- February 5, 2026
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Opening reception
5 p.m. at Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail
Free
Visit ArtSarasota.org.
Celebrate the opening of four new exhibits at Art Center Sarasota, a gallery whose admission is free and whose curated artworks are for sale. The four new shows are contemporary bookbinder Jacob Z. Wan’s exploration of identity, “Vol. 3: me, myself, and I,” “INK: Quilt of Identity” by youth artists, "Praxis," Dorothea (D’) Calvert’s sculptural and ceramic works, and "Self Portrait," a juried show with the artists as subjects. Runs through Sept. 27.
‘A Band Called Honalee’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 Palm Ave.
$39 and up
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
The subtitle to Florida Studio Theatre’s last cabaret show of the season is “A Tribute to Peter, Paul Mary… and Friends,” but any self-respecting folk rock fan can spot the play on words in the name “A Band Called Honalee.” ICYMI, it refers to the mythical land made famous by the children’s song “Puff the Magic Dragon.” The incarnation of the Band Called Honalee appearing in Sarasota includes Brian Ott, a veteran of FST’s “59th Street Bridge,” as well as Michael Grieve, Geoffrey Neuman and Sigrid Wise. Runs through Oct. 26.
‘Too Darn Hot: Songs for a Summer Night’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St.
$39 and up
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Songstress Carole J. Bufford easily skips eras and genres in this showcase of stories and songs featuring the months June, July, August and September. Whether she’s singing songs made famous by Janis Joplin or Randy Newman, she leaves the audience with something they never knew before. What’s more, her cool costumes evoke everything from flappers of the 1920s to the neo-swing era of the 1990s. Runs through Sept. 14.
‘The Prince of Egypt’
7:30 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W, Bradenton
$42.50
Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com.
Directed and choreographed by Rick Kerby,”The Prince of Egypt” brings the biblical tale of Moses to the stage. The musical from the creators of “Wicked" features such memorable songs as “When You Believe.” The Manatee Players production features musical direction by Daniel Lauritzson and Rebecca Dikranian.
‘Don’t Dress for Dinner’
8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.
$42 and up
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Even the best laid plans for adultery can go awry, especially when a jealous wife sees an opportunity for a little hanky-panky of her own with her husband’s best friend. Written by Marc Camoletti (“Boeing-Boeing”) and Robin Howdon, “Don’t Dress for Dinner” is a high-speed farce sure to shake anyone out of their summer torpor. Runs through Sept. 7.
‘The High Life: Contemporary Photography and the Birds’
10 a.m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St.
$28; $23 online
Visit Selby.org.
Organized by the Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography, the exhibition features 70 breathtaking works of birds in a variety of locales, including nature, the studio and the museum. The show is curated by William Ewing and Danaé Panchaud, the same team that brought "Flora Imaginaria" to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in 2022. The photos are displayed in the Museum of Botany & the Arts and throughout the gardens, where some appear right at home. Runs through Sept. 14.
Sarasota Youth Opera Family Day
Noon at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.
Free
Visit SarasotaOpera.org.
Kids are invited to participate in singing lessons, acting games and workshops to learn more about the Sarasota Youth Opera. In addition to a behind-the-scenes tour of the historic opera house, there will be costume and makeup demonstrations, crafts, a photo booth and the opportunity to win fun prizes.
Patti Smith: A Book of Days
10 a.m. at Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point, 401 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey
Included with $20 admission
Visit Selby.org.
Selby Gardens collaborates with poet and musician Patti Smith, its artist-in-residence, on an outdoor exhibition of large prints taken from her newly published bestseller, “A Book of Days.” By displaying her photographs outdoors, Selby brings them into conversation with nature. Runs through Aug. 31.
'Lillian Blades: Through the Veil’
10 a.m. at the Sarasota Art Museum campus of Ringling College,1001 S. Tamiami Trail
Free for museum members; $20
Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.
Award-winning artist Lillian Blades invites visitors to get lost in her first solo museum exhibition at Sarasota Art Museum. Her installation of “veils” combines handcrafted and found objects to create a mesmerizing display. Blades attributes her use of dazzling color to her childhood in The Bahamas and her process of creating large-scale assemblages to her late mother, an accomplished seamstress. Runs through Oct. 26.
