February 2026

SARASOTA BALLET Celebrates Life & Liberty The Art of Performance at The Ringling +

Bravo Maestro

After 44 years and nearly 1600 performances, Victor DeRenzi conducts his last season at Sarasota Opera

DARING & DELIGHT TAKE CENTER RING Winter & Spring Shows at Circus Arts Conservatory

Patients

Makeovers and Veneers Dental Implant Surgery and Reconstruction

On-Site Laboratory with Master Technicians to Customize and Control Results

Implant Dentistry Cosmetic Dentistry Orthodontics Holistic Dentistry

Burr Bakke, DDS

• Fellow of the American Dental Implant Association

• Fellow of International Congress of Oral Implantologists

• Fellow of the American Academy of Dental Facial Esthetics

• Member of American Academy of Implant Dentistry

• Post Doctoral Instructor of Full Mouth Reconstruction

Jill Morris, DMD

• Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (only 550 accredited dentists worldwide)

• Fellow of the American Academy of Dental Facial Esthetics

• Post Doctoral Instructor of Full Mouth Reconstruction

• Member International Academy of Oral Biological Dentistry and Medicine

• Practicing dentistry for 33 years

Cameron Johnson, DMD

• Member of North American Association of Facial Orthotropics

• Member of the American Orthodontic Society

• Member of the International Association of Orthodontics

• Member of American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine

• International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology

Sydney Johnson, DMD

• Member of International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology

• Member of International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine

• Member of Academy of Holistic Dental Association

• RG Recognized Dental Laboratory Technician

T H E N E W

S A RAS OTA L I V ES H E R E

Downtown’s first new luxury high-rise residences with three-day minimum rental freedom.

A new way to own — Saravela introduces a redefined standard of luxury living to downtown Sarasota, offering the rare freedom of three-day minimum rental flexibility. When you’re not here enjoying endless walkable culture, entertainment, and six floors of sun-splashed amenities, our expert on-site rental management program seamlessly handles reservations along with owner and guest services. Choose from sophisticated, turnkey condominium residences, penthouses, and townhomes — fully furnished by renowned designer Steven G.

Luxury Retirement Living On Sarasota Bay

– Linda Albert Author and SBC Resident

Sarasota Bay Club presents an unrivaled list of first-class amenities and services, including a broad array of healthcare choices, in an exclusive residential resort setting overlooking the sparkling waters of Sarasota Bay. Right where you want to be! Experience our unique community firsthand – schedule a private tour.

Mimi Nowak or Dana Moe At (941) 256-2618 Today. 1301 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota Find us online at SarasotaBayClub.com

The Cornell Pavilion is a safe, welcoming place for those struggling with mental health issues. With evidence-based programs and services, and the most experienced clinicians, lives are transformed, smiles return and our community grows stronger

COMMUNITY SUPPO RT IS C R ITICAL TO ITS SUCCESS

Only 17% of SMH’s behavioral health costs are reimbursed.

Learn how you can make an impact, call 941.917.1286 or visit smhf.org.

staff.” - DAVID B.

The vast majority of homes in Florida have exterior door hardware constructed of brass, which just can’t tolerate our demanding climate. What’s the solution? Solid stainless steel or solid bronze hardware. And now those materials are available in many designer finishes to compliment your home, and with almost no maintenance.

Experience that serves

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LEAVING A LEGACY

Maestro DeRenzi Conducts His Last Season at Sarasota Opera By Scott Ferguson

THE SARASOTA BALLET CELEBRATES LIFE & LIBERTY FOR AMERICA’S 250TH

By Scott Ferguson

DARING & DELIGHT TAKE CENTER RING Circus Arts Conservatory By Tom Reese

THE RINGLING’S ART OF PERFORMANCE SERIES FEATURES ECLECTIC ARTISTS

By Scott Ferguson

ON THE COVER

Maestro Victor DeRenzi at the Sarasota Opera House. Photo by Curtis Anderson, Jr.

Hunter Hageman

Hunter Hageman

from the • pu B lisher

Under his leadership, Sarasota Opera became known as “Verdi’s American Home”. Various respected publications have called Sarasota Opera “one of the finest venues for opera in the United States” having “superb acoustics” and a “cultural landmark” that acts as a “touchstone between the past, the present, and the future.” These accolades have been achieved during the tenure of Maestro Victor DeRenzi, who is the only conductor in the world to conduct all of Verdi’s works.

Maestro Victor is my friend, and it is bittersweet that we honor him in our February cover story. After an amazing and highly successful 44-year tenure (the longest of any artistic director in the world), during which he oversaw more than 1500 performances of 218 different productions, he will be leaving Sarasota Opera in May. I will miss him!

Maestro Victor has been a bright shining light on Sarasota’s arts and cultural scene for decades. He has put Sarasota Opera on the map as a highly respected national and international opera company, often taking artistic risks that larger opera companies would avoid, and he has won every time. And while Sarasota Opera may be a smaller opera house, because of Maestro Victor, it is large in influence and impact.

So, bravo to you, my friend! You have created many great opera memories for me. From all your friends at Sarasota Scene, we are grateful for your vision, creativity, and leadership, and wish you a retirement filled with joy, good health, and new adventures. We will always be grateful for your commitment to artistic excellence and dedication.

Also in this issue, we meet the new president and CEO of Community Foundation of Sarasota County—Jessica Muroff. Jessica follows the magnetic and dynamic Roxie Jerde, and she is only the third president since the Foundation’s founding in 1979. Her leadership approach, which she explains in our interview, seems spot on to effectively meet the needs of our community and we look forward to meeting and welcoming her.

With February being the height of our performing arts season, we cover several performing arts happenings in this issue. Each season, The Sarasota Ballet presents a visiting dance company to give audiences a new experience. Its program five, which starts February 27, brings the Martha Graham Dance Company

H JOHN KNOWLES, PUBLISHER john@scenesarasota.com

to town. It is the oldest American dance company and  and as “one of the great dance companies of the world”. You can read all about it in this issue and please, get your tickets early as you won’t

Bold design. Breathtaking views. Boundless possibilities. This is 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Kolter Urban’s newest luxury development at the Quay waterfront district. Here, striking residences will effortlessly blend with a hospitality inspired lifestyle, overlooking The Bay Park, Sarasota Bay, and the Quay Harbor. We invite you to discover this curated collection of premium amenities and coastal urban indulgences. Come live the art of having it all.

Leading The Way in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Our exceptional team of Professors of Physical Therapy and Board-Certified Clinical Specialists are committed to delivering the highest standard of holistic care through cutting-edge innovation and evidence-based interventions to help your body heal itself.

Custom One-On-One Care

Orthopedic and Sports Injuries • Scoliosis-Specific Physical Therapy • Neurological & Concussion Disorders • Vestibular Issues • Balance Training and Fall Prevention • Joint Replacement Therapy

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• Dry Needling to alleviate tension and promote muscle recovery.

• Lymph Drainage Physical Therapy

941.365.1119 | Fax: 941.954.5067 | scenesarasota.com Vol. 69 No. 2

Publisher/Executive Editor H John Knowles

Managing Editor/Strategic Partnerships

Julie A. Milton

Executive Creative Director Darcy Kelly–Laviolette

Communications Specialist Gina Liga

Distribution Mike Straffin

Accounting Sally A. Bailey

Advertising Inquiries

Paul McNamara

Call/Text 917.751.6506 | paul@scenesarasota.com

Contributing Graphic Designer

Laura Guzman

Contributing Writers

Scott Ferguson

Reno Gomez

Hunter Hageman

Julie Milton Tom Reese Kaileia Suvannamaccha

Contributing Photographers

Curtis Anderson, Jr.

Janet Combs

Nancy Guth

Jordan Kelly-Laviolette

Nancy Nassiff

Harry Sayer Lori Sax

Official Scene Greeter & Security

Major Reacher 1834 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236

North Bay Tower will feature Sarasota’s newest luxury residences on the beautiful Suncoast Plymouth Harbor campus. A Life Plan Community with a 60-year legacy, Plymouth Harbor is expanding to share its extraordinary lifestyle. Our purposeful approach to living and proactive focus on wellness will help ensure a future as limitless as our 360º bay and coastline views.

.

THE LIST

February Events Calendar

1

Jewish Federation Sarasota-Manatee Catskills After Dark

Benefits JFEDs Safe SRQ. Dinner by Michael’s On East and a performance by comedian Elon Gold. The Ora | jfedsrq.org/event/catskills-after-dark

Sarasota Fine Art Show

Visual arts, fine arts and fine crafts created by award-winning artists from around the world. Sarasota Art Museum Parking Lot | hotworks.org/events-hot-works/sarasota-fine-art-show

2

Scramble for SPARCC

A fun day of golf for players and sponsors to help survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Laurel Oak Country Club | sparcc.net/events

3

Education Foundation of Sarasota County Future Ready Luncheon

Features powerful stories of impact from students and teachers whose lives have been changed through the generosity of our community.

The Sarasota Yacht Club | edfoundationsrq.org/event/future-ready-luncheon-2026

5

Suncoast Charities for Children Taste of Thunder

Fine spirits, wine and beer from around the world meet gourmet bites at this evening of flavor and philanthropy. Proceeds benefit local children, teens and adults with special needs.

The Grove | thunderbythebay.org/events/taste-of-thunder

Ringling Underground

Enjoy live music, art and atmosphere in The Ringling courtyard. Food and beverage available for purchase. Ringling Museum Courtyard | ringling.org/event/ringlingunderground-3

SCENE Sponsored

February 5

Sarasota Opera Guild The Universal Language of Music

Featuring a lecture on music by Dr. Craig Wright, Professor and Chairman Emeritus of the Yale Music Department, and an international-style buffet dinner curated by noted food author May Bsisu and Rosanne Martorella. Church of the Redeemer | sarasotaopera.org/sarasota-opera-guild

6

Lakewood Ranch Music on Main

A free concert series and block party with local food vendors, beer trucks, sponsor booths, and games. Proceeds benefit Girl Scouts of Gulf Coast Florida.

Main Street, Lakewood Ranch | lakewoodranch.com/music-on-main

6 & 7

Sarasota Shell Show & Marine Life Festival

Featuring exotic and rare shells, rocks and minerals on display and for sale as well as jewelry, clothing and shell crafts.

Potter Building, Sarasota Fairgrounds | sarasotashellclub.com/2026-shell-show

Rentals Needed

Furnished or Unfurnished

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941.359.3435 SARASOTA

941.953.6000

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941.792.6900

SCENE Sponsored

February 7

SCF Foundation Bourbon, Brews & BBQ, Avenues to the Future

Enjoy a night of premium bourbons and craft brews, line dancing and country music in support of SCF students.

