Scene & Heard

+ We aren’t in Kansas anymore
Somewhere over the rainbow at the Ramada Waterfront Monday, Oct. 15, a mature audience enjoyed a Scarecrow in cutoff denim shorts and Tin-Man in metallic tighty-whities.

Word traveled faster than a flying monkey about “Prelude to Pride: A Wizard of Oz,” the off-kilter, hilarious staged reading benefiting Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project. It’s a group with a mission to raise awareness, provide assistance and perpetuate a life of dignity for those affected by HIV and AIDS.

Two of the three performances sold out, so the cast opted for another run. The money goes toward an organization that directly helps people with AIDS via Trinity Charities HIV/AIDS programs. Like “Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project” on Facebook for more information and future events.

+ String of news
The Sarasota Orchestra Association kicked off its season Oct. 3, to introduce its new and current members to the 2012-2013 season. There are 300 members of the Sarasota Orchestra Association, to find out how to become a member or to learn more visit soassociation.org.

In other Sarasota Orchestra news, it has added a family show to the season, “A Musical Journey Featuring Peter and the Wolf.” It takes place at 2 and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, at Holley Hall.

+ He’s back and I’m not pulling your Leg-o
It was national news when a larger-than-life, 8-foot-tall Legoman “washed up” on Siesta Key Beach Oct. 25, 2011. What was this 100-pound fiberglass yellow man with a green shirt saying “No Real Than You Are?”
It was only a few days later that the mystery was solved: “Ego Leonard” was is the Legoman’s name. It was discovered that he was linked to Dutch artist Leon Keer in conjunction with the Sarasota Chalk Festival. Keer was responsible for the terracotta army of Legomen.

This time, it won’t be as much of a mystery. Ego Leonard is returning to Sarasota for this year’s Chalk Festival, and he’s coming all the way from Los Angeles. He has a particular interest in attending the Children’s Chalk Block Nov. 3 and Nov. 4. He will otherwise be hanging out at CLOTHESLINE Gallery during the festival where he will have some of his paintings on exhibit.

Hopefully this year, Leonard won’t stir up enough trouble to get taken to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.

+ Timely announcement
The Art of Our Time initiative at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art launched in 2009 to showcase contemporary visual and performing art. Oct. 13, the 2012-13 season was announced. We’re talking 100 stage performances and 40 film screenings, all supported by a $50,000 grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

I’m really looking forward to the special exhibitions including the journalistic-photo exhibition, “The Warren J. and Margot Coville Photography Collection,” and especially the beautiful fashion photography from “Herb Ritts: L.A. Style.” But there are supposed to be some pretty spectacular music-and-dance performances as part of the Narrative in Motion series, as well. Such as Berlin’s gravity-defying LEO in February. You’ll have to stay tuned to YourObserver.com or visit ringling.org.

+ Took a Midnight Train to GEORGIA
Local blues-rock group with a whole lotta soul, Kettle of Fish, is set to headline the Georgia Allman Brothers Band Association festival (GABBA) the last week of October, in Macon, Ga. The band’s ties to the Allman Brothers are through Berry Duane Oakley, son of the late Allman Brothers bassist, Berry Oakley. The Georgia festival typically draws national acts, so it can only suggest that our Gulf Coast fish are becoming the big fish in the sea.

Hot Ticket
‘Sleepy Hollow: A Musical Ghost Story’: What better way to get into the Halloween spirit than with “Sleepy Hollow: A Musical Ghost Story,” which takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18 and runs through Oct. 20, at Booker High School Theater, 3201 N. Orange Ave. Tickets cost $5 for students, $15 for adults and $10 for seniors. Visit vpabooker.com or call 355-2967, Ext. 65032 for more information.

‘Let’s Twist Again: with the Wanderers’: This show opens with a doo-wopping bang Wednesday, Oct. 17 and runs through Jan. 13 in Florida Studio Theatre’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1241 N. Palm Ave. Tickets are $19 to $36. Call 366-9000 for more information.