March 10th, 2010
Dwight Currie, the Associate Director of Programming at the Ringling Museum, and Stanford Makishi, the Executive Director of the Baryshnikov Arts Center, spoke to a packed house of supporters and press at the Historic Asolo Theater to tell them about the upcoming productions of the 2010 Ringling International Arts Festival. The Festival, like last year, will feature performances by emerging artists from all over the world, but this year, it will have so much more. There will be four opening night performances, three world premieres, three pieces commissioned for the Ringling International Arts Festival, two US premieres and a dance performance by a very well known ballet dancer.
You can find out details on the performances and how to buy tickets at ringlingartsfestival.org.
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March 10th, 2010
Tonight at 7:30 p.m., The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and The Baryshnikov Arts Center will announce plans for the 2010 Ringling International Arts Festival from the stage of The Historic Asolo Theater. Stay tuned to hear about the impressive lineup of performers and artists from all over the world as well as information on how you can buy advance tickets for the performances.
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October 23rd, 2009
The inaugural Ringling International Arts Festival was a success—as deemed by all parties—the audience, the community, Festival organizers and the artists themselves– and is in no doubt a reflection of your patronage and support of arts and culture at the Museum and in Sarasota/Manatee Counties.
This success is even more poignant in the face of a poor economic climate. We are happy to share with you that 92% of the tickets were sold and 25 of the 36 performances were sold out and news outlets across the state, country and world took interest in the Festival and Sarasota/Manatee as an arts destination.
The energy and enthusiasm continues and we hope that you support the Museum and arts and culture in the upcoming 2009-2010 season. We’ve had many pleas to bring the Festival back in 2010, a full year earlier than planned. There is no decision on this matter but do let us know what you think.
On behalf of the Ringling International Arts Festival, the Ringling Museum and the Baryshnikov Arts Center, thank you for making this first Festival a sweeping success. We look forward to seeing you at the next Festival!
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October 11th, 2009
Meow Meow crowd surfing at the Ringling International Arts Festival
I have seen several seasons worth of productions at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts. I have seen musicals, trilogies, Shakespeare, farce and all sorts of other performances. I never thought, however, that I would one day see a stage dive. Last night, at the late-night performance of Beyond Glamour: The Absinthe Tour by Meow Meow, was a night of the unexpected.
She was characterized as a post post-modern showgirl, a talented singer who drags cabaret “kicking and screaming into the 21st Century” (Time Out New York). There was nothing that could be said about Meow Meow which could prepare Sarasota audiences for the performance. Using audience volunteers(or forced recruits) as bizarre stagehands, co-performers and props, the show was dynamite. The highlight was the stage dive that required everyone in center of the orchestra section to carry the singer from the stage to the back of the house and then back again. I imagine that there were quite a few pacemakers working overtime last night.
As for her singing, here is what Susan Rife had to say: “Meow Meow has a spectacular, smoky voice that wraps its way sinuously around cabaret standards…”
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October 10th, 2009
How is it that after 38 plays, the Bard of Avon could possibly find the time to write 154 sonnets as well? Maybe he just wrote them for fun. Either way, his sonnets have not received nearly the same amount of attention that his plays have received, but they are still just as well crafted and just as lyrical.
In Love Is My Sin, a theatrical reading of Shakespeare’s sonnets, the internationally acclaimed director Peter Brook weaves together a collection of sonnets loosely tied to themes such as jealousy, separation and death. Even though there is no plot or character development, the sonnets work like short scenes. The actors, Michael Pennington and Natasha Parry, recite the poems like musicians playing their instruments. Pennington is especially adept at performing the work with his delicious baritone voice.
I went home and pulled out my Works of William Shakespeare to reread the poems just to marvel at how quickly Shakespeare could deliver emotion and character in poems only three stanzas and one couplet long.
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October 9th, 2009
Actors perform a scene from Ella Hickson's Eight
Wow. I don’t think that I was ready for Ella Hickson’s Eight. It is hard to conceive that a collection of mostly unrelated monologues which explore class, war, racism, sexuality and power could so effectively rip out my heart, toss me around like a toy and leave me for dead. I loved it. Audience members get to choose 4 of the monologues ahead of time, so I can’t even promise the same experience, but I can assure you that the experience will be explosive.
