Alan Brasington

The first Verna Safran Prize ($1,000) has been awarded to Jake Pettingell, a Sarasotan who attends Saint Stephen's Episcopal School, for his play THE REAL WORLD, set in a post-nuclear war era about a family of four living together in a military bunker. Directed by Blake Walton, the play was performed at the festival by actors Owen DeMaio, Jude DeMaio, Ann Morrison (who, with a day's notice, replaced an actor who became ill), and Tony Boothby.

In response to continuing requests, National Holiday Theatre presents encores of Alan Brasington's autobiographical The Poem Of My Life. Performances will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 24 and 25, at the STARLITE ROOM, 1001 Cocoanut Ave. (corner of 10th Street), Sarasota, FL, at 7:30pm.

The 2017 SaraSolo Festival, the third annual celebration of theatre and solo artists returns to Sarasota over two weekends, January 28 & 29 and February 4 & 5, 2017. As one of Sarasota's newest and most exciting arts festivals, performances are again at Sarasota's Pioneer Park historic site venue, the Crocker Memorial Church, 1260 12th Street, Sarasota FL 34236.

As its second entertainment, National Holiday Theater will present two readers' theater productions, each celebrating three favorite seasonal holidays. Performances will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, December 28 and 29, at the STARLITE ROOM, 1001 Cocoanut Ave. (corner of 10th Street) at 7:30pm. Tickets are available online at www.NationalHolidayTheatre.com for $17, with seating on a "first come, first seated" basis.