State College of Florida, Bradenton | scf-foundation.org/avenuestothefuture

Selby Gardens Orchid Ball: The Nature of Abstraction

Dinner, dancing and a silent disco! Proceeds benefit community education programs, international research, conservation, and horticulture displays. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Downtown Sarasota | selby.org/dsc/dsc-special-events/orchidball

7

The Sarasota Players Play On Annual Fundraiser

A celebration of theater, community and The Players’ new home at Payne Park. Payne Park | theplayers.org/play-on

2026 Circus Ring of Fame Awards Show

The Ring of Fame honors the highest achievements in circus arts and culture. With special performances by Generation NeXt honorees, Sebastian Videla, The Coronas Sisters and Veranica Tchalabaeva. Circus Sarasota Big Top | circusringoffame.org

9

Ringling College of Art + Design Town Hall with Laura Coates

Author and former Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Colombia

Laura Coates is CNN’s Chief Legal Analyst and anchor of Laura Coates Live. Van Wezel Performing Arts Center | ringlingcollegetownhall.org/town-hall-speakers

13-15

Suncoast Charities for Children

Thunder by the Bay Music & Motors Festival

This high-octane weekend includes headliners Night Ranger, 38 Special and Montgomery Gentry featuring Eddie Montgomery, plus custom bike and car shows, a biker rodeo, charity rides, vendors, food, drinks, on-site camping and more. Proceeds support children, teens and adults with special needs across Southwest Florida.

Sarasota Sarasota County Fairgrounds | thunderbythebay.org

14

Healthy Start Sarasota Together We Bloom Gala Dinner, dancing and live auction benefitting families and babies in Sarasota County.

Brown’s Grove | healthystartsarasota.org/ together-we-bloom

17

Sights + Sounds at Waterside Place: Jazz Under the Stars with ODA

Enjoy performances by the Upper School Jazz Band, along with guest artists and various mixed ensembles from The Out-of-Door Academy. Waterside Place | lakewoodranch.com/event/78603-2

SCENE Sponsored

February 18

SMHF Women & Medicine Educational Luncheon

Guest speakers Amanda Kane, M.D., FACOG, Board-Certified ObstetricianGynecologist, Sharfi Sarker, M.D., FACS, Board-Certified, Fellowship-Trained Breast Surgeon, and Sonia Sharma, M.D., Board-Certified Endocrinologist..

Plantation Golf & Country Club |smhf.org/event/women-medicine

Sarasota Art Museum Unconventional Evening

An immersive and fluid event featuring cocktails, dinner, artists and performers flowing throughout each of the museum’s spaces where you can interact, activate and “be the art”.

Sarasota Art Museum | sarasotaartmuseum.org/unconventionalevening

19

Make-A-Wish of Southern Florida Cooking For Wishes

Themed Studio 54 – A Night of Funk and Flavor, experience a high energy, interactive culinary experience and help grant life-changing wishes to children battling critical illnesses.

The Circus Arts Conservatory | wish.org/sfla/cooking-wishes-0

20

Embracing Our Differences Annual Luncheon

Celebrate kindness, respect, and inclusion with a powerful program about EOD’s impact, featuring inspirational student speakers. The Ora | engage.embracingourdifferences.org/annual-luncheon

Big Brothers Big Sisters Party for Potential: Dueling Pianos

Cocktail hour, food stations, live entertainment and auctions supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast.

Michael’s On East | one.bidpal.net/pianos2026/welcome

20-21

5th Annual Floridiana Festival

Over 25 vendors specializing in vintage Florida postcards, books, maps, pennants, souvenirs, art, and more from the 1950s and 1960s.

Potter Building, Sarasota Fairgrounds | sarasotafair.com/ events/2026/5th-annual-floridiana-fest2

21

The Haven: All Abilities on the Floor Gala

Celebrate and support individuals with disabilities at this fourth annual disco-themed gala and dance to the music of the 70’s and 80’s on a sparkling, lit up dance floor.

The Ora | thehavensrq.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/ AllAbilitiesOnTheFloor

Florida Cancer Specialists Celestial Soirée: A Starry Night of Art & Music

A special evening starring artist survivors who inspire with their creativity and courage.

Art Ovation Hotel | fcsf.org/fcsf-events/celestial-soiree

YMCA of Southwest Florida: A Night in the Big Apple

Inspired by the timeless elegance and vibrancy of New York City, this event will bring the community together in support of the YMCA’s mission-driven programs.

Plantation Golf & Country Club | ymcaswfl.org/upcoming-events

Everything you need for Valentine’s Day. Elegant food, fine wine, fresh flowers, divine desserts and specialty gift baskets. Prepared by us. For you and your sweetheart.

Serving the Sarasota area for over 55 years

Historic Southside Village 1924 South Osprey Ave. Sarasota ∙ (941) 955-9856 MortonsMarket.com

Wearable Art Shop

433 N. Orange Ave.

Sarasota, FL 34236

wearableartshop.com 941-487-8564

SCENE Sponsored

February 22

Big Waters Land Trust Feast Upon the Fields

Together with Sarasota County’s Land Acquisition Program, Big Waters Land Trust will host this tenth annual farm-to-table luncheon featuring a one-of-akind menu by Chef Paul Mattison.

Longino Ranch | bigwaterslandtrust.org/event/feast-upon-the-fields-2

23

Ringling College of Art + Design Town Hall with Joel Sartore

Featuring photographer, speaker, author, conservationist and regular National Geographic contributor Joel Sartore.

Van Wezel Performing Arts Center | ringlingcollegetownhall.org/town-hall-speakers

24

Artist Series Concerts 30th Anniversary Gala

Celebrate ASC’s pearl anniversary with live performances, dancing, a plated dinner and auction.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Downtown Sarasota | artistseriesconcerts.org/ events/247-30th-anniversary-gala-celebration

25

Harvest House Home Again Luncheon: Making Magic

Learn about the transformation happening every day in the lives of people who find refuge and recovery with Harvest House each year.

The Venue @ LEC | harvesthousecenters.org

27

Asolo Repertory Theatre

Annual Gala

An evening of fine dining, dancing and performance at the new Mote SEA. Proceeds support the talented artists of the Asolo.

Mote SEA | asolorep.org/support-thearts/special-events/annual-gala

Ringling Avant-Garde:

Dancing Through the Decades

Supports student scholarships. This year’s costume theme showcases the evolving style, performance, and cultural expression from the 1920s through the early 2000s. Ringling College of Art + Design | ringling.edu/about/offices-anddepartments/office-for-advancement/ avant-garde

Senior Friendship Center

City of Lights Gala:

Under the Spanish Sky

This year’s event features Flamenco dancers, live music, auction and a paddle raise to celebrate bringing joy to our local seniors.

The Circus Arts Conservatory | friendshipcenters.org/events/city-oflights-gala-under-the-spanish-sky

LWR Exotic Car Show

Featuring rare gems such as Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, Lotuses, Rolls Royce’s, McLarens, and more on display from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

Main Street, Lakewood Ranch | lakewoodranch.com/event/ exotic-car-show

MARCH 6, 2026

JOE THEISMANN

This year, the 17th Annual Signature Luncheon reaches for a new level of excellence at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. Joining us is Super Bowl champion and inspirational speaker Joe Theismann, who will share his powerful story. Your generosity makes it possible for us to continue providing Hospice care along with programs and services that brighten the lives of patients, family and community members.

For tickets and sponsorships please contact us at 941.552.7569 or rsvp@tidewellfoundation.org.

Let’s brighten lives together! TidewellFoundation.org/sl/

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

EXCLUSIVE SIGNATURE SPONSOR

CORPORATE SPONSOR

SUSTAINING SPONSOR

JAN MILLER AND JIM CULTER

VISIONARY SPONSORS

JUDITH T. BERLOW AND FAMILY

UPCOMING sponsored EVENTS

Mar. 6

Selby Garden to Plate Wine Dinner

A casually elegant outdoor Garden to Plate dining experience featuring fine wine and a multi-course dinner under the banyan trees.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Downtown Sarasota | selby.org/dsc/dsc-special-events/ garden-to-plate-wine-dinner

Mar. 22

USF Foundation Brunch on the Bay

A celebration of community, philanthropy and the extraordinary achievements of USF SarasotaManatee campus students.

USF Bradenton Campus | eventful.usf.edu/ rsvp/brunch-on-the-bay-2026

Mar. 27

SPARCC Runway: Kaleidoscope of Fashion Fashion show, luncheon, boutique shopping, silent auction and postevent party.

The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota | sparcc.net/ sparcc-runway-fashion-show

SMHF Women & Medicine Sarasota

Lunch and learn about women’s health from female healthcare professionals.

The Ora | smhf.org/event/women-medicine

DAN IVANOV

CERTIFIED PROBATE REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST

PHOTO BY NANCY GUTH

By Tom Reese

Life rarely waits for perfect timing. Whether it’s the responsibility of inheriting property, the emotional and financial complexity of divorce, or other unexpected life transitions, real estate decisions often arrive under pressure. In those moments, experience and judgment matter.

Dan Ivanov has called Sarasota home since 2001 and brings a perspective shaped by nearly two decades in law enforcement before transitioning into real estate. That background informs how he works today—calm under pressure, detail-driven, and keenly aware that every transaction carries personal and emotional weight.

As a Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist (C.P.R.E.S.), Dan is trusted by families, personal representatives, executors, and attorneys to guide court-supervised probate and inherited property sales. These transactions frequently involve out-of-state heirs, complex legal requirements, and sensitive family dynamics. They demand far more than a standard listing; they require discretion, precision, and steady leadership. Dan’s role is to bring structure to complexity and clarity to an often overwhelming process.

His expertise also extends to divorce-related sales and other major life transitions, where neutrality, structure, and thoughtful strategy are essential. While these areas form a cornerstone of his practice, Dan also represents clients in luxury homes, investment properties, and traditional buyer and seller transactions throughout Sarasota and Bradenton.

Whatever the circumstances, Dan’s approach remains consistent: clear communication, sound strategy, and an unwavering focus on his clients’ best interests.

For

ON THE gala SCENE

with John Knowles

Sarasota’s social calendar is not for the faint of heart. It is a time defined by overlapping invitations, carefully timed exits, and a familiar question asked while fastening cufflinks or adjusting heels: Which gala first?

With cocktail receptions beginning as early as 5:00 p.m. and dinners often not starting until 7:30 p.m., attending two events in one evening has become both an art form and an endurance test.

