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All-First Coast Girls Basketball: Hilliard's Brianti Saunders picked up basketball in a flash
04/19/2013

Brianti Saunders figures that she’s spent half of her life — maybe even more than that — in a basketball gym.

If she’s not playing basketball at Hilliard, she’s practicing it. If she’s not practicing, Saunders is teaching it. If she’s not teaching it, she’s at least in there with her father, Myron, talking about how to get better at it.

“My dad, he was going to the gym all the time,” Saunders said. “A ball was in there and I just picked it up.”

And never put it down.

2013 All-First Coast girls basketball teams
04/19/2013

ALL-FIRST COAST GIRLS BASKETBALL

FIRST TEAM

Player, School, Yr., Pos., Comment

Shaneese Bailey, Univ. Chr., Sr., G, Florida Atlantic signee averaged 22.9 ppg and led team to Class 2A regional finals.

Jo Bistrow, Prov., Jr., G, One of the area’s top shooting threats (52.5 percent 3-point shooting) she averaged 19.9 ppg.

The Lord has risen!
04/15/2013

Romney or Ryan?

Strait Plumbing
04/15/2013

The only problem I see here is that not all plumbing is straight. :)

First Baptist Church - Ocala
04/15/2013

Of the more than 200 Baptist churches in the Ocala area, First Baptist is undoubtedly the largest and most impressive. It is a huge complex sitting on several acres on the southeast side of town.

Urban Cowboy
04/15/2013

In 1980, the movie, "Urban Cowboy," hit the silver screen. At the time we lived in Houston. Some of the movie was filmed at a nightclub called "Gilley's," owned by the country singer, Mickey Gilley.

One night we visited Gilley's and it was just like you saw in the film, including the mechanical bull.

You may also recall that the protagonist was "Bud" Davis, played by a younger John Travolta.

Today, in Ocala, we have a relatively new country-western themed nightclub called Urban Cowboy. You can read all about it here.

Coincidentally, John Travolta, a bit older and wiser perhaps, owns a home here in Ocala and some say he can be found shopping at Walmart in the middle of the night. Sometimes. I wonder if he'll ever patronize the Urban Cowboy?

Pond in the elite section of the Historic District
04/15/2013

Shopping might be thought of as quality family time - or not
04/15/2013

Painted horse at City Hall
04/15/2013

Several commenters on the previous post suggested the "Horse Capital" sign could use a horse of some kind. Well, there's a horse in front of City Hall. Perhaps they could move that over to the sign. I'll pose that solution to the the powers-that-be just as soon as I can get MY horse saddled up and ready to leave town.

Paws for celebration
04/15/2013

It didn’t rain on Jean Motley’s parade, which allowed her to celebrate her 90th birthday surrounded by tail-wagging old friends.

It was exactly what she wanted.

The co-founder of SAFE Pet Rescue said her birthday wish was to see some of the pets she’s helped place in homes since August of 2008.

Her colleagues responded by throwing a birthday bash and pet reunion Sunday at SAFE headquarters that began in late morning with a dog parade. About 30 pampered pooches, most on leashes, some in strollers and wagons, were part of the event.

Auction to sell 6 'unbuildable' lots
04/15/2013

VILANO BEACH — Six vacant waterfront lots on upscale Porpoise Point Road will be auctioned off as residential development lots Monday, even though they’ve been deemed as probably unbuildable by St. Johns County officials.

Each lot is currently assessed at $13,500, but in 2005 they sold for nearly $3 million.

Dave Darty, director of real property for St. Johns County Property Appraiser Sharon Outland’s office, said this is a “buyer beware” sale.

Our View: Why our schools are so great
04/15/2013

To get an idea just how good St. Johns County Schools are, read the report from the internationally recognized accreditation agency that presented its findings to the district last week.

But, then again, maybe reading the report isn’t such a good idea. It’s in educationalese. Educators understand it, but we were left scratching our heads.

Our View: Inspirational messages and the School Board
04/15/2013

Six people appeared before the St. Johns County School Board last week to ask the district to be a test case for a state law that permits students to give “inspirational messages” at school events.

This School Board — along with every other school board in the state — made the right choice in not taking them up on this.

Summer Camps Part I
04/15/2013

It’s time to change gears and think ahead to summer fun. And St. Augustine has plenty to offer for the younger set when it comes to “How I Spent My Summer Vacation.”

Following is a listing of a variety of summer camp opportunities being offered. Next week the spotlight will be on the sporting-type camps.

