Van Wezel is already getting ready for Christmas

Last year, the Grinch stole Christmas when damage from Hurricane Milton closed down the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall from Oct. 10 through the end of 2024. This season, Mary Bensel, executive director of the Van Wezel, is packing the schedule with as many holiday shows as she can.

“Christmas is my favorite time of year,” enthuses Bensel, who confesses that she spends four days decorating her house for the season.

The Van Wezel’s holiday extravaganza kicks off Nov. 14-16, when Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical,” comes to town. The yuletide music continues Nov. 18 with Mannheim Steamroller Christmas and doesn’t stop until Dec. 30, with the annual Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert.

A favorite with Sarasota audiences, Salute to Vienna found a home at the Sarasota Opera House last year after losing its slot at the Van Wezel, thanks to the efforts of Bensel and Attila Glatz Concert Productions.

Also on the Van Wezel’s holiday schedule are: “Rain: A Beatles Christmas Tribute” (Nov. 22), Ezra Ray Hart ‘90s Hits and Xmas Riffs (Nov. 29), Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour 2025 (Nov. 30) and Sarah Brightman: A Winter Symphony (Dec. 15).

Fans of the Great American Songbook will welcome its champion, Michael Feinstein, as he breathes new life into the Christmas songbook at the Van Wezel on Dec. 16.

The holiday merriment continues Dec. 21 with Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland, followed by “A Very Broadway Christmas” on Dec. 22 and the musical based on the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol” on Dec. 23. As Tiny Tim would say, “God bless us, everyone!”

If you’re not done with Christmas after unwrapping your presents, you can keep the holiday spirit going with “Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet” (Dec. 27) and “Straight No Chaser Holiday Road Tour” (Dec. 29).

If you’re the kind of person who wants to see a Broadway show during the holidays but can’t stand the sound of Christmas music, Bensel’s looking out for you. “The Book of Mormon” returns to the Van Wezel Dec. 9-14 and “Mark Twain Tonight” starring Richard Thomas plays from Dec. 19-20.

There are a lot of Mark Twain shows out there, but Thomas, known to many from the long-running family TV show “The Waltons,” is the only actor authorized to portray Twain in the show written and originated by Hal Holbrook. 

“The Book of Mormon” and “Mark Twain Tonight” are both part of the Van Wezel’s Broadway series, along with “Some Like It Hot” (Jan. 21-25). The musical is based on the classic film about Chicago musicians who disguise themselves as women to elude the mobsters on their tail.

Photo by Rick Benitez

No doubt the most anticipated show in the Van Wezel’s Broadway series is “MJ,” which runs Feb. 3-8. Created by Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, the show follows the late Michael Jackson as he prepares for his 1992 Dangerous World Tour.

One of the shows that got blown away by Hurricane Milton last season, “Tina — The Tina Turner Musical,” is finally making its way to the Van Wezel Feb. 20-22. This warms Bensel’s heart because she’s been working to bring the show to Sarasota for years, she says.

Rounding out the Broadway series are singer Neil Diamond’s story, “A Beautiful Noise” (Mar. 31-Apr. 4), the revival of Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man” (April 10-11) and “Mrs. Doubtfire” (April 14-15).

Bensel travels to New York about a dozen times a year in order to decide what Broadway shows to bring to Sarasota. She also attends national and regional conferences of theater managers to help book the music and comedy stars she books at the Van Wezel.

Sometimes reeling in a show can take as long as five years, but Bensel nails down her schedule a year in advance. As the Van Wezel unveiled its 2025-26 season on Aug. 24, she was putting the final touches on the 2026-27 season, her 19th at the city-owned venue.

As a member of the Broadway League, Bensel votes on the Tony Awards and sees the many shows in competition. “In recent years, a lot more shows are opening right before the (end-of-April) deadline for the Tonys, so I see a lot of theater in the spring,” she says.

Asked to identify the must-see Broadway show at the Van Wezel in the 2025-26 season, Bensel responds without hesitation, “MJ,” describing it as “pure excitement.”

For those who like live versions of gameshows and other family fare, there’s “Wheel of Fortune Live!” (Dec. 17), “Mutts Gone Nuts — Unleashed” (Jan. 10), “The Price Is Right Live! (Feb. 18)” and the Halloween-themed magic extravaganza Haunted Illusions (Oct. 26). 

We can always use a few extra laughs in our life, and the Van Wezel wants to provide them during its 2025-26 season. Kicking off the season is viral comedy star Trevor Wallace (Oct. 14), whose online videos have generated billions of views. 

Fans of the '90s TV show often described as a "show about nothing" will welcome the return of its star, Jerry Seinfeld, to the Van Wezel on May 2. Seinfeld has taken his career to new heights since his sitcom heyday with stand-up appearances around the globe, film, TV and books, but "Jerry" is still beloved by millions of Gen Xers and his iconic TV show lives on through syndication and the internet.

Like Christmas, Halloween got short shrift last year due to Hurricane Milton. Bensel’s making up for it this year with an Oct. 17 candlelight screening of the vampire romance “Twilight,” which will be accompanied by a live orchestra.

The 2008 film captured the hearts of a generation, thanks to the on-screen chemistry and real-life relationship between its stars, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson.

The excuse for the "Twilight in Concert" nationwide tour is the 20th anniversary of the young adult vampire novel that started it all. But some people don’t need an excuse to get goth. If you’re one of them, better move fast because “Twilight in Concert” has already sold 1,000 tickets and the Van Wezel only has about 1,700 seats.

Most single tickets for the Van Wezel's Broadway series go on sale in September. For more information, visit VanWezel.org.