The Hermitage Artist Retreat today announced new programs in February and March of 2026, spanning Lee County up through Manatee County and including a return to the Hermitage Beach in Sarasota County. Newly announced events include award-winning poet, writer, and author jessica Care moore and Obie Award winner James Jackson, Jr. for a special Black History Month program on February 26th on the Hermitage Beach; returning Hermitage Fellow and multihyphenate actor-singer-writer Lauren Marcus and Tony Award-nominated playwright Joe Iconis for a memorable evening of music on March 16th at the Manatee Performing Arts Center in Bradenton; and Joe Iconis and Lauren Marcus will again split the bill for a beachside program at the Gasparilla Light House – Range Light in Boca Grande on March 20th.
On Thursday, February 26th at 5:30pm, the Hermitage will present a special Black History Month program featuring Hermitage Fellows jessica Care moore and James Jackson, Jr. Jessica Care moore has recorded her poetry with hip-hop legends like Common, Nas, Jeezy, Talib Kweli, and others. Moore launched into national attention in the 90s when she won the legendary “It’s Showtime at the Apollo” competition a record-breaking five times in a row – with a poem. She is the current Detroit Poet Laureate and the author of five collections of poetry. James Jackson, Jr. is a seasoned Broadway, Off-Broadway, and cabaret performer who has also graced the stages of Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall. Celebrated for his roles in Hermitage Fellow Michael R. Jackson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning A Strange Loop and White Girl in Danger – developed in part at the Hermitage – Jackson also created the popular “Juneteenth Cabaret” in Provincetown to celebrate the history of Black performers in the city. These two incredible performers will share their talents on the Hermitage Beach with “Speak the Word and Lift Every Voice” – a program celebrating Black culture and identity on the Hermitage Beach. This event is being presented in partnership with Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe.
On Monday, March 16th at 6pm, audiences will have an opportunity to return to the Manatee Performing Arts Center in Bradenton for “Joe & Lauren Make Cool Music at MPAC.” The iconic Joe Iconis and the marvelous Lauren Marcus are partners in art and life. Iconis wrote the hit score for Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical Be More Chill, the show where Marcus made her Broadway debut. A celebrated writer and composer, Iconis is recognized as a leading voice in the world of contemporary musical theater, with works spanning Broadway, Off-Broadway, and theaters across the globe. He regularly performs concerts with Marcus and other frequent collaborators as “Joe Iconis & Family” at venues throughout New York. Marcus is a beloved Hermitage artist and performer in her own right – actor, writer, and singer-songwriter are all hats she comfortably and regularly shifts between. Together, they are a New York theater power-couple who will share original work during this memorable evening of music. This program is made possible with the support of the Bishop-Parker Foundation and is presented in partnership with the Manatee Performing Arts Center (MPAC).
On Friday, March 20th at 6:30pm, the Hermitage will present “Joe & Lauren: Making Music in Boca Grande.” The New York theatre power-couple heads south for a beachside program at the Gasparilla Light House – Range Light on Boca Grande as the sun sets over the Gulf. This event is presented in partnership with the Barrier Island Parks Society (BIPS).
These Hermitage programs are free and open to the public (with a $5/person registration fee), offering Gulf Coast audiences a rare chance to engage and interact with some of the world’s leading talent. Running time for most Hermitage programs is 60-70 minutes with no intermission. Due to capacity limitations, registration is required at HermitageArtistRetreat.org.