SRQ DAILY Feb 23, 2024
Friday Weekend Edition
"With musicals we often say, when the words aren't enough, we break out into song. It's kind of a similar thing with this production, where dialogue and acting isn't enough and the emotions are so raw, we get to see that come out in a physical way through a dance."
Travel without a passport at Ringling College of Art and Design, where the latest exhibition from American painter and illustrator George Pratt catalogues the artist’s two-month odyssey through the sands and cities of Morocco and the Sahara. From old city markets and the Atlas Mountains to Bedouin camps and the famous Blue City, Pratt captures it all in striking color through near 100 ink sketchings, oil paintings, watercolors, photographs and more, bespeaking an artist still inspired and still exploring, all those years later. Entitled George Pratt: Carnet de Voyage – Maroc, the exhibition runs through March 22 at the Selby Foundation Gallery.
“I just wanted to immerse myself in the experience and whatever was going to happen, was going to happen,” says Pratt of those eventful two months travelling through Morocco in 2016, following the footsteps of his heroes, Eugene Delacroix, Arthur Melville, and John Singer Sargent, all of whom found inspiration in the Kingdom of Morocco. He walked the markets of Marrakesh and the old walled medina in Fes; he traveled from the coastal city of Essaouira to the mountainside city of Chefchaouen, known as the “blue pearl of Morocco,” because all the buildings are painted a vibrant blue. “And I’m a blue junkie, man,” Pratt says. “It was unbelievable.” The more he explored, the more comfortable he became, eventually giving up his hotel room in Marrakesh and staying with a local shopkeep for a week or so, being shown “all the nooks and crannies'' of the city, much of which appears in Carnet de Voyage, in oil paintings of watersellers and jewelry makers, stall merchants and busy streets.
And when the man said he knew a driver who could take them 13 hours south to the Sahara Desert, where the Bedouin tribes were encamped, Pratt agreed to meet them outside the walls in two days’ time.
“We didn’t do the typical tourist stuff,” says Pratt. Living with the Bedouins for a week, he smoked hookah and drank tea with them, ate madfouna, a sort of Berber ”pizza” baked in the sand, and listened to the music by the campfires at night. He met a holy man and saw the women at work on the looms. “And we rode camels in the desert, climbed the dunes, and watched the sun set over the Sahara,” he says.
Through it all, Pratt was sketching and painting, doing quick studies during the day and drawing long into the night, filling his notebooks, one after the other, many of which are also on display in the exhibition. “It really opened a spigot,” Pratt says, and he’s spent the years since making so many watercolors and oil paintings from the experience that they couldn’t all fit in the show. “I’m exploring color more than I ever have,” he says, and it spills forth in both urban portraits painterly and bold, all slashing brushstrokes and slabs of paint, as well as delicate watercolor landscapes where pink sands meet blue skies in something like paradise.
“I absolutely did not plan this trip out,” Pratt says today with a chuckle. “But it turned into a journey.”
On display in the Selby Foundation Gallery at Ringling College, George Pratt: Carnet de Voyage – Maroc runs through March 22. 
Pictured: Merchant - Blue City by George Pratt. Photo by Phil Lederer.
Shelby Finnie has always loved to perform. As a dancer growing up in North Carolina, the stage became her home. Eventually Finnie graviated toward ballet, where she landed her first professional job out of high school dancing with the Sarasota Ballet. Now, Finnie is returning to Sarasota as a cast member of the touring production of the Broadway musical Jagged Little Pill, which stops at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall next Tuesday.
“I got to dance professionally with the Sarasota Ballet as my first professional job, which was really life changing and an amazing opportunity for me. My time spent with the organization really shapes who I am as an artist today,” says Finnie.
In Jagged Little Pill, a musical based on Alanis Morisette’s groundbreaking music, Finnie has plenty of opportunity to showcase her dance training. The musical, which focuses on “a perfectly imperfect Connecticut family”, sees Finnie play a special version of the main character, Mary Jane Healy. “I’m technically in the ensemble but I do step out frequently as what we call an avatar. I’m kind of the physical embodiment of what’s happening on the inside of MJ Healy,” says Finnie. “It’s really cool that we get to tell that story through dance and through movement which is something that I haven’t ever seen before and is super unique to the show. I get to personify her innermost feelings through movement.”