Parking strategies are planned. Transportation becomes a chess match of valet lines, garages, and last-minute sprints in formal wear. And in the shuffle between venues, what is often sacrificed is the very thing that gives galas their heart — the social reception. Those early moments of mingling are where conversations begin; relationships are reinforced, and the tone of the evening is set.

For nonprofits organizing annual galas, please be sure to check community resources such as Sarasota Scene in advance of locking in dates. This can help you avoid major overlaps, ease donor fatigue, and ultimately improve attendance and the success of your event.

Once inside the ballroom, the details matter. One small tradition that continues to pop up is the simple, twosided table name card handed out at registration, so you can see the name of the people at your table from your seat. In a room filled with hundreds of guests, it is more than a courtesy—It is a kindness. I always introduce myself around the table, but remembering names can be

challenging, especially when meeting table guests for the first time. A fun, chatty table can define the entire evening, though that chemistry is never guaranteed when seating brings together near-strangers.

Program balance is another area where thoughtful planning truly shines. At the Sarasota Art Museum’s Art Bash gala, Tom Koski’s leadership of the fundraising portion of the evening was a standout. While professional auctioneers bring polish and skill, there is something uniquely effective about a respected community member taking the microphone. Tom acknowledged contributors by name, often personalizing his thanks, and his warmth created a more receptive, purposeful tone. The moment felt less transactional and more communal, a reminder that when community leads, generosity follows.

The New Year’s Eve Gala at Selby Gardens offered a lovely way to close out the year. The familiar friendly Selby supporters were there, the atmosphere was celebratory, and it was a fitting opportunity to honor Selby’s accomplishments in 2025 while ushering in 2026.

To me, the gala circuit itself is clearly in transition. Keeping events fresh has never been more important. The Sarasota Ballet School and the Margaret Barbieri Conservatory have been wonderful traditions at Selby’s NYE Gala and guests love the experience. I did hear that they would love to see new and interactive experiences at this and other galas.

The Sarasota Yacht Club’s New Year’s Eve celebration earned rave reviews for a simple reason. Guests kept repeating the same phrase: “It was a party.”

My gala advice is to know your audience. Celebrate achievements, yes, but keep that portion of the program tight. Many attendees are part of the same core group. There are roughly 3,000 local gala-goers attending events in 300- to 500-person increments. Experiencing similar emotional arcs night after night can become numbing, particularly when the paddle raise or the live auction becomes the centerpiece of the evening.

Which brings us to the most important advice of all: make it fun.

So far this season, the WBTT Fall Gala has set the bar. It was the standout event of the year. Conversations with many of the 500 guests made one thing clear—this will be the hottest ticket next season, and everyone plans to return.

SPARCC drew one of the most exuberant crowds of the season at its gala. We all recognize the seriousness of the organization’s mission, and that gravity must remain the key part of the program. However, the patron buzz I heard was while they were there to celebrate impact and support the cause, they wished the party element would have better matched their energy. No one present is insensitive, quite the opposite. They are there because they care. Don’t shoot the messenger!

While not a gala, I always enjoy Asolo Rep’s traditional opening-night dinner receptions for each new production. The most recent one I attended was for the opening night for Primary Trust , and it was no exception. It was well attended and struck an ideal balance of remarks from the podium, conversation, and performance. Balance is important, and I am citing this well-balanced evening as a successful example for other organizations to consider.

TUESDAY | MARCH 24, 2026 | 11:30 AM

The Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation Hospital Gala was an elegant, formal event. A very professional video highlighting the 2025 achievements set a high standard, and the program maintained a strong balance of components throughout.

One especially interesting element was the competitive twist in the paddle raise. While there were significant donations made anonymously and through numbered paddles, it was the overhead projection of donation tracking paired with QR-code giving that stole the show and considerably sped up the process. It was certainly a system that hopefully other organizations will consider.

My only disappointment that evening was the lack of sponsor recognition for Sarasota Scene . The magazine has always been a staunch supporter of the hospital and the foundation, donating extensive coverage to promote fundraising needs and goals, so it is always disappointing when this occurs.

Speaking of sponsor benefits, I am deeply grateful for the recognition Sarasota Scene receives from organizations at events, which is an expected part of our sponsor benefits. When someone at the podium acknowledges Scene , or the magazine logo is prominently seen overhead, the applause and positive comments from guests are genuinely heartwarming. Those proud moments for me reflect a long-standing, trusted brand built on community support, thoughtfulness, and integrity.

But sometimes sponsor recognition falls short. It is important organizations abide by the benefits granted to every sponsor and make sure they happen. Sponsorships are a partnership, with the expectation of thoughtful recognition and meaningful inclusion. So please, to all nonprofit leaders, please make sure your sponsors feel appreciated and special, especially the ones that have supported your organization year after year.

Galas remain a vital part of Sarasota’s philanthropic fabric. With smart scheduling, balanced programming, genuine hospitality, and a little imagination, these evenings can continue to inspire generosity, and remind us why we dress up, show up, and happily do it all again the very next night.

LONGINO RANCH

Join us for our tenth annual celebration showcasing conserved land with stunning views and an inspiring conservation story while enjoying a farm to table meal creatively crafted by Chef Paul Mattison. Seats fill quickly—reserve early. Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 12:30 PM –3:30 PM Scan QR code to learn more. Visit bigwaterslandtrust.org/feast26

Dr. Elizabeth Guancial & Dr. Davender Khera

Dan & Jennifer Vigne

Lowe Morrison & Leiza Fitzgerald

Sovereign

Plastic Surgery

1950 Arlington St., Suite 112, Sarasota, FL 34239

941.366.5476 • www.sovereignps.com First Woman to be name Chief of Surgery at SMH; The SMH 2016 Physician of the Year, Past President of Sarasota County Medical Society; Past President of the Florida State Society of Plastic Surgeons

When Dr. Alissa Shulman was about 13 years old, she witnessed a plastic surgery in progress and was mesmerized. The surgeon, seeing her interest, came out from behind the viewing glass and introduced himself. He was both an artist and a plastic surgeon.

“That was it—-that’s when I knew what I wanted to do,” she said. Starting at the early age of four, Dr. Shulman enjoyed creating sculptures and sewing. She later took these skills into her adulthood, obtaining dual degrees in anatomy and fine arts (sculpture).

Today, she’s the first woman named Chief of Surgery at Sarasota Memorial, and 2016 Sarasota Memorial Hospital Physician of the Year, as well as the owner of Sovereign Plastic Surgery in Sarasota, combining her sculpture and medical expertise.

It's January 2020. Jane has been placed on leave from her Big Tech job after a viral workplace incident. She's hell-bent on returning, but first, her assigned therapist, Loyd, needs to authorize it. Loyd suspects her work might be doing more harm than good.

One of Dr. procedure involves harvesting

“If

what it

“Sculpting changes the way something looks from all three dimensions,” she said. “As a plastic surgeon, that’s what I’m doing.”

to be a citizen of the internet and our obligation to help the people who need it most.

Dr. Shulman’s tucks, implant breast reconstruction. patients achieve

Dr. Shulman artistic challenge A mom of two as a surgeon As far as working since her early

“Whatever she said. “I’ve my whole life,

PARTY PICS

SMHF Hospital Gala

Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation hosted its 9th annual Hospital Gala at The Ritz-Carlton with over 650 guests in attendance. Breaking the previous gala record, the event raised net proceeds of over $1.9 million, supporting greatest needs at SMH. The event featured SMH’s innovation, research and technology, and was hosted by the Healthcare Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Photos by Harry Sayer.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2026

J oin us at Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus for a casually elegant outdoor Garden to Plate dining experience!  Enjoy fine wines selected by Michael Klauber that complement a multi-course dinner personally designed by Phil Mancini.

HOSTED BY Elizabeth Moore and Audrey Robbins

P RESENTING SPONSOR

Selby Gardens’ New Year’s Eve Gala

Selby Gardens’ 2025 New Year’s Eve

Gala was a sophisticated black-tie event, featuring private access to the Lights in Bloom® display, a four-course dinner, live performances, dancing, and a midnight champagne toast with fireworks views over Sarasota Bay. Photos by Janet Combs.

Fairytale Ball C F

CO-CHAIRS

Leslie Jones, Elenor Maxheim, and Dr. Jacque Ray

Women in Philanthropy Monthly Salon

Over 120 sponsors, honorees, trustees, members and volunteers were thanked for all their extraordinary efforts in a beautiful Christmas event at the home of Katherine Harris. Also attending were the leaders of several nonprofit organizations that are mission focused for food security. The highlight of the event was a $600,000 grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

A New Chapter Begins

Jessica Muroff brings presence and perseverance to her new role as president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

BY KAILEIA SUVANNAMACCHA • PHOTO BY CURTIS ANDERSON

In January, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County welcomed Jessica Muroff as its new president and CEO following the 14-year tenure of former President Roxie Jerde.

Muroff calls becoming only the third leader in the organization’s 46-year history “a tremendous honor,” and adds, “I feel a deep responsibility to continue to steward the foundation’s legacy, be a champion of philanthropy and build up our community in ways that make it more resilient.”

Since its inception in 1979, the Community Foundation has helped shape Sarasota’s robust philanthropic identity. Its motto, “Be The One,” reflects the foundation’s deeply held belief that anyone can be a philanthropist and give back to their community, regardless of means.

Today, the Community Foundation stands as an established and trusted philanthropic partner for donors, nonprofits and community leaders alike, with assets exceeding $600 million and expected to surpass $1 billion within the next decade.

“What excites me most is being able to take this incredibly strong foundation and continue to rise to have an even greater impact in our community,” says Muroff.

MODERNIZING IMPACT

As philanthropic culture moves closer to a relational investment model, donors want to know—and see—exactly how their generosity is making a difference.

“Philanthropy is strongest when rooted in trust,” says Muroff. “That means deepening relationships with our donors and community leaders, so we truly understand who is struggling in our community, and why.”

Her approach reflects a philosophy she honed during her six years as CEO of United Way Suncoast, where she shifted the organization away from short-term, transactional funding cycles toward long-term, systemslevel partnerships grounded in data and collaboration.

“Data is incredibly important,” Muroff says. “It helps our community understand itself more honestly.”

Muroff sees vast opportunities to continue modernizing how impact is measured and communicated at the Community Foundation. “Transparency,” she emphasizes, “is not only a best practice—it’s a responsibility.” Muroff commends the foundation for already doing much of this work—and doing it well.

“The foundation has an incredibly talented team that works hand-in-hand with donors,” she says, noting that

“When you combine trust, data and strategic philanthropy, you create conditions for real, lasting change.”

—JESSICA MUROFF

the more donors are equipped with meaningful data and real stories, the more solutions become adaptive and responsive. “When you combine trust, data and strategic philanthropy, you create conditions for real, lasting change,” Muroff says.

