March 25, 2014
Contact Lisa Rubinstein, LDR Creative, Inc., 941-373-3803 or [email protected]
GREENFIELD PRIZE WEEKEND OFFERS EXCITING EVENTS
WITH CELEBRITIES AND ARTS EXPERTS
SARASOTA, FL: The Hermitage Artist Retreat is pleased to announce the schedule of events being held during this year’s Greenfield Prize weekend. The awarding of the prize has grown from a one-time event to a multi-day schedule of arts programs and discussions that revolve around the two arts disciplines being highlighted in any given year. This year those disciplines are music and drama. Programing begins on Wednesday, April 9th with an open rehearsal of the 2012 commission premiere and ends on Saturday, April 12th with the Greenfield Prize awards dinner. Cost of events range from FREE for creative conversations to a $300 patron ticket to the dinner. Free events are subject to availability based on the size of the venues.
“We have a wonderful few days to look forward to for many reasons,” remarked Bruce E. Rodgers, Hermitage executive director. “First is our partnership with La Musica, the professional organization premiering Vijay Iyer’s 2012 commission, second is bringing playwright Nilo Cruz to Sarasota to accept his 2014 Greenfield Prize and thirdly, sharing all of these amazing artists with our community, including award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis, the keynote speaker for our dinner. As with all Hermitage artists, we will share the wonderful arts creators and experts who are joining us for the weekend. We began these talks two years ago and last year, every one was filled to capacity. We don’t charge but reservations are required due to space limitations. With the celebrities and other experts joining us this year, we expect the same; reserving early is recommended.”
This year’s Greenfield Prize weekend features the premiere of the 2012 commission given to jazz composer and pianist Vijay Iyer and the presentation of the 2014 award in drama to Miami-based playwright Nilo Cruz. Iyer’s composition, Bruits, will be performed by the Imani Winds Woodwind Quintet and pianist Cory Smythe, as part of the La Musica International Chamber Music Festival. The first official Greenfield Prize weekend event will be on Wednesday, April 9th from 2:30 to 4:00 pm with an open rehearsal for Imani Winds, Smythe and Iyer. This will take place at the New College Sainer Pavilion, 5313 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. The cost to enjoy the rehearsal with this renowned quintet is a $15 festival day pass, which may be purchased at the door.
April 10th events begin with a Composer Talk by Vijay Iyer from noon until 1:00 pm, also being held at the Sainer Pavilion. This is a free event. Bruits, the title of the 2012 Greenfield Prize commission, will be premiered at La Musica’s 8:00 pm performance at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased online at www.lamusicafestival.org.
Creative Conversations begin on Friday April 11 in the Asolo Rep’s Cook Theatre. These are free but reservations are required due to space limitations. The first talk, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, will feature Vijay Iyer and Bob Seymour, host of All Night Jazz on WUSF 89.7. The two will discuss Generations of Jazz, reflecting on growth and changes of this music form. From here, the weekend will focus on theater. A second creative conversation begins in the Cook at 2:30-3:30 pm featuring Lillian Manzor, University of Miami’s director of Latin American studies. She will give us an overview of the Cuban cultural landscape in honor of Nilo Cruz, our first Latino Greenfield Prize winner.
Saturday, April 12, begins again with two creative conversations in the Cook Theater, one from 1:00 -2:00 pm and the second from 2:30 to 3:30. The first features Nilo Cruz talking about his work and life in the theater. The second is entitled American Theater: Many Voices, Many Visions and will discuss minority and gender voices in the theater and why it is important for everyone to be represented. Participating will be Actress Olympia Dukakis, Music-Theatre Group Producing Director Diane Wondisford and Playwright Carlyle Brown.
The weekend’s grand finale will be the dinner that evening at Michael’s on East. This is where Cruz will be awarded the 2014 Greenfield Prize and Olympia Dukakis will deliver the keynote speech. Tickets to the dinner can be purchased online at www.GreenfieldPrize.org or by calling Janet Hunter at 941-371-6798.
