RCLA Announces 2025 Lineup

April 17, 2024 – Sarasota

The 44th season of bringing influencers from the world stage to our stage in Sarasota returns in January 2025.   

Kicking off the series in January, TOWN HALL will welcome actor Glenn Close. Close is a powerhouse in the world of film, television, and theater best known for her iconic roles like “Alex Forrest” in Fatal Attraction or “Patty Hewes” in Damages. She has been nominated for the Academy Award an impressive eight times, starting with her feature film debut in The World According to Garp. Glenn has also graced the stage, earning Tony Awards for her performances in The Real Thing, Death and the Maiden, and her captivating portrayal of “Norma Desmond” in Sunset Boulevard.

Four-time super bowl champion Rob Gronkowski will be joining the series in February. After a final two seasons as a tight end with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rob Gronkowski retired from the NFL in 2022. Rob is a four-time Super Bowl champion, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and a four-time First Team All-Pro selection. He previously played nine seasons for the New England Patriots. ‘Gronk,’ as he’s known to his legion of fans, is widely admired for his fun loving spirit and ability to triumph over significant injuries in his player career, earning him the 2014 Comeback Player of the Year award at the 2015 ESPY Awards.

Dr. Moiya McTier will take the TOWN HALL stage in mid-March. Dr. McTier is an astrophysicist, folklorist, and science communicator based in New York City. In 2022, she released her debut book, THE MILKY WAY: An Autobiography of our Galaxy to critical acclaim. In 2023, the Human Artistry Campaign, a large coalition formed to represent the interests of artists’ organizations in the realm of AI, hired her as their voice and lead advocate.  In every endeavor, her mission is to help people understand the world around us better through science.

In late March, Former National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster joins us to share insights from his distinguished career. H. R. McMaster was the 25^th Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. He served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. H.R. is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Distinguished University Fellow at Arizona State University, and lecturer at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.

In mid-April 2025, Dr. Anthony Fauci will close out our TOWN HALL season. Dr. Fauci is perhaps the most recognized figure in public health and policy in modern time. With a career bookended by the HIV/AIDs and COVID-19 pandemics, Dr. Fauci’s impact spanned seven presidents, covered 50 years of public service, and touched billions of lives. Dr. Fauci’s memoir, On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service (out June 18, 2024), chronicles his fascinating life story from his childhood in Brooklyn to his unrivaled 50-year career as one of the most influential figures in public health.

“TOWN HALL 2025 will feature the best of the best from the diverse fields of acting, sports, science, national security, and global public health,” says Executive Director Lauren Kurnov. “Our 2025 season promises to be not only entertaining but also thought provoking, informative, and inspiring.”

Dr. Larry R. Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design adds, “TOWN HALL provides an invaluable opportunity to hear from world-class leaders right here in Sarasota. There is truly something for everyone in our 2025 lineup, and we can’t wait to share another memorable season with the greater community.”

Since its beginning in 1981 TOWN HALL has been bringing influencers from the world stage to our stage in Sarasota, with a goal to expand horizons, stimulate conversation and inspire the community. Past TOWN HALL speakers include two U.S. Presidents: George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton; author Michael Lewis; ambassador Caroline Kennedy; travel personality, Rick Steves; Olympian Michael Phelps; activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali; humanitarian Jose Andres, Prime Minister Tony Blair; Congresswoman Liz Cheney; Actor Stanley Tucci, and historians, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meacham.  The full list of alumni speakers is available online.

All five lectures will be presented at Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, 777 North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. Morning lectures begin at 10:30 a.m. and evening talks begin at 7:30 p.m.  The series is sold by subscription. 

Subscriptions sales will open for members in May and for the general public in June. Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a member or subscribing to the series, should visit www.rclassociation.org.