Art

Art Center Sarasota. Red Hot! Love, Romance & Humor continues here through March 6. Up next: Wish You Were Here: Visual Souvenirs of Florida, providing reflections and representations of Florida current, past and future, which opens March 18 to run through April 24. 365-2032.

Longboat Key Center for the Arts. The annual Members’ Exhibition continues here through March 19. Also on tap: Jazz at the Center, featuring Herb Bruce and the Herbicide Jazz Band, March 2, and the Al Hixon Jazz All Stars, March 16. And opening with a “Meet the Artist” reception March 25 is Florence Putterman: A Survey of Works 1949-2009, which continues through April 22. 383-2345.

State of the Arts Gallery. “Locally owned and certified organic” continues through the month here, highlighting organic works by local artists. 955-2787.

Women’s Resource Center. Continuing on view through March 30 is Visions, a show of pastels by Corinne Fallacaro. 366-1700.

Selby Gallery. Perestroika (n) Restruc-turing: The Glass Sculpture of Kathleen Mulcahy, Ron Desmett and Martin Prekop continues here through March 31. 359-7563.

Galleria Silecchia. On view through

March 31 are new hand-painted chandeliers by Ulla Darni, along with art glass from Alessandro Casson and limited-edition bronzes by Leo E. Osborne. Also on view, March 5-31: works by Japanese glass artist Hiroshi Yamano, mixed media pieces by Paul Tamanian and oils by William Berra. 365-7414.

Ringling Museum of Art. Gothic Art in the Gilded Age: Medieval Treasures in the Gavet, Vanderbilt and Ringling Collections continues through April 4. Also on view here: In Search of Norman Rockwell’s America, pairing the work of that American icon with photojournalist Kevin Rivoli. Through April 25. 359-5700.

Museum of Fine Arts. The Baroque World of Fernando Botero continues on exhibit at the St. Petersburg museum through April 4. (727) 896-2667.

M Gallery of Fine Art. Transparency and Reflection, opening March 5 with a reception at 6 p.m., presents works by artist Sadie Valeria. 954-8774.

Venice Art Center. It’s time once again for Paint-Out in Paradise, an invitation-only exhibit of plein air works on view March 1-18. Reception is set for March 5. Later this month: Landscape & Seascape, a members-only exhibition of works depicting land or sea in any style or media. That’s March 26 through April 15. 485-7136.

Island Gallery West. Watercolor artist Anne Abgott is featured in this month’s show, opening at 5:30 p.m. March 5 at the Anna Maria space. 778-2346.

Artists Guild Gallery. Another Anna

Maria gallery welcomes photographic

artist Paula Schoenwether by hosting a

reception at 5:30 p.m. March 5. 778-6694.

Downtown Venice Art Classic. Artists both new and familiar bring their work to West Venice Avenue in downtown Venice March

6 and 7, with a wide range of media and styles on display and for sale. (854) 472-3755.

Comedy

McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre. This month: Bobby Collins, March 5-7; Tom Rhodes, March 10-14; Janet Williams, March 17-21; Marc Ryan, March 24-28; and Shane Mauss, March 31. 925-3869.

Dance

Joffrey Ballet. The always intriguing modern dance troupe performs at 8 p.m. March 8 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Film

Monday Night Movies.  A look at director Woody Allen’s America continues with Hannah and Her Sisters, March 1; Radio Days, March 8; Crimes and Misdemeanors, March 15; Bullets Over Broadway, March 22; and Mighty Aphrodite, March 29, at the Historic Asolo Theater. All showings at

7 p.m. 360-7399.

Miscellaneous

Sarasota Orchestra Association Designer Showcase. The showcase continues through March 7 at the Legends Bay home of LPGA golfer Paul Creamer. For ticket info call 953-3434.

Parade of Homes. This year’s tour of the latest model homes in Sarasota and Manatee continues through March 7; for more details visit hbamanatee-sarasota.org.

Historic Homes Tour. The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation presents its 20th annual tour from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 7, including five homes in north Sarasota’s Sapphire Shores neighborhood. Tickets available in advance at Davidson Drugs, the Sarasota County History Center, Sarasota Architectural Salvage, the Sarasota County Visitors Center and Historic Spanish Point, or at any home the day of the tour. 388-9896.

