Jonathan and Nicole Luciana-Epperson enjoy the thrill of the kitchen.
The Sarasota residents' kitchen affairs has made them one of 10 semifinalist in America's Hottest Culinary Couple, sponsored by Pyrex. They are vying for a $10,000 cash prize and $500 worth of Pyrex products that will fulfill their every cooking and baking desire. They will also get to star in an online cooking video series.
But the couple needs your vote. Jonathan and Nicole's entry video is featured with the other semifinalists. Pyrex is looking for you to pick the couple who has the best presentation, entertainment value, cooking knowledge, compatibility in the kitchen, originality and creativity.
The local couple has some fierce competition, though. Visit http://www.americashottestculinarycouple.com/index.asp?pageId=14&vId=10 to vote for the best one. If they land in the top two spots, the couple will fly to New York to compete in the "Culinary Challenge" in mid-September.
Exciting, hu?
Voting is through Friday. Best of luck to our local couple!
- January Holmes
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
It's not "hot" enough
If you would like to see it keep rising, contact Janene Witham, capital development director at 749-1111 for details on how you can help.
- January Holmes
Monday, August 30, 2010
"Got A Minute?" entertaining play benefit
It was sorta like "Saturday Night Live," with each skit running only a minute long.
That was the atmosphere on stage during the fifth anniversary of "Got A Minute?" - the 60-second play festival at the Players Theatre this past weekend. The event raised funds for cancer research, featuring a silent auction, drawings for great prizes and an assortment of plays.
Though I've previewed the event on and off during the past few years, I have never had the opportunity to attend it. When artistic director Jeff Kin said "January, you gotta come" - as he tells me every year, I decided to finally take him up on it.
The play festival featured a variety of plays - each a minute long - submitted from around the globe. For the fifth anniversary, the best plays from the past four years were presented along with new ones for this year's event. Some focused on cancer, others were comic situations, songs and dance. Then were some featuring bathroom humor - one of favorites being the two guys in the stalls chatting. One guy kept asking strange questions that the guy in the stall next to him would answer until things got too personal. Come to find out the man was actually talking to someone on his cell phone. It was such a funny, true-to-life-moment.
A poignant 60-second play that stuck out to me was the skit with a grandma and her teenage granddaughter in the waiting room of the hospital. The granddaughter tells her grandmother she needs to stay strong during the battle with cancer. Then a nurse comes out to the patient. We find out that it's the girl who has cancer.
The event was made successful by a lively and entertaining volunteer cast - a cast who even waded through a few cheesy skits. If you missed it this year, make plans to attend what Kin says will be a newly revamped "Got A Minute?" format. That means audiences will be in for lots more fun.
- January Holmes
That was the atmosphere on stage during the fifth anniversary of "Got A Minute?" - the 60-second play festival at the Players Theatre this past weekend. The event raised funds for cancer research, featuring a silent auction, drawings for great prizes and an assortment of plays.
Though I've previewed the event on and off during the past few years, I have never had the opportunity to attend it. When artistic director Jeff Kin said "January, you gotta come" - as he tells me every year, I decided to finally take him up on it.
The play festival featured a variety of plays - each a minute long - submitted from around the globe. For the fifth anniversary, the best plays from the past four years were presented along with new ones for this year's event. Some focused on cancer, others were comic situations, songs and dance. Then were some featuring bathroom humor - one of favorites being the two guys in the stalls chatting. One guy kept asking strange questions that the guy in the stall next to him would answer until things got too personal. Come to find out the man was actually talking to someone on his cell phone. It was such a funny, true-to-life-moment.
A poignant 60-second play that stuck out to me was the skit with a grandma and her teenage granddaughter in the waiting room of the hospital. The granddaughter tells her grandmother she needs to stay strong during the battle with cancer. Then a nurse comes out to the patient. We find out that it's the girl who has cancer.
The event was made successful by a lively and entertaining volunteer cast - a cast who even waded through a few cheesy skits. If you missed it this year, make plans to attend what Kin says will be a newly revamped "Got A Minute?" format. That means audiences will be in for lots more fun.
