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Arts + Culture

    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • February 14, 2022
Selby honors legacies of photographer and rock star in 'Flowers, Poetry And Light'

The artistic legacy of Robert Mapplethorpe and Patti Smith is being displayed as a living exhibit at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

  • Arts + Culture
Trumpet player Luca Stine is excited to come home to Sarasota and play his own original compositions for the first time. (Courtesy photo)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • February 14, 2022
Sarasota native Luca Stine returns home as mature artist

The trumpet player left Sarasota to pursue his musical dreams at the University of Miami, but he's coming back to play Selby Gardens with his own compositions for the first time as a professional.

  • Arts + Culture
It's rare for Adelaide Boedecker and Calvin Griffin to perform together, but they savor the moments when they do.
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • February 10, 2022
A trip home and then The Met beckons for Adelaide Boedecker

Adelaide Boedecker will sing with her husband in her hometown a week after Valentine's Day, and right after that, she has an opportunity to achieve a career highlight.

  • Arts + Culture
The triceratops needed armor to protect itself from dinosaur predators.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • February 10, 2022
Bishop exhibit offers a lost (and found) world

“Dino” Don’s DinoVenture brings long-lost dinosaurs to realistic life at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.

  • Arts + Culture
Melanie Marcotte, Kelsey Wehde Wilson, Luke Johnson, James Ashford, Susan Angermann, and Bruce Price in 2018. (Photo courtesy of FST )
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • February 9, 2022
Florida Studio Theatre mourns loss of James Ashford

Coordinator of casting and hiring worked at FST for 21 years.

  • Arts + Culture
The cast of "Ruby" includes Casey Murphy, Aleah Vassell and Brian L. Boyd. (Photo courtesy of Sorcha Augustine)
  • By Spencer Fordin
  • February 7, 2022
WBTT teases musical 'Ruby' after extended delay

The theatrical run of "Ruby" has been postponed twice due to circumstances beyond its control, but the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is working overtime to give it a new life.

  • Arts + Culture
Fernando and Betsy Traba are poised to play as part of the Sarasota Orchestra's "Be Mine" program.
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • February 4, 2022
Trabas build life out of love for music and each other

Forget love at first sight. For Sarasota Orchestra couple Betsy and Fernando Traba, it was more like love at first sound.

  • Arts + Culture
Sharing is located at the corner of Second Street and Pineapple Avenue.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • February 3, 2022
City's public art master plan looks ahead to an even more creative city

Sarasota works its way toward a master plan for public art, setting guiding principles for a lot more than roundabouts.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The work will go on right to the opening of the circus and beyond for the workers who toil behind the scenes.
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • February 2, 2022
Big top takes big effort to assemble

Before the animals, the clowns or the performers arrive, the hard work at Circus Sarasota lies in putting the tent together.

  • Arts + Culture
The Newsies panel included Travis Ray of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Richard Russell of Sarasota Opera, Iain Webb of Sarasota Ballet and William Skaggs of The Players Centre for Performing Arts. (Photo: Spencer Fordin)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • January 28, 2022
Entertainment execs chat in front of Newsies panel

The Observer brought together four local arts and entertainment executives to discuss how their organizations have fared during the pandemic and beyond.

  • Arts + Culture
The Sarasota Opera apprentices of 2022. (Courtesy photo: Rod Millington)
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • January 28, 2022
Sarasota Opera celebrates 40th year of apprentice program

An opera singer's career can take decades to flourish, and the Sarasota Opera has been providing apprentices with a springboard for 40 years.

  • Arts + Culture
Sunjin Lim's Dwell.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 27, 2022
Art advisory board selects Dwell for Fruitville Road roundabout

Artwork was among three finalists considered for City Commission action.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • January 27, 2022
Sarasota's public art legacy now curated on walking tour

Arts Advocates has developed a series of walking tours that educate people about the history of public art in Sarasota — and the stories behind them.

  • Arts + Culture
The Van Wezel Foundation has announced next steps in it plan to build a performing arts center to replace the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
    By
  • Spencer Fordin
  • January 25, 2022
Funding push begins anew for Sarasota performing arts center project

If everything goes according to plan, the new Sarasota performing arts center could be completed in about six years.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Nicholas Caycedo, Sheffield Chastain and Linden Tailor in "America in One Room." (Courtesy Photo: John Jones.)
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • January 20, 2022
Playwright saw glimpse of hope in political experiment

Jason Odell Williams’ “America in One Room” proves the power of dialogue in a world-premiere production at Florida Studio Theatre.

  • Arts + Culture
« 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 »
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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
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  • March 13, 2026
Sarasota boys basketball reaches first state title game in program history

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