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Arts + Culture

Step out in 2025 with these Sarasota arts events
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • January 1, 2025
Step out in 2025 with these Sarasota arts events

From "Funny Girl" to "Figaro," here are eight shows that you won't want to miss in the new year.

  • Arts + Culture
Sara Esty performs in Asolo Rep's "Crazy For You," which wrapped Jan. 4.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • December 25, 2024
For Sarasota arts groups, 2024 was the year of fancy footwork

Cultural institutions showed agility as they dealt with everything from grants cuts to hurricanes.

  • Arts + Culture
Itzhak Perlman conducts the PMP Winter Residency Celebration Concert in January 2024.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • December 24, 2024
It's music as usual for the Perlman Music Program's winter residency

Storm damage in the area didn't hinder the program's 21st season.

  • Arts + Culture
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall will reopen with "Menopause The Musical 2 - Cruising Through the Change" on Jan. 4.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • December 22, 2024
Sarasota actress is making the most out of 'Menopause The Musical'

A veteran of community theater stages in Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice, Melanie Souza became a professional actress in mid-life.

  • Arts + Culture
Superstar aerialist Nik Wallenda greets the crowd at Wonderland Circus: Illuminate, which runs through Jan. 5 at the Big Top near UTC Mall.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • December 18, 2024
Wallenda's Wonderland comes back stronger in its second year

Sarasota circus superstar Nik Wallenda wows hometown audiences under the Big Top at University Town Center.

  • Arts + Culture
Angela Ligon, who ran art and event spaces in downtown Sarasota for more than eight years, now has a gallery within Clive Daniel in Fruitville Commons.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • December 17, 2024
A downtown gallerist finds a home in Fruitville Road furniture store

Upscale home furnishings retailer Clive Daniel gives Angela Ligon a place to sell art.

  • Arts + Culture
Michelle Heera Kim and Rona Figueroa star in "The Heart Sellers," which runs through Feb. 16 at FST's Keating Theatre.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • December 16, 2024
FST's 'The Heart Sellers' gives voice to the voiceless

Kate Alexander directs a heartwarming tale of love, friendship and the American immigrant experience.

  • Arts + Culture
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is presenting "A Motown Christmas" through Jan. 5, 2025.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • December 11, 2024
WBTT celebrates 25 years of making joyful noise

Nate Jacobs built a theater dedicated to telling African American stories and nurturing talented young people — with a little help from friends.

  • Arts + Culture
Sir David Bintley's "The Spider's Feast" will make its world premiere at Sarasota Ballet on Dec. 20-21.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • December 10, 2024
Sarasota Ballet serves up a festive feast

Sir David Bintley's fanciful world premiere follows a spider's search for food.

  • Arts + Culture
The Sarasota Players presents "Little Women the Musical" from Dec. 5-15 at The Players studio in the Crossings at Siesta Key mall.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • December 9, 2024
Sarasota Players' 'Little Women: The Musical' aspires to be astonishing

Director Amanda Finnerty weaves a colorful quilt with remnants from a canceled show and a fresh cast.

  • Arts + Culture
Mary Davis Wallace (left) is the new board chair of Art Center Sarasota and Katherine Ceaser has been named executive director.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 4, 2024
Art Center Sarasota names new management team

Sarasota's oldest visual arts organization has a new executive director and board chair.

  • Arts + Culture
Sasha Andreev, Benjamin Dutcher, Ben Johnson, Daniel Grecco, Riley McNutt, Rodolfo Nieto, Jim Ramlet and Andrew Wilkowske in "All is Calm."
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • December 4, 2024
Asolo Rep's 'All is Calm' brings hope for the holidays

A cappella production "All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914" sounds a musical call to lay down arms.

  • Arts + Culture
Morgan Bettes is the producer of the first Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival, to be held Dec. 7 at Waterside Place.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • December 3, 2024
Lakewood Ranch music producer knows all the chords

Morgan Bettes Angell has plenty of experience under her belt as she prepares for the Ranch's first blues festival.

  • Arts + Culture
Sarasota Contemporary Dance members, led by SCD Artistic Director Leymis Bolaños Wilmott, will join bassist Johnnie Barker and his band for SCD + The Barker Project, which runs Dec. 5-8 at FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • December 2, 2024
Modern dance meets jazz with SCD + The Barker Project

Sarasota Contemporary Dance's tentpole event of the season is a first-time collaboration.

  • Arts + Culture
Circus Arts Conservatory founders Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs are stepping down from their management roles.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • November 27, 2024
Pedro Reis, Dolly Jacobs leave a lasting legacy at Circus Arts Conservatory

The couple elevated circus arts, improved community engagement and streamlined youth education.

  • Arts + Culture
« 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 »
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U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan's appointments to U.S. service academies for the fall include (from left) Micah Pubillones, Lakewood Ranch High graduate Jack Crosbie, Caine Cokkinias, Hunter Wilk, Dax Morgan, Caitlin Nguyen, and John Wheaton.
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