Fueling student creativity through industry insight
Ringling College of Art and Design’s Green Light Speaker Series brings acclaimed artists, filmmakers, and entertainment industry leaders to the Sarasota community. The Green Light Fundraiser further enriches the student experience by creating meaningful opportunities to connect with industry professionals.
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2026 Guest Speaker
An Evening with Dennis Quaid
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
6:30–8 pm
Ringling College Studio Labs Soundstage and Post-Production Complex
Proceeds from this event support Ringling College of Art and Design, celebrating its award-winning programs in art and design, which are consistently ranked among the top in the world. These programs equip students with cutting-edge technical skills, creative confidence, and the professional preparation needed to excel in today’s dynamic creative industries
Dennis Quaid is an Emmy® Award and two-time Golden Globe® nominee with 150 television and film credits to his name. He is known for his roles in hit films I Can Only Imagine, I Can Only Imagine 2, The Rookie, The Day After Tomorrow, Traffic, Vantage Point, Frequency, The Parent Trap, Soul Surfer, The Right Stuff, Breaking Away, Midway, War Machine, Signal One, and many more. Quaid has also starred in a string of major television series, including Happy Face, Full Circle, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Merry Happy Whatever, and Goliath.
In 2024, he portrayed the 40th president of the United States in the biopic Reagan. Quaid’s other recent big-screen credits include Sovereign, The Long Game, which earned the audience award at SXSW in 2023, and the Oscar nominated film, The Substance.
Alongside his acting career, Quaid is also a respected singer-songwriter with hundreds of thousands of miles under his belt as a recording and touring musician who’s been playing music since his grandfather bought him his first guitar. His No.1 Billboard top Christian album, Fallen, tells the story of Quaid’s personal faith journey through classic hymns he grew up with and original songs.
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Past Guest Speakers
2025: Alec Baldwin
On November 20, 2025, celebrated actor, producer, author, and podcast host Alec Baldwin spoke with Ringling College’s Film Department Head Patrick Alexander.
Laura Linney
Golden Globe, SAG, and Emmy award-winning actress Laura Linney was a guest speaker for the Green Light Speaker Series on November 19, 2024.
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