Art Camp

The St. Augustine Art Association, 22 Marine St., will offer five summer art camps this year beginning in June. Each is a week-long, half-day camp, offering painting, drawing, ceramics, mixed media and sculpture.

Up, up and away after 55 years
04/15/2013

It’s a big deal when your dad turns 85. After all, he grew up during the Great Depression, served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, and above all, survived the rearing of four children.

So what do you give a man who says he “doesn’t need anything?”

Laura Thompson recalled the days when the family lived in Arlington, Va., when her father, Charles Thompson, would talk about his younger days in Hammond, La.

“He said he always wanted to fly an airplane,” Laura said, and added that he saved his money and eventually purchased a small Luscombe.

Florida lawmakers look at speeding up death penalty
04/15/2013

TALLAHASSEE — For Janet Spears, the waiting is the hardest part.

Her only son, Keith, and his girlfriend, Melanie King, were robbed, murdered and set afire in their Wakulla County home in 1997. Two of the three men convicted in the deaths, Jason Looney and Guerry Hertz, have been on death row since 2000.

Today, Spears wonders whether she’ll live long enough to see her son’s killers put to death. “It’s a living torture,” said Spears, 65. “It’s something the family thinks about every day. There’s no reason for it being this long.”

Kids dig learning about the origins of food
04/15/2013

ELKTON — Sandra Nagy of St. Augustine said it’s important that kids learn about where the food they eat comes from. So, when she read about the First Coast Farm Stroll in the newspaper, she brought her grandchildren out to Blue Sky Farms in Elkton to get a hands-on look at a working potato farm.

Sen. Rubio says immigration deal needs tough terms
04/15/2013

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan deal on immigration legislation would need tough enforcement and even stricter penalties for those who came to the United States illegally, a leading Republican at the center of negotiations said Sunday.

Sen. Marco Rubio, who’s among the eight senators writing a plan that’s expected to come out Tuesday, tried to promote the framework for the emerging overhaul that would provide a path toward citizenship for those who came to the country illegally or overstayed their visit.

Putnam County Neighbors: '70s Mass Class Reunion coming up
04/15/2013

Pleasant weather brings out the events as this week in Putnam County proves.

The much-talked-about Mass Class Reunion for high school classes from 1970 to 1977 takes place this weekend. They’re calling themselves Children of the Bridge (as in Memorial Bridge) and the get-together features classes from Palatka South High and Central High, the two schools that folded in to become Palatka High.

Roadwork this week: April 15-21, 2013
04/15/2013

COUNTY ROADS

The following county roads will be under construction this week in St. Johns County:

NORTHEAST 32082, 32095

¦ Palm Valley area: periodic lane closures should be expected in the area of County Road 210 from the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge to the Mickler Road roundabout, Palm Valley Road from the Mickler roundabout to Bay Cove Drive and Mickler Road from the roundabout to Cuello Court — site preparation and sidewalk construction.

Adam Scott earns Australia's first green jacket with Masters win over Cabrera
04/15/2013

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Adam Scott finished the job this time, and put an end to more than a half-century of Australian misery at the Masters.

With the two biggest putts of his career, Scott holed a 20-footer for birdie on the 18th hole of regulation that put him into a playoff with Angel Cabrera, and then won his first major championship Sunday with a 12-footer for birdie on the second extra hole.

Woods continues Masters drought, finishes four strokes back
04/15/2013

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods has four Masters titles and the green jackets that go with them. But he hasn’t won at Augusta National Golf Club since 2005.

He will have to wait another year to try to snap that drought after settling for another top-10 finish Sunday. Woods had a final-round 2-under-par 70 to finish at 5 under for the tournament. He had earlier rounds of 70-73-70 and now has eight straight rounds in the 70s at Augusta National.

Woods finished four shots out of the lead and tied for fourth.

County politicians split on issue of ethics reform
04/15/2013

Issue: ‘We have discovered several significant loopholes in the State Code of Ethics ... (that make it easy) for elected officials ... to circumvent the intent of the law (that they not vote on matters benefitting them or their business associates)’ — Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs

***

The majority of St. Johns County commissioners do not support the ethics reform that the mayor of one of Florida’s largest counties says is essential to close loopholes in the law that now make it possible for local elected officials to benefit financially from their votes.

