Collaborations - Community Connections
Schein Performance Hall: Music, Dance, Lectures Printable Ticket Order Form
Creative Photography
Scavenger Hunt
Tuesday, April 9
Register by April 5
BIG ARTS Center
Teams of four will embark on a conceptual scavenger hunt, photographing their interpretations of the given clues. At the end of the hunt, teams' collected images will be shown on the big screen at BIG ARTS, and prizes will be given for the most clever ideas. The event also features a silent auction filled with fun adventures, all donated by local businesses. Proceeds from the hunt benefit BIG ARTS Scholarship programs.
Silent auction is now open for bidding, stop by BIG ARTS Center to place your bid.
3 p.m. Clue and Map Pickup
5 p.m. Gourmet Box Dinner for Participants
6 p.m. Wine & Dessert Reception
6:30 p.m. Showcase of Entries, Awards
Click here for more info & registration form
Click here for list of Silent Auction items
Tickets: $45 per team member (includes the day's Activities, Dinner & Reception)
or $8 for friends and family to attend Showcase & Reception only
The Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers
4 PM Sunday, April 14
BIG ARTS Schein Performance Hall
The Mastersingers return to BIG ARTS for their 12th season of presenting choral masterworks to island audiences. The Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers will highlight selections from their spring major works performances, their program to include:
Magnificat - Gerald Finzi
Chichester Psalms - Leonard Bernstein
Stars - Dan Forrest
Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair - Appalachian folk song
Danny Boy - Londonderry Air
Shenandoah - American folk song
Armed Services Medley - The Pride of America!
Adult: $20, Student: $10
Community Theater
Play Readings:
7 PM Sunday, April 21
Community Players at
Herb Strauss Theater
BIG ARTS Theater Committee has selected plays to be presented as readings:
Waiting for Wilma by Marcia Rudin
Paul Newman Hops the Amtrak Auto Train by Marcia Rudin
Oz in a Closet by Len Cuthbert
Everyone is invited to join this new and exciting all-volunteer community theater group.
Community Players Volunteer Cast and Crew: Audition and Roles Info
General: $12
Child 17 & Under: $5
BIG ARTS Annual Family Day 2013
Sunday, May 5, 3 PM
BIG ARTS Center
All ages are invited to join BIG ARTS for a fun afternoon of student art exhibits, entertainment, and light refreshments.
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Past Events:
Shakespeare:
Scenes and Monologues
January 2012
Community Theater
at Herb Strauss Theater
Annette Trossbach and Robert Runcke will perform scenes from Macbeth, the Oberon-Titania scenes from Midsummer Night's Dream, and the Lady Anne seduction scene from Richard III. In addition, they will perform the Ages of Man from As You Like It Clarence's Dream from Richard III, a prologue from Midsummer Night's Dream and an epilogue from The Tempest. These scenes and selections will be done as readings.
$12
Child 17 & Under $5
ARTSalon: Artists, Their Work & Background Stories
Derek Fell
Topic: Gardens of Frank Lloyd Wright
February 2012
at BIG ARTS Center
Derek Fell is a writer and photographer with art, travel, and garden books totaling more than 2.5 million in print. His talk is about the gardens of Frank Lloyd Wright.
$5
Ocean Conservancy's Vikki Spruill
Lecture Presented by BIG ARTS and the
Sanibel Sea School
February 2012
at BIG ARTS Center
Spruill is the president and CEO of Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that educates and empowers citizens to take action on behalf of the ocean. Drawing from Ocean Conservancy's more than two decades of work in the Gulf region and her own connection to the beaches of Florida, Spruill will address fisheries and restoration in the Gulf of Mexico, ocean acidification, trash in our ocean, and how seashells can inform and inspire us to understand and promote healthy oceans.
General: $20, Child 17 & Under: Free
ARTSalon: Artists, Their Work & Background Stories
Dr. Paul Brooke
Topic: Wildlife and Birdlife on Sanibel
March 2012
at BIG ARTS Center
Initially trained as a biologist and naturalist, Dr. Paul Brooke earned his Ph.D. in English at the University of Nebraska. He is a Professor of English at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he teaches advanced creative writing, among other courses. His book of poetry and photography, Light and Matter, was published in 2008.
$5
Community Chorus
Spring Concert
Thursday, March 22, 7 PM 2012
at BIG ARTS Schein Performance Hall
The Community Chorus, directed by Steven Cramer, is taking a fresh look at old standards, singing favorites from Verdi to Gershwin to Manhattan Transfer. The 80-voice BIG ARTS Chorus, led by Steve Cramer, will be accompanied by musicians hailing from New York City and locals from Island Jazz. They will perform classical, jazz, gospel, and folk music, including a premier performance of an original arrangement of "Shenandoah."
