The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for June 20-26


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  • | 10:00 a.m. June 18, 2024
Cellist Karen Ouzounian will perform at the closing concert of the Sarasota Music Festival, "Passion and Pride," on Saturday, June 22.
Cellist Karen Ouzounian will perform at the closing concert of the Sarasota Music Festival, "Passion and Pride," on Saturday, June 22.
Image courtesy of Ebru Yildiz
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Thursday, June 20

Rooftop Yoga
10 a.m. at the Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Parkway, Lakewood Ranch
Free
Visit MyManatee.org.

The Lakewood Ranch Library hosts a free rooftop yoga session with Shack Yoga's Courtenay Smith. Those participating (18 years old and up) are asked to bring a mat.


Contortionist Uranbileg Angarag will perform at the Summer Circus Spectacular, which runs through Aug. 17 at The Ringling's Historic Asolo Theater.
Courtesy image

Summer Circus Spectacular
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at The Ringling's Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota
$20; kids $15
Visit Ringling.org.

If you’ve never seen a performance in The Ringling’s jewelbox venue, the Historic Asolo Theater, here’s your chance. Presided over by Ringmaster Jared Walker, the Summer Circus Spectacular includes contortionist Uranbileg Angarag, acrobatic hand balancers The Bello Sisters, hair hang artist Camille Langlois, slack wire performer Antino Pansa and clown Renaldo, a veteran of the Big Apple Circus. Runs through Aug. 17.


'Lustrous Sounds’
4:30 p.m. at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
$30-$42
Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

New Sarasota Music Festival faculty member Benjamin Beilman performs Bach’s unaccompanied Partita No. 3, improvising in a way that would have been expected during the great composer’s lifetime, but which is rare today. 


UTC Night Market – Pride Edition
6:30-9:30 p.m. on The Green in the West District at UTC
Free
Visit UTCSarasota.com.

Shop more than 30 local vendors offering produce, handcrafted goods, cocktails and more. Held in partnership with Project Pride, the June edition of the monthly event will feature live music by Totally B.


"Coconut Cake" runs at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe through June 23.
Image courtesy of Sorcha Augustine

‘Coconut Cake’
7:30 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota
$5-$50
Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.

In Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s last show of its 2023-24 season, “Coconut Cake,” the daily routine of four chess-playing and coffee-drinking retirees is disrupted when a mysterious woman moves to town, bringing her recipe for a mouthwatering coconut cake. Runs through June 23.

 

‘Happy Dale’: A Comedy by Dan Landon
7:30 p.m. at 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130, Sarasota
$30; students $13
Visit ThePlayers.org.

In Dan Landon’s “Happy Dale,” a retired English teacher (Lee Gundersheimer) is sent to an assisted living facility after he begins acting strangely following the death of his life. Happy Dale’s newest resident quickly turns the facility’s routines upside down. Can he brought into line before it’s late? Runs through Sunday.


‘Rhinestone Cowgirls’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota
$18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Created by Nancy Allen Productions, this musical tribute to some of the first ladies of country features such country classics as Patsy Cline’s “Crazy,” Tammy Wynette’s “Stand by Your Man” and Carrie Underwood’s “Last Name.” Runs through July 28. 


Royal James Theater Presents ‘Murder by the Book’
7:30 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton
$29
Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com.

Agatha Christie loved to keep readers of her murder mysteries guessing, but none of her books could prepare them for a real-life event that made headlines around the world. That startling news is the basis of B.J. Mohr’s new play. Runs through Sunday.


Trezure B. Coles, William Rose II and Jaeda LaVonne star as three cousins in "Oak," Urbanite Theatre's final production of its 10th season.
Image courtesy of Sorcha Augustine

‘Oak’
7:30 p.m. at Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St., Sarasota
$7-$44
Visit UrbaniteTheatre.com.