Mayor Jacobs makes the case for ethics reform at the county level
04/15/2013

June 14, 2012

Robert J. Sniffen, Chair

Florida Commission on Ethics

P. O. Drawer 15709

Tallahassee, FL 32317-5709

Dear Mr. Sniffen,

I regret not being able to attend the Florida Commission on Ethics meeting Friday in which you will discuss your legislative agenda for next session. We are very committed to ethics reforms in Orange County and our experience here could be of great value to you as you look to strengthen ethics and transparency statewide.

Response to The St. Augustine Record by County Commissioner Rachael Bennett
04/15/2013

Response to The St. Augustine Record by County Commissioner Rachael Bennett:

Louisville overcomes Ware injury, beats Duke 85-63 to reach Final Four
04/01/2013

INDIANAPOLIS — With tears in their eyes and Kevin Ware in their hearts, there was no way Louisville was losing this game.

Russ Smith scored 23, Gorgui Dieng had 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, and top-seeded Louisville put aside the shock from Ware’s gruesome leg injury to earn a second straight trip to the Final Four with an 85-63 victory over Duke on Sunday afternoon.

As the final seconds ticked down, Chane Behanan put Ware’s jersey on and stood at the end of the Louisville bench, screaming. Cardinals fans chanted “Kevin Ware! Kevin Ware!”

4-year-old girl shot dead in car in Miami
04/01/2013

MIAMI — A 4-year-old girl was fatally shot while she sat in a car outside her grandfather’s Miami home, and now detectives are trying to determine if another child who was in the vehicle pulled the trigger, police said Sunday.

The children were waiting in a white Mercedes-Benz Saturday evening as an adult stood nearby outside in an impoverished neighborhood with scattered storefront churches and boarded-up businesses on the northern edge of Miami-Dade County.

Florida brewers push to legalize 64-ounce beer jugs
04/01/2013

TALLAHASSEE — David Wescott has two 32-ounce growlers he brings into Proof Brewing Company to fill up and take home.

Why two? Because Florida is one of only three states where it’s illegal to fill one 64-ounce beer container, known as a growler. He can get as many of the 32-ounce containers filled as he wants, and Florida breweries can also fill unlimited 128-ounce growlers for customers to take home. But the size preferred by most beer enthusiasts is banned.

Dozens dive for Easter eggs in Florida Keys
04/01/2013

KEY LARGO (AP) — About 80 children and adults got wet to participate in Underwater Easter Egg Hunt in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Spencer Slate, owner of a Key Largo dive shop, donned a bunny suit and scuba gear Sunday to hide colored, hard-boiled eggs for divers to locate.

Among about 160 eggs positioned in the eel grass near Grecian Rocks, a popular snorkeling area off Key Largo, were two golden eggs that finders exchanged for traditional Easter baskets as prizes.

Still recovering from war injuries, Lt. Timoney celebrates wedding
04/01/2013

Amid surgeries and hospital visits, plans of a wedding began to take shape for injured U.S. Army 1st. Lt. Ryan Timoney and his then fiancee, now wife, Kelby.

Timoney, a Bartram Trail High School graduate, was injured in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, on May 20, in a suicide bombing that killed two of his fellow solders and injured others. He has gone through a long recovery process that has included surgery on his leg and a metal plate to replace part of his skull.

Throughout the long, painful recovery process, Kelby has been there. Now, they are official.

Information systems management could save county $369,000
04/01/2013

St. Johns County’s electronic communication systems — local phones, long distance, data lines and wireless — cost taxpayers $694,229 annually — a figure the cost-conscious County Commission suspected was too high.

After a study by a Fernandina Beach-based telecommunications consultant, the county learned that closer management of information systems could reduce bills by $482,000 over three years.

Last week, the county decided to approve a two-year contract with that company, Abilita, to audit and efficiently manage the county’s multiple systems.

Cousins make their own good Italian sausage
04/01/2013

When four cousins of the Versaggi clan gathered recently to make Grandma Vincenzina Versaggi’s famous Italian sausage, they had several big questions that needed answering.

The first was to decide who had the hand most shaped like their grandmother, says Grace Anna Spiller Paaso.

It turned out to belong to Janis Versaggi Williams, and that hand was quickly put into service to figure out how much salt would be needed to flavor the 24 pounds of deboned pork shoulder.

Florida House and Senate introduce record budgets, provide funding for teacher raises
04/01/2013

TALLAHASSEE — State budget-writers are using Florida’s first budget surplus in six years to fill previous cuts made to education, give state worker’s pay raises and fully fund the Florida Department of Transportation’s project wish list.

