Arts Talk

By Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 14, 2001

Forever the Don

Paul Schrader's romantic thriller Forever Mine was partly filmed at the Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa in 1999, then bypassed theaters for cable television. Local actors who worked as extras wondered if they would ever see the film on the big screen.

Their one and only chance occurs Wednesday at the Beach Theater, 315 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach. A special one-time screening of Forever Mine has been arranged to benefit the Film Foundation of Tampa Bay scholarship program. Show time is 8 p.m. Tickets are $10.

The price includes a preshow reception at the Don CeSar with Schrader, author of screenplays for such films as Raging Bull and Taxi Driver. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. Call (727) 464-7240 for ticket purchases.

The Forever Mine screening is sponsored by the Don CeSar, the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Film Commision, Time Warner Communications and the Film Foundation of Tampa.

Cleveland Orchestra debut

Thomas Wilkins, resident conductor of the Florida Orchestra, makes his Cleveland Orchestra debut today. Wilkins leads the orchestra in its 21st annual concert in celebration of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at Severance Hall.

'Blue Room' in Gainesville

The Blue Room, the play that caused a stir with Nicole Kidman's bare-all performance in London ("Theatrical Viagra!" was the famous tabloid blurb) and New York, opened in Gainesville this weekend. David Hare's stage adaptation of Schnitzler's La Ronde stars Joy Schiebel at the Hippodrome State Theatre and continues through Feb. 4.

Tarpon Springs film fest set

The third annual Sol Peska Film Festival will be held Feb. 7-11 at Tarpon Springs Library, 130 E Lemon St. in Tarpon Springs.

All events are free of charge or require a small donation. Teenagers will get free admission, pizza and a screening of Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove at 7 p.m. on Feb. 7. The offbeat German comedy Bagdad Cafe will be shown Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.

On Feb. 9, a tribute to Peska, a library benefactor, will precede the documentary A Tickle in the Heart. Closing day selections on Feb. 11 include Federico Fellini's Amarcord at 2 p.m. and Babette's Feast at 4. For more information, call Friends of the Library at (727) 944-3042.

Art beyond the bay area

Grand opening, Boca Raton Museum of Art, Mizner Park, Boca Raton, Jan. 24. Inaugural show: "Picasso: Passion and Creation. The Last Thirty Years." (561) 392-2500; Web site http://www.bocamuseum.org

Competitions for artists

Mainsail Arts Festival, N Straub Park, St. Petersburg, April 21-22. Major outdoor exhibition. Contact Mainsail Arts Festival Inc., P.O. Box 2842, St. Petersburg 33731; (727) 892-5885. Deadline: Jan. 22.

2D/3D Fine Art Juried Exhibition, Lee County Alliance of the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33919; (941) 939-2787; March 2-30. Deadline: Jan. 29.

Water Impressions, College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 140 Seventh Ave. S, St. Petersburg 33701; (727) 553-3928; Feb. 17. Two-dimensional works on theme of water in conjunction with water forum and inauguration of president Judy Genshaft. Deadline for up to five slides: Feb. 1.

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