Arts + Entertainment 3.27.25

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

The 27th Sarasota Film Festival offers fresh flicks, glitzy premieres and communal screenings.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

When Sean Baker accepted his Oscar for best director for the film “Anora” at the 97th annual Academy Awards on March 2, he made a plea to the audience watching on their small screens at home — go watch movies in the theater with other people.

“We are all here tonight because we love movies. Where did we fall in love with movies? At the movie theater,” Baker said. “In a time in which our world can feel very divided, this is more important than ever: It’s a communal experience you simply don’t get at home.”

But in a busy world where streaming content is available 24/7 on myriad devices, Baker’s wish may be unrealistic. The movies playing at the multiplex are often too violent, special effects-driven or formulaic to spark the sense of wonder that Mia Farrow experiences watching Fred Astaire dance with Ginger Rogers in Woody Allen’s love letter to Hollywood, “The Purple Rose of Cairo.”

To that end, Baker urged filmmakers to “keep making films for the big

screen” and asked distributors to pay attention to theatrical releases. Amid pessimism about the future of communal moviegoing, the film festival stands as a beacon of hope. Whether it’s Sundance, Santa Fe or Sarasota, festivals feature curated programs of documentaries, shorts, foreign and independent films, local premieres of Hollywood pictures and big-screen presentations of films headed for online streaming channels.

What’s more, events such as the Sarasota Film Festival bring people of different ages, socioeconomic backgrounds and political persuasions together in a communal setting. In a fractured world, that kind of experience is growing more rare, particularly outside the classroom and the church.

AN OASIS OF CINEMA

DURING A BUSY SEASON

Maybe that’s why the Sarasota Film Festival is such a beloved event.

At a screening of the documentary “Luther: Never Enough” at the Regal Hollywood 11 on Main Street during last year’s festival, a woman announced to a patron sitting behind her: “This is my time. I spend the

IF YOU GO

SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL

When: April 4-13

Where: At various locations Tickets: $20-$23, plus fees for individual screenings. Festival passes $180-$1,500. Info: Visit SarasotaFilmFestival.com.

whole week going to the movies.

Once I get the dates of the festival, I tell friends and family not to visit. I freeze meals so I don’t have to cook for my husband.” You go, girl!

This year, the SFF unspools from April 4-13 at various venues around town, including The Ora, Ringling College of Art and Design, New College and the upscale Cinebistro, always a favorite viewing room.

SFF’s opening night film is Peter Miller’s “Marcella,” about Italian chef and cookbook author Marcella Hazan, who spent the last years of her life on Longboat Key. The screening will be attended by the director as well as Victor Hazan and Giuliano Hazan, who will participate in a talkback with the audience at The Ora.

2025 SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL

The closing night film is the Florida premiere of Taylor McFadden’s “Lovers,” about two women who return to their hometown to attend the memorial of a friend who has died by suicide. They meet up with some interesting characters at the local dive bar.

McFadden will attend the film and participate in a Q&A conversation. Singer-songwriter and executive producer Nathan Rateliff will perform following the film’s April 13 screening at New College’s Sainer Pavilion.

The centerpiece film of this year’s festival is the world premiere of the MGM+ hit series, “Godfather of Harlem,” starring Forest Whitaker as Bumpy Johnson, a Black gangster who is fighting New York’s mafia families for control of Harlem.

Two artists connected with “Godfather” — showrunner and creator Chris Brancato and actor Rome Flynn — will be honored with the Innovation in Television Award and the Rising Star Award, respectively.

“I could not be happier about the exceptional films featured in this year’s lineup for the 27th annual Sarasota Film Festival,” said SFF Chairman and President Mark Famiglio. “As always, we’re committed to advancing film education and fostering creativity, while also boosting local tourism through our valuable partnership with New College of Florida.”

In the past, the SFF has set up in the Regal Hollywood 11 on Main Street, making it easy for festival patrons to move from one screening to another. In a telephone interview, Famiglio said there were concerns about cleanliness at the theater. “Last year, we had to buy seat covers,” he said.

There will be no screenings at Burns Court Cinema this year, he said, because the Sarasota Film Society, which runs the theater, “makes it difficult” to hold festival presentations there, he said.

NEW VENUES FEATURE

AMPLE PARKING

“We’re thrilled that The Ora is available, as well as auditoriums at New

Don’t mess with Canada. Normally, “Don’t Mess With ... ” is associated with Texas, but Sarasota Film Festival Chairman and President Mark Famiglio is learning the hard way that it applies to our neighbor to the north as well.

Canadians have taken umbrage at a whimsical map of Florida adorning the SFF’s poster for its 27th edition.

The map, which Famiglio says was created using an antique image and AI, contains signposts reading “2,700 miles to the 51st state,” as well as “3,200 miles to Greenland” and “3,400 miles to Panama Canal.”

Famiglio insists the nods to the expansionist agenda of President Donald Trump are all in good fun, but many commenters on Facebook missed the joke.

“My phone has been ringing off the hook all day,” said Famiglio in a telephone interview Friday afternoon. “I guess satire has been canceled.”

Nearly all his callers were Canadian, Famiglio said. They were upset that the SFF poster implied the festival supports the annexation of Canada.

“I’m still waiting to hear from the Panamanians and Greenlanders,” he said, trying to make light of the cartographic contretemps.

McIntosh Road. The 30,000-squarefoot building is among the area’s largest event venues and has plentiful parking, which can be hard to find in downtown Sarasota.