“Solutions can’t be rigid,” Muroff continues. “They must be dynamic. That’s where partnership really matters— when supporters, nonprofits and community leaders come together to create deeper impact and act as champions for our community’s health.”

RESILIENCE MEETS LEADERSHIP

The Community Foundation plays a central role in addressing some of the region’s most complex and interconnected challenges, including housing, education and economic mobility.

“There are so many families and individuals living with very little margin,” says Muroff. “They are one unexpected expense, one health issue, one car repair away from being thrown completely off course.” She emphasizes the importance of building community resilience, particularly in the wake of recent hurricane seasons, saying, “Even in years when we avoid a direct hit, the impacts linger.”

At the same time, Muroff points to Sarasota’s rich cultural ecosystem as a bright spot. “We have incredible cultural assets in this region,” she says, noting that arts organizations and community institutions require thoughtful stewardship to ensure accessibility and success for future generations.

While there is no silver bullet that can solve all of a community’s challenges, Muroff believes that by

bringing nonprofits, donors, public leaders and other stakeholders together, the Community Foundation can align efforts and amplify solutions. “Our role is to provide leadership, to convene and to support collaboration,” she says. “That’s how meaningful progress happens.”

Muroff’s leadership philosophy is shaped not only by her professional experience, but by the personal challenges she intentionally takes on each year: marathons, endurance races and mountain climbs. “I’m not afraid of hard work,” she says. “These challenges teach you what it means to push beyond your perceived limits.”

Muroff also notes that physical challenges teach her the value of presence. “When you’re doing something really hard, you have to be fully present,” she says. “Listening, sitting with discomfort and learning in real time—that’s where the best decisions come from. This is how resilience translates directly into leadership— staying calm under pressure and supporting a team through uncertainty.”

Muroff’s transition from her early career in the forprofit world to the nonprofit sector only reinforces this values-driven approach. “I wish nonprofits had more support for being innovative—especially in trying to tackle long-standing systemic community issues,” she says. She calls nonprofits “some of the most innovative, dynamic, scrappy” organizations she has encountered, with an ability to “make anything work from just about nothing.”

LOOKING BACK TO LAUNCH FORWARD

Muroff traces her deep commitment to values and service back to her childhood. Her grandparents, who were heavily involved with Habitat for Humanity, relocated

to Americus, Georgia, during their retirement years to volunteer full time.

“They showed me that part of our responsibility as human beings is giving back,” she says. “That was my first real introduction to philanthropy.”

As a high school student, Muroff was elected to serve as international relations coordinator for Junior Civitan, a global service organization of community clubs focused on building good citizenship. She traveled across the U.S. and Canada as part of a board of six student leaders responsible for raising funds for service organizations. That experience showed her the importance of the organizations and the positive changes they were making in communities all over the world.

“If you had told me then that I’d be the CEO of a nonprofit one day,” she says, “I would have said that was a dream job.”

It became reality when she transitioned from the for-profit sector into nonprofit leadership. “That shift really brought me home to who I am—to who I think I was created to be,” she says. Each year, Muroff writes a personal legacy statement, a reflective practice that helps guide her decisions. “I think it’s important to ask: ‘What impact am I having, and how do people feel because of my involvement?’”

Asked what she hopes residents in Sarasota might say about their community 10 years from now, Muroff says, “I hope they’ll say the community is stronger, more resilient, more connected and more future-ready—that we’re more proactive in addressing challenges, not just reacting to them.”

“I’m a community builder. I take stewardship seriously,” she says. “I’m present, and I’m here to lead with clarity and vision, but I can only do that in partnership with our community. They can count on me.”

With that promise, Jessica Muroff begins her chapter at the Community Foundation—crafting a legacy to be felt for generations to come.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Community Foundation of Sarasota County, its mission, goals, impact and initiatives, please visit www.cfsarasota.org

Negotiation Matters

THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 SPONSORS

PREMIER SPONSOR

Jonathan and Michelle Mitchell

Joel and Gail Morganroth

Glenn and Jackie Tilton

HELICOPTER SPONSORS

TERRY AND TINA LUNDGREN

AMBULANCE SPONSORS

GINNY AND RAVI AKHOURY

CATHY AND FRANK BURZIK

DOUG HOLDER FAMILY FUND

ROBERT AND ANNE ESSNER

GARY AND BARBARA RODKIN

DONA AND SAM SCOTT

BOB AND ANGELIA WOOD

FIREFIGHTER SPONSORS

B & I Contractors

Birch Island Foundation

Cooperative Services of Florida

Douglas Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram

First Physicians Group

Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute

Gilbane Building Company

Cheryl Gorelick and Jacob Zeigler

Gresham Smith / Ranon

HBIZ

Kosloski Family Foundation

Dr. Beverly Long and Chris Crawford

Meritain Health

Michael J. Kosloski Foundation

Shutts & Bowen

Sandi Stuart and Mike Murray

Turner Construction / J2 Solutions

Jennifer and Jonathan Uhrig

Vogelbaum/Rosman Family Fund

POLICEMAN SPONSORS

Carl W. Battle and Charmaine Downie

Cardiovascular Center of Sarasota and El Shahawy Family Foundation

DeAngelis Diamond

Global Physician Network

Mira Mar Residences

Radiology Associates of Florida

SaraPath Diagnostics

TLC Engineering / Walter P Moore

Dr. Kirk and Chris Voelker

Williams Parker

A Vision Built on Need

Florida Studio Theatre’s Three-Act Expansion

By Hunter Hageman

For more than five decades, Florida Studio Theatre has followed a simple philosophy: grow only when growth is necessary. Not for spectacle. Not for scale. Only when the mission demands it.

That philosophy now takes physical form in the McGillicuddy Arts Plaza, a transformational, three-act expansion that will reshape Florida Studio Theatre’s downtown campus and secure its future as one of the nation’s leading subscription theaters.

“We’re building because of need,” says Richard Hopkins, FST’s Producing Artistic Director and CEO. “And if we didn’t address these needs, it would eventually become a threat to our very existence.”

The Needs That Sparked the Vision

Planning for the Arts Plaza began nearly eight years ago, long before construction equipment arrived onsite. At the time, leadership identified three mounting challenges: parking, artist housing, and capacity.

Parking, Hopkins explains, was not merely inconvenient—it was existential. As downtown Sarasota continues to grow, access to performances risked becoming increasingly difficult for audiences.

The second and equally urgent need was housing. Florida Studio Theatre hosts more than 250 visiting artists each year, performers who arrive from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and across the country to anchor productions for three to six months at a time. Union regulations require housing to be provided, and securing quality, affordable accommodations in Sarasota’s soaring rental market has become increasingly difficult.

“We were literally managing 83 bedrooms spread across the neighborhood,” Hopkins says. “It just wasn’t sustainable anymore.”

That challenge extends beyond visiting artists. According to Rebecca Hopkins, FST’s Managing Director and COO, recruiting resident artists and arts workers has become harder as housing costs rise.

“We pay competitive salaries,” she says. “But this is an expensive community. Part of this project is about creating attainable housing for people who want to build a life here—whether that’s visiting artists or yearround arts workers.”

The third pressure point was capacity. FST’s Cabaret program has been operating at or near 100 percent capacity for years, with performances running nine shows a week for nearly the entire calendar year.

“The demand has exploded,” Richard Hopkins says. “And we simply don’t have room to grow without building more spaces.”

Act I: The Foundation

Those needs shape the structure of the Arts Plaza’s three-act approach. Act I—the $46 million phase now fully funded—lays the foundation.

When completed, Act I will deliver the building’s full eight-story exterior, a 127-space parking garage, and

57 housing units, including 39 extended-stay studios for visiting artists and 18 apartments for resident artists and arts workers. The goal is to open Act I by August 2027.

Parking will come online first, easing immediate pressure created by construction. Housing follows closely behind.

“Opening that housing will be revolutionary for our organization,” Hopkins says. “It dramatically improves the artist experience and helps us attract the very best talent in the country.”

While much of this work happens behind the scenes, its impact will ripple directly onto the stage.

“How artists live affect how they work,” he adds. “If you’re asking someone to be here for six months, where they live matters.”

Acts II and III: Bringing the Plaza to Life

With Act I secured, focus now shifts to the interior spaces that bring the Plaza fully to life.

Act II centers on the creation of two new 100-seat cabaret theaters, along with shared dining, kitchen, and lobby spaces. Momentum for this phase surged following an anonymous $1 million matching gift that arrived just days after groundbreaking.

“We truly have no idea who it came from,” Rebecca Hopkins says, laughing. “It was anonymous even to us.”

The gift launched Act II immediately, doubling every contribution and accelerating fundraising toward the $5 million goal.

Once operational, the new cabaret theaters will significantly expand programming flexibility, allowing shows to run longer and deeper into Sarasota’s peak season.

“Right now, we can’t extend shows when demand is highest,” Rebecca Hopkins explains. “That means new residents and snowbirds are sometimes shut out. These new theaters let us grow future audiences.”

Act III completes the vision with a brand-new Mainstage theater, adding a third major performance venue to FST’s campus. Designed from the ground up, it will strike a balance between intimacy and capacity while easing pressure on existing stages and allowing programs such as Stage III and Children’s Theatre to grow.

“This isn’t about adding programs,” Richard Hopkins says. “It’s about giving our seven existing programs room to flourish.”

A Building That Feels Like Home

When audiences first step into the completed Arts Plaza, Richard Hopkins hopes the reaction is immediate — and familiar.

“I hope they walk in and say, ‘Wow,’” Hopkins says. “But they also feel that it’s still Florida Studio Theatre.”

Designed by longtime collaborator Alan Anderson, the building will feature a long, light-filled lobby stretching more than half a block, connecting all three theaters while also providing access to the box office, dining spaces, and artist housing. Hopkins describes the design as elegant without being imposing — expansive, yet unmistakably intimate.

“We never want people to feel small inside our spaces,” he says.

That philosophy is rooted in a moment Hopkins often recalls, shared by a young audience member attending a children’s theatre performance.

“When I come to Florida Studio Theatre,” the child told him, “I don’t feel like a speck. I feel like I’m home.”

16, 2025-APRIL 26,

Experience a rare, intimate look at the work and pathbreaking career of internationally renowned artist Janet Echelman. Radical Softness showcases four decades of the artist’s evolution, from early explorations in drawing and painting to the monumental, netted sculptures that have redefined public spaces around the world.

For Hopkins, that sense of warmth and belonging is non-negotiable. No matter how large the campus grows, the experience must remain personal —a place where audiences feel welcomed rather than overwhelmed.