Doing so not only allows Finnie to showcase her dancing, but gives an even deeper look into the mindset of the characters. “With musicals we often say, when the words aren’t enough, we break out into song. It’s kind of a similar thing with this production, where dialogue and acting isn’t enough and the emotions are so raw, we get to see that come out in a physical way through a dance,” says Finnie. “I think it’s something that audiences really resonate with and it’s a beautiful way to tell stories.”
Pictured: L to R- Julie Reiber, Allison Sheppard and Shelby Finnie in the North American Tour of Jagged Little Pill. Photo is by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.
Since my equal passion to books is film, like any thought provoking international film, Irene Graziosi’s debut novel The Other Profile has given me quite a book to ponder. The Other Profile should be a major hit with anyone in their 20’s or 30’s as a more intellectual translation in which the story surrounds an influencer named Gloria written in the POV of the woman, Maia, whom she hires to be her assistant. Even though I’m well past 30, I appreciated the bird’s eye view into the younger set’s trials and tribulations which at their core, are actually ageless and universal.
Both Gloria and Maia, though living in different economic circumstances, are both trying to establish their worth in a technology obsessed environment that diminishes our humanity. Gloria deals with shallow followers who only want to be seen with her for their own online popularity. Maia is living with an older man and vacillates between love and repulsion, side gigging at a bar to make end’s meet.
The women attempt to learn from each other, and while Maia secretly thinks Gloria’s soul is empty, Maia reveals certain actions of her past that make the reader wonder who, if anyone, has any moral high ground. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them navigate their separate lives and attempts at friendship, vicariously experiencing life from both sides of the wealth track. While Mean Girls is a successful comedy, I would compare The Other Profile as a darker and intriguing look at female relationships.
The Other Profile by Irene Graziosi Translated by Lucy Rand, Publication Date: February 6, 2024 ISBN: 9798889660026.
Asolo Repertory Theatre, currently celebrating its 65th Anniversary, teams with one of the world’s most produced playwrights, Ken Ludwig, for his newest play Lady Molly of Scotland Yard, based on the detective stories by Baroness Emmuska Orczy. The partnership will launch with a closed reading of the thriller/comedy on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Asolo Rep Producing Artistic Director, Peter Rothstein, will direct. Rothstein, stated “Asolo Rep has a long and successful history of producing Ken Ludwig plays: Crazy For You, Three Musketeers, Murder on the Orient Express, The Games Afoot. It is an extraordinary honor that one of the most celebrated playwrights of our time has chosen the Asolo to develop and produce his latest play. “Asolo Rep has staged such wonderful productions of my work over the last several years that I knew there was no theatre in the country better suited to developing Lady Molly of Scotland Yard,” stated playwright Ken Ludwig. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with Peter Rothstein, whose expertise and experience will bring this play so joyously to life.” In this world premiere reading, Ken Ludwig brings his signature theatricality and brilliant comic flare to a high-octane thriller in which the fate of the world is at stake. London, 1940: the war rages across the Channel. German bombs drop on the city nightly. Scotland Yard detective Lady Molly Robertson and her partner Peg just want a good cup of tea. But when they witness a murder at the swanky Savoy Hotel, the seemingly simple case leads them deep into the British war effort and the top-secret code-breaking operation at Bletchley Park. Going undercover as cryptographers, they discover that Bletchley has more secrets than scientists and uncover a plot that will strike at the very heart of Britain. Lady Molly and Peg must race against time to avert disaster, narrowly avoiding death at every turn, and they ultimately prove that no problem is too difficult for brilliant women to overcome. Five actors play more than 20 characters in this tour-de-force new comedy-thriller. The reading cast, in alphabetical order, will include Matthew Amendt, Trezure Coles, Dylan Godwin, Aneisa J. Hicks, Adelin Phelps and Sally Wingert.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is excited to welcome Jimmy Failla to Sarasota on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 8pm. Tickets for the Everybody Calm Down Tour go on sale this Friday, February 23 at 10am EST. Jimmy Failla is an American stand-up comedian, TV Pundit, Author, and Host of the syndicated FOX Across America with Jimmy Failla, which airs 12-3 EST Monday-Friday on Fox News Radio and streams on Fox Nation, Radio.Com and TuneIn. The show is also available as a podcast on iTunes. Failla was raised in Levittown, New York. A former New York City cab driver, Failla was named Outstanding Male Comedian of the year at the 2014 New York City Nightlife Awards. His one-hour standup special, "State Of The Union," is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. He has also made multiple standup appearances on AXS TV's "Gotham Comedy Live." He played himself on "The Jim Gaffigan Show" on TV LAND. In addition, he appears regularly on Kennedy on the Fox Business Channel as well as "America's Newsroom," and has made multiple appearances on "The Greg Gutfeld Show," "The Ingraham Angle," "Watters World," and "The Story with Marth MacCallum." He has also appeared on Strange Inheritance: Unpacked as well as Redeye on Fox News. He has served as spokesman for the Flipps Mobile App.In addition, he is the head writer for A-List Comedy, a national comedy service that supplies topical humor and audio sketches to over two hundred radio stations. Tickets start at $20.70 and can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726. Pre-show dining is available through Mattison’s at the Van Wezel which is located inside the theatre. Reservations can be made on VanWezel.org or through the box office.
