SRQ DAILY Oct 18, 2019
Friday Weekend Edition
"Many of the WBTT performers learned music by ear so we had to transcribe the music for this production."
Nate Jacobs and Joseph Caulkins knew they wanted to collaborate, but the timing never seemed right. For Jacobs, artistic director of West Coast Black Theatre Troupe, the last year and a half has been hectic with unprecedented growth culminating in the renovation of a new space. Similarly, Caulkins, director of Key Chorale, was hard at work formulating the envelope-pushing programming his organization is known for. This weekend, the timing is right as the two will finally get to witness the fruits of their collaborative labor with American Roots: The Gospel Experience.
The Gospel Experience represents the third offering in Key Chorale’s American Roots series and will explore the rich tradition of African American spirituals. Naturally, no group of performers were better equipped to front the show than those from WBTT, the organization built to celebrate and preserve African American history. “Of course, WBTT was the first thing that came to Joseph’s mind,” says Jacobs, “because he wanted to be as authentic as possible.” Caulkins, who has seen many of WBTT’s shows, says it was an easy decision to make. “Anybody who has seen their shows would want to collaborate,” says Caulkins, “they have incredible energy.”
The show will feature music adapted from one of Jacobs’ all-original productions called How I Got Over, a musical that explores the role of gospel music in the African American experience. It includes versions of “Amazing Grace,” “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and “Oh Happy Day,” spirituals that have transcended race and religion through America’s history. Though the music was a perfect fit for the show, adapting three-part harmonies to eight or more had its challenges. “Many of the WBTT performers learned music by ear,” says Caulkins, “so we had to transcribe the music for this production.” Ultimately, the process reinforced to each group that there are many paths to harmony with talent and practice. And harmony will be the main through-line for the show, both musically and in underlying message. “There is just so much joy in gospel music,” says Caulkins, “it speaks to everyone.” Jacobs hopes the performance can offer audiences some peace and comfort in what he feels is a divisive time in this country. “We can celebrate, worship and sing as one,” he says.
The series opens tonight with a performance at First United Methodist Church in Downtown Sarasota, followed by a 4 pm matinee show on Saturday, October 19th at St. Boniface Episcopal Church on Siesta Key. Tickets are still available for Saturday, October 26th at Venice Presbyterian Church. 
Photo by Soicha Augustine.
Gone, but not forgotten. Nearly two months after the passing of the beloved face and voice of A Gulf Coast Journal, Jack Perkins continues to grace our homes thanks to WEDU. Beginning this week, WEDU is re-broadcasting some of the best episodes of A Gulf Coast Journal in Jack’s memory on its WEDQ channel. The Journal was a monthly TV magazine that began in 2004, profiling the people, places, culture, and history that make Sarasota County and the surrounding region special. Over its nine-season run, The Journal was funded exclusively by Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Visit WEDU.org and check the online schedule to see when these cherished episodes are airing. You also can watch complete installments of A Gulf Coast Journal, as well as the WEDU special A Jack Perkins Tribute, online anytime at wedu.org/programs/agcj/.
As seen on BravoTV, The Great Love Debate World Tour Comes to Sarasota for a special one night only event at McCurdy's Comedy Theater. The world-renowned interactive comedy show is a wildly entertaining social experiment on love, where the guys are separated from the women, sitting on the left, with ladies on the right. From there, a wild, feisty, hilarious and candid show on sex, dating and relationships in 2019 ensues. The show features an on-stage lineup of the city's most dynamic voices, specialists and personalities, including host Brian Howie, the award-winning director, producer and best-selling author of How to Find Love in 60 Seconds. Howie has been the subject of features on FOX, ABC, CNN, Entertainment Weekly, The New Yorker and Esquire Magazine, and has been dubbed as "America's #1 Dating Enthusiast," according to TIME Magazine.
This show will be recorded as a special live audience presentation of The Great Love Debate's podcast: The World's #1 Dating & Relationship. All tickets must be purchased in advance — this show will sell out. For more information and for tickets, visit here.
Monday, October 21, 7pm at McCurdy's Comedy Theater, 1923 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, 941-925-3869.
Photo courtesy of The Great Love Debate.
