[ad_1]
Guys and Dolls at the West Coast Black Theatre Troupe
The West Coast Black Theatre Troupe will be opening its 2022-23 season on October 5th with their production of the Tony-award winning musical Guys and Dolls. The production, one of five headlining the West Coast Black Theatre Troupe’s season, speaks to the thematic tone of the season. “It’s about a group of guys trying to achieve the American dream–through gambling. It’s a microcosm of what we’ve tried to do here and accomplish at WBTT,” says Nate Jacobs, founder and artistic director of WBTT.
Interrogating the concept of the American dream is something that the WBTT looks to achieve through all of its productions this season, which includes Langston Hughes Black Nativity and Flyin’ West – a play about a group of African-American women who flee the South and settle in Kansas in the 1890s. “We had talked about doing something new with a twist, which is kind of our signature. We develop a lot of new pieces because as the WBTT, we are the steward for Black American, Caribbean, and African culture in the region,” says Jacobs
The idea to put on Guys and Dolls was partially due to the show’s director, Jim Weaver, experience with the musical. Weaver, who is an Artistic Associate and Director of Education at the WBTT, saw a production of Guys and Dolls that featured an all African-American cast on Broadway in 1976. The key twist of the production was that it featured Mo-Town style arrangements of the original showtunes. Look for the WBTT to weave in their own versions of the production’s classic showtunes when it premieres on October 5th.
Box office: 941-366-1505, 1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota. 
Pictured: Brian L. Boyd and Warren G. Nolan Jr. Photo by Sorcha Augustine.
Push-Up Challenge to Raise Money This Weekend for JFCS of the Suncoast’s Mental Health Programs
JFCS of the Suncoast is hosting its first Push for Mental Health on Saturday, Sept. 24. The event, which is a fundraiser, health fair and push-up challenge, will be held at the Sarasota Classic Car Museum from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sponsors include the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Blue, and several local health and fitness organizations. The focus of the event is fun and fitness while raising money and awareness for mental health. During the event, participants will do push-ups at their own pace, competing not against others, but against their own fitness goals. Some may set a pace of 4 push-ups per minute, while others may do 10 every 5 minutes. All ages and skill levels are welcome; participants can do traditional push-ups, wall push-ups, knee push-ups or other modified forms. JFCS offers a range of programs to help youth, teens, adults and seniors cope with long and short-term mental health challenges. Many of these services are offered without any reimbursement, so philanthropy and community support ensure that JFCS can continue to offer assistance to all who are in need. Push for Mental Health will take place from 9:00 am – 12:30 pm. The push-up challenge will take place from 10 a.m. – noon at the Sarasota Classic Car Museum, 5500 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.
Selby Gardens Extends Seeing the Invisible at Historic Spanish Point Campus
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens will host a second year of the cutting-edge contemporary-art exhibition Seeing the Invisible at its Historic Spanish Point campus. The most ambitious and expansive show to date of contemporary artworks created with augmented-reality (AR) technology, the exhibition launched last year at 12 botanical gardens around the world. Selby Gardens is one of four inaugural sites that will continue to host the show for a second year, through September 2023. Six new garden and museum sites will join the global exhibition in October. Seeing the Invisible features works by more than a dozen internationally acclaimed artists, including Ai Weiwei of China, El Anatsui of Ghana, Isaac Julien CBE RA of the United Kingdom, and Sarah Meyohas of the United States. At Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus, the show’s 13 AR works are installed in carefully curated locations throughout the 30-acre preserve. Visitors engage with the art through an app that can be downloaded to a smartphone or tablet. An updated version of the app for Season 2 will be available in October. Seeing the Invisible is the first exhibition of its kind to be developed as a collaboration among botanical gardens around the world. The same commissioned artworks are placed in outdoor settings at the participating institutions, creating parallels and contrasts between them. The AR nature of the exhibition has allowed for the creation of expansive, immersive works that engage with existing features of the natural landscape, going beyond the limitations of what is possible with physical artworks. The collaboration also allows the partner gardens and museums to bring leading contemporary art to their communities in a sustainable way. The show was initiated by Hannah Rendell, Executive Director at the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, and Candida Gertler, co-founder of the London-based Outset Contemporary Art Fund, with support from The Jerusalem Foundation’s Innovation Fund. Seeing the Invisible is co-curated by Hadas Maor and Tal Michael Haring. For Selby Gardens’ installation, Vice President for Visitor Engagement and Chief Museum Curator Dr. David Berry led the local curatorial team. The show is sponsored here by Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
Pictured: El Anatsui, AG + BA (AR), 2014, 2021. Photo courtesy of Selby Gardens.
