- January 8, 2026
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Semiquincentennial — now that's a word you don't hear every day. You'll be hearing it more, however, during 2026 as the U.S. celebrates its 250th anniversary. But perhaps because semiquincentennial is such a mouthful, the official designation is "America 250."
Whatever you call it, this milestone is prompting a lot of rumination about what America stands for, how we got here and where we're going. It's also an opportunity to celebrate with performances that pay tribute to the spirit of America, however you define it.
Despite the prevailing wisdom, America has had an on-again, off-again love affair with immigrants. With the exception of Native Americans, the country was founded by adventurers and conquerors and its growth was fueled by the labor of newcomers, some brought here against their own will.
Yet, throughout our history, the U.S. has periodically suffered from bouts of xenophobia and pulled the welcome mat out from under immigrants when it was deemed politically expedient.
After expanding from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the U.S. has often dabbled in the political affairs of other sovereign nations, with mixed results. During the 20th century, American military power and individual sacrifice saved Europe from tyranny not once but twice.
These themes and more will run through such programs as Sarasota Orchestra's Masterworks concert "Variations on America" (Feb. 12-15), Sarasota Ballet's performance of George Balanchine's "Stars and Stripes" (March 27-28) and "Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground," now playing through Jan. 30 at Florida Studio Theatre.
Despite all the excitement about America's semiquincentennial, let's not forget that it's the 100th anniversary of three Sarasota cultural institutions — John Ringling's Venetian-style palace, The Ca' D'Zan, Art Center Sarasota and the Sarasota Opera House. These centennials are being marked with logos, mementos and galas, of course.
For our list of must-see events for 2026, we've chosen some that focus on the African-American experience, such as the Broadway touring show of "MJ: The Musical" at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall (Feb. 3-8) and Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's gospel revue, "How I Got Over" (Feb. 19-March 29). Also on the list is Sarasota Opera's production of Carlisle Floyd's American opera "Susannah," about a falsely accused woman in the South.
Jazz is a uniquely American genre, so audiences at this year’s Sarasota Jazz Festival (March 9-14) will be celebrating America’s 250th birthday just by attending.
The Sarasota Film Festival (April 10-19) hasn’t announced its lineup yet, but we’re sure there’ll be something exploring American history. Film was invented in France, but Jewish immigrants from Russia and Germany made American movies the envy of the world.
Hollywood is bested by India’s Bollywood when it comes to the number of productions and ticket sales, and South Korea has emerged as a cultural powerhouse in recent years, but rumors of Tinsel Town’s death have been greatly exaggerated, to quote Mark Twain.
There is evidence that popcorn was eaten in Mexico in 3600 BC, but Charles Cretor of Chicago gets credit for inventing a machine to pop corn in the 1880s. During the Depression, movie theater owners came up with the idea of selling popcorn in cinema lobbies to eke out a profit.
For better or worse, the tradition of eating overpriced, noisy snacks at the movies is still with us, nearly a century later. Here’s to Yankee ingenuity!
Through March 31 at The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road. $40, $15 members. Visit Ringling.org.
When Architecture Sarasota published its landmark list of 100 Moderns That Matter in 2024, many people were surprised to see that John and Mable Ringling's Venetian-style mansion, Ca' d' Zan, was No. 1 on the list. The circus magnate, art collector and real estate developer and his wife commissioned Dwight James Baum to design "House of John" as their winter residence in 1924 and it was completed in 1926.
With 56 rooms covering 36,000 square feet, the luxurious Mediterranean Revival-style mansion was considered the height of modernity at the time, hence its inclusion in Architecture Sarasota’s registry. Ca’ d’Zan took a beating during Hurricane Milton and restoration work continues.
The Ringling’s new tour of Ca’ d’Zan includes the primary rooms on the first floor and select spaces on the second, third and fourth floors. Unless weather prevents, it includes a stop at the Belvedere Tower, offering one of the most spectacular views in Sarasota.
Through Jan. 30. Florida Studio Theatre's Bowne's Lab, 1265 First St. $31-$48. Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Robert Zukerman stars as Dwight D. Eisenhower in Richard Hellesen’s play running in Florida Studio Theatre’s edgy Stage III series. After helping win World War II as supreme commander of the Allied Forces in Europe, the popular conception is that Eisenhower spent his time in the White House playing golf, snacking on Mamie’s famous Million-Dollar Fudge and presiding over an Ozzie and Harriet America.
The reality was more complex, as “Ike” had to deal with Cold War tensions, an atomic arms race and the Red Scare, to name just a few of the hot buttons of the 1950s.