Films with local interest at the SFF include the Florida premiere of Wendy Lobel’s “Anxiety Club,” which features Sarasota comedian Tiffany Jenkins and examines the stressful lives of standup comics, and “My Guardian Angel,” directed by Nya Chambless, a 15-year-old student at Booker High School.

The 25-minute film, which was produced with help from donations, was inspired by Chambless’ reallife experience of losing a friend to illness in elementary school and watching her classmate be bullied.

As in previous years, the SFF will host a competition for both narrative and documentary features. There are

Famiglio said he found it odd that Canadians, whose homeland has produced many famous comedians and satirists, didn’t appreciate the humor of the festival poster.

In a comment on Facebook, Sharon Carole of Sage Restaurant, one of SFF’s sponsors, called the poster “a bad joke gone horribly wrong.”

Others were not so kind. Typical of the outcry was the comment by Ronni Blumenthal, “I think a boycott is in order.” And another by Nancy Krohngold, “I want to know who’s responsible for politicizing this event.”

Fueling the flames of controversy were other features of the map, including labels for the Gulf of America, as President Trump has renamed the Gulf of Mexico, Trump’s Mar-A-Lago mansion and one for “Ron and Casey” in Tallahassee.

Famiglio pointed to a steaming bowl of spaghetti on the map where Sarasota is located as further proof the whole thing was meant in good fun.

In response to critics who detect a rightward shift in the film festival’s ethos, Famiglio said, “The proof is in the pudding. Look at our programming over more than two decades. The Sarasota Film Festival is known for having a diverse lineup representing many points of view.”

“Long Shadows,” a period Western co-starring Dermot Mulroney and Jacqueline Bisset; “The Summer Book,” Charlie McDowell’s adaptation of Tove Jansson’s novel about a young girl’s friendship with her dying grandmother; Ricardo de Montreuil’s “Mistura,” about an elite FrenchPeruvian socialite who discovers a new way of living; and “Lovers.”

Documentaries have traditionally been one of the strongest sections of the SFF. Docs are often overlooked by mainstream theaters, so there is little opportunity to see them on the big screen outside of a festival.

This year’s documentary competition includes Tony Benna’s “Andre Is An Idiot,” about a man who tries to stay positive in the face of a terminal diagnosis; Don Hardy’s “Bar,” about a competition at the Culinary Institute of America in New York’s Hudson Valley; Ken Nolan and G.B. Young’s “The Davion Effect,” which follows a child in Florida’s foster care system; Sasha Wortzel’s “River

of Grass,” a meditation on Florida’s Everglades; and Kim Snyder’s “The Librarians,” set on the front lines of the culture wars in Florida and Texas.

As in past years, there are sidebars grouping together films of special interest, including the arts, food and drink, the African American experience, Jewish focus, LGBTQ+ issues, animation and Florida.

In addition to “Anxiety Club” and “Long Shadows,” this year’s featured Spotlight Films include Jessica Palud’s “Being Maria,” about actress Maria Schneider, who achieved fame for her edgy performance opposite Marlon Brando in “Last Tango in Paris,” and Jill Campbell’s “Beyond the Gaze,” about the creation of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue franchise.

Fans of classic films won’t want to miss “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” the French musical written and directed by Jacques Demy, with music by Michel Legrand. Released in 1964, “Umbrellas” stars Cathe-

rine Deneuve as a shopgirl who falls in love with a handsome mechanic, played by Nino Castelnuovo. Released during the heyday of Hollywood musicals such as “The Sound of Music” and “My Fair Lady,” “Umbrellas” brought the genre down to a human scale, but was not appreciated by American audiences at the time.

Legendary film critic Pauline Kael made a case for the film’s timeless beauty in a 2000 interview, saying, “One of the sad things about our times, I think, is that so many people find a romantic movie like that frivolous and negligible. They don’t see the beauty in it, but it’s a lovely film — original and fine.” You can stream “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” anytime at home or on your phone, but watching this pastel-soaked confection on the big screen surrounded by fellow moviegoers is a powerful experience. Oscar-winning director Baker is on to something.

Azara Ballet uses dance to address screen addiction in its second season

Choreographed by company co-founder Martin (Roosaare) Flowers, ‘7 Hours’ puts tech dependency in the spotlight.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Kate Flowers knows a little something about the seductive power of the internet.

Before she and her husband, Martin (Roosaare) Flowers, founded Azara Ballet in 2022, Flowers was a social media influencer. It’s a term she doesn’t endorse wholeheartedly, but it’s the one that best describes what she was doing to promote a healthy lifestyle when she took a hiatus from dance.

To some, it might seem ironic that “Momentum,” the final program of Azara’s second season, will kick off with a piece choreographed by Martin called “7 Hours.” (That’s the amount of time the average person spends looking at a screen each day.)

But to the Flowers (after the couple married, Martin took Kate’s surname), dance is the perfect forum to explore how technology is crowding out human interaction.

“I was glued to my phone from 2015 to 2018,” Kate says. “I had a big TikTok presence. When the pandemic came along, everyone was on their screens all the time. When I retired from being an influencer, I started doing research on how smartphones are affecting mental health, particularly that of young people. The news isn’t good.”

Like other pieces choreographed by Martin for Azara, “7 Hours” uses whimsy, props and audience engagement to get its message across. The 30-minute dance “ebbs and flows between nostalgia and excitement,” Kate says. “The dancers use the phone almost as an appendage to demonstrate how it’s disconnecting our close relationships.”

