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Interview with entrepreneur, consultant, author and public speaker and Sensei George Schofield
10/22/18 George Schofield is an entrepreneur, consultant, author and public speaker, but that is not all. As a single parent he raised his small sons, and has zealously studied Sogetsu Ikebana, the ancient art of Japanese flower arranging. Listen to him describe his realization that he had spent his life learning those things knew he didn’t know, and now wanted to discover “what he didn’t know he didn’t know” Always attracted to the beautiful and elegant George joined The Sarasota Chapter of Ikebana International where he studies with Sensei, Patricia Bonarek. Typically he progressed quickly through the rankings, is now an accredited Sogetsu Ikebana Instructor (Sensei), and has achieved a Japanese name. On Thursday Nov 11th at 11:00 AM, as part of Bookstore1’s Bridge to Japan: A Celebration of Japanese Culture, George will perform a ceremony, creating a Sogetsu Ikebana flower arrangement for the store window. Listen to this atypical, thoughtful, interesting man talk about a life dedicated to pursuing personal growth as well as helping others achieve their best possible life. And come to Bookstore1 12 South Palm Ave, (365-7900) to see George demonstrate this ancient art 7900
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Interview with Susan Angerman – Costume Designer
10/8/18 Susan Angerman’s mother taught her to sew when she was eight years old, she made her doll’s clothes and her own clothes. She was passionate about Dance, especially Ballet, and at fourteen became part of the Charleston Ballet Company, where her sewing came in handy because, in this small company, dancers had to make their own costumes. Although she loved to dance, when it was time to move towards a career as a dancer, she knew that it was not the life for her. She studied design at the French Fashion Academy, where she then taught for several years. Finally deciding that costuming for the theater provided the perfect opportunity to combine her skills and interests, she went to work for the “most prestigious costume shop in New York,” getting freelance work and building a resume. After many years as costume shop manager, she has created a new career as an image consultant and is once again taking freelance costuming jobs; come see her costumes at Florida Studio Theater’s cabaret production of “Unchanged Melodies”
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Interview with musician, composer, educator, philosopher Steven Miles 2
10/1/18 In Part 2 of our interview, musician, composer, educator and philosopher Stephen Miles describes the “accident” which caused him to explore new ways for audiences to experience music and led to the creation of New Music New College, which is celebrating its 20th year. He describes innovations, like Club Sudakoff, which provides a Cabaret atmosphere instead of the conventional, static setting in which music is usually heard. Listen to Stephen describe his belief that music can actually affect behavior. Many of his compositions are intended to achieve that goal and in this interview he describes one which does just that. Come out on Thursday Oct. 4, to hear this season’s first New Music New College Artist Conversation and on Sat Oct 6th to experience So Percussion.
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Interview with Interview with musician, composer, educator, philosopher Steven Miles – 1
9/25/18 In Part 1 of my interview with musician, composer, educator and philosopher Stephan Miles, he talks about his early exposure to music and describes how he know by the time he was two years old that it would be important in his life. In a world where the emphasis is on fast and facile, Stephan was not in a hurry. He was determined to know everything there is to know about the art to which he was planning to give his life – music. Listen to the unorthodox path he took to becoming the not only gifted, but the truly knowledgeable musician he is. This interview takes Stephan through his early training and tells the story of how he serendipitously wound up in what it clearly the perfect place for him – the New College.
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Part 3 – Interview with actor, author, lecturer, editor, reggae archivist, photographer and, producer Roger Steffens
9/17/18 Part 3 of my interview with Roger Steffins begins with his description of how he discovered Bob Marley and Reggae Music and how this discovery became a lifelong obsession. Today his collection of records, posters and other memorabilia, is the largest in the world. Hear about his frustrating campaign to establish an archive of this collection as the Museum of Reggae Music in Jamaica. Then he describes his years of doing a radio show on MPR, the creation of the Reggae/African Music newsletter which lasted 28 years and had as many as 60,000 subscribers, his relationships with film greats Waldo Salt, Bill Link and John Ritter which led to his career as an actor and narrator of film, audio books and documentaries.
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Part 2 – Interview with actor, author, lecturer, editor, reggae archivist, photographer and, producer Roger Steffens
9/10/18 The radicalization of Roger Steffins. Part 2 of my 3 Part interview with Roger takes him through his service in the army during the Vietnam War. Listen to Roger describe his extraordinary experiences, including; training in Psyops, having had the Tet Offensive happen all around him, and being responsible for tons of food and clothing delivered to displaced refugees. Listen to him talk about the impact his war-time experience had on his beliefs, the life he then chose to lead as a result, and the work it spawned. This segment ends with my asking Roger about his relationship with the legendary Bob Marley.
