• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Arts + Culture

Sarasota Ballet School names new principal
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 5, 2025
Sarasota Ballet School names new principal

Alberto Blanco succeeds Jennifer Welch Cudnik, who has moved to Kansas City Ballet School.

  • Arts + Culture
Loretta Pettway Bennett, Sarasota Art Museum Associate Curator Lacie Barbour and Louisiana Bendolph
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 4, 2025
Gee's Bend quilters learned to 'make something out of nothing'

Loretta Pettway Bennett and Louisiana Bendolph share their stories at Sarasota Art Museum.

  • Arts + Culture
The cast of "Cabaret" gets ready for their close-up at the Kit Kat Club, the setting of the musical set in Weimar-era Berlin.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • July 30, 2025
The Sarasota Players stages a thrilling, chilling 'Cabaret'

Sarasota Players brings Kander and Ebb's sexy, ominous musical to a round stage.

  • Arts + Culture
Louis Tucci, Luke McMaster and Miles Aubrey star in Florida Studio Theatre's cabaret show, "How Sweet It Is," which runs at the Goldstein Cabaret through Aug. 3.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • July 28, 2025
Florida Studio Theatre gives blue-eyed soul a spot in the limelight

Luke McMaster pays tribute to Lamont Dozier and other Motown songwriters in "How Sweet It Is."

  • Arts + Culture
Johnston Kraft, Rosemarie Kraft, Broc Stull and Liesl Kraft relax between rehearsals for InMotion, the recital of the Sarasota Ballet Summer Intensive.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • July 23, 2025
The Sarasota Ballet Summer Intensive is raising the barre

The nearly 190 students in the program aim for new heights with their InMotion recital.

  • Arts + Culture
Circus Arts Conservatory board elects new leadership
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 22, 2025
Circus Arts Conservatory board elects new leadership

Julie Harris succeeds Shari Ashman as board chair, while Ken Woodworth becomes vice-chair.

  • Arts + Culture
Key Chorale artistic director, CEO extends contract for 10 years
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 21, 2025
Key Chorale artistic director, CEO extends contract for 10 years

The symphonic chorus also announced vocalist hires and staff promotions.

  • Arts + Culture
New York City improv troupe Shitzprobe creates a Broadway musical based on audience suggestions.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • July 15, 2025
Sarasota Improv Festival headliner creates Broadway musicals on the fly

Shitzprobe co-founder and performer Ali Reed (almost) reveals the secret of the troupe's success.

  • Arts + Culture
Sarah Durham is Florida Studio Theatre's associate director of improv and is in charge of the Sarasota Improv Festival.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • July 15, 2025
Meet Florida Studio Theatre's new associate improv director

Sarah Durham earned her comedy stripes at Chicago's famed Second City.

  • Arts + Culture
The culmination of the Sarasota Improv Fest is the All Play show, shown here in 2024.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • July 15, 2025
Sarasota Improv Festival celebrates the evolution of an art form

Improv is changing at warp speed, but Florida Studio Theatre remains at the vanguard.

  • Arts + Culture
Jazzmin Carson and Raleigh Moseley II star in "Titan and the Muse" at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe from July 17-20.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 15, 2025
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for July 17-23

Don't miss these arts and entertainment events around Sarasota and Manatee counties this week.

  • Arts + Culture
Asolo Repertory Theatre will stage a production of "Come From Away" from Nov. 12 through Dec. 28.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • July 11, 2025
Asolo Rep replaces Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp musical with 'Come From Away'

The update of the hit musical 'Movin' Out' has been shifted to a future season.

  • Arts + Culture
Deena King says the Lakewood Ranch market is full of buyers who don't care if their art matches the sofa and the drapes.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 9, 2025
Fine arts gallery tests the waters in Lakewood Ranch area

Expressionist painter Deena King brings her brand of art to the border of Waterside.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Alex Hatcher and Will Westray star in "A Year with Frog and Toad," which Scott Keys is directing for Asolo Repertory Theatre.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • July 9, 2025
Asolo Rep's 'A Year With Frog and Toad' explores the seasons of friendship

Scott Keys is directing the Asolo Repertory Theatre production of Robert and Willie Reale's heartwarming, hilarious musical following the yearlong adventures of Frog and Toad.

  • Arts + Culture
Former dancer and nonprofit arts leader Jess Abbott has joined the Sarasota Ballet as marketing director.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 7, 2025
Sarasota Ballet names new marketing director

Jess Abbott joins the company from Greenville Center for Creative Arts in South Carolina.

  • Arts + Culture
« 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest News

Sponsored Content
1
  • December 4, 2025
Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival
2
You'd better watch out: Tow-away zones set for Sarasota holiday parade
  • December 4, 2025
You'd better watch out: Tow-away zones set for Sarasota holiday parade
3
The moon shines between a pair of "Florida Reindeer."
  • December 4, 2025
Holiday display at Selby Gardens boasts over 2 million lights
4
A satellite image of Hurricane Irma.
  • December 4, 2025
Hurricane season ends without Florida landfall
5
Shane Rawley poses for a photo on Dec. 2 at Shaner's Pizzeria with his three published books. From left: "A February Thaw: A Peter Cobb Adventure," "January Freeze: A Peter Cobb Adventure" and "Peter Cobb: Three Strikes You're Out."
  • December 4, 2025
Former MLB pitcher and local pizzeria owner is an author

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.

The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now