Both the House and Senate unveiled spending plans Friday. They represent a marked difference from recent budgets, which slashed state funding, because state economists estimate that Florida will have $3.5 billion in additional revenue next year.

Our view: A lesson learned from disputed investigation
04/01/2013

St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar has come out with both barrels blasting in his criticism of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s investigation into the death of a woman who was the girlfriend of a deputy.

Shoar says two separate investigations by his department found that Michelle O’Connell, then 24, committed suicide in 2010 with Deputy Jeremy Banks’ service revolver. Because of complaints from her family, who believe that Banks murdered her, Shoar asked the FDLE to investigate.

The weather's been running hot and cold the last week or so in South Florida; literally. It was in the 80's one day, plunging to the 40's the next.

But the theatre scene is nothing but smoking hot; we caught Janet Dacal filling in for Sarah Amengual in In The Heights at Actor's Playhouse; Janet was excellent, but so was the entire production, which played to a packed house on a Wednesday night.

And there's star power to spare in Bare, the Musical, playing at Broward Center this weekend. The cast includes Jodi Langel, who is nominated for a Carbonell for her performance in Next To Normal last year at Actors' Playhouse, as was musical director Eric Alsford.

Oh, and have we mentioned the Carbonell Awards Ceremony is Monday? No fooling! If you're not going to be there, keep an eye on our Twitter feed; we're going to try to post updates throughout the evening.

And we'll be at the after-party at Revolution Live, hosted once again by The South Florida Theatre League. Yes, after two years of being crowded into The Green Room, the event is back in the space that is immortalized in the movie Rock of Ages.

Here's what's playing on The Scene this weekend:

opening...

Dreamchild Productions opens Bare, The Musical at Broward Center and closes Saturday.

Palm Beach Dramaworks opens Ionesco's Exit the King this weekend.

you still haven't missed...

New Theatre offers Bird In The Hand, the latest in its Boomfrog! Series.

4000 Miles plays at GableStage through Aprll 14, 2013

Theatre at Arts Garage presents Lungs through April 12, 2013.

Actors' Playhouse presents a critically lauded production of In The Heights through April 7, 2013, and word is that tickets are selling like Piraguas in July.

Island City Stage presents Body Awareness at Empire Stage through April 7, 2013. It's been getting nice press.

Waist Watchers the Musical has been packing them in at The Plaza Theatre - it's been extended through May 12!

Laffing Matterz is back at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts; new show, new chef, new seasons of laughs.

coming and going...

Bare, The Musical plays at The Broward Center through Saturday. Check out reviews from their smaller 2010 production in the center's Abdo New River Room.

A new national tour of Jekyll & Hyde plays at The Kravis Center through Saturday.

Montana Rep' touring production of Biloxi Blues plays one night only, March 29 at the Aventura Arts and Cultural Center.

You would never know this from their homepage, but South Miami Dade Cultural Center offers Broadway Unplugged this weekend only. But we found it. Hm.

last chance to see...

Miami Theatre Center offers Pie Solo through March 30.

If you find yourself in Key West, The Drowsy Chaperone plays at The Waterfront Playhouse through March 30.

community and conservatory...

The Last Romance plays at the Delray Beach Playhouse through April 7.

Pembroke Pines Theater of the Performing Arts offers You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown through April 14.

Neil Simon's The Last of the Red Hot Lovers plays at the Andrews Living Arts Studio through March 24, 2013.

The African American Performing Arts Community Theatre presents its production of The Amen Corner, through March 17, 2013.

Lake Worth Playhouse offers The Foreigner through March 17. And Palm Beach ArtsPaper liked it. You don't see many reviews of community theater productions.

for kids...

Showtime Performing Arts presents Mulan through May 4.

Cinderella plays at Actors' Playhouse through March 21, 2013.

New Theatre: Bird In The Hand (reviews)
03/30/2013

New Theatre opened its production of Jorge Ignacio Cortinas’ Bird in the Hand at the Roxy Performing Arts Center on March 22, 2013.

In this wry comedic play, an adolescent Felix recalls working summers at his father’s tropical-bird theme park in Miami, where imported flamingos serve as a metaphor for his feelings of entrapment, estrangement and disconnection. Through movement, video and sound, the birds played by actors help Felix reconstruct foggy and embellished memories of his past.