After two painful delays due to COVID-19, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is thrilled to finally bring to the stage the world-premiere musical, “Ruby.” The show is a musical retelling of the true story of a shocking killing of a White doctor in Live Oak, Fla., and the Black woman, Ruby McCollum, who was accused of his murder. “Ruby” is a homegrown affair: the book was written by WBTT Founder/Artistic Director Nate Jacobs and his brother, Michael Jacobs; lyrics by Michael Jacobs; music by Nate Jacobs, Brennan Stylez and Antonio Wimberly, with additional music by Nehemiah Luckett; directed by Nate Jacobs. “Ruby” was originally planned for the 2019–20 season and then, again, in the 2021–2022 season, but was delayed both times due to COVID-19. In 1952, when the killing happened, Ruby and her husband, Sam, were quite prosperous for the time and place, due in part to gambling and liquor sales. Ruby was, in fact, described as the wealthiest Black woman in town and the couple was well respected in the community. It was one of their four children – the youngest, Loretta – that Ruby McCollum later said was the product of a forced relationship with the shooting victim, Dr. C. Leroy Adams. She claimed that the reason for the killing was because Adams refused to leave her alone. But there is more than true crime to this story, which became so notorious that famed writer Zora Neale Hurston was sent by the Pittsburgh Courier to cover the trial. In segregated Florida, where Black people were essentially disenfranchised, unable to serve on juries or hold political office, the history of White men taking sexual advantage of Black women without repercussions was long. Ruby’s testimony at trial was limited to exclude much of her defense, and the judge imposed a gag order on her as well, preventing any press interviews. Ruby's is a fascinating, powerful story, one that’s been touched upon in books and documentary films. Now it finally takes the stage live in what promises to be an emotional musical drama. The cast includes: Catara Brae (Ruby McCollum), Maurice Alpharicio (Sam McCollum), Larry Alexander (Dr. Adams), Ashley Elizabeth Crowe (Zora Neale Hurston), Sieglinda Fox (Olivia), Benjamin Brandt (Sheriff Gary) and David Sitler (Judge Adams); members of the ensemble are: Matelyn Alicia, Lee Hollis Bussie, Shawn Cacciola, Jazzmin Carson, Nya Chambless, Eliza Engle, Sarah Haun, Ilexis Holmes, Sarah Middough, Shena Renee, Patric Robinson, Ned Averill Snell, and Rickey Tedesco. There is live musical accompaniment, with orchestrations by Nehemiah Luckett and Dan Sander-Wells. Music director and main keys for the show is Sander-Wells. The band also includes Jamar Camp, auxiliary keys; Dan Haedicke, guitar; Isaac Mingus, bass; Henley Connor III, drums; and Richard Philbin, reeds. Kevin White is production manager, Lizzi Nehls is production stage manager, KaCie Ley is assistant stage manager, Susan Haedicke is dramaturg, Jeffrey Weber is scenic designer, Patrick Russini is sound designer, Ethan Vail is lighting designer, Andrea Herrera is costume designer, Austin Jacobs is projection designer, Braxton Rae is intimacy director, and Annette Breazeale is properties master. In addition to its show sponsors, the production is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts. Performances take place in WBTT’s Donelly Theatre (1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota). Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $50/adults, $20/students and active military (prices include all applicable ticket fees). For more information or to purchase tickets, visit westcoastblacktheatre.org or call the Box Office at 941-366-1505.
The Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) and Key Chorale are thrilled to come together again for an all-new production of Cirque des Voix®: Circus of the Voices, a one-of-a-kind performing arts experience. There will be three performances, with shows taking place March 22-23, 2024. Fourteen years ago, CAC co-founder, President & CEO Pedro Reis and Key Chorale’s Artistic Director Joseph Caulkins joined forces to create a unique and special arts presentation, as they combined the more-than 100 voices of Key Chorale and the 40-piece Cirque Orchestra with live circus artists. This season’s three performances will feature acts choreographed to exciting and unforgettable compositions. Circus artists of national and international acclaim, as well as youth performers from the CAC’s Sailor Circus Academy, will dazzle audiences with acts performed to exquisite musical accompaniment. This year’s show will feature brand new music, with all of the circus artists making their Cirque des Voix debuts. The show will include music from works such as “Game of Thrones,” the James Bond movie “Skyfall,” video games “Fortnight” and “Assassin’s Creed,” and other powerful and dramatic works by renowned composers. This year’s featured acts and music include: Nichlas Allard, duo straps, “Fortnight: Main Theme” (Rom Di Prisco), Evgeny Kurkin, Chinese pole, “Dies Irae” (Z. Randall Stroope), Tersit Asefa Dersu, speed juggler, “Untraveled Worlds” (Paul Halley), Angelica Bongiovonni, cyr wheel, “Assassin’s Creed II: Ezio’s Family Suite” (Jesper Kyd), Garrett Allen, rope, “By Night” (Elaine Hagenberg), Buyankhishig & Erdenesuvd Ganbaatar, contortion, “Assassin’s Creed Suite” (Jesper Kyd), Ganbaatar Sisters, duo aerial, “Skyfall” (JAC Redford), Sailor Circus Academy students, “Jenny of Oldstone” and “Main Theme” from Game of Thrones (Ramin Djawadi), Orchestra and Chorus solo, “Dragonborn – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” (Jeremy Soule). Performances this year will take place at the CAC’s Sailor Circus Arena (2075 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota) on Friday, March 22 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 23 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets for Cirque des Voix are $50-$100. Visit CircusArts.org or call 941-355-9805 to reserve your seats.
Pictured: Circus Arts Conservatory co-founder, President & CEO Pedro Reis (left) and Key Chorale’s Artistic Director Joseph Caulkins introduce the 2023 performance of Cirque des Voix
Twelve visual artist alumni of the Hermitage Artist Retreat, including two past Hermitage Greenfield Prize Winners, will have their works shown at Sarasota Art Museum in two groundbreaking new exhibits this spring. Impact: Contemporary Artists at the Hermitage Artist Retreat, curated by former Hermitage Curatorial Council member Dan Cameron, opens in March, and The Truth of the Night Sky, a collaboration between Hermitage Fellows Anne Patterson and Patrick Harlin, opens in April.
SCHOOL OF ROQUEFORT | At Artisan Cheese Company's classes, participants let their noses, taste buds and instructors guide them through the ABCs of cheese, February 2024.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is excited to welcome George Thorogood and The Destroyers to Sarasota on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 7:30pm. Five decades, 15 million albums and more than 8,000 performances later, few bands can still rock the house like George Thorogood and Destroyers. Tickets start at $41.50 and can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is excited to welcome Kenny G to Sarasota on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 7pm. Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726. Pre-show dining is available through Mattisons at the Van Wezel which is located inside the theatre. Reservations can be made on VanWezel.org or through the box office.