St. Patty’s Day Poker Run. Sponsored by the Sarasota Harley Owners Group, this event benefits the Humane Society of Sarasota County, and takes place March 14. For complete info, call 539-6909 or go to rossiterharleydavidson.com.

Sarasota County Fair. Head out to the Sarasota Fairgrounds for your annual fix of livestock exhibitions, midway rides, live shows and all that yummy fair food, March 19-28. 365-0818.

Creators and Collectors Tour. Visit the world of the artist with this 39th annual tour, March 12 and 13, which offers peeks into artists’ studios including those of Joseph Patrick Arnegger, Tim Jaeger, Susan Klein, Dave Piurek and Scott Moore. There is also a Galleria exhibit in the Ulla Searing Hall of Ringling College of Art and Design, as well as a stop at downtown’s State of the Arts Gallery. A Fine Arts Society of Sarasota event; call 330-0680.

Cirque Le Masque. Expect amazing feats of aerial twirling, trapeze acrobatics and more, along with lavish costumes and special effects, in this European-style circus troupe’s Carnivale, playing at 1 and 6:30 p.m. March 14 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

An Afternoon Tea with Bertha Palmer. Enjoy tea and treats at Bertha Palmer’s Florida Prairie, Meadowsweet Pastures in Myakka State Park, March 18. For more complete details e-mail [email protected].

PAL Sailor Circus. More circus spec-tacular, this time courtesy of high-flying Sarasota County school students, with shows March 24, 25, 26, 27 and 31, as well as April 1, 2 and 3 at the blue tent on Bahia Vista. 361-6350.

Music

Sarasota Jazz Festival. The 30th annual

fest continues with a performance by the Four Freshmen, March 2; the Doug Cameron Quartet, March 2; Greg Nielsen’s All Star Band, March 3; the Harry Allen Quartet, March 4; Dick Hyman and Peter Appleyard, March 5; and outstanding young local musicians, March 6. Most events take place at the Players Theatre; for complete info call 366-1552 or visit jazzclubsarasota.org; for tickets call 365-2494.

Itzhak Perlman. The amazing Perlman, recently in town for the Perlman Music Program Suncoast, returns to our area in concert, at 8 p.m. March 1 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra. Look forward to an evening of Viennese fare, including waltzes, marches and polkas, at 8 p.m. March 2, under the baton of conductor Hobart Earle. 953-3368.

Hansel and Gretel. Bring the kids along to this Humperdinck opera about those clever siblings who outwit a wicked witch, March 2, 4, 7, 10 and 13 at the Sarasota Opera House. 366-8450.

The Magic Flute. More chances to see Mozart’s classic, March 3, 7, 13, 18 and 21 at the Sarasota Opera House. 366-8450.

Sarasota Orchestra Masterworks. Pianist Andreas Haefliger performs Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 in this orchestral outing. Also on the bill: Brahms’ Symphony No. 3. Concerts March 4, 5, 6 and 7; call 953-3434.

Courtyard Concerts. The Bay Band entertains in this Ringling Museum concert, starting at 6:30 p.m. March 4 in the courtyard. 359-5700 ext. 5705.

Russian National Orchestra. Conductor Patrick Summers leads the orchestra, with pianist Yuja Wang (who will perform Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto), in this Sarasota Concert Association offering at 8 p.m. March 5 at the Van Wezel. 955-0040.

The Musicians from Marlboro. The acclaimed chamber music ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m. March 6 in an Artist Series of Sarasota concert at the Historic Asolo Theater. On the program: Haydn, Kodaly and Brahms. 360-7399.

Giovanna d’Arco. The Sarasota Opera continues its Verdi Cycle and Masterworks Revival Series with this seldom seen telling of the story of Joan of Arc, March 6, 9, 11, 14, 17 and 20 at the opera house. 366-8450.

Sarasota Folk Festival. The seventh annual fest takes place March 6 and 7 at Oscar Scherer State Park, with more than 30 musical acts on three stages, plus eco-friendly vendors, lots to eat and fun for kids. There’s also a workshop/jam area, so bring along your favorite acoustic instrument. 342-6419.

Sarasota Chorus of the Keys Annual Show. Broadway’s Fabulous Ladies are toasted with this year’s show, March 6 and 7 at the new Riverview Performing Arts Center. For ticket info call 484-7589.

