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Arts + Culture

Michael Donald Edwards, producing artistic director of the Asolo Repertory Theatre, is excited for the upcoming winter season. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 14, 2022
'Cabaret,' 'Man of La Mancha' headline Asolo Rep's new season

Two of the most celebrated musicals of the last century — "Cabaret" and "Man of La Mancha" — will be on the Asolo Rep bill next season.

  • Arts + Culture
Danielle Brown, center, will star with Ricardo Graziano — both left and right — in A Comedy of Errors. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 11, 2022
Sarasota Ballet preps for world premiere of 'A Comedy of Errors'

How do you perform Shakespeare without words? For the Sarasota Ballet, it's a matter of the proper setting, costuming, music and their tongue planted firmly in their cheek.

  • Arts + Culture
Van Gogh, famous for his vibrant colors and  reverence for everyday beauty, is well known for his studies of sunflowers. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 7, 2022
'Beyond Van Gogh' exhibit lands in Sarasota

You've seen Van Gogh paintings on walls and in museums. But now's your chance to stand inside one.

  • Arts + Culture
Matt and Michelle McCord smile in front of a picture of Lauren Teyke in the Ovation lobby. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 7, 2022
Sarasota dancer is coming home with 'Anastasia'

Lauren Teyke grew up in Sarasota and learned the craft of singing and dancing right here at her mom's theater school. Now she returns as a professional.

  • Arts + Culture
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Halls will continue with current COVID protocols for selected acts as demanded by artist contracts.
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 4, 2022
COVID-19 regulations change for arts organizations

A number of local arts organizations have elected to modify their existing pandemic regulations.

  • Arts + Culture
Hanna Brammer, Andrew Surrena and Kyle Oliver draw the curtain back on what it takes for an opera singer to perform. (Photo by Harry Sayer)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 2, 2022
Opera singers dish on path to strength and stamina

The cast of 'The Pearl Fishers' spent some time chatting about the ways singers build their conditioning.

  • Arts + Culture
Vocal Spectrum performed for the students at three area schools on Friday. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 2, 2022
Chorus of the Keys leads student outreach outing

Chorus of the Keys brought a secret weapon, barbershop quartet Vocal Spectrum, to entertain area students last week.

  • Arts + Culture
Richard Hopkins led the audience through a presentation centered on the new construction project. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 1, 2022
Florida Studio Theatre announces ambitious expansion

Florida Studio Theatre has grown past its footprint in downtown Sarasota and is planning an expansion that will result in a new mainstage, two new cabarets, expanded parking and artist housing.

  • Arts + Culture
Darya Fedotova and Sergiy Mykhaylov are changing their dance studio's name in support of their Ukraine homeland. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • March 1, 2022
School of Russian Ballet changes name amidst conflict

Ukraine natives Darya Fedotova and Sergiy Mykhaylov want nothing more than to teach ballet and to see their homeland live in peace.

  • East County
  • News
Sharon Preston-Folta, the daughter of Louis Armstrong, is reclaiming her narrative and telling the world about her childhood. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • February 24, 2022
Daughter of American legend reclaims her history

Sharon Preston-Folta couldn't tell people the simple truth of her parentage for most of her life. But now she's quite comfortable telling the world she is Louis Armstrong's daughter.

  • Arts + Culture
Travis Ray smiles and poses in front of his handiwork at Monark Custom Framing and Art Gallery. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • February 23, 2022
Local entrepreneur is crafting art one bowtie at a time

Travis Ray is making custom bowties inspired by art, and he's doing it with locally sourced material and selling them at a local art gallery.

  • Arts + Culture
Dan Houston's life in art became richer when he rekindled his relationship with Judith Turrentine-Houston. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • February 23, 2022
Rekindled love leads to new art and new gallery

Dan Houston waited decades of his life to paint, and now he's mastering his art with the help of a new relationship and a new gallery space.

  • Arts + Culture
Hymn for Her got creative to pay the bills during the pandemic. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • February 21, 2022
Local musicians get creative to pay the bills

Area artists and bands have found creative ways to pay the piper in the time of COVID-19.

  • Arts + Culture
Patti Smith read from "Just Kids" and "The Coral Sea" and also sang a few songs from her canon. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • February 16, 2022
Patti Smith fondly walks down memory lane

It's been decades since Patti Smith last spoke with her late friend Robert Mapplethorpe, but the memories of their time together remain as indelible as any image in her celebrated life.

  • Arts + Culture
Hermitage fellow Paula Vogel shared her knowledge with a captivated audience at Booker High School on Friday. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • February 15, 2022
Playwright puts plot on paper at Hermitage event

Paula Vogel has seen her work brought to life on the world's largest stages. And she helped a Sarasota audience find the sweet spot in crafting their own elements of style last Friday.

  • Arts + Culture
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1
Sarasota boys basketball coach BJ Ivey embraces Johnny Lackaff. The junior guard had a game-high 27 points March 14 in the FHSAA Class 7A state championship, but it wasn't enough to secure a title for the Sailors.
  • March 14, 2026
Sarasota boys basketball falls by 3 in state championship
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Longboat Key firefighters were set up outside of Publix from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8 collecting money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
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Island firefighters raise $3,600 for muscular dystrophy
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Hysen Muhametaj, Jamison Eige, Ron Major and Sydney Bartlett of Direct Window & Door celebrate Eige's win at the Suncoast Builders Association Chili Cook Off.
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Spicy showdown at the Suncoast Builders Association Chili Cook Off
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Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute
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Johnny Lackaff, in his third season as a starter, has scored as many as 35 points in a game for Sarasota. He's done it twice — first on Nov. 21 against Braden River and again on Jan. 29 against Booker.
  • March 13, 2026
Sarasota boys basketball reaches first state title game in program history

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