Irish dancers and musicians from Edmonds Herbert W. Armstrong College and Armstrong Dance will embark on their fifth U.S. tour beginning May 5, visiting 10 states over seven weeks with their show Celtic Throne, The Royal Journey of Irish Dance. Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall will host a one-night performance at 7:30 p.m., June 2. Celtic Throne, The Royal Journey of Irish Dance explores the ancient origins of Irish step dance and celebrates the millennia-long journey of a music-and-dance-loving people as they migrate from the ancient Near East to Ireland, Scotland, England and the United States. Tickets to Celtic Throne, The Royal Journey of Irish Dance begin at $25 and can be purchased at VanWezel.org. For more information, please visit celticthrone.com.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is excited to welcome Rick Springfield back to Sarasota on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased at VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726.
Support the Oyster Boys and enjoy a spring training game with the Baltimore Orioles on March 4. $5 of every purchase made through the following link goes directly towards the Oyster Boys Conservation. https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Oysterboys20240212-14581004
The 2024 season of Sarasota Institute of the Lifetime Learning Music Monday Series presents performances and lively conversations with renowned and emerging performers, January 8-March 25, on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. at Church of the Palms in Sarasota; and Mondays at 3 p.m. at Venice Presbyterian Church in Venice. https://sillsarasota.org/index.htm.
The Ringling invites older adults to participate in this free improvisational drama workshop series on the Strengths and Challenges of aging. The workshop series is free for all 55 and older community residents. No acting experience is necessary. Please note that this is not taking place at The Ringling. The weekly workshops will be held at: The Pines of Sarasota Healthcare, Cullers Hall, 1501 N Orange Ave, Sarasota. Your talents, abilities, and creativity will be explored through fun-filled improvisational theater games in a safe, creative, and inspiring environment. Through creating various drama characters, participants will experience the strengths, joys, and challenges of aging. Improvisational drama is a form of theater in which characters and dialogue of a story are made up in the moment…there are no written scripts. Participants tap into and celebrate their creativity while interacting and learning from their peers. The program will culminate in a celebration of your work, held at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Please email education@ringling.org or call 941-358-2693 to register. Space in this workshop is limited; please register as soon as possible.
The Women Contemporary Artists 2024 exhibit will open on Friday, February 9 at Art and Frame of Sarasota Gallery Hall, located at 1055 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. The public is invited to the opening reception where all members, including painters, photographers, sculptors, ceramicists, fiber artists, printmakers and mixed media artists have work on display. This event also marks the 25th Year the WCA organization has been supporting creative, professional women actively engaged in the visual fine arts. This event is free and open to the public. Visit: WomenContemporaryArtists.com.
One of the most highly acclaimed Irish comedies, A Night in November is a hard and humorous look at The Troubles in Northern Ireland during the 1990s. The play follows Kenneth McCallister, an opinionated government clerk who, barely, tolerates his wife, his in-laws, and his Catholic boss. On one fateful night in Belfast, as the Republic of Ireland qualifies against Northern Ireland for the World Cup, Kenneth finds himself watching the fanatical hatred of the crowd rather than the match, an event that profoundly changes his life. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit floridastudiotheatre.org.
The Sarasota Players gets down and dirty with the classic Stephen King thriller, Misery by William Goldman running through March 10 at The Crossings at Siesta Key, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Starring real-life married couple Alison Guerrero-Heideman and Jeremy Guerrero-Heideman and directed by Kelly Woodland, this show will have you on the edge of your seat. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit theplayers.org.
The 8th Annual Reggae Music Block Party will honor the late, great Oswald Caines of Democracy Reggae Band. We invite you to join us for an unforgettable day filled with great music, delicious food, and positive vibes. Our event will be held in downtown Sarasota, specifically at Lemon Ave and Main Street, right in front of the Gator Club. In addition to live reggae music from renowned artists, there will be DJs spinning tracks, activities for kids, raffles, and much more. You can even listen to live bands and DJs inside The Gator Club. It will be a reggae music takeover and an amazing moment for your entire family to enjoy. A portion of the proceeds from your ticket purchase will benefit the non-profit organization, Queens of Domestic Violence Awareness, dedicated to supporting victims of domestic violence. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit jahmovement.com/osfestreggaeblockparty.
In the spirit of the new year and all things fit and healthy join us at the free Fun Run and Pancake Breakfast. This event is held In conjunction with the Zoomers non-profit running club at New Balance University 315 N. Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota. Check-in opens at 6.30am, run/walk starts at 