Inside “The Hat”: How the Historic Asolo Theater Shapes Sarasota’s Art Scene with Elizabeth Doud

What’s “The HAT”? It’s more than just a nickname, it’s a beloved cultural landmark. In this inspiring episode of Behind the Masterpiece, Jeffery Kin sits down with Elizabeth Doud, Currie-Kohlmann Curator of Performance at the Historic Asolo Theater, to uncover the history, heartbeat, and creative soul behind this iconic venue at The Ringling. From the origins of its top-hat moniker to curating global talent for Sarasota audiences, Elizabeth shares how the theater blends historic charm with cutting-edge artistry. Hear how she discovers boundary-pushing performers, why intimacy matters in live arts, and what’s in store for the upcoming season.  Timestamps: (00:00) Introducing Elizabeth Doud, Currie-Kohlmann Curator of Performance at The Ringling Museum and the Historic Asolo Theatre (07:00) How Elizabeth got to the Historic Asolo Theatre (10:40) How Elizabeth curates the performances at the HAT (13:00) Masterclasses (15:00) Building relationships with artists (20:30) Upcoming performances (23:00) How do you stay motivated? (27:00) The importance of the arts For more information and to listen to all the episodes, go to sarasotapodcast.com