Arts + Entertainment 5.15.25

< THIS WEEK: Guest conductor Kalena Bovell leads the Sarasota Orchestra on Saturday. 4

‘JERSEY BOYS:’ Critic Marty Fugate reviews Florida Studio Theatre’s show.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

SAVE DATE THE

Modern Works Festival

Sept. 11-21, Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St. Visit UrbaniteTheatre.com.

Mark your calendar with these six must-see events for the fall season.

s the 2024-25 season winds down and the snowbirds head north, it’s not too early to think about marking your calendar with some blockbuster events coming up in the fall. Many cultural groups have already announced their 2025-26 seasons to great fanfare in the hopes of attracting new and

zation, individual tickets for next season may not be on sale just yet. Many groups open the boxoffice window for single tickets just after Labor Day, but others start earlier. Keep an eye on your inbox or check websites so youscriptions always offer more

It’s not every year that superstars like Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp come to town to collaborate on a local premiere.reographer will be in residence at the Asolo Repertory Theatre this fall as they work on an updated version of their Broadway hit, History also will be made in the upcoming season as the Sarasota Orchestra welcomes only the seventh music director during its 76 years of existence. Grammy Award winner

Masterworks: Symphonic Dance

Nov. 7-9, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail. Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

NOV 7-9

Giancarlo Guerrero, who juggled his roles as music director of the Nashville Symphony and music director designate of the Sarasota Orchestra during the 2024-25 season, officially takes the baton this fall.

In recent years, festivals have sprouted during the offseason and what has come to be known as the “shoulder season,” when things are just getting started. There are two you don’t want to miss — Urbanite Theatre’s Modern Works Festival, a playwriting contest for women that features staged readings that are open to the public, and Sarasota Rising’s Living Arts Festival, the brainchild of former Sarasota Players Producing Artistic Director Jeffrey Kin, which is returning for its second year.

Get out your calendar, whether it’s on your electronic device or on your desk, and save the date for six events you won’t want to miss this fall. Ticket prices available yet.

SEPT

11-21

Lauren Gunderson must have enjoyed her time in Sarasota when she was the keynote speaker last year at Urbanite Theatre’s Modern Works Festival, a playwriting contest that celebrates emerging female dramatists.

One of the most prolific playwrights working today, Gunderson is bringing the premiere of her rom-com “Lady Disdain” to Asolo Repertory Theatre in June 2026. You never know who will turn up at Urbanite’s Modern Works Festival, which will celebrate its sixth year this fall. Submissions are being accepted until May 30 for the festival, which includes staged readings of the three finalist plays in the contest for emerging and established female playwrights. Last year, Sarasota actress and arts patron Carolyn Michel took a break from caring for her husband, Howard Millman, to attend the Modern Works Festival. Millman, who rescued the Asolo Repertory Theatre and helped inspire the creation of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and the revival of the Sarasota Jewish Theatre, died on Feb. 14 at age 93.

Under the leadership of Summer Dawn Wallace, artistic director of Urbanite Theatre, the Modern Works Festival has evolved into a joyful theatrical jamboree that Wallace says is “like Christmas every day.”

Seeing staged readings of new plays, mingling with patrons and fellow artists and attending panel discussions brings back the magic of opening up presents under the tree, she says.

In the past, finalist plays in the Modern Works Festival such as Brenda Withers’ “Westminster” and “A Skeptic and a Bruja” by Rosa Fernandez were produced by Urbanite in its 60-seat black-box theater. We don’t know yet whether any of last year’s festival plays will be in Urbanite’s 2025-26 lineup because the theater hasn’t wrapped its current season.

Wallace and company are preparing for Urbanite’s last play of the season, Nia Akilah Robinson’s “From 145th Street to 98th Street,” which runs from May 30 to June 29. After that closes, then it will be time to announce the 2025-26 season and to go Christmas shopping.

No one embodies that cultural mosaic better than Guerrero himself. A native of Nicaragua whose family emigrated to Costa Rica to escape civil war, Guerrero first studied music through a youth orchestra. He later came to the U.S., where he earned a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and a master’s degree from Northwestern University.

