Scene & Heard

+ Castaway to Belgium
Jorge Blanco graces The Observer papers with his weekly clever comic, The Castaway, and he is exhibiting a solo show in August, in Knokke-Heist, Belgium. He’s not just great at the half-moon faced ink humor we know and love him for, he’s also a sculptor, graphic designer and illustrator, too.

The show will take place Aug. 11 to Aug. 19, during Art Nocurne Knokke, an art and antiques fair. For more information about Blanco, visit jorgeblancosculpture.com; to learn more about Art Nocturne visit artnocturneknocke.be/info.php.

+ Students become the masters
The Summer Intensive program at Sarasota Ballet School is full of talent. The young dancers, from ages 9 to pre-professional, auditioned to participate in the four-week program.

I had the fortune of sitting in on the dancers’ rehearsal early last week. Their talent was impressive, and their intense passion for dancing was evident.

They will end the program with a free Summer Showcase performance that starts at noon Aug. 4, at the FSU Center for Performing Arts, 5555 Tamiami Trail.

+ A midsummer’s news
The Sarasota Opera is the first fine-arts group in the area to unveil a mobile application. It’s a quick guide to events and buzz happening around the opera house. It launched with a celebratory party Tuesday, July 31.
One recent app reminder: Single tickets for the 2012-2013 festival season became available online Wednesday, Aug. 1. These can be purchased at sarasotaopera.org.

HOT TICKET
‘Stay’: A woman convinces her husband he is blind to keep him from leaving in The Players’ summer sizzler, “Stay.” This brand-new play, written by Sheila Cowley, was the 2011 Players New Play Festival winner. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9, at The Players Theatre, 838 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. It runs through Aug. 11. Tickets are $15. Visit theplayers.org for more information.