Sarasota Pops. Pianist Andrew Lapp joins the orchestra for a performance of Reel Classics, March 7 at Church of the Palms. 926-7677.

Key Chorale. The ensemble presents a concert dubbed Mystical, March 7 at the Historic Asolo Theater. 360-7399.

The Diamonds. Expect to hear Little Darlin’ and Silhouettes, March 7 and 8 at Venice Theatre. 488-1115.

The Irish Tenors. Tenors Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns and Karl Scully take us all back to Erin with songs like Danny Boy and My Wild Irish Rose, along with more recent hits, at 8 p.m. March 9 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Sarasota Orchestra Great Escapes. Return to The Green, Green Grass of Home with excerpts from Oklahoma!, My Wild Irish Rose and Finian’s Rainbow, among others, March 10-13 at Holley Hall. 953-3434.

A Night at the Oscars: The Music That Made the Movies. Actress Shirley Jones teams up with the Hollywood Concert Orchestra to present songs deemed Oscar worthy, including tunes from Oklahoma!, The Music Man and Carousel. At 8 p.m. March 12 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Cavalleria rusticana/Pagliacci. Perfor-mances of these one-act works, by Mascagni and Leoncavallo, continue at the Sarasota Opera House, March 12, 19 and 21. 366-8450.

Buffalo Philharmonic. The Sarasota Concert Association presents the orch-estra at 8 p.m. March 16 at Van Wezel. JoAnn Falletta conducts, with pianist Fabio Bidini performing Ravel’s G Major Piano Concerto. 955-0040.

Third Thursday: Cocktails at Cà d’Zan. Musical group Vertigo performs at this event, running from 6 to 9 p.m. on the terrace. 359-5700 ext. 5705.

Sarasota Orchestra Pixel Pops. Ellis Island: The Dream of America teams the orchestra with composer Peter Boyer’s work, along with live actors reciting monologues from immigrant journals; also on the program, Stella Sung’s Rockwell Reflections, pairing music with images by painter Norman Rockwell. At 8 p.m. March 19 at Van Wezel. 953-3434.

Pink Floyd’s The Wall. Can’t get enough Pink Floyd? Tune in to the musicians who present their The Wall as a symphony orchestra concert, presented by Classics Albums Live. At 8 p.m. March 20 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Anna Maria Island Community Chorus and Orchestra. In concert at 2 p.m. March 21 at CrossPointe Fellowship on Gulf Drive on Anna Maria with An Invitation to the Opera, featuring the concert version of The Gypsy Baron. 727-9886.

Band of the Irish Guards/Royal Regiment of Scotland. Pomp, pageantry and bagpipes—who could ask for anything more reminiscent of the heyday of the British Empire? At 7 p.m. March 21 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Ya Fei Chuang. The pianist performs pieces by Chopin, Scarlatti and Ravel in an Artist Series of Sarasota concert, March 21 and 23 at the Historic Asolo Theater. 360-7399.

Dick Fox’s Golden Boys. Those “boys” would be Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell—a few years old than when they charted with hits like Venus, Turn Me Loose and Volare, but aren’t we all? You can hear them at 8 p.m. March 23 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Sarasota Orchestra Masterworks. Choral ensemble Key Chorale, a children’s chorus and vocal soloists join the orchestra on Carl Orff’s Carmina burana; Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 is also scheduled. March 25, 26, 27 and 28. 953-3434.

Smooth Jazz on St. Armands: Fourth Friday with Style. Enjoy live jazz, wine, beer and more at this event, from 6 to 9 p.m. March 26 on the Circle. 388-1554.

Diane Ward. Singer-songwriter Ward turns up in the Moon Over Myakka series, at 7 p.m. March 26 at Myakka River State Park. 361-6511 or 373-7839.

Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra. Conductor Christoph Eschenbach leads the orchestra, performing with superstar pianist Lang Lang, at 8 p.m. March 26 at Van Wezel in a Sarasota Concert Association presentation. 955-0040.

Venice Symphony. The symphony presents a classically themed concert, March 26 and 27 at Church of the Nazarene, with works from Beethoven, Breen and Bruch. 488-1010.

Denis Azabagic. This guitarist from Bosnia-Herzegovina entertains in the Guitar Sarasota series, at 7:30 p.m. March 27 at St. Paul Lutheran Church. 362-2991.