Ricky J. Martinez & Steven A. Chambers directed a cast that included Ivan R. Lopez, Gabriel Lose Bonilla, Michelle Antelo, Vanessa Thompson,Fidel Urbina, Sammantha Hernandez and Kristina Abreu.

Bill Hirschman reviewed for Florida Theater On Stage:

(a) melding of ludicrousness and loveliness echoes throughout Jorge Ignacio Cortinas’ tale of one young man recalling his last gasp of adolescence before graduating from high school into the real world of responsibility. Awash in an acerbic and intelligent drollery, it’s Holden Caulfield and Thomas Wolfe as reinterpreted by Carl Hiaasen.

Cortinas’ scattershot script is a little too unfocused and the earnest energetic performances don’t always ring true, but there’s undeniable wit, insight and even poetry in this scruffy entry in New Theatre’s youth-oriented “Boomfrog” series...

Co-director Ricky J. Martinez and Steven A. Chambers have led the cast in finding Cortinas’ wry and wacky groove... The script is a bit confusing and the actors are not seamlessly convincing throughout the entire play. But thanks to Cortinas, Chambers and Martinez, Bird in the Hand is an intriguing little hoot.

Save some credit for Antoinette Baldwin’s costuming of those wacky flamingos and Amanda Sparehack’s fluid lighting. And those flamingos are Fidel Urbina, Sammantha Hernandez and Kristina Abreu.

New Theatre presents Bird In The Hand at the Roxy Performing Arts Center through April 7, 2013.

Kravis Center: Jekyll & Hyde (reviews)
03/30/2013

The national tour of Jekyll & Hyde opened at the Kravis Center on March 25, 2013.

After four years on Broadway and multiple world-wide tours, this dark and dangerous love story from Tony® and Grammy® Award nominee Frank Wildhorn returns in a stunning new pre-Broadway production that first grabbed audiences and transformed JEKYLL & HYDE into a theatrical phenomenon.

Jeff Calhoun directed a cast that featured Constantine Maroulis and Deborah Cox.

Bill Hirschman reviewed for Florida Theater On Stage:

Let’s get it out of the way: Shaggy Constantine Maroulis is far better than you expect in the title role of this Broadway-bound revival of Jekyll & Hyde ending its national tour at the Kravis Center – although that might not be saying much.

He’s totally miscast and is unlikely to get another Tony acting nomination as he did inexplicably for Rock of Ages. But he’s giving it his earnest all in the vocal division...

And second in the must-get-it-said department: R&B recording star Deborah Cox as the doomed prostitute Lucy steals the entire show right off the stage of the Kravis Center with a gorgeous voice perfectly suited to Frank Wildhorn’s pop opera score.

Director Jeff Calhoun, late of the introspective folk musical Newsies, has started out this version with some restraint as a theater piece that happens to have an addiction to power ballads. He and his design team have come up with a fresh visual style and some nice moments of staging...

But by the time the show has reached its penultimate two-faces-of-Eve showdown “Confrontation,” the whole thing has devolved into a screaming, unintelligible mess in which everything is way too much, from the wall of noise passing for words and music, to the pyrotechnic projections designed for a future arena tour, to whatever passes for acting.

Within Bricusse’s script and Wildhorn’s vision, J&H does harbor an innately exciting story, it does raise intriguing moral questions, and when done right, it should touch your heart with the tragic tale of a good man who lost his soul trying to better humanity’s lot. But this edition is simply trying to overwhelm you with vocal and visual spectacle.

Jan Sjostrom reviewed for The Palm Beach Daily News:

The 1990s creation, with music by Frank Wildhorn and lyrics and book by Leslie Bricusse, has been revamped to showcase the talents of rocker Constantine Maroulis in the title role and R&B singer Deborah Cox as Lucy, the prostitute who falls for Jekyll. As a result the show bowls along from one over-sized number to the other.

Admittedly, the strategy provides some megawatt moments, but ultimately the production sinks into sameness and bombast.

Maroulis fills the twin shoes of the hero and anti-hero with conviction. His transformation from the idealistic Jekyll to the malevolent Hyde is compelling, and he nimbly navigates the distance from introspective tunes such as Lost in the Darkness to full-out songs such as the raw-voiced Alive.

Cox makes a fetching Lucy, with her big, expressive voice invariably at ease, whether in come-hither mode, as in Bring On the Men, or wistfully lovelorn, as in Someone Like You. Teal Wicks, playing Emma, Jekyll’s unfortunate fiance, has a golden, seamless voice, but spoils her appeal when she affects a too plummy British accent in her spoken lines.

