As the manager of ticket sales for the festival, I must say that the public response to the marketing launch of the first Ringling International Arts Festival has been overwhelmingly positive.
Within 24 hours of the brochure mailing, orders were being received at the Historic Asolo Theater box office, and – as of this writing – we are well ahead of our sales projections for Festival Packages. Enthusiastic ticket buyers are embracing the entire line-up of core stage programs – many opting to attend performances by all eight of our productions. Single ticket sales begin May 15 – and should we continue to enjoy brisk box office activity, we may very likely see some Festival performances sold out before the summer’s end.
Additionally, the phone calls and emails coming to my office – many from our community’s more discerning patrons of the performing arts – are unabashedly enthusiastic. This came in from one woman in Sarasota with a long and distinguished career in professional theater: “I am blown away by what all is being offered.”
Finally, great support is being garnered from area convention and tourist bureaus, local chambers of commerce, transportation authorities, the hospitality industry, as well as city, county, and state officials. Sarasota and Manatee Counties are getting ready to roll out red carpets all along Florida’s southwest gulf coast. And it looks like there will be quite a crowd gathering on those runways to attend what promises to be a most auspicious launch of a wonderful new celebration of the arts in Florida.
Dwight Currie
Dwight Currie is the Associate Director for Museum Programs at the Ringling Museum.