SAVE THE DATE PAGE 2 Giancarlo Guerrero conducts his first concert, “Masterworks: Symphonic Dances,” as music director of the Sarasota Orchestra on Nov. 7-9 at the Van Wezel Performing

With the arrival of Giancarlo Guerrero as full-time music director, the Sarasota Orchestra has dubbed 2025-26 season the “Sound of Change.” The first season programmed by Guerrero is designed to showcase the cultural mosaic of the U.S. as it prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary next year.

During his 16 seasons as music director of the Nashville Symphony, Guerrero released 21 commercial albums and won six Grammy Awards. Together with composer Aaron Jay Kernis, Guerrero spearheaded the development of Nashville Symphony’s biannual Composer Lab & Workshop for young and emerging composers.

Now, Guerrero is here in Sarasota, and we can’t wait to see what he will do as the Sarasota Orchestra prepares to build a new music center east of town, for which it recently received $60 million in anonymous donations.

Surely, Guerrero’s first Masterworks concerts will be a historic occasion, full of the high energy and enthusiasm the conductor is known for. The program features Alessio Bax on piano and consists of three pieces: Jennifer Higdon’s “Blue Cathedral,” Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances.”

Joseph Holt to retire as artistic director of Choral Artists of Sarasota

OBSERVER STAFF

Joseph Holt is retiring as artistic director of Choral Artists of Sarasota, a position he has held since 2011, but plans to remain active in the regional arts scene.

Before joining Choral Artists’ predecessor organization, Gloria Musicae, in 2009 as conductor, Holt spent than two decades as principal pianist with the United States Army Chorus in Washington, D.C. He also served as associate music director for the Choral Arts Society of Washington.

When Holt took the helm of what would become Choral Artists, the group was in what he termed an “artistic valley,” during an interview with the Observer.

Under his stewardship, Choral Artists would reach an artistic peak with a performance at the 80th anniversary of D-Day in France in June 2024.

During their trip to Normandy, Choral Artists participated in a mass gathering of music ensembles at Brittany American Cemetery that also included several groups from Australia and New Zealand.

“I’ve felt for some time that my artistic contribution to the ensemble had reached its zenith,” Holt said in a statement announcing his retirement. “This felt like the right moment to step aside and make space for fresh perspectives and new energy.”

Besides the D-Day concert, Choral Artists had another international tour under Holt, to Italy’s Amalfi Coast in 2012. Other milestones of his tenure were the performance of “Carmina Burana” in collaboration with Sarasota Contemporary Dance; the world premiere of “Listen to the Earth” by James Grant honoring the 50th anniversary of Earth Day; and programs featuring “Considering Matthew Shepard,” a tribute to a young gay man slain in Wyoming in 1998.

“Joe has been the heart and soul

of Choral Artists for so many years,” said Bill Kimbell, board president of Choral Artists of Sarasota, in a statement. “His passion, creativity, tireless dedication, leadership and professionalism have left an indelible mark on all of us — singers, audiences and supporters alike. We are beyond grateful for the music, the memories and the joy he’s brought to this community.”

As for the future of Choral Artists, now in its 46th season, Kimbell says the board is evaluating the ensemble’s next chapter. “The organization is reviewing its options and will announce next steps later this summer,” he said. “What I can say is this: the excellence that has defined Choral Artists will remain at the heart of whatever comes next.”

Before he steps down, Holt will lead Choral Artists as it joins forces with Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble for a Memorial Day concert entitled “United We Stand” at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, at Church of the Palms in Sarasota. For information, visit ChoralArtistsSarasota.org.

In addition to the upcoming Memorial Day concert, Holt continues as producer and host of “Music Mondays” for the Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning.

THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

HISTORIC PRESERVATION 101

6 p.m. at Architecture Sarasota, 265 S. Orange Ave. $15 or $35 for all Visit ArchitectureSarasota.org.

