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Arts + Entertainment

Tenor Rafael Dávila, as B.F. Pinkerton, and soprano Asako Tamura, as Cio-Cio-San, in Sarasota Opera’s 2011 production of Puccini’s "Madama Butterfly." Photo by Rod Millington/Sarasota Opera.
    By
  • June LeBell
  • November 2, 2011
Music Review: Puccini's 'Madama Butterfly' performed by the Sarasota Opera

I have wept through many a moving 'Madama Butterfly,' from the Met and New York City Opera to companies abroad and cinematic versions that broke my heart, but the fall production mounted by Sarasota Opera is the most convincing, honest, moving and beautiful I've seen yet.

  • Arts + Culture
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • November 2, 2011
EDIBLES: the restaurants you'd miss the most

Here's the question put to our respondents: 'What Sarasota restaurant would you be heartbroken without ... the place without which your lives wouldn't be quite the same, the place you count on to always be there for you?'

  • Arts + Culture
Black Tie Stand-Out of the week is Barbara Zdravecky … as seen by Tim Burton? Photo by Peter Acker
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • November 1, 2011
Black Tie Standout of the Week

Black Tie Stand-Out of the week is Barbara Zdravecky ... as seen by Tim Burton? The CEO of Planned Parenthood of Central and Southwest Florida showed up at her organization's Safe Sex Halloween Bash party as she might have appeared in the Nightmare Before Christmas ... or perhaps The Corpse Bride.

  • Arts + Culture
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 1, 2011
POLL TEST

POLL TEST

  • Arts + Culture
Enjoy the top Cops Corner stories featured in all Observers.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 28, 2011
Top Cops of the Week

Read the top Cops Corner stories for all Observers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
"Sometimes we need to let go of things for things to happen," Michelle Phillips says of her rock-bottom days. "I'm prepared for anything now. I'm grateful for those days, even if I didn't know at the time that everything would work out."
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • October 26, 2011
Michelle Phillips: A thing of beauty

Makeup artist Michelle Phillips is using her love of cosmetics to empower women. The publication of her first book proves the mission is much more than a vanity project.

  • Arts + Culture
Ryan Shaw. Courtesy Photos.
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • October 26, 2011
Scene & Heard

Blues Fest rolls on, Strauss still rocking out; Wannabe TV scribes put on your thinking caps; Circus Sarasota expands its big top

  • Arts + Culture
Top fundraiser Scott Anderson receives well deserved applause. Peter Acker.
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • October 26, 2011
Black Tie & Tales

They could have danced all night; Police tape and life jackets; Tidbits; Pink, pinker, pinkest; Black Tie Affair

  • Arts + Culture
Marie Féret stars as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's lesser-known sibling in "Mozart’s Sister." 2Courtesy photo
    By
  • Pam Nadon
  • October 26, 2011
Film Review: 'Mozart's Sister'

Is genius genetic? It seems to be so in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's family.

  • Arts + Culture
"An actor's instrument is not only his body and voice," says Andrei Malaev-Babel, "It's his psychology and emotions — especially if he has to rise to the heights of creative passion needed to perform Dostoyevsky."
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • October 26, 2011
BACKSTAGE PASS:The master of adaptation

Andrei Malaev-Babel, director of the FSU/Asolo Conservatory's 'The Brothers Karamazov,' explains why you won't see him directing 'fluffy' plays any time soon.

  • Arts + Culture
    By
  • June LeBell
  • October 26, 2011
Music Review: The Ringling Festival: Brooklyn Rider and Piano Foursome

I've come to a conclusion. There are three important ingredients that can make or break a performance: personal touch, personality and program.

  • Arts + Culture
Holly Dennis' son's room includes a themed sample-room headboard decoration, an old copy of Boys' Life magazine and a chest of drawers with a secret agent theme.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 26, 2011
Home & Garden: Interior angles

Interior designers Holly Dennis and Carmen Christensen were two of eight local interior designers who opened their homes to the public Saturday, Oct. 22, and Sunday, Oct. 23 as part of the Florida West Coast Chapter of ASID's 'Designer Digs' event to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

  • Arts + Culture
...
    By
  • Molly Schechter
  • October 24, 2011
Black Tie Standout of the Week

Dr. Allison Silver and her daughters: Hadleigh, Clementine and Graycen Schwartz. Dr. Silver was one of the competitors at 'CAN Dance - Dancing with Our Stars.'

  • Arts + Culture
"It's like I've come full circle with a suitcase full of knowledge, experience and technological advances," Sigrid Olsen says of her life as an artist.
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • October 19, 2011
Sigrid Olsen jumps from fashion to art

When her clothing line folded three years ago, Sigrid Olsen found refuge in painting. The gallery owner explains why some snowbirds aren't meant to retire.

  • Arts + Culture
Meklit Hadero. Photo by Rus Anson.
    By
  • Heidi Kurpiela
  • October 19, 2011
Scene & Heard

RIAF drama, cool encores, mistaken identities; Sarasota Ballet gets its pink on; Former dancer sells massive canvas

  • Arts + Culture
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Latest in Arts + Entertainment

1
Paul Nicholas and David Cantor star in "A Tailor Near Me" at Florida Studio Theatre through Feb. 15.
  • December 18, 2025
Florida Studio Theatre's 'A Tailor Near Me' stitches threads of friendship and art
2
Justin Gomlak helps bring big city glamour to the Sarasota stage in "A Very Broadway Christmas," which plays Monday, Dec. 22, at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
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The Van Wezel wants you to have 'A Very Broadway Christmas'
3
Richard Thomas stars in "Mark Twain Tonight!" at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Dec. 19-20.
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The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for Dec. 18-24
4
Trevor Stalcup and Jessica Assef star in George Balanchine's "Mozartiana," in Sarasota Ballet's Program Three, "Masters of Movement," which runs Dec. 19-20 at the Sarasota Opera.
  • December 16, 2025
Sarasota Ballet taps a Balanchine disciple to stage his final major work
5
Tree Fort Productions takes a recovery road trip, one classic car at a time
  • December 15, 2025
Tree Fort Productions takes a recovery road trip, one classic car at a time

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