January 28 at 5 p.m. at the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County (Sarasota)
Both events offer a chance for the public to meet Andy Sandberg, the Hermitage’s new Artistic Director and CEO, and to learn more about the Hermitage’s mission and its breadth of community programming.
(Sarasota County) This month, the public will have two opportunities to meet Andy Sandberg, the new Artistic Director and CEO of the Hermitage Artist Retreat. The first of these two free events is Friday, January 24, 5 p.m., at the Hermitage Palm House, 6630 Manasota Key Road in Englewood. The second is Tuesday, January 28, 5 p.m., at the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, 1226 N Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. Each event features a reception with light refreshments, a short talk by Sandberg at 5:30 p.m., which follows with a Q&A. Flutist Claire Chase and Hermitage artist-in-residence will offer a brief performance at each event. Space is limited. Registration for both free events is required at https://HermitageArtistRetreat.org/calendar/.
“We recognize that not everyone knows about the Hermitage,” says Sandberg. “Or they might know the Hermitage name but don’t fully understand the breadth of our regional programming and the invaluable support we provide to artists across multiple disciplines. We felt these forums would be a good opportunity for me to introduce myself to the community and explain what has drawn me to Sarasota County—and specifically to the Hermitage. Plus, this is a chance to hear from members of our community, and to share some thoughts about what’s possible for the future of this unique and vital organization.”
“There are special times in the life of any nonprofit that are especially important and seminal,” says Hermitage trustee David Green. “This is one of those times for the Hermitage Artist Retreat. We are so proud and honored to introduce to the Sarasota community, Andy Sandberg, our new artistic director and CEO. When we started our search, we were looking for someone who would bring enthusiasm, passion, in-depth experience, strategic thought, and boundless leadership to take the Hermitage to the next level. We were reaching high and knew that we might not be able to find someone with all these qualities. But we did. We encourage you to come meet Andy and hear his vision of the bright future for the Hermitage and its positive effect on the arts and cultural community we love so much.”
Andy Sandberg was announced as Artistic Director and CEO of the Hermitage in December of 2019. An accomplished director, writer, and Tony Award-winning producer whose national and international career has been committed to new work and artist development, Sandberg was selected to lead the organization following an extensive national search. (A more complete bio can be found below.)
The Hermitage Artist Retreat is located at 6630 Manasota Key Road in Englewood. For more information about these free events or the Hermitage, visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.
About the Hermitage Artist Retreat:
The Hermitage is a nonprofit artist retreat located in Manasota Key, Florida, inviting accomplished artists across multiple disciplines for residencies on its beachfront campus, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Hermitage artists are invited to interact with the local community, touching thousands of Gulf Coast residents and visitors each year with unique and inspiring programs. Hermitage fellows have included nine Pulitzer Prize winners, along with multiple Tony, Emmy, Grammy and MacArthur Fellowship award winners. Works created at this beachside retreat by a diverse group of Hermitage alumni have gone on to renowned theatres, concert halls, and galleries throughout the world. The Hermitage awards the $30,000 Greenfield Prize for a new work of art, and the Aspen Music Festival awards the annual Hermitage Prize in Composition. For more information about The Hermitage Artist Retreat, visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.
Support for the Hermitage:
Hermitage programs are supported, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts; by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues; and by the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council of Arts and Culture and the State of Florida (Section 286.25 Florida Statutes).
About Andy Sandberg:
An accomplished director, writer, and Tony Award-winning producer whose national and international career has been committed to new work and artist development, Andy Sandberg was selected by the Hermitage board of trustees to lead the organization following an extensive national search.
His theatrical work has been represented in New York City, London, and throughout the United States. In 2009, at the age of 25, he became one of the youngest producers in history to win a Tony Award. Sandberg’s Broadway and West End producing credits include the hit revival of Hair (2009 Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle Awards); the Broadway revival of Gore Vidal’s The Best Man (2012 Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle Nominations); and Will Eno’s The Realistic Joneses.
Sandberg recently directed the London premiere of Jeannette Bayardelle’s Shida, which earned 2019 Off West End Award nominations for Best Musical, Best Director, and Best Lead Actress. He previously directed the world premiere of Shida Off-Broadway at Ars Nova (four AUDELCO Award Nominations, including Best Director and Best Musical) and at the American Repertory Theater (Cambridge, MA). Sandberg has been represented Off-Broadway as the director of Straight, named a Critics’ Pick by The New York Times, He previously wrote and directed the world premiere of Application Pending, a comedy about kindergarten admissions (BroadwayWorld Award: Best Off-Broadway Play, Drama Desk Nomination: Outstanding Solo Show, Winner: Book Pipeline Prize). Additional world premieres that he has directed include Alan Brody’s historical drama Operation Epsilon (four IRNE Awards, including Best Play and Best Director), the Off-Broadway comedy Craving for Travel (also co-author), and the Off-Broadway musicals The Last Smoker in America, Neurosis, and R.R.R.E.D.
Born and raised in New York, Sandberg is a graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in English and Theater Studies. He is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) and the Off-Broadway League. He has served on the boards of The Browning School (NYC), the Yale Dramatic Association, the Whiffenpoof Alumni Association, and the Yale Alley Cats Alumni Organization (founder and president). He currently serves as president of the Browning Alumni Association. For more information, visit www.AndySandberg.com.