When Jekyll loses his moorings and degenerates into chaos, the show does, too. It’s doubtful the audience needs flashing lights, booming music, fiery projections and distorted voices to appreciate the tragedy of Jekyll’s collapse. A lighter, brainier touch would have served Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale much better.

The national tour of Jekyll & Hyde plays at the Kravis Center through March 31, 2013.

Off Stage Conversations
03/30/2013

Hello, this is Andie Arthur, executive director of the South Florida Theatre League with Off Stage Conversations, where I take a look at what's being talked about in the national and international theatre community. I'm sorry to have missed last week, but I've been working on a really exciting new project for the South Florida Theatre League -- Get In Bed With the Arts, which will make it's debut at the Carbonell Awards and the Theatre League's After Party on Monday Night. So once you're done being envious of Betsy Graver's hat, be sure to take a picture in bed at the South Florida Theatre League's Carbonell After Party.

Happy World Theatre Day!

Today is World Theatre Day.

Thoughts on Season Selection

Howard Sherman asks why do so many regional theatres produce the same ten plays each year? He looks at the positive and negative parts of this issue, noting that the decline in tours of major productions of plays lead to this ecosystem.

Flexible Scheduling

The Guardian has a piece on why theatres and other cultural workplaces need to be smarter about flexible scheduling.

Our current culture promotes underpaid and overworked staff, relying on our passion for what we do. The return on this approach is a lack of workplace diversity. Poor financial rewards for risky leadership roles result in talent leaving the sector – or going freelance.

Why Feminism Is Important in Theatre

Velina Brown has a piece on Theatre Bay Area (the San Fransisco Bay equivalent to the South Florida Theatre League) on why feminism is still needed in theatre. I agree with all the points in this article, but the one that I think is most important is that we need feminism "because very talented women are leaving the field since there doesn’t appear to be a place for them."

There are people fighting the good fight, including Elissa Goetschius who is compiling a list of female directors across the country. South Florida is weird in that artistic directors direct their entire seasons (a practice that does not help us grow artistically and I think is financially short-sighted), but there are still some really wonderful local female directors. Join me in letting Elissa know who those folks are.

Digitizing 990s

Cinthia Ottinger takes a look at why digitizing 990s and having an aggregate of data on non-profits would be beneficial to the field.

Things I Wish I Had Been Told in Theatre School

Callam Rodya lists 32 things he wished he had been told in theatre school. All of them are pretty good advice.

Mondays are Dark
03/30/2013

The season is moving right along here in South Florida. We've had a taste of summer this past weekend with a blast of heat and humidity, but by week's end we'll be into the 40's overnight.

A reminder, next Monday is the Carbonell Awards Ceremony at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and yes, there's an after-party at Club Revolution courtesy of the South Florida Theatre League.

Today's "dark" theatre is The Delray Beach Playhouse. This venerable community theatre has provided the artistic heart to Delray Beach since 1947. Their current production is The Last Romance, which plays through April 7.

Movin' On Up
Florida Weekly reports that Kenneth Kay is joining the staff of The Plaza Theater as Director of Education and Outreach.

“We are thrilled to add Kenneth to our team at The Plaza Theatre,” Mr. Jacobson said in a prepared statement. “He has extensive experience in prestigious theaters, building educational and outreach programs, and under his supervision we will be creating new programs that are both entertaining and enlightening, with an emphasis on exposing young people to topical issues that affect their peers.”

Kay is no stranger to South Florida theatre, or that space in particular. He appeared frequently in plays at Florida Stage, the former occupant of the theater at Plaza Del Mar. His first project will be a production of Sleepwalk, a William Mastrosimone play that deals with teen suicide.

They Shoulda Been Contenders

Florida Theater On Stage's Bill Hirschman offers up his list of people and plays that ought to be up for nominations for this year's Carbonell Awards, along with those who were nominated. But he also makes this observation:

The surprise is that I’m hard pressed to find more than one nomination this year that makes me wonder what we were smoking in the judge’s nominating meeting – almost a world’s record. No one who wins will be a head-scratching embarrassment. Everyone who takes home one of the lovely bronze eggs will richly deserve it.

