The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for Feb. 13-19

Thursday, Feb. 13

Lynne Koplitz
7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.
$28
Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

Sarasota native Lynne Koplitz has hosted her own Netflix special, "Hormonal Beast," and has appeared on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," "Tough Crowd" with Colin Quinn and Jenny McCarthy’s comedy special “Dirty, Sexy, Funny.” Runs through Saturday.

Freedy Johnston
7 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court
$26
Visit WSLR.org.

No, that’s not a typo. Singer/songwriter Freedy Johnston is bringing his acoustic guitar to Sarasota. Long based in New York City, Johnson headed out to Los Angeles and set up shop in Joshua Tree to record his latest album, “On the Road Back to You,” which critics are hailing as a return to form for the American Roots singer.

‘John Proctor is the Villain’
7:30 p.m. at FSU Center for Performing Arts, 5555 N.Tamiami Trail
$40
Visit AsoloRep.org/Conservatory.

FSU/Asolo Conservatory presents newcomer Kimberly Belflower’s play about Georgia high schoolers who try to tell the difference between fact and fiction as they study Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible." Runs through March 2.

‘The Chinese Lady’
7:30 p.m. at The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road
$40
Visit AsoloRep.org/Conservatory

Sarasota has some wonderful stages and some are in unexpected spaces. FSU/Asolo Conservatory presents “The Chinese Lady” in the Wagon Room of The Ringling Museum of Art. Written by Lloyd Suh, whose “The Heart Sellers” is currently running at Florida Studio Theatre, “The Chinese Lady” follows the first Chinese woman to immigrate to America. Runs through March 2. 

Image courtesy of Herb Booth

Great Escapes: ‘Crazy for You’
7:30 p.m. at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail
$47-$63
Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Sarasota Orchestra’s annual Valentine’s Day-themed concert is always a crowd pleaser. This year’s program is conducted by Michelle Merrill and features romantic selections such as “My Funny Valentine,” “Some Enchanted Evening” and songs from “West Side Story.”

The Czech National Symphony Orchestra
7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$34-$99
Visit SCASarasota.org.

Sarasota Concert Association Czech National Symphony Orchestra, led by Jan Chalupecky, will perform Mozart’s “Prague” Symphony No. 38 and Dvorak’s Piano Concerto, featuring 21-year old international competition winner Maxim Lando.

Inna Faliks: ‘Sparkling Virtuosity'
7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota, 2050 Oak St.
$42; students $5
Visit ChamberOrchestraSarasota.org.

Inna Faliks joins the Chamber Orchestra of Sarasota led by Robert Vodnoy for a program that includes Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Rossini’s Sonata in G Major for String Orchestra, Bach’s Concerto in G Minor and more. 

Nélida Karr
7:30 p.m. at the Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road
$40-$50
Visit Ringling.org.

Fans of world music need look no farther than our own backyard as The Ringling’s Art of Performance series brings Equatorial Guinea native Nélida Karr to the Historic Asolo Theater. Karr is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who combines Afro Fusion with jazz, blues, Spanish and Latin influences. Continues Friday. 

Photo by sorcha augustine

‘Divas: Time After Time’
8 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St.
$37-$39
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

New to Sarasota? We’ve got two words for you: Jannie Jones. When Jones is performing at Florida Studio Theatre, run — don’t walk — to the Court Cabaret. She is one-third of the trio performing in FST’s new cabaret show, “Divas: Time After Time.” The other talented singers are Aja Goes and Dakota Mackey-McGee. First-timers to FST’s cabaret shows leave amazed that there is such talent here in our laid-back beach town. Runs through June 22. 

Friday, Feb. 14

Sarasota Gem Show
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail
$5
Visit HRGemShows.com.

Browse gems by a variety of vendors in this show by H & R Gem Shows, with vendors including Afghan Tribal Arts, Bead N' Sisters, Beads in Vogue, Ralph Barber and many others.

Say ‘I Do’ Again
4:30 p.m. at Siesta Beach, 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key
$15 per couple; $25 day-of registration
Visit SarasotaCountyParks.com.

The annual tradition of love returns to Siesta Beach for couples looking to renew their vows of love. The event includes a certificate, a gift, a flower, music and refreshments. Check-in starts at 4:30 p.m., activities begin at 5 p.m., and the service begins at 6 p.m.

Thunder by the Bay Music & Motorcycle Festival
5-10 p.m. Friday at Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd.
$15 in advance; $20 at gate; ages 12 and under free
Visit ThunderByTheBay.org.

This annual event benefits Suncoast Charities for Children, having raised $2.8 million over the past 26 years. Activities include motorcycle stunt shows, a charity motorcycle ride, a bike show, a motorcycle “sound off” competition, biker games and others. Headlining music acts include Blue Öyster Cult (Friday), Grand Funk Railroad (Saturday), and Creed Fisher (Sunday). Continues 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Movie in the Park
6-9 p.m. at Waterside Park, 7301 Island Cove Terrace, Lakewood Ranch
Free
Visit LakewoodRanch.com.