Architecture Sarasota President Morris (Marty) Hylton III is teaching this series on Historic Preservation, and he knows a little something about the subject matter. Before joining Architecture Sarasota in 2023, Hylton earned a master’s degree in historic preservation at Columbia University. During his career documenting, conserving and advocating for cultural heritage, Hylton spent time at the World Monuments Fund, the University of Florida, where he was director of the Historic Preservation Program, and the National Park Service. Continues May 22 and 29.

‘DIVAS: TIME AFTER TIME’

8 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. $37-$39 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

New to Sarasota? We’ve got two words for you: Jannie Jones. When Jones is performing at Florida Studio Theatre, run — don’t walk — to the Court Cabaret. She is onethird of the trio performing in FST’s new cabaret show “Divas: Time After Time.” The other talented singers are Aja Goes and Dakota MackeyMcGee. First-timers to FST’s cabaret shows leave the show amazed that there is such talent here in our laid-back beach town. Runs through June 22.

DON’T MISS

‘JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR’

This is it — the one we’ve been waiting for all season! Broadway director Josh Rhodes (“Spamalot”) returns to Sarasota to direct and choreograph

Asolo Rep’s production of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the granddaddy of rock musicals. The epic show promises to be of biblical proportions in more ways than one. Look for Sarasota’s own Ann Morrison, Mary in the original Broadway 1981 production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along,” as King Herod. Runs through June 15.

IF YOU GO

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15

Where: FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail

Tickets: $35-$95. Info: Visit AsoloRep.org.

Olson and Lamont Brown lead the cast of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s “Syncopated Avenue,” which runs through

FRIDAY

PATTI SMITH: A BOOK OF DAYS

10 a.m. at Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point, 401 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey Included with $20 admission Visit Selby.org.

Selby Gardens collaborates with poet and musician Patti Smith, its artist-in-residence, on an outdoor exhibition of large prints taken from her newly published bestseller “A Book of Days.” By displaying her photographs outdoors, Selby brings them into conversation with nature. Runs through Aug. 31.

HERMITAGE SUNSETS @ SELBY GARDENS

6:30 p.m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point, 401 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey Free with $5 registration fee Visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer (“Spamalot”) and playwright/ actress Bess Wohl (“Grand Horizons”) look back and ahead as they discuss their innovative work both on and off Broadway as the sun sets on Historic Spanish Point, the lovely 30-acre compound on Little Sarasota Bay, an oasis in Osprey just off Tamiami Trail. Both Kritzer and Wohl were fellows at the Hermitage Artist Retreat in Englewood.

SATURDAY

‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’

5:30 p.m. at Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way $20-$40 Visit SarasotaBallet.org.

A production of the Sarasota Ballet School, this version of the beloved Frank Baum tale about Dorothy’s life-changing trip down the Yellow Brick Road is created especially for children. The ballet features choreography by the Sarasota Ballet School’s Alberto Blanco and a captivating score by various artists, including Ravel, Mussorgsky and Hollywood superstar composer John Williams.

DISCOVERIES: VIVALDI INSPIRED

7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.

$28-$80

Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Led by guest conductor Kalena Bovell, this Sarasota Orchestra program features violinist Amaryn Olmeda and a lineup that includes “Spring” and “Summer” from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” as well as selections from Stravinsky, Holst and other composers.

COMEDY ROULETTE

8:30 p.m. at Florida Studio Theatre’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St. $15-$18 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Looking to have fun on a Saturday night without breaking the bank? Look no further than Florida Studio Theatre Improv Troupe. A team of four experienced improvisers delivers a mix of short form, long form and musical improv. Weekends through May 30.

SUNDAY

‘GEORGE HARRISON: A GARDENER’S LIFE’ 10 a.m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens,1534 Mound St. $28 Visit Selby.org.

“George Harrison: A Gardener’s Life” is the ninth installment of the annual Jean and Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Series. Walking around the 15acre sanctuary where gardens and botanical displays have been erected to mirror those in Harrison’s estate Friar Park, you can’t help feeling he would approve of this living tribute. Runs through June 29.