There are some surprises, too, but no spoilers here.

“7 Hours” is one of three danc-

es on the bill in a program that the Azara co-founders have titled “Momentum.” The other two are a neo-classical piece called “A Fantastic Trip,” choreographed by Ariana Hughlett, and a meditation on bullying choreographed by Gabriel Gaffney Smith titled “What’s Your Neighbor Doing?”

In their two seasons in the Sarasota area, the Flowers have made tackling thorny social issues the raison d’etre of Azara, both on and off stage.

Kate’s real-life struggles provided inspiration for the company’s mission. After a promising start as a young dancer, including a stint with the Joffrey Ballet, Kate’s life spiraled out of control when she was 19. While trying to keep her weight under control, she developed an eating disorder. She took a 10-year break from dance, but when she put her toe shoes back on at Cincinnati’s De La Dance Company, her mental health issues resurfaced.

After meeting Martin, a veteran of BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio, and Nashville Ballet, Kate became convinced she could pursue dance in a healthy way that would also help Martin, who is on the autism spectrum.

The couple formed Azara Ballet, placing an emphasis on mental health and “body positivity” at their fledging contemporary dance company. It wasn’t just their dancers that they wanted to keep healthy; the Flowers have used dance classes and performances to reach out to children with autism, adults with Parkinson’s and other groups underrepresented in the dance world.

A NAME WITH INDIGENOUS AND HEBREW ROOTS

The Flowers chose the name Azara for their dance troupe after seeing it on sidewalk art near Burns Court.

Some people believe it’s an indigenous term to Sarasota; it also means “help” in Hebrew. Both of these connotations seemed appropriate for the new company’s mission.

Like some other theater and dance companies in the area, Azara is nomadic, meaning it has to rent rehearsal and performance space. Even the well-established Sarasota Ballet alternates its performances between FSU Center for the Performing Arts, the Sarasota Opera House and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Not everyone is as lucky as Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, whose generous donors enabled it to first rent and then purchase and renovate its theater near downtown Sarasota.

In its brief lifespan, Azara has held most of its performances at the Ova tion Black Box Theater on State Road 64 in Bradenton. “Momentum” will be the first program the company has presented at the Manatee Perform ing Arts Center, a full-fledged the ater in Bradenton that is the home of the Manatee Players and also hosts touring productions.

“People enjoy walking into the ambiance of a nice theater,” says Kate, who is the ombudsman for the company but takes “notes” from her husband on a conference call. “It’s the nicest the ater we have performed in so far.”

Azara hasn’t been around long enough to have been hurt by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ unprecedented cutbacks in state arts cultural grants last year, Kate said. The Flowers have kept their contemporary dance troupe on a tight budget and have enjoyed the support of ticket buyers and donors in addition to the grant they received from the Barancik Foundation.

As Kate deals with the implica tions of her own recent diagnosis of autism and learns how to delegate responsibility, the No. 1 priority for Azara is to find a venue in Sarasota where it can perform during its third season.

With her marketing background,

Kate is a great believer in research. She has learned from audience surveys and other input that Azara’s patrons want at least one of the company’s shows to be in Sarasota.

One possibility is the Riverview Performing Arts Center, a popular venue for Sarasota Concert Association’s classical music events when the Van Wezel isn’t available.

If Azara had its own rehearsal space, it could also offer adult dance classes, Kate notes.

Also on the couple’s personal todo list is cleaning up after last year’s hurricanes. “We’re on five acres near Myakka State Park. Our house survived the storms, but we’re still dealing with the grounds,” Kate

There’s plenty to celebrate, including a recent profile in The New York Times and the hard evidence from their research that they are connecting with audiences, particularly the younger patrons who are sometimes elusive in this market.

“We’ve done 350-plus surveys, so we have tangible feedback from the community,” Kate says. “One of the highlights is that people feel an emotional connection to our work. They have an appreciation for the authenticity and vulnerability that we are bringing.”

IF YOU GO

‘MOMENTUM’

When: March 28-29 Where: Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton. Tickets: $38 Info: Visit FlCulturalGroup. org.

THURSDAY

‘FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE’

7:30 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave.

$22-$52

Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.

Written by Clarke Peters, “Five Guys” tells the story of Nomax, who is down on his luck because his girlfriend has left and he’s broke. Suddenly, five guys step out of a 1930s-style radio to give him encouragement. This musical tribute to R&B pioneer Louis Jordan promises to delight audiences not only with Jordan’s music, but with lively dance numbers. Runs through April 6.

‘NO ONE IS FORGOTTEN’

7:30 p.m. at Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St.

$5-$44 Visit UrbaniteTheatre.com.

Written by Winter Miller and directed by Urbanite Artistic Director Summer Dawn Wallace, “No One is Forgotten” tells the story of two U.S. citizens imprisoned in a foreign land as they ponder such existential questions. The moving tale of female solidarity is based on real-life accounts of American journalists and aid workers. Runs through April 27.

‘JERSEY BOYS’

8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.

$39-$59 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

There are countless imitations, but there is only one “Jersey Boys.” Winner of both the Tony and Olivier awards, the musical tells the true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, from the group’s humble beginnings in the Garden State to their induction in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Runs through May 25.

DON’T MISS

JOAN OSBORNE AND FRIENDS

Barry Weisblatt’s WhiteLeaf Private Concert Club teams up with McCurdy’s to present eight-time Grammy nominee

Joan Osborne, whose 1995 album

“Relish” launched the international hit “What If God Was One Of Us.” Osborne will be joined by G.E. Smith, the lead guitarist for the duo Hall & Oates during the band’s golden era from 1979 to 1985, and Jimmy Vivino, best known as the leader of the house band for the TBS late-night TV talk show, “Conan.”

