The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key for Feb. 16-22

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


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  • | 5:00 a.m. February 14, 2023
Sarasota Opera production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly
Sarasota Opera production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly
Rod Millington
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Thursday, Feb. 16

Studio Grand Opening
4-8 p.m. at Creative Liberties, 927 Lime Ave.
Free
Visit CreativeLiberties.net.

Come celebrate Creative Liberties’ studio grand opening at 927 Lime Ave. Creative Liberties artists studios, gallery and creative academy. DJ Ealain will be playing live music and Hamlet’s Eatery will be serving up tasty food. 


Mandy Patinkin in Concert: Being Alive
7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$37-$82
Visit VanWezel.org.

In this evening of song, Mandy Patinkin will sing his favorite Broadway and classic American tunes, from Sondheim to Cole Porter. He’ll remind you that before he was an Emmy-winning TV actor, he was a Tony-award winning Broadway star.


Mark Twain: They Told Me To Be Brief
7:30 p.m. at The Players Centre for Performing Arts, Studio 1130, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail
$28
Visit ThePlayers.org.

In 1979, Alan Kitty began performing as Mark Twain. Thirty years later, he launched an off-Broadway showcase, followed by a national tour of Mark Twain’s Last Stand. For three nights, this show based on the best of the iconic American author will grace The Players’ stage.  Runs through Saturday, Feb. 18.


Friday, Feb. 17

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

For this installment of the Jazz Club of Sarasota’s weekly Friday performance, the Danny Sinoff Trio featuring Scott Smith and Bill E. Peterson will play their brand of jazz.


The Thomas Carabasi Jazz Quintet
5 p.m. at the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key
$30; members $25
Call 383-8222. 

The quintet will be covering songs from jazz legends like Cole Porter and Duke Ellington.


Orny Adams
6:30 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.
$31
Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

In addition to his gig as Coach from the “Teen Wolf” TV show, Orny Adams has had on-hour standup specials on Netflix, Comedy Central and Showtime. Come enjoy some laughs with him through Saturday, Feb. 18.


The Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular show comes to the Van Wezel Friday, Feb. 17.

The Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular
8 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$18-$58
Visit VanWezel.org.

Love Pink Floyd? Prepare to have your mind blown. Surrounded by concert-quality sound, Laser Spectacular will pair your favorite Floyd tunes with cutting-edge visual effects including high-powered lasers, large-screen video production and special lighting effects. 


Saturday, Feb. 18

Run for the Beads
8 a.m. at Waterside Place
$45
Visit LWRFund.org.

The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund hosts the first Run for the Beads, a Mardi Gras-themed 5K that includes an after-party that includes food, drinks, prize drawings, music, and a parade. Those who don't run are welcomed to attend the after-party for free. The event benefits nonprofits in Lakewood Ranch and the region.


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Tony Sands Presents ‘Rat Pack Together Again’
2 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton
$31.50
Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com.

Take in a musical journey featuring the best of the Rat Pack and the greatest hit from the best threesome of crooners to ever grace the stage: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. 


'The Highwaymen Show'
7 p.m. at Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave., Venice
$35-$60
Visit VenicePerformingArtsCenter.com.

Featuring Gray Sartin as Johnny Cash, Greg Bauman as Kris Kristofferson, Tyson Halford as Willie Nelson and Stefan Superti as Waylon Jennings, this show will cover all their greatest hits in this tribute performance. 


‘Madama Butterfly’
7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.
From $23
Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

One of Puccini’s most beloved and most-performed works, “Madama Butterfly” tells the story of a young geisha swept off her feet by an American Naval Officer. But, as is the case in tragedies, her heart ends up broken by his broken promises. Runs through March 24.


Sunday, Feb. 19

The Cleveland Celtic Ensemble
2 p.m. at Christ Church, 6400 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key
Free
Call 383-8833.

Listen to the ethereal sounds of the Celtic world presented in a chamber music ensemble setting. 


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‘I Want to Be Like You’ 
3 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2200 26th St. W., Bradenton
Free
Visit RingSarasota.org.

Ring Sarasota will show off the versatility of handbells in this concert. Spanning everything from popular tunes to big band to Latin music, audiences are sure to leave this concert with a new appreciation for small but mighty handbell. 


Chamber Soirées: Three Sonatas 
4 p.m. at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail
$40-$50
Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Music Director of the Sarasota Music Festival and pianist Jeffrey Kahane joins Sarasota Orchestra principal musicians for an exploration of — you guessed it — a program featuring three sonatas. Beethoven’s Third Cello Sonata, Brahms’ First Clarinet Sonata and Stravinsky’s “Suite Italienne” are sure to delight. 


Monday, Feb. 20

'Tomorrow’s Voices Tonight'
5:30 p.m. at WBTT Education Center, 1012 N. Orange Ave.
$25
Visit KeyChorale.org.

Come support and cheer the musicians of tomorrow with this performance showcasing Key Chorale’s student scholars in recital. The students will sing classical and musical theater selections during this soiree.


Van Cliburn Medalists with Wu Han in Concert
7:30 p.m. at Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way
$60
Visit LaMusicaFestival.org.

La Musica celebrates Rachmaninov this season, as it’s the 150th anniversary of his birth and 80th anniversary of his death. The 2022 Van Cliburn Competition medalists Dmytro Choni and Anna Geniushene will honor his legacy in this program alongside Cliburn juror and La Musica Artistic Director Wu Han.


Tuesday, Feb. 21

‘An Inspector Calls’
8 p.m. at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$35
Visit AsoloRep.org.

Set on the brink of WWII, this suspenseful mystery drama performed by the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training will keep you on the edge of your seat. When a family celebration is cut short by the arrival of a mysterious inspector, the family struggles to recover from his scorching investigation. Runs through March 12.


Wednesday, Feb. 22

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‘Dreamgirls’
7:30 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave.
$50
Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.

Through all the sounds of R&B, pop, disco, gospel and more, “Dreamgirls” tells the story of one fictional Motown group’s rise to nobodys to superstars — and, of course, what it really takes to make that voyage in the music industry. Runs through April 9.


Rita Rudner and Robert Klein
7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$27-$67
Visit VanWezel.org.

Rita Rudner is a New York Times best-selling author and one of the country’s top comedians, in addition to being a TV personality, screenwriter, playwright and actress. Robert Klein has entertained audiences on Broadway, TV and the big screen for more than 40 years. Now they’ve teamed up to deliver this tour de force of comedy we dare you not to enjoy.

 

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