Modernizing an ancient tradition
Back by popular demand, the Golden Dragon Acrobats will dazzle audiences young and old at The Players Theatre in late December and early January.
"We’re very pleased to bring this celebrated troupe to our theater," says Michelle Bianchi Pingel, managing director of The Players Theatre. "It’s the ideal family entertainment for the holidays and works well with our region’s circus legacy since contemporary circus artistry has its origins in traditional Chinese acrobatics. The Golden Dragon Acrobats is recognized as the premiere Chinese acrobatic touring company of today. We’re thrilled to have them – and delighted they chose to direct the first night’s ticket sales to benefit The Players Theatre."
The art of acrobatics is a tradition that began in China more than 2,500 years ago. Director Danny Chang and choreographer Angela Chang transform this ancient folk art into a modern performance filled with colorful costumes, razzle-dazzle music and lighting, and feats of extraordinary strength, balance, and agility.
Over two hours, the performers deliver inspired choreographed routines showcasing their extraordinary skills and athleticism, accompanied by a score of traditional Chinese music, tribal drum beats, and contemporary music. For more information about the Golden Dragon Acrobats, visit www.artfegan.com.
The Golden Dragon Acrobats will perform at The Players Theatre on Dec. 29, 30 and 31 and Jan. 2. Performances are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day. Tickets are $32 for adults; $18, for children 16 and under. Group tickets prices are available. Ticket proceeds from the preview performance on Dec. 29 will benefit The Players Performing Arts Studio of The Players Theatre. For all ticket requests, call 941-365-2494. The theater is located at 838 N Tamiami Trail. Photos courtesy of Art Fegan Entertainment.
ART
RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART - Through Jan. 10, "Venice in the Age of Canaletto." Through March 4, "New & Wonderful: Inventions and Innovations Under the Big Top." Through April 4, "Gothic Art in the Gilded Age: Medieval and Renaissance Treasures in the Gavet-Vanderbilt-Ringling Collection." Tickets, $25, or $20 for seniors 65 and up; children ages 6-17, $10; children 5 and under, admitted free. Art museum free to all on Mondays. Located at 5401 Bay Shore Rd., 351-1660. Admission includes the Ringling Museum of Art, Cà d’Zan mansion, Circus Museum, Mable’s Rose Garden and grounds.
RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN - Jan. 15-Feb. 16, "REAL(ists)," featuring the works of more than 35 artists from the faculty, staff and instructors associated with Ringling College. Opening reception, Jan. 15, 5-7 p.m. Galleries located one-half block east of 2700 N. Tamiami Trail on Dr. MLK Jr. Way. Call 359-7563; www.ringling.edu/selbygallery.
ALLYN GALLUP CONTEMPORARY ART - Through December, "Vivid Memories of Things That Never Happened," featuring the works of abstract artists Helen Shulman and Robert Poindexter. Located at 1419 Fifth St.; 366-2093; www.allyngallup.com.
ART CENTER SARASOTA - Through Jan. 9, 6th Annual Florida Photography - Open Juried Exhibition. Also on exhibit through Jan. 9, "Shades of Light," featuring Dean Mitchell’s watercolors; and photographs by Arieh Aizenberg, Richard Brownbill and Jimmy Peters. Located at 707 N. Tamiami Trail; 365-2032; www.artsarasota.org.
ART UPTOWN - Jan. 2-30, exhibit of leaded stained glass wall hangings by Nokomis artist Sam Murray. Located at 1367 Main St.; www.artuptown.com; 955-5409.
CELERY BARN GALLERY AT TOWLES COURT - Through Dec. 28, "20 x 20," exhibition of works by the Petticoat Painters, with no work larger than 20 inches by 20 inches. Located at 266 S. Links Ave.; 952-9505.
DABBERT GALLERY - Through Jan. 28, "A Golden Age of Sarasota Masters," featuring works of Ben Stahl, Syd Solomon, Thornton Utz, Jack Cartlidge, Julio de Diego, Hilton Leech, Jerry Farnsworth, Helen Sawyer and Jon Corbino. Located at 76 S. Palm Ave.; 955-1315; www.dabbertgallery.com.
