Florida Grand Opera opened its first zarzuela, Luisa Fernanda, on November 12th to much critical acclaim. Watch the video for scenes from the production and see what critics are saying.

FIU’s School of Music has joined forces with Florida Grand Opera (FGO) to present “An Evening of Dramatic Opera Scenes” on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 7:30 pm, at the Herbert & Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center. The concert will feature performances by members of the FIU Opera Theater and FGO’s Young Artists Studio. For the full story, visit bit.ly

Dr. Helen N. Fagin, is a prominent Holocaust educator and was a key player in the establishment of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the nation’s World War II Memorial. www.ncf.edu

Alex Martin – Florida Studio Theatre Audition 2012 Monologues: – THE FOUR SENSES OF LOVE by Arthur M. Jolly – THE HOUSE RAMON IGLESIA by Jose Rivera

Florida Grand Opera CARMEN 2010 Elaine Alvarez (Micaëla) Je dis que rien ne mépouvante, Act III Willie Anthony Waters, Conductor Renaud Doucet, Director, André Barbe, Designer Recorded Opening Night, April 24, 2010 Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House Miami, FL

Get to know the story behind the deformed court jester, Rigoletto, in just 60-seconds with Florida Grand Opera’s 60-second opera trailer. This production performs at the Arsht Center and Broward Center with tickets starting at . For details, visit www.FGO.org.

www.floridastudiotheatre.org http www.facebook.com Check out the fun FST Improv Clip of the Week from February 7, 2012. Chris Friday directs Steve and Angel as husband & wife of 77 years in the ultimate EMOTIONAL GENRE ROLLERCOASTER! Watch how the “couple” goes through different emotions and genres, and still has to, you know, make sense. FST Improv is a product of the professional theatre in downtown Sarasota, FL – Florida Studio Theatre. Tuesdays in the Goldstein Cabaret thru March 2012. Get tickets by calling (941) 366-9000 or go online at www.floridastudiotheatre.org

“Only three US cities will host ‘Vatican Splendors,’ which commemorates the 500th anniversary of so many institutions we recognize within the Vatican today, said Kathy Oathout, Executive Director for Florida International Museum. “We are delighted that St. Petersburg, FL. will be the first stop for this special presentation.” Approximately 200 rare objects will be presented in contextual environments, such as the recreated tomb of Saint Peter. Items in the collection-which includes tiaras; mosaics; paintings; works by well-known sculptors; papal rings and jewels; intricately embroidered silk vestments; precious objects from the Papal Mass; armor, swords and vestments of the Papal Swiss Guard; and gifts to the popes from notables such as Napoleon and the Dalai Lama – are on loan from the Vatican Museums, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, the Reverenda Fabbrica of Saint Peter, the Apostolic Floreria, private collections and the Papal Swiss Guard. Historical Objects to be uncrated: ((1)Daniel in the Lion’s Den, ca. 1655 Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598 – 1680) Terracotta. (2) Mandylion of Edessa – 3rd to 5th century (frame: Francesco Comi, 1623) This is your chance to see items rarely, if ever, displayed for the public in dramatic, recreated settings such as the TOMB of SAINT PETER, The SISTINE CHAPEL and the RENAISSANCE BASILICA of SAINT PETER.