- January 21, 2025
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Yacht Rock Revue
7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$25-$65
Visit VanWezel.org.
Since their humble beginnings in 2007, members of Atlanta-based Yacht Rock Revue have become leading practitioners of their genre with lush instrumentation and ethereal vocals. No wonder this 10-piece ensemble has opened for bands such as Train and REO Speedwagon and has attracted a devoted following of “Anchorheads."
‘Spaceman’
7:30 p.m. at Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St.
$5-$44
Visit UrbaniteTheatre.com.
Leegrid Stevens’ play follows a female astronaut (Terri Weagant) who travels to Mars after her late husband’s failed attempt to reach the Red Planet. Be prepared for a “sense-surround” experience as Summer Dawn Wallace bravely goes where no director of a black-box theater has gone before. (Apologies, “Star Trek” fans!) Runs through Feb. 16.
‘59th Street Bridge’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave.
$18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Feelin' groovy? Simon & Garfunkel fans know that expression from the hit song that gives this cabaret show its title. Florida Studio Theatre pays tribute to early folk-rock artists such as John Denver, Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. Continues through March 30.
‘Tootsie’
7:30 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W, Bradenton
$19-$43
Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com.
Unemployed actor Michael Dorsey is willing to do anything to get a part of a lifetime in this Manatee Players production of the award-winning musical based on the hit film. Runs through Feb. 2.
‘Fences’
7:30 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave. $22-$52
Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe presents “Fences,” the sixth play of playwright August Wilson’s 10-part American Century Cycle. Set in 1957, it follows Troy Maxson, a garbage collector whose baseball dreams were derailed by bigotry. His unresolved anger creates trouble with his son, Cory, who’s got his own big league ambitions. Directed by Jim Weaver, the play stars Patric Robinson as Maxson. Runs through Feb. 23.
‘Ken Ludwig’s Lady Molly of Scotland Yard’
7:30 p.m. at the FSU Center for Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail
$35 -$99
Visit AsoloRep.org.
Ken Ludwig's world premiere at Asolo Repertory Theatre is a theatrical adaptation of Baroness Orczy’s lesser-known “Lady Molly” stories. Ludwig’s “Lady Molly of Scotland Yard” transports Baroness Orczy’s female sleuth to World War II, where Britain is under attack by the Nazis and code-breaking, murder and espionage are the order of the day. Runs through Feb. 8.
‘The Cancellation of Lauren Fein’
8 p.m. at FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.
$25-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Written by Miami lawyer and playwright Christopher Demos-Brown, "The Cancellation of Lauren Fein" tells the story of a "woke" professor who is forced to defend herself against charges of racism and that she sexually molested a graduate student. Florida Studio Theatre's production of the play focusing on "cancel" culture is bound to push a few buttons. Runs through March 9.
‘The Heart Sellers’
8 p.m. at FST’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave.
$25-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Take a time trip back to Thanksgiving 1973 when a chance meeting between two recent Asian immigrants develops into an unexpected friendship. Kate Alexander directs this heartwarming tale about the search for acceptance by newcomers to America. Spoiler: Just because the holiday has passed, it’s not too late to talk turkey about assimilation, identity and female bonds. Runs through Feb. 23.
Jazz @ Two: Eddie Tobin and Friends
2 p.m. at Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road
$15-$20
Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.
Jazz Club of Sarasota presents Eddie Tobin and Friends. Tobin toured the world as pianist and music director for Englebert Humperdinck. Locals will know him from the popular club band The Venturas. Come prepared to hear a mix of genres, including jazz, blues, blues, ragtime and pop.
Mr. Swindle’s Traveling Peculiarium
5:30 p.m. at Robarts Arena, Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd.
$47-$82
Visit SarasotaFair.com.
Sarasota is no stranger to circuses, but this one is definitely not family fare. Mr. Swindle’s isn’t your grandfather’s circus, folks, and he might not be happy to hear you’ve got a ticket. Sorry, kids, the ID requirement to attend this risque cirque is strictly enforced. This isn’t a medicine show of yore, but Mr. Swindle’s Traveling Peculiarium features a Drink-Ory Garden serving up alcoholic potions and snacks that opens an hour before the show so circusgoers can pregame. Hey, what happens in the bigtop stays in the bigtop, right? Through Feb. 2.
Sights + Sounds
6 p.m. at Waterside Place, 1560 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch
Free
Visit WatersidePlace.com.
The Sarasota Opera will present a selection of popular arias and ensembles from classic operas performed live by the 2025 Studio Artists, accompanied by a pianist. The Sarasota Opera Studio Artists are members of the more advanced level of Sarasota Opera’s two training programs. Studio Artists Program participants have often returned to Sarasota Opera as principal artists. Limited seating is available so please bring a lawn chair. No outside food or drinks permitted.
'Mann’s Last Dance’
7:30 p.m. at Tree Fort Productions, The Crossings at Siesta Key, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail
$40
Visit TreeFortProductions.com.