IF YOU GO

When: 7 p.m. Monday, March 31

Where: McCurdy’s Comedy Club, 1923 Ringling Blvd. Tickets: $95

Info: Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

THIS WEEK

FRIDAY

JAZZ @ 2 WITH THE PAUL GAVIN QUARTET

2 p.m. at Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road $15-$20 Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

Roll into the weekend as Jazz Club of Sarasota presents Jazz @ 2 with the Paul Gavin Quartet, led by Tampabased drummer, teacher, composer and arranger.

‘ROMEO AND JULIET’

7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail $35-$125 Visit SarasotaBallet.org.

After being postponed by the pandemic five years ago, Sarasota Ballet’s Florida premiere of Sir Frederick Ashton’s sensuous interpretation of “Romeo and Juliet” is finally coming to the Van Wezel stage. Get out your handkerchiefs and see why Shakespeare declared, “For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”

STEPHANE WREMBEL QUARTET

8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat

Court

$35 Visit WSLR.org.

One of the world’s leading guitarists, Stephane Wrembel was chosen by renowned composer Hans Zimmer to join his All Star Band, performing alongside Pharrell, Sheila E and Esperanza Spalding. Hailing from France, Wrembel has created his own blend of jazz, gypsy

Ring Sarasota invites you to celebrate their 15th performance season with a musical journey through the year. This concert will feature a vibrant selection of handbell arrangements with each piece capturing the essence of a different month. Join us as we commemorate this special anniversary!

swing and world music. His original compositions have been featured in films such as “Midnight in Paris,” “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and “Rifkin’s Festival.”

SATURDAY

‘STIFFELIO’

7:30 at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $34-$157 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

The Sarasota Opera keeps its Verdi mojo going with one of the composer’s lesser-known operas. “Stiffelio” tells the tale of a Protestant minister torn between the Christian forgiveness he preaches and his desire for revenge after he discovers his wife’s infidelity. Runs through March 30, when the Opera’s Winter Festival ends.

SUNDAY

CATALYST QUARTET

4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak St. $43-$63

Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.

Artist Series Concerts presents Catalyst Quartet, an ensemble that seeks to redefine the classical musical experience. With Abi Fayette and Karla Donehew Perez on violin, Paul Laraia on viola and Karlos Rodriguez on cello, this program features music by Gershwin, Piazzolla and Ravel.

TUESDAY

‘THE SIMON AND GARFUNKEL STORY’

7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 7777 N. Tamiami Trail

$45-$75 Visit VanWezel.org.

Many who will attend “The Simon and Garfunkel Story” know the tale because they lived it. Still, it’s fun to reminisce. This tribute show takes audiences back to the days when songs like “Mrs. Robinson” played on the radio and the jukebox.

WEDNESDAY

‘SHEDDING A SKIN’

7:30 p.m. at FST’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St. $25-$46 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Part of Florida Studio Theatre’s edgy Stage III series, “Shedding a Skin” follows Myah, a young woman whose topsy-turvy life is transformed when she befriends an elderly Jamaican woman. Runs through April 25.

BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET

7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail. $45-$85 Visit VanWezel.org.

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis has been cited as a Jazz Master by the NEA and has won three Grammy Awards for his work as a band leader, composer and soloist. His quartet is known for its bold interpretations of jazz and pop classics as well as original compositions.

SUNDAY, APRIL 13TH FROM 5:00-7:00 PM

AT ST ARMANDS KEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

40 N ADAMS DRIVE, SARASOTA, FL 34236

TICKETS $20 EACH

OUR PICK

‘DANCING AT LUGHNASA’ Joe Dowling, former artistic director of both the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, directs Brian Friel’s Tony Awardwinning play about the five Mundy sisters living in rural Ireland in the 1930s. The play gets its name from the Irish word for August, which is the month agrarian folk celebrate after bringing in the crops. Runs through April 19.

IF YOU GO When: 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 27

Where: Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail

Tickets: $35-$95

Info: Visit AsoloRep.org.

APRIL

APRIL 17 /

FESTIVAL

Wu Han Chad Hoopes

Dmitri Atapine Kristin Lee

Aaron Boyd Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt

David Finckel Orion Weiss

Shuck yeah!

These are the best oysters around Sarasota.

Recently at a friend’s birthday dinner, there was a foodie moment that could have triggered an existential crisis. “You know oysters,” she reminded me, sliding the menu in my direction.

“Just order for the table.”

As a millennial straddling the fine line between seasoned foodie and trying-too-hard elder Gen Z adjacent, the pressure was on.

I can’t just throw out a random half-dozen and hope for the best. I have to curate an oyster experience that screams “I know my stuff,” while also avoiding the ultimate fear: being an imposter. I refuse to be a fake New England transplant or a fraud in the art of the bivalve — something for which my father would never have forgiven me.

So I ordered a few dozen East Coast options and muttered words like “buttery” and “clean finish” to sound like an oyster sommelier. But did I actually deliver? On the fly, it’s not so easy. This time, I slurped my way through the area’s best to bring you the ultimate oyster guide. Shuck up and dive in.