Feb. 3-8. Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail. $68-$208. Visit VanWezel.org.
Sometimes you want to have your socks knocked off and sometimes you want to wear sequined socks. You’ll get the opportunity to do both when the Broadway hit “MJ: The Musical" comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
Created by Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, “MJ: The Musical ” tells the backstory of Michael Jackson’s 1992 “Dangerous" world tour. Now in its third year, the Broadway touring show of “MJ” stars Jordan Markus and Melvin Gray Jr. as MJ, Quentin Blanton Jr. and Bryce A. Holmes as Little Michael and Brandon Lee Harris as Michael. As the show time-travels and moves on and off stage, you’ll learn the meaning of “Bad.”
Feb. 8-May 31, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St. $28. Visit Selby.org.
Each year, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens stages a blockbuster show in its Jean & Alfred Goldstein Exhibition series. Recent years have seen to tributes to Louis Comfort Tiffany, Yayoi Kusama and Beatle-turned-gardener George Harrison, to name a few. This year, Selby is showcasing artist Alexander Calder and his abstract moving sculptures, dubbed “mobiles.”
Calder’s interest in suspension should provide a provocative pairing with Selby’s collection of epiphytes, or air plants. Calder was also fascinated by the circus, and there’s plenty of memorabilia to be juxtaposed with Calder’s art in Sarasota, the longtime winter home of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Feb. 12-15, Neel PAC Bradenton, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail. $35-$95, student rush tickets $9. Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.
Sarasota Orchestra’s new maestro, Giancarlo Guerrero, leads this Masterworks concert of compositions exploring different visions of America as the nation celebrates its 250th birthday. Indeed, Guerrero’s life story of escaping civil war in Nicaragua, learning music through a youth orchestra in Costa Rica and winning six Grammy Awards while he was music director of the Nashville Symphony is testament to the resilience of the American dream. Joining him in this thrilling program that includes Gershwin’s Concerto in F and Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony is featured pianist Clayton Stephenson.
Late last year, there were special offers for $17.76 tickets and we're hopeful that opportunity will come around once again before the show. Under Guerrero, Sarasota Orchestra is renewing its commitment to the music lovers of tomorrow and student rush tickets are being offered to select concerts such as this one for just $9.
Feb. 19-March 29. Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave. $54. $24 students 25 and under and active military with ID. $5 student rush tickets. Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.
Now in its 26th season, Nate Jacobs' homegrown Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is committed to telling African-American stories, come what may. His efforts have been rewarded by the theater company's largely white donors and patrons.
Why does Sarasota's Little Black Theater That Could have such universal appeal? Because audiences leave WBTT feeling happy to be alive. Any medicine that Jacobs and his talented company of performers dispenses goes down easily with all the sugar that accompanies it.
This season, WBTT is reviving its gospel revue, "How I Got Over," which it premiered in 2017 at the National (now International) Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to critical and popular acclaim. Gospel standards such as "Amazing Grace," "When The Saints Go Marching In" and "Oh Happy Day" are delivered in the energetic fashion that WBTT is known for, accompanied by a live band.
March 9-14, Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail and other locations. $67.30 and up. VIP all-access pass $662.96. Visit SarasotaJazzFestival.com.
Acclaimed trumpet player Terrell Stafford returns as music director of the Sarasota Jazz Festival, the annual event hosted by Jazz Club of Sarasota, and to crib from Martha Stewart, "that's a good thing."
Stafford kicks off the mainstage events on Thursday, March 12, with a double bill featuring the Florida All State High School Band. Other mainstage headliners during the festival include the John Pizzarelli Trio, Sammy Figueroa, Arturo Sandoval Band and Michael Ross SRQ All Star Band.
Hey, where are the ladies? Things just haven't been the same in the Tampa Bay jazz scene since sultry songstress Synia Carroll moved to that nightclub in the sky in March 2025.
Locals know that the Jazz Club's regular events sell out quickly during the Jazz Festival, including Friday Jazz at 2 at Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota and Monday Night Jazz at Florida Studio Theatre's Court Cabaret. Whatever you do, don't miss the Jazz Trolley Pub Crawl on Tuesday, March 10, featuring 12 venues of live jazz for just $32.50.
March 14-28, Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., $43-$179. Visit SarasotaOpera.org.
This is a momentous season for the Sarasota Opera. It’s not only the 100th anniversary of the Sarasota Opera House, which opened as the A.B. Edwards Theatre on April 10, 1926, it’s the final season for Artistic Director and conductor Victor DeRenzi.
The news that DeRenzi would be leaving after 44 years came in December. It is not known what the maestro’s future plans are, but Sarasota Opera General Director Richard Russell is adding artistic director to his role.