Sarasota multi-hyphenate Katherine Michelle Tanner presents a one-woman show she created that tells the true story of Polish Jewish ballerina Franceska Mann, who used her gift of dance to distract Nazi soldiers. Runs through Feb. 2.
‘Don’t Touch That Dial’
7:30 p.m. at Pinkerton Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W, Venice
$37
Visit VeniceTheatre.org.
Venice Theatre presents a world premiere created by Roger Bean, known for his show, “The Marvelous Wonderettes.” This tribute to TV show tunes is presented in a gameshow-within-a-gameshow format. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself humming along and playing from your seat in the audience. Runs through Feb. 9.
Pops: Kings of Soul
7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$41 and up
Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.
Sarasota Orchestra is back in its home venue of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall after a hiatus of more than two months, just in time to “get it on” with this Pops concert: “Kings of Soul.” Get out your velvet purple tux or your sequined jumpsuit and groove to tunes made famous by such performers as Marvin Gaye, Barry White and James Brown in a program featuring guest vocalists Michael Lynche, Darren Lorenzo and Jesse Nager that will be conducted by Herb Smith.
‘Aesop’s Fables’
10 a.m. and noon at FST’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave.
$12
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
On the weekends, there’s the eternal problem of what to do with the kids. Turn off their electronic devices and bring them down to Florida Studio Theatre for a fun, affordable show of “Aesop’s Fables.” They’ll learn that donkeys and asses (animals that turn up frequently in the fables) have been with us for a very long time. Runs weekends through Feb. 2.
Suncoast Concert Band
3 p.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 3131 61st St.
$5
Visit SuncoastConcertBand.org.
The theme of this week’s performance by the Suncoast Concert Band, in its 92nd season, is “Shostakovich is in the House.” Da! Call 941-907-4123 to check on ticket availability and please be sure to dial the right number.
Gilbert and Sullivan Revue
4 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave.
$5-$40
Visit ChoralArtistsSarasota.org.
Choral Artists of Sarasota Artistic Director Joseph Holt leads the chorus in a revue of the works of Victorian-era operettas written by Gilbert and Sullivan. The satirical lyrics and catchy tunes have made these "topsy-turvy" musicals a hit with audiences 150 years after they were written.
The Cleveland Orchestra
7:30 p.m.at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Traill
$69-$159
Visit SCASarasota.org.
Cleveland has the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, but it’s also the home of one of America’s favorite orchestras. The Sarasota Concert Association presents The Cleveland Orchestra, led by Kahchun Wong, who has conducted the London Philharmonic and the New York Phil. This concert features Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” and Beethoven’s Violin Concerto played by Japanese violinist Sayaka Shoji.
New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players: 'The H.M.S. Pinafore'
7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$40-$80
Visit VanWezel.org.
All aboard the HMS Pinafore, where the topsy-turvy world of Gilbert & Sullivan never goes out of style, even 150 years after they wrote their satirical operettas. In this classic comedy, the captain’s daughter is the object of affection of two different men — a common sailor and the conceited Sir Joseph Porter. Only a dockside vendor named Little Buttercup can sort out the mess of unlikely bedfellows and mistaken identities.
Caribbean Chillers Jimmy Buffett Tribute
2 and 7 p.m. at Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W.
$33-$37
Visit ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com.
Parrotheads, rejoice! The Caribbean Chillers are bringing their Jimmy Buffett tribute to Manatee Performing Arts Center. This band hails from Florida, so it will be “neighbors helping neighbors” find their way to Margaritaville, the destination of Buffett fans everywhere.
'The Addams Family'
7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail
$50-$105
Visit VanWezel.org.
This isn’t the first time that the Broadway touring production of “The Addams Family,” the musical based on the TV show of the 1960s, has come to the Van Wezel. But the faithful always turn out to see the latest antics of this lovable macabre clan. Somewhere the father of these kooky characters, cartoonist Charles Addams, is rolling in his grave — happily, we hope. Runs through Jan. 29.
Tom Purviance, piano
10:30 a.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First St.
Free
Visit SarasotaMusicArchive.org.
The subtitle of this Sarasota Music Archive presentation is “From Simplicity to Extravagance.” Demonstrating his piano mojo will be Tom Purviance, who moved to Sarasota in 2015 and has since established himself as a teacher, performer, author and lecturer. He will play the works of Mozart, Schoenberg and Rachmaninoff.
‘Visiting Mr. Green’
7:30 p.m. at The Players Centre, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130
$34
Visit SarasotaJewishTheatre.com.
Sarasota Jewish Theatre presents Jeff Baron's beloved play, which he recently updated to reflect the impact of the pandemic. "Visiting Mr. Green" follows an elderly widower and a young man assigned to check in on him as part of community service. Initially hostile, the meetings between the two characters lead to an unexpected friendship. Runs through Feb. 9.
