A&E Picks and Highlights

On display: May 2 through May 31 in “Expressions of Spring,” at Dabbert Gallery, 76 S. Palm Ave.

Medium and size: Oil on canvas. 35 inches by 25 inches

Inspiration: “Besides the fact that I’ve always admired dancers for the work they put in their art, two years ago I had a Kennedy center fellowship to draw and photograph dancers in Washington, D.C. That particular painting is from one of the drawings I did then. It was from the dance tryouts for the New York State ballet that were held at Skidmore College. I liked the posture, even though she’s much more relaxed — there’s still the grace and strength great dancers have. She’s a young person very much engaged in her upcoming trial, so she just sort of captured my attention and I was fortunate enough to work from her.”

Role: Playing Captain Blifil, Blifil and Susan in “Tom Jones” running through June 1, at Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave.

Where are you from? New York City

What’s your earliest memory acting? Performing in the church Christmas program.

If you could work any profession other than this, what would it be? I’d love to eventually teach or coach acting in order to continue sharing my love for this art form.

If you had to condense the plot of “Tom Jones” to three sentences, what would your synopsis be? Boy meets girl. Universe seemingly conspires against them. Will they end up with their true love?

Describe your character (the nemesis of Tom Jones) in three words: Manipulative, spoiled, intense

What’s your favorite line from the production? “If you’re still hungry, there are more melons.”

The plot involves Squire Allworthy adopting a servant’s illegitimate son (Tom Jones) and raising him as his own. If you could have anyone adopt you as his son, who would it be and why? Playwright Mark Brown. I want to be in all of his plays.

Why should people come see the world premiere of this production? It’s an epic theatric tale that invites the audience to think, feel and, most importantly, laugh!

A&E Editor’s Picks

Thursday, May 1
Sir Frederick Ashton Festival
Sarasota Ballet
At Historic Asolo Theater and Sarasota Opera House
Runs through May 3.
Call 359-0099, Ext. 101.

Art After 5
5 p.m. at The Ringling
Tickets $10. Call 359-5700.

Base/Flight Partnering Technique Intensive for Modern Dance with Tampa Bay artists Erin Cardinal and Brian Dean Fidalgo
Fuzión Dance Artists
6 p.m. at New College of Florida Fitness Center. Tickets $25, $10 observation. Call 345-5755.

nowHERE Gallery Performance: Bora Yoon and R. Luke DuBois
6:30 p.m. at The Ringling
Tickets $10. Call 359-5700.

‘Annie Get Your Gun’
7 p.m. at Booker VPA
Runs through May 3.
Tickets $5 to $15. Call 355-2967.

Gershwin’s ‘My One and Only’
Manatee Players
7:30 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center
Runs through May 18.
Tickets $27 to $37. Call 748-5875.

‘Hero: The Musical’ (Preview)
7:30 p.m. at Asolo Repertory Theatre. Runs through May 31.
Tickets $21 to $76. Call 351-8000.

‘The Elephant Man’
8 p.m. at Venice Theatre
Runs through May 11.
Tickets $10 to $28. Call 488-1115.

Ninth Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival
Theatre Odyssey
At Asolo Repertory Theatre
Runs through May 4.
Tickets $18. Call 799-7224.

Friday, May 2
The Craft of Poetry
10 a.m. at Florida Studio Theatre
Tickets $15. Call 365-7900.

Mark Doty and Kevin Young live on stage
7:30 p.m. at Florida Studio Theatre
Tickets $15. Call 365-7900.

Saturday, May 3
Young Voices Poetry Reading
10 a.m. at Florida Studio Theatre
Tickets $15. Call 365-7900.

Above and Beyond Luncheon
Noon at Florida Studio Theatre
Tickets $35. Call 365-7900.

Community Favorite Poem Reading
3 p.m. at Florida Studio Theatre
Tickets $15. Call 365-7900.

Sunday, May 4
Flute and Harp Duo: Cheryl Losey and Betsy Traba
4 p.m. at First United Methodist Church
Call 747-4406.

Musica Sacra Cantorum
4 p.m. at St. Boniface Episcopal Church
Tickets $20 to $25.
Call 405-7322.

Monday, May 5
Monday Night Movie: ‘42’
7 p.m. at Historic Asolo Theater
Tickets $7. Call 359-5700.

Tuesday, May 6
Guided Art and Backstage Tours
Fine Arts Society of Sarasota and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
10 a.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Tickets $5. Call 953-3368.