Unleash your inner artist—students of all skill levels can explore their creative interests and sharpen their artistic skills in non-credit art and design classes and workshops offered by the Ringling College Continuing Studies’ Studio + Digital Arts program. Studio arts classes include painting, drawing, mixed-media, fiber arts, and photography. Studio arts classes include painting, drawing, mixed-media, fiber arts, and photography. Digital arts classes include graphic design, web design, and digital art-making. Classes, taught by seasoned artists, instructors, and designers in state-of-the-art, professionally equipped facilities, run one to eight sessions each and are held during the day, evenings, and weekends.
The fall semester runs through November 22 at the new Ringling College Museum Campus, 1001 South Tamiami Trl., Sarasota. For more information and to register, visit www.olliatringlingcollege.org, call 941-309-5111 or email olli@ringling.edu.
Visit Sarasota County is proud to be a sponsor and supporter of unique sports events occurring this weekend. Visitors and locals alike are encouraged to attend the events to spectate. Both events will take place Saturday and Sunday October 19 and 20.
Boom! At the Beach: The first annual two-day 4v4 beach ultimate tournament on Siesta Beach is presented by the Tampa Bay Cannons. Siesta Key is a familiar locale for thousands of Ultimate players across the nation, as teams would often stay there during the Ultimate National Club Championships, held from 2000-2012 at the Sarasota Polo Club. As beach ultimate continues to grow in popularity, it makes perfect sense to hold an annual tournament at the iconic Siesta Beach. The event will consist of pool play on Saturday and bracket play on Sunday in both Mixed and Open divisions. For more information, visit www.boomatthebeach.com.
USA BMX Sunshine State Nationals: Hundreds of USA BMX professional and amateur riders from all over the world will return to Sarasota BMX for the second year in a row to compete in the Sunshine State Nationals, a part of USA BMX’s National Race Circuit. The track’s dual-hill design enables the event to include PRO races, which will feature riders competing for points to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Local spectators will have the opportunity to see some of the world’s most skilled athletes soar through the air as they come off of the 8-meter start ramp. There is no ticket needed to watch the action, however there will be a charge for parking. For more information, visit www.usabmx.com.
The free 2019 College & Career Readiness Conference, presented by Reach Manatee, is the region’s only parent/student conference focused on helping families understand the college and career options for their students. This year’s conference will feature speakers with years of expertise helping students navigate financial aid/FAFSA, the admissions process, college expectations, types of post-secondary opportunities, and how education connects to careers and labor market data. The keynote speaker is Maria Furtado, Executive Director of Colleges That Change Lives, an organization dedicated to the advancement and support of a student-centered college search process based in California. Furtado will focus on ways to support the goal of each student finding a college that develops a lifelong love of learning, providing the foundation for a successful and fulfilling life beyond college.
The event is Saturday, October 19, 8am - 1pm, at Bayside East Campus, 15800 FL-64, Bradenton.
Learn more about fossils and receive half-price admission to The Bishop as the Bradenton museum celebrates National Fossil Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 19. This year, they will feature a special exhibition organized by the American Museum of Natural History. The exhibition 'Giants, Dragons & Unicorns: The World of Mythic Creatures,' helps guests discover how the fossils of prehistoric animals led to human speculation about their origins — and to misidentification and the creation of myths to explain such creatures. The exhibition includes models and casts of prehistoric species.
On National Fossil Day, you can also check out displays from local fossil clubs and enthusiasts, try fossil-related activities and crafts and be a paleontologist in the Mosaic Backyard Universe's Dig Pit. Admission is half-price on National Fossil Day; members of the Discovery Society always get in free.
The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County is pleased to announce the new season of the Arts Leadership Academy. Back by popular demand, the Arts Leadership Academy provides emerging local leaders with an immersive arts and culture experience. Participants in this program will attend in-depth educational sessions at seven cultural organizations to learn about their operational details, significance in the community, and recognize the vital connection between these organizations and our local economy. Arts Leadership Academy participants will also attend performances at each organization and have additional networking opportunities throughout the year. The goal of the program is to develop engaged advocates of our local arts and culture. Upon completion of the program participants will be prepared to support local arts and culture through their work and by serving on boards. Members of the Arts Leadership Academy are sponsored by their employer, tuition is $500 and sessions will run November 2019 to May 2020.