MONDAY

‘CONJURING THE SPIRIT WORLD: ART, MAGIC AND MEDIUMS’ 10 a.m. at the John and Mable Ringling Art Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road Free with $25 admission; Mondays free Visit Ringling.org.

OUR PICK

‘SYNCOPATED AVENUE’

With “Syncopated Avenue,” created and directed by Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe founder and Artistic Director Nate Jacobs, WBTT is producing its first tap dance revue. Direct from Broadway, James T. Lane stars as Duke, an aging tapper whose dance studio is threatened by gentrification. Romance blooms between Percy (Lamont Brown), a newly arrived choreographer, and Duke’s granddaughter Felicity (Kaylee Olson) as they work on a rollicking 25th anniversary show for the studio. Audience members leave the show walking on air and doing a little dance of their own. (We kid you not!) Runs through May 25.

IF YOU GO When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15

Where: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave. Tickets: $22-$52 Info: Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.

Go on the trail of things that go bump in the night with this fascinating interactive exhibition that follows the growth of Spiritualism in the mid-19th century, from its roots in dining room seances to traveling shows featuring magicians and mediums. Along the way, you’ll learn about the opposing views of Houdini and Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle about the existence of spirits and see an assortment of memorabilia and tools used both to contact spirits and trick audiences.

SHARON OWENS: TRIBUTE TO BARBRA 7:30 p.m. at Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave. Building 5, Venice $56 Visit VeniceTheatre.org.

Singer Sharon Owens is considered one of the leading interpreters of the songs and stylings made famous by Barbra Streisand. In this concert, she takes you on a walk down Memory Lane by covering Streisand’s hits from Broadway, film and radio during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Don’t be surprised if your eyes tear up when you remember “The Way We Were.”

Suncoast Composer Fellowship Program explores storytelling

Led by Max Tan, the event will feature seminars, masterclasses and concerts.

MONICA ROMAN GAGNIER

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Perlman Music Program alumni

Max Tan is a violinist and what might be called a cultural entrepreneur through his classical music nonprofit Soundbox Ventures. He’s also proven himself a bit of an amateur meteorologist. Or maybe he’s just plain lucky.

After founding the Suncoast Composer Fellowship Program to partner emerging composers with mentors and performers, Sarasota Orchestra member Tan launched the inaugural Suncoast Composer Festival and scheduled it for Oct. 4-7, 2024.

In case you’ve forgotten, that was just days before Hurricane Milton made landfall on Oct. 9. Fortunately for Tan, all the events at his festival came off as planned. “None of the events got canceled,” he said in a telephone interview. “It was miraculous.”

Miracle or no, Tax isn’t taking any chances with Suncoast Composer Fellowship Program’s second event, which will take place from May 16-21 at various locations in Sarasota, including Selby Library, Holley Hall, St. Boniface Episcopal Church and Aloft Sarasota hotel.

Designed to advance classical music by bringing together artists, scholars and curators, the program consists of no less than 15 public events, including seminars, lectureperformances, masterclasses, concerts, tours and parties. Some discussions will be offered via webinar for those who aren’t able to attend.

Although Suncoast dodged a hurricane with its October 2024 event, Tan believes May is a better time to hold a conference that draws participants from all over the world. “Even though a lot of snowbirds leave after Easter, we think May is a better window,” says Tan.

A native of East Lyme, Connecti-

Annie Dutoit Argerich will narrate a Sarasota premiere of “Carnival de las Indias” by Catalan composer Marc Migó Cortes on May 20.

cut, Tan began coming to Sarasota in December 2007 as a member of the Perlman Music Program, founded by Toby Perlman, the wife of superstar violinist Itzhak Perlman. PMP holds sessions for its young musicians in Shelter Island, New York, during the summer and sets up shop each winter at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. Besides being a PMP alum, Tan earned a degree at Harvard and is pursuing a doctorate at the Juilliard School. In April 2024, he made his Carnegie Hall debut, with pianist Marisa Gupta, after winning the 2023 Gershon Cohen Violin Award.

