FBTV

10/01/2026

Primary Trust at Asolo Repertory Theatre is one of those rare plays that doesn’t shout to be heard — it whispers, and somehow lands even harder.

This Pulitzer Prize–winning work by Eboni Booth, directed with quiet precision by Chari Arespacochaga, tells the story of Kenneth, a lonely Black man orphaned as a boy, whose carefully contained life begins to shift. It’s a sad, melancholic, and often gently funny exploration of isolation, imagined companionship, and what happens when someone was never taught how to trust.

There’s humor here — awkward, human, sometimes unexpectedly tender — but it never masks the ache underneath. This is a play about survival, about emotional absence, and about the small, courageous steps it takes to let people in.

No spectacle. No easy answers. Just deeply human storytelling that lingers long after the lights go down.

If you’re looking for theater that’s honest, moving, and quietly powerful, Primary Trust is worth your time. 🎭

https://familybeautiful.com/tender-funny-and-unflinching-primary-trust-at-asolo-rep

Asolo Repertory Theatre Family Beautiful Magazine and Media

Primary Trust at Asolo Rep: Melancholy, Humor, and the Quiet Ache of Survival Primary Trust is not flashy. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t dazzle with spectacle or wealth or easy redemption arcs. Instead, it sits with you — uncomfortably, gently, truthfully — and lets the sadness breathe. At As...

03/01/2026

Set along the shimmering edge of the Atlantic, Newport, Rhode Island is one of New England’s most enduringly elegant coastal destinations. Founded in 1633, this historic seaside city has evolved through centuries of influence — from colonial roots and maritime heritage to the opulent mansions of the Gilded Age. Today, Newport remains a refined escape where history, luxury, and ocean air effortlessly coexist, welcoming millions of discerning travelers each year.

With its abundance of boutique inns and grand hotels, choosing where to stay in Newport is part of the experience. Each property offers its own interpretation of coastal charm and classic sophistication. Yet for travelers seeking the perfect balance of premier location, elevated amenities, and polished comfort, The Newport Marriott Hotel & Spa stands apart as a destination in its own right.

Positioned at the heart of the harbor, the Newport Marriott delivers more than just a place to sleep — it offers a curated stay. From its thoughtfully designed interiors to its spa, dining, and waterfront views, every detail feels intentional, refined, and quietly luxurious.

So what earns this property its top-tier status among Newport’s elite accommodations? The answer reveals itself not at first glance, but through experience — in the seamless service, the atmosphere, and the moments that turn a stay into a memory worth revisiting.

Consider this a closer look — both around and within — at one of Newport’s most distinguished addresses.

Link in Comments below..

Family Beautiful Magazine and Media Newport Marriott

23/12/2025

https://familybeautiful.com/a-very-broadway-christmas-brings-big-voices-bold-glamour-and-holiday-magic-to-the-van-wezel

All That Jazz, All That Cheer: A Very Broadway Christmas Lights Up the Van Wezel

If Christmas had a curtain call, it would look a lot like A Very Broadway Christmas at Sarasota’s Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Big voices. Bigger personalities. Sequins, jazz hands, and just the right amount of holiday swagger. This isn’t your average “silent night” — it’s a full-throttle Broadway love letter wrapped in tinsel and delivered with a knowing smile.

On a December evening when Sarasota sparkles just a little brighter, the Van Wezel transforms into a snow-dusted slice of New York City — minus the slush, plus a waterfront view. A Very Broadway Christmas brings together a cast of seasoned Broadway pros (we’re talking performers from more than 25 major shows) for one gloriously festive night that blends classic holiday tunes with show-stopping Broadway flair.

Think Christmas… but make it Broadway.

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall FBTV Susan Bulkin-Short

All That Jazz, All That Cheer: A Very Broadway Christmas Lights Up the Van Wezel If Christmas had a curtain call, it would look a lot like A Very Broadway Christmas at Sarasota’s Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Big voices. Bigger personalities. Sequins, jazz hands, and just the right amount of hol...

22/12/2025

https://familybeautiful.com/kansas-the-soundtrack-of-our-lives-at-van-wezel

Kansas: The Soundtrack of Our Lives — Live, Loud, and Still Flying at the Van Wezel

Some bands don’t just make music — they mark time. They soundtrack first loves, windows-down road trips, and those reckless late-night singalongs where freedom felt louder than doubt. Kansas is one of those bands. Not a phase. Not a throwback. A fixture.

Fifty-plus years in, Kansas is still doing what they’ve always done best: fusing jaw-dropping musicianship with poetic, soul-searching lyrics and harmonies that hit straight in the chest. This is progressive rock with purpose — elegant, emotional, and unapologetically powerful.

And now, they’re bringing that legendary sound to Sarasota’s Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on January 16, 2026.

Yes, that Kansas.

The one that taught us to “Carry On Wayward Son,” dream a little harder with “Dust in the Wind,” and believe that great rock doesn’t age — it evolves.