“We have turned our award dinner into a community weekend with access to arts leaders not likely found elsewhere,” continued Rodgers. “The participation of these arts producers and creators further confirms the importance of this national award. We look forward to sharing this weekend with the community.”
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About the Greenfield Prize: The Greenfield Prize at the Hermitage Artist Retreat is a groundbreaking partnership between the Philadelphia-based Greenfield Foundation and the Hermitage Artist Retreat. Pursuing the mission “to bring into the world works of art that will have a significant impact on the broader or artistic culture,” the prize seeks to identify individuals whose past work and future prospects position them to achieve this lofty and ambitious goal. The prize is awarded annually and includes a $30,000 commission for a new piece of work to be created within a two-year time frame. A residency at the Hermitage Artist Retreat on Manasota Key in Englewood, FL, ensures time and space in which to do the work. The Greenfield Prize rotates each year among three artistic areas: drama, music, and a “wild card.” In the “wild card” years, the prize may be awarded to artists in any field or combination of fields, or themes in an effort to accommodate new forms, fields, technologies, and the blending of traditional disciplines. For more information visit the website http://www.greenfieldprize.org.
About the Hermitage Artist Retreat: The Hermitage is a not-for-profit artist retreat located at 6660 Manasota Key Road in Englewood, FL. It invites accomplished painters, sculptors, writers, playwrights, poets, composers and other artists from all over the world for residencies on its beachfront historic campus. Artists are asked to contribute two services to the community during their stay. So far, Hermitage artists have touched over 11,000 Gulf Coast community children and adults with unique and inspiring programs. In addition, the Hermitage awards and administers the prestigious Greenfield Prize, an annual $30,000 commission for a new work of art, rotating among three disciplines: visual art, music and drama. The Hermitage also partners with the Aspen Music Festival and School to award the annual Hermitage Prize to a composition student during the Festival. For more information about The Hermitage Artist Retreat, call 941-475-2098 or visit the website at www.HermitageArtistRetreat.org.
2014 GREENFIELD PRIZE WEEKEND
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Wednesday, April 9
2:30-4:00 pm: Open rehearsal for Vijay Iyer, Imani Winds Woodwind Quintet and Cory Smythe of 2012 Greenfield Prize commission Bruits by Vijay Iyer.
Cost: $15. Location: Sainer Pavilion, 5313 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota
Thursday, April 10
Noon-1:00 pm: Composer Talk by Vijay Iyer
Cost: FREE. Location: Sainer Pavilion, 5313 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota
8:00 pm: World Premiere2012 Greenfield Prize commission, Bruits by Vijay Iyer
Cost: $40. Location: Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota.
Friday, April 11
1:00 to 2:00 pm: Creative Conversation Generations of Jazz, featuring Vijay Iyer and Bob Seymour, host of All Night Jazz on WUSF 89.7
Cost: FREE w/reservation. Location: Cook Theater, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
2:30-3:30 pm: Creative Conversation featuring Lillian Manzor, University of Miami’s director of Latin American studies for overview of Cuban arts culture
Cost: FREE w/reservation. Location: Cook Theater, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Saturday, April 12
1:00 to 2:00 pm: Creative ConversationNilo Cruz My Life, My Work
Cost: FREE w/reservation. Location: Cook Theater, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
2:30-3:30 pm: Creative ConversationAmerican Theater: Many Voices, Many Visions on importance of minority and gender voices in the theater, featuring Actress Olympia Dukakis, Music-Theatre Group Producing Director Diane Wondisford and Playwright Carlyle Brown.
Cost: FREE w/reservation. Location: Cook Theater, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
6:00 pm: 2014 Greenfield Prize Award Dinner w/Nilo Cruz and Olympia Dukakis
Cost: individual $195, patron $300. Location: Michaels on East, 1212 S. East Ave, Sarasota
For more information visit the website www.GreenfieldPrize.org or call 941-475-2098.