A mesmerizing 3D animated film by Chinese painter and draughtsman, Sun Xun incorporates traditional techniques including ink painting, charcoal drawing and woodblock printing. He uses analog and digital technologies to explore pressing concerns of the time.
The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road
Buoys and ghouls of all ages are invited to dress up in costume for a Night of Fish, Fun & Fright to enjoy spooky activities throughout Mote Aquarium. Unearth shark teeth in “Coffin Creek" and feast on deep sea delights in the “Diner of the Dead." Don’t miss Mote’s signature underwater pumpkin carving in spooktacular shark habitats. Pricing, additional information, and a link to purchase your tickets will be posted closer to the event on Mote's Fish, Fun & Fright website page.
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236
Famed in particular for his speed and a tendency to create images overflowing with colorful characters, Jack Davis was one of the founding members of Mad Magazine's "Usual Gang of Idiots." He supplied covers for Tim and TV Guide, designed numerous album covers and movie posters, and, over his 60-year career, became one of the most in-demand caricaturists and cartoonists in the world. This exhibition attempts to show Davis' range by bringing together a selection of his original work that demonstrates his breadth of subjects and his skills as an artist. This body of work focuses on American popular culture, diving deeper into his career than the sports and caricature work for which he is best known. Opening Reception, Friday, October 18, 5-8pm. Evening Panel Discussion, Thursday, November 14, 6-8pm.
Lois and David Stulberg Gallery in the Richard and Barbara Basch Visual Arts Center, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
UPDATE: The 14th Annual First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon, Relay, 10K & 5K, a signature event produced by Life Time, the premier healthy lifestyle brand, will be moving to Sunday, October 20, 2019 due to inclement weather. The Half Marathon, Relay and 10K showcase the beautiful Sarasota area. All participants will start and finish at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and embark along a captivating waterfront route, including the John Ringling Bridge and around St. Armand's Circle before heading to downtown Sarasota.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236
The 2019 Making Strides of Sarasota-Manatee is presented by CORE Construction and will take place at Nathan Benderson Park. Check-in is at 7am, the walk begins at 9am and there is no charge to participate. You can participate in the walk, lead a team in the walk, or donate to the cause. By raising awareness and funds, ACS can continue to educate about reducing cancer risk and early detection, fund even more groundbreaking research, and deliver more crucial services that patients and caregivers rely on every day. For more information, visit MakingStridesWalk.org/SarasotaManatee.
Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota, FL
On every third Monday of the month, Julie Cook Downing, President of Caregivers Comfort Creations, LLC, facilitates a Doctors Hospital Caregiver Support Group. This group focuses on the caregiver and offers a retreat from the never ending mental and physical responsibilities of caregiving. This free, open group provides compassionate support and an opportunity to explore new solutions together to caregiver challenges. The group meets in the classroom outside of the cafeteria.
Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, 5731 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota, FL 34233
Welcoming all Veterans' Caregivers and Veterans caring for a loved one to a free lunch and monthly Caregivers Support Group every third Monday of the month. This group focuses on the Caregiver, and not the patient. Julie Cook Downing, Facilitator and President of Caregivers' Comfort Creations, LLC, has over two decades of experience with both support groups and Family Caregiving.
Mindspa Integrative Wellness Center, 5632 Bee Ridge Rd #101, Sarasota, FL 34233
The second annual Out of the Blue benefits National Alliance on Mental Illness Sarasota County. NAMI works to support families in Sarasota County who have a loved one living with mental illness; advocate at the county, state, and national levels for non-discriminatory access to quality healthcare, housing, education, and employment for people with mental illness; educate the public about mental illness; and work to eliminate the stigma of mental illness.
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236
Safari Sarasota is a three-day, five event experience, produced by Michael's On East in partnership with the All Heart Fund of South Africa's Good Work Foundation. Safari Sarasota is the only event experience in the United States that brings together internationally-recognized guests from South Africa's Good Work Foundation and its founding patron, the Londolozi Reserve. There will be five sensational opportunities to experience the flavors of South Africa through food and wine, including an Interactive Cooking Experience led by Chef Anna Ridgewell from Londolozi Game Reserve and Chef Jamil Pineda of Michael's On East.