Lang Lang. The acclaimed pianist encores in his appearance with the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra under the direction of Christoph Eschenbach at 8 p.m. March 30 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Sports

Spring Training. Our long, cold winter is over and the boys are back—by boys, we mean the Pittsburgh Pirates (at Bradenton’s McKechnie Field) and the Baltimore Orioles (our new hometown team at Ed Smith Stadium) for that wonderful rite of spring involving a baseball, a bat and lots of popcorn and crackerjack. The Pirates start their spring season March 2, going on to play the Phillies, the Yankees and the Rays and more through April 2 (call 748-4160); the Orioles take on the Rays March 3 to kick off their season, playing against Detroit, Boston, Minnesota and other teams through April 3 (call 888-329-3365).

Walk MS. Sign up for these annual 3K and 5K walks for the Mid Florida National Multiple Sclerosis chapter, March 20 at J.D. Hamel Park. For registration info call (407) 478-8882.

Talks

Longboat Key Education Center Lecture Series. The center concludes its lecture series this month with Dina Shacher-Labes on The Perfect Partnership: Fonteyn and Nureyev, March 2; David Eddleman on Jewish Music from Antiquity to Present, March 9; Beethoven’s Fidelio with Phillip Gainsley, March 16; David Cooperrider on Positivity, March 23; and J.E. Williams on Prolonging Health, March 30. All talks at 3 p.m. 383-8811.

Books & Coffee. Dr. Martin Tucker reviews Joseph O’Neill’s book Netherland, about New York’s Chelsea Hotel, at 10:30 a.m. March 9 at Selby Library. 861-1140.

Ringling College Library Association Town Hall Today. Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf speaks at the Van Wezel on March 10; former longtime Metropolitan Museum director Philippe de Montebello on March 31. Talks are at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. 925-1343.

Traces of Our Past: Florida’s History through Archaeology. This free series continues at New College of Florida’s Sainer Pavilion with the University of Florida’s Barbara Purdy, who discusses the ancient art of Florida’s native people, at 6 p.m. March 17. 487-4888.

Forum Truth. Columnist and commentator Cynthia Tucker guests in this series, at 7:30 p.m. March 24 at Holley Hall. 359-8350.

An Invitation to the Dance. The

Sarasota Ballet’s Iain Webb and Margaret Barbieri talk about choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s work, at 7 p.m. March 25 in the Historic Asolo Theater. 360-7399.

Theater

Curtains. The Kander-Ebb musical-mystery-comedy continues through March 7 at the Manatee Players. 748-5875.

Annie. The little orphan continues to win hearts and minds through March 14 at Venice Theatre. 488-1115.

Reflections. A musical revue taking a look back at the ’60s and ’70s, continuing through March 20 at Florida Studio Theatre’s Goldstein Cabaret. 366-9000.

The Perfume Shop. Enjoy a Budapest romance and a charming cast of characters in this show, running through April 1 in an Asolo Rep production on the mainstage. 351-8000.

Ruined. Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer winner about women in the Congo surviving horror continues through April 3 at Florida Studio Theatre. 366-9000.

L’il Abner. Take a trip to Al Capp’s

Dogpatch in this musical about the Yokum clan, running through April 4 at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. 366-5454.

Hearts. There’s more than appears on the surface in this Willy Holtzman play about a group of World War II vets who get together for cards and companionship; find out what through April 11 at the Asolo Rep. 351-8000.

Late Nite Catechism 2: Sister Strikes Back. More fun with that ever instructional Sister, March 1 at Venice Theatre. 488-1115.

Little House on the Prairie. Melissa Gilbert (Half-Pint on the old TV version of this show) plays the Ingalls family matriarch in this musical retelling of the stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder, March 2-7 at the Straz Performing Arts Center in Tampa. (800) 955-1045.

Machinal. A play by Sophie Treadwell, about a young woman in the early 20th century who tries to have it all—marriage, family, career, etc. Wonder how that goes. Onstage March 3-21 in an FSU/Asolo Conservatory production at the Cook Theatre. 351-8000.

Rent. How will Venice Theatre’s intimate Stage II handle this full-throttle musical about young bohemians in Manhattan trying to break through? Find out March 11 through April 11. 488-1115.

