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Arts + Culture

Ricardo Rhodes and the Sarasota Ballet are primed for another high flying season. (Courtesy Photo: Matthew Holler)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • April 18, 2022
Old classics and new ones keep Sarasota Ballet on pointe

Ashton, Balanchine and David Bintley are all in the repertoire for the upcoming season of the Sarasota Ballet.

  • Arts + Culture
Leymis Bolaños Wilmott instructs her daughter Valda and dancers Michael Foley and Monessa Salley.
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • April 13, 2022
Sarasota Contemporary Dance turns trauma into triumph

For her next dance performance, Leymis Bolaños Wilmott chose a weighty personal topic: The exodus of thousands of children from Cuba during the Fidel Castro regime.

  • Arts + Culture
Andy Sandberg, right, of the Hermitage Artist Retreat engaged playwright Aleshea Harris in a moderated dicussion. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • April 13, 2022
Playwright returns to scene of giant honor

One year after accepting the Hermitage Greenfield Prize, Aleshea Harris returned to Sarasota. In that year, she's seen her work staged in New York and London.

  • Arts + Culture
Andy Sandberg on stage with playwright Paula Vogel at a Hermitage event earlier this year. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • April 11, 2022
Hermitage aims for national footprint nurturing artists

Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg wasn't content to steer the Hermitage Artist Retreat through the troubled waters of COVID-19. He wanted to double down.

  • Arts + Culture
Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty have proved to be a formidable songwriting team over the years. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • April 7, 2022
'Knoxville' lyricist talks play's path to production

The pandemic seemed to kill the musical adaption, but it’s alive and ready to premiere. Lyricist Lynn Ahrens thinks that’s something to sing about.

  • Arts + Culture
Michael Donald Edwards announced this week that he is stepping down from his position at Asolo Repertory Theatre in June 2023. (Courtesy photo)
  • By Spencer Fordin
  • April 5, 2022
Asolo Rep begins search for new leadership

Michael Donald Edwards and Linda DiGabriele are stepping down from Asolo Rep next year, and the theater is beginning a search for their replacements.

  • Arts + Culture
Lakewood Ranch's Lydia Kaeyer says she felt she had to express her feelings about Russia's invasion of the Ukraine through her paintings. Her work is on display at the ComCenter in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 5, 2022
ComCenter of Lakewood Ranch hosts art exhibit

Lakewood Ranch Art League presents 75 paintings that range from elephants and abstract to support for Ukraine.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Student filmmaker Will Mauricette stands out from the crowd. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • April 1, 2022
Ringling College student filmmaker hopes for success at film festival

Will Mauricette had a dream. But first he had to develop his skills before he could see it to fruition.

  • Arts + Culture
Nate Jacobs, founder of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, engaged Rhames in a moderated discussion about his career. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 31, 2022
Actor Ving Rhames implores WBTT audience to follow their dreams

The "Mission Impossible" actor doesn't know how he made it to the top of the acting heap, but he credits his faith, his craft and his instinct for survival for leading him to Hollywood success.

  • Arts + Culture
The swirling colors and brush strokes of Alexander Solotzew will be on display at Art Ovation. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 30, 2022
Artist's life and love displayed in vibrant brush strokes

Alexander Solotzew believes his work is the art of the future. And it demands to be seen in the present.

  • Arts + Culture
The Sarasota Opera will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Sarasota Opera House during its 2025-2026 season.
  • By Spencer Fordin
  • March 28, 2022
Mozart, Verdi on tap in upcoming season for Sarasota Opera

The Sarasota Opera is preparing to show Mozart, Puccini and Verdi productions in its upcoming winter season.

  • Arts + Culture
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has an action-packed upcoming season full of dance and Broadway shows. (File photo)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 28, 2022
Song, dance and Broadway drama highlight new Van Wezel season

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall unveiled its upcoming season chock full of Broadway drama on Sunday.

  • Arts + Culture
Knoxville cast members Paul Alexander Nolan, Jack Casey and Jason Danieley in the rehearsal room. (Courtesy photo: Ian Johnston)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 26, 2022
'Knoxville' team preps for world premiere after pandemic pause

They could've moved onto other projects and other endeavors. But the creative team behind "Knoxville" believed in their work and used the pandemic to strengthen it ahead of its world premiere.

  • Arts + Culture
The major work of the 2015 Chalk Festival was this epic drawing of Bacchus, the Roman God of wine and fertility. (Courtesy of Chalk Festival)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 24, 2022
Chalk Festival artists prepare to make Venice their canvas

The world of artistic expression knows no boundaries and no borders, but for three days, the Venice International Airport will be the world capital of chalk street art.

  • Arts + Culture
The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is excited about their upcoming season. (Courtesy Photo: Sorcha Augustine)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 22, 2022
'Dreamgirls' and 'Guys and Dolls' on tap for WBTT in upcoming season

The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is performing in Broadway classics and charting new directions with its upcoming season.

  • Arts + Culture
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