Here is what Jay Handelman of the Herald Tribune’s blog 24Seven had to say about it: “And Thursday’s performance of “Eight” made me wish there was time to see all eight monologues…”
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October 9th, 2009
Thursday was a great day for dance at the Ringling International Arts Festival. All the performances were sold out and the performers received standing ovations from very enthusiastic crowds. And this is just the beginning of the festival.
Richard Storm of the Herald Tribune’s blog 24Seven had the following to say about María Pagés and Aszure Barton…
Compania María Pagés
“If all dance companies were as expert as that of Maria Pages, critics would have very little to do. In “Flamenco & Poetry,” the thoroughly astonishing program presented at the Ringling International Arts Festival on Thursday, Pages and her superb group of dancers and musicians from Spain displayed artistry and skill at a level seldom achieved, much less witnessed in performance.”
Aszure Barton
“As performed by young dancers at the peak of their powers, the various episodes of this sprawling work by Barton, while not obviously linear in their impact, were both sweetly appealing and breathtaking in their cumulative effect.
Here, too, production values were superb, including atmospheric lighting and the mix of wildly diverse music. It is hard to imagine how these two companies, even with the help of the FSU Center’s expert technical team, were able to bring these works to near perfection in such a brief period of residence.”
Call the box office at (941) 360-7399 or visit the festival website to get your tickets.
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October 8th, 2009
At the Ringling International Arts Festival you’ll never go hungry… for food or entertainment! There are three great choices for sumptuous food: The Festival Café Tent, Treviso and the Banyan Café. In addition to great food you’ll find performances, lectures and jazz to enjoy while you dine.
Great food and entertainment at the festival restaurants!
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October 8th, 2009
Fireworks over David at the opening of the Ringling International Arts Festival
Sarasota will never be the same. After 2 years of planning, the Ringling International Arts Festival held its opening ceremony in the lovely courtyard of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Performers, press, politicians and participants were in attendance to enjoy the delectable buffet and the Sarasota sunset.
Governor Charlie Crist helped kickoff the Festival as he addressed the attendees followed by a dramatic fireworks display of the statue of David. All of this grandeur, though, was slightly overshadowed by the presence of the world famous dancer and founder of the Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC), Mikhail Baryshnikov, who quietly strolled through the crowd. Everyone there knew that this Festival, with its wide array of internationally recognized artists and community support, would help propel Sarasota and The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art to great heights.
Although the Festival is almost sold out, there are still opportunities to experience some of the fantastic performances. In addition, make sure to check out the air conditioned Festival Café tent. The Café will feature performances by FSU students and lectures exploring the rich and complex world of the Festival artists.
In the evenings between the main events, music lovers can enjoy Festival Jazz Nights at the Treviso Restaurant until 10:30. Families can also enjoy the Asian Cultural Funfest on Saturday starting at 1:00 pm with dancers, yoga, drummers, games and art activities.
Delicious food will never be hard to find. Attendees can purchase a delicious bite right outside the Festival Café, which is open from 11 am to 7 pm, Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. If you prefer something more elaborate, you can try the Banyan Café for lunch or the Treviso Restaurant for lunch or dinner.
Don’t miss this incredible event. You’ll have to wait 2 years before you get another chance.
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October 3rd, 2009
An ideal Sunday (or Saturday morning at that) for me is a quiet, contemplative, lassiez-fare kind-of morning where breakfast is prepared by someone other than me, classical music fills the air and the day stretches before me like a blank canvas waiting to be transformed into a masterpiece. If you are like me, it’s been awhile since you’ve treated yourself to such an indulgent Sunday morning.
Join us at the Festival for a Sunday morning feast of live chamber music by one of the nation’s most promising composers, Mason Bates at 11:00 a.m. and then stroll over to the Museum’s Treviso Restaurant for a special brunch with mouth-watering goodies like ginger-vanilla brioche French toast topped with warm vermont maple syrup, fresh assorted berries and fruit, herb roasted chicken with hunter sauce and more.
And just as a little side note: Treviso welcomes a new chef with an impressive dossier just in time for the Festival. Jeffrey Trefry is shiny and new to Treviso but a polished hometown favorite. If you liked what you savored at St. Armands Key favorites the Cork and Cafe L’Europe then your destined to enjoy this brunch.
After brunch it is your last chance to take in Maria Pages, Ella Hickson’s Eight, Meow Meow and legendary stage director Peter Brook’s Love is my sin.
Hope you will join us!
Lynn Hobeck Bates
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