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Arts + Culture

Key Chorale will follow up last season's acclaimed concert of Verdi's Requiem at Church of the Palms with Mozart's Coronation Mass on Saturday, Sept. 27.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • September 24, 2025
Key Chorale kicks off its 41st season with music fit for a king

The title of the symphonic chorus's Sept. 27 concert, "Coronation: Music Inspired by Royalty," comes from Mozart's Coronation Mass.

  • Arts + Culture
Michelle Butler is deputy executive director of Sarasota Ballet.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 23, 2025
Sarasota Ballet names deputy executive director

The new position strengthens the company's management structure.

  • Arts + Culture
Natalie Ball's massive mixed media tapestry, "Playing Dolls," is on loan to The Ringling from the Rubell Museum in Miami.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • September 17, 2025
The Ringling gives Native American 'women's work' its due

The John and Mable Ringling Art Museum's "Ancestral Edge" exhibition showcases nine Native female artists.

  • Arts + Culture
Florida Studio Theatre promotes two artistic team members
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 15, 2025
Florida Studio Theatre promotes two artistic team members

Catherine Randazzo and Nancy Rominger receive new titles.

  • Arts + Culture
Dingbat Theatre Project founder Luke Manual played the Cowardly Lion in its production based on "The Wizard of Oz."
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • September 10, 2025
Dingbat Theatre Project leans into diversity

Luke Manual's troupe welcomes performers of all ages, sizes, colors, physical abilities and sexual orientation.

  • Arts + Culture
Urbanite Theatre goes big for its 2025 Modern Works Festival
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • September 8, 2025
Urbanite Theatre goes big for its 2025 Modern Works Festival

The female playwriting contest opens with Phoebe Potts' "Too Fat for China."

  • Arts + Culture
Sarasota Music Festival 2023 fellows Ellen Hayashi, Ray Wyant, Melanie Chen and Daniel Itzkowitz relax with their instruments.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • September 3, 2025
Music director's exit ushers in period of change at the Sarasota Music Festival

The 2026 festival will be scaled back to two weeks and curated by faculty members.

  • Arts + Culture
Jazz Club of Sarasota names first development director
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 1, 2025
Jazz Club of Sarasota names first development director

Veteran arts administrator Danielle La Senna steps into the new position.

  • Arts + Culture
"Chrysler," a 1930 lithograph by Roger de Valerio, is on display at Sarasota Art Museum's exhibition, "Art Deco: The Golden Age of Illustration," which runs from Aug. 31 to March 29, 2026.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 27, 2025
Sarasota Art Museum stages an Art Deco extravaganza

The museum pays tribute to a dynamic era of design with posters from the Crouse Collection.

  • Arts + Culture
"Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical" plays the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Nov. 14-16.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 26, 2025
Van Wezel is already getting ready for Christmas

Executive Director Mary Bensel is doubling down on the holidays after last year's hurricane disruption.

  • Arts + Culture
Jeffrey Kahane spent 20 seasons as music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra before being appointed music director of the Sarasota Music Festival in August 2016.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 25, 2025
Sarasota Music Festival music director steps down

The 2026 festival will be scaled back to two weeks as the Sarasota Orchestra looks for Jeffrey Kahane's successor.

  • Arts + Culture
Artist Series Concerts' executive director goes back to the future
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 24, 2025
Artist Series Concerts' executive director goes back to the future

Keren Shani-Lifrak returns to the arts after a stint in real estate.

  • Arts + Culture
Rigoberto Torres holds the bust of Bélen Lopez. There is still more work to be done, including opening the eyes on the sculpture and painting the surface.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • August 21, 2025
See how a renowned sculptor creates plaster casts of community members

Sculptor Rigoberto Torres is bringing his community lifecasting to The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art for its upcoming exhibition "Nuestro Vaivén (Our Sway)."

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Season is heating up. Here's what you can look forward to on the arts scene.
    By
  • Su Byron
  • August 21, 2025
Season is heating up. Here's what you can look forward to on the arts scene.

From bold exhibitions to boundary-pushing performances, the months ahead promise something for every kind of art-lover.

  • Arts + Culture
Leon S. Pitts II and Ariel Blue star in Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's "Big Sexy: The Fats Waller Revue," which runs from Aug. 22 through Sept. 7.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 20, 2025
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe pays tribute to Fats Waller with 'Big Sexy'

The musical revue showcases the talents of Leon S. Pitts II and Ariel Blue.

  • Arts + Culture
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Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K
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Longboat Key Police Deputy Chief Frank Rubino (left) accepts a framed display of medals, patches and pins that demonstrate his 45-year career in law enforcement.
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Longboat deputy chief with 45 years of experience to retire
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  • December 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High revives its science fair

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