Michael's On East, 1212 East Avenue S. Sarasota
Somewhere deep inside, you know what your gift, purpose, and mission are. Boyd Varty, a lion tracker, life coach, and gifted storyteller reveals how ancient wisdom can teach you how to recognize the essential ingredients that create a meaningful life. Boyd will kick off the press tour of his NEW book, The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life, with an intimate talk at Ringling College Morganroth Auditorium in partnership with Ringling College Library Association. Celebrating the release of his new book, each guest will receive a signed copy. Watch Boyd Varty's Ted Talk here.
Ringling College, Morganroth Auditorium, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Gauguin in Tahiti: Paradise Lost traces the legendary life story of Paul Gauguin who left France for Tahiti, feverishly in search of deep immersions into lush nature, for feelings, visions and colors, ever purer and brighter. Audiences join this journey from Tahiti to American museums including New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, National Gallery of Art in DC, and Boston's Museum of Fine Arts where Gauguin’s greatest masterpieces are now preserved.
Historic Asolo Theatre, 5401 Bay Shore Road
Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary is hosting a kid friendly Wild-O-Ween Halloween weekend Oct. 26 and 27, including contests, wild animal encounter shows, face painting and trick-or-treating throughout the Habitat. The events will be held during normal daily admission times, 12 to 4 p.m., for the regular admission prices of $18 for adults and $8 for children. Special events include costume and mummy wrapping contests, rubber duckies, pony rides and wild animal encounter shows. Children also can participate in pumpkin bowling and watch the big cats and bears go wild over their fall enrichment treats. Refreshments are available and parking is free. The arena schedule includes a 1 pm reptile review show, 1:30 pm mummy-wrapping contest, 2 pm wild animal encounters show and 3 pm kids costume contest.
Big Cat Habitat, 7101 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota
The FSU/Asolo Conservatory begins a new season with the classic Greek drama, Antigone, by Sophocles. Director of the Conservatory and the show, Greg Leaming, will put a modern spin on this ancient tale of right versus wrong. In the aftermath of a bloody war, Thebes celebrates victory while Antigone mourns the loss of both her brothers in battle. When King Creon refuses one of the two brothers all rites of burial, the young girl is left facing an awful choice. One of the great classics of Greek drama that speaks as powerfully today as it did when first performed - when faced with the conflict between law and personal morality, what is the right choice?
Cook Theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Join Chef Paul Mattison for a unique 4-course Farm to Fork Dinner overlooking the beautiful Phillippi River, featuring vendors from the Phillippi Farmerhouse Market. Each course will be paired with wine. Guests will enjoy live music by Romy Hernandez and artwork by the Light Chasers, plein air painters of the Suncoast, who will exhibiting and selling their original paintings and will donate 30% of all sales to the renovation of the Historic Keith Farmhouse. Please join us for sunset and an evening to remember! In case of inclement weather, the farm-to-fork dinner will move inside the Edson Keith Mansion. Tickets are $100 per person and includes tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and available for purchase at mattisons.com or by calling Mattison’s Forty-One at (941) 921.3400.
Philllippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231
Join SRQ MEDIA and Modern Home Magazine for the annual Modern Home Symposium featuring panelists who represent the top modern architecture and design gurus from the region to share their most memorable structures. Taking the audience into the design process, each panelist shares their source of inspiration in creating some of the area’s most significant spaces. Panelists include Nathan Cross of NWC Contruction, Steve Murray of Murray Homes, Jonathan Parks of Solstice Planning and Architecture and Mark Sultana of DSDG Architects. Registration opens at 5pm. The program is from 5:30-7pm. Light bites, wine and beer. RSVP to srqmag.com/moho.
SRQ Studios, 331 S. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota
Like a breath of fresh Alpine air, this beloved musical masterpiece sweeps onto the Asolo Rep stage just in time for the holidays. Maria, a young nun causing trouble at the abbey, is sent off to be governess to Captain Von Trapp’s seven troublesome children. She brings much-needed love and joy to the family – and the widowed captain – and transforms their world and hers through the power of music. But the looming threat of Nazi Germany’s invasion of their native Austria darkens their future. Overflowing with some of the most iconic songs of all time, this heart warming family musical will be helmed by Josh Rhodes, returning on the heels of his spectacular production of Evita in 2017.
FSU Performing Arts Center, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
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