“We want people to walk in and immediately know they’re at FST,” he says. “The intimacy, the warmth, the feeling that everyone belongs — that has to stay.”

A Community-Built Future

As much as the Arts Plaza represents a physical expansion, it also reflects the generosity of Sarasota itself. Most of the project’s funding has come from individual donors who believe deeply in the role of the arts.

“If they want it, they’ll pay for it,” Richard Hopkins says, echoing a long-held belief shared by leadership and board members alike.

“These gifts are about building something for others,” Rebecca Hopkins adds. “For tomorrow, not just today.”

With construction underway and all three acts clearly defined, the McGillicuddy Arts Plaza stands as a testament to what happens when growth is guided by purpose—and when a community chooses to invest in its cultural future.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Florida Studio Theatre and different ways to support its mission, please visit floridastudiotheatre.org/ support-us.

Around Town

elaine crouse

By Tom Reese • Photo by Nancy Guth

Admittedly, Elaine Crouse never imagined herself retiring and moving to Florida. She was born in Pittsburgh and spent most of her adult life in New York City. After settling down and marrying her husband Bill, the couple decided to begin looking around for a new place to call home. Let’s just say, at first, Florida wasn’t anywhere on their list!

“Bill was really the driving force behind it. He really wanted property in a warmer climate. I’m an urban girl and a Northerner. I’m not a sun in the fun girl with beaches, all of that is lost on me. I like urban environments and big city life.”

The couple did their due diligence before agreeing on Sarasota. They visited multiple countries overseas, explored California, Arizona, other places, and nothing really seemed to feel right. However, just like many other people, once you visit our town, you really don’t want to be anywhere else!

“We finally ended up visiting Florida despite neither of us having much interest. We were down here visiting friends, and we were quite surprised and charmed at the natural beauty of the west coast, especially Sarasota, and how culturally rich the city is. We also found a beautiful mid century modern home designed by Tim Seibert on Casey Key.”

Finding Love in The Big Apple

Elaine’s career in communications spanned numerous leadership positions in international communications companies. In 1999, she was introduced to Bill through friends, and they went on a blind date together.

While it wasn’t quite love at first sight, Elaine quickly realized the two of them shared many similar interests,

such as art, design, architecture, and history. They began seeing each other more frequently and eventually, they realized they found their forever partner.

“I was living in Manhattan, and he was living in New Jersey at the time we met. There was always this belief in New York that if you had to cross a bridge or go through a tunnel to meet someone, they weren’t dating material. What really struck me about Bill was his sense of humor and his intellect. Lo and behold, I found out that we had a lot of the same common interests, which was a bit unusual because I had not met that many men that had the same interests as I in such particular areas.”

When the couple tied the knot, Elaine was 54 years old and had never been married. It just goes to show that sometimes it’s worth the wait to find that special someone.

“It was quite a thrill to find out that the love of my life would be somebody that had many of the same interests as I do. Over the years we have loved growing together and teaching each other more about the world and history.”

Elaine and Bill got married at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola on Park Avenue in New York City and held their reception in the famous Rainbow Room on the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. This unique

and glamorous event space that opened in 1934 is among the tallest venues in New York City, offering stunning views of the city and even the neighboring states of New Jersey and Connecticut. While having the opportunity to have their reception in such an incredible venue was already amazing, little did they know they’d have a surprise waiting for them that night.

“There’s a room, the Radio Room, in Rock Center that is not open to the public. It is a smaller lounge room adjacent to the Rainbow Room where JD Rockefeller had kept his vintage bakelite radio collection and other Art Deco objects. The Rockefeller family was planning a function there that evening, but it was cancelled, so staff offered the space to us for a cocktail hour. Well, very few people ever have a chance to be in there, so of course it added to the specialness of that night.”

The Art Deco Collection

One of the many similar interests that Elaine and Bill share is their passion for Art Deco: a distinctive style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that emerged between World War I and II (1919-1939).

At the height of its popularity, Art Deco symbolized luxury, glamour, and confidence in social and technological development. This movement utilized rare and valuable materials such as ebony and ivory, complemented by sleek craftsmanship and geometric shapes.

The couple has been consistently collecting Art Deco items over the years, including everything from cocktail shakers to furniture and sculptures.

“I was collecting Art Deco furniture and stemware before I met Bill. I bought my first Art Deco object, a piece of glassware, when I was 18. Bill began his early career in advertising and was drawn to the strong images featured in Art Deco posters and ads. When we met, he had already amassed a large collection of Art Deco posters.”

Elaine and Bill’s collection now includes over 1,000 unique and original Art Deco posters along with many other Art Deco objects. This includes an entire wall in their bar room at home dedicated to displaying cocktail shakers they have collected over the years, which initially began when Elaine gifted one to Bill.

“About six months after I met Bill, I splurged and bought him a Zeppelin Art Deco cocktail shaker as a gift for his birthday. I was worried that it might be too extravagant at the time, plus he didn’t know anything about Art Deco cocktail shakers. I wrapped it up nicely and gave it to him and he was just thrilled and completely overwhelmed. Then I explained the history of it, who designed it, how I acquired it, and well, now he has another 125 of them.”

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Art Deco, 100 rare posters, sculptures, cocktail shakers, and furniture pieces from the Crouse collection are currently on display at the Sarasota Art Museum through March 29.

VENICE'S 2ND ANNUAL EVENT

WEDNESDAY, FEBR UARY 18, 2026

10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Plantation Golf & Country Club

SARASOTA'S 13TH ANNUAL EVENT

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2026 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The Ora

Resort-Style Landscaping

Old-Fashioned Values… In Love & Life

Elaine and Bill’s life and love story makes a great romance novel, and she wants other people to know that your love story is still out there if you haven’t found it yet. While we live in an era where a lot of dating introductions are made online through various websites and apps, Elaine suggests doing it the oldfashioned way.

“There are so many wonderful people out there that are interesting, fun, and have a lot of passions, some maybe like your own. Stepping out of your comfort zone to meet people and doing things like going on blind dates are exactly what you should do. When you aren’t giving yourself the opportunity to meet people in person, you’re leaving so many potentially important people out of your life. Is everyone going to be to your pleasure? Of course not. But that is okay. You’ll find through these experiences that you’ll get better at it, so I encourage everyone who is still looking for love to explore options like blind dating and being open to meeting new people.”

While it seems Elaine could have been a great matchmaker, she instead fills her time trying to help those in need. She is passionate about tackling community issues such as foster care. Elaine serves on several nonprofit boards and works on new ways to increase fundraising through events and networking.

In her spare time, Elaine likes to stay active and healthy. She loves attending performances at Asolo Repertory Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, and others. And, of course, she’s always searching for new Art Deco collectibles and traveling the globe with the love of her life, Bill.

Leaves a Legacy

MAESTRO D e RENZI

AT SARASOTA OPERA

BY SCOTT FERGUSON

Victor DeRenzi grew up loving opera. As he got older, he realized he wanted to share his passion for the art form with audiences who also loved it — and to help create new opera aficionados. By all measures, he has succeeded. In May 2026, after 44 years as artistic director and principal conductor of Sarasota Opera, Maestro DeRenzi will step down to pursue other creative projects, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of musical excellence.

Among his accomplishments and accolades, Maestro DeRenzi is the longest- serving artistic director in the world. His tenure in that role has seen him guide Sarasota Opera through the complete Verdi Cycle over a 28-year period (1989-2016) — the only opera company in the world to have performed all of Giuseppe Verdi’s music. In 2015, he was honored as a “Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia” (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy) by the Italian Republic, for his work spreading Italian culture beyond Italy.

In the 56 years since his debut as a conductor, DeRenzi has guided musical performances throughout the U.S., including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the St. Louis, Toledo, New Orleans and New York City operas. Internationally he has worked in Nice, Edmonton, Québec

City, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Montreal, Hong Kong and the Canary Islands. But DeRenzi has spent the majority of his career at Sarasota Opera.

“I came here for the 1982-83 season,” DeRenzi explains. “It was the last year the opera performed in what is now called the Historic Asolo Theater. The next year we moved into the Sarasota Opera House.”

Opened in 1926 as the Edwards Theatre, the building turns 100 this year, with a centennial celebration planned for April.

“When I saw the building,” says DeRenzi, “I thought it had great potential as a place I could help renovate, which would also help the Sarasota arts community grow. And that meant a lot to me.”

During his time at Sarasota Opera, DeRenzi will have overseen almost 1,600 opera performances, spanning 222 productions of 123 different operas. He has conducted over 1,200 opera performances in his career — over 900 of them at Sarasota Opera.

Richard Russell, who will succeed DeRenzi as artistic director while remaining in his current position of general director, speaks highly of his colleague.

“To me, the legacy I leave with Sarasota Opera is in the individuals I have worked with, whose lives I’ve helped shape and who also have shaped my life. That’s the legacy that’s important to me.”

—MAESTRO D e RENZI

“The impact Victor has had on Sarasota Opera, the arts community here, and opera in general is immeasurable. It was his vision that propelled the growth of a modest operatic enterprise into an internationally recognized opera company. His commitment to the art form is unwavering, and he has had an extraordinary impact on countless artists.”

DeRenzi himself notes that “over the years we’ve had so many people come through this opera company who have stayed in the opera world. Teaching is a very important part of this company with our apprentice programs, our Sarasota Youth Opera, and all the different ways we rehearse and put operas together. Many people have learned from their work here and have taken it with them to other companies or other parts of their life.

“To me, the legacy I leave with Sarasota Opera is in the individuals I have worked with, whose lives I’ve helped shape and who also have shaped my life. That’s the legacy that’s important to me.”

Part of that legacy is in the continued success of artists whose talents DeRenzi has helped nurture, including Rafael Davila, a tenor who sings for the Metropolitan Opera in New York. He is effusive in his praise for DeRenzi.

“ It has been a privilege to be part of this company and to have worked with Maestro DeRenzi for more than 20 years since the beginning of my career. It was in Sarasota that I first sang many of the roles I later

“His legacy is present in all of us who have learned from his work ethic and respect for music.”

—RAFAEL DAVILA

performed in other parts of the world. As a young singer it was an invaluable opportunity to make my first steps under his guidance, paying attention to every musical and theatrical detail. His legacy is present in all of us who have learned from his work ethic and respect for music.”

This season, DeRenzi is conducting Giacomo Puccini’s La bohème. Fittingly, his final performance while serving as Sarasota Opera’s artistic director will be Verdi’s Il trovatore , which closes the season March 29.

Asked for specifics about his future projects, DeRenzi demurs. “I like to be where I am at the moment,” he says. “Right now I need to think about our upcoming opera season — it’s an important one for me and the company.”

