What did Andre the Giant and Samuel Beckett have in common? Well, according to artist Russ Noto, the iconic professional wrestler and the heralded Irish writer had more in common than meets the eye. The story—originally reported by Cary Elwes of the set of The Princess Bride—goes like this: while growing up in rural France in the 1950s, Andre Roussimoff was neighbors with Beckett, who had recently moved to the village. Instead of taking the school bus, Beckett would often drive the local children to school, Roussimoff, who was already massive at the age of 12, was one of them. It is that story that inspired Noto’s latest exhibition, OF FORM AND FUTILITY: Visual Dialogues Pertaining to the Pastoral of Andre the Giant and Samuel Beckett, now on view at Art Center Sarasota. Noto will host an Artist Talk about the exhibition at Art Center Sarasota on Friday, December 5.

For Noto, a child of the 1980s and ‘90s, Andre the Giant was a larger than life figure. As he grew older, Samuel Beckett’s tragicomic and absurdist works spoke to him. The contrast between the “low brow” entertainment of professional wrestling and the Nobel Prize winning literature of Beckett created a dialogue Noto sought to explore. “The fact that Andre the Giant sat in Samuel Beckett’s truck is just an explosion of possibility,” says Noto. “There are two levels to it: one, they are completely different people, which serves as the spark, and two, these are two culturally important people.”

Noto explores that dichotomy through his paintings, with works such as Dialogue No. 1 (Samuel Beckett and Andre the Giant), which spreads across two canvases. On one, a stack of worn tires sits alone in a pastoral background, an arc of light hanging above it. On the other, that same stack of tires is depicted as a solid, spherical shape. “This is the first work that encapsulates the abstraction of what their interaction could have been and felt like conceptually. There’s this massive, towering stack of tires, that are ringed with this halo which lends itself to the mythology or sainthood of the character,” says Noto. “Then on the other canvas there’s this stark interpretation of what that could be.”

Beneath that contrast, however, lies similarities between the wrestler and the writer. “Professional wrestling was fake, totally absurd and intentionally humorous—Andre was an actor in a production,” says Noto. “Not only was Beckett a playwright, but he dealt with that same kind of humor found in professional wrestling in a very intellectual and succinct way.”

Russ Noto: OF FORM AND FUTILITY Artist Talk 5:30pm, Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 

Russ Noto, "Dialogue No. 1", oil on canvas, 2024. Provided photo.

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When the Bradenton Blues Festival was officially cancelled in 2024, after 12 years of production, it left a void. Fortunately, Morgan Bettes Angell and Paul E. Benjamin were ready to fill it. Angell, president and CEO of Independent Jones and Benjamin, of Benjamin Productions, had long been involved with the Bradenton Blues Festival. The festival, which had been produced by Realize Bradenton, had been shuttered after the passing of the organization’s founder, Johnette Isham, in 2023.

“We were born from the ashes of the Bradenton Blues Festival,” says Angell. “I’d known Paul since 2012 and had been doing work out in Lakewood Ranch with Independent Jones. Paul told me that they needed a new venue for the festival, and I said, ‘come check out Waterside.’”

Thus, the inaugural Lakewood Ranch BluesFest was born. On December 6, the BluesFest will return to Waterside Park for its second year, this time with a packed lineup full of nationally renowned, Blues-Award-winning artists and an eye towards inspiring the next generation of musicians. The lineup, put together by Benjamin, is an eclectic mix of different blues styles. Miami-based guitarist Albert Castiglia, husband and wife duo Chambers Deslauriers, Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon, soul blues legend Johnny Rawls, blues/rock group The Shaelyn Band, vocalist Eden Brent and blues group Desoto Tiger’s Testimony make up the acts.

“I try to put together a lineup that appeals to the many different forms of blues,” says Benjamin. “You have some great guitar players, like Albert Castiglia and Paul Deslauriers, and then with Desoto Tiger’s Testimony, Jason Ricci is one of the top blues harmonica players in the entire world. Jonny Rawls gives you some of those Mississippi blues and then Eden Brent, who is also from Mississippi, is a boogie-woogie piano player who brings that style of blues into the fold as well.”

