The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for Aug. 15-21


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  • | 10:00 a.m. August 13, 2024
The Manatee Players production of "Anything Goes" runs through Aug. 18 at the Manatee Center for the Performing Arts.
The Manatee Players production of "Anything Goes" runs through Aug. 18 at the Manatee Center for the Performing Arts.
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Thursday, Aug. 15

Opening reception for new exhibitions
6 p.m. at Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Free
Visit ArtCenterSarasota.org.

Art Center Sarasota hosts an opening reception for its latest round of exhibitions by artists Precious Darling, Tanner Simon and teens from the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County. Darling’s show, “How He Sees Me,” uses black-and-white photography and sculpture to focus on the way women are viewed while Simon’s “Big Soup, Big Responsibility” explores the intersection of humor, seriousness and the absurd with large-scale paintings. All three exhibitions run through Sept. 28.


Rob Schneider
7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
$53
Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

“Saturday Night Live” veteran Rob Schneider tapped his personal life for his first Netflix comedy special, “Asian Momma, Mexican Kids,” which premiered in 2020. His credits include the NBC sitcom “Men Behaving Badly” and the feature films “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo,” “The Hot Chick” and “The Benchwarmers.” Runs through Sunday. 


‘The Music of Laurel Canyon’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret,1265 First St., Sarasota
$18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

If you know, you know. But not everyone knows about Laurel Canyon, the neighborhood above West Hollywood's Sunset Strip that became home to folk musicians such as Joni Mitchell, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young and The Mamas and the Papas. Runs through Sept. 1.


‘Anything Goes’
7:30 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W, Bradenton
$32-$42
Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com.

Can’t get enough of Cole Porter? Then the Manatee Players’ revival of the 1934 musical “Anything Goes” is the show for you. Set sail on the S.S. American as two unlikely couples try to chart a course to lasting happiness with the help of singing sailors. Runs through Sunday. 


Green Day’s ‘American Idiot’
7:30 p.m. at The Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130, Sarasota
$30; students $13
Visit ThePlayers.org.

Broadway director and playwright Michael Mayer ("Spring Awakening," "Hedwig and the Angry Inch") collaborated with Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong and distilled his Grammy Award-winning album into a rock opera. This explosive production, directed by Brian Finnerty, is just the cure for the summertime blues. Runs through Friday. 


"The Four C Notes" brings back the days of doo-wop at FST's Goldstein Cabaret through Oct. 13.
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‘The Four C Notes’
8 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota
$18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

For fans of Frank Valli and the Four Seasons, the doo-wop sound never goes out of style. With “The Four C Notes,” Florida Studio Theatre continues the tradition of presenting Four Seasons tribute shows in its summer cabaret series. Runs through Oct. 13.


‘The Outsider’
8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St., Sarasota
$29-$46
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

After the last few weeks in politics, we could all use some laughs. Florida Studio Theatre serves up a political comedy about the world’s least likely candidate for governor who just might be exactly what the voters want. Let’s hear it for democracy! Runs through Sunday.


Friday, Aug. 16

Special Olympics Paddleboard Championships
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota
Free
Visit NathanBendersonPark.org.

More than 200 Special Olympics athletes from around the state compete in a varsity of stand-up paddle board competitions. Continues Saturday.


Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret star in "Viva Las Vegas," screening at the Sarasota Opera House on Aug. 16.
Courtesy image

Classic Movies at the Opera House: ‘Viva Las Vegas’
7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota
$12
Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

 If you’re a fan of campy Elvis Presley movies, it doesn’t get much better than “Viva Las Vegas,” which created a lot of chemistry on screen (and off, according to gossip columnists) between the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and his sexy co-star Ann-Margret.


Saturday, Aug. 17

Drop-in Knitting
1 p.m. the Braden River Library, 4915 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton
Free
Visit MyManatee.org.

The Braden River Library presents Drop-in Knitting, which will allow adults (18 and over) to join other knitters to work on various projects. The event will be held in the maker space room and those who attend are urged to bring projects they currently are working on. The program is suitable for knitters of all levels. Needles and yard will be available for on-site use.


Comedy Lottery
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St., Sarasota
$15-$18
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Everyone’s a winner in this FST Improv show where audience members select the night’s lineup of games replete with scenes, sketches and songs designed to provoke laughter. Runs Saturdays through Sept. 28.


Sunday, Aug. 18

HD at the Opera House: ‘Coppélia’
1:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota
$12-$20
Visit SarasotaOpera.org.

Find out what happens when the lonely Dr. Coppelius brings a doll to life. His “daughter’s” beauty is so great that it threatens to derail an engagement of a peasant couple to be married during the village harvest festival. 


Tuesday, Aug. 20

Pop-up Library
10-11:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key
Free
Call 941-861-5475.

On the first and third Tuesday of each month in the back parking lot of Town Hall, the Library Pop-Up will be at Longboat Key with books for all ages. Swing by to sign up for a library card and read a book by the beach. 


Wednesday, Aug. 21

Barbara Jordan brings her quintet to Sarasota Music Archive's Jazz Happy Hour on Aug. 21 at Selby Library.
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Jazz Happy Hour
6 p.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St., Sarasota
Free with reservation
Visit JazzHappyHour.org.

Sarasota Music Archive presents the Barbara Jordan Quintet playing a program of “Swinging the Classics.”

 

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