Barancik Foundation Names Five Teachers as Ripple Effect Award Winners
Teachers change lives every day. Many of us find ourselves conjuring up memories of how a teacher changed our journey during important moments in our personal and professional lives. Outside of family, teachers are one of the important factors in shaping a child’s future. Amazing teachers can lead to amazing trajectories for growth and change and success in a child’s life. Recently, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation recognized five Sarasota County teachers for going above and beyond in their profession. Barancik Foundation named five Ripple Effect Teacher Awards winners in partnership with Sarasota County Schools in memory of Margery Barancik. The semi-annual prize acknowledges five outstanding teachers on Chuck’s birthday in May and five on Margie’s birthday in September. Each teacher recognized for their positive impact on their students’ lives is awarded $5,000 to spend on professional development experiences, material, and equipment for their classrooms. Margie’s fall awardees are: Amy Baldwin, Gocio Elementary; Xiomara Dearing, Ashton Elementary; Dr. Carmen Larson, Sarasota Middle School; Katie Leworthy, Atwater Elementary; Jamie Davidson, Woodland Middle School.
A surprise to the teachers, each winner was recognized by the superintendent, their principal, and members of the School District during a special ceremony at their schools. The recipients were commended for their innovative efforts in building positive cultural changes at their schools—among their students and peers. All were recognized for the lasting impact they have on their students. Launched in 2021, the award was inspired by the late Barancik couple’s philosophy on their charitable giving, often noting, “We can’t change the world, but we can change little pieces of it and hope for a ripple effect.” Facilitated by the School District, each Sarasota County principal nominated one teacher to be considered for the award. A committee made up of community leaders then identified the top candidates. Previous winners have used the funds for classroom improvement projects, professional development workshops across the country, and items like musical equipment and state-of-the-art robots to help pique students’ interest in the classroom. Barancik Foundation has made an ongoing commitment to award the 10 $5,000 teacher grants each year.
Pictured: Atwater Elementary teacher Katie Leworthy and her class. Photo courtesy of the Barancik Foundation.
Child Protection Center’s Prevention Program Celebrates 30 Years
The Child Protection Center (CPC)’s Personal Safety and Community Awareness Program (PSCA) celebrates its 30 th anniversary of educating the community on reducing child abuse. As the longest tenured prevention program in the state of Florida as well as Sarasota County’s sole provider of this type of holistic and comprehensive child abuse prevention education, PSCA has served over 800,000 individuals in its 30-year history. PSCA provides workshops at no cost to pre-school through high school aged youth and facilitates workshops for their caregivers, teachers, school board staff, and community members to help empower kids and enable adults to help make our entire community a safer and more stable place for children and families. The Personal Safety Team, led by Program Director Michelle McSwain, offers lessons for over 20 different personal safety topics, “All of which have the goal of empowering children over their bodies, decisions, and mind,” Michelle explains. The hope is to prevent a child from becoming a victim of sexual abuse, but in some cases the program serves as the entry point into the system. Michelle commented that it’s not unusual for a child to disclose abuse during a presentation. “In one workshop, a child disclosed that her dad liked to touch her private body parts. In these situations, PSCA staff makes the abuse report. This was the first step to healing for that child, who was able to receive therapy services at the Child Protection Center and is now a survivor of sexual abuse because of a PSCA workshop.” Since its inception 30 years ago, the growing program has developed a strong reputation as the professionals in prevention, presenting at national conferences such as Krimes Against Kids and receiving requests from child advocacy centers across the country wishing to emulate their work. “Preventing children from experiencing the traumas of abuse and providing them a life where they can just be a kid, that’s the goal we want for all children,” said Doug Staley, CPC’s Executive Director. “Our children are worth the investment! I see the successes this program makes daily and want the community to know your support and actions are saving lives and making a difference every single day.” Doug went on to confirm an initiative for PSCA to expand into DeSoto County in the near future.