VERONICA’S FISH & OYSTER 1830 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota; 941366-1342; VeronicaFishAndOyster. com

Pearls of Wisdom: I’m shucking obsessed with Veronica’s. Surrounded by chic ambiance, the oysters are a standout (as are the martinis). The raw bar shines as the centerpiece of the restaurant and showcases tonight’s oysters (half-dozen, $20; dozen, $39; 18, $58). Want something a tad different? Order the duo of shooters ($15) made with bloody Mary granita. In My Shellfish Era: Veronica’s offers a memorable dining and sipping experience during happy hour. But if you want to live lavishly, head to the fruits de mer section of their dinner menu. The grande plateau ($175) is stacked with 18 oysters, shrimp cocktail, crab and avocado with wasabi ponzu, lobster salad, smoked fish dip with fried saltines plus an entirely nonpretentious chilled half-lobster. Order another martini and continue to treat yourself with the Siberian select caviar ($95). Savor the moment with fine herb creme fraiche and truffle chips for the ultimate chef’s kiss moment.

SIESTA KEY OYSTER BAR 5238 Ocean Blvd., Sarasota; 941-346-5443; SKOB.com

Pearls of Wisdom: You might think of this as the go-to spot for tourists after a long beach day, but keep this gem in your back pocket for when the spring break crowds fade. Chef Jesse has taken this beloved island staple to the next level, crafting a menu packed with the freshest seasonal ingredients and daily specials that’ll satisfy whatever foodie mood you’re in.

But let’s be real — the oysters steal the show at SKOB. Served up fresh on the half-shell, they’re perfect for both diehard oyster lovers and the “maybe-I’ll-try-one” crowd.

Pro tip: During Big G’s oyster happy hour every single day from 3-6 p.m. you can snag a dozen house oysters, raw or steamed, for just $12. Whether you’re kicking back after work or plotting your next seafood feast, SKOB is the kind of place that keeps you coming back for more.

In My Shellfish Era: Aside from the steal-of-a-deal happy hour offerings, SKOB shells out specialty baked oysters ($18 for eight) that will never leave you with regret. Choose from Rockefeller, garlic Parmesan or bacon and bleu cheese topped with balsamic glaze and scallions. Feeling frisky? The house fried oysters ($18) also slap, as my younger friends say.

TRIPLETAIL SEAFOOD & SPIRITS

4870 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-529-0555; TripletailSRQ.com

Pearls of Wisdom: Nestled in The Landings Plaza, Tripletail Seafood & Spirits offers a coastal culinary adventure without leaving Sarasota. Don’t miss their inventive cocktails, such as the Smoked Old Fashioned ($16) made with Four Roses small batch bourbon, housemade simple syrup, orange bitters, Angostura bitters and applewood smoke. If you enter from 3-6 p.m., you’re in luck — you can slurp down three oysters on the half shell ($10) with your choice of garlic Parmesan or deconstructed Rockefeller.

In My Shellfish Era: The world is quite literally your oyster when it comes to offerings at Tripletail during dinner. Choose from raw oysters ($15, half-dozen), oysters Rockefeller with spinach, bacon and loads of Parmesan cheese ($21, half-dozen) or their smoked bourbon oysters with lemon garlic butter ($20,halfdozen). All oysters are caught in the Gulf.

ANNA MARIA OYSTER BAR 6906 14th St. W., Bradenton; 941758-7880; 5405 University Parkway, Unit 110, Bradenton; 941-491-2662; 200 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach; 941-778-2662; 6696 Cortez Road W., Bradenton; 941-792-0077; 1525 51st Ave. E., Ellenton; 941-721-7733; 14132 Tamiami Trail, North Port; 941-207-2662; 6000 Airport Circle, Sarasota; OysterBar.net

Pearls of Wisdom: To be shucking and shelling for more than 25 years, you have to be doing something right, and AMOB has! Starting with one small oyster bar, they now have six locations, plus a brand new bar at SRQ Airport. Hit them up during happy hour (daily from 3-9 p.m.) when oysters are just $1.99. Treat yourself to a $3.99 house margarita while you’re at it. In My Shellfish Era: The fresh house oysters are ready to be devoured in more ways than you can count. Keep it classic with a halfshell setup: chilled, icy perfection topped with horseradish and cocktail sauce or take a detour with a vibrant chimichurri and pickled red onion twist. You’ve got six options for roasted oysters: tequila lime, gluten-free steamed, Grandma Georgie’s chipotle, garlic Parmesan, oysters Rock with creamed spinach and bacon or the build-your-own dozen. But why stop at raw and roasted? Southern-fried oysters are also on the table. At $12.99 a half-dozen and $20.99 a dozen, you might as well double up.

All about the abracadabra

Card tricks, movie lore and mentalism are in Star Newman’s bag of tricks.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

James Brown famously sang, “It’s a man’s world,” and those words still ring true in the world of magic, where only 8% of performers are women. But a female magician has even tougher odds (or better ones, depending how you look at it) of standing out in Sarasota, which historically has been a clown’s world.

“Sarasota is saturated with circus, which is wonderful,” Newman says. “If you’re having a gala, you have an aerialist hanging from the ceiling. But magic has gotten lumped into that spectacle.”

So let’s hear it for magic as its own genre in this circus town. But grabbing the spotlight isn’t Star Newman’s M.O. (modus operandi, ICYMI). With her librarian demeanor, she likes to sidle up to you. Newman, whose parents really named her Star, calls herself a magician and a mentalist.

