Welcome to my NEWS section!
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Margie's Swan Song
It was so wonderful to be able to honor my friend Marjorie North, the celebrated society columnist of the Sarasota Herald Tribune, who is retiring at the end of 2008 after 30 years service to the newspaper. She brought her successor Heather Dunhill into the studio to introduce her to my listeners, little knowing that I had arranged for several of her closest friends and family to take part in the 2-hour show as well.
Margaret Wise, Karin Gustavson, Sandy Loevner, Judi Gallagher, Molly Schechter, Barbara Strauss, Veronica Brady, Dee Wernick, plus of course Laura, Christina, Angela and Bella - her daughters and granddaughter - all had great fun telling their favorite "Margie" anecdotes and paying tribute to this remarkable woman.
Fortunately SNN6 TV was on hand to capture a few precious moments:
And you can listen to the entire Talk of the Sun Coast radio show by clicking here:
Marjorie North Tribute Special
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... and don't forget to
Get your tickets for Margie's Tribute!
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It was really great to spend two hours chatting in the studio with
Audrey, Ruth and Daniel Landers!
If you'd like to listen to our conversation, click here!
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Animal Rescue Coalition
I'm pleased to be Master of Ceremonies at this year's ARC Dog's Night Out, which will be held on Friday, January 16 2009 from 6 - 9 pm!
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Flying High, Honoring Dolly Jacobs & Pedro Reis
Date / Time: Sunday, January 18, 2009, 6 - 9 p.m.
Location: Michael's on East
The Jewish Housing Council Foundation invites you to celebrate as it honors Dolly Jacobs and Pedro Reis for their faithful dedication to the Sarasota community through their outreach programs. All proceeds from this event benefit the Benevolent Assistance Program. Last year this event raised $134,000. For sponsorship please contact Mindi Rohan, Director of Development at 941-377-0781.
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A "Feaste" for the Eyes and Ears - Riverview's Renaissance
I don't get out enough.
I know I can't be everywhere at the same time, no matter how much I try. Of course I'm addicted to our Arts life here in Sarasota, and I adore the actors and the singers, the dancers and the artists, the musicians and directors; but tonight I realized that there's a wonderful world outside our theatres, our concert halls and our art galleries - I realized I don't get out enough into our schools.
When I chatted with Riverview High's Principal Linda Nook and Assistant Principal Paul Gallagher on the show a couple of weeks ago, they very kindly invited me to come to Riverview's annual "Renaissance Feaste" at St. John's United Methodist Church on Proctor. Now, not being one to be found often either in Sarasota schools or in its churches, I had no idea what the "Renaissance" was, but was hooked the minute I took my seat in the pew this evening.
It began in the early 90's as a Madrigal Dinner in Riverview's North Cafeteria with less than 40 students, then increased quickly in popularity and moved to the much larger St John's in 2001. The "Castle", the venue for the subsequent concert portion of the "Feaste", was created by the choir parents and students, who designed and painted specialized wall fabric and supports that could be put up and taken down every year in the Church's gymnasium to create the medieval setting. Today, the Feaste boasts over 150 students and volunteers and has become an integral part of Riverview's choral department.
We were first treated to the enchanting voices of the "Mini Minstrels" from Sarasota Middle School. I was seated next to Riverview's Assistant Principal Melanie Dunham, and her anticipation was infectious: I wanted more, and when the lights went down and the Renaissance cast entered in procession, you could have heard a pin drop. The fact that this was Choir Director Betty Mullett's final concert after 19 years only added to the emotion, especially when she spoke a moving vote of thanks and goodbye to her students and audience, and handed over the baton to her successor David Verdoni.
Beautifully accompanied by pianist Shari Munger, the "Riverview Players" - King and Queen, Lords and Ladies, Serfs and Wenches - then proceeded to captivate the packed house with their fabulous costumes and wonderful harmonies. "Annua Gaudia", "Al Shlosha D'Varim", "I saw three ships", "Joy To the World" and five other pieces perfectly performed, demonstrating again and again the time and effort invested by the students.
