FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY MATTHEW WHITAKER SUMMER 2020–21 Opening Nights...like dark chocolate to the senses. Taylor / Blackburn Family Proud Season Sponsor Florida State University Opening Nights_JTaylor_Full Page Ad_2020-21.indd 1 10/22/20 10:17 AM SPONSORS DIAMOND LEVEL 20/21 TAYLOR/BLACKBURN FAMILY PLATINUM LEVEL RON SACHS & GAY WEBSTER-SACHS GOLD LEVEL LAW OFFICE OF HERB & MARY KEN KATO JERVIS & NAN NAGY FSU License Plate SILVER LEVEL LINDA J. LEE SMITH, PHD HINKLE BERNADETTE & ROGER LUCA MIKEY BESTEBREURTJE & WILSON BAKER TERESA BEAZLEY WIDMER MARSHALL & KIMBERLY CRISER BRONZE LEVEL CHARLES JIM & LARRY & & SUSAN BET T Y ANN JO DEEB STRATTON RODGERS Architects Lewis + Whitlock SALLY STEFANIE & KARIOTH ERWIN JACKSON IN-KIND SPONSORS, GRANTS & ENDOWMENTS LAURIE & KELLY DOZIER ENDOWMENT SPONSOR SUPPORT DOES NOT INDICATE ARTISTS’ ENDORSEMENT OF ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE. FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY A National Leader in Student Success GLOBAL REACH BEST IN FLORIDA FSU’s commitment to increasing the number of Florida State University’s four-year graduation students studying abroad was honored with a 2019 rate of 72 percent places FSU among the Top 10 Seal of Excellence from the Institute of International public universities in the country and is the best Education. The award specifically recognized FSU’s in the state of Florida. extraordinary global-engagement network. FSU FRESHMEN FLOURISH WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH Florida State’s freshman retention rate is 93 FSU researchers received a record level of funding percent, meaning more freshmen than ever from federal, state and private sources in the 2019 are returning for their second year. That places fiscal year, bringing $233.6 million to the university FSU among the Top 20 public universities in the to support investigations into areas such as health nation for freshman retention! sciences, high energy physics and marine biology. THE WORD IS OUT AN OUTSTANDING VALUE Prospective students are taking notice of FSU’s Florida State is ranked No. 9 in the nation among preeminence. We received a record-breaking public universities that offer high-quality education 60,555 first-time freshman applications for the at an affordable price, according to Kiplinger’s 2019 summer and fall semesters. annual list of Best Values in Public Colleges. Outstanding Performances Continue lind since birth, Matthew’s talent on the piano is Swift, and country music star Billy Dean in an intimate extraordinary. He began playing at age 3 and now “Evening with Billy Dean” performance. Bat 20 years old, he is one of the hottest names in As we wrap up our performances, we start to look towards the jazz world. He is currently enrolled in the BA Jazz next season. We recently announced Disney Princess The Studies program at Juilliard in New York City. Concert, featuring some of Broadway’s brightest stars in Matthew has extensively toured the United States and an evening of songs, animation, and stories in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall on November 4, 2021. abroad, performing on world-renowned stages. Highlights of this young piano prodigy include serving as the opening Mark your calendars for July 8 when we will announce act when he was just 10 for Stevie Wonder’s induction the full 2021-22 Season lineup. Keep an eye out for some into the Apollo Theater Hall of Fame and recently being additional sneak peeks about what is to come next season. featured on CBS’ 60 Minutes. Thank you for all your continued support throughout this season. This evening is sponsored by Sachs Media, Ron Sachs & Gay Webster-Sachs who have been longtime supporters of Opening Nights. I hope you’ll join me in recognition and thanks for their support of this performance. Three outstanding shows remain this season: bluegrass and Michael Blachly Americana group Old Salt Union, jazz vocalist Veronica Director, Opening Nights at Florida State University OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 5 21-SM-003 Opening Nights ad V1_1 (Print Ready).pdf 3 2/3/21 4:03 PM C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Putting Our Hands Together For Opening Nights Celebrating our 25th anniversary with the best entertainment. sachsmedia.com | 850.222.1996 Public Relations | Public Affairs | Research | Crisis | Digital UPCOMING PERFORMANCES Florida State University John Thrasher, President MAY Opening Nights Staff Michael Blachly Matthew Whitaker Director 8 jazz, instrumental Lori Elliott Sponsored by Sachs Media, Development Director Ron Sachs & Gay Webster-Sachs Brad Lister Ticket Office Manager 27 Old Salt Union Calla MacNamara bluegrass Education & Engagement Manager Rachael Dirr Marketing Assistant to the Director Katelyn Woods JUNE Programming Assistant to the Director Amanda Cole Veronica Swift Multimedia Design Specialist 10 jazz, vocal University Communications, Creative Services Rodney Johnson An Evening with Billy Dean Assistant Director of Creative Services 17 University Communications, Creative Services country, singer-songwriter Sponsored by Ajax Building Company Opening Nights Development Council Gus Corbella, Chair JULY Michael Obrecht, Chair-elect Lauren Bacon 