Some people like to watch; Newman also likes to listen. That’s how she picks up cues that help her guess your favorite movie. Playwright and director David Mamet calls hints people drop about themselves the “tell.” Not all of them are spoken. A magic fan himself, Mamet featured magician Ricky Jay in his films “The House of Games” and “The Magician.”

Even though Jay is a man, Newman considers him her kind of magician. Like Jay, she’s adept at card tricks. Newman says she does her best work up close and personal. She performs at parties, but also does shows where she brings people up on stage. That’s what she’ll do April 1 at the Glenridge Performing Arts Center.

Some of Newman’s material reflects her love of film. Back in the days of video stores, you could find her behind the counter of one in her native St. Paul, Minnesota.

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” was Newman’s favorite movie until it was replaced by “Amélie,” a 2001 French film about a shy but mischievous waitress.

Both films have stars named Audrey — Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and Tatou in “Amélie,” both of whom influenced Newman’s stage persona. Her other inspiration is actor and comedian Lucille Ball, particularly the “I Love Lucy” episode where Lucy and Ethel get work in a chocolate factory.

Newman got started early in the world of magic. She first played Las Vegas when she was 15. She was cho-

IF YOU GO STAR NEWMAN

When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1

Where: Glenridge Performing Arts Center, 7333 Scotland Way Tickets: $25.

Info: Visit GPACTix.com.

sen to be a youth magician performing at a magic convention based on the movie “Forrest Gump.”

She’s been honing her skills and the Forrest Gump act ever since. Newman borrows Gump’s iconic bench and becomes a female version of the iconic everyman. She even invokes Gump’s mother (played by Sally Field), who told her son, “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get.”

Despite her Vegas debut, Newman decided early on that she didn’t want to be a glitzy kind of magician.

“I don’t want to be a glittery, lookwhat-I-can do performer,” she says.

“I want to create a sense of surprise.”

People do seem surprised by Newman’s talents. “That was actually really good,” is the backhanded compliment she hears a lot.

Newman recently returned from a convention of female magicians in Las Vegas, where she learned about branding and other tricks of the trade. After her years in the business, she is able to share her wisdom with performers just starting out.

She also enjoys learning from her fellow magicians in Ring 81 of the International Brotherhood of Magicians in Sarasota, where she serves as president.

With people glued to their screens all day, Newman says live entertainment is more powerful than ever. “I’m grateful to TikTok for introducing a new generation to magic, but video is never going to be as amazing as seeing a trick in real life,” she says.

The Arts Advocates Gallery inside the Crossings at Siesta Key mall is open every Saturday from 2-4 pm featuring the works of Sarasota Colony artists, the Florida Highwaymen, and changing monthly exhibits.

Peter Rothstein’s Bold Vision for Asolo Rep

Luncheon

April 17, 11 am-1 pm

Sarasota Yacht Club

Now in his second year at Asolo Rep, producing artistic director Peter Rothstein will share his vision for Asolo’s future.

Join us and get to know this talented leader of one of the cornerstones of Sarasota’s arts community.

Art Talk:

Portraits Then and Now

April 29, 4-6 pm

Arts Advocates Gallery

Presenter Suzanne Havens is a painter and photographer passionate about studying art and art history. She provides insights from both the artists' and critics' perspectives, offering a fast-paced journey through Western art.

It’s a family affair

Sarasota Jewish Theatre finds laughter and tears in ‘Lost in Yonkers.’

MARTY FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR

Neil Simon’s Pulitzer Prizewinning “Lost in Yonkers” has found its way to the Sarasota Jewish Theatre stage. It’s a comedy/drama about a strange family. Think your family is weird? The Kurnitz family is as weird as it gets. In the summer of 1942, two adolescent boys will discover the depths of its weirdness.

Arty (Declan Moyer) and Jay (Aaron Garcia De Leon) rarely visit their Yonkers relatives. But their father, Eddie (Scott Ehrenpreis), has told them stories.

They’ve heard about Grandma Kurnitz (Carolyn Michel), the tyrannical matriarch; Gerta (Jill Schroeder), the wheezing aunt; Bella (Josephine Phoenix), the wacky aunt; and Louie (Michael Raver), the shady uncle. This summer, they’ll get to see these legends with their own eyes.

Without explanation, their father dresses the boys in itchy formal clothing. He then drives them from the Bronx to Grandma’s in Yonkers. She lives above a candy store — but she’s no Willy Wonka.

Surprise, surprise! Grandma’s harsh realm will be their summer home. The boys didn’t know that in advance — and they already knew things were bad. Jay and Arty watched their mother slowly waste away from cancer.

But they didn’t know their father took on crushing debt to pay her medical bills. He owes a mobster $9,000 — and has one year to pay it. To climb out of financial ruin, Eddie hits the road “selling scrap iron to build ships and tanks.” There’s a war on, and Eddie’s confident that old iron will settle his debt before the deadline.

Grandma reluctantly agrees to take in the boys in while he’s gone. Jay and Arty plunge down the rabbit hole into an unfeeling Wonderland.

Grandma rules her home with a cold, steel will. Why? She’s a survivor. She’s a German-Jewish immigrant. Her steely coldness was forged by antisemitic violence and the loss of two children. She’s determined to keep the rest, by any means necessary.

IF YOU GO

‘LOST IN YONKERS’

When: Through March 30

Where: The Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

Tickets: $40-$46

Info: Call 365-2494 or visit ThePlayers.org.

Grandma’s remaining adult children carry the legacy of their mother’s emotional unavailability.