Our appreciation and respect for the Riverview choir heightened in the "Castle". We were served a hearty meal, while at the same time the cast entertained us by acting, singing and dancing the story of King Shane and Queen Amber's ascent to the throne.
And suddenly Christmas had arrived for me - hammered home by the decorations, the ambiance, the harmonies, and the boundless enthusiasm of these young students. Their final superb rendition of my favorite Traditional, "Carol of the Bells", brought a tear to my eye.
Yes, I really should get out more ... and discover our community's schools, where parents and teachers beam with pride at the achievements of their children and students, who are unquestionably our stars of tomorrow.
What: Riverview High School's 2008 Yuletide Renaissance Concert and Feaste, directed by Betty Mullett and David Verdoni, accompanied by Shari Munger and starring Amber Suleskey, Shane Blouin, Earl Jurado, Lisa Termine and a charismatic cast of over 60 Lords and Ladies and Serfs and Wenches; plus the Sarasota , Brookside and Booker Middle School "Mini Minstrels";
When: December 4, 5 and 6, 2008
Where: St. John's United Methodist Church
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Kathy Kolbe
I was so fortunate to have the chance to interview the legendary Kathy Kolbe.
Kathy, an entrepreneur, educator and best-selling author, pioneered the identification of a distinct cluster of human behaviors that led to breakthroughs in the understanding and use of innate abilities. As the leading authority on human instincts, Kolbe has amassed over 500,000 case studies to validate her discoveries in the field of instinct and human behavior. Her research – spanning four decades and six continents – represents the foremost body of work within the realm of the conative dimension of the mind.
Kolbe in Business
Kolbe has worked with Fortune 500 companies, business executives, government leaders, universities, and professional sports teams to maximize performance potential by using instinctive talents. Kolbe has been profiled in Time magazine's Man of the Year issue as one of the seven Americans "who exemplify the spirit that inspires... the choice for Man of the Year," was honored by the White House as "one of America's Can-Do People," was inducted into Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism Hall of Fame, and has received numerous other honors and awards and has been a featured keynote speaker at conventions worldwide. She has dedicated her life to helping people learn to trust the power of their instincts.
Kolbe the Author
Her first book, The Conative Connection, shook the foundations of conventional wisdom regarding the mind by identifying its third and most elusive dimension: the conative. The book recounts Kolbe's steps in putting together the puzzle of striving instincts and the development of her methodology for building upon individuals' innate strengths. The Conative Connection became a best seller and its success fueled Kolbe's commitment to a lifetime of casework to support her breakthrough theories. Pure Instinct, Kolbe's business book published by Random House, details her experience with high performers in the corporate arena and her techniques for helping them to maximize their potential. Her most recent book, Powered by Instinct: 5 Rules for Trusting Your Guts, serves as an individual's guide to increase personal productivity and well-being by learning to unlock the power of their own authentic, creative self.
Click to listen: Kathy Kolbe, The Kolbe Index
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Get into the holiday spirit: sit down with your kids for three minutes and listen to "The Elf On The Shelf"!
If you'd like more information, you can either go to www.elfontheshelf.com or you can listen to my entire interview with author Carol Aebersold in the studio!
Michael Greenberg's spare, unflinching memoir begins with a bang: "On July 5, 1996, my daughter was struck mad." Hurry Down Sunshine chronicles the summer when 15-year-old Sally experienced her first full-blown manic episode--an event that in a "single stroke" changed her identity and, by extension, that of her entire family. Greenberg's memoir shines a stark light on mental illness, painting a vivid picture of a brain and body under siege by a mania that seems a separate living thing squatting within the patient. So desperate is he to understand her that he relentlessly researches mental illness (the book is 
peppered with fascinating insights into drug therapy and anecdotes about writers who struggled with madness), and even goes so far as to sample a full dose of his daughter's medication. Startling, heart-wrenching, and yet unwaveringly unsentimental, Hurry Down Sunshine is an unforgettable story of a young girl's descent into madness, told through the eyes of a harried and helpless father trying desperately to bring her back.