The spirit of the blues, the camaraderie that the artists all share, will be felt from the opening of the festival to the closing acts. Students from Music Compound will kick off the event, welcoming audience members in with an on-stage performance, before giving way to the professional acts. Desoto Tiger’s Testimony even has a local tie-in—founding member Damon Fowler hails from Brandon, Florida, and came up playing shows around the Tampa Bay/Bradenton/Sarasota area. “Desoto Tiger’s Testimony is a fairly new project,” says Fowler. “It’s a really fun band to play with—we’re still developing our sound—there’s a broad range of different styles that fall under the umbrella of what we play, but we’re playing a lot of upbeat numbers with a lot of guitar and harmonica.”

Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival, December 6, Waterside Park, 7301 Island Cove Terrace, Lakewood Ranch, 34240, lakewoodranchbluesfest.com 

Nik Wallenda’s Wonderland Circus and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) announced a new partnership that unites two organizations deeply rooted in Sarasota and dedicated to shaping its future by championing the next generation of healthcare providers. Beginning with this year’s production of Believe, LECOM will serve as the official title sponsor of Wonderland Circus. The three-year partnership launches with 11 sold-out performances of Believe playing now through January 4. A limited number of specially priced tickets—starting at $24.99—remain for performances this weekend and next, offering an affordable way for families across the region to experience the magic together and celebrate the new partnership. 

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is pleased to announce a new matching gift challenge supporting the development of the McGillicuddy Arts Plaza, following a recent unrestricted contribution from a generous donor who asked to remain anonymous. The anonymous donor entrusted FST to use their gift “where it will do the most good.” FST is leveraging that generosity to match all donations made toward the Arts Plaza project dollar for dollar. Be a part of the art. To support construction of the McGillicuddy Arts Plaza and put your name on the future of FST, contact Anyssa Hining, Development Manager, at (941) 366-9017 x379 or by email at ahining@floridastudiotheatre.org.  

Azara Ballet, a non-profit professional dance company, will be performing Short and Suite, Azara’s annual holiday performance blending beloved classical ballet selections with fresh contemporary choreography. The program includes charming excerpts from The Nutcracker Suite as well as original works that bring modern storytelling into the holiday tradition. The performance features their full company of dancers and artistic team. This is the first performance under Joshua Stayton, Azara’s new Artistic Director. For details visit AzaraBallet.org. 

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With a recent triumphant performance at The Bay Sarasota in front of thousands of community members, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe has decided to offer three performances featuring its Soul Crooners and Sistas of Soul for a "Weekend of Soul" on December 27-28. The performances, which will feature the hottest soul hits of the 1960s and '70s, will take place at WBTT and tickets are now on sale. 

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Written by Peter Rothstein. Vocal Arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach. Directed by Peter Rothstein. Music Direction by Erick Lichte. The Western Front. Christmas. A German soldier sets down his rifle and steps into No Man’s Land, singing “Silent Night”. Thus begins an extraordinary night of fellowship, music, and peace, told in the words and the songs of the men who lived it. Peter Rothstein’s salute to unsung heroes of The Great War returns to the Historic Asolo Theater after a sell-out run last season. Runs Dec 3 - 19. 

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Tyler J. Brown has joined Shumaker as an Associate in the Litigation & Disputes Service Line, enhancing the firm’s ability to guide clients through high-stakes, complex civil disputes. A third-generation civil litigator, Tyler focuses his practice on individuals and businesses navigating real property, contract, construction, landlord-tenant, and debt collection matters. He prides himself on his ability to provide practical, results-driven counsel and trusted advocacy to clients when they need it most, drawing on the skills he developed early in his legal career. A true community advocate, Tyler was recognized by the Florida Supreme Court during his first year of practice for donating more than 20 hours of pro bono legal services to indigent clients, and he received the 2024 "Outstanding Service by a Young Lawyer" award from Manasota Legal Aid. He is a lifelong Sarasota resident whose familiarity with the area’s property issues, business culture, and regional nuances is a value added to his clients. With a long track record of securing positive outcomes, Shumaker's Litigation & Disputes Service Line represents clients in all forms of dispute resolution, including negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Our team of more than 120 litigators crafts strategies that offer clients the best chance of victory—in and out of the courtroom.