Gert (Stephanie Cozart) sounds like Darth Vader’s wheezing sister. Louie (Alec Beard), a swaggering bagman for the mob, attributes his toughness to his mother’s example. Eddie seems like a bundle of insecurities.

The childlike Bella (Josephine Phoenix) may be mentally challenged — or frozen at that stage of development by her mother’s strict control. In the summer of ’42, Bella has the needs of a 35-year-old woman, not just a child. That ultimately leads to a showdown with Grandma.

Director Carole Kleinberg deftly balances the complexities of the family dynamics and the crisp rhythms of Simon’s dialogue. Under her direction, the cast finds the wit and weight of Simon’s story.

Michel’s Grandma Kurnitz is a force of nature — intimidating yet still deeply human. She could easily be the heavy of the piece. But as the play unfolds, Michel reveals the buried humanity of her complex character.

Cozart’s Gert proves her character’s more than a punchline.

Phoenix’s Bella is bursting with heart and soul — and delivers the play’s emotional gut punch when she finally stands up to Grandma.

Raver’s Louie is a scene-stealing mix of menace and charm. Living outside the law is his character’s variation on his mother’s Darwinian survival strategy. Ehrenpreis’ Eddie initially seems like a timid Nowhere Man. But he’s far from weak. His character survives his trial by fire. As Arty and Jay, Moyer and De Leon show acting talent far beyond their years.

“Lost in Yonkers” is top-shelf Neil Simon — a 200-proof distillation of rapid-fire laughs and deep-seated pain. It’s an epic of survival, resilience and the hidden faces of love in broken families.

Helped along by Simon’s sharp dialogue and snappy comedic beats, this play leaves a lasting impression. You’ll definitely remember this crazy family. They might remind you of your own.

SYNCOPATED AVENUE

A Connecticut schoolteacher found her voice in Sarasota

Synia Carroll helped build musical bridges in the Tampa Bay area.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

The first time Ed Linehan saw his future wife, Synia Carroll, was around 2000. He didn’t know Carroll at the time, but she caught his eye when he and his three sons stopped to watch her tell a children’s story during an arts festival on the village green in New Haven, Connecticut.

“There was something mesmerizing about her. She was bigger than the place,” recalled Linehan, the former president of the Jazz Club of Sarasota, where he is still on the board.

It would be another 10 years before fate brought Carroll and Linehan, both employees in the city of New Haven’s school system, together as husband and wife. After both of their previous marriages ended in divorce, their romance began in one of New Haven’s famous pizza parlors.

On March 14, Linehan and the rest of Tampa Bay’s jazz community had to say goodbye to the scintillating presence known as Synia Carroll. She died a week after her 67th birthday from a fast-moving illness diagnosed late last year.

“We had 10 exciting years together in Sarasota,” Linehan said in a telephone interview on March 21.

“We thought we had more time.”

“I’m blessed to have so many wonderful, inspiring and supportive friends and family in my life,” Carroll posted on Facebook on Jan. 1. “I’m blessed to have music as a source of energy, inspiration and comfort. So on this first day of 2025, I want to say ‘thank you’ with all my heart to everyone who is a part of my life no matter how small. You are part of the tapestry that is me.”

A native of Philadelphia, Carroll was surrounded by music as a child. She began writing her own songs and was performing with a guitar by the age of 12. She earned a full music scholarship to Chestnut Hill College, but decided to attend Wesleyan University, where she majored in Spanish literature.

After graduating, Carroll moved to New York City and began performing Caribbean music and working as a vocalist in recording sessions. After a number of years singing with the band Mikata, she settled for the stability of teaching Spanish to middle- and high-

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe

revue

Syncopated Avenue promises to be a unique, upbeat show that will take you on an exciting adventure to an

world of dance!

school students, and to raising her daughter, Janina, and son, Jesse.

It wasn’t until she and Linehan moved to Sarasota in 2014 that she began performing again regularly, first at open-mic nights in Sarasota and in St. Petersburg before getting her own bookings at clubs and concerts.

She first started out singing blues, but after a performance at the old Five O’Clock Club on Hillview Street, she was advised to try jazz. “Finding my voice in jazz was like coming home,” she told the website AllAboutJazz.com.

It wasn’t long before Linehan used his organizational skills to book his wife into music venues around the Tampa Bay area and build a database so fans could be informed of her next appearance.

Linehan’s efforts at promoting Carroll’s career caught the attention of the Jazz Club of Sarasota, where the former school system administrator became president in 2018. During his five-year tenure, Linehan tripled the club’s membership to 1,500 members. He was also instrumental in luring jazz artists from the other side of the Skyway Bridge to perform in Sarasota.

Many of these artists, now fixtures at Jazz Club series such as Jazz @ Two on Fridays at the Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota, Monday Night Jazz at Florida Studio Theatre’s Court Cabaret and Sarasota Art Museum’s monthly Thursday night jazz, were musicians that Linehan met through Carroll.

“She went over to St. Pete, where

she met musicians like Alejandro Arenas of La Lucha, Jeremy Carter, Paul Gavin and James Suggs,” Linehan recalled. “I met them through her. When I had the opportunity, I started bringing them to Sarasota.” At the same time, Carroll was expanding her ever-growing audience. In 2023, she was named a creative fellow of the Palladium performing arts center at St. Petersburg College. The following year, Carroll released her second CD, “Water is My Song.” Her first CD, “Here’s To You,” featuring Miami pianist Billy Marcus, a frequent collaborator, was wellreceived when it debuted in 2016. Linehan attributed his wife’s success to her desire to grow and constantly keep improving, even if it meant taking a trip to Brazil to learn about the music scene there.

The acclaim was unanimous after Carroll made an unscheduled appearance during the 2023 Sarasota Jazz Festival in Nathan Benderson Park. When the scheduled headliner canceled due to illness, Carroll performed for more than an hour with Philly-based trumpeter Terell Stafford, who programs the annual jazz fest in Sarasota.

“I think that was her most exciting appearance ever,” Linehan says. “She was on her way to the pinnacle.”

After word of Carroll’s death began to spread through the Tampa Bay jazz community, fans and collaborators took to Facebook to pay tribute to her. “She was a dynamic, passionate and charismatic performer who touched many lives,” posted the Tampa Jazz Club on its website.

“Synia Carroll was an immensely gifted vocalist and a unique performer,” musician and University of South Florida faculty member Simon Lasky posted. “(S)he was a force of nature: No matter a big concert hall (with a knowledgeable, attentive audience) or a tiny wine bar (with no one listening!) Synia had the ability to grab the audience by the scruff of the neck and bring them along with her.”

Carroll’s friends had organized a benefit for her at the Palladium on May 8 to help with health care expenses. Instead, it will be a celebration of her life, Linehan said. A Sarasota memorial will be held at 3 p.m. on April 26 at Unitarian Universalists, 3975 Fruitville Road.

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2025

Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation Gala

Friday, March 21, at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Benefiting Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation

The perfect Florida weather lent itself to the 2025 Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation Gala held on March 21. With temperatures in the low 60s, almost 300 guests donned their best shawls, furs and vests to beat the slight chill for this annual event.

On the bay lawn at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the tent was decorated with red flowers, centerpieces, lamps and candles each celebrating the Moulin Rouge (red mill) theme of the evening. Co-chaired by Susan and Jim Travers and Kara and Drayton Saunders, the event started with a cocktail reception and dinner, followed by a live performance of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.”

A legacy gift from Louise Appleton recognizes educators in Sarasota, Manatee, Desoto and Charlotte counties who inspire students through arts education. Van Wezel Foundation Executive Director of Mission and Impact Kelli Maldonado introduced this year’s honorees as Karim Manning, Ruslan Akhmadullin and Brooks Tracey. Proceeds will go directly to art education and toward the development of the new Sarasota Performing Arts Center.

— JANET COMBS

Farm to Fillet Luncheon

Banyan Ball

Saturday, March 22, at ODA Uihlein Campus, Lakewood Ranch |

Benefiting The Out-ofDoor Academy

BLACK TIE

Island Gallery and Studios invites you to our First Friday Artists Reception every month from, Nov - April from 5-7pm. Discover Bradenton’s premier art gallery offering one of a kind art works and unique gifts created by local artists. Enjoy Artist Demonstrations, Art Classes, and Critique Corner.

Open Tues-Sat, 10-5 and Sun, 10-4 456 12th St W Bradenton FL www.islandgalleryandstudios.org (941)778-6648

You are invited to Two informative travel presentations Location: Homewood Suites 305 North Cattlemen Road, Sarasota (near UTC Mall)

American Cruise Line Time: 10:30am

Attend our presentation and receive a $600 per stateroom discount. New bookings only deposited by April 17.

Discover the heart of American cruising with American Cruise Lines, where rich history intertwines with the beauty of our nation’s waterways. Proudly American -made, our intimate ships offer a unique blend of luxury and heritage, inviting you to experience the warmth of personalized service as you explore the hidden gems of the United States. American Cruise Lines has explored America for more than 50 years.

April

Centennial Executive Committee member Marjorie Floyd, Caroline Amory, Audrey Robbins and Harry Leopold

Oceania Cruises

Time: 3:30pm

Attend our presentation and receive a $200 per stateroom Shipboard Credit for any new bookings deposited by

new bookings deposited by April 16. Whichever corner of the globe beckons to you next, Oceania Cruises will take you there in comfort and style. You’ll always enjoy a refined and welcoming ambiance, warm personalized service, The Finest Cuisine at Sea and inclusive amenities wherever you choose to sail. The gracious pace of life on board only enhances the experience – there’s never any need to rush, worry about crowds or wait in long lines. Join us on one of our small and luxurious ships catering to no more than 1,250 guests and discover what Small Ship Luxury™ truly means.

sail. The gracious pace of life on board only enhances the experience – there’s never any need to rush, worry about crowds or wait in long lines. Join us on one of our small and luxurious ships catering to no more than 1,250 guests and discover what Small Ship Luxury™ truly means.

Season 29 | Talent Unveiled ArtistSeriesConcerts.org 941-306-1202

Tessa Lark, violin

April 8, 7:30 pm

First Congregational Church

The Ernie Kretzmer Memorial Concert

Nominated for a Grammy Award in the best classical instrument solo category, Tessa Lark is also a highly acclaimed fiddler in the tradition of her native Kentucky. This program is comprised of original works inspired by her combination of classical training and Appalachian upbringing – a style she lovingly calls “Stradgrass.”

Join us for a pre-concert reception at Michael’s Wine Cellar (separate ticket required). Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org for details.

Power Couple

Diana Cohen, violin

Roman Rabinovich, piano

April 20, 4:00 pm

April 21, 4:00 pm

Fischer/Weisenborne Residence

Cohen and Rabinovich have forged extraordinary careers and soloists, chamber musicians, and orchestral leaders. These Soirée concerts include music by Clara Schumann, Schubert, and Strauss.