GOING BEHIND THE SCENES

Tan believes Sarasota is the perfect place for a program that will explore a wide range of topics, including how musical texts are created; how canons are created and sustained; and how classical music continues to evolve. Most of the events are free, although they require registration.

Tan think local audiences will appreciate the behind-the-scenes look at lively exchanges about the state of classical music. He describes the conference as “a meeting ground.” The theme that runs through all the event is “storytelling,” he says.

Tan believes the same crowd of diehard classical music fans who flock to Perlman Music Program’s free rehearsals and master classes with superstar violinist Itzhak Perlman will be interested in the events at the Suncoast Composer Fellowship Program, which is being presented with the assistance of Sara-

IF YOU GO 2025 SUNCOAST COMPOSER

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

When: May 16-21

Where: Various locations in downtown Sarasota, including Selby Library.

Tickets: Free with registration to $65. Conference pass $100.

Info: Visit SoundboxVentures.org.

sota Music Archive and the Sarasota Music Conservatory.

While Tan has no doubts that discussions about the past and future of classical music, concerts and other events will be well attended, the Suncoast program has faced some unexpected challenges.

Concerns about the U.S. political climate have prompted some participants to drop out. “People are concerned about visa problems or that they might have trouble getting in or out of the country,” he says.

Still, having a webinar format will allow the conference’s proceedings to reach those who won’t be physically present in Sarasota, Tan notes.

Despite some last-minute hiccups, Tan has created an ambitious program with help from a grant from Chamber Music America. Highlights of the conference include keynote presentations by performer and curator Annie Dutoit-Argerich, Juilliard School Vice President for Library and Information Sciences Jane Gottlieb and Suncoast faculty directors Tan and Sean Friar.

The Suncoast program kicks off Friday, May 16, with a benefit concert for St. Boniface Episcopal Church that takes place at the church. The program, “Ysaÿe’s Organ at 100,” showcases a piece for piano, organ and violin, an unusual grouping of instruments, in which Tan will perform.

The capstone of the conference will be a concert at Holley Hall on Tuesday, May 20, that includes the Sarasota premiere of “Carnival de las Indias” by Catalan composer Marc Migó Cortes, narrated by Dutoit-

Argerich, daughter of legendary pianist Martha Argerich.

The program, which will be conducted by Glen Cortese, will offer a sneak peek of the piece before its New York premiere on May 23 and its it European premiere in July, when it will be performed in Barcelona with Martha Argerich.

The Sarasota concert will also feature works by Friar, Ania Vu, Will Stackpole, Sergei Rachmaninov and the late Sarah Gibson. The program will be presented the style of a live radio concert with commentary framing the performances.

The berry best places to celebrate National Strawberry Month

These eateries serve up treats jam-packed with flavor and the sweetest spoonfuls of sunshine.

EMMA BURKE JOLLY CONTRIBUTOR

Growing up, my house had a killer soundtrack. Thanks to my parents, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and Elton John were basically honorary family members. While other kids were glued to their televisions, I was perfecting the art of the solo dance party. No TV in my room? No problem. I had a boom box, a stack of CDs and a deep-rooted belief that music was way cooler than movies.

Even during my “I’m too cool for family time” era, you’d find me holed up in my room, cranking up whatever teen pop album had just dropped. I was totally immersed in lyrics, beats and daydreams as I danced in the mirror with my brush as my microphone.

By college, my parents were convinced I was born a few decades too late. I came home at 18 rocking vintage band and Bob Marley tees, swapping Top 40 for The Doors deep cuts and falling harder for The Beatles than ever before.

My obsession grew: gathering Beatles artwork from around the world and burning a hole in my “Across the Universe” DVD. When my parents told me they were in New York City the day John Lennon died (Dec. 8, 1980) — I knew I had to go to holy ground: Strawberry Fields, the Central Park memorial to Lennon.