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Interview with actor, author, lecturer, editor, reggae archivist, photographer and, producer Roger Steffins Part 1
9/3/18 This is the first of a 3 part interview with the indescribable Roger Steffins. It seems impossible that one person would have had the time, energy or talent to care about and/or do all the things that Roger has both cared about and done. Truly Roger demonstrates what we humans are capable of, but which few achieve. In this segment Roger describes his early love of, interest in, passion for all things visual which begins at the age of 5 with stamp collecting, all things written, beginning with newspapers, he wrote his first newspaper at seven both the copy and the editorial cartoon, and the serendipitous way in which he created his one man show “Poetry for people who hate poetry”’ which took him all over the world. This segment ends with my asking Roger if he was drafted during the Viet Nam war.
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Interview with writer, a painter, a musician, an actor, a singer, a dancer; light and sound designer Eliza Ladd
Many artists describe themselves and their work with one or a few adjectives, they’re a writer, a painter, a musician, an actor, a singer, a dancer; they work with light or sound or design. Eliza Ladd uses all these adjectives and more to describe herself and her art. She has spent her life exploring every possible way a person can express themselves creatively. Although she didn’t know how she was going to use all the skills she pursued, Eliza followed her curiosity and instinct and has created an art which synthesizes all of the skills she studied, trained in and developed. Listen to this spontaneous, guileless, breathless woman describe a journey for which there was no roadmap, a life in which she had to be her own guide and in which she created an Art which is uniquely her own
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Interview with Arthur Keyser – Before Steepletop
8/2018 Arthur Keyser is a playwright but he didn’t know it until he was eighty years old. Born to deaf parents who were unable to guide their children, Arthur and his brother had to find their own way. Arthur discovered and fell in love with theater “by accident” when he was fourteen, but never thought of writing for it. A voracious reader and naturally gifted writer he decided on the law as a career. In retirement he volunteered for a senior citizen acting company at the Players Theater. A director, having read something Arthur wrote, suggested that he write a play. With the diligence and attention to detail that made him a successful attorney, he “read every book he could find on the art of play writing.” And it paid off. Some 30- 50 plays later he is being performed all over the country. Now, as he approaches ninety, his play “Before Steepletop,” which won last year’s new play reading festival at the Players Theater, is running there from 8/21- 8/26.
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Memorial to Actor Jimmy Clark
8-13-18-23-8/13/18 Memorial to Jimmy Clark.
This is an interview I did in 2011 when Jimmy was part of the ensemble company of 12 Angry Men. In it he recounts his life from his five year old memory of seeing Jimmy Cagney in Midsummer Night’s Dream and telling his mother that he wanted to “live there,” through his eccentric education and rapid success. He is candid, spontaneous, outrageous, self-deprecating, funny and serious by turns. He is quintessential Jimmy Clark and all the reasons that he is missed.18 Interview
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Interview with theater professional Monica Cross
8/6/18 Monica Cross’s mother loved to sew and she passed her love of creating costumes on to her daughter. But that was just the beginning of a life dedicated to all things theater for Monica. Today, as the Production Manager and Technical Director of the black box theater at Sarasota’s New College, she acts, directs, costumes, creates lights, sound and scenery and teaches. In her spare time she writes. Her first full-length play The Wonder of Our Stage, recently won the competition at the new play reading festival at the Players Theater and will be fully produced next season. Listen to Monica talk about her discovery that theater was where she belonged and her infectious passion for all the things she does there.
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Interview with actor, singer, dancer, musician Kyle Branzel
Actor, singer, dancer, musician, educator Kyle Blanzel realized that he was performer when his 2nd grade costar, Mrs. Claus, sang his line instead of hers and he went on with the show, just like a professional. Years of training and understudying Joe Kinosian, one of the writers of Murder for Two, in the National Tour of the show, made him the absolutely best choice to portray the role/s (12) he is currently playing in the Florida Studio Theater production. Don’t miss this!
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Interview with Paul Helm – Murder for Two
7/23/18 Pianist, singer, director, actor, musical director Paul Helm was lucky. From the elderly babysitter who convinced his parents to give four year old Paul piano lessons, to the choir teacher who “saw something in him,” to the agent who having seen Paul on stage, pursued him until Paul agreed to leave his beloved Wisconsin and make the leap to New York City, Paul has been led to the career which he “loves” and which although often difficult, he “wouldn’t have it any other way.” Listen to this enthusiastic young man talk about his work and don’t miss his delightful performance in the wacky and wonderful musical “Murder for Two” at Florida Studio Theater.
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Interview with Harpsichordist Mark Kroll
When he was five years old and had never taken a piano lesson Mark Kroll could play by ear the pieces his eight year old brother was studying. His brother was so embarrassed by his baby brother’s ability that he gave up the piano, but Mark never did. Dreaming of being a concert pianist Mark filled his life with music, studying, practicing and listening to his favorite works, by his favorite pianists and composers. At seventeen he fell in love with “early music,” but thought it didn’t sound quite right played on the piano. Then he heard Harpsichordist Ralph Kirkpatrick play and his fate was sealed. Listen to Mark tell the story of his parents moving his bed out of the bedroom to make room for his harpsichord. And get a taste of Mark playing.
