Profane puppets of 'Avenue Q' at Golden Apple

PHOTO PROVIDED From left, Ariel Blue, Steve Dawson, Berry Ayers, Alex Torres, Erik Emerson and Jenn Abreu

Here's my Weekend cover story for today's Herald. Golden Apple Dinner Theatre In Sarasota pushes the envelope with the potty-mouthed puppets of "Avenue Q."

Profanity.

Nudity.

Sex!

OK, it’s naked puppets getting busy -- but still.

“Mature audiences only,” warns the Golden Apple website.

“It’s definitely up there when it comes to pushing the envelope,” said director/choreographer Kyle Turoff, whose been a part of her parents’ Sarasota dinner theater since acting in “South Pacific” at age 4.

Continue reading.

Bradenton's HGWT to play SXSW pre-party in Austin, Tex.

Bradenton alt-country ensemble Have Gun, Will Travel has again been chosen by The Bay Area Arts and Music Organization (BAAMO) to represent Tampa Bay at the 8th Annual Florida Bandango in Austin, Tex., on March 16, 2011.

Florida Bandango is an unofficial showcase held on the first afternoon of the world-famous South-By-Southwest Music Conference (SXSW).

The Bandango acts will perform for gas money at:

BAAMO's Sixth Annual "One for the Road" show: 

7 p.m. Feb. 26 Dave's Aqua Lounge, 10820 Gandy Boulevard, St. Petersburg,

$10 suggested donation.

HGWT will be joined at Dave's by Ronny Elliott, Rebekah Pulley & the Reluctant Prophets, Poetry 'N Lotion, The Beauvilles, and The Human Condition.

HGWT recently released its first music video for the song "Salad Days" (see below) featured on the band's most recent full-length release, "Postcards from the Friendly City," which was the third-most played album on WMNF 88.5 FM in 2010.

The release of "Postcards from the Friendly City" helped HGWT secure national distribution through Denver-based indie label Suburban Home Records. The album recently debuted at 72 on the CMJ Radio Top 200 and moved to 56 within three weeks on the chart.

HGWT will be appearing at Tinderbox Music's Anniversary Party on March 17 (location TBA) during the SXSW Music Conference.

Photo: L to R: HGWT's Scott Anderson, JP Beaubien, Matt Burke, Daniel Burke at Ace's in Bradenton Dec. 18, 2010. Photo by Wade Tatangelo.

Manatee County on Discovery Channel (for a price)

Host Will Christien welcomes viewers to Manatee County.

Manatee County will be seen on Discovery Channel this weekend.

Thanks to taxpayer dollars.

Here's my story running in today's Herald.


Click to watch the trailer for the 30-minute segment.

Manatee Players to start work on exterior of new theater

Manatee Players Performing Arts Center/screen capture from video below

From my Manatee Players story running in today's Herald:

The Players’ Riverfront Theatre in downtown Bradenton at 102 Old Main St. has a capacity of 246.

The main stage of the Manatee Players Performing Arts Center (pictured), at nearby 502 Third Ave. W., will seat just fewer than 400 while its second stage should accommodate a crowd of about 100.

The not-so-new, three-fourths-finished facility remains $3.5 million short of the $12 million required to open and operate -- with $15 million cited as the overall completion goal.


In early December, the Herald reported the Players stood only $40,000 short of cash on hand to launch work that would complete the exterior -- one many consider an eyesore and community embarrassment.

“We will be starting in the next month on the exterior,” Players Capital Development Director Janene Witham said.

Click for entire story, which includes Witham's thoughts on the Downtown Development Authority giving Ezra Cafe $250K to relocate downtown and Managing Artistic Director Rick Kerby's thoughts on recent record-setting box office numbers first reported here.

WATCH: Damon Fowler's Sugar Shack Mondays with Sol Driven Train

Check out the Feb. 7 edition of Damon Fowler's "Sugar Shack Mondays" with superb, genre-hopping, national-touring act Sol Driven Train.

Intro by Damon Fowler and Wade Tatangelo

Sol Driven Train performance

Wade Tatangelo interviews Sol Driven Train's singer/guitarist Joel Timmons and Damon Fowler

Manatee Players' 'Guys and Dolls' selling out in record time

Bradenton's award-winning community theater has just reached a new high — and provided more incentive for its new home to be completed post-haste.

The Manatee Players have reported that its upcoming production of "Guys and Dolls," which runs February 17 through March 6, will be sold out before it opens.

Photo by TIFFANY TOMPKINS-CONDIE ttompkins@bradenton.com 

John Andruzzi as Nathan Detroit, Helen Holliday as Miss Adelaide, 

Marc Lalosh as Sky Masterson and Jessica Morrow 

as Sarah Brown in the Manatee Players production of "Guys and Dolls."

According to Marketing Manager Denny Miller, in the nearly 30 years that he has been associated with the Manatee Players, no show ever sold out before opening.

The Manatee Performing Arts Center remains about $3 million short of $12 million needed to open and operate.

“Our staff and over 500 volunteers work very hard to provide quality theatre to our patrons and I think all that hard work has paid off with record sales this season," Miller said in a statement. "Over 2700 season memberships were sold this season and walk-in patrons have been higher than usual.”

A smattering of single seats are still available for several performances and can be reserved by calling the box office at (941) 748-0111 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.manateeplayers.com.

TODAY: Damon Fowler's Sugar Shack Mondays: Sol Driven Train at Ace's in Bradenton

Sol Driven Train bring hippie vibe to Damon Fowler's "Sugar Shack Mondays"

Be brave blues diehards.

We're venturing outside the proverbial box for the Feb. 7 edition of Damon Fowler's "Sugar Shack Mondays" with superb, genre-hopping, national-touring act Sol Driven Train.

From the band's website:

Sol Driven Train’s music weaves through genres like images in a Tom Robbins paragraph. The band’s sonic schizophrenia absorbs songwriting influences like John Prine, Paul Simon  and Afro-Caribbean rhythmic explorations, into honest songs of life, love, loss, and long johns.

The 5-piece band, based in Charleston, SC, features rotating lead vocalists, and multi-instrumental talent spread across horns, strings, and percussion. The band members share a musical history dating back to childhood, and their music and live shows are filled with a spirit of positivity and joy, even while traversing subjects of suffering and death. 

I'm stoked to see Fowler flex his chops and jam with these guys before he scoots up the East Coast for a tour that includes a couple dates with personal fave Johnny Winter.

Damon Fowler's "Sugar Shack Mondays"

Showcasing the best in touring talent

8 p.m. Mon., Feb. 7 with special guest:

Sol Driven Train

Ace's, 4343 Palma Sola Blvd., Bradenton

No cover

Click the link below at 8 p.m. Feb. 7 to watch the webcast.

Broadcasting Live with Ustream.TV