SRQ DAILY May 25, 2018
Friday Weekend Edition
"If we don't own our stories, our stories own us."
As a retired lieutenant colonel with the United States Army, including 18 years as a Green Beret, Scott Mann has a somewhat different perspective on military stories than the average audience member. And from the silver screen to the stage, Mann noticed a troubling and pervasive problem that had nothing to do with firearms accuracy or politics, but rather a prevailing preference for stories of the first boots on the ground and the action and excitement of that moment, with far less focus on the aftermath and the reality of prolonged combat. “I didn’t see anything about the men and women who were the last out of those places,” says Mann, “who spend their entire adult lives fighting the same war.” So Mann wrote his own story, a play entitled Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret, which makes its premiere tonight at Florida Studio Theatre with a staged reading for Memorial Day weekend.
“I wanted to share the cost of war on not just our warriors,” says Mann, “but on our military families and on the nation.” And so Last Out finds its center in Army Green Beret Danny Preston, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, who returns home to his own personal war transitioning to civilian life. Around him, his family struggles to help or just hold on. Technically the story is fiction, but all woven from both Mann’s own life and the experiences of his fellow veterans and their families. “But it’s certainly not autobiographical,” he says, making clear that the combat his characters talk about does not refer to his own personal experience, though he did see combat throughout his service. Other elements, however, come straight from his life story.
But playing with other people’s stories, and doing so responsibly, is the hard part. “It’s terrifying,” Mann clarifies. And so the budding playwright worked with the professionals at FST for two years to polish the project before revealing it at tonight’s reading. Beginning as a simple monologue about the green silly band his son gave him to wear on deployment, Mann has since developed that seed into a play for a cast of four—though the green silly band remains.
“I just want to do right by the men and women who are no longer with us,” says Mann, “and the men and women who sit in that audience.” Part of that means being apolitical with their experiences, and not using this moment and these stories to push a partisan political agenda. “I want the audience to understand the cost of war,” says Mann. “Then they can form whatever opinions they want.” His hope is to connect on a more personal level with the audience, particularly those veterans and families carrying their own untold burdens. Maybe Last Out, he says, can give some the courage to tell their own stories and begin the healing process. “If we don’t own our stories,” he says, “our stories own us.”
Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret premieres tonight at 7:30pm at FST. 
Pictured: Scott Mann. Photo courtesy of Florida Studio Theatre.
Sarasota-based Sutter Roofing Company has received several large contracts on significant projects in the area. The company was awarded the contract on the Atlanta Braves Spring Training Stadium and Clubhouses with Construction Manager Tandem / Barton Malow. Sutter will perform all the low slope roofing and sheet metal on the new $125 million-dollar facility. Sutter also received contracts on new construction projects in Manatee County, including the East Manatee Middle School with Willis Smith Construction, North River High School with Gilbane Construction and IMG Academy Hotel / Dormitory with Tandem Construction. Sutter is also known for large reroofing projects and the company is current working on the Desoto Square Mall with Madison Properties, Southeast High School with AD Morgan Construction and several large condominium reroofs due to Hurricane Irma in Collier County. The projects above are estimated to take almost 60,000 man-hours to complete have an aggregate contract value of approximately $10 million.
Manatee Memorial Hospital’s Wound Care and Hyperbaric Treatment Program staff, physicians and hospital leaders are celebrating the program’s receipt of the eighth consecutive Center of Distinction Award and the seventh consecutive Robert A. Warriner III Center of Excellence Award from the Healogics, the nation’s largest provider of wound care services. Manatee Memorial Hospital’s program has achieved patient satisfaction rates higher than 92 percent and a healing rate of at least 91 percent in less than 30 median days to heal. The Wound Care and Hyberbaric Treatment Program at Manatee Memorial Hospital offers highly specialized wound care to patients suffering from diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections and other chronic wounds which have not healed in a reasonable amount of time. Advanced treatments include negative pressure wound therapy, bio-engineered skin substitutes, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, biological and biosynthetic dressings and growth factor therapies.