- January Holmes
Friday, August 27, 2010
See the stars on Broadway this fall with Asolo Rep
Last season’s trip featured a private meet and greet with Tony-Award winning Hugh Jackman after his performance in 'A Steady Rain.' Pictured: Hugh Jackman with Asolo Rep Adventures tour guests.
Asolo Rep Adventures travel group will hit the road, venturing to New York City in November for a four-night getaway for the sights and sounds of Broadway. This fall's adventure includes tickets to Broadway's "La Bete" with David Hyde Pierce, three other plays and other special tours and perks.
“It’s a great way to meet other theatre lovers and make new friends while also helping to support Asolo Rep programs, said Asolo Rep Board of Directors President and Asolo Rep Adventures tour leader Susan Buck
Tickets are limited and subject to availability, as many of the shows scheduled in the tour close in January 2011; early reservations are highly recommended.
More about the tour: From Nov. 10–14, includes tickets to four plays, select meal service and accommodations. See Al Pacino in The Merchant of Venice as he reprises his celebrated role of Shylock. Experience intertwining lives, relationships and 48 tumultuous hours of love, confusion and passion with Patti LuPone in the new musical version of Pedro Almovar’s Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Laugh at David Hyde Pierce as a struggling classical actor in the contemporary and satirical La Bête. Be one of the first to see the acclaimed London production The Pitmen Painters, written by Tony Award-winner Lee Hall who wrote the book and lyrics for Billy Elliot The Musical. This new play, which won the 2008 Evening Standard Award for Best Play and features the original London cast, is based on the true story of a group of miners who become artists. Travelers may also choose the option of seeing the Radio City Yuletide Spectacular with the world-famous Rockettes.
Accommodations/Meals: Four nights at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in the heart of Times Square and within walking distance to Broadway theatres and Fifth Avenue shopping. Daily continental breakfast, and wine and hors d’oeuvres in the Tower’s private lounge (three evenings) gives Asolo Rep’s guests the opportunity to meet and mingle.
Special Events/Tours: A behind-the-scenes tour of the Lincoln Center followed by lunch at Lincoln, an elegant glass-enclosed pavilion overlooking the reflecting pool and Henry Moore sculpture; and a special private wine and cheese reception.
Information and pricing: Patricia at Patricia_Horne@asolo.org or 941-351-9010 ext. 4708
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Sarasota film office launches TV idea contest
Got an idea for a TV show? The Sarasota County Film and Entertainment Office wants to know. It has developed a new contest called "TV Me!" to seek out fresh ideas for television.
Grand prize for the contest: A trip to LA to pitch your idea to industry professionals.
“There is no other contest quite like this,” said Jeanne Corcoran, director of the SCFEO. “Unlike ordinary competitions that require full-length scripts for television, screenplays for movies, or manuscripts for novels, our competition accepts only short (five-to-15-page) ‘pitches’ of a concept for television programming. It’s like a fast and forceful ‘elevator pitch’ where you give the most powerful and concise summary possible.”
Concepts with a Florida-based twist get extra points in the contest, but storylines can venture far beyond the community. The contest is open to U.S. citizens ages 18 and up. Additional prizes will be given for other noteworthy concepts. Look for my story on this in the coming days via the Bradenton Herald.
In the meantime, here's what you need to know about the contest:
Individuals as well as creative teams may compete for awards and prizes in three categories:
• scripted series (from comedy to drama, animated to children’s programs, science fiction to hybrids and other genres of recurring and/or series television),
• unscripted/partially scripted (reality programs, game shows, demonstration/training programs such as cooking, crafts, skills, documentary, interview and investigative programs, etc.), and
• one-offs (single standalone programs such as an award or sporting event, a movie-of-the-week, a special televised gala, benefit, tribute, fundraiser, concert, staged performance, etc.).
Contestants will pay for entries via an online form and then submit concepts via email. No hard copies of submissions will be accepted. Entry fees range from $15 to $30 per concept, depending on date of submittal. Information: http://www.filmsarasota.com/.
- January Holmes
Grand prize for the contest: A trip to LA to pitch your idea to industry professionals.
“There is no other contest quite like this,” said Jeanne Corcoran, director of the SCFEO. “Unlike ordinary competitions that require full-length scripts for television, screenplays for movies, or manuscripts for novels, our competition accepts only short (five-to-15-page) ‘pitches’ of a concept for television programming. It’s like a fast and forceful ‘elevator pitch’ where you give the most powerful and concise summary possible.”
Concepts with a Florida-based twist get extra points in the contest, but storylines can venture far beyond the community. The contest is open to U.S. citizens ages 18 and up. Additional prizes will be given for other noteworthy concepts. Look for my story on this in the coming days via the Bradenton Herald.
In the meantime, here's what you need to know about the contest:
Individuals as well as creative teams may compete for awards and prizes in three categories:
• scripted series (from comedy to drama, animated to children’s programs, science fiction to hybrids and other genres of recurring and/or series television),
• unscripted/partially scripted (reality programs, game shows, demonstration/training programs such as cooking, crafts, skills, documentary, interview and investigative programs, etc.), and
• one-offs (single standalone programs such as an award or sporting event, a movie-of-the-week, a special televised gala, benefit, tribute, fundraiser, concert, staged performance, etc.).
Contestants will pay for entries via an online form and then submit concepts via email. No hard copies of submissions will be accepted. Entry fees range from $15 to $30 per concept, depending on date of submittal. Information: http://www.filmsarasota.com/.
- January Holmes
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Get paid to sing!
Sarasota's vocal chamber ensemble, known as Gloria Musicae, will hold its annual auditions Saturday through Monday. The auditions are for paid singing positions for classically trained sopranos, altos, tenors and bases.
Contact Gloria Musicae executive director Steven Falk at 706-2459 or email GloriaMusicae@StevenFalk.com to set up an appointment or get more info.
Here's what you need to know about the audition:
Singers should be prepared to sing two works in two different languages, sight-read and perform vocal exercises, and are asked to bring or email an updated music bio that includes works performed in recent years.
Singers wishing to audition for these paid singing positions (singers are paid for both rehearsals and performances) should possess good voices, good reading ability, and a strong interest in participating enthusiastically. Rehearsals are held throughout the season on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Concerts in the 2010-2011 season will include: “Rolling in the Aisles,” on October 24, 2010; a holiday Christmas concert on December 6, 2010; The Mozart Requiem on April 13, 2011; a Star-Spangled 4th of July concert on July 4, 2011; and other various fundraising and educational concerts throughout the year.
Contact Gloria Musicae executive director Steven Falk at 706-2459 or email GloriaMusicae@StevenFalk.com to set up an appointment or get more info.
Here's what you need to know about the audition:
Singers should be prepared to sing two works in two different languages, sight-read and perform vocal exercises, and are asked to bring or email an updated music bio that includes works performed in recent years.
Singers wishing to audition for these paid singing positions (singers are paid for both rehearsals and performances) should possess good voices, good reading ability, and a strong interest in participating enthusiastically. Rehearsals are held throughout the season on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Concerts in the 2010-2011 season will include: “Rolling in the Aisles,” on October 24, 2010; a holiday Christmas concert on December 6, 2010; The Mozart Requiem on April 13, 2011; a Star-Spangled 4th of July concert on July 4, 2011; and other various fundraising and educational concerts throughout the year.
Win tickets, prizes to Ringling Fest
The Ringling International Arts Festival is giving away special prizes to its Facebook fans. Winners will be drawn at random every 50th time someone clicks the "Like" button on the festival's fan page.
The prizes feature museum tickets, festival passes and gift certificates to Treviso Restaurant. The grand prize package consists of an assortment of tickets to various festival events, including the champagne toast and post performance gala and two nights at the Hyatt Place Hotel.
The Ringling International Arts Festival is slated for Oct. 13-17.
Find them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RinglingArtsFestival
- January Holmes
The prizes feature museum tickets, festival passes and gift certificates to Treviso Restaurant. The grand prize package consists of an assortment of tickets to various festival events, including the champagne toast and post performance gala and two nights at the Hyatt Place Hotel.
The Ringling International Arts Festival is slated for Oct. 13-17.
Find them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RinglingArtsFestival
- January Holmes
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