The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for May 16-22


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  • | 10:00 a.m. May 14, 2024
Charlie "CJ" Melton stars in Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's Young Artist Showcase on May 19-20.
Charlie "CJ" Melton stars in Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's Young Artist Showcase on May 19-20.
Image courtesy of Sorcha Augustine
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Thursday, May 16

Arts Advocates Annual Scholarship Luncheon 
11 a.m. at Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
$45-$50
Visit ArtsAdvocates.org.

Student scholarship winners will be introduced at the Arts Advocates luncheon and some will perform.The guest speaker will be Sara Curtis Robinson, vice president for advancement of Ringling College, who oversees its arts and culture programs in the community including Sarasota Art Museum, Town Hall Lecture Series, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and Englewood Art Center. 


Mike Paramore
7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
$26
Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

Mike Paramore is a featured comedian on Fox’s show “Laughs” and has performed at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, Cleveland Comedy Festival and won the Laughing Devil Festival in New York City.


‘Bank Job’
7:30 p.m. at Venice Theatre’s Pinkerton Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice
$15-$32
Visit VeniceTheatre.org.

After two brothers execute a bank heist, their perfect crime gets thwarted in a comic romp with a dash of romance thrown in. Runs through May 19.


‘The Flip Side’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St., Sarasota
$37-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

With songs like “The Ballad of Sigmund Freud” and “Killed by a Coconut,” the latest cabaret creation of Richard and Rebecca Hopkins tips its musical hat to comic songwriters. The show features arrangements by Jim Prosser. Runs through June 16.


Asolo Rep's production of "Twelve Angry Men: A New Musical" runs through June 9 at FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
Image courtesy of Sorcha Augustine

'Twelve Angry Men: A New Musical'
7:30 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
$35-$95
Visit AsoloRep.org.

Asolo Repertory Theatre Producing Artistic Director Peter Rothstein directs an innovative musical adaptation of the classic courtroom drama by playwright David Simpatico and Michael Holland. Rothstein first directed “Twelve Angry Men: A New Musical” at Theatre Latté Da in Minneapolis, where it made its world premiere in 2022. Runs through June 9.


‘Troubadour’ 
8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St., Sarasota
$39-$56
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Featuring music by Sugarland’s Kristian Bush, “Troubadour’ tells the story of a country music legend’s son in the 1950s who is trying to carry on his father’s legacy. When he joins forces with unlikely allies, the world of country music is changed forever. Runs through May 19.


Friday, May 17

Sights + Sounds at Waterside Place: Sarasota Contemporary Dance 
6 p.m. at Waterside Place, 7500 Island Cove Terrace, Lakewood Ranch
Free
Visit LakewoodRanch.com.

Sarasota Contemporary Dance Ensemble will present works choreographed by Associate Directors Xiao-Xuan Dancigers and Melissa Rummel, along with company member Monessa Salley and Rising Choreographer Nicole Connaughton. Seating is limited, so please feel free to bring a lawn chair. No outside food or drinks permitted.


Glenn Priest will be the featured pianist at Musica Sacra's "American Tribute" concert on Friday, May 17.
Courtesy image

‘American Spirit’
7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak St., Sarasota
$35
Visit MusicaSacra.org

Musica Sacra closes the season with “American Spirit,” a tribute to Yankee creativity. The choir and orchestra will present works by Aaron Copland, Howard Hanson, Gwyneth Walker and others, set to words by Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes. Featured pianist Glenn Priest will give a rousing centennial performance of Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue," and guest artist Maicy Powell of West Coast Black Theater Troupe will join for a triptych of spirituals.


Grammy Award winner Alex Cuba plays Fogartyville Friday, May 17.
Image courtesy of Christina Woerns

Alex Cuba
7 p.m. Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota
$18-$32
Visit WSLR.org.

Cuban-Canadian musician Alex Cuba, who sings in Spanish and English, won the Grammy for Best Latin Pop album in 2022. 


Saturday, May 18

St. Armands Circle Cars and Coffee
8-10 a.m. at Lynches Pub and Grub, 19 N. Boulevard of the Presidents, St. Armands Key
Free
Call 941-388-5550.

Join Lynches Pub for Cars and Coffee on St. Armands Circle. Free coffee is provided. No need to register. All makes and models are welcome. 


Hermitage Greenfield Prize Winner Trenton Doyle Hancock's work, "Undom Endgle and the Souls' Journey," is part of the "Impact" show at the Sarasota Art Museum.
Image courtesy of Michael Underwood

'Impact: Contemporary Artists at the Hermitage Artist Retreat'
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
$15
Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.

The first collaboration between the Sarasota Art Museum and the Hermitage Artist Retreat, “Impact: Contemporary Artists at the Hermitage Artist Retreat," includes 10 Hermitage Fellows representing a broad range of media — painting, sculpture, installation, photography, video, music, performance, conceptual art, ceramics, weaving and printmaking. Runs through July 7.


Sunday, May 19

Young Artist Showcase: Charlie “CJ” Melton
7:30 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota
$27
Visit WestcoastBlackTheatreTroupe.org.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe vocalist Charlie “CJ” Melton stars in “I Sing Because I’m Happy; I Sing Because I’m Free.” The self-produced show will feature selections such as “So Amazing” by Luther Vandross and “I’m Blessed” by Charlie Wilson. Runs through May 20. 


Monday, May 20

Behind the Curtain: Exploring the Van Wezel from the Art to the Stage
1:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
$15
Visit ArtsAdvocates.org.

Find out what really happens behind the scenes at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and learn about the paintings and sculptures on display by noted Florida artists such as Robert Chase, Thorn Utz, Eugene White and Ben Stahl, to name just a few. 


Monday Night Jazz: Michael Ross and Company
7:30 p.m. at FST's John C. Court Cabaret, 1265 First St., Sarasota
$34-$39
Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

Jazz Club of Sarasota presents Michael Ross and Company featuring Fred Johnson with Daniel Jordan, Anthony Aldissi and Walt Hubbard in its year-round Monday Night Jazz at the Cabaret series. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for dinner and drinks.


Tuesday, May 21

ArtLab Second Anniversary Celebration
7 p.m. at Rose and Ivy, 1296 First St., Sarasota
$15
Visit GraeProductions.net.

Celebrate local art and performers during an electrifying evening featuring DJ Shambala, DJ Michael Stavros, Limelite SRQ Lighting, digital art by Bichael Burphy, bites by Rose and Ivy, special guest performances and more. 


The entrance to the new Greatest Show on Earth Gallery at The Ringling Museum.
Courtesy image

Greatest Show on Earth Gallery
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Tibbals Learning Center, The Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota
$25; children ages 6 to 17 $5; children under age 6 free
Visit Ringling.org.

Closed for two years, the second floor of the Tibbals Learning Center at The Ringling Museum has reopened with new, interactive exhibits that cover 50 years of Feld Entertainment’s ownership of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The Greatest Show on Earth Gallery includes a video directory of circus performers powered by motion sensors and an eight-minute immersive experience called “The Show” that combines video, lighting and original circus wardrobe. 

 

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