For more information about Sarasota Opera’s 2026 Winter Opera Festival (presenting four operas in rotation Feb. 14-March 29) and the Centennial Celebration of the Sarasota Opera House on April 11, visit SarasotaOpera.org or call the box office at 941-328-1300.

The Sarasota Ballet celebrates for America’s 250th ‘Life and Liberty’

by Scott Ferguson

As America marks its 250th anniversary in 2026, a beloved local arts organization will present two programs marking major milestones in the nation’s history and culture. In a highly anticipated event, The Sarasota Ballet will present the legendary Martha Graham Dance Company for five performances at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts from February 27 through March 1. Founded in 1926, it is the oldest dance company in the U.S. — and is celebrating its centennial this year.

Graham (1894-1991), one of America’s most iconic dancers and choreographers, influenced countless others in the world of dance, including Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor and Twyla Tharpe. Her revolutionary approach to movement, built on contraction and release, has been compared to classical ballet. In 1998, TIME magazine named her “Dancer of the Century.” The dance company she founded has been called “one of the great dance companies of the world” ( The New York Times ) and “one of the seven wonders of the artistic universe” (The Washington Post ).

Janet Eilber, artistic director of the Martha Graham Dance Company, says, “We are delighted to return to Sarasota as part of our 100th season and the country’s 250th year with a dynamic program of great Graham classics, in conversation with brand new works by two of today’s most important American choreographers — Hope Boykin and Jamar Roberts. Our program also celebrates notable American music, including the Bluegrass sound of Rhiannon Giddens and an arrangement of newly discovered music by Leonard Bernstein.”

The celebration of America’s semiquincentennial continues with The Sarasota Ballet’s Program Six — Life & Liberty , staged at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall (March 27-28). And what could be more American than the stirring march music of John Philip Sousa, in a ballet choreographed by George Balanchine titled Stars and Stripes ?

The Russian-born Balanchine (1904-1983), who loved his adopted country of America and became one of its most famous choreographers, was inspired by patriotic parades on Independence Day. Stars and Stripes ,

premiered by New York City Ballet in 1958, is composed of solos, duets and ensemble pieces. The costumes evoke military style and precision, highlighting the dancers’ crisp formations and amazing physical prowess. In the tradition of Fourth of July parades, there’s even some baton twirling.

“The dancing and the music are very exciting,” says Margaret Barbieri, assistant director of The Sarasota Ballet, describing the spectacle that unfolds on stage.

Although Sousa’s music is not usually associated with ballet, Barbieri says, “Balanchine said he used the music because he loved it. He created five movements, and called them campaigns. There are campaigns featuring male dancers and others showcasing women. Some have 12 dancers and a soloist, while the fourth campaign is the pas de deux (a male and female dancer), and the full cast returns for the finale.” Of course, the big finish is set to Sousa’s most famous march, “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

With 41 dancers on stage, Barbieri says the ballet can only be done at the Van Wezel, rather than The Sarasota Ballet’s other venues, the FSU Center or the Sarasota Opera House.

Life & Liberty concludes with ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café, choreographed by Sir David Bintley, with music by Simon Jeffes. Audiences who attended The Spider’s Feast, presented by The Sarasota Ballet last season, will recall Bintley’s creative interpretations of animal movements and behavior in the service of a story told through dance.

In ‘ Still Life’ at the Penguin Café , animals abound. There is indeed a stylized café, with tuxedoed penguins serving as waiters and whimsical interpretations of a host of animals from around the world, represented by fanciful costumes and inventive choreography.

“David has very cleverly evoked their movements,” says Barbieri. “The zebra has a fabulous solo. The rat, the flea and the monkey are great, too. There are so many wonderful ones.”

While it’s great fun for audiences to see the parade of exotic animals interacting with each other, the ballet has a serious message. In fact, the program’s theme of “life and liberty” applies. The literal lives and liberty of the animals are at risk, while some that are represented are already extinct.

At the heart of the story is the tragic fate of the Great Auk, the original “penguin.” It was hunted to extinction in 1844, when the final pair was killed in Iceland. Other extinct and endangered animals are represented as well.

“I think it’s up to the individual audience member what they read into the story,” says Barbieri. “But obviously it’s man overtaking the rainforest and destroying it, and what we are doing to the animals worldwide.”

Barbieri recalls an encounter she had in 2018, after The Sarasota Ballet last performed ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café

“One of the Van Wezel ushers stopped me. She was in tears,” Barbieri recalls. “She said, ‘I’ve never seen anything like this. I couldn’t stop thinking about it all night long. I thought it was just going to be a fun ballet, but it brought everything home about the fate of the animals.’

That’s the impact this ballet has on audiences.”

For tickets to Program Five, The Martha Graham Dance Company, and Program Six: Life & Liberty , contact The Sarasota Ballet Box Office, by phone at 941.359.0099; in person at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; or online at SarasotaBallet.org.

DARING &

& DELIGHT Take Center Ring

BY TOM REESE

Circus Arts Conservatory reimagines a season of circus wonder.

In 1927, John Ringling moved the winter quarters for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to Sarasota. This new “Circus City” brought in the top circus performers of the day and turned Sarasota into a major circus hub.

Nearly 100 years later, Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) has kept that proud tradition strong and innovative, incorporating new and unique elements and skills to this timeless form of entertainment which wows both young and old. Its winter and spring season will be no exception. CAC will produce several exciting new shows over the next few months which include everything from an epic Circus Sarasota production to a live orchestra to superheroes and villains.

“We are on the path of being a cutting-edge global leader in the circus,” said Jennifer Mitchell, CAC President & CEO. “That's really where we are in terms of a conservatory. It's important that we connect globally because in other parts of the world, the circus is ju st a thriving art form where people are yearning to go see it.”

While CAC operates year-round and features exciting events every month, there’s always a lot of work being done behind the scenes, such as educational programs and training young people in its Sailor Circus Academy.

Many people may have an outdated opinion of what a circus is. Each year as more and more people become circus professionals and more technology and creativity are introduced, performances change and adapt to the modern world.

“I think our education and youth programs are growing tremendously, but we're still working on that audience space and getting people to engage with the circus,” said Mitchell. “One of my goals is to engage new audiences, because many longtime patrons already have a deep connection to the circus rooted in their childhood memories.”

As more marketing tools are implemented to entice a bigger and younger audience, the most important method is simply word-of-mouth. Once you visit a show at Circus Sarasota that features the best performers in the world, you’re going to want to keep coming back and convince your friends and family to join you.

“I think that especially in Sarasota, it's important for us to honor the past and pay homage to the greats that were ahead of us,” said Mitchell. “We are producing the future rock stars of the circus, and I think that sometimes

when you watch and you see somebody of your own age group that's pushing these boundaries, it will blow your mind.”

An “Epic” Winter Show

Circus Sarasota is a traditional one-ring spectacle featuring the world’s best lineup of artists and entertainment. This year’s show brings together the most talented and celebrated artists from around the world, performing feats that have to be seen live to be believed.

The show runs February 14 to March 8 under the big top at Nathan Benderson Park and will be a young, vibrant and exciting show meant for all ages. Circus Sarasota is the organization’s biggest draw each year and people travel from all over to witness its jaw dropping performances.

Superheroes vs. Supervillains

In an exciting new collaboration for its Cirque des Voix (Circus of the Voices) collaboration, CAC joins forces with Key Chorale’s symphonic choir and the power of Venice Symphony to explore the dazzling world of circus.

This show will take you on an unforgettable adventure of “Superheroes vs. Supervillains”, presenting a show like no other. There are only four shows over three days (March 13 – 15) and it concludes CACs winter shows under the big top.

According to Mitchell, “We’ve invested a lot of money into our sound system so that we can produce highlevel quality entertainment. Not only is it the orchestral element of it, but also the live singers that really adds a layer and ups the ante.”

Lessons from a Mystical Snake

Simultaneously with Cirque Des Voix (March 13 – 15), a cultural performance like no other will take place at the Sailor Circus Arena.

Inspired by South Indian folklore, Naga-Mandala: Play with a Cobra is a renowned theatrical work by Indian playwright Girish Karnad. It narrates the tale of Rani, a young bride who is overlooked by her husband. When Naga, a mystical cobra, turns into a man, Rani gains self-knowledge and empowerment and undergoes an emotional transformation.

The play uses elements of theater, music, and circus acts to delve into themes of love, patriarchal oppression, female liberation, and the significance of storytelling. Members of CAC’s Sailor Circus team will help deliver an unforgettable experience alongside the actors and musical artists.

Celebrating Our Youth

On March 29, CAC brings its first show of its spring season—Next Gen SRQ presents Illuminate. This show will bring more than 300 youth together when 200 beautiful young voices from Key Chorale combine with student performers from Sailor Circus as well as other exceptional students from local performing arts training programs.

“This is really a showcase of young artists, whether they are singers, actors, in the opera, or our own Sailor Circus students. These performers are aspiring and evolving artists, but they're not yet professionals. We are so lucky to be in such an arts rich environment where there are so many professional acts to see. So, we're highlighting some of those programs and the kids in our community who are engaging in the arts and will become the next generation of professional artists,” said Mitchell.

Night at the Movies II

America’s longest running youth circus is back this spring as the students at Sailor Circus will perform their

hearts out and show off their skills learned through the Sailor Circus educational program. Sailor Circus has become a crowd favorite for circus enthusiasts as they get to watch some of the best up-and-coming artists perform for a live audience, some of which will be their first time. This year there are four performances at the CAC arena on Bahia Vista themed Night at the Movies II over three days (April 17 – 19).

Raising Vital Funds

It takes a lot of work and a supportive community to keep CAC running year after year, and there are several upcoming fundraising events.

On April 25, 2026, CAC will host its unique golf tournament fundraiser, featuring aerial circus artistry and other exciting acts right there on the golf course.

On May 14, 2026, CAC will host “Cirque Vogue,” an immersive, one-of-a-kind fashion extravaganza celebrating women on both the stage and runway.

For more information about all these exciting events and to purchase show tickets, visit www.circusarts.org or call 941-355-9805.

THE RINGLING’S

Art of Performance Series ECLECTIC ARTISTS

features

By Scott Ferguson

Masterpieces can take many forms. At The Ringling, the word is often used to describe the collections of paintings and sculptures created by the classical masters of the past. But increasingly, the complex is also known for “living art,” presented by contemporary artists during its annual Art of Performance series.

This season, the cutting-edge music and live performances feature global jazz, blues and folk music, plus storytelling, mime, dance, circus acrobatics and more. The series launched in October and continues through May 8.

