- April 23, 2025
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‘Dancing at Lughnasa’
7:30 p.m. at Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$35-$95
Visit AsoloRep.org.
Joe Dowling, the former artistic director of both the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, directs Brian Friel’s Tony Award-winning play about the five Mundy sisters in rural Ireland in the 1930s. The play gets its name from the Gaelic word for August, which is the month agrarian folk celebrate after bringing in the crops. Runs through April 19.
‘Good Night, Oscar’
7:30 p.m. at Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$35-$95
Visit AsoloRep.org.
Most famous for his role in “An American in Paris," virtuoso pianist and humorist Oscar Levant has largely been forgotten. Asolo Repertory Theatre’s production of the Broadway hit show "Good Night, Oscar" focuses on Levant’s appearance on “Tonight Starring Jack Paar,” where he spoke frankly about his mental health issues. Runs through April 26.
‘Les Misérables’
7:30 at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$50-$155
Visit VanWezel.org.
It’s a common misconception that this blockbuster musical is set during the French Revolution. Victor Hugo's novel, which the show was based on, was actually inspired by the Paris revolt of 1832. Acclaimed as one of the greatest musicals ever made, “Les Miz” includes such standards as “Master of the House,” “One Day More” and “I Dreamed a Dream.” Runs through April 13.
‘No One is Forgotten’
7:30 p.m. at Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St.
$5-$44
Visit UrbaniteTheatre.com.
Written by New York playwright Winter Miller and directed by Urbanite Artistic Director Summer Dawn Wallace, “No One is Forgotten” is the moving tale of two American women who withstand captivity in a foreign prison through grit, humor and solidarity. Runs through April 27.
‘Into the Woods’
7:30 p.m. at The Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Unit 1130
$34
Visit The Players.org.
Fairy tales come to life in the Sarasota Players production of “Into the Woods,” the 1986 musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. Directed by Brian Finnerty, this beloved story weaves together the plots of “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Rapunzel” and other childhood staples into an entertaining musical that appeals to theatergoers of all ages. Runs through April 20.
‘Shedding a Skin’
7:30 p.m. at Florida Studio Theatre's Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St.
$25-$46
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Part of Florida Studio Theatre’s edgy Stage III series, “Shedding a Skin” follows Myah, a young woman whose topsy-turvy life is transformed when she befriends an elderly Jamaican woman. Directed by Nancy Rominger, the award-winning play pays tribute to the power of human connection. Runs through April 25.
‘Jersey Boys’
8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.
$49 and up
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
There are countless imitations, but there is only one “Jersey Boys.” Winner of both the Tony (Broadway) and Olivier (London’s West End) awards, the musical tells the true story of doo-wop crooners Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. This isn’t a musical revue; it’s a full-fledged musical directed by Ben Liebert. Runs through May 25.
Jazz @ Two with the Danny Sinoff Trio
2 p.m. at Unitarian Universalists of SRQ, 3975 Fruitville Road
$15-$20
Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.
TGIF! Roll into the weekend with Jazz @ Two, presented by Jazz Club of Sarasota. This week’s performer is Danny Sinoff. The Fort Myers-based pianist and vocalist will perform his interpretations of songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and others.
La Musica Chamber Festival: Beethoven, Martinu, Dvorak
7 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.
$64
Visit LaMusicaFestival.org.
This is the first of three concerts during La Musica's annual chamber music festival. The program features La Musica artistic director and pianist Wu Han, violinists Chad Hoopes and Kristin Lee, violists Aaron Boyd and Milena Pájaro-van de Stadt, and cellists Dmitri Atapini and David Finckel. They will perform Beethoven’s Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op. 1, No. 1, Bohuslav Martinu's Duo No. 1 for Violin and Viola and Antonin Dvorak’s String Sextet in A major, Op. 48. The festival continues April 14 and 17.
EGGstravaganza
9:30 a.m. to noon at Waterside Park, 7301 Island Cove Terrace, Lakewood Ranch
Residents $10; nonresidents $20
Visit LakewoodRanch.com.
The massive egg hunt of more than 10,000 eggs returns. Children enjoy the hunt, face painting, photos with the Easter bunny, sweet treat and more. The egg hunt for children 5 years old and under begins at 10:30 a.m. and the egg hunt for children 6 years old and up begins at 10:45 a.m. The event is presented by Grace Community Church.
Second Saturday Open Studios
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Creative Liberties, 901B Apricot Ave. and other locations
Free
Visit SRQArtists.com.
On the second Saturday of every month during season, the roughly 70 members of the Sarasota Studio Artists Association open their studios to the public, where they can see artists at work and purchase their creations. A good place to start exploring is the area around The Bazaar at Apricot and Lime, which sells locally sourced arts and crafts. Download a map of the open studios at SRQArtists.com.
‘My Guardian Angel’
Noon at Morganroth Auditorium, Ringling College, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail
$20
Visit SarasotaFilmFestival.com.
Directed by Nya Chambless, a 15-year-old student at Booker High School, "My Guardian Angel" was inspired by Chambless' real-life experience of losing a friend to illness in elementary school and watching her be bullied.
Comedy Roulette
8:30 p.m. at Florida Studio Theatre’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St.
$15-$18
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Looking to have fun on a Saturday night without breaking the bank? Look no farther than Florida Studio Theatre Improv Troupe. A team of four experience improvisers deliver a mix of short form, long form and musical improv. Weekends through May 30.
'Joe Fig’s Contemplating Vermeer'
11 a.m. at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail
Free with admission
Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.
It’s the last day to see “Joe Fig: Contemplating Vermeer,” which brings the concept of meta (the thing inside the thing) to the museum world. The exhibition features Fig’s exquisite paintings of museumgoers looking at the historic Vermeer exhibition held at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum in 2023.
Music from the Big and Small Screen
3 p.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 3131 61st St.
$5
Visit SuncoastConcertBand.org.
The Suncoast Jazz Ambassadors play your favorite tunes from movies and TV in this affordable performance. Call 941-907-4123 to reserve a ticket and please be sure to dial the right number.
Ring Sarasota: Celebrate! Join the Party!
5 p.m. at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church, 40 N. Adams Drive
$20
Visit RingSarasota.org.
Sarasota’s premier handbell ensemble brings its Celebrate! Join the Party! program to St. Armands Circle. The series features a selection of handbell arrangements, each capturing the spirit of a different month. We’re not making any promises, but “Singing in the Rain” is on Ring Sarasota’s set list for this season so April showers may bring a performance of this piece.
Youth and Community Classical Guitar Showcase
7:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2256 Bahia Vista
Free
Visit GuitarSarasota.org.
With this program, Guitar Sarasota gives local youth, retirees and classical guitar students of all ages the opportunity to perform for an audience. What do all of these folks have in common? They love classical guitar. This performance is free, but donations are welcome.
Aeolus Quartet with Peter Dugan
7:30 p.m. at LEC – Harvest House, 3650 17th St.
$10-$40
Visit PMPSuncoast.org.
Perlman Music Program Suncoast presents Aeolus Quartet with a special performance by pianist Peter Dugan. The quartet, which has won top prizes in major competitions, consists of Nicholas Tavani and Rachel Shapiro on violin, Caitlyn Lunch on Viola and Jia Kim on cello.
'The Rocket Man Show'
7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$35-$65
Visit VanWezel.org.
How many tribute shows star an artist personally picked by the performer that he is personifying? “The Rocket Man Show” stars Scotsman Rus Anderson, who has Elton John's seal of approval. Anderson's show blasts off with John’s greatest hits, virtuoso piano playing and outrageous costumes. It’s gonna be a long, long time before you see another tribute show like this one.
