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Say Goodbye to Bad Hair Days and Hello to Great Opera!
ORLANDO - Join the celebration of Samson & Dalila with Orlando Opera and Salon Salon as we collaborate for the shear fun of it! Visit Salon Salon from November 3 -17, 2006 for a special buy one, get one free ticket promotion for Orlando Opera’s magnifique production of Samson & Dalila.

Boca Raton Museum of Art Announces Chairpersons of Annual Museum Gala: Doreen & Robert Alrod
Boca Raton - The Boca Raton Museum of Art is honored to announce that Doreen & Robert Alrod have been named as Chairpersons for their Annual Museum Gala, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. The Annual Gala is the Museum's most glamorous fundraising event of the season. “We are thrilled to act as Chairpersons for the Annual Museum Gala this year,” said Doreen Alrod. “This event has always been such an exceptional evening of elegance.”

FST Hires New Development Director
Sarasota - Florida Studio Theatre is happy to announce the hiring of Sarasota Resident Doug Kerr as its new Development Director. Mr. Kerr brings extensive experience to the position he will be commencing in November. Having lived in Sarasota for over 25 years, Doug has always been involved in the Not-for-profit sector of business including serving as the Executive Director of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation and the Vice President of the Coastal Recovery Center. He joined the Boys and Girls Club as Vice President of Development over nine years ago.

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens Announces
Expansion of Project Augusta Savage
Jacksonville - The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens continues to bring the arts to children in the community this school year through Project Augusta Savage. Project Augusta Savage, which began in 1997, is a very special partnership between The Cummer and students and their families of St. Pius and Holy Rosary Schools. For approximately 300 students, the program offers exposure to the arts in a curriculum-based setting, effectively serving as the art department at schools which otherwise would not have one. This year the program has expanded to serve all of the students at both schools, from the three-year olds to the eighth graders.

Orlando Philharmonic Concertmaster Knighted in Budapest
Orlando - The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra proudly announces that Concertmaster Tamas Kocsis was recently honored with a Knighthood in Budapest. Knighted in a three-hour ceremony held in Budapest earlier this month, Hungarian-born "Chevalier Tamas Kocsis" is now a member of the ancient Order of Knights, "The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem." The Order was established in the year 1098. Chev. Kocsis was accepted at the highest possible entering rank of Commander. The mission of his Order has been since its founding to serve the needy and the suffering.

New Resident Artists Ready to Tour New Shows!
ORLANDO – Orlando Opera General Director Robert Swedberg is pleased to announce the Resident Artists and new touring shows for the 2006-07 season. Now in its sixteenth year, the Orlando Opera Resident Artist Program affords an interim training ground for graduates who are looking to increase their experience and education before going on to professional careers in opera. The four artists are provided coaching on voice, movement, and acting during their one to two-year stay at the opera. They increase their experience by performing in mainstage shows produced by the opera and go on tour for the opera, performing for Florida schools, senior centers, fundraising events, theaters, community centers, and corporations. The Resident Artists are soprano Marcy Richardson, the Shirley Jaffe Resident Artist; mezzo-soprano Ilah Raleigh; tenor Jon-Michael Ball; and bass-baritone Nimrod Weisbrod.

Art Supporters to Receive Awards at Eighth Annual Crystal Vision Gala
Hollywood – Lori Parrish (government); Dr. Fred Lippman (Chairman’s Award); Bonnie Barnett (community service); Jo Motlow North (individual) and MCZ/Centrum Development (business) received the Crystal Vision Award for Support of the Arts at the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood’s Eighth Annual Crystal Vision Gala on Saturday, Oct. 28. The event is an annual fundraiser for the Art and Culture Center. The Little River Band was the featured entertainment for the gala.

Center’s All Access Pass Program Strives to Make the Arts Accessible
Hollywood – In its commitment to create opportunities for all people to experience the arts, the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood has instituted the All Access Pass Program, which provides complimentary tickets to populations that might not otherwise formally experience the visual and performing arts.

Treasure Trove Sale A Soaring Success
Boca Raton – Caldwell Theatre Company’s treasure trove sale held the weekend of October 28-29 was a soaring success and raised over $10,000 for the theater’s general operating account. In anticipation of the move to its new theater located just north of its present location (targeted opening: November 2007), Caldwell held the fundraiser to raise much-needed operating funds and reduce packing of 31 years’-worth of materials from Caldwell’s warehouse, off site shops, and costume and prop shops.