- April 19, 2024
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Ken Miller
7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.
$25
Visit McCurdysComedy.com
You've got five chances to see up-and-coming comic Ken Miller, who turned heads as the grand prize winner at the Steve Harvey Standup Spotlight Comedy Competition in 2019. Miller, an Army veteran, was born in North Carolina but lives in Orlando. His website boasts that if you don't laugh at his show, he'll buy your first drink. Runs through July 2.
Summer Circus Spectacular
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road
$18; children over 12 $12; children 12 and under free
Visit Ringling.org.
We have no idea how they do it. There's no strings and no wires. There's just old-fashioned human amazement and wonderment. The Circus Arts Conservatory and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art bring you an hour's worth of entertainment full of nimble acrobats, flexible contortionists and the insane art of balancing the weight of your partner in the palm of your hand. OR ON YOUR HEAD. The show will go on into August, so you have plenty of time to see it.
'Disney’s Aladdin Jr.'
7 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W.
$9.80-$20
Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com.
This is a For Kids By Kids production of the Disney classic that took an Academy Award and later hit Broadway. Dream up three wishes and watch as the talented youngsters transport you to another time and place.
Music on Main
6-9 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Main Street
Free
Visit LakewoodRanch.com
If it's the First Friday of the month, that means it's a street party in Lakewood Ranch. Scarlet Drive will be the featured band in July, and they'll play an upbeat blend of country, pop, rock and dance music. The streets will be lined with food vendoers and beer trucks, and proceeds of First Friday will benefit Manatee PAL.
Music at the Plaza
6-9 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch
Free
Visit MyLWR.com.
Singer/musician Sheri Nadelman will provide the live music on Friday as those who visit Waterside Place enjoy sunset views of Kingfisher Lake, fun at the hub's small parks or dining at the various restaurants. On Saturday, singer/musician Trevor Bystrom is the headline performer.
'Moxie' by Rita Rust
6-9 p.m. at Art Uptown Gallery, 1367 Main St.
Free
Visit ArtUptown.com
Come fete painter Rita Rust at the opening reception for her exhibit, "Moxie." Rust's compositions explore the quest to find joy and light even in the dark times. The painter said she was inspired to paint these "action portraits" during the pandemic when she saw pictures of her niece's children enjoying life poolside. The exhibit will be on display through July 30.
Laser Light Nights: Sublime
9 p.m. at Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton
$15
Visit BishopScience.org
Lasers. It's What I Got. The Bishop Museum's Laser Light Nights will take on the ska-infused canon of Sublime, and if you're two hours earlier, you can catch a show that mashes up the music of Green Day and The Offspring. Sit back and plant your eyes on the ceiling as laser lights punctuate your favorite songs with animations and blasts of color.
Food Truck Festival
2-9 p.m. in Parking Lot 4, on the east side of the Mall at UTC, 140 University Town Center Drive
Free
Visit MallAtUTC.com.
The Suncoast's largest food truck festival is being hosted by the Mall at UTC. Enjoy food from more than 50 food trucks and vendors, a family fun zone sponsored by Cat Depot, face painting, bounce houses and more.
Arts Advocates Member Exhibit: Chris Butcher
2-4 p.m. at Arts Advocates Gallery, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail
Free
Visit ArtsAdvocates.org
This month's featured artist at the Arts Advocates gallery is Chris Butcher, who takes on familiar classic works of art and substitutes exotic birds for the models. The exhibit is called The Bird People, and the gallery is open every Saturday for two hours. Free tours scheduled for 3 p.m.
Neverfest
4 p.m. at Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattleman Road
Free
Visit Eventbrite.com/e/neverfest-tickets-372190962187.
It's a punk rock party hosted by a brewery. Neverless and Roxx Revolt and the Velvets will headline this festival at Big Top's refurbished location of the old Cock and Bull bar, and Discord Theory, Red Letter Day, Flagman and Grand Central are also scheduled to play.
Murder Mystery Trolley
7:30 p.m. at Discover Sarasota Tours, 1826 Fourth St.
$50
Visit DiscoverSarasotaTours.com
Somebody's dead. And you've got to figure out whodunit. Visitors to the interactive trolley tour can be cast as part of a 90-minute journey that visits several Sarasota circus locations. It's part play and part scavenger hunt and the rest is up to you.
When X Meets Y: American Revolution
7:30 p.m. at Bowne's Lab, 1265 First St.
$15
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org
Give them a location and three notes on the keyboard, and the improv troupe at Florida Studio Theatre will handle the rest. It's a tale of the revolution and of love stories told in the style of Hamilton and sung for comedic effect.
Beyond Van Gogh
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Starry Night Pavilion, 195 University Town Center Drive
$29-$84
Visit VanGoghSarasota.com
Be part of a masterpiece. The Van Gogh immersive exhibit has been on display in Sarasota since March, and it's been such a big hit that it's already been extended twice. As of now, the final date of the exhibit is July 25. So you've got three more weeks to stand among the sunflowers and take a visual tour of the master's work that's literally larger than life.
‘Athena’
2 p.m. at Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St.
$20-$36
Visit UrbaniteTheatre.com.
You've got one more week to see Athena, which runs through July 10 at the Urbanite. Gracie Gardner's play involves two women who are foils both in fencing and in life as they seek to navigate their hopes and dreams in sports and beyond.
Summer Garden Concert
4 p.m., St. Armands Key Lutheran Church garden, 40 N Adams Drive
Free
Visit SAKLC.com.
St. Armands Key Lutheran Church's summer music series continues with a patriotic celebration and community BBQ. The Swing Sisters will be performing.
Freedom Fest and Hot Diggity Dog Parade & Contest
9-11 a.m. at Bicentennial Park, 2730 Gulf of Mexico Drive
Free
Call 383-2466.
Get out your red, white and blue because Freedom Fest is back for its 19th year with fun for the whole family, including the Hot Diggity Dog parade and contest.
'American Fanfare'
4:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.
$5-$50
Visit ChoralArtistsSarasota.org.
The long-standing tradition continues. The Choral Artists of Sarasota have made Independence Day a highlight of their annual schedule with a performance that features patriotic songs and a salute to the Armed Forces. The Choral Artists will be joined by the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble for the second straight year in their celebration of America.
Fourth of July All-American Cookout
5:30 p.m. at Selby Gardens, 1534 Mound St.
$25 for members; $35 for nonmembers, $200 all-inclusive
Visit Selby.org.
Mom, Dad and apple pie. And fireworks! Come down to Selby Gardens for fun, games and All-American food available for purchase from Michael's On East. Parking is included in your general admission tickets, and Selby Gardens will provide a commanding view of the fireworks over Sarasota Bay.
21st Annual Players New Play Festival
7:30 p.m. at The Players Studio
$10 for a single day; $24 for three days; $35 for fifive days
Visit ThePlayers.org.
Witness the birth of a few new plays as regional playwrights compete for their work to be produced by The Players next season. Of the Lake will be the play shown on Tuesday evening. Gin Rickey, Lateral Moves and When Lighting Strikes will be shown over the next three evenings.
Greg Warren
7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.
$25
Visit McCurdysComedy.com
Greg Warren takes his Creamy and Crunchy tour all over America, and you may have even seen him on late-night TV shows like Late Night with Seth Meyers and the old The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. His last comedy special was called Where The Field Corn Grows. Warren will play six shows at McCurdy's running through July 10.
