Sneak peak at new ArtCenter Manatee cookbook

ArtCenter Manatee is launching a new cookbook with its upcoming art show "Art a la Carte." The book features art and recipes by art center members and friends. Read my colunm about it in the Bradenton Herald's A&E section Sunday. In the meantime, enjoy these works of art from the book! -January Holmes


Jerome Chesley's "Doughnuts"


Jean Morey's "Still life with Blue Plate"



Ruthy Hyatt's "New Leeks"


Terry Denson's "Italian Gold"


Joanna Coke's "Bananas and Mangoes"


Maryjo Floryjanski's "Pineapple"

REVIEW "Curtains"

Manatee Players' latest musical, "Curtains," has some endearing performers that make the comedy twinkle. But even with dazzling moments of stage revelry, there are times when the show loses luster.

"Curtains,” directed and choreographed by Rick Kerby, takes audiences to the Colonial Theater in Boston, during the premiere of a bound-for-Broadway musical called “Robbin’ Hood!” The new country western musical is run into the ground by its lead actress Jessica Cranshaw (Trina Rizzo). As she proudly takes her curtain call at the end of “Robbin’ Hood!” She gets sick and later dies — to the acting troupe’s joy.

But her death is ruled a homicide. Enter Lieutenant Frank Cloffi (Steve Dawson), who puts the entire theater company under suspicion. His love for community theater and blossoming affection for company actress Niki Harris (Dianne Dawson) sometimes gets in the way of his investigation.

“Curtains” wins favor with its catchy lyrics and witty dialogue, which are employed particularly well by Manatee Players newcomer Nancy Denton, who plays the brash producer Carmen Bernstein, and Rodd Dyer, who plays the prim-and-proper director Christopher Belling. . . .

Read the rest of my review in Saturday's paper on page 2A

Bands gather in New Port Richey Feb. 28

Remember our local metal band, The Stand? I received an email from band member Chaz McKell about their recent success playing the State Theatre. They were offered the opportunity to perform in the venue again for a show with Saliva in May.

Chaz also dropped a note about a Feb. 28 concert at New Port Richey's Bourbon Street Night Club featuring local band The D.O.O.D. (Distinguished Order Of
Disobedience) and other area musicians. He wanted me to share this:

Coming up on Sunday, February 28th is another show music lovers in the Tampa Bay
area cannot miss out on. The Sammus Theory will be gracing the people of New Port Richey at Bourbon Street when they play host to a long list of amazing local bands you all should have at least heard of: The DooD, From This Fire, Nine Mile Drive and Meet Me Overboard.

For those who are not familiar with The D.O.O.D., please stop and take a listen. (www.myspace.com/jointhedood)
This is one of the hottest bands in the Tampa Bay Area and arguably, the most popular band of the Bradenton/Sarasota area. The Distinguished Order Of Disobedience has been melting faces and turning heads since 2006. Since the release of their latest EP, The Dood has been playing all over Florida promoting it. They have had the opportunity to play with such bands as Neurotica, Crossbreed and Cold so they are no strangers to the stage. Now, they are about
to add The Sammus Theory to their already impressive resume.

Also providing backup to The Sammus Theory on February 28th will be the skyrocketing
band, From This Fire (www.fromthisfire.com), who just last night topped the charts on the worldwide radio program Rock Solid Pressure with their song 'When All Is Said and Done'. These guys are one of the most popular bands in the Clearwater area and judging from the voting last night on the RSP show, their fan base is exploding fast and furiously.

Also check out the other local bands who will be playing, I have not personally seen them perform but their music is great. This is undoubtedly the "can't miss" event of the month.

The event is at 4331 US Hwy 19 in New Port Richey. Tickets are $10. The doors open at 8 p.m. the bands start at 9 p.m. Please support our hard-working local musicians as they entertain the masses.

-January Holmes

Local audition call

The Players Theatre in Sarasota is looking for talented teenagers for its upcoming run of "The Who's Tommy." Hopefuls can audition at the theater from 3-5 p.m. Feb. 27. Call 365-2494 to RSVP. Come prepared with a one-minute song and dance.

If chosen, rehearsal will begin March 8. Performances are April 22-May 2. The theater is at 838 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

Energy and fun surround "Lend Me A Tenor"

I missed the opening show of the Players Theatre's "Lend Me A Tenor" last week because I was ill. Then a busy weekend out of town kept me away from the theater. So I made arrangements to see Tuesday's show.

I was surprised at the turnout for a weekend night performance. It was one of the largest crowds I had seen in a while at the theater, which usually pulls fairly good crowd numbers. Last night's crowd was more than I expected, though.

After the show began, I could see why attendance was high. "Lend Me A Tenor,"directed by Roberta MacDonald, is a marvelous comic production. There's never a dull moment as the energy remains high from beginning to end.

"Lend Me A Tenor" is set in a snazzy hotel room where Cleveland Grand Opera company general manager Saunders (Bob Trisolini) and his geeky assistant Max (Jeffery Kin) eagerly await their superstar guest Tito Merelli - the world famous opera singer. Through a series of off-the-wall events, Tito passes out before his all-star performance of "Otello." No, that's not a misprint. There really is an opera called "Otello." It's the opera version of Shakespeare's play "Othello." With Tito out of commission, Max goes on stage in his place, pretending to be him. The fun really begins after the opera is over, when Tito, not knowing Max and Saunders' plan, walks around in a hilarious daze of confusion.

The cast members are a delight to watch in this show - everyone from the bellhop (Toph McRae) to the glittering Julia (Patti O'Berg). It was especially grand to watch Tito (Berry Ayers) and his wife Maria (Kaylene McCaw) converse on the stage with their comic appeal and Italian accents. Kin played the nervous, underconfident Max to a T while Trisolini had a great command of the stage as the no-nonsense Saunders. Rounding out the cast was Lilian Moore, who plays the saucy soprano and Andrea Kinal who plays Max's girlfriend. Together, they bring a quirky element to the play.

Audiences will thoroughly enjoy "Lend Me a Tenor," as well as the exetremly entertaining surprise at the end, too. It's worth seeing.

- January Holmes

Sale-A-Bration @ Island Art League

Make you way to Anna Maria Island Art League from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday for the Demo/Sale-A-Bration event. Activities include three one-hour demos by local artist and Anna Maria Island Art League instructors Nancy Law, Cheryl Jorgensen and Marie Garafano.

Law will demo painting florals with acrylics at 1 p.m., Jorgensen will demo painting coconuts at 2 p.m. and Garafano will demo creating with collage art. Also, Frank Perry and Natasha Joffers of Keeton's Office and Art Supply will present other demos, samples and show specials. There will also be a drawing and the first 75 guests will receive a free gift. No RSVP needed.

The art league is at 5312 Holmes Blvd., Anna Maria. For more info, call 778-2099.

Know that song "Livin' On A Prayer"?

Okay Bon Jovi fans, here's your chance to step into the lime-light. Bon Jovi and his band recently announced that they are seeking fans from around the world to highlight during their "The Circle" tour, which hits Tampa April 17.

All you have to do is upload a video of you performing the band's 1986 hit "Livin' On A Prayer." The best of the bunch will be featured on the giant screens as the band performs the song during each of their 135 shows in 30 countries. As a bonus, the video winner in each city will also get a deluxe prize package with a VIP bag filled with souvenirs.

To learn more about the contest, visit http://prayer.bonjovi.com.

- January Holmes