Most performances are in the HAT— the Historic Asolo Theater on the grounds of The Ringling museum complex — with one exception (more on that later). Tickets can be purchased for individual shows or via a subscription of four or all five of the remaining events in the season. Elizabeth Doud, the Currie-Kohlmann Curator of Performance at The Ringling, says that, in scheduling this year’s artists, she focused on “projects on a smaller scale — lots of solos and duos. One or two people on stage can be very compelling.”

Counterpoint (February 7-8) is a collaboration of pianist and composer Conrad Tao and choreographer/dancer Caleb Teicher.

“Conrad is a pre-eminent American pianist; people love his concert playing,” says Doud. “Caleb is one of the most prominent tap dance artists in the U.S. right now. They started partnering to create what I call piano-tap conversations.”

The diverse music in Counterpoint includes the Aria from Bach’s Goldberg Variations, Art Tatum’s stride piano jazz, Arnold Schoenberg’s ironic take on the Viennese waltz and, threading it all together, a work that bridges traditions, approaches and styles — Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

“We’ve all heard the music in this piece, even if we don’t know who the composers are. There’s something about the warmth and fraternity of the two artists, and the familiarity of the music. There’s such a reverence and appreciation for how American culture has built itself up to interpret piano and dance in its own ways. Even though there are also European musical influences, Conrad and Caleb’s work in Counterpoint feels lovingly American to me.”

Next up is Ahamefule J. Oluo’s The Things Around Us (February 28-March 6). The piece layers live music and narrative exploration to create an introspective evening about the things that connect us all. As a solo artist, Oluo uses looping technology, trumpet, clarinet, vocals, cardboard shipping boxes for percussion, and other instruments to create a unique symphony performed live, while weaving deeply personal and darkly humorous narrative layers throughout.

Doud says Oluo is a brilliant musician and also a standup comedian.

“Oluo, skilled in both of these forms, was doing gigs at comedy clubs while working as a professional trumpeter. Those two lives merged in theatrical presentations that mix storytelling and live music in an extraordinary way.”

Jake Blount, a virtuoso on string instruments, brings his talents to the series on March 14. Winner of the 2020 Steve Martin Banjo Prize and a two-time winner of the Appalachian String Band Music Festival, Blount is a specialist in the early folk music of Black Americans, and a skilled performer of spirituals, blues and the string band repertoire.

“We could only get this show for one night, and I know it’s going to be a sellout,” says Doud. “Jake is a brilliant and endearing performer.”

From March 27-29, Le Cirque Kikasse is a breathtaking mobile acrobatic show that presents innovative, familyfriendly live circus arts — and refreshments.

“Their food truck-beer garden setup will be parked on our grounds as part of the pre-show fun,” Doud says. “After they serve the food and drinks, they transition to performing. They fold out trampolines and other equipment to run their circus, with juggling, balancing and gags. They’ve toured this show all over North America. I’m really excited that they’re coming here.”

Discounted tickets for the Circus Museum will also be offered on the days Le Cirque Kikasse performs.

After captivating Art of Performance audiences during the 2023–24 season with the sensation and social media star Luciano Rosso will present Apocalipsync mime, dance and lip-syncing. Rosso morphs his body and face into a kaleidoscope of characters. Set to an eclectic soundtrack – from Mariah Carey to Mozart –takes the audience on a hilarious, poignant journey.

“Luciano has done a lot of projects online and in person,” says Doud. “He uses the language of gestures and expressions, particularly with his face,” says Doud. “I describe him as a facial acrobat. He takes himself through the emotional paces of ecstasy, depression and other emotions. It’s a fast-moving emotional roller coaster, and it’s very physical. There’s no speaking; it’s all done through lip sync.”

Apocalipsync celebrates World Circus Day, held every year on the third Saturday in April. In honor of the Circus Arts, tickets to Apocolipsync feature Pay What You Wish pricing, starting at $4.18. Additionally, The Ringling’s Tibbals Learning Center and Historic Circus Galleries are open free of charge on April 18.

“In terms of price, location and variety, the series has a little something for everybody,” says Doud. “The most discerning critics in the world can look through our catalog of artists and performances and see that something good is happening here, at a level of quality that’s commensurate with the reputation of The Ringling. But it doesn’t matter how cool you are internationally if you’re not connecting with your own community.”

With that in mind, The Ringling will present MicroWIP @ TheHAT (Micro Works-in-Progress) for the fourth year (May 8), providing local creatives with a platform to advance experimental work for audience feedback. The evening (which can be added to a subscription or purchased separately) features freshly made performances of 10 minutes or less each, representing the museum’s commitment to supporting artists based in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

For more information and tickets to the Art of Performance series at The Ringling, visit www.ringling. org/explore/art-of-performance. Subscriptions to the remaining performances of the season and tickets to individual performances are also available by phone at 941-360-7339, or in person at the Historic Asolo Theater Box Office at The Ringling, open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

One For Art Art For All

• Meet Paul Sykes at Art Avenue •

By Kaileia Suvannamaccha

Before he was a seasoned art dealer representing investment-level works by Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Peter Max, Paul Sykes was a classically trained violinist. “The violin saved my life as a child,” he says.

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, the self-proclaimed “white sheep” of his family began studying the violin at age ten, which instilled a “parameter for perfection” that, when paired with years of disciplined practice, eventually earned him a full scholarship to the Cleveland Institute of Music. During his early years as an entrepreneur who tried several businesses, he continued to perform with chamber orchestras, but ultimately it was his love of selling art that led him to where he is today.

Like its owner, Art Avenue had its own humble beginnings. It began in 1986 as a kiosk in the mall, offering framed original oil paintings. In 1994, Sykes opened his first inline store in Cleveland that quickly gained momentum, expanding into 24 franchised stores across several U.S. cities including Cleveland, Cincinnati, Nashville, Buffalo, South Bend, and Washington, D.C., followed by the first international location in Hong Kong.

Today, Art Avenue is one of the largest art galleries on the Gulf Coast of Florida featuring an international collection that includes 20th century masters, emerging

contemporaries, and local artists. Sykes currently maintains two Sarasota locations—one Downtown and another at the Siesta Key Mall. A third location, Art Avenue’s 107 th gallery, opened in Beverly Hills in August 2025, with prospective locations in Singapore and France. After four decades, Sykes’ ambitions remain international, while his commitments are deeply local.

Sykes is committed to elevating Sarasota’s local talent. Among them is Ringling College alumna, Vicki Chelf, whose Women of Resistance series features large-scale portraits of female undercover resistance fighters during World War II. What began as an exhibition grew into a full theatrical production, and the project has since evolved into a local nonprofit, Women of Resistance (WOR), with Sykes recently joining its board of trustees. Upcoming performances are scheduled for March 2026, with future productions planned at the Josephine Baker Museum in France.

Another recurring local collaboration is with international award-winning and Miano Academy-trained Chinese portrait artist, Li Volk. Most recently, they co-hosted Art Avenue’s first-ever portrait workshop series and opening ceremony for guest artist, Fengshi Jin, through the Portrait Society of America. His Beyond Scenery: Small Works Landscape Exhibit is still on display.

Beyond exhibitions, the Art Avenue galleries also serve as event spaces for artist openings, paint-bar classes, meditations, dance lessons, and non-profit fundraisers. In 2024, Sykes brought world-renowned violinist Alexander Markov to perform Carmen Fantasy inside the gallery, coinciding with Sarasota Opera’s production of Carmen The fundraising event introduced a new audience of art collectors to live classical performance—and vice versa.

Sykes has similarly hosted fundraisers for The Sarasota Ballet, served as a corporate sponsor for the Sarasota Film Festival, and, for three consecutive years, was a sponsor of the Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open tennis tournament.

Believing that “Art is meant to be experienced by everyone, and it is not a privilege reserved for the elite,” Sykes is committed to helping Second Heart Homes, a local nonprofit offering long-term housing and specialized care for homeless adults. Over the past four years, he has led annual art auctions, raising a total of $305,000 in collaboration with the organization’s founder, Megan Howell. He has also donated more than $175,000 worth of artwork to furnish the group homes.

Those who first meet Sykes may admire his talents, value his expertise, or notice the art-themed ties that define his signature style; those who come to know him see

“Art is not just something you hang on a wall. It invokes a kinetic switch in the brain. It crosses cultural and historical grounds. It changes how we see ourselves.”

—Paul Sykes

the generosity of his heart demonstrated in his lifelong appreciation for art in all forms. “If you spend your life wanting to give more than you receive,” he shares, “nature somehow pays you back many times over.”

To learn more, visit artavenueflorida.com or contact Paul Sykes directly at 440-227-4592.

Dr. Reichbach and his staff have committed to the mission of providing hope to those suffering from pain and mental health illnesses since first opening the Gulf Coast Ketamine Center in 2016. In 2020, the practice began a partnership with Veterans in Pain, a national nonprofit dedicated to solutions for U.S. veterans suffering from physical and emotional chronic pain. Serving as the director of the ketamine division for Veterans in Pain, Dr. Reichbach proudly offers discounted services through Reichbach Center for veterans and their immediate family members.

Glenridge Performing Arts Center

941.552.5325 / gpactix.com Daybreak

February 6 - 7

The Chipper Experience February 15

Michael Stephen Brown February 20

The Four Freshman February 22

Judy & Nate February 28

Key Chorale

941.921.4845 / keychorale.org Elijah February 7

Lemon Bay Playhouse

941.475.6756 / lemonbayplayhouse.com

The Sweet Delilah Swim Club Through February 8

Jimmy Mazz: Silly Love Songs February 14

Manatee Performing Arts Center

941.748.5875 / manateeperformingartscenter.com

Once Upon a Mattress Through February 8

Fred Klett (s) Stand-Up Comedy February 7

Temps, Tops, Supremes & Smokey: A Motown Review with the Soul Sensations February 10 - 12

The Cemetery Club

February 19 - March 8

The Women of Rock February 20

Bradenton Rotary 17th Annual Comedy Night February 28

North Port Concert Band northportconcertband.com

Magic Moments February 15

North Port Symphony Orchestra northportsymphony.com

Themes Like Old Times February 22

The Perlman Music Program Suncoast

941.955.4942 / perlmanmusicprogramsuncoast.org

Ariel String Quartet: Beethoven! February 22

The Pops Orchestra

941.926.7677 / thepopsorchestra.org

Let’s Hang On February 14 - 16

Rise Above Performing Arts riseabovearts.com

Alice by Heart February 26 - March 1

The Sarasota Ballet

941.359.0099 / sarasotaballet.org

Program Four: Notes Unspoken

Through February 2

Program Five: Martha Graham

Dance Company

February 27 - March 2

Sarasota Concert Association

941.225.6500 / scasarasota.org

The Philadelphia Orchestra

February 16

Danish String Quartet February 24

Sarasota Contemporary Dance

941.260.8485 / sarasotacontemporarydance.org

In Studio: Did You Not Know?