This was a roundabout way of introducing you to National Strawberry Day, but we’re here and it’s strawberry fields forever, foodies.

CROP JUICE

2480 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota; 941-923-8640; 8211 Tourist Center Drive, Bradenton; 941-358-8182; CROPJuice.com

Berry Much in Love: CROP has special donuts weekly, and two that have popped up recently are sweet with strawberries. The Pink Velvet ($8) is a coconut-vanilla based donut dream, loaded with fresh organic strawberries and bananas, dipped in vibrant pitaya glaze and drizzled with creamy cashew butter. You’ll see that the lemon was worth the squeeze with the lemon strawberry ($7) donut, composed of a lemon donut dumped in fresh organic strawberry glaze topped with dye-free sprinkles.

Let Me Take You Down Cause

I’m Going To: Start your morning with a juicy burst of sunshine: The strawberry blonde ($13) blends organic strawberry, green apple, pineapple and lemon into one sweet-tart, sip-worthy sensation.

THE BREAKFAST COMPANY

4832 S. Tamiami Trail, 941-7064225; 7246 55th Ave. E., Bradenton; 941-201-6002; 8491 Cooper Creek Blvd., Bradenton, 941-210-4760; 411 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota; 941-3648767; TheBreakfastCompanyFL.com

Berry Much in Love: Calling all brunch lovers — this one’s toastally irresistible. For $14.95, dive into thick, fluffy French toast topped with a mountain of fresh strawberries and a rich Nutella drizzle that hits all the right notes. It’s sweet, satisfying and 100% worth every calorie. I warn you now that this dish causes a happy foodie dance.

Let Me Take You Down Cause

I’m Going To: Sip on the strawberry lemon sangria ($9.95) with sweet strawberries, zesty lemon and a splash of wine that comes together for the ultimate springturned-summer sipper. One glass in and you’ll feel like you’re cruising in a little yellow submarine full of good vibes only.

OFKORS BAKERY

1359 Main St., Sarasota; 941-3302220; OfKorsBakery.com

Berry Much in Love: The pavlova ($5.99) and mini pavlova ($3.49) are standout treats that blend delicate

texture with natural sweetness. This classic dessert features a crisp meringue shell with a soft, marshmallow-like center, topped with fresh strawberries and light cream. Baked fresh daily using organic, local ingredients, these airy confections reflect the bakery’s European roots and dedication to quality.

Let Me Take You Down Cause

I’m Going To: Fruit tarte ($5.49) lane, full of vibrant celebration of fresh flavor that could fool any foodie into thinking that we’re not in Sarasota; we’re in Paris. Featuring a buttery, crisp pastry shell filled with smooth pastry cream and topped with ripe, juicy strawberries and other fruits, this Europeanstyle dessert is as beautiful as it is delicious.

MORTON’S GOURMET MARKET

1924 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota; 941955-9856; MortonsMarket.com

Berry Much in Love: Dive into flavor town with the strawberry balsamic walnut baked brie — the ultimate crowd pleaser for summer soirées and sunny-day gatherings. This two-pound wheel of brie ($85) goes a long way. It’s adorned with luscious Plant City strawberries, tart raspberries and a drizzle of rich balsamic glaze. Caramelized walnuts add a delightful crunch, while a hint of fresh basil elevates the dish to gourmet heights.

Let Me Take You Down Cause I’m Going To: Strawberry (fields) salad is a vibrant blend of fresh,

seasonal flavor with a gourmet edge. Juicy strawberries and crisp field greens are elevated by a bold crumble of blue cheese (controversial to some, essential to others).

It’s perfect for brunch spreads, al fresco picnics or even an elevated desk lunch. Catering available: $55 for a small, $105 for a large, because great flavor deserves to be shared.