MSD Engineering, LLC Announces Creation of an Additional Engineering Firm Called Florida Structural Forensics, LLC
MSD Engineering, LLC (MSD) an engineer-owned structural and forensic engineering company located in Manatee County, Florida is pleased to announce the creation of an additional engineering firm called Florida Structural Forensics, LLC (FLSF). FLSF specializes in visually examining multi-story buildings to discover defects that could become disastrous or — worse case — deadly. Like highly trained medical specialists, our expertise laser focuses on the structural health and wellbeing of your building. Our experience taught us an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure — and financially crippling, preventable rehabilitation. It is best to find the cause and origin of your structural defects and neutralize them before they have a chance to spread. Florida Structural Forensics, LLC is ready, willing, and able to work with your organization so it complies with Florida’s mandatory Senate Bill 4-D Milestone Inspection law and to ensure your buildings are safe and sound. Select Florida Structural Forensics and be assured you will be working with a personable, engineer owned/operated Manatee County, Florida company dedicated to solving your complex problems efficiently and within your budget. You can connect with FLSF at www.FLSFengr.com or by calling 941.462.4800.
Online Resource Guide Adds NEW Location Intelligence With GIS Map
Making An Impact (MAI) recently enhanced the online version of its Community Connections Resource Guide with the addition of GIS spatial software. “ With the help of this new software feature, online guide users can now pinpoint the location of one or more agencies in relation to other landmarks, and can further use that information to answer questions regarding resource scarcity, as well as potential community and organizational challenges or opportunities,” said MAI board chair, Victoria Kasdan. Making An Impact has more than 4000 printed resource guides in circulation. Users include most local health and human service nonprofits, law enforcement agencies, and faith-based institutions. Their comprehensive Community Connections Resource Guide, now available in print and online, lists over 250 agencies providing essential need services in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The MAI resource guide has quickly become one of the area’s most trusted and widely used references for where to go to get help. For more information about Making An Impact, to view their online resource guide, or support their mission, visit www.Making-An-Impact .org or contact them at info@Making-An-Impact.org.
Separate And Better?
SEPARATE AND BETTER? | Once this year’s Sarasota County Commission elections conclude, the board will be made up entirely of commissioners elected in single-member district elections.
Hear more about the elections through this link, on our social media, or in the September edition of SRQ Magazine!
HEALTH:
Zumba at The Bay , July 9 – September 24, 10am-11am
Join Ya’el Campbell for a special monthly Zumba from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. This is a high energy outdoor Zumba class! Come dance with a fantastic group of Zumba Rockstars who will make you move, smile, jump, shake and sing… (it happens sometimes). Grab a friend, bring your kids, and meet new Zumba friends. Program Dates: July 9 (Bayfront Community Center); August 20 (Bayfront Community Center); September 24; The Bay Park, 655 N. Tamiami Trail.
PERFORMANCE:
Florida Studio Theatre Improv: We’re Doomed , August 13 – September 24, 7:30pm
FST Improv Presents: We’re Doomed Beginning August 13 on Saturdays at 7:30pm. In a world where blockbusters come and go, FST Improv entertains with an unforgettable, original, and fully improvised motion picture! The cast of We’re Doomed will perform an improvised horror movie based on a title provided by the audience! We’ll leave the fancy equipment behind as we use unique staging, special effects and onstage acrobatics to recreate the excitement and magic of the silver screen. You’ll even get to see improvised previews of upcoming attractions.
