- December 5, 2025
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Summer Circus Spectacular
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road
$20 adult, $15 child
Visit CircusArts.org.
Pack up the car with Grandpa and the kids and head for the Circus Arts Conservatory’s annual Summer Circus Spectacular at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, a jewelbox venue that elevates any show. This thrilling, 60-minute circus of fresh new acts is perfect for people of all ages with short attention spans. Make it a circus day by adding a ticket to The Ringling’s famed Circus Museum for just $5 on the day of the show. Runs through Aug. 9.
‘A Year With Frog and Toad’
7 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$15-$19
Visit AsoloRep.org.
Asolo Repertory Theatre rolls out a fun, family-oriented production that’s priced right. Most people looking at the title of the show assume it’s based on Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale, “Wind in the Willows,” but that is not the case. Adapted from Arnold Lobel’s beloved children’s stories, Robert and Willie Reale’s musical is structured as a series of vignettes that follow the friendship of Frog and Toad through the seasons. Scott Keys directs. Runs through Aug. 3.
Basile
7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.
$26
Visit McCurdysComedy.com.
Basile has appeared on HBO, Showtimes, Comedy Central and “The Tonight Show,” but he is also known for his voice work as Universal Studios’ Bullwinkle J. Moose. He’s visiting Sarasota as part of his Greek Mystique World Tour, which is taking him everywhere from Nevada casinos to cruise lines to Greek Orthodox churches. Runs through July 27.
InMotion
7:30 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$30 and up
Visit SarasotaBallet.org.
The recital of Sarasota Ballet Summer Intensive, InMotion showcases more than 180 students ages 12-21 from all over the U.S. They will perform excerpts from classical ballets such as Bournonville’s “La Sylphide” and Petipa’s “Swan Lake” and "Paquita.” Also on the bill is an original contemporary and jazz piece. New this year is a musical theater performance —an excerpt from “Gypsy." Runs through July 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. Runs through Sept. 14.
‘How Sweet It Is’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave.
$18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
As the mercury rises, locals know how to escape the heat — with Florida Studio Theatre’s Summer Cabaret. The series kicks off with a Motown tribute called “How Sweet It is.” Led by dynamic vocalist and songwriter Luke McMaster, an energetic trio demonstrates the enduring appeal of hits like “Tracks of My Tears,” “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Stop! In the Name of Love.” Runs through Aug. 3.
‘Dorothy’s Dictionary’
8 p.m. at FST’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave.
$42 and up
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Alice M. Gatling stars as Dorothy, who introduces a troubled teen played by Ethan Jack Haberfield to the healing power of books. Directed by Kate Alexander, the tale explores memory, identity and how relationships can transform our lives. Runs through Aug. 10.
A Taste of Waterside
At various times at participating restaurants at Waterside Place, 7500 Island Cove Terrace, Lakewood Ranch
Visit LakewoodRanch.com.
A Taste of Waterside offers prix-fixe menus, where multi-course meals are offered at a set, predetermined price at participating restaurants. Wine pairings, specialty cocktails and unique dishes will be part of the event. Brunch-lunch, two-course specials will be offered for $25 while three-course dinners will be available at either $35 or $45. For more information, contact the participating restaurant. Those are Agave Bandido, Deep Lagoon, Eatalia Market, Forked at Waterside, Good Liquid Brewing Company, Osteria 500, and Quincy's Original Lobster rolls.
'Vice & Virtue'
10 a.m. at Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail
Free
Visit ArtSarasota.org.
Art Center Sarasota is one of Sarasota’s best kept secrets, even though it’s about to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2026. Located in The Bay, the center offers free admission to its galleries, where the artwork on display is for sale. Its annual juried regional show, “Vice & Virtue,” features artists from across the Southeast charged with exploring the dualities of the human condition. Runs through Aug. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Sarasota Contemporary Dance: In The Round
7 p.m. at SCD Home Studio, 1400 Boulevard of the Arts, Suite 300
$20
Visit SarasotaContemporaryDance.org.
In the Round gives rising choreographers from across the country the chance to set a work in progress during Sarasota Contemporary Dance’s Summer Intensive. The choreographers are given feedback during the performance from audience members led by SCD Artistic Director, Leymis Bolaños Wilmott. Repeats July 28.
Classic Movies at the Opera House: ‘The Birdcage’
7 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.
$12
Visit SarasotaOpera.org.
Some movies just deserve to be seen on the big screen and “The Birdcage” is one of them. The 1996 remake of the French farce “La Cage aux Folles” stars Robin Williams as a Miami drag club owner and Nathan Lane as his life partner and the club’s flamboyant headliner. Dan Futterman and Calista Flockhart play an engaged couple introducing their future in-laws, one of whom is a Republican senator played by Gene Hackman. Just watch the feathers fly!
The Silver Screen Sings Cabaret
7:30 p.m. at Tree Fort Productions, The Crossings at Siesta Key mall, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 136
$40
Visit TreeFortProductionsProjects.com.
The snowbirds are long gone and we're watering our garden twice a day unless it rains, which is pretty often. What else can we do? Go see cabaret a night, of course. Tree Fort Productions founder and multihyphenate Katherine Michelle Tanner teams up with singer Martina Long to present their favorite songs from four decades of film.
'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 and curated by photography experts William Ewing and Danaé Panchaud, the eye-catching exhibition features about 70 breathtaking works of birds by more than 50 photographers from around the world. The works are displayed in the galleries of the Museum of Botany & the Arts and outside throughout the gardens, where some of the birds look like they just flew in. Runs through Sept. 14.
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.
Get out of town! Take a ride down the Tamiami Trail to Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point in Osprey. Selby 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.” Runs through Aug. 31.
HD at the Opera House: Prokofiev’s ‘Cinderella’
1:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.
$20
Visit SarasotaOpera.org.
With his version of “Cinderella,” British choreographer Frederick Ashton took a decidedly tongue-in-cheek approach to the classic fairy tale, which he set to Prokofiev’s score. Sir Fred has a big following in Sarasota, thanks to the championing of his works by the Sarasota Ballet. This Royal Ballet performance is definitely worth a watch, particularly if you’re an Ashton devotee.
Rauschenberg: A Centennial Celebration
10 a.m. at The John and Mable Ringling Art Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road
Free with $25 admission; Mondays free
Visit Ringling.org.
The Ringling joins museums around the world in honoring the centenary of maverick artist Robert Rauschenberg, who burst onto the art scene in the mid-20th century with collages he called “combines.” The first American to win the grand prize at the Venice Biennale, Rauschenberg set the stage for the Pop Art movement. The exhibition includes works that The Ringling has in its collection, including pieces Rauschenberg created during his time on Captiva Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Runs through Aug. 3.
'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 “veils” that combine handcrafted and found objects to create a mesmerizing effect. 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.
‘The Art of Jazz Improvisation’
6-7 p.m. at Selby Library, 1131 First St.
Free with registration
Visit SarasotaMusicArchive.org
Sarasota Music Archive presents the second of three installments of its summer jazz happy hour, featuring The Jazz All-Stars. Led by bandmaster Jack Berry, some of the best jazz players in the area use saxophone, vibes, piano, trumpet, bass, guitar, vocals and more to explore jazz improv.