SCOOPS & SPRINKLES COMPANY

3303 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota; 941225-3994; ScoopsandSprinkles.com

Berry Much in Love: The strawberries and cream ice cream is a delightful treat that captures the essence of summer as a kid — no matter what your age is. Crafted with real strawberries blended into creamy strawberry ice cream, this flavor offers a refreshing and indulgent experience. Served from their charming ice cream trailer, this treat is the perfect way to savor the season’s flavors. Whether you’re enjoying it in a freshly made waffle cone or a classic bowl, this berry break is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Let Me Take You Down Cause I’m Going To: Dairy-free darlings, don’t fret! Scoops & Sprinkles is serving up their Strawberry (dairyfree) creation, and it’s every bit as dreamy as the original. This plantbased scoop is light, luscious and totally lactose-free. It’s a celebration of summer fruit without the dairy fuss, perfect for those who want all the flavor and none of the compromise.

Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota will host an arts summit on May 21

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County will hold an arts summit on Wednesday, May 21, at the Sarasota Opera House.

“In a time of both uncertainty and possibility, this summit invites us to channel our shared commitment and reconnect with the creative pursuit that has always shaped our vibrant communities,” said Brian Hersh, CEO of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County in a statement.

The keynote speaker of the ticketed event, titled “Perspective. Practice. Place,” will be Deborah Rutter, the first female president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, who served from 2014-25.

During her career, Rutter has championed artistic voices and collaborated with such creative luminaries as Renée Fleming, Jason Moran, Yo-Yo Ma, Francesca Zambello and Q-Tip, among others.

“I so look forward to being with the many dynamic leaders who have made Sarasota County an artistic ‘mecca’ in its own right, and to the opportunity to share ideas, viewpoints and approaches to ensure that artists everywhere are able to thrive,” said Rutter in a statement.

“Through dynamic conversations with local and national leaders, we’ll explore how the arts transform challenge into beauty, strengthen our collective spirit, and continue to enrich everyday life here in Sarasota County,” Hersh said.

The summit will also include presentations by local arts leaders. Maria Schaedler-Luera, owner of Atomica Arts and co-executive director of Lifeline Productions, will look at how participating in art can spark connection.

Architecture Sarasota President Morris “Marty” Hylton III will speak about how design and architecture can help communities adapt to and manage change. Angelica Hull, director of grants and advocacy at the Arts and Cultural Alliance, will provide an in-depth look at arts funding, advocacy and the current cultural climate in Sarasota County. Following the summit from 1-4 p.m., an informal social hour will take place in the Opera House lobby from 4-5 p.m. Tickets for the event are $52. For information, visit SarasotaOpera.org.

FST’s ‘Jersey Boys’ moves from streetlights to spotlights

The character-driven musical tells the true-life story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

MARTY FUGATE

THEATER CRITIC

Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice’s “Jersey Boys” chronicles the roller-coaster ride of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Their switchback career had plenty of ups and downs, twists and turns, and a few brushes with the mob. While their songs are short and sweet, their story is long and messy. Here’s a short version: In the rosy dawn of the 1960s, Frankie Valli and three male vocalists from greater Newark put a New Jersey twist on doowop. The quartet rehearsed under streetlamps and went through a long list of band names — The Variatones, The Four Lovers and The Romans, to name a few. Thanks to a sign from above, they ultimately settled on “The Four Seasons.” (It was a bowling alley sign.)

Valli’s falsetto and the quartet’s tight harmonies would make for great AM radio. But it took a few hard years before local DJs finally gave their songs airplay. After that, the band climbed the national charts with hits like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man.”

This musical frames their success in the Darwinian context of escape from New Jersey. As one singer put it, “There were three ways out of the neighborhood: You join the Army and maybe get killed; you get mobbed up, maybe get killed that way — or you get famous. For us it was two out of three.”

While this musical’s songs are nostalgic ear candy, its story is gritty and realistic. Director/choreographer Ben Liebert unfolds that story like a series of char-

IF YOU GO

‘JERSEY BOYS.’

When: Through May 31

Where: FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St. Tickets: $49-$69. Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

acter-driven vignettes on “The Sopranos.”