Florida Studio Theatre’s Bowne’s Lab
PERFORMANCE:
Venice Theatre: God’s Country , September 9 – September 25, Varied
God’s Country by Steven Dietz. A riveting, highly theatrical docudrama about those dedicated to revolution against the U.S. government and the expulsion from “God’s Country” of non-Aryans. Three narrative spines are skillfully interwoven in this thought-provoking, unsettling, and challenging fare that examines America’s dark soul, and asks, “What can/should we do about it?” * Includes violent and graphic images, adult language and heavy adult themes. Audience discretion advised. September 9th-25th, 2022. For more information visit venicetheatre.org, Ph. 941.488.1115, email info@venicetheatre.net
Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W Venice, FL 34285 (The Box Office is currently closed for walk-up business)
PERFORMANCE:
Florida Studio Theatre: New York State of Mind: All the Hits of Billy Joel With The Uptown Boys , August 9 – October 2, Varies.
With more than 40 years of cumulative work on some of Broadway’s biggest hits, The Uptown Boys use Billy Joel’s rich songbook as a way to share their stories of life, love, and trying to make it in New York City. Whether you’re a fan of Billy Joel’s entire catalogue or just a casual listener, The Uptown Boys have something to satisfy everyone. Featuring such hits as “Only The Good Die Young,” “For the Longest Time,” “Piano Man,” and many more you know and love. New York State of Mind: All the Hits of Billy Joel With The Uptown Boys™ by Alexander Aguilar and John De Simini will play beginning August 9, 2022 in FST’s John C. Court Cabaret. Run Time is 70 minutes with a 15-minute intermission.
Florida Studio Theatre’s John C. Court Cabaret
FILM:
Sarasota Film Society: Movies For Heroes , September 13 – December 13, Varied
Sarasota Film Society is proud to present “Movies For Heroes”, a year long Salute to our Military. Active, Non-Active, Retired Personnel & their family are welcomed to join us once a month at 11am at Burns Court & Lakewood Ranch Cinemas starting in January of 2022 for a year of free movie screenings. 10% of the concession sales from these screenings will go to Wounded Warrior Project. Space is limited, reserve your tickets today. Location Burns Court Cinemas 506 Burns Court Sarasota, FL 34236.
506 Burns Court Sarasota, FL 34236
THEATER:
Manatee Performing Arts Center: RENT , September 14 – October 2, Varies
La Vie Boheme! Jonathan Larson’s iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning musical that shaped a generation of audiences and taught us all to measure our life in love. Set in the East Village of New York City, Rent is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Rent has become a pop cultural phenomenon. with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages. This is theatre at its best – exuberant, passionate and joyous. For more information visit www.manateeperformingartscenter.com, Ticket Office 941-748-5875
Manatee Performing Arts Center , 502 Third Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205
SCIENCE AND NATURE:
MOTE MARINE: Meet the Women of Mote , September 14 – October 7, Varied
MEET THE WOMEN OF MOTE This year, we are celebrating what would have been the 100th birthday of Mote’s founding director, Dr. Eugenie Clark. Thanks to her amazing legacy, many women have followed in her wake. This fall, we introduce you to the marine science educators, researchers, and ocean explorers that we call “The Women of Mote”. You’ll learn about their journeys, career challenges, and their incredible accomplishments impacting marine environments in our own backyard and around the globe. We hope you’ll join us- and find yourself inspired- as we celebrate these talented and pioneering women during the second season of Women of Mote. The three-part series will include two virtual events, and one hybrid event held in the WAVE Center at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium while being broadcast to our virtual audience. Sept. 14 and 21 and one hybrid event Oct. 7. More event details can be found at mote.org/womenofmote
Mote Marine , 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, Florida.
PERFORMANCE:
Venice Theatre: The Revolutionists , September 16 – October 2, Varied
The Revolutionists by Lauren Gunderson. Four bodacious women lose their heads (literally) in this irreverent, women-centered tragicomedy set during the French Revolution. This witty, thought-provoking, raucously funny adventure was inventively conceived by one of today’s most-produced American playwrights. * Includes adult language/themes. Audience discretion advised. September 16-October 2, 2022. Tickets Adult $29 College/Educator $21 Youth $15 For more information visit venicetheatre.org, Ph. 941.488.1115, email info@venicetheatre.net
Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W Venice, FL 34285 (The Box Office is currently closed for walk-up business)
THEATER:
CreArte Latino Cultural Center: MADENUSA , September 16 – October 15, Varied
CreArte Latino Cultural Center Presents MADENUSA A Play by Claudia Soroka September 16-17, at 8 p.m., September 18 at 5 p.m., and October 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. MADENUSA is an amusing and fresh take on the immigrant experience that delves into the intricacies of adjusting to a different culture. The comedy is directed by Carolina Franco, president and artistic director of CreArte Latino Cultural Center. The play will be performed in Spanish with subtitles in English. The playwright will attend the show on September 17 with a bilingual Q & A after the performance. Tickets are $20. To purchase tickets, visit www.creartelatino.org. CreArte Latino Cultural Center is at 8251 15th Street East, Airport Mall Plaza, Suite 1, Sarasota. The show is sponsored, in part, by a $3,000 grant from Bradenton Area Arts & Culture.