Managing Maxine. Sharon Spelman returns to the Asolo Rep in this Janece Shaffer play (based on the true story of a Sarasota couple) about a man and woman who find second love in their 70s. March 12 through April 18. 351-8000.

Unplugged: Theatre in the Raw. The Asolo Rep brings several new plays to the stage in reading formats this month, with a kickoff March 13. Table readings follow March 14, 16 and 17, and staged readings March 26 and 27. For details of works and playwrights chosen, call 351-9010.

Porgy and Bess. The 75th anniversary world tour of the Gershwin musical about doomed lovers on Catfish Row, March 15 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

The Magnificent Mills Brothers. A premiere of this Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe production featuring the Mills Brothers music opens March 17 to run through April 4 at Art Center Sarasota. Call 365-2494 for ticket info.

Fiddler on the Roof. The venerable musical story of milkman Tevye and his family take to the stage once more March 18 through 28 at the Players Theatre. 365-2494.

Catch Me If You Can. A mystery-

comedy by Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert that has no connection to that Leonardo DiCaprio movie you may have seen a few years ago. Onstage March 18 through April 4 at the Island Players. 778-5755.

Night Train to Memphis. A world premiere musical revue paying tribute to the legacy of Memphis with tunes from Elvis, B.B. King, Johnny Cash and others, March 23 through June 6 in FST’s cabaret space. 366-9000.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice concoction, a perennial fave, returns to local stages with this production March 25 through April 11 at the Manatee Players. 748-5875.

Dearly Departed. A Southern-fried comedy about families and funerals, onstage March 30 through April 18 at Venice Theatre. 488-1115. 

In Town

Ringling Town Hall speaker Philippe de Montebello on his life at the Met and where museums are headed.

After serving for more than 30 years as director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (making him the longest-serving director of any major art museum in the world), the urbane Philippe de Montebello finds himself still very busy in the art and lecture world. He’ll close out this season’s Ringling Town Hall series on March 31 at the Van Wezel (call 925-1343 for ticket info); we spoke with him recently about his long career.

Q. What are you doing now in semi-retirement? I finished the year 2009 as the first scholar-in-residence at the Prado, teaching museology; I’ve been hosting the Sunday Arts TV show on PBS Channel 13 with Paula Zahn; and I’m a full professor at the graduate school at NYU. My wife occasionally asks when I’m going back to that cushy job at the Met.

Q.  Are you enjoying teaching? I’ve always been a bit of a didact at heart. I enjoy the opportunity to communicate what I’ve learned over the last 45 years. My courses tend to be historical, starting with the ancient world. I deal with ideas now, issues of heritage and cultural patrimony.

Q. What are the biggest challenges

facing the museum world today? Money? Money is a detail. It’s essential to have it, of course, and it can be dangerous if you don’t have enough of it, because you could be persuaded to take the wrong course as a director. Perhaps the challenge is allowing the institution to pursue its mission with scarce resources; it takes imagination, but there are a million ways to do it.

But there is no monolith called “the museum”; what’s applicable to the Ringling in Sarasota might not be to the Met. They’re different animals. The Met has 2,500 employees and 5 million visitors a year, so it has very different problems than museums in smaller cities. Because New York naturally draws so many visitors, on a certain level the Met doesn’t need to do anything; it just needs to be. Half of the Met’s visitors never go to the special exhibitions; they just come to see the permanent collection. Of course over time people want novelty, change; you can’t rest on your laurels.

Q. So what is the task for a museum director today? To capture the new technology that attracts young people, I think. I stepped down because it was time for a younger generation.

Q. What sort of art do you have in your private collection? I couldn’t call it a collection, really, but I have bought things off and on all my life. Primarily Old Master drawings, Greek vases, calligraphy, ancient bronzes—the things that interested me and that I could afford to buy.

Q. Any current artists included? My interest in and knowledge of younger artists tend to be professional, not a personal engagement with the art. That said, I have very eclectic, broad-ranging tastes, I think.

Q. What skills does a successful

museum director need? I don’t think it’s a matter of skills. There’s unlearnable common sense to begin with, and you need to be an inspiring person to lead, to provide an example and to make people want to work for you. You also need to profoundly like and believe in art and in communicating the greatness of works of art to as many people as you can possibly reach. All the rest is bureaucracy.—Kay Kipling