Omg

 

By C.S Gilbert

 

OMG. As a reward for filing this column and a bunch of other stories by 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, Culture Vulture rewarded herself with a night on the town. The result was a pulsing, pounding concert by venerated singer-songwriter-guitarist Patty Larkin, sponsored by The Studios of Key West borrowing the wonderfully transformed Eaton Street Theater, followed by a high-volume second set by the ever-delightful Love Lane Gang further uptown at McConnell’s.

 

 

The Eaton Street Theater, the old building at the corner of Eaton and Bahama streets, has undergone myriad transformations over the years. It started out as a church, long ago, but by the mid-1990s was known as Club Chameleon and was the home of a series – the Vulture can recall at least two — wildly popular and elaborate musical shows titled Flamingo Follies. Dr. Jerome Covington’s delightful younger brother was one of the stars.

 

 

Circa 2010 there was an attempt to create a dinner theater in the space; the proposal was strenuously opposed by the nearby St. Paul’s and United Methodist churches and as near as we can recall never got off the ground. The property fell into disrepair. If it were used for other shows over the years, we have missed them. At last, as reported in last week’s paper, came On the Rock Productions and co-founders Landon Bradbary, Juliet Gray and Mike Marrero.

 

 

The new producers leased the neglected Eaton Street Theater, renamed it the Key West Theater, and the rest, we hope, will be history.

 

 

The almost naked stage (as of TSKW’s fairly recent Zoe Lewis concert) has been elegantly furnished by four banks of curtains, a rich blue fronted by royal red teasers and tormenters. A fully professional light and sound system has been installed. If, when TSKW opens its large theater, there are competing one-night shows a block from each other the Vulture plans to schedule a nervous breakdown due to the difficulty of making a choice.

 

 

Now playing at the Key West Theater is Bones and Pie, a selection of short plays by Key West authors Bradbary (Key West Burlesque’s Frankie a playwright? Who knew?), Marrero (think the Tropic’s 72-Hour Film Challenge), Jon Rhoads and Eric Weinberger. The show opened Jan. 29 and runs through Feb. 14. Look for a review elsewhere in this issue. Tickets are available through keystix.com or by phoning (305) 295-7676. For more info about the company, visit ontherockkeywest.com.

 

 

Turning back to fine arts and crafts, SoDu Gallery is pleased to announce a Call to Artists for the seventh annual From A Woman’s Hand show, which will be held April 3-12, with a champagne and chocolate reception on Friday, April 3. Continuing the tradition set by the Custom House with a show for Keys women artists, SoDu is looking for submissions of art by women residing in the Keys in any media for this juried and judged show. Work must be new (completed in 2014 or 2015), previously not exhibited in the Keys and not created in a workshop or class. Prizes will be awarded at the artists’ reception. There is a $20 entry fee; applications are available at the gallery, 1102B Duval St. or sodugallery@gmail.com. Deadline for submission is March 1. Notices of acceptance will be sent out by email to the artists after March 9. More info: (305) 296-4400.

 

 

Also, opening Feb. 6 from 6 until 9 p.m., will be a show of new work by the ever-popular and lauded Impressionist William Welch and the recovering elementary school teacher and swiftly emerging local potter Marc Hacker. Hacker, a student of the late Jay Gogin, “is well known for his creative ceramics and Raku work. His new vases push Raku to the limit,” wrote Fran Decker, artist/owner of the hosting Frangipani Gallery. For info: (305) 296-0440.

 

 

The opening is in conjunction with the First Friday Art Stroll on Upper Duval, and we suggest visiting SoDu next door and then crossing the street to check out the work at Cocco and Salem Gallery as well. Opening Tuesday was a show featuring the glass mosaics of Mia Tavonatti.

 

 

That’s all for now. Gotta fly!

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