
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • December 2, 2010
WEEKEND BEST BET: American Craft Show Sarasota

Holiday shopping never looked better. The 18th Annual American Craft Show Sarasota kicks off this Friday at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Convention Center.

  • Arts + Culture
"The poetry of the music is just gorgeous," says Rachel Assi of Gloria Musicae's Argentinean-influenced Christmas concert. "I think it'll be a beautiful piece and an interesting venture into something a little unknown."
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • December 1, 2010
Fresh Pipes

Singer Rachel Assi is young, ambitious and happy to serenade you. Gloria Musicae's new chorus manager is ready to make an impression on Sarasota.

  • Arts + Culture
Bay Haven songbirds: Hannah Jennings, Erin Boudreau, Lis Sundberg, Stefanie Mullins, Isabella Stepanek and Reilly Farr
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • December 1, 2010
Bay Haven students bask in 'holiday splendor'

Meet some of the voices behind this week's holiday concert at the Ringling Museum.

  • Arts + Culture
Arthur Greene performed at the "Chopin Spectacular," at the Sarasota Opera House.
    By
  • June LeBell
  • December 1, 2010
Music Review: The Sarasota Chopin Festival

"Chopin Spectacular" at the Sarasota Opera House featured pianists Greene, Svetlana Smolina, Dmitri Vorobiev, Xiaofeng Wu, Olga Kleiankina and Lee Dougherty Ross with Feder and the soprano Hein Jung.

  • Arts + Culture
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