ENGLEWOOD ART CENTER - Through Jan. 2, exhibits of works by watercolorist Marcy Lombard in the Mitchell Gallery and watercolorist Ellen Long in the Members Gallery. In the Longer Gallery, juried exhibition open to all artists for a fee; maximum entries per person: four. Center located at 320 S. McCall, Englewood; 474-4712.
GALLERIA SILECCHIA - Through Jan. 30, works by sculptor Casey Downing Jr., oil painter Joe McFadden and glass master William Morris. At 12 S. Palm Ave. and 20 S. Palm Ave.; www.galleriasilecchia.com; 365-7414.
GALLERY AT TOWLES COURT - Through December, "Gone Fishing," multi-media panels and collages by Marilyn Helfenbein. Located at 252 S. Links Ave.; 308-1986.
IMPERIAL FINE ART - Through January, exhibition of new works by famed Italian artist Alberto Mancini, featuring angels and other visions; landscapes; and the renowned Emily Dickinson Suite. Located at 1453 Main St.; 954-8901; www.imperial-fineart.com.
KATHARINE BUTLER GALLERY - Through Jan. 9, Gallery Artist Invitational. Jan. 13-Feb. 13, exhibit of works by Ruth Dwyer. Artist’s reception, 6-10 p.m., Jan. 15. Located at 1943 Morrill St. in Towles Court. Call 955-4546 or log onto www.kbutlergallery.com.
LONGBOAT KEY CENTER FOR THE ARTS - Jan. 15-Feb. 11, "Making Waves," featuring works of sculptor Malcolm Robertson in the Durante Gallery. Located at 6860 Longboat Drive S., Longboat Key. Call 383-2345.
M GALLERY OF FINE ART - Through December, "Hope on the Horizon," solo exhibition of paintings by Gene Costanza. Portion of proceeds benefiting Wounded Warriors Project. Jan. 1, 6-9 p.m., "Touch Points," featuring landscapes by Marc Hanson. Jan. 4-8, landscape workshop with Hanson. Located at 16 S. Palm Ave.; 954-8774; info@mgalleryoffineart.com.
PARADISE GALLERY - Through Dec. 30, "Gifts, Gifts, Gifts," a holiday showcase with works of glass artists. Jan. 15-Feb. 15, "Dancing Figures," featuring sculptures by Cobert Collins and Penny Collins. Drawing will be held during the show for a small sculpture. Located at 5760 Palmer Blvd.; 378-1234.
PARKLAND ART GALLERY - Through Jan. 15, an exhibit of jewelry by Nancie Roark and Susan Moody, sculpture by David Scrabie Mitchell, unique pottery by David Heustess and the debut of new paintings by Duet Paperworks – Brian Miller and Ed Pasternak. Located at 506 S. Pineapple Ave. Parking in Historic Burns Square; 366-1649; ParklandArtGallery.FL@gmail.com.
SELBY GARDENS - Through Jan. 4, "Visions of Selby: Inspirations from a Botanical Treasury," in the Museum of Botany & the Arts. Located at 811 S. Palm Ave.; 366-5731 or www.selby.org.
SIMON’S COFFEE HOUSE - Until Dec. 28, "Colors of Nature," featuring works of Gillian St. George. Dec. 28-Feb. 1, "South of France Joie de Vivre," an exhibit of plein air paintings by Marguerite Jill Dye. Restaurant located at 5900 S. Tamiami Trail; 926-7151.
STATE OF THE ARTS GALLERY - Through December, "Beyond the Sea," interpretations of sun, wind, air and water. Through February, "Renewal 2010: Interpretations of What’s New." Located at 1525 State St.; call 955-2787 or go to www.sarasotafineart.com.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH - Through Dec. 30, "Artful Giving: An Exhibit of Artistic Gifts," featuring items priced at $200 or less. Located at 3975 Fruitville Rd.; 371-4974.
WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER - Through Jan. 30, "Intersections," a solo exhibit of Kris Parins’ watercolors. Artist’s reception, 5-7 p.m., Jan. 12. Located at 340 S. Tuttle Ave.; 366-1700.
ARTWALKS
FIRST FRIDAY WALKS - Downtown galleries of Burns Square, Pineapple Avenue, Palm Avenue and Main Street, from 6-9 p.m. featuring live music, refreshments and general merriment. Next: Jan. 8.