Urbanite Theatre wraps its 10th anniversary season with the Southern Gothic horror-infused “Oak.” Written by Terry Guest and directed by Mikael Burke, “Oak” is a National New Play Network rolling premiere. Runs through June 30.


‘The Music of Laurel Canyon’
8 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 Aug. 25. 


The Kander and Ebb tribute "The World Goes 'Round" plays through June 30 at FST's Gompertz Theatre.
Image courtesy of John Jones

‘The World Goes ‘Round’
8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St., Sarasota
$39-$59
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

Florida Studio Theatre kicks off its Summer Mainstage Series with “The World Goes ‘Round,” a musical revue celebrating the works of John Kander and Fred Ebb. The show features memorable songs from hit Broadway shows such as “Chicago,” “Cabaret” and more. Runs through June 30.


Friday, June 21

‘Rising Stars 3’
2:30 p.m. at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
$15-$25
Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Sarasota Music Festival fellows perform movements from their favorite chamber works. This concert includes music by Mendelssohn, Françaix, Brahms and more.


Kettle of Fish will perform June 21 at the Van Wezel's free Friday Fest concert series.
Courtesy image

Friday Fest: Kettle of Fish
5 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Lawn, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Free
Visit VanWezel.org.

Florida favorite Kettle of Fish headlines the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall’s Friday Fest, which is taking a hiatus during July and August before returning in September. Kettle of Fish’s original music is a stew of rock, blues, reggae and New Orleans soul. Their covers range from Little Feat and the Rolling Stones to Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf. Bring blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy food and beverage from local vendors. Coolers and outside victuals are prohibited. 


‘Romantic Reveries’
7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota
$29-$50
Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

The Sarasota Music Festival salutes 19th-century Romanticism with Beethoven’s 1793 Octet and Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence. The program includes Franck’s 19th-century Piano Quintet, bringing together SMF fellows and faculty artists Sheryl Staples, Brinton Smith and Robert Levin.


Saturday, June 22

12-year-old Malcolm Gaudin, 13-year-old Mac Gaudin, 9-year-old Malik Gaudin, and Mac Gaudin celebrated Juneteenth at Newtown, including with their attire.
Photo by Ian Swaby

Newtown Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Noon to 7 p.m. at Gillespie Ave. to Pershing Ave. on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Sarasota
Free
Visit Facebook.com/TheCultureQueen941.

Newtown's annual Juneteenth celebration features the theme "Freedom Day," bringing together culture, music and vendors.


‘Passion and Pride’
7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota
$30-$70
Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

Sarasota Music Festival Director Jeffrey Kahane’s boundary-breaking talents are showcased with Ravel’s Piano Concerto. Having performed the 2022 world premiere of “Shorthand,”Anna Clyde’s mini concerto for cello, SMF alum Karen Ouzounian presides over the Sarasota premiere. The festival concludes with Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, which took the composer decades to complete. 


Sunday, June 23

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

Directed by Simon Godwin, one of The Bard’s signature plays is staged in custom-built spaces unique to the production in Liverpool, Edinburgh, London and Washington D.C. The film stars Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma.


Tuesday, June 25

St. Tropez in St. Armands Fashion Show
6:30 p.m. at Cafe L'Europe, 431 St Armands Circle
$50
Visit CafeLEurope.net.

Cafe L'Europe presents a "St. Tropez in St. Armands" fashion show featuring tropical-summer styles from local boutique T. Georgiano's. The evening will kick off with a cocktail hour from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The fashion show will begin at 7:30 p.m.


Wednesday, June 26

"Spamalot" star Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer will perform at the Hermitage Artist Retreat.
Courtesy image

Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer: 'Stealing the Show: Broadway, Beach and Beyond'
6:30 p.m. Hermitage Beach, 6660 Manasota Key Road, Englewood
$5
Visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

Hermitage Fellow Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer was nominated for 2024 Tony Award for her performance as "Lady of the Lake" in the Broadway revival of "Spamalot." Now, Kritzer will present some original material she has been developing as well as songs you know and love.

 

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