• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • 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
  • Things to Do
  • 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
  • Things to Do
  • 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
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Arts + Entertainment | Reviews

Rod Brogan and Rachel Moulton star in Florida Studio Theatre's "Birthday Candles."
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • April 10, 2026
Today and tomorrow take the stage in Florida Studio Theatre's 'Birthday Candles'

FST blows out the candles on a lifetime of birthdays during a single play.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
Laura Frye stars in Florida Studio Theatre's "A Night With Janis Joplin," which runs through April 12.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • March 30, 2026
'A Night with Janis Joplin' is a full-tilt boogie you won't soon forget

Florida Studio Theatre celebrates the singer's soulful artistry with part-concert, part character study.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
Christina Mei Chen and Dekyi Ronge discover a novel way of increasing their bee population in Urbanite Theatre's "The Apiary."
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • March 29, 2026
With survival at stake, beekeepers face an ethical quandary in 'The Apiary'

Director Summer Dawn Wallace finds sharp satire in a near-future bee-pocalypse at Urbanite Theatre.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
Soprano Hanna Brammer plays the lead in Sarasota Opera's production of Carlisle Floyd's "Susannah," which runs through March 28 at the Sarasota Opera House.
    By
  • Gayle Williams
  • March 15, 2026
Carlisle Floyd's opera 'Susannah' comes home to Florida

Sarasota Opera reminds us why the stark American tragedy continues to resonate.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
Carla Noack, Brian Wallace, Zach Harris, Sally Wingert and Ashley Raymond star in Asolo Repertory Theatre's "The Unfriend," which runs through March 22 at FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • March 2, 2026
Asolo Rep's dark comedy 'The Unfriend' explores the pitfalls of casual invitations

"Dr. Who" writer Steven Moffat's play is having its U.S. premiere in Sarasota.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
An artistic life in a Parisian garret ends in death for Mimi (Ashley Milanese) in Puccini's "La bohème," which runs at the Sarasota Opera House through March 28.
    By
  • Gayle Williams
  • February 18, 2026
Sarasota Opera's 'La bohème' skips sentimentality in favor of realism

Each on- and off-stage decision creates warmth and intimacy in Puccini's beloved tale of love and loss.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
Sarasota Orchestra Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero.
    By
  • Gayle Williams
  • February 14, 2026
Sarasota Orchestra refracts an American milestone in a multihued Masterworks

Conducted by Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero, "Variations on America" celebrates the nation's 250th anniversary with emotional depth.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
The cast of Asolo Rep's "The Mirror Crack'd," which runs at FSU Center for the Performing Arts through March 14.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • February 1, 2026
'The Mirror Crack'd' turns the Asolo Rep stage into a post-modern mirror maze

Miss Marple's on the case of a murder in English countryside, with a little help from her constable nephew.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
Japanese violin prodigy lives up to the hype in Sarasota Orchestra debut
    By
  • Gayle Williams
  • January 17, 2026
Japanese violin prodigy lives up to the hype in Sarasota Orchestra debut

Her musicality seems to emanate from a heart and soul deeply connected to a universal truth.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
J. Paul Nicholas and David Cantor star in "A Tailor Near Me" at Florida Studio Theatre through Feb. 15.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • December 18, 2025
Florida Studio Theatre's 'A Tailor Near Me' stitches threads of friendship and art

An altered suit leads to altered lives in the regional premiere of Michael Tucker's play.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
The audience roared its approval when Spanish guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas delivered an encore performance on the Sarasota Orchestra's Masterworks concert, "Close Encounters."
    By
  • Gayle Williams
  • December 8, 2025
Sarasota Orchestra gives audience close encounter with Masterworks program

Musicians weren't just on stage; they were in the corners of the Van Wezel for Respighi's "Pines of Rome."

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
Aaron Kaburick brandishes a fish in Asolo Repertory Theatre's production of "Come From Away."
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • November 22, 2025
'Come From Away' honors the best of humanity in the worst of times

Asolo Repertory Theatre's “Come From Away” celebrates the heroes who kept their heads when their world turned upside down.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
The cast of Florida Studio Theatre's "Lucky Stiff" includes (clockwise from top) Laura Yen Solito, Scott Cote, Barrett Riggins and Amanda Rose.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • November 17, 2025
'Lucky Stiff' makes a winning bet on comedy at Florida Studio Theatre

A luckless nephew goes for broke in Vegas with a death-defying scheme to save his inheritance.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
Sarasota Orchestra Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero.
    By
  • Gayle Williams
  • November 8, 2025
Maestro takes Sarasota Orchestra to new heights in debut Masterworks concert

Giancarlo Guerrero delivers a performance full of promise for the future and unmatched partnership with the orchestra.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
Jon Joseph Gentry and Tyler Gevas star in "Monsters of the American Cinema," which runs through Dec. 7 at Urbanite Theatre.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • November 6, 2025
Urbanite Theatre delivers a thrilling monster mash with cinematic timing

In "Monsters of the American Cinema," the scary creatures aren't only on the screen.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Reviews
1 2 3 4 5 »
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 in Arts + Entertainment

1
Rod Brogan and Rachel Moulton star in Florida Studio Theatre's "Birthday Candles."
  • April 10, 2026
Today and tomorrow take the stage in Florida Studio Theatre's 'Birthday Candles'
2
Hanami Sushi Cocktails & Grill is at 1525 Fourth St., Suite C, in Sarasota.
  • April 10, 2026
Sushi restaurant opens in Sarasota's Rosemary District
3
This year the Sarasota Opera House is turning 100. To celebrate, the Sarasota Opera is holding a special concert and dinner on April 11.
  • April 8, 2026
Sarasota Opera fetes Opera House on its centennial
4
The original Owen's Fish Camp in Burns Court defines the quintessential "cottage."
  • April 8, 2026
Local cottage-core cafes offer a cozy escape
5
From left to right, Maya Carpentiere, Amanda Gonzalez, Christiana Allison, Grayson Buchanan, Sheila Wallis and Ryan Duga star in Florida Studio Theatre's children's production, "The Pirate Ship and the Sea Monster and Other Winning Plays."
  • April 7, 2026
Three Sarasota theaters jump on the trolley

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 © 2026 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.


Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free