TOWLES COURT GALLERY WALK - Art walks every third Friday of the month, from 6 p.m. Many galleries and restaurants are open for evening strolls and dining. Live music; 365-8683 for details. Parking on Adams Lane. Next: Jan. 15.
MUSIC
SARASOTA ORCHESTRA - Jan. 8-10, "On Tour," featuring Gershwin’s "Cuban Overture," Bruch’s "Scottish Fantasy," Dvorák’s "Slavonic Dances" and Respighi’s "Pines of Rome." Located at Holley Hall. Call 953-3434; visit www.sarasotaorchestra.org.
ARTIST SERIES OF SARASOTA - Jan. 3 and 5, 7:30 p.m., "Music with Strings Attached," featuring the Amernet String Quartet, with special guest James Tocco on piano; selections by Turina, Tchaikovsky and Franck. Jan. 15-16, "Three Men ... and a Baby Grand: Sammy, Dean, Frank ... A Tribute to the Rat Pack." At the Historic Asolo Theatre, Bay Shore Road. Call 388-1188 or go to artistseries.net.
FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH - Dec. 24, 8:30 p.m., during the Christmas Eve service, performance of Mozart’s "Church Sonata in C" by the Scarano Family. Located at 7750 Beneva Rd.; 924-4664; www.faithsarasota.com.
GLENRIDGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER - Jan. 16, 8 p.m., pianist Robin Spielberg. Tickets: $15; visit www.theglenridge.com or call 552-5325. Located at 7333 Scotland Way.
JUNE LEBELL’S THE ALL AMERICAN MUSICAL - Six-part series, Jan. 12-March 23, 2 p.m., featuring musical conversations with guest artists and film and video clips at the Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Rd. Jan. 12, "There’s No Business Like Show Business: A Tour of the Great White Way." Admission: $15; $12, for Ringling Museum of Art members. Tickets available at 360-7399; www.ringling.org.
LONGBOAT KEY CENTER FOR THE ART - Jan. 12, 7:30 p.m., "Jazz at the Center: Pepper & Fine Thyme." Tickets: $20 in advance; $25, at the door. Located at 6860 Longboat Drive South; 383-2345.
MUNCHTIME MUSICALES - Second Wednesday of the month at noon. Free. Jan. 20, Sarasota Brass Quintet. Located at David Cohen Hall inside the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 N. Tamiami Trail; 351-7467; www.sarasotaconcertassociation.org.
NEW COLLEGE NEW MUSIC - Jan. 15-16, the JACK Quartet. Jan. 15: free demo/discussion, 3:30 p.m. Tickets for Jan. 16: $12. Located in the Sainer Pavilion at New College, 5313 Bay Shore Rd. Tickets: $12; 487-4888.
PLAYERS THEATRE - Jan. 14-24, "Some Enchanted Evening," a Rodgers and Hammerstein revue. Tickets: $23, adults; $12, students. Located at 838 N. Tamiami Trail; 365-2494; www.theplayers.org.
SARASOTA JEWISH CHORALE - In its 11th season with rehearsals on Thursdays, 7-9 p.m., Hecht School on the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation campus, 580 McIntosh Rd. Singers in all voice parts welcome. Rehearsals continue through March. Call Martha Kesler, 955-1021.
SARASOTA CONCERT ASSOCIATION - Jan. 12, 8 p.m., celebrated violinist Chee-Yun at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail. For tickets, call 955-0040 or visit www.sarasotaconcertassociation.org.
SARASOTA FOLK CLUB - Last Monday of the month. Open mic, 7:15 p.m.; concert, 8:30 p.m. Located at Sarasota Sailing Squadron, 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway, Suggested donation: $6. Call Jean Hewitt, 377-9256 or 320-4774; e-mail jvhewitt@pobox.com.
SECOND SUNDAYS AT SELBY - Free monthly concert series, 2:30 p.m., sponsored by the Sarasota Music Archive, at Selby Library. Doors open at 1:45 p.m. Call 861-1168. Located at 1331 First St.
VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL - Jan. 3, 7 p.m., "An Evening with Bernadette Peters." Tickets: $30-$75. Jan. 5, 8 p.m., "40th Anniversary Celebration with Tony Bennett." Tickets: $30-$120. Located at 777 N. Tamiami Trail; 953-3368; www.vanwezel.org.
VENICE SYMPHONY - Jan. 14-16, with the theme "Broadway" for this January pops event; selections from "Phantom of the Opera," "Les Miserables," "My Fair Lady," "South Pacific," "Wicked" and other shows. Located at Church of the Nazarene, 1535 E. Venice Ave., Venice; 488-1010. Tickets: $18, $22 and $25. All seats reserved.
THEATRE
ASOLO REP - Through April 1, "The Perfume Shop," a new adaptation of "Parfumerie" by Miklos Laszlo. Through Feb. 17, "Life of Galileo," by Bertolt Brecht. Through Feb. 25, "Searching for Eden: The Diaries of Adam and Eve," a comic look at relationships. Located at 5555 N. Tamiami Trail. Call 351-8000; www.asolo.org.
ART CENTER SARASOTA - Jan. 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., "Awakening the Wise Woman Within," a "playshop" through which women will explore their creative spirits. Art therapy, hypnotherapy and psychodramatic techniques to be included. Instructor: Satya Winkelman, board-certified psychodramatist and psychotherapist. Admission: $55, members; $60, non-members. Located at 707 N. Tamiami Trail. Call to register: 365-2032.
CIRQUESA: DREAMQUEST - Jan. 7-10 and Jan. 13-18, a theatrical family experience featuring world-class circus artistry in a story about a young boy who embarks on a fantasy trip. Located at 851 Venetia Bay Blvd., off U.S. 41 near the North Bridge (across from Patriots Park). Tickets: $13, general admission; $27, ringside seating. Visit www.cirquesa.com or call 800-625-7220. A portion of proceeds to go to the Sertoma Club of Venice.
FLORIDA STATE CONSERVATORY FOR ACTOR TRAINING - Jan. 6-24, "Blue/Orange" by Joe Penhall, a story about two psychiatrists locking horns over the diagnosis of a young patient. In the Cook Theatre at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail. Call 351-8000; www.asolo.org.
FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE - Through Jan. 15, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." Through Jan. 2, "That’s Life," celebrating supper clubs of yesteryear. Through Feb. 13, "Bridge & Tunnel," by Sarah Jones. Tickets: $26-$29. Located at 1241 N. Palm Ave. Call 366-9000; www.floridastudiotheatre.org.
GOLDEN APPLE DINNER THEATRE - Through Dec. 27, "Sister’s Christmas Catechism." Dec. 29-Jan. 10, "The Musical Magic of Hayes & Hyman." Jan. 5, "Liberace," with Martin Preston recreating the music and glamor of the late entertainer. Tickets: $41-$43. Located at 25 N. Pineapple Ave.; 366-5454; www.thegoldenapple.com.
PLAYERS THEATRE - Dec. 29-31 and Jan. 2, 7 p.m., The Golden Dragon Acrobats from China. Tickets: $38, adults; $18, ages 16 and under. Jan. 12-Feb. 21, "The Marvelous Wonderettes." Located at 838 N. Tamiami Trail; 365-2494.
VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL - Dec. 27, 7 p.m., "The Jason Bishop Show," with the award-winning illusionist performing to a modern rock music soundtrack. Tickets: $10-$35. Jan. 15, 8 p.m., "Defending the Caveman." Tickets: $10-$45. Located at 777 N. Tamiami Trail; 953-3368; www.vanwezel.org.
VENICE THEATRE - Dec. 30-31, "Red, Hot and Blue!" Jan. 7-24, "I Am My Own Wife." Located at 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice; www.venicestage.com; 488-1115.
COMEDY
KOMEDY 4 KIDS BY KIDS - Every Saturday, 11 a.m., Florida Studio Theatre in the Goldstein Cabaret. Tickets: $6; includes lunch. Located at 1241 N. Palm Ave. Call 366-9000; www.floridastudiotheatre.org.
VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL - Jan. 14, 8 p.m., Jackie Mason, one of the best-known stand-up comedians. Tickets: $10-$55. Located at 777 N. Tamiami Trail; 953-3368; www.vanwezel.org.