The characters don’t have it easy. The music business is tough, but Valli and the rest are artists, not businessmen. Although they’re not indifferent to the bottom line, music is what drives them. But money makes their music play and they know it. (If record sales get them out of New Jersey, even better.)

Liebert deftly communicates their scrappy struggle. He also captures the Four Seasons’ choreography. (Based on a few YouTube clips, the four actors on stage move exactly like the originals.) In speech, song and dance, they’re all seasoned performers.

Tommy DeVito (Corey Greenan) is the volatile mastermind behind the band. He’s a charismatic bad boy — charming, impulsive and reckless. That said, he’s utterly devoted to the quartet. When the Four Seasons struggles through the lean years, he goes to a loan shark to keep the band together.

Nick Massi (Andrew Mauney) is the Ringo of the group — the odd man out. He’s a brooding, insanely talented musical arranger and vocal coach. Mauney plays him as a poker-faced perfectionist who just wants to get the harmonies right. He puts his ego on the side — and often gets sidelined by the flashy egos of Frankie and Tommy.

Bob Gaudio (Landon Zwick) is introspective and philosophical. He’s a musical prodigy who got his first hit at age 15 — the cheeky “Short Shorts.” At age 18, he quotes T.S. Elliot and Jean-Jacques Rousseau in casual

Florida Studio Theatre’s “Jersey Boys” runs through May 31 at FST’s Gompertz Theatre.

conversation. Zwick’s characterization is calmly professional. His centered personality is in stark contrast to his volatile bandmates.

Matt Beary’s portrayal of Frankie Valli distills the evolution of a shy, ambitious teenager into a resilient, world-class performer. Valli’s a standup guy — and utterly loyal to his bandmates. Tommy’s in debt to the mob for $150,000? Valli shoulders the debts. Bob wants to exit the spotlight and focus on songwriting? Valli honors his request.

THE QUEST FOR STARDOM

TAKES ITS TOLL

Beary also evokes the steep personal cost of fame. The scene where he finds out about his daughter’s overdose death is heartbreaking. Aside from the quartet, the supporting cast portrays a range of colorful characters. Standouts include the band’s lonely lovers, several heavy-hitting mobsters, a music industry puppet master and even actor Joe Pesci. Nathaniel Beliveau’s music direction never skips a beat. The same applies to his piano play-

ing. In this show, he’s got a ton of music to direct.

“Jersey Boys” features 32 songs, mainly hits by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Most are rehearsed, recorded or performed in the real world of the musical. If you’re sitting in the audience, it feels like an intimate rock concert.

It’s up close and personal, not stadium rock or Las Vegas. Four Seasons fans loved it — and were bobbing heads and snapping fingers to the left and right. The show serves up a heaping helping of boomer nostalgia. But there’s more than fan service on the plate.

In this outside-the-jukebox musical, the songs serve the story, not the other way around.

Brickman (a veteran Woody Allen screenwriter) and Elice deliver a solid script, with snappy, funny, believable dialogue. Their toughminded tale includes prison time, loan sharks, breaking-andentering, a death in the family and rock stars’ neglected families. But there’s a happy ending!

Isabel A. and Moriah CurleyClay’s set is a two-tier affair that

transforms to nightclubs, studios and alleys as the scene requires. It’s sprinkled with neon signs and backed by a Mondrian-like grid. It’s a perfect fit for 1960s art direction — and ideal for Thom Korp’s rear projections. Kathleen Geldard’s snazzy costumes are the height of fashion for pre-Beatlemania rock stars.

“Jersey Boys” doesn’t just showcase the Four Seasons’ music — it humanizes the men who created it. I expected a formulaic,greatest hits musical. What I got was a character-driven journey into fame, sacrifice and what it means to hold onto your roots while chasing the spotlight. Once the quartet finally caught it, they must’ve felt like the dog who’d caught the car. Was it worth the chase? To quote Frankie Valli:

“It was all great. But four guys under a streetlamp, when it was all still ahead of us ... the first time we made that sound — our sound — when everything dropped away and all there was, was the music — that was the best.”

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