Sarasota British Club
You really couldn't wish for a nicer bunch of people: the Sarasota British Club meets regularly at different venues to enjoy each other's company and a meal, have a natter and occasionally invite a guest speaker or musician. I was honored to be asked to speak before them in August and was thrilled at the reception I received.
They are always looking out for new members, so if you feel a hankering towards us Brits or are curious as to our history and heritage, culinary delights and idiosyncracies, join the club and get to know a fine group (I heartily recommend their Christmas "do", for example!).
The club has its own website and newsletter, so bookmark one and subscribe to the other:
http://sarasotabritishclub.com
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"The Forever War"
Afghanistan - Iraq - 9/11: He was there. And he keeps going back.
I interviewed him - this is his story: click to listen: Dexter Filkins
New Series:
Sarasota Sister Cities Association
We Europeans are used to being able to travel from one country to the next within a few hours. It's nothing to drive (if you can afford the gas!) through Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark and the United Kingdom in the same time it would take to travel from Sarasota to the Carolinas. Different cultures, different mentalities ... traveling to other countries is extremely important for our education, our understanding, our tolerance of others.
As most Sarasotans can't just hop in the car and travel to far-off, exotic countries, the members of the Sarasota Sister Cities Association will gladly offer you the chance to totally immerse yourself in the seven cities that are "twinned" with Sarasota: Perpignan (France), Tel Mond (Israel), Hamilton (Canada), Vladimir (Russia), Treviso (Italy), Xiamen (Siming District, China) and Dunfermline (Scotland).
Over the next three months I am going to be profiling our Sister Cities Association and our friends in the seven cities. My article in the October issue of SCENE Magazine will introduce the Association, one of the best kept secrets in Sarasota; around the same time I'll begin a series of live interviews with the respective SSCA Directors of the cities on my radio show Talk Of The Sun Coast on 1220 AM WSRQ. Every ten days or so I'll be featuring another city.
SSCA Leaders:
Back row: Harry Dunn, City Director of Perpignan; Ian Krause, Community Youth Development board member; Dr. Carolyn Bloomer, City Director, Siming District, Xiamen, China; William Mallett, Membership Director; Mirco Chiodi, VP of Cities, City Director of Treviso
Front row: William Wallace, Past President; Carla Rayman, President; Gloria Grenier, City Director of Hamilton; Betty Greenspan, City Director of Tel Mond; Gundula Coleman, Secretary and City Director of Vladimir
Please check in regularly here, to AnythingArts.com or to SarasotaLocal.com for interview dates; you can also sign up on my homepage for my Monday newsletter!
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My Quantum Leap to 1988
Celine & I in her Montreal studio, summer 1987
After I'd shed a tear at a Bon Jovi clip, admired Tears for Fears and Oleta Adams, smiled nostalgically at an Elton John classic and laughed at Def Leppard's hairstyles, I found this clip - Céline Dion and I at the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in May 1988. Watch closely as the winner is announced ... yep, that was me in my golden moment. God bless YouTube.
Ne partez pas sans moi
Probably the most exciting ending the Eurovision Song Contest has ever experienced: Switzerland, represented by the then 18 year old Celine Dion from Montreal, won by one point over Great Britain.
The camera switches between the totally exhausted Celine Dion in the artists' green room and the frenetically ecstatic Swiss delegation in the auditorium, headed by me, Celine's promoter, waving a Canadian flag and ready to bungee-jump for joy through the TV screens.
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SarasotaLocal.com
I'm very impressed by the way Sarasotan Brian Ehrlich is building up an online website/calendar/blogsite dedicated solely to Sarasota. It's called SarasotaLocal.com, and when you register you're able to network with fellow residents, follow local events, upload your favorite photographs of Sarasota etc. and write your day-to-day thoughts down in your very own Sarasota blog.