February 21

Virtual: Did You Not Know?

February 23

Any Way the Wind Blows

February 27 - 28

Sarasota Cuban Ballet

941.365.8400 / srqcubanballet.org

Romantic Night

February 13 - 15

Sarasota Jewish Theatre

941.365.2494 / sarasotajewishtheater.org

Howard Millman

Performance Series

Sarasota Opera

941.328.1300 / sarasotaopera.org

Giacomo Puccini: La Bohème

February 14 - March 28

Franz Lahár: The Merry Widow

February 21 - March 27

Giuseppe Verdi: Il travotore March 7 – March 29

Carlisle Ford: Susannah March 14 – March 28

Sarasota Orchestra

941.953.4252 / sarasotaorchestra.org

Great Escapes: Love Notes February 4 - 8

Masterworks: Variations on America February 12 -15

SCF Neel Performing

Arts Center

941.752.5252 / scf.edu/neel

Manatee Opera Guild

Stars of Tomorrow

February 8

Urbanite Theatre

February 4 - 15

The Whole Megillah: The Story of the Yiddish Theatre

February 9

941.321.1397 / urbanitetheatre.com

Job Through February 15

Van Wezel

Performing Arts Hall

941.263.6799 / vanwezel.org

The Beat Goes On

February 1

MJ

February 3-8

Golden Groovers: Mary Poppins

February 5

The Choir of Man

February 11

Golden Groovers: Footloose

February 12

Gipsy Kings

Featuring Nicolas Reyes

February 12

Masterworks: Variations on America

February 12 - 15

The Philadelphia Orchestra

February 16

Chris Botti

February 17

The Price is Right LIVE

February 18

Golden Groovers: Grease

February 19

David Foster & Katharine McPhee

February 19

Masterclass: Tina

February 20 - 22

Il Divo by Candlelight

February 24

Neil Berg’s 116 Years of Broadway

February 25

Golden Groovers: Oklahoma!

February 26

Masterworks: Rite of Spring

February 27 - March 1

Venice Performing Arts Center

941.218.3779 / veniceperformingartscenter.com

Dog N’ Butterfly: The Heart Experience

February 1

The Venice Symphony: Viva Venice!

February 6 - 7

VHS Theatre Presents: A Tale of Two Troupes

February 13

Hotel California

February 14

Seals & Crofts 2

February 15

Rhythm of the Dance

February 21

The Venice Chorale: The Big Sing

February 22

Venice Concert Band: Dance with Me

February 23

The Venice Symphony: Lights, Camera, Music!

February 27 - 28

Venice Symphony

941.207.8822 / thevenicesymphony.org

Viva Venice!

February 6 - 7

Salut D’amour

February 15

Lights, Camera, Music!

February 6 - 7

Venice Theatre

941.488.1115 / venicetheatre.org

The Rainmaker Through February 8

Creedence Revived

February 2

A Tribute to the Allman Brothers

February 12

The Ultimate Doors

February 13

The Cake*

February 20 - March 8

Annie

February 27 - April 4

Westcoast Black

Theatre Troupe

941.366.1505 / westcoastblacktheatre.org

Paradise Blue

Though February 8

How I Got Over, A Gospel Revue

February 19 - March 29

meet the artist Marg WilliaMson

A former Midwesterner now settled on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Marg Williamson is an artist deeply inspired by the natural world. After a successful career in advertising, she redirected her creative energy into painting, embracing the spontaneity and expressive clarity of selftaught, realistic watercolor and acrylic art.

Marg creates her artwork en plein air and from her own photography, capturing Florida’s unique flora, fauna, and coastal landmarks, as well as scenes from her travels across Europe and the Caribbean. Her work has been exhibited in galleries throughout Southwest Florida—including Sarasota, Bradenton, Pine Island, and Naples—and is held in both national and international collections. Her watercolors are currently on display at the Island Gallery & Studios in Downtown Bradenton, FL.

An active member of the regional arts community, Marg belongs to the Lakewood Ranch Art League, is a Signature Member of the Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society, and an Associate Member of the Florida Watercolor Society. She also welcomes commissions and is available to create custom paintings from your favorite photographs.

The Beauty Around Us , showcasing Marg’s work, will be on view at Island Gallery & Studios February 1–28, 2026, with a First Friday Artist Reception on February 6 from 5:00–7:00 PM.

ART SCENE

February Visual Arts Calendar

502 Gallery

941.400.0598 / 502.gallery

TIM JAEGER - Fresh Wave Gallery 1

Through February 21

TOM STEPHENS - Contructed Gallery 1 February 28 – March 21

Alexart International Gallery

813.465.1249 / alexartinternational.com

Beautiful Orchids by Michele Tabor February 1-28

Art Avenue

440.227.4592 / artavenueflorida.com

joseph Palmerio: A Memorial Exhibit February 7

Art Center Sarasota

941.365.2032 / artsarasota.org

Annual Juried Show: Willem van Osnabrugge Through February 21

Art Ovation Hotel

Autograph Collection

941.316.0808 | artovationhotel.com Lobby Gallery: Anthony Picardo, Expired Memories Through May 4, 2026

Burns Gallery on Central 941.957.6439 / 530burnsgallery.com Art | Jewels | Interiors | Lifestyle

Chasen Gallery

941.260.5787 / chasengalleries.com “Glass Refraction” featuring Janet Sams at Southside Village February 1 –28

Reception February 2 International Glass Show featuring 18 Glass Artists From Around The World @The Mark February 13–15

Clyde Butcher

Fine Art Galleries

941.486.0811 / clydebutcher.com

The Living Flow: The Way of Water

February 7

Lifeworks in Photography at Bishop Museum Through March 19

Creative Liberties

Artist Studios, Gallery + Creative Academy

941.799.6634 / creativeliberties.net

“MasterWorks” Pop-Up Exhibition Reception at 927 N. Lime Avenue

February 19

Mashed Potato Buffet” at 901B Apricot Avenue

February 19 - 21

Creative Liberties After Hours at 901B Apricot Avenue and 927 N Lime Avenue Studios

February 27

Family Art Day

February 28

Creaturo Gallery

941.953.6163 / creaturogallery.com

Art Walks Every First Friday

February 6

Embracing Our Differences

941.404.5710 / embracingourdifferences.org

Winter/Spring Showcase

January 17- April 19, 2026

Bayfront Park, Sarasota

Harmony Gallery

941.953.4252 / sarasotaorchestra.org/about/community/ harmony-gallery

David Meadow: The Human Experience Through February 23

Michael Lonier: Who I am is what I see February 25 - March 30

Herrig Center for the Arts

941.746.2862 / herrigcenter.org

Thru My Eyes, Nicholas James Bath, Curated Exhibition Through February 27

Picture This, A Photography Open Juried Exhibition Through February 27

Island Gallery and Studios

941.778.6648 / islandgalleryandstudios.org

Free Art Demos

Every Second Saturday of the Month

The Beauty Around Us: Marg Williamson February 1–28

BY EXECUTIVE CHEF & OWNER ELIER RODRIGUEZ

Ligon Fine Art

832.361.0308 / ligonfineart.com

Monthly Exhibit February 1 – 28

The Petticoat Painters petticoatpainters.com

Meet the Petticoat Painters: Film and Q&A February 28

Mara Art Studio + Gallery

941.914.8110 / marastudiogallery.com

Julia Rivera: Brewing Thoughts Through February 28

Ringling College of Art + Design Galleries

941.359.7563 / ringling.edu/SCS

The Maestro of Murano: Lino Tagliapietr Through April 11

Basch Gallery

Origins: Sarasota Artist Colony, 1945–1965 Through April 11

Stulberg Gallery

Tom Stephens: Echoes in Color Through April 11

Thompson Gallery

Tradition Reimagined: Illustration Faculty

Traditional Painting Group Exhibition Through February 28

Selby Gallery

Ligature XVI Through April 11

Smith Gallery

Ringling Museum

941.359.5700 / ringling.org Ancestral Edge Through April 12

Juana Romani: Forgotten No More Through May 31

Seventh-Century Dutch Paintings from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Through November 26

Nuestro Vaivén (Our Sway) Through March 22

Sarasota Art Museum

941.309.4300 / sarasotaartmuseum.org

Art Deco: The Golden Age of Illustration Through March 29

Selina Román: Abstract Corpulence Through March 29

Jillian Mayer: Slumpies Through August 19

Molly Hatch: Amalgam Through April 26

SARTQ

sartq.com

sartqcollective@gmail.com

Day Dreams: SARTQ Artist Collective Through- March 26

SPAACES

941.374.3492 / spaaces.art

Ringling Fine Arts Student Pop-Up Through February 28

Subterranean Voices Residency and Exhibition by Sabrina Small February 13 - March 21

Reception: Feb. 13

Panel Discussion: AI, Culture & Connection

Sabrina Small, Louise Converse, David Wong, Nathan Skiles February 28

State of the Arts

941.955.2787 | sarasotafineart.com

ABSTRACTviews Through March 1

Thomsen Fine Art

941.388.7526 / thomsenfineart.com

Season Premiere Group Show

February 6 - 14

EJ Paprocki February 20 - 28

The Venice Museum & Archives

941.486.2487 / venicemuseum.org

The Grover Koons Collection:  Constructing a City February 2, 2026 – January 27, 2027

Wyland Gallery

941.388.5331/ wylandgalleriesof thefloridakeys.com Wyland Show

Two Nights Only! February 20-21

For full list of local events, please visit our online calendar at SCENESARASOTA.COM.

meet the performer

r aquel gonzález

Hailed as a “true artist” ( OperaNews ), soprano Raquel González, who made her Sarasota debut as Cio-Cio-San in 2023’s  Madama Butterfly , is a winner of the prestigious Sphinx Organization’s Medal of Excellence Award. Highlights of the 24/25 season include debuts with Opera Colorado in La bohème  (Mimì) and the Colorado Symphony for Verdi’s Messa da Requiem. Additional appearances include returns to Opera San Antonio and Austin Opera as the title role in  Madama Butterfly , Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra for  Don Carlo  (Elisabetta), and The Metropolitan Opera to cover in  La bohème  (Mimì).

Raquel will sing the lead role in The Merry Widow at Sarasota Opera this winter season, which opens February 21 with 9 performances through March 27.

For more information about Raquel, please visit www.raquelgonzalezsoprano.com/about.

For more information on The Merry Widow, please visit www.sarasotaopera.org/event/merry-widow.