Scene & Heard

+ Sarasota High grad finds success after ‘Rubicon’
Good news and bad news for Dallas Roberts, son of Rev. Don Roberts, longtime CEO of Goodwill Industries Manasota.

Last year, the 41-year-old Sarasota High School graduate landed a starring role on the new AMC drama “Rubicon.”

However, after 13 episodes the network decided not to renew the show for another season this year.
The good news: In the meantime, Roberts has appeared in three guest spots on the Golden Globe-winning series, “The Good Wife.” His most recent episode aired last Tuesday.

Even better news: The actor is currently in Vancouver, Canada, filming “The Grey” with Liam Neeson. The film, which has a 2012 release date, is about an oil-drilling team that struggles to survive after a plane crash strands them in Alaska.

In a phone interview with The Observer last fall, Roberts said, “I’ve been extraordinarily fortune, and I’ve done extraordinarily well, but I haven’t achieved it yet.”

Given the actor’s latest burst of projects, we think “it” is around the corner. Check out the Feb. 25 issue of Entertainment Weekly. Roberts is pictured with Neeson on “The Grey” set.

+ Oceanic art-lovers get up close with Wyland
Marine life artist and activist Wyland made a pit stop last month at his St. Armands Circle gallery to unveil his latest work and to discuss his foundation’s ongoing environmental projects.

According to gallery staffers, the artist only visits the location about once a year, sending legions of collectors into a Wyland frenzy.

On this particular two-day visit, he completed a handful of original works, which were later auctioned off to patrons.

Safari art-lovers might be pleased to hear that Wyland, whose work hangs in dozens of galleries across the United States, recently surfaced from his underwater sea world to depict land animals such as elephants and giraffes, which proves that in tough economic times you’ve got to expand your product.

+ WBTT rings in our latest issue of SEASON
If you haven’t already feasted your eyes on the spring issue of SEASON Magazine, reach for it now.
Doesn’t The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe look good in glossy?

We devoted the cover of our latest issue to WBTT for three obvious reasons. 1: The company’s new downtown studio is swank. 2: Its shows continually sell out. 3: We knew its performers would look glam —with or without professional stylists.

For the first time since we started organizing these cover shoots, we asked the models to style themselves in costumes pulled from their own dressing rooms.

The troupe looked so good, we almost let WBTT crooner Leon Pitts’ 1-year-old daughter Zoriah (pictured here with photographer Barbara Banks) snap the photo. Unfortunately, her pacifier got in the way.

+ Chamber music fans raise funds for class acts
Board members, performers and patrons of Gloria Musicae and Artist Series of Sarasota came together Feb. 19, for a cabaret-style concert to raise funds for their respective organizations.

The event, which included wine, appetizers, classical music and a silent auction, raised about $8,000 for both nonprofits. The money will be split between the Artist Series’ scholarship fund and Gloria Musicae’s apprentice program.

Congrats to Gloria Musicae board member Irwin Jones and Barbara Driscol, who went home with tickets to hop aboard Sarasota’s LeBarge Tropical Cruise.

Let the dolphin sightseeing begin.

HOT TICKETS
Sarasota Ballet’s ‘Out of Denmark’: Sarasota Ballet will perform a new version of “Out of Denmark” March 4 through March 6, at the FSU Performing Arts Center. Royal Ballet dance star Johan Kobborg and Sarasota Ballet Director Iain Webb originally produced the program in London at Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Now Sarasotans have a chance to catch it stateside. For tickets, call 359-0099 or visit www.sarasotaballet.org.