Yes, I know there are a few sites out there like that, and Brian has based SarasotaLocal.com on the now-established worldwide Facebook and MySpace formats, but he makes his site that little bit more personal, and the overview of what's happening in our fair city is more centered and less confusing.
Sign up and discover yet another wonderful side of living in paradise!
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NEW AUDIOBOOK
I've just finished recording another Audiobook with Sarasota-based Coolbeat. This one is entitled "FIRST LIGHT" and was written by sisters Dr. Helen Struble and Mary Tobin, a.k.a. H&M Mertins, who reside in Butler and Ft. Myers here in S.W. Florida.
First Light
by: Helen & Mary Mertins
Read by: Cliff Roles -- Time: 7 hours 12 minutes
Publisher Direct Price = $19.99 
- what am I buying?
A Medieval Celtic fantasy full of deadly deceptions, with twists and turns to be savored. Originally published 2005.
First Light delves into a tumultuous era in the Highlands of Eire. Will the ancient rituals of Una, the Mystic of the Swamp, succeed in coaxing the mighty spirits to protect Lady Fiona from the secrets of the grave? The Mertins twins recreate the earthy, crude qualities of medieval castle life. Lords, sans scruples, proposing lust and love...Courtly love...ladies dressed in shimmering satin...ancient chants...poisoned wine...
For more information, phone Dale or Alex at (941) 376-2665 or go to http://www.coolbeat.biz.
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I'm always on the lookout for new events that are going on in Sarasota in order to be able to get "out and about" as well as inform my listeners. To this end I regularly consult local online "newsletters", and in case you've not yet subscribed to them, here are their web links:
SCENE Magazine events calendar
Sarasota Magazine's e-newsletter
Sign up and be "in the know"!
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MySpace
I have my very own MySpace.com account! Be sure to go to www.myspace.com/english456 and request to be my friend today! Stop by to read my blurb, look at my photos and post a comment!
Facebook
Yep, as if we didn't have enough online contact possibilities - now I also have Facebook! Sign up and join me - and the other 30 million people who discovered it before me!
SarasotaLocal.com
Sign up and feel even more at home in Sarasota - upload some of your favorite Sarasota views, network with fellow Sarasotans, write a blog about your favorite Sarasota activity and your worse Sarasota restaurant experience.
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Community Theatre Auditions
Are you planning to audition for a role in one of next season's community theatre productions? Then click on the following theatres to find out when you can try out for the part of your dreams!
Island Players
Manatee Players
Players of Sarasota
Venice Little Theatre
Lemon Bay Playhouse
Charlotte Players
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Voiceovers/Narration
Warm and deep for narrations, sexy and fun for commercials, smooth and professional for presentations - all of the above apply to my voice, which is perfect for voiceovers or TV commercials. I have a sophisticated, non-regional English accent, and am able to do voice work in regional British accents (London (e.g. Cockney), Yorkshire, Irish, Welsh, for example), as well as French, German, Russian, Australian and South African accents. I speak fluent English (native), French and German. Rates available on request - call (941) 685-9017 or mail me at RoCli17@aol.com!
Voiceover demos:
(audiobook): The Miller of the Dee
(audiobook): First Light
(with music): Radio Hamburg
(corporate): CEBIT
(interview): Tina Brown, The Diana Chronicles
(German): Musikline
(narration): The Christmas Story (6'21)
(narration): Oh, The Places You'll Go (5'57)
(narration): The Elf On The Shelf (3'03)
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The many faces...
I've put together a selection of photos on my "Photos" page, which I keep updated. I wanted to combine pictures from all walks of my life: guests from my radio show, artist pictures from my time in the record business in Germany and some photos from the shows, plays and musicals I've been involved in.
This is my dog Sam, by the way ...
If you'd like to contact me:
Mobile: +1 (941) 685-9017
Fax: +1 (941) 365-5011
Email: RoCli17@aol.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/english456