Adult: $10
Student/Child free with adult
Community Band
Spring Concert
Thursday, March 29, 7 PM 2012
at BIG ARTS Schein Performance Hall
Led by Don Knowland, the band will cover an assortment of well-known favorites including Georgia on My Mind, Winds a Whispering, National Emblem March and Genius of Ray Charles.
Adult: $7
Student/Child free with adult
Play Readings:
- Carmen Garmin
- Lady Godiva of Flamingo Landing
- Homecoming for Sergeant Porter
Sunday, April 1, 7:30 PM
Community Players
at Herb Strauss Theater
BIG ARTS Live Theater Committee selected plays written by local playwrights, these plays will be presented as readings. On April 1 actors will perform Carmen Garmin and Lady Godiva of Flamingo Landing written by Marci Rudin and directed by Angie Koch, and Homecoming for Sergeant Porter written by Wally Kain, directed by Edina Lessack.
Carmen Garmin is about a driver who experiences his GPS voice coming to life, castigating him for his neglect of his former wife and young son, which leads him to change his ways.
The Lady Godiva of Flamingo Landing is about three couples on the Amtrak cartrain to Florida, and what transpires after a naked woman is discovered in a country club locker room. In the end all is revealed.
Homecoming for Sergeant Porter deals with a fraught encounter of an angry Army vet of the Iraq war and the widow of a fallen Marine in the same war. Matters take a different turn as they come to know one another.
$12
Child 17 & Under $5
Island Jazz
Sundays in April 2012:
April 1, 8 (Easter), 15, 22 and 29 at 3 PM
at BIG ARTS Boler Garden
The band, comprised of talented amateur, semi-professional, and professional musicians, performs Big Band and Dixieland-style music in Boler Garden. In case of rain, the concert will move to the Gainer Veranda.
Concerts are free. Beach chairs recommended.
An Evening with Wendy Webb at BIG ARTS Herb Strauss Theater
Show Just Added
April 2012
Singer-songwriter pianist Wendy Webb will be joined on stage by Danny Morgan on guitar and John McLane on sax. The concert will feature songs from her recent albums, Moon Over Havana and Morning In New York. They will also perform songs from Webb's upcoming album, Edge of Town. Reception before the concert hosted by Doc Ford's Sanibel Rum Bar & Grille.
Reception begins at 7:15 PM
General seating: $30, Child 17 & Under: $10
Herb Strauss Theater, 2200 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel
Student Art Reception
Sunday 2012
at BIG ARTS Center
All ages are invited to join BIG ARTS for a free, fun afternoon of student art exhibits, an instrument "Petting Zoo" and light refreshments.
The Southwest Florida Symphony's instrument "petting zoo" will provide a hands-on experience for young students or adults. A variety of musical instruments will be available to play, with expert instruction on hand.
Exhibits in Phillips Gallery: artwork created by students from Cypress Lake High School, Lexington Middle School, and Sanibel School, and from the Art by Kids with Cancer project.
The Young Artists Awards works with the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology staff at The Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida to exhibit and sell artwork of kids with cancer. Donated art supplies are used in a therapeutic setting for children being treated at the Hospital. Proceeds from the sales will provide assistance to families facing the financial challenges of childhood cancer.
"Open Doors: Great Expectations Exhibit" in Founders Gallery: The Open Doors program, funded through donations to Alliance for the Arts, provides classes for children with artistic talent and/or financial need.
Youth Visual Arts Exhibits Open May 4 through 24
Monday through Saturday 1 to 4 PM
Community Theater:
Marriage is Murder
by Nick Hall
May 2012
and a matinee 2 PM
Community Players at Herb Strauss Theater
Contact BIG ARTS Center for tickets
BIG ARTS Community Players present Nick Hall's comedy, Marriage is Murder. Ex-spouses Paul and Polly Butler write murder mysteries together, acting out the crimes - poisoned chocolates, lethal martinis, bodies in a trunk, daggers, and even an axe contribute to the fast-paced hilarity. Their egos take some hits as they strive to outdo each other, learning in the wake of comic twists and turns that marriage, like murder, is in the details.
Single Ticket: $15
Child 17 & Under $5
Buy one ticket to both shows (Marriage is Murder and The Star-Spangled Girl) for the discounted "Series" price of $26. For tickets contact BIG ARTS Center at (239) 395-0900.
