The Metropolitan Opera eight years ago began streaming live performances into movie houses and theaters across the nation, sparking a sea change in the way audiences experience opera. In Sarasota, Regal Cinemas and Hollywood 20 have taken full advantage, selling out showings on a regular basis and reaping the monetary benefits. This summer, Sarasota Opera decided to get in on the game, introducing its new summer series, HD at the Opera House, to smashing results.

“I was hoping in the first season to average about 200 people per showing,” said Richard Russell, executive director for the Sarasota Opera. “We did better than that, generated a lot more income and it was great—much better than I anticipated for a new venture.”

HD at the Opera House debuted in April, with nine productions following, including the latest, The Girl of the Golden West, premiering today. Not wanting to merely replicate the Met’s programming, the Sarasota Opera partnered with a couple international distributors, which in turn brought in performances from the Royal Opera in London, the Paris Opera, the San Francisco Opera and Verona Arena, all available for screening in Sarasota.

Russell stepped in as executive director in 2012 and made this new venture one of his “first priorities,” seeing it as not only a lucrative economic opportunity, but also a viable effort to recapture a flagging audience and modern in-road to reaching new audiences. With help from the Selby Foundation and Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Opera purchased the necessary projection equipment, installed state-of-the-art speakers and started programming.

“I really felt like, in our venue, we could do better than the Met does with Hollywood 20,” said Russell, pointing out that the opera house was formerly a movie theater and can house 1,100 people—far more than a theater at Hollywood 20, meaning more general availability and, in response, opportunity for spontaneity from the audience. “I hope it feels a little more casual than a typical opera performance. I hope people are encouraged to make last-minute decisions to come.”

And that’s the key behind the Sarasota Opera’s enthusiasm for the series—yes, it’s an economic boon, but more importantly it’s a seemingly effective way to bring opera to more Sarasotans, Bradentonians and Venetians. No longer does the opera experience entail months of planning, big pockets and a top hat and tails combo; with HD at the Opera House a ticket to the show typically costs about $20 (with the exception of a very few choice seats, all seats are open for General Admission price, giving patrons the opportunity to try different vantage points and find their favorite.) and jeans work just fine.

“This is one of the ways we want to help increase our audience and our activity,” said Russell. Then, motioning toward the theater across the street, “there’s not a lot going on in the summer, especially not in our theater, so why not use it?”

The final production for the debut season of HD at the Opera House screens tonight at 7pm and then Sunday at 1:30pm. Entitled The Girl of the Golden West and adapted by Giacomo Puccini from a play by David Belasco, the show is an Italian take on the Wild West. Originally set in a California mining town mid-Gold Rush, this production is updated, swapping out the Gold Rush for the Fame Rush of Old Hollywood. It comes to the Sarasota Opera courtesy of the Paris Opera. Tickets are still available. 

Art Center Sarasota recently welcomed five new members to its board of directors. The center also elected new officers and recognized a former board member for his commitment to the organization. The new board members include Mariano Vera, Rosenda Calloway, Darlene Arbeit, Diana Paver and Sue Gross. The board elected officers: Billue Guignard (chair); Nancy Jenkins (vice president); Sue Gross (treasurer); Diana Paver (secretary); and Joel Persky (governance chair). Continuing members include Jeffrey Weisman, Charles Stephens, Gale Fulton Ross, Jim Harman and Ramsey Frangie. 

Art Center Sarasota

Jennifer Compton, a partner and board certified labor and employment attorney with the full-service business law firm Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick, will be installed as the Girls Inc. of Sarasota County board president on Wednesday, Oct. 1, with a one-year term. Along with the executive director Robin Rose, Compton will help steward the nonprofit to ensure it’s reaching the maximum amount of girls with the National Girls Inc. curriculum. 

Girls Inc. of Sarasota County

Husband-and-wife Realtor team Mart Solu and Jill Berghave joined the RE/MAX Alliance Group Sarasota office. They return to RE/MAX Alliance Group after two years with another real estate firm. They specialize in residential real estate, waterfront property and relocation clients. A real estate professional for eight years, Berg is a graduate of the Realtor Institute, certified distressed property expert, short sales and foreclosure resource specialist and ePRO. Solu has been a real estate professional in Sarasota since 2005. He is a graduate of the Realtor Institute and a certified distressed property expert. 

RE/MAX Alliance Group

When we correct our dog, there's no need to have a high energy, intense correction if, for example, a low-key, verbal "Hey, stop it" will work. We want to use the least amount of correction that'll get the job done. If that first low-level verbal correction doesn't get it, then we quickly take it to the next level. Let's say your dog is digging in the trash. You could try to distract him with a simple "Get outta there". If that works, give a little praise (like "good boy"), then redirect him. If that first little correction doesn't get his attention, next comes something like "Hey!". If that doesn't work, you must physically approach him with an even louder "No!", or a loud handclap with a simultaneous "Hey!". Ascending volume and your approach to get in his "space", sends a message about your intensity (and your rank). The dog with the more intense energy will be the leader of your pack (this obviously should be you!). You're trying to get just a slight break in the behavior. So the very instant he stops and looks up at you from the trash can, and you get that break, you must flip the switch so to speak, change your tone to a positive one and redirect him. The best thing to redirect him to is to come to you for affection, or for a puppy maybe a toy. If you get in his space and he's still not responding, you should take it to the next level. The next level in this scenario means a little peck with your fingertips anywhere around his neck. This communicates mama's nip, and at the same instant you give the peck, say "no!" If this doesn't work, next comes a literal grab of his neck skin (scruff). But again, as soon as you see him concede to your will, you must switch to a praising mind set. And this is how we condition our dog to obey: Not only are our boundaries right on time, more importantly, our praising is too.  

Dog's Best Friend