'DISCOVER DAVINCI & MICHELANGELO' Comes to Venice Performing Arts Center, 4/24

The "Discover DaVinci & Michelangelo: Side by Side" original, theater performance will continue its inaugural North American Tour for one night only at The Venice Performing Arts Center in Venice, FL. on Saturday, April 24th, 2015 at 7:30pm.

Mark Rodgers, the creator and host of the multi-media performance, is also the curator of the DaVinci Machines and Michelangelo Exhibitions, from the permanent Museum of Leonardo DaVinci in Florence, Italy currently touring the United States and on display at the Bradenton Auditorium in Bradenton/Sarasota, FL. Rodgers originally developed the idea to compare and contrast the two geniuses while curating the DaVinci Machines and Michelangelo Exhibition in Denver, CO.

"I realized you can't talk about DaVinci without Michelangelo," explained Rodgers. "Many people don't know that they were not only contemporaries but also fierce competitors."

The performance has evolved over the last couple years starting as a tour of only DaVinci then, over time, Rodgers incorporated Michelangelo into his tours with the addition of the Michelangelo Exhibition arriving from Florence. According to Rodgers, the more tours and presentations he gave, the more information people wanted to know about these two monumental geniuses.

"There has never been an exhibit or museum, that I am aware, that has ever compared or contrasted DaVinci and Michelangelo in the same presentation," explained Rodgers.

The multi-media event is a combination of host Rodgers and a presentation that includes movies, 3D-animations of machines and inventions, images of codices, artwork, paintings and sculptures.

This original, theater performance made its major theater debut at world famous Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, FL in April 2014 and is now a national touring performance.

"DaVinci and Michelangelo have an outreach and following that everyone can relate to," explained Rodgers. "Everything they said and did relates to our lives today."

For this performance only, with each ticket purchased, the theater goer will receive a complimentary admission to the Discover DaVinci and Michelangelo: Side by Side Exhibition currently open at the Bradenton Auditorium in Bradenton Florida.

"We want everyone possible to not only experience this original theatre performance and also experience the magnificent exhibition from Florence Italy highlighting DaVinci's and Michelangleo's masterworks before the exhibit returns to Italy" said Rodgers

The performance begins at 7:30pm at The Venice Performing Arts Center and lasts approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes that includes an intermission.

Box Office hours begin Wednesday, April 8th from 10am-2pm at VPAC #1 Indian Ave. Venice, FL 34285. Box office hours will continue Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10am-2pm beginning April 8th through April 24th. On April 24th the Box Office will be open two hours prior to the performance from 5:30pm-7:30pm. Tickets for Adults are $35. Tickets are $15 for the first 200 Students who purchase; available only at the Box Office.

Tickets will also be available by phone during that time at 941-480-3191. Or, more conveniently, on our website at www.veniceperformingartscenter.com. Tickets may be printed at home, shown on a smart phone, or picked up at will call. All tickets bought on the internet and printed at home or via smart phone will receive a coupon for a free dessert at Café Venice with purchase of an entree. If you call outside box office hours, leave a message, and a box office member will return your call to assist you with ticket sales.

*Seating will be open for wheelchair and walker patrons at 6:45pm.

For more information visit www.discovermichelangelo.com or www.veniceperformingartscenter.com.

About "Discover DaVinci and Michelangelo: Side by Side" - The "tour de force" performance..."Discover DaVinci & Michelangelo: Side by Side" national touring, original theater performance makes its Venice, FL debut at the Venice Performing Arts Center. Mark Rodgers, Curator of the DaVinci Machines and Michelangelo Exhibitions from the permanent Museum of Leonardo DaVinci in Florence, Italy, will take you on an awe-inspiring journey through the Italian Renaissance as seen through the eyes of these two, monumental geniuses. This non-stop, multi-media, original theater performance features movies, videos, 3-D animations, and images of DaVinci and Michelangelo's inventions, machines, sketches, codices, paintings, and sculptures. Rodgers compares and contrasts the incredible lives of Leonardo and Michelangelo as never before, relating them to our world today as we strive to discover our own "inner" Michelangelo and DaVinci.