Gulfshore Ballet's
Spring Showcase
at Schein Performance Hall
May 2012
Southwest Florida's classical ballet school, Gulfshore Ballet, will perform their Spring Showcase with performances by Jose Gamero, principal dancer with the Des Moines Ballet, as well as 55 local ballet students. They will present excerpts from masterpieces like Sleeping Beauty and Paquita as well as "A Tribute to Balanchine" and other new works. For tickets contact BIG ARTS Center at (239) 395-0900.
$5
Child 17 and Under Free with Paying Adult
Community Theater:
The Star-Spangled Girl
by Neil Simon
July 2012
Community Players at Herb Strauss Theater
Contact BIG ARTS Center for tickets
BIG ARTS Community Players present The Star-Spangled Girl, a classic Simon comedy set in 1960s. The play is a story of a love triangle mixed with politics. Andy and Norman are radical liberals struggling to make a living working on their magazine, Fallout. Sophie is an all-American girl who moves into the apartment next door. Norman immediately falls in love with Sophie and makes Andy hire her at the magazine. When Sophie falls in love with Andy, the magazine and the men's friendship are threatened.
Cast is Jason Boeckman, Kelly Greten, and Bianca De Sanctis; play is directed by June Koc.
Single Ticket: $15
Child 17 & Under $5
BIG ARTS Summer Arts Camp
Camp runs June through July 2012
Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM
at BIG ARTS Center
Summer arts camp will offer children kindergarten through 5th grades hands-on activities on a rotating schedule that includes acrylic painting, ceramics, dance, photography, performing arts, music appreciation, folk art and general arts and crafts.
Kindergarten through 5th grade tuition is $130 per week, ($105 for week three - Closed July 4th). There is a discount ($115 per week) if enrolling in three or more weeks.
Middle and high school students have the option to attend camp solely as a student or select to participate in the fine arts apprentice program, spending half the day as a student and the other half assisting instructors of K-5 classes as a volunteer to receive community service hours. Middle and high school tuition is $80 per week, courses include photography, basket weaving, film editing, painting, and writing.
Sanibel Island Writers Conference
November 2012
Writers at all stages of development - from notebook scribblers to published novelists - are invited to attend FGCU's Sanibel Island Writer's Conference.
There will be workshops in fiction, poetry, songwriting, children's literature, journalism, screenwriting, and creative nonfiction; and afternoon panels in publishing and editing.
Nightly readings and concerts will be presented by celebrated and experienced writers, musicians, and teachers.
BIG ARTS members receive discount on registration fee.
Click here for more information.
Community Chorus
Holiday Concert
December 6, 2012
BIG ARTS Schein Performance Hall
The Community Chorus, directed by Steven Cramer, will sing holiday favorites, including a "Christmas on Broadway" medley, and selections from Handel's Messiah. They will also perform Winter Wonderland, Hanukkah Night, and Let It Ring, Let It Swing, Let It Snow.
General: $10, Child 17 & Under: Free
Community Band
Holiday Concert
December 11, 2012
at BIG ARTS Schein Performance Hall
Led by Don Knowland, the Community Band will play an assortment of popular tunes, and traditional favorites, including highlights from The King and I, Bell Carol a la Big Band, Hanukkah Dance, Christmas on Broadway, Christmas Fanfare, Appalachian Carol, Jubilant Christmas and Overture for Winds. The band will also play O Holy Night accompanied by soloist, Kathleen Lamade.
General: $7, Child 17 & Under: Free
Winter Writers Read
7:30 PM Thursday, December 13, 2012
at BIG ARTS Center
The Sanibel-Captiva Island Writers will perform selections from their prose and poetic works; the "reads" have been an island tradition since 1987. The selections have been chosen carefully for quality and listener friendliness. Dawn Schumann, Vince Faraone, Hazel Barber, Jim Gustafson, Mary LaVelle, Lorraine Walker Williams, Alan Smith, Susan Stuart, Joe Pacheco, Ray Buck, Nancy Carlile, Jean Jensen, Jack Chappell, Joyce Rand, Martha Jeffers, Coles Barn, Marcia Rudin and Duke Barron are the writers and poets presenting their works.
General: $5
Symphonic Chorale of Southwest Florida
Holiday Evergreens
8 PM Saturday, December 15, 2012
at BIG ARTS Schein Performance Hall
Under the artistic direction of Timothy McDonnell, the 80-plus member Symphonic Chorale of Southwest Florida presents classic melodies to invoke warm memories during this intimate concert of well-known and treasured Holiday favorites. Evergreens are always new, and the selections on this program will inspire feelings of joy and peace that only music can impart. Familiar tunes of the season will take you back to the innocence and excitement of this most magical time of the year. Come, and join the Symphonic Chorale in a carol or two - this concert will have you in the spirit of the Holidays right through the New Year!
