'Dear Santa ...'

Dear Santa,

I’m pleased to say I’ve made it to the nice list this year.  Although______________________ .

Our students might beg to differ because I tend to be a bit of a harridan.
— Greg Leaming | Director, FSU/Asolo Conservatory

 

Michelle Pingel, our managing director, might beg to differ because no matter how hard I try, everything I say is a song lyric from a well-known Broadway Musical! — Jeffery Kin | Artistic Director, Players Theatre


Managing Director Linda DiGabriele might beg to differ because I hate starting work before 10 a.m.
— Michael Donald Edwards | Producing Artistic Director, Asolo Repertory Theatre

 

My wife, Dolly Jacobs, might beg to differ because I’m rarely home long enough to change the papers in the bottom of the bird cage. — Pedro Reis | Founder/CEO, The Circus Arts Conservatory
 

So far, this season has been ____________________ .

Stylish and photogenic due to our 'Icons of Style' exhibition — Steven High | Executive Director, The Ringling

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!! 
— Jeffery Kin | Artistic Director, Players Theatre

 

Challenging and hugely gratifying — Michael Donald Edwards | Producing Artistic Director, Asolo Repertory Theatre
 

Did you get to see ____________ ?

The Sunboxes and CUBEMUSIC exhibitions? CUBEMUSIC is still on display. It’s a unique sound and light art experience at the center. And, Sunboxes, which will return Jan. 1 through Jan. 3, was a huge draw for visitors who were surprised by the onsite installations on beaches and in the parks.
— Lisa Berger | Executive Director, Art Center Sarasota

“Purlie” our season opener? It was a total hit and received rave reviews. Dean Wilson and the talented cast worked well with director Jim Weaver to bring this slice of life story to the community, told through song, dance and humor. — Nate Jacobs | Founding Artistic Director, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe

The Philip and Nancy Kotler Glass collection (right) yet? It was one of the best-attended exhibition openings ever because it is the beginning of a new collecting focus for The Ringling.
— Steven High | Executive Director, The Ringling

If our organization could have anything this holiday season we would want__________________ .

All the funding to finish paying off the mortgage on our new theater complex with enough left over to do the planned renovations. But, in reality, we’d be happy if we could simply grow our donor list and have continued financial support from our already dedicated and passionate patrons.
— Nate Jacobs | Founding Artistic Director, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe

“Money, money, money,” but in reality we’d be happy if we could have “Just a tube of grease paint and a follow spot.” — Jeffery Kin | Artistic Director, Players

A sleigh full of silver dollars, gold coins and winning lottery tickets. But, in reality, we’d be happy if we could have full houses for every one of our productions.
— Pedro Reis | Founder/CEO, The Circus Arts Conservatory

A direct pipeline to Broadway productions for all of our grads. But, in reality, we’d be happy if we could have a donor willing to contribute enough money to help us upgrade our rapidly deteriorating lighting system in the Cook Theatre. — Greg Leaming | Director, FSU/Asolo Conservatory
 

If we got this, we’d promise to be really good next year! In fact, we’re planning this exceptionally good_______________________ .

Production. It is called “Hero,” a brand-new musical opening April 29.  It’s going to be really cool because it features a young creative team from Chicago. — Michael Donald Edwards | Producing Artistic Director, Asolo Repertory Theatre

Experience. It is our winter arts season “nowHERE.” It’s going to be really cool because it features something for everyone with 17 different performances by more than 100 living artists. — Steven High | Executive Director, The Ringling

Exhibit. It is the March exhibition cycle featuring a collaborative exhibition with Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee bringing to Sarasota a curated show of contemporary Israeli artists and also a collaboration with Goodwill Manasota and ThisWeekinSarasota.com called “MASHterpieces” involving repurposed donated artworks. It’s going to be really cool because both of these exhibits are so unique in content and have never been done before in Sarasota.
— Lisa Berger | Executive Director, Art Center Sarasota