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Interview with Violinist Carol Lieberman
7/9/18 When Carol Lieberman was three years old her grandfather gave her older brother a violin and Carol fell in love. She was unable to begin lessons until she was six and her parents could afford to buy the ½ violin she needed. At seven she was accepted into the Manhattan School of Music. As a freshman at the High School of Music and Art she began playing with the senior orchestra where she became assistant concert master in her second semester and first violinist of the string quartet. Although she majored in History at City College, she was at the Music department so often that believed she was a music major. She went on to get her Masters in Music at the Yale School of Music, play with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra and return to Yale to receive a Doctorate in Music Arts. Listen to this gentle, self-deprecating woman describe a life dedicated to the instrument that won her heart at three years old, and hear a little to the glories music she creates.
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Interview with Musical Director Justin Cowan
7/2/18 Justin Cowan is the Musical Director for Always Patsy Cline which is currently playing to several times extended audiences at Florida Studio Theater. Although he never planned to be a musical director people continually urged him to join the choir, audition for a Community Theater production and finally made it possible for him to get the education he wanted, but could not afford. Whether chance, fate or coincidence someone was always there pointing him in the direction he is delighted to have gone. Listen to this gregarious, charming man talk about how he was “led” to where he was meant to go, how that experience informs his commitment to teaching, and made him the perfect person to bring out the Patsy in Meredith. Also listen to one of the songs for the show
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Interview with Beverly and Bob Bartner
6/25/18 Beverly and Bob Bartner had long and successful careers. They were interested in all kinds of performances, but it wasn’t until they were captivated by a production of Wit at the Long Wharf Theater in Connecticut that they decided to actively participate in producing for the theater. Since then they have produced countless productions, and their commitment to producing “good theater,” has remained constant. Bob says “we don’t want to lose money, but when we believe in a play – even if we think that it will probably lose money, we will support it.” This passion for supporting good theater has also resulted in the producing of many big hits. And now Bob and Beverly bring their talent, knowledge and passion to the Asolo Theater in Sarasota.
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Interview with Actor Trudie Kessler
12 year old Trudie Kessler was recruited to help her 18 year old brother learn his lines for a high school play. Watching him on stage and mouthing all his lines, Trudie knew that she wanted to do that too. She waited, not to patiently, for freshman year to arrive when she was finally able to audition. Terrified, but determined, she auditioned for, was cast in the first freshman play and she was “home.” Like many others who fall in love with an art, Trudie was determined to have a steady paycheck and so although she majored in Theater she always knew she would teach. Adding directing and voice to her skill set Trudie taught theater first at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and then at the Goodman School of Drama, which was adopted by DePaul University, where she taught voice, acting and directing for 33 years. Retirement has given her an opportunity to get back on stage herself. Listen to this lovely woman talk about a life dedicated to experiencing and passing on the joys of theater. And come see her demonstrate that joy as she plays Hannah the “shotgun” – matchmaker, in the Players Theater production of Crossing Delancey.
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Interview with Musician Frank Ascone
When Alto Sax player Frank Ascone was four years old he saw the Louis Prima band and fell in love. Unable to play an instrument at that time little Frank taught himself to tap dance. Seeing that he was captured by Jimmy Dorsey’s clarinet, his parents bought Frank a $200.00 clarinet for his 11th birthday and his fate was sealed. He loved the instrument, learned quickly and on his 13th birthday his parents bought him a saxophone. Although music was and would always be his “life” Frank wanted to have a steady paycheck – something a career in music was not guaranteed to provide – so Frank went to art school and for many years balanced his full time job and his love of playing music. When gigs for Sax became less plentiful Frank taught himself to play the drums and piano, now retirement has given him an opportunity to indulge his lifelong passion for music. Listen to this delightful, self-deprecating man, who can’t “pass a piano without sitting down to play,” describe a life in which music is his constant companion.
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Interview with Actor Brendan Ragan
6/4/18 Actor, theater maker Brendan Ragan loves being on stage. He always knew he was a natural; but he “never wanted to settle for pretty good,” and the need to hone his “artistry,” to be pushed, to be torn down and rebuilt if that was what it took for him to reach his personal best, drives him. It drove him to risk to joining 11 other graduates to create Single Carrot, a theater company in Baltimore on what was – although they didn’t know it – the most dangerous street in town; it drove him to leave there, although people thought he was crazy to leave that wonderful set up, and apply to graduate school; and its driven him to join Summer Wallace and Harry Lipstein in creating the Urbanite theater in Sarasota. Listen to this passionate, articulate man talk about his obsession to create the very best theater experience he can for himself and his audience, come see him demonstrate his “artistry” in the Urbanite’s current production of “Incognito”
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