Adams and Reese has announced the firm has been included in the BTI Consulting Group’s (BTI) Brand Elite 2018: Client Perceptions of the Best-Branded Law Firms. For this annual publication, BTI conducted 686 interviews of corporate counsel at the world’s largest companies to solicit unbiased, direct feedback about the law firms they consider top-of-mind. BTI’s research unveiled a list of 334 law firms that corporate counsel recommend and consider first, provide value for the dollar, lead their markets and add value through technology or new services, among other traits BTI identifies as market-leading in brand perception and performance. Adams and Reese has long received recognition in BTI publications, which are all based on feedback from corporate counsel. Since 2006, Adams and Reese has been recognized for “Outstanding Client Service” in the yearly BTI Client Service A-Team report. The firm has also been named among BTI’s list of “Market Movers,” “Top 100 in Mergers and Acquisitions” and “Most Tech-Savvy Law Firms.”
According to the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee, in April 2018, Sarasota and Manatee housing inventory levels dropped again, with pressure from rising median sales prices. Overall, April showed an increase in sales across the two counties, as well as an increase in new listings. April reported 2,014 total sales which is a 3.3 percent increase from last year. Sarasota condo sales increased by 17.8 percent and Manatee condo sales increased by 2.5 percent. As for single-family homes, Manatee sales increased by 5.8 percent, while Sarasota decreased by 5.3 percent. Overall, inventory is down compared to this time last year. For single-family homes, the number of properties listed decreased by 10.3 percent. As for condos, inventory decreased by 8.9 percent in the two-county area. Median sales prices continue to rise in Sarasota and Manatee. Manatee single-family home prices increased by 5.4 percent to $311,000 and Sarasota increased by 4.6 percent to $285,000. Condo median prices in Sarasota increased by 9.3 percent to $235,000 and Manatee increased by 23.1 percent to $209,950. For more information, follow the link below.
As the 1960s Civil Rights movement unfolded, black music evolved from the controlled Motown performances to fiery cross rhythms sound—a little gospel, a lot of soul. The passionate soloists, such as James Brown, Otis Redding and Sam Cooke, added energetic movements and unique vocalizations that inspired many future performers. Soul Man will feature some of WBTT’s most popular male performers.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1646 10th Way., Sarasota.
Students from The Players Studio will showcase their talent, appearing in songs, dances and acting scenes. A must see!
The Players Centre for Performing Arts, 838 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota
KidSpace is a program for kids who want to explore everything there is to know about space and become Masters of the Universe. From 10:15–11am on the second and fourth Saturday morning of each month, we'll unleash the awesome power of the Bishop Planetarium, taking off from Earth's surface and flying to places no human has gone before.
South Florida Museum, 201 10th St. West, Bradenton
This performance is from a jazz ensemble called The Roots of Unity, headed by trumpeter Chris Kottke. Their repertoire includes both straightahead and latin jazz, from classic standards to modern originals. Kottke attended the Berklee College of Music and was active in the Boston jazz scene for about a decade before moving to Sarasota in 2016 to pursue his day job as a math professor at New College of Florida. In addition to the Roots of Unity, Kottke can be occasionally heard in such Sarasota-based jazz ensembles such as Ocean's 11 and the Sarasota Jazz Project.
The Reserve SRQ, 1322 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
A tuneful and memorable tribute, Patsy Cline's rise to legendary stardom is told through the eyes of her biggest fan, Louise Seger. From her performances in honky-tonks to the Grand Ole Opry, Patsy Cline will "always" have a place in country music, with hit songs such as, “Walking After Midnight,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “Crazy,” “Sweet Dreams,” and many more you know and love.
Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 North Palm Ave., Sarasota.
Inspired by a hot flash and a bottle of wine, writer Jeanie Linders created Menopause The Musical® as a celebration of women who find themselves at any stage of “The Change.” Set in a department store where four women with seemingly nothing in common but a black lace bra meet by chance at a lingerie sale, the all-female cast makes fun of their woeful hot flashes, forgetfulness, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and chocolate binges.
Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. West, Bradenton
Venice Theatre and the Loveland Center have been partnering for 20 years to provide adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities the chance to grow and learn through theatre study. Loveland students, under the direction of professional staff and with help from community volunteers, rehearse all season to present this full-scale musical on MainStage.
Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave West, Venice
Come through the Reserve to help them fine tune their retail wine selection. Wines from a wide array of places such as France, Italy, Argentina and more are offered. Pair the wine with a savory meat and cheese platter and enjoy the low key evening. The event is reoccuring, so May 31 is not the last chance to take advantage of this wonderful deal.
The Reserve SRQ, 1322 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.
Join the Retreat in welcoming Kennedy Center Teaching Artist Reggie Harris and Playwright Sarah Gancher as they share their work and spread knowledge of American history through song; Harris will share and explain secret code songs used by runaway slaves and their allies during the time of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, and Gancher will share a scene or two from the play she is writing for the Asolo Repertory Theatre.
Hermitage Artist Retreat, 6660 Manasota Key Rd., Englewood
A worldwide ocean celebration is on the horizon. Join the fun during the World Oceans Day Family Festival on Saturday, June 2 at Mote Aquarium. Mote’s World Oceans Day event will spotlight the ocean's deep connection to the human spirit and the boundless inspirational power of our natural world's greatest resource. The family festival is free with regular paid admission to Mote Aquarium and is free for Mote Members.
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium , 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236
Experience a day of pampering for women with four featured areas that host Beauty, Wellness, Fashion and Girls Wanting to Have Fun. Enjoy make-up and hair care techniques, massages, sample products, talk to doctors and health professionals, watch a fashion show and more, all for free. Register to have access to the VIP area with wine tastings, a painting class, photo booth, appetizers and everyone receives a glam bag full of swag.
Westfield Sarasota Square Mall, 8201 South Tamiami Trl., Sarasota
Classical musicians from around the world converge for three weeks of breathtaking concerts, featuring artists such as Vijay Venkatesh and Robert Sirota.
Sarasota Orchestra, Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota
Using the same multimedia jaw-dropping approach as past hit show Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, this reimagination of Kipling's classic stories will transport audiences to the world's jungles. Audiences will have the chance to truly meet characters like Mowgli the Man-Cub and Baloo the Bear in this upcoming performance.
Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota
Join Mowgli, Baloo and friends when Asolo Rep presents the world premiere of Jungle Book from the creators of the hit show Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Using the same jaw-dropping multi-media theatrical approach, Jungle Book re-imagines Rudyard Kipling’s classic stories through modern eyes to transport audiences to the world’s jungles. Family Day is June 16; Family Package pricing starts at just $15 per ticket when one person in the party is 18 or younger.
Asolo Repertory Theatre , 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243
Fleet Feet Sports Sarasota, the local retail leader in building and supporting the Sarasota running and physically active community, will join in Global Running Day as part of a nationwide 5K Big Run celebration. Designed to unify the efforts of running communities in different locations across the U.S. behind one event, the more than 70 participating Fleet Feet stores across the country collectively drew more than 12,000 participants in 2017. The event is open to all ages and ability levels and the 3.1-mile-long course will take participants down to and around Sarasota’s Bayfront.
Fleet Feet Sarasota, 711 South Osprey, Sarasota.
In a cerebral journey through neuroscience, amnesia, and the theft of Albert Einstein’s brain, playwright Nick Payne investigates the nature of identity in a series of mysterious and touching interwoven tales.
Urbanite Theatre, 1487 2nd St., Sarasota
As the warm summer heat sets in, 530 Burns Gallery is pleased to highlight artists who hail from Florida. Summertime and sunshine always bring inspiration, and each artist uses his or her diverse style to create innovative and original art works. Featured artists include Gary Borse, Linda Richichi, Katie Cassidy, Todd Andrew Babb, Randy Colbath and Bettina Sego.
530 Burns Gallery, 530 Burns Ct., Sarasota
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