CreArte Latino Cultural Center, 8251 15th Street East, Airport Mall Plaza, Suite 1, Sarasota.
GRAB BAG:
Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch , January 2 – December 25, 10am-2pm
The Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch is home to more than 90 curated vendors of the region’s best food and flavors, located at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch. It takes place every Sunday from 10am to 2pm at Waterside Place. It’s your weekend destination for organic produce, meat, poultry, seafood, bread, pasta, juices and prepared foods. Stay up to date on vendors and events by visiting TheMarketLWR.com.
BUSINESS:
The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime: Limelight Market , April 23 – December 17, 10am-3pm
Every 3rd Saturday from 10-3 The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime opens their outdoor space for guest vendors, dog rescues, and live music. Check out the 40 local creators and curators inside The Bazaar every Thursday – Saturday. Enjoy a delicious lunch and support local. Free, until you buy something amazing!
PERFORMANCE:
Manatee Performing Art Center: Pets! , November 2 – November 20, Varied
Pets! November 2 – 20, 2022. This critically-acclaimed musical revue consists of 22 musical scenes dealing with the very special relationship between people and their pets. It’s clever, user-friendly and suits audiences of all ages. Cats, dogs, mice, turtles, iguanas, parakeets and other species are having the times of their lives. The scenes range from a dog hungrily eyeing his owner’s bagel in “There’s a Bagel on the Piano” to the hilarious, harried Rumanian dog walker in “I Walk Ze Dogs.” For more information visit www.manateeperformingartscenter.com, Ticket Office 941-748-5875
Manatee Performing Arts Center , 502 Third Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205
THEATER:
Venice Theatre: Xanadu , November 18 – December 20, Varied
Xanadu runs Novemeber 18-December 20, 2022 at Venice Theatre. Based on the Universal Pictures cult classic movie of the same title, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, Xanadu is hilarity on wheels for adults, children and anyone who has ever wanted to feel inspired. Book by Douglas Carter Beane and Music and Lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. Tickets Adult $31 College/Educator $21 Youth $15 For more information visit venicetheatre.org, Ph. 941.488.1115, email info@venicetheatre.net
Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W Venice, FL 34285 (The Box Office is currently closed for walk-up business)
PERFORMANCE:
Sarasota Opera: Madama Butterfly , February 18 – March 24, Varied
Madama Butterfly is an Opera in three acts. Music by Giacomo Puccini. Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. A young geisha known affectionately as Madama Butterfly is swept off her feet by an American Naval Officer. Left with a promise that he would return one day, Butterfly waits faithfully for three years, but is met with heartbreak in one of opera’s most enduring tragedies. Sung in Italian with Translations in English. February 18th-March 24 For tickets visit sarasotaopera.org or Ph. +1 941 328 1300
Sarasota Opera , 61 N Pineapple Ave. Sarasota, FL 34236
DANCE:
Sarasota Ballet: Program 5 – Dance Theatre of Harlem , February 24 – February 27
The Sarasota Ballet is excited to announce the Company’s 2022 – 2023 Season. Over seven programs, The Sarasota Ballet will perform 15 works by some of the most celebrated and prestigious choreographers and composers of the ballet world. Program 5 – Dance Theatre of Harlem. February 24-27, 2023 at FSU Center for the Performing Arts. The Sarasota Ballet Presents: Dance Theatre of Harlem. For more information visit www.sarasotaballet.org, Box office 941.359.0099
[ad_2]
Source link