General: $20, Child 17 & Under: $10
Community Theater
Play Readings:
7 PM Sunday, January 27
Community Players at
Herb Strauss Theater
BIG ARTS Theater Committee has selected plays to be presented as readings:
The Gray and the Blue by Wally Kain
Cynthia by Norma Hagan
Mega-Man to the (Emotional) Rescue by Don Goodrum
Everyone is invited to join this new and exciting all-volunteer community theater group.
Community Players Volunteer Cast and Crew: Audition and Roles Info
General: $12
Child 17 & Under: $5
Island Jazz
Sunday, January 13 and 20, at 3 PM
BIG ARTS Boler Garden
The band, comprised of talented amateur, semi-professional, and professional musicians, performs Big Band and Dixieland-style music in Boler Garden. In case of rain, the concert will move to BIG ARTS Gainer Veranda.
Concerts are free. Beach chairs recommended.
ArtPoems
The Collaborative Transmedia Poet and Artist Project of Southwest Florida
7 PM Thursday, February 28
7 PM Reception, Presentation starts at 7:30 PM
BIG ARTS Center
ArtPoems showcases artworks inspired by poems and poems inspired by artworks; paintings, sculptures, photography and mixed media artwork paired with villanelles, sonnets, ballads, and free verse.
Lucas Century (spiritual photography), Lawrence Voytek (sonic sculpture), Alicia Koyanis (fantasies in 3-D), Mary Ann Devos (jewelry) and Jan Palmer (photography) will join last year's collaborating viusal artists, Peg Cullen, Cheryl Fausel, Sheila Hoen, Hollis Jeffcoat, David King, Andi McCarter and J.R. Roberts.
New poets j.d. Daniels, Jim Gustafson and Pat Washington will join last year's poet team of Jim Brock, Dorothy Brooks, Carol Drummond, Sandy Greco, Joseph Pacheco, Marsha Perlman, Sid Simon, Larry Stiles and Lorraine Walker Williams. Local musicians and Dance Alliance of Fort Myers will accompany several of the ArtPoems presentations.
$10
Island Jazz
Sunday, March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 at 3 PM
BIG ARTS Boler Garden
The band, comprised of talented amateur, semi-professional, and professional musicians, performs Big Band and Dixieland-style music in Boler Garden. In case of rain, the concert will move to BIG ARTS Gainer Veranda.
Concerts are free. Beach chairs recommended.
Writers Spring Read
Thursday, March 14, 7:30 PM
BIG ARTS Center
The Sanibel-Captiva Island Writers will perform selections from their prose and poetic works; the "reads" have been an island tradition since 1987.
Martha Jeffers, Tanya Hochschild, Lorraine Walker Williams, Gary McLouth, Chris Godwin, Maryanne Daly, Loretta Pickens, Morton Levy, Hazel Barber, Dawn Schumann, Jean Jensen, Duke Barron, Joe Pacheco, Tom Jones, Jim Gustafson, Jane Hogg, Sandy Greco, Renny Severance, and Mary LaVelle are the writers and poets presenting their works.
The selections have been chosen carefully for quality and listener friendliness.
$5
Community Chorus
Spring Concerts
Wednesday, March 20, 2 PM
Thursday, March 21, 7 PM
Evening Concert is sold-out, please buy tickets for matinee in advance to ensure a seat
BIG ARTS Schein Performance Hall
The 80-voice BIG ARTS Chorus, led by Steve Cramer, will perform classical, jazz, pop, and folk favorites including; Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, Ave Maria, selections from Les Misérables, and the best of The Beach Boys. Both concerts will feature the same repertoire.
Adult: $10
Student/Child free with adult
Community Band
Spring Concert
Friday, March 22, 7 PM
BIG ARTS Schein Performance Hall
Led by Don Knowland, the band will cover an assortment of well-known favorites, such as Con Brio March, Amparito Roca (Spanish March), Dvorák's Symphony No. 9 (New World) Finale, and John Philip Sousa's Liberty Bell March. They will play Gershwin's But Not for Me and I Dreamed A Dream, with solos by Kathy Lamade. They also will perform three works arranged by Swearingen; The Star-Spangled Banner, With Malice Toward None, and Aventura, as well as Rogers & Hammerstein's The Golden Years of Broadway.
Adult: $7
Student/Child free with adult
