Matthew Gumley Asolo Rep board member Len Gumley brought his grand-nephew, Matthew Gumley, to see a performance of Deathtrap over the weekend.  But not because he hoped to spark Matthew’s interest in theater. At the tender age of 14, Matthew is already a Broadway veteran, having appeared in the musicals Beauty and the Beast, Mary [...]

Geena Davis Some stars at the Sarasota Film Festival give their fans a quick wave on the red carpet,  make a few remarks at an awards ceremony, and then retreat to the green room or the VIP Lounge. But that sure wasn’t the case with actress Geena Davis, who charmed audiences at a Friday luncheon [...]

La Musica is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. La Musica Celebrates 25th Season With Flair It doesn’t get the attention that its younger, glitzier sibling, the Sarasota Film Festival, receives. But the La Musica International Chamber Music Festival is drawing large, enthusiastic audiences this week, thanks to some red-carpet worthy performances by its European [...]

Ricardo Graziano as the title role in Sarasota Ballet‘s Prodigal Son. Photo by Frank Atura. I spent last weekend in a tropical resort with a bustling downtown and a vibrant arts community. OK, I actually stayed in Sarasota. But I saw the city though the fresh eyes of a visitor, as I took my cousins [...]

After an extended search, Ringling names new director Steven High, Ringling’s new executive director. The search took a little longer than expected, and required some gentle arm-twisting.  But the extra effort was worth it, say Ringling Museum of Art officials,who are confident they have  found the right leader to bring the institution to even greater [...]

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s Mikeyy Mendez. In the Westcoast  Black Theatre Troupe  musical Five Guys Named Moe, the young actor playing the one guy not named Moe is getting lots of attention. Nineteen-year-old Mikeyy Mendez  gives a charismatic performance as the lovesick Nomax, who, after a night of drinking, gets romantic advice from five smooth [...]

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Robert Ward. Because the Sarasota Opera specializes in works from the 18th and 19th centuries, “Meet the Composer“ sessions are few and far between. Verdi and Puccini just aren’t that available. So it was a big deal recently when a living composer – and a Pulitzer Prize-winner, no less  – strode into [...]

Mikhail vs. Michael? Maybe not, but both announced exciting Sarasota arts lineups this past weekend. You could call it Mikhail versus Michael. OK, it wasn’t really a competition, but Mikhail Baryshnikov and Michael Edwards were both in the spotlight recently as they announced exciting performances that Sarasota audiences will enjoy next fall and in 2012. [...]

Sarasotans are used to spotting celebrities, from visiting entertainers to part-time residents like Stephen King and Jane Lynch. But last week, a virtual convention of bold-faced names rolled into town. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife, Cherie, delighted large audiences at the Van Wezel and the Ritz-Carlton, while Martha Stewart was impressive [...]

Sarasota Key Chorale. In its Unboxed Series of concerts, the Sarasota choral group Key Chorale has performed unusual music in surprising places. But none as surprising as this weekend’s venue–the big red-and-white tent on 12th Street that they’ll share with acrobats, aerialists and other performers from Circus Sarasota (read Kay Kipling’s review of this year’s [...]