The Asolo Rep’s My Fair Lady. I’m old enough to remember when baseball teams regularly played double-headers, particularly on holidays like the Fourth of July and Labor Day. Well, last Friday, I treated myself to a cultural twin bill, and it was indeed a red-letter day. In the afternoon, I attended the Sarasota Ballet’s exquisite [...]

Sarasota Ballet conductor Emil de Cou. When you attend the Sarasota Ballet’s performances at the Van Wezel on Friday, take a close look at the trim, dark-haired man leading the Sarasota Orchestra. For the New York Times says he “may now be the finest ballet conductor in America.” That conductor is Emil de Cou, who [...]

I saw Audra McDonald perform at the Van Wezel this past Sunday. I’m back in Sarasota after spending the last two months in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Now, Fort Wayne is a lovely place with an arts community that’s larger than I’d expected. But compared to Sarasota? Well, let’s just say I feel like one of [...]