Under DeRenzi’s leadership, Sarasota Opera became the only company in the world to perform all 27 Verdi operas. But given that it’s America’s 250 birthday, we’re putting Carlisle Floyd’s American opera “Susannah” on our must-see list.
Based on a Bible tale, “Susannah” is set in 1950s rural Tennessee. Often seen as a metaphor for the witch hunts of the McCarthy Era, “Susannah” premiered in 1955 at Florida State University. It has become the most frequently performed American operas, second only to “Porgy and Bess.”
March 27-28, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail. $35-$145. Visit SarasotaBallet.org.
In the Amazon Prime series “Etoile,” when ballet companies in Paris and New York are negotiating a talent swap, one of the French characters bemoans: “We’ll have to do ‘Stars and Stripes.’”
It’s one of the many “inside baseball” references to ballet in the 2025 series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, best known for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
Despite the French swipe in “Etoile” at the unabashedly patriotic “Stars and Stripes,” choreographer George Balanchine’s love letter to his adopted country is a perfect addition to the Sarasota Ballet’s 2025-26 season, which coincides with America’s 250th birthday.
“Stars and Stripes” premiered in 1958 at the New York City Ballet and has been a crowd pleaser ever since, with a large cast dressed in red, white and blue costumes performing to a rousing score of John Philip Sousa marches.
Sarasota Ballet will stage its production in Program Six, “Life & Liberty,” which also includes Sir David Bintley’s “Still Life at the Penguin Cafe.” The company will be accompanied by the Sarasota Orchestra.
April 10-19. Locations to be announced. VIP film passes currently on sale for $1,100, marked down from $1,500. Visit SarasotaFilmFestival.com.
In 2025, the Sarasota Film Festival made a rare misstep with a program guide and poster that rubbed many longtime supporters the wrong way.
The offending map of Florida was intended to be funny, said SFF President and CEO Mark Famiglio, but some film fans didn’t consider a reference to Canada as the 51st state a laughing matter.
By the time the SFF opened, a pink flamingo graced all marketing materials. SFF volunteers all showed up, out-of-town stars flew in to party and promote their films poolside at the Sarasota Modern hotel, and all was forgotten.
Lesson learned: It’s best to keep the politics on the big screen with provocative films that beckon people away from their devices and into the theater for camaraderie and talkbacks with talent. Even as doomsayers predict the end of theatrical exhibition, communal experience draws people to film festivals.
April 11-May 24. FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail. $41-$99. Visit AsoloRep.org.
When Asolo Repertory Theatre announced that Peter Rothstein would direct “Come From Away” to kick off the 2025-26 season, the first reaction of many was “I already saw it on Broadway” or “I saw it at the Van Wezel.”
But what’s old is new again under Rothstein, who started his tenure as producing artistic director of Asolo Rep in July 2023.
Asolo Rep’s “Come From Away” used video imagery, revolving sets and quick costume changes to freshly convey how a village in Newfoundland was upended when thousands of travelers were stranded there on 9/11.
We’re expecting Rothstein to work that same kind of magic with “Fiddler on the Roof,” the feelgood musical about Tevye, a Jewish milkman in a circa 1900 Russian village. “Fiddler” follows Tevye’s efforts to protect his traditions and arrange suitable marriages for his three daughters, two of whom head for America.
A hit Broadway musical of the 1960s,”Fiddler” became a Hollywood blockbuster in the 1970s. Who among us doesn’t know the song “If I Were a Rich Man”? It will sound different on Asolo Rep’s stage at FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
April 29-May 10. The Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, $35, $15 students. Visit ThePlayers.org.
We’re not sure if the artistic committee at the Sarasota Players intentionally chose “Assassins” in honor of America’s semiquincentennial, but the timing is right for the Stephen Sondheim musical.
Like “Merrily We Roll Along,” “Assassins” was a flop at first but went on to find success. Sondheim composed the music and wrote the lyrics with a book by John Weidman for “Assassins,” which closed after only 73 performances Off Broadway in 1991.
Audiences initially couldn’t warm up to a musical about presidential assassins and wannabes ranging from John Wilkes Booth to John Hinckley Jr. It wasn’t until 2005, when “Assassins” was staged on Broadway, that theatergoers flocked to learn about the dark side of the American Dream, and Tony voters honored the musical.
We can’t wait to see what director Scott Keys and The Sarasota Players creative team do with “Assassins” in their theater-in-the-round space. One thing’s for sure: You’ll learn who Leon Czolgosz is, if you missed it in school.
