The best things to do around Sarasota for Dec. 1-6

Thursday

Steve White
7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.
$25
Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

Steve ain't white. That's literally the website URL for this well-traveled comedian. White has been around the block in the comedy and film industry, and he's had small roles in five different Spike Lee films. White's website claims that he's a little bit of Morgan Freeman, Robin Williams, Chris Rock, Jim Carrey, Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep all rolled into one.

SCD + enSRQ
7 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$10-$45
Visit SarasotaContemporaryDance.org and enSRQ.org.

Here, two of Sarasota's most avant-garde groups combine to create something beautiful. Leymis Bolaños Wilmott's gravity-defying company, Sarasota Contemporary Dance, will get down to sounds created by enSRQ, the brain child of violinist Samantha Bennett and percussionist George Nickson. This won't be your average dance number to Top 40 compositions you've heard before; it will be weird and inventive and something that pushes you to the edge of your seat. Continues at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3 and 3 p.m. Dec. 4.

'The Music Man'
7:30 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton
$30-$42
Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com.

Is Harold Hill the Music Man or just a dude who wants to take their money and run? This musical, which originally graced Broadway stages in 1957, won five Tony Awards including Best Musical in its original run. It was also made into a film in 1962, and it came back for a Broadway revival earlier this year. It even birthed a song, "Till There Was You," that you may know as a Beatles tune. Runs through Dec. 18.

'Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play'
7:30 p.m. at 1130 Theatre at the Crossings at Siesta Key Mall, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail
$32; students $15
Visit ThePlayers.org.

Get in the holiday spirit with one of the most beloved Christmas stories of them all. This story, adapted from a 1947 radio play, recounts the tale of a department store Santa Claus who claims that he's the real Kris Kringle. His entire story will rest on the belief of one little girl. Will it make a difference? Come out and see. Runs through Dec. 11.

Friday

Jazz at Two — Ron Kraemer Trio
2 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road
$15-$20
Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

Ron Kraemer, a guitarist, vocalist and bandleader, will get the most out his talented group of supporting musicians. Kraemer will be assisted by bassist JP Cooley, drummer Michael Finley and special guest Detroit Mike Hepner on the B3 organ. They'll hit the high notes and the steely rhythms of jazz, blues and swing for the assembled crowd.

Hermitage fellow Guadalis Del Carmen

Multihyphenate Multimedia: Music, Visual Art, and Theater
5 p.m. at Hermitage Beach, 6660 Manasota Key Road, Englewood
$5, registration required
Visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

Hermitage fellows Raquel Acevedo Klein and Guadalís Del Carmen will take you into their world for a backstage peak at their creative disciplines. Acevedo Klein is a composer and visual artist, and Del Carmen is an award-winning playwright. They'll show you their latest works and tell you a bit about how they peel back the layers of their creative endeavors. 

Violinist Bomsori Kim

Masterworks: 'Luminous Colors'
7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$37-$99
Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org. 

You'll hear new compositions and classics in this performance, which will be led by Lina González-Granados, the resident conductor of the LA Opera. The Sarasota Orchestra will play Nina Shekhar's "Lumina," which won ASCAP's Rudolph Nissim Prize. Guest violinist Bomsori Kim will play on a Max Bruch composition, and the evening will conclude with the orchestra playing Dvořák’s "Symphony No. 7."  Continues at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 4.

Laney Jones and the Spirits
8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court
$15 members, $18 non-members, $9 students (age 13+)
Visit WSLR.org/Fogartyville/.

Nashville-based musician Laney Jones will bring you the homespun sounds of banjo, ukelele, guitar and harmonica for one night only at Fogartyville. Jones sets aside time every Wednesday to spend time with her fans on Instagram.

First Friday: Juicy Purple
8 p.m. at 8100 Lakewood Ranch Main Street
Free
Visit LakewoodRanch.com.

It's the start of another month, which means it's time for another party at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. Juicy Purple — which is a local band and not the name of a couture label and color — will get you rocking with a little R&B, soul and dance music. There will be food vendors and beer trucks, and proceeds from the evening will benefit Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Saturday

The cast of Florida Studio Theatre's Deck the Halls is spreading holiday cheer.

'Deck the Halls'
10 a.m. and Noon at FST’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave.
$10
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas. Florida Studio Theatre will rock the holiday season with a brand new version of their holiday-themed revue — written by Sarah Durham and Caroline Saldivar — that celebrates the songs of Christmas and Chanukah. Deck the Halls makes its debut this year on Dec. 3 and will run through Christmas Eve.

Suncoast Renaissance Festival
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd.
$26 for adults; ages 5-11 $17; under age 5 free.
Visit SuncoastRenaissanceFestival.com.

Step back in time with Sarasota’s beloved renaissance festival.

'The Nutcracker'
7 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.
$30-$50
Visit SRQCubanBallet.org.

The little dancers at the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School bring you a big classic at the Sarasota Opera House. The renowned beauty of Tchaikovsky's score and the structured brilliance of classic choreography will take center stage, and the dancers will be outfitted in costumes specifically made for the school by famed theater designer Steve Rubin. 

Sarasota Holiday Parade
7 p.m. on Sarasota Main Street, 1535 Main St.
Free
Visit SarasotaHolidayParade.com.

Enjoy a fun-filled event with dancing, singing and amazing floats with an appearance from Santa Claus. 

'To Die For'
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St.
$15
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Who did it? That's for you to figure out in between laughs. The talented improv crew at Florida Studio Theatre will bring you a classic murder mystery told in classic film noir style, and the show's plucky detective will solve the case based on suggestions from the audience. It's interactive and fun and no two shows will be the same. Runs through Dec. 24.

Sunday

By Request
3 p.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 3131 61st Street
$5
Visit SunCoastConcertBand.org.

The Suncoast Concert Band will bring you music you may already know by heart in this December appearance.

Hard Heart Burlesque
8 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.
$37
Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

It's a little risqué business brought to you by the talented practitioners at Hard Heart Burlesque. The event, presented by Miss Marina Elaine and Karma Kandlewick, will bring you showgirls, singers and even a few Vaudeville twists. It's the most fun you can have with your clothes on, but some of the performers may cross that line as part of their act.

Monday

Monday Night Jazz at the Cabaret
7:30 p.m. at FST’s John C. Court Cabaret, 1265 First St.
$34-$39
Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

Clear the decks for a little bit of jazz at the John C. Court Cabaret. Tampa-based pianist and arranger Phil Magellanes, who has played with Arturo Sandoval and Blood, Sweat and Tears, will be the guest of honor at the John C. Court Cabaret.

Tuesday

Violinist Simone Porter

Double Feature: Blake Pouliot and Simone Porter, violins
7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.
$30-$60
Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.

Two virtuoso violinists — Blake Pouliot and Simone Porter — will play together on famous compositions by Strauss, Beethoven and Ernest Chausson, among others, in this evening of technical brilliance. Pouliot, a Toronto native, was nominated for a Juno Award for his debut CD in 2019, and Porter, raised in Seattle, made her professional solo debut at age 10. The two violinists will be supported by pianist Hsin-I Huang.