The monthly movie series at Waterside Park features Frozen. The movie, which is sponsored by Grace Community Church, begins at sunset. The first 200 who attend will receive a half grilled cheese sandwich and a bag of chips from Big Blue Grilled Cheese Co. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Concessions available from We B’ Poppin Popcorn and Kettle Corn. Inflatables for the kids will be available from 6-7:30 p.m.

Lauren Henderson
8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court
$34
Visit WSLR.org.

Want to get lost in a dream? Head over to Fogartyville for an evening with Lauren Henderson, whose vocals are reminiscent of Diana Krall’s sultry style but with a Latin flavor. Henderson’s family tree extends into Panama, Montserrat and different regions of the Caribbean, but her styling and moves have found favor with music lovers all over the world. 

Saturday, Feb. 15

Image courtesy of Sorcha Augustine

Circus Sarasota 2025
2 p.m. under the Big Top in Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle
$28-$80
Visit CircusArts.org.

Circus Sarasota returns to the Big Top in Nathan Benderson Park with a lineup of all new acts presided over by Ringmaster Joseph Bauer. Among the circus artists featured are tight wire artist Brando Anastasini, a 2024 Generation Next honoree in the Circus Ring of Fame, aerialist Eve Diamond, the Pellegrini Brothers hand balancers, juggler Noel Aguilar and the Flying Caballeros trapeze artists. Runs through March 9.

Verdi’s Requiem
4 p.m. at Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Road
$45; students 18 and under free at the door
Visit KeyChorale.org.

Key Chorale presents Verdi’s Requiem, sometimes called “an opera in disguise” because it features symphony, chorus and vocal solos. Joining Maestro Joseph Caulkins and 150 musicians are four world-class opera soloists — Rebecca Krynski Cox, Jamal Sarikoki, Olivia Vote and Jonathan Burton. 

The Two Rivers Ensemble featuring Amir ElSaffar
7:30 p.m. at the The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater
$40-$50
Visit Ringling.org.

According to jazz music bible Downbeat Magazine, Amir ElSaffar’s ensemble was “the first Middle Eastern-imbued jazz combo at Newport to win a standing ovation for its first song.” Find out why with this concert at The Ringling. The Two Rivers Ensemble is a sextet that brings together the musical traditions of Iraq and nearby regions with American jazz. Continues Feb. 16. 

Courtesy image

'Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci'
7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.
$39-$162
Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

The Sarasota Opera's 2025 Winter Festival kicks off with the double bill of "Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci," an adulterous duo staged so often together that they are known as "Cav" and "Pag," for short. "Cav" takes place on an Easter Morning in a small village in Italy while "Pag" is a play within a play and is the mother of all sad clown stories. Runs through March 29.

Sunday, Feb. 16

The Jazz Ambassadors Go to Broadway
3 p.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 3131 61st St.
$5
Visit SuncoastConcertBand.org.

The Jazz Ambassadors sends its regards to Broadway in the latest installment of their Sunday concerts. Call 941-907-4123 to reserve a ticket and please be sure to dial the right number. 

‘The Sounds of Simon’: The Life and Music of Paul Simon
3 p.m. at The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key
$55; members $45
Visit TBIEducationCenter.org.

Join biographer Susan Benjamin and cantor Jay O'Brien for a special musical presentation on the life and legacy of Paul Simon.

Signature Artists at The Bay: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe: Jazzlinks
4:30 p.m. at 100 Boulevard of the Arts
Free
Visit TheBaySarasota.org.

This performance themed around the Harlem Renaissance will feature the music of jazz icons including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Cab Calloway, and is part of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's Jazzlinks program acknowledging the experiences of African Americans at different points in history.

Courtesy image

Hard Heart Burlesque
8 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.
$37
Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day weekend in Sarasota without the annual performance of Hard Heart Burlesque, featuring Miss Marina Elaine, Karma Kandlewick and other stars of Florida stages. Whether you’re head over heels in love or nursing a broken heart, come feel the heat of this performance celebrating Cupid’s delights, now in its fourth year at McCurdy’s.

Monday, Feb. 17

'Truth and Mayhem'
7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 1031 S. Euclid Ave.
$30
Visit ENSRQ.org.

Contemporary classical music group EnsembleNewSRQ presents “Truth and Mayhem,” a concert sure to heighten the audience’s appreciation for percussion instruments. EnsemblenewSRQ co-founder George Nickson knows a little something about percussion; the former Sarasota Orchestra principal percussionist is now the percussion chair at Southern Methodist University. Cellist Abe Feder returns as a guest artist to perform in “Elegy: Snow in June” for solo cello and percussion. 

Tuesday, Feb. 18

‘Come From Away’
7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$50-$135
Visit VanWezel.org. 

Looking to revive your faith in human nature? The touring production of the Broadway hit “Come From Away” is just the ticket. It tells the story of how a village in Newfoundland opened its doors — and its arms — to more than 7,000 stranded travelers after air travel was halted on 9/11. Runs through Feb. 20.