Frontman Ronnie Platt leads the charge with a voice that’s equal parts precision and fire, honoring the band’s iconic legacy while pushing it forward with modern muscle. This isn’t nostalgia on autopilot. It’s a band that knows exactly who they are — and why their music still matters.

With a lineup stacked with world-class players, Kansas continues to deliver shows that are tight, fearless, and deeply emotional. Every note is intentional. Every solo earns its moment. And every song lands like an old friend who somehow still surprises you.

When Kansas rolls into the Van Wezel, expect more than a concert — expect a masterclass in longevity, craftsmanship, and rock-and-roll conviction. The kind of night where generations sit side by side, lyrics echo through the hall, and you remember exactly where you were the first time these songs found you.

We caught up with Ronnie Platt to talk about the band’s evolution, the power of this current lineup, and what fans can expect when Kansas lights up Sarasota. Spoiler: it’s loud, it’s passionate, and it absolutely refuses to coast.

Because some soundtracks never fade.
They just keep playing — stronger, sharper, and still flying.

Susan Bulkin-Short Family Beautiful Magazine and Media Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

There are some bands that become part of the soundtrack of our lives—woven into first loves, cross-country drives, and those late-night singalongs that feel like freedom itself. Kansas is one of those rare, enduring groups. With music that fuses virtuoso musicianship, poetic lyrics, and soaring ha...

13/12/2025

https://familybeautiful.com/florida-studio-theatres-a-tailor-near-me-is-a-warm-witty-celebration-of-friendship

You walk into a tailor shop expecting a quick fix. You walk out having thought about friendship, creativity, and why good conversation is such a rare pleasure these days.

That’s the quiet joy of A Tailor Near Me at Florida Studio Theatre — a smart, funny, wonderfully human play that reminds us not every great story needs a big spectacle. Sometimes it just needs two people, a measuring tape, and the willingness to actually listen.

Warm, witty, and deeply satisfying — this one fits beautifully.

Susan Bulkin-Short Family Beautiful Magazine and Media Florida Studio Theatre

A Perfect Fit: Florida Studio Theatre’s A Tailor Near Me Celebrates Friendship, Ideas, and the Joy of Conversation Sometimes the most delightful discoveries happen when you least expect them — like ducking into a tailor shop to adjust a pair of pants and walking out with a renewed perspective on...

10/12/2025

Buckle up, theatre fam: The Book of Mormon is landing, and this show does not come with a filter. It’s irreverent, unhinged in the best way, and swings its satire like a glitter-covered sledgehammer. Nothing is off-limits—religion, pop culture, the whole musical-theatre universe—everyone gets roasted. And yes… it can be shocking to some. Consider this your sparkly, sarcastic warning label: if you’re easily offended, this might not be your night out.

But if you live for big laughs, razor-sharp comedy, and a show that gleefully dances on every line it “shouldn’t” cross, then you’re about to have the time of your life. Bring your sense of humor, your boldest friends, and maybe a reminder that satire is supposed to sting. This is one wild ride you’ll be talking about long after the curtain drops.
Family Beautiful Magazine and Media Susan Bulkin-Short

The Book of Mormon at the Van Wezel: Hallelujah, It’s a Hot Pink, High-Kicking Miracle If Sarasota needed a jolt of irreverent, high-octane, belly-laughing chaos to jingle its holiday spirits, The Book of Mormon delivered it with the force of a divine drop-kick. The touring production that just li...

06/12/2025

When the Guns Went Silent: All Is Calm at Asolo Rep Brings History to Life in A Ca****la Brilliance

In an entertainment world overflowing with glitter, auto-tuned choruses, and stories polished to algorithmic perfection, All Is Calm at Asolo Repertory Theatre arrives like a deep, cleansing winter breath. Pure. Honest. Unvarnished. It’s the kind of theater that stops you in your tracks and reminds you that before the spectacle and the celebrity, before the noise and the hype, there were real people—real stories—real voices that carried generations through their darkest nights. And in Asolo Rep’s masterful staging, All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 becomes more than a performance; it becomes a heartfelt act of remembrance.

Created by Peter Rothstein, with gorgeous vocal arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach, All Is Calm retells one of the most extraordinary events in human history: the spontaneous Christmas truce of World War I. On that cold, improbable night, soldiers from opposing armies stepped out of their trenches and into the icy stillness of No Man’s Land to exchange handshakes, food, laughter—and most unforgettably—song. Suspended between war and peace, brutality and brotherhood, this moment remains one of the world’s clearest reminders of who we are at our best, even in the heart of darkness.

Susan Bulkin-Short Family Beautiful Magazine and Media Asolo Repertory Theatre

In an entertainment era defined by glittering effects, auto-tuned vocals, and stories engineered by algorithms, the arrival of All Is Calm at Asolo Repertory Theatre lands like a breath of sacred winter air. Pure. Honest. Unvarnished. It is the kind of theatrical experience that reminds us that befo...

04/12/2025

https://familybeautiful.com/michael-feinstein-the-maestro-who-makes-classic-cool-again

Sarasota, get ready to sparkle. Michael Feinstein—the GRAMMY-nominated maestro, archivist to the stars, and the man who singlehandedly keeps the Great American Songbook forever fabulous—is heading to the Van Wezel on December 16th. With a career that’s dazzled from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl, Feinstein has worked with legends, revived forgotten gems, and turned classic American music into a living, breathing, glamorous art form. His performances aren’t just concerts—they’re masterclasses in elegance with a wink of charm.

And the momentum doesn’t stop. Feinstein is currently co-writing Liza Minnelli’s hotly anticipated memoir, alongside Pulitzer Prize winner Heidi Evans and L.A. Times alum Josh Getlin. Dropping in spring 2026, the book promises star-studded stories, iconic history, and the kind of behind-the-scenes brilliance only Feinstein and Minnelli can deliver.

A living legend, a magnetic storyteller, and a whole lot of sass—don’t miss Michael Feinstein lighting up the Van Wezel this December.

Susan Bulkin-Short Family Beautiful Magazine and Media Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Michael Feinstein Liza Minnelli

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN: KEEPING THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK ALIVE An exclusive Family Beautiful interview Few artists embody the spirit, elegance, and emotional depth of American popular music like Michael Feinstein. A five-time GRAMMY nominee, historian, archivist, and captivating performer, Feinstein h...

30/11/2025

https://familybeautiful.com/allswell-at-waterside-place-an-elevated-gastropub

Allswell at Waterside doesn’t play. This is elevated dining wrapped in impeccable design, crafted with attention to detail that you feel the moment you step inside.
It’s modern without being cold, luxurious without being intimidating, and stylish without trying too hard—basically the design equivalent of the perfect outfit.

And the food? Let’s just say it lives up to the room. Bold flavors, beautiful plating, and cocktails that deserve a photoshoot of their own.

Allswell is the spot where great taste—culinary and aesthetic—finally meet. And trust us… your feed will thank you. 😘📸
Susan Bulkin-Short Family Beautiful Magazine and Media

Allswell at Waterside Place: An Elevated Gastropub Where Flavor, Style, and Community Come Together In the heart of Lakewood Ranch’s vibrant Waterside Place sits Allswell, a modern gastropub offering chef-driven comfort food, craft cocktails, and a charmingly vintage-meets-contemporary atmosphere ...

29/11/2025

https://familybeautiful.com/four-powerhouses-three-pianos-infinite-attitude-fsts-musical-cabaret-hits-hard

🎹💃 Three Pianos. Four Mavericks. One Cabaret That Won’t Quit. 💃🎹

Four performers. Three pianos. Endless sparks. Madalyn, Eddie, Jared, and Devin don’t just play music—they make it flirt, strut, and wink at you from the stage. From ragtime swagger to rock‑and‑roll fire, every note has attitude, every harmony a twinkle in the eye.

Pull up a seat at Goldstein Cabaret and let the keys tease, the stories charm, and the night sweep you off your feet. Sass guaranteed. ✨🎶

Susan Bulkin-Short Family Beautiful Magazine and Media Florida Studio Theatre Tampa Fl Residents

Four Performers, Three Pianos, Infinite Sass: Florida Studio Theatre’s Musical Cabaret Think you’ve seen a piano show? Sweetheart, think again. Three Pianos isn’t your run-of-the-mill recital. This is four powerhouse performers on three pianos, and every note drips with attitude, heart, and ju...

24/11/2025

https://familybeautiful.com/emma-a-sparkling-modern-twist-on-jane-austens-classic

Asolo Rep’s Emma: Flirty, Fearless, and Fab Enough to Make Jane Austen Blush

If Jane Austen were around today, she’d be front and center at Asolo Rep—Prosecco in hand, fan fluttering dramatically—as this deliciously modern-meets-Regency Emma struts onto the stage. Forget the genteel drawing-room whispers of yesteryear… this production snaps, sparkles, and winks its way into being one of the most irresistible shows of the season. Asolo Rep once again proves why it reigns supreme in Florida’s theater world: unmatched style, fearless storytelling, and a playful sophistication that would make even Miss Bates speechless.

And at the heart of this glittering tornado? Emma Woodhouse herself—the OG “I know what’s best for you” queen. A Regency-era trendsetter with enough confidence to run a kingdom and still have time to meddle in everyone’s love life. Played with electric charisma and razor-sharp comedic charm, this Emma is glamorously misguided, irresistibly nosy, and absolutely impossible not to adore. She meddles, she sparkles, she schemes… and we eat up every second of it.

Susan Bulkin-Short Family Beautiful Magazine and Media Asolo Repertory Theatre

Asolo Rep’s Emma: A Fresh, Flirty, Fabulous Spin on a Classic If Jane Austen were alive today, she’d probably be sitting in the front row at Asolo Repertory Theatre, sipping something bubbly and grinning ear-to-ear as Emma takes the stage in all its modern-meets-Regency glory. This isn’t your ...