Scene & Heard

+ Zombies to invade SRQ
The Players Theatre and I have something in common — we both like zombies. “Zombie Town: A Documentary Play,” will kick off the Backstage Theatre series at The Players in October.

Playwright Tim Bauer’s comedy is about a small Texas town rampant with the walking dead and the San Francisco theater troupe that arrives on the scene to tell the townsfolks’ stories. This play recounts the terror using “exact quotes” of the townspeople.

Tuesday, Aug. 21 the cast (Christine Alexander, Chuck Conlon, Adam Garrison, David Tyler Murrell and Ren Pearson) turned into zombies as part of some pre-production promotion. Professional special-effects makeup artist Taylor Stephenson worked her magic for a shoot done by Mark Palmer, of Mars Vision Productions, based on “Dogs Playing Poker,” rather, zombies playing poker.

+ Deadline nearing for nominations
Each year, the Arts and Cultural Alliance awards the Arts Leadership Awards to recognize those who have made significant contributions to the arts and are actively engaged in the cultural life of Sarasota.

In 2011, Van Wezel Education Director Robert Warren, Superintendent of Sarasota County Schools Lori White, Sarasota Opera Artistic Director Victor DeRenzi and Managing Director of the Artist Series of Sarasota John Fischer were among those awarded.

The deadline to submit is Friday, Sept. 14. An application can be downloaded from sarasotaarts.org

+ Wedding bells have nice ring to them
I’m looking for a nice young man to marry (preferably one that looks like Brad Pitt and would give Donald Trump a run for his money). I figure it’s the opportune time considering The Sarasota Pops Orchestra is giving away $25,000-worth of wedding goods.

Stephanie Dubsky will take the photos; Beneva Flowers will provide bouquets; Sweets Bakehouse will create the cake; Sacino’s Formal Wear will dress the men; Town & Country Limo will escort us to the wedding-night stay at Helmsley Sandcastle; Sarasota Dream Weddings will administer the vows; Euduz Hair Salon and Cutting Loose Salon will provide the hairstyling; Visions Unlimited Video Productions will record the footage; Lakewood Ranch Dental will whiten our teeth; Kreations by Kathleen will make sure the wedding gown fits and Sarasota Pops Orchestra will play our music!

For its season theme, “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue,” the Sarasota Pops Orchestra is giving all of this away to a lucky couple that is newly engaged or hoping to renew their vows. Apply at sarasotapops.org. Four couples will be chosen from the applicants. And even if you don’t win the grand prize, the Pops Orchestra will present the four couples at one of its concerts and play their song (with a few other bonuses). There is an Oct. 1 deadline, so if you see Brad Pitt, tell him I’m looking for him.

HOT TICKETS
'Once in a Blue Moon’: Art Center Sarasota and The Closet will present this four-band concert at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, at Darwin’s on 4th, 1525 Fourth St., and it’s only $5. Two local bands, Physical Plant, folk-inspired neo-psychedelic; and the Equines, a tropical-pop outfit will be joined with two other out-of-state bands, Sparta Philharmonic and Not A Planet.

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