We've had a long run of unusually good theatre all across South Florida. Everyone should be pleased. And if you weren't nominated, and you think the awards are "just political" and that "it's all fixed," all we can do is quote Robert Anson Heinlein, who was not only way smarter than you, but way smarter than anyone you know:

"Of course the game is rigged! But don't let that stop you; you can't win if you don't play."

We'll see you at the awards on April 1st. But if we don't, we won't be surprised if you're overlooked next year, too.

Understudy Overkill
South Florida theaters have long produced shows lacking the proverbial safety net of having understudies for major roles. Directors and stage managers have often ended up going on for sick or injured accidents. Burt Reynolds famously went on stage with script in hand to read the part of a leading lady - to thunderous applause.

But it's rare for an actor in regional theater to be replaced by an actor who played the role on Broadway, especially when it's just for a few performances.

But when Sarah Amengual took ill, it makes sense to call on another Miami actress who's not only played the role, but has performed at Actors' Playhouse a number of times. Janet Dacal may have originated the role of Carla in the Broadway hit musical In The Heights, but her last turn in the show was as Nina.

The Drama Queen, Florida Theater On Stage, and Broadway World all jumped on the story, of course. And you still have a chance to catch her performance on Wednesday.

A Moldy Oldie
TheatreFace goes over all those stage terms that some people find confusing.

Radio Active
Broadway World reports that Gordon McConnell will once again be directing a radio play with actors from the Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theatre. The Third Man plays at The Mirror Ballroom on April 13, 2013.

Wildlife officials: DeLand man hid turtle, snakes in his washing machine
03/30/2013

A DeLand man was arrested March 25 after officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said he hid an alligator snapping turtle in his washing machine under some dirty clothes. Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Joy Hill said the snapping turtle is a threatened species in Florida. S ...

Cats the musical purrs its way onto the Athens Stage
03/30/2013

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved musical Cats is not typically attempted by most local community theaters. The Sands Theater Company however found itself in the enviable position of having a rich talent pool and knew the time was now. Opening at the historic Athens Theatre in Downtown DeLand April 5 ...

Stetson University celebrates piano professor’s 30th anniversary
03/30/2013

Hailed by The New York Times, Daytona Beach News-Journal and newspapers around the globe for his brilliance on the piano, Dr. Michael Rickman, Steinway artist and professor of piano, will celebrate 30 years teaching at Stetson University with a much anticipated recital at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7. Upo ...

Sixth Home Invasion Suspect Arrested
03/30/2013

UPDATE: Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies located Barkley at his Deltona home this morning and arrested him without incident (see original news release below). He will be booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach.

EARLIER: Volusia County Sheriff’s investigators obtained an a ...

Team Volusia gets $125K from Volusia County
03/30/2013

Team Volusia — a public-private partnership for economic development — got another $125,000 from the Volusia County Council this month. The vote was unanimous to contribute the funds, and to extend the county's contract with Team Volusia to 2015, subject to annual approval.

County Co ...

DeLand's street names tell the city's history in Memory Lane
03/30/2013

A love of books, a love of DeLand and curiosity about the names of DeLand's streets have produced a book: Memory Lane — A History of the Street Names of DeLand, Florida. Author Louise Ball Caccamise is a retired librarian who's lived in DeLand since the late 1940s. She's active in the West Volusia ...

Week of holidays coming up in West Volusia
03/30/2013

Holy Week is a time when business as usual takes a holiday, or maybe more than one holiday. Some people will have Good Friday off, while others will be working. State of Florida agencies will be open on Good Friday, March 29, but Volusia County government offices will be closed, and so will the city ...

Nature Scenes: Painted bunting males display more colors than the females
03/30/2013

Two female painted buntings nibbled at a seed feeder at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in November. They were varying shades of lime green. Males surely were around, but apparently not hungry at that time. They occasionally eat fruit and insects, but seeds are their main diet. They forage o ...

West Volusia Calendar of Events: March 30-April 6, 2013
03/30/2013

Saturday, March 30

Pancake Breakfast 8 a.m.-noon at the DeLand Lions Club, 400 N. Garfield Ave. All-you-can-eat pancakes, and one side of sausage or sausage and biscuit gravy. Cost: $5. Hot chocolate and milk: $1. Student discount with school ID. Free vision screening for children. All proceeds go ...

Volusia County Sheriff's Office honors volunteers at annual banquet
03/30/2013

Breathing new life into nearly 40 cold case murders dating back to 1957 is a daunting task for one Volusia County Sheriff’s investigator. That’s why the Sheriff’s Office decided to tap into a valuable community resource -- retired law enforcement officers willing to help with the investigation ...