8 2021–22 Season Sara Bayliss Announcement Brandi Brown Kimberly Criser Brooke Hallock Eric Friall Heather Mitchell Nan Nagy Ron Sachs Susan Stratton Cover: Matthew Whitaker, photo by Jacob Blickenstaff OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 7 PROUDLY SUPPORTING the Arts TALLAHASSEE MAGAZINE TALLAHASSEE MAGAZINE A TRIP TO THE SHORE IS A NATURAL RESTORATIVE THEINSIDE: CITY’S THE BIGGEST TASTIEST NORTHWEST ’CUE: A MOUTHWATERING FLORIDA WEDDINGS REVIEWISSUE EVER! P. 222 INSIDE: THE BIGGEST NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS ISSUE EVER! When You Need A Doctor, Not An Appointment! SEPT–OCT 2020 SEPT–OCT SEP-OCT 2014 Family Medicine • Urgent Care Since we opened our first medical center in 1989, PATIENTS FIRST recognized your need for a High-Tech High-Tech faster and more convenient solution to non Let’s Rally Bicycles RENOVATIONS Bicycles life-threatening urgencies. PATIENTS FIRST is 2-wheelers 2-wheelers GUN SHOWS ARE+ NEARING pick up speed pick up speed available for those times when you need a Around Art COMPLETION PASTA MAKING PASTA doctor, not just an appointment. A PATIENTS Opening Nights enriches AT STORIED, FIRST visit is perfect for when you can’t wait for Facing Facing » VENERATED MEDICAL PROFILES PROFILES MEDICAL life of the community medical attention, but you also don’t want to Fears CITY CLUB Fears pay the high costs of emergency room visits. In the trees » In the trees +Have a EDUCATION EARLY on a zipline on a zipline adventureNight Out, adventure College Style » 7 Convenient Locations VISIT THE BEACH Notes to Notes to At Gun » Live By TO GO COCKTAILS Live By A chaplain’Shows,s lost A chaplain’s lost worHagglingk resurfaces work resurfaces is Part of the Fun POET’SHouse POET’S Renovation AdviceWORLD From WORLD theMaster Expertss of verse at FSU Masters of verse at FSU explore a universe of words TALLAHASSEEMAGAZINE.COM explore a universe of words BEST TALLAHASSEEMAGAZINE.COM City’s City’s FAMILY A Plethora PRACTICE MUSIC of Species MUSIC Thank You Tallahassee for Voting North Florida PATIENTS FIRST as Best Family Practice. SCENE SCENE comes bays nurture comes www.PatientsFirst.com alive myriad life forms alive 14TM_SO_PatientsFirst.indd 1 7/29/14 11:43 AM SINCE 1979 Stay connected to Tallahassee’s latest activities and attractions. Read Tallahassee Magazine in print and online, plus like and follow on social media for the latest events and happenings. @tallahasseemag | tallahasseemagazine.com Congratulations Opening Nights Thank you for fostering the Arts and putting the STEAM in STEM Herb & Mary Jervis PRIME MERIDIAN BANK Proud Supporter of Opening Nights Tallahassee | Crawfordville | Lakeland | TryMyBank.com | Member FDIC 2020-21 MEMBERS AS OF 3/19/2021 Producer’s Circle Friend Level Phillip & Betty Brown* Greg & Sharon Beaumont Gus & Tanya Corbella Bob Contreras & Ellen Berler* Mike & Jeri Damasiewicz* Scott & Jennifer Boyles* Eric & Andrea Friall The Three Sisters Calynne & Lou Hill Sandra & James Dafoe* Debby Kearney William & Mary Davis Jon & Jean Kline* Drs. Gib & Ruth Debusk* Geof Mansfield & Jennifer Fitzwater Pamala J. Doffek* Mike & Judy Pate Patrick & Kathy Dunnigan* Piekarewicz Family* The Hon. Stephen Everett & Meghan Everett* Jim & Sherrill Ragans Gina & Scott Gorman Marjorie Turnbull Kristin & Sheldon Gusky David & Kathy Hale* Partner Level Helen D. Haines* Law Office of Linda A. Bailey* Barbara Hamby & David Kirby Jann & Ray Bellamy Linda Harkey* Michael & Judy Blachly Tracy Hatch & Brenda Buchan Grossman Furlow & Bayo, LLC* John & Linda Kilgore* Brandi & Steve Brown* Marge Masterman Kathleen Daly & Reinhart Lerch McNeal/Dunn Family William & Caryl Donnellan Frank & Francesca Melichar Elizabeth Dudek Emily Millett* Lori Elliott & Doug Hall Stephen & Patricia Peters Diane & J. Fogarty Mary Anne Price* Myron & Judy Hayden* Fred & Anna Roberson* Paull & Nita Kirkpatrick Eleanore Rosenberg & Larry Sack* Stacey Lampkin* Doug & Cynthia Sessions Brian R. Lockwood Gary & Patricia Smith* Patty & Chuck Mitchell Joyce & Lee Stillwell Kristine & Tom Parker + Del Suggs & Denice Jones Doug & Debbie Russell Warren & Paula Sutton* Floyd & Eileen Self Janet Thornton Barbara Shapiro Richard Turner Jason & Brenda Watts Gary & Wendy Williams * Member for 5 years or more Member for 10 years or more Marilynn Wills Member for 15 years or more David & Mary Jean Yon* + First year members Marilyn Young & Michael Launer* OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 11 Carlton Fields is pleased to sponsor the 2020-2021 season of Opening Nights at Florida State University. We celebrate the arts as an essential cornerstone of creativity and innovation. www.carltonfields.com Atlanta • Hartford • Los Angeles • Miami • New Jersey • New York • Orlando • Tallahassee • Tampa • Washington, D.C. • West Palm Beach Dr. Cynthia Tie & Dr. David Pascoe northfloridaderm.com 850.402.9444 DARE TO BRAG GET THE TAG Our gift supports two highly successful visual and performing arts presenters to collaborate and provide a unique, cultural experience for our community. – Laurie & Kelly Dozier Endowment Opening Nights & Chain of Parks Don’t be left out. Purchase an FSU license Art Festival Presenting Artist Sponsors tag today! Visit any Florida tax collector’s office or mytag.fsu.edu.