The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for June 6-12

Thursday, June 6

'Two, Three, Four’
4:30 p.m. at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail
$30-$42
Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

The Sarasota Music Festival  presents an artist showcase of works for two, three and four musicians. The program includes Jean Francaix’s Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano, Erwin Schulhoff’s 1925 Duo for Violin and Cello as well as Maurice Ravel’s Second Sonata for Violin and Piano. The acclaimed Borromeo String Quartet performs String Quartet No. 6 by Polish composer Grazyna Bacewicz. The SMF runs through June 22. 

‘Tea and Armageddon’
7 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail,
$6.50 plus fees
Visit SqueakyWheelTheatre.org.

Prepare to go down the rabbit hole with Scott Keys, who spent two decades as head of Booker High School’s theater program, in this show inspired by the writings of Lewis Carroll. The show has an encore June 9.

‘Twelve Angry Men: A New Musical’
7:30 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$35-$95
Visit AsoloRep.org.

Asolo Repertory Theatre Producing Artistic Director Peter Rothstein directs an innovative musical adaptation of the classic courtroom drama by playwright David Simpatico and Michael Holland. Rothstein first directed “Twelve Angry Men: A New Musical” at Theatre Latté Da in Minneapolis, where it made its world premiere in 2022. Runs through June 9.

‘Rhinestone Cowgirls’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave.
$18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Created by Nancy Allen Productions, this musical tribute features such country classics as Patsy Cline’s “Crazy,” Tammy Wynette’s “Stand by Your Man” and Carrie Underwood’s “Last Name.” Runs through July 28. 

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‘The World Goes ‘Round’
8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.
$39-$59
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Florida Studio Theatre kicks off its Summer Mainstage Series with “The World Goes ‘Round,” a musical revue celebrating the works of John Kander and Fred Ebb. The show features memorable songs from hit Broadway shows such as “Chicago,” “Cabaret” and more. Runs through June 30.

Friday, June 7

Opening reception for Jack Dowd’s ‘Last Call’
5-8 p.m. at the Stulberg Gallery, Ringling College of Art + Design, 1188 Dr. Martin Luther King Way
Free
Visit RinglingCollege.gallery.

Belly up to the bar at local artist Jack Dowd’s installation of “Last Call,” a replica of a bar filled with 13 life-sized patrons contemplating life a few minutes before 4 a.m. There will be free food from Simply Greek and The Dawg Pound outside the gallery for the first 250 visitors. A cash bar will be provided by Divina. 

Squeaky Wheel Fringe: ‘Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life’
7 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$14.50 plus fees
Visit SqueakyWheelTheatre.org.

Former Westmoreland Coal CEO Keith Alessi collected banjos, but he wasn’t motivated to play and perform until he survived cancer. Since he began performing “Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life,” produced by Erica Conway, Alessi has donated about $1 million to charity. Continues June 8.

‘Bach and Beyond’
7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.
$29-$50
Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Sarasota Music Festival faculty, fellows and the Borromeo String Quartet come together for a program featuring Bach and works inspired by the great composer. 

The Ringling Wonderground
8 p.m. at The Ringling Museum of Art Courtyard, 5401 Bay Shore Road
Free with registration
Visit Ringling.org. 

A twist on the Ringling Underground, the Wonderground is part of the three-day Wonder Symposium at The Ringling. Wonderground features local, regional and national musical acts, including Sarah Santiago, Florida favorite NoFilter and the Brooklyn United Music and Arts Program. Local circus artist Cirque Vertigo also performs.

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Adam Ezra Group
8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court
$14-$28
Visit WSLR.org.

Named 2023 Americana Act of the Year by the New England Music Awards, Adam Ezra Group’s fusion of folk intimacy and rock energy has attracted a devoted fan base that travels with them from show to show.

Squeaky Wheel Fringe: ‘Arthurian: The Knights of the Round Table, and Other Furniture. A Burlesque’
10 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$15.50 plus fees
Visit SqueakyWheelTheatre.org.

Amanda Heisey Finnerty, who performs with Hard Heart Burlesque under the name Karma Kandlewick, brings her show combining medieval times and burlesque to the stage for the Squeaky Wheel Fringe festival. Think of a renaissance faire for adults only. Continues June 8.

Saturday, June 8

Squeaky Wheel Fringe: ‘My Year of Saying No’
1 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$13.50
Visit SqueakyWheelTheatre.org.

Squeaky Wheel Fringe presents Janice Creneti of Palm Harbor in “My Year of Saying No,” a one-woman show that encourages audience members to find their “yes.” Based on a true story, the performance follows Creneti during a pandemic experiment where she decided to say “no” to anything that didn’t align with her values. The show has an encore June 8.

Squeaky Wheel Fringe: ‘I’m Fine’
2:30 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$15.50
Visit SqueakyWheelTheatre.org.

Leah Verier-Dunn and Moving Ethos Dance bring their piece, “I’m Fine,” to the Squeaky Wheel Fringe festival. Dunn recently performed in “Florida Woman,” in The Ringling’s Art of Performance series. "I'm Fine" has an encore June 8.

SCD In-Studio Series: Jessica Obeidzinski
7 p.m. at Sarasota Contemporary Dance, 1400 Boulevard of the Arts, Suite 300
$11.50-$21.50
Visit SarasotaContemporaryDance.org.

After a spinal injury left her exploring modes of healing beyond traditional medicine, Jessica Obeidzinski spent two weeks tapping into her subconscious at the Hermitage Artist Retreat. In this “sneak peek” performance, she reveals her discoveries. 

‘Festival Firsts’
7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.
$30-$70
Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

The Sarasota Music Festival celebrates its 60th anniversary with “Festival Firsts,” marking the debut of conductor Stephanie Childress with the music of Indian-American composer Reena Esmail, and the festival solo debut of Rachel Breen, who plays Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1.

Sunday, June 9

Squeaky Wheel Fringe: ‘Common Air’
1 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$10 plus fees
Visit SqueakyWheelTheatre.org.

Dancers from the former Soviet Union who met in the U.S.  put aside any differences their former homelands may have to dance together and express their current reality. 

Squeaky Wheel Fringe Winner
5:30 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
Price TBA
Visit SqueakyWheelTheatre.org.

Each of the nine acts featured in the Squeaky Wheel Fringe festival are allotted two slots on stage. After an audience vote, the winner of the festival gets to perform a third show. All ticket proceeds go to artists.

Image courtesy of Sorcha Augustine

Wednesday, June 12

‘Coconut Cake’
7:30 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave.
$5-$50
Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.

In Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s last show of its 2023-24 season, “Coconut Cake,” the daily routine of four chess-playing and coffee-drinking retirees is disrupted when a mysterious woman moves to town, bringing her recipe for a mouthwatering coconut cake. Runs through June 23.