John Wilton's "Floral" exhibit coming to Arts on Douglas
03/30/2013

When April arrives, the spring flower bloom season gains momentum. Arts on Douglas Fine Art and Collectibles in Smyrna Beach, FL is celebrating the color, vibrancy and promise of warmer days ahead with an exhibition by John Wilton entitled Floral. John Wilton is a true mixed media artist, blend ...

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DeLand's street names tell the city's history in Memory Lane 03/30/2013

Week of holidays coming up in West Volusia 03/30/2013

Nature Scenes: Painted bunting males display more colors than the females 03/30/2013

West Volusia Calendar of Events: March 30-April 6, 2013 03/30/2013

Volusia County Sheriff's Office honors volunteers at annual banquet 03/30/2013

John Wilton's "Floral" exhibit coming to Arts on Douglas 03/30/2013

Sports Creek Raceway now has live horse racing

Top News Stories
20/20 | Business | Entertainment | Top Stories | Good Morning America | Health | Nightline | Politics
Prime Time | Technology | Sports | Travel | This Week | US | World News | World

All-First Coast Girls Basketball: Hilliard's Brianti Saunders picked up basketball in a flash
04/19/2013

2013 All-First Coast girls basketball teams
04/19/2013

The Lord has risen!
04/15/2013

Strait Plumbing
04/15/2013

First Baptist Church - Ocala
04/15/2013

Urban Cowboy
04/15/2013

Pond in the elite section of the Historic District
04/15/2013

Shopping might be thought of as quality family time - or not
04/15/2013

Painted horse at City Hall
04/15/2013

Paws for celebration
04/15/2013

Auction to sell 6 'unbuildable' lots
04/15/2013

Our View: Why our schools are so great
04/15/2013

Our View: Inspirational messages and the School Board
04/15/2013

Summer Camps Part I
04/15/2013

Up, up and away after 55 years
04/15/2013

Florida lawmakers look at speeding up death penalty
04/15/2013

Kids dig learning about the origins of food
04/15/2013

Sen. Rubio says immigration deal needs tough terms
04/15/2013

Putnam County Neighbors: '70s Mass Class Reunion coming up
04/15/2013

Roadwork this week: April 15-21, 2013
04/15/2013

Adam Scott earns Australia's first green jacket with Masters win over Cabrera
04/15/2013

Woods continues Masters drought, finishes four strokes back
04/15/2013

County politicians split on issue of ethics reform
04/15/2013

Mayor Jacobs makes the case for ethics reform at the county level
04/15/2013

Response to The St. Augustine Record by County Commissioner Rachael Bennett
04/15/2013

Louisville overcomes Ware injury, beats Duke 85-63 to reach Final Four
04/01/2013

4-year-old girl shot dead in car in Miami
04/01/2013

Florida brewers push to legalize 64-ounce beer jugs
04/01/2013

Dozens dive for Easter eggs in Florida Keys
04/01/2013

Still recovering from war injuries, Lt. Timoney celebrates wedding
04/01/2013

Information systems management could save county $369,000
04/01/2013

Cousins make their own good Italian sausage
04/01/2013

Florida House and Senate introduce record budgets, provide funding for teacher raises
04/01/2013

Our view: A lesson learned from disputed investigation
04/01/2013

The Scene for March 29, 2013
03/30/2013

New Theatre: Bird In The Hand (reviews)
03/30/2013

Kravis Center: Jekyll & Hyde (reviews)
03/30/2013

Off Stage Conversations
03/30/2013

Mondays are Dark
03/30/2013

Wildlife officials: DeLand man hid turtle, snakes in his washing machine
03/30/2013

Cats the musical purrs its way onto the Athens Stage
03/30/2013

Stetson University celebrates piano professor’s 30th anniversary
03/30/2013

Sixth Home Invasion Suspect Arrested
03/30/2013

Team Volusia gets $125K from Volusia County
03/30/2013

DeLand's street names tell the city's history in Memory Lane
03/30/2013

Week of holidays coming up in West Volusia
03/30/2013

Nature Scenes: Painted bunting males display more colors than the females
03/30/2013

West Volusia Calendar of Events: March 30-April 6, 2013
03/30/2013

Volusia County Sheriff's Office honors volunteers at annual banquet
03/30/2013

John Wilton's "Floral" exhibit coming to Arts on Douglas
03/30/2013