DISCOVER DAVINCI AND MICHELANGELO: SIDE BY SIDE to Return to Manatee Performing Arts Center, 7/18-19

The "Discover DaVinci & Michelangelo: Side by Side" original, theater performance returns to the Manatee Performing Arts Center in Bradenton, FL for two nights on Friday, July 18th and Saturday July 19th, 2014.

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 and Michelangelo Exhibition in Denver, CO.

"We have a special place in our heart for the Manatee Performing Arts Center, Janene Withham the Executive Director and Susan Romine the Development Director" says Rodgers. "The Manatee PAC was the first venue where we debuted our performance that lead to our performance at the Van Wezel and we are now beginning our national tour" in August.

"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.

"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."

"This is the last chance to see this original theater performance before the DaVinci Machines Exhibition leaves Bradenton on July 27th, Rodgers explains, "we are overjoyed and honored to return to the intimate Manatee Performing Arts Center....this will always be our home".

About "Discover DaVinci and Michelangelo: Side by Side": The "tour de force" performance..."Discover DaVinci & Michelangelo: Side by Side" returns to the Manatee Performing Arts Center's Stone Hall. Mark Rodgers, Curator of the DaVinci Machines and Michelangelo Exhibitions from the permanent Museum of Leonardo DaVinci in Florence, Italy, will take you on a fantastic, awe-inspiring journey through the Italian Renaissance as seen through the eyes of these two, monumental geniuses. This original theater performance is a non-stop, multi-media event featuring 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 seen while relating them to our world that we live in today as we strive to discover our own "inner" DaVinci and Michelangelo.

The performance begins at 7:30 at the Manatee Performing Arts Center and lasts approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes that includes an intermission. Tickets are for reserved seats and cost between $34-$39 and can be purchased at the Manatee Performing Arts Center located at 502 3rd Ave. W, Bradenton, FL, 34205. over the phone at 941-748-5875 or online at www.manateeplayers.com. For more information visit www.discovermichelangelo.com.