Golden Apple slashes prices for "Andrews Brothers"

Special deals on Golden Apple Dinner Theatre's "The Andrews Brothers." Here's what they are offering:

For the month of May only:
We are slashing prices across the board…what was once a $43.00 ticket is now $39.00.

In addition, the Golden Apple will offer a limited supply of RUSH tickets for $25 which will be available for purchase for each performance from Noon to 5:00pm the day of the performance. All tickets include dinner and show. No beverages or tips are included. Call the Box Office at 941-366-5454 for the special RUSH ticket price.

About "THE ANDREWS BROTHERS": A screwball comedy set on an island in the South Pacific in 1945. Three soldiers find themselves giving the performance of a lifetime when a certain singing trio of siblings fails to arrive at their USO gig. Featuring the hits: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Mairzy Doats, Slow Boat to China, Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive, Rum & Coca Cola, Three Little Sisters, Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree, and many more! For reservations or further information please call the Golden Apple box office, (941) 366-5454, or visit the Web site at www.thegoldenapple.com

A funky assortment of art

What is it?” I asked ArtCenter Manatee volunteer Barbara Saunders.

Whatever you want it to be,” she said like a magical fairy godmother.

We were at the art center, hovering over what looked like a blank roulette wheel sitting on a pedestal. Saunders said the Ray Melinder piece could be a fountain or some sort of a baptismal font.

All we really knew was that it looked funky — artsy funky. It was a fitting work for ArtCenter Manatee’s latest exhibition, “Fabulous Funky Furniture.” The exhibition is one of three featured at the center this month.

Find out more about my visit to the ArtCenter as it prepared for its latest exhibition in Sunday's Bradenton Herald.

Ginger Rogers film series at Ringling

As the Asolo Repertory Theatre prepares its stage for "Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Musical," which is based on Ginger Rogers, the Ringling Museum is gearing up for a special film series on the dancer/actress. Here are details below:

In celebration of the May 7th opening of the Asolo Rep production of "BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS the Ginger musical," The Ringling Museum of Art is hosting a Ginger Rogers Film Festival from May 4–7.

The films are showing at the Historic Asolo Theater in the Ringling Museum, and the live musical production, BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS: THE GINGER MUSICAL, is playing on the Asolo Rep mainstage in the performing arts center.

Film tickets are $6; call 941-360-7399.

See the movie, and then take your ticket stub to the Asolo Rep box office for $6 off the price of "Backwards in High Heels: the Ginger musical." Call 941-351-8000 for more information.

TOP HAT – 7 p.m. MAY 4
Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball
RKO, directed by Mark Sandrich
B&W, not rated, 94 mins. 1935
Classic Fred & Ginger movie has it all: love at first sight, mistaken identity, dancing ‘cheek to cheek’ and boy wins girl’s heart in the end!

LADY IN THE DARK – 7 p.m. MAY 5
Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland
Universal, directed by Mitchell Leisen
B&W not rated, 100 mins. 1944
One of the most elaborate musicals ever made. A successful fashion editor has a puzzling subconscious block toward men.

THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR – 7 p.m. MAY 6
Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland
Universal, directed by Billy Wilder
B&W, not rated, 100 mins. 1942
Billy Wilder’s first film. A career woman poses as a12-year-old girl to save on train fare, then must continue the masquerade at a boys’ military academy.

Highway exhibit dazzles

Recently, I had the opportunity to do something I’ve never done before — look at Florida Highwaymen art up close and personal.

I was so amazed by the dazzling colors of the landscapes — the way the sunlight in those portraits illuminated the various scenes as if a piece of the actual sun was hidden somewhere underneath the vibrant paint.

Sure, I’ve seen pictures online and on postcards, but never in person. The paintings are records of the lush images of old Florida, depicted in a way that can only be truly appreciated in person. So it was a treat to see the artwork of Mary Ann Carroll, the sole Highwaywoman of the 26 black artists in that exclusive network.

She visited Art Center Sarasota for “An Evening with Mary Ann Carroll, Chuck Gomez and Larry Helmuth.” . . .

Read more about her visit in my Sunday column. Also, save the date for another Florida Highwayman visit by R.L. Lewis - 6 to 9 p.m. May 7 at the Manatee County Alliance Gallery, 926 12th St. W., Village of the Arts, Bradenton. The exhibit will be on view through May 29. Gallery house are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, call Carl Keeler, gallery director at 746-2223.

New video from We The Kings

Bradenton band We The Kings has a new video out today - "We'll Be a Dream" featuring Demi Lovato.


Their videos are quite entertaining, and this one follows suit as well. It features random pillow fighting and more. Check it out.

Lakewood Ranch High grabs honors at festival

Earlier this month, Lakewood Ranch High School's drama department participated in the International Thespian Society Florida State Thespian Festival in Tampa.

On the opening day of the event, the school performed the one act play "(Ab) Normal." Students also were involved in individual events for musical theater, acting and costume design. In all, the students received three Excellent ratings and four Superior ratings.

A "Critics Choice" was given for the school's performance of "Pandemonium" from "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."

Also, Dane LaFemina received $2,500 from the American Heritage Musical Theatre Scholarship.

Hundreds of schools from across the state participated in this year's event and competitions, so Lakewood Ranch is pleased to have done so well. Congrats to the students that represented the school:

Julia Barrow
Tali Cohen
Megan Dehn
Cameron Helwege
Sean Knowles
Dane LaFemina
John Marano
Kelsey McGary
Laura Melo
Jessica Morrison
Carlotta Murri
Kristen Myers
Caroline Pfeiffer
Emilly Reilly
Kaitlyn Seheult
Ilana Simone
Jillian Smith
Kayla Taylor
Lucas Thompson
Kristi Todd
Rasheed Waliagha

Celebrate Earth Day, get discounts

Have way too many phone books at your home or office? You may want to make a quick trip to Tampa to recycle them today. Why? In honor of Earth Day, the St. Pete Times Forum is hosting a phone book recycling drive until 6 p.m. People who bring their phone books will receive the following goodies:

•Tampa Bay Storm – voucher valid for four tickets to a home game
•98Rockfest (April 24 at 6:30 p.m.) - $10 off all tickets
•Joel & Victoria Osteen (June 4 at 7:30 p.m.) - $5 off select plaza level tickets
•Carole King & James Taylor (June 6 at 8:00 p.m.) - $10 off select plaza level tickets
•WWE SmackDown (June 8 at 6:45 p.m.) - $5 off select plaza level tickets
•Maxwell and Jill Scott (June 15 at 7:00 p.m.) - $10 off select plaza level tickets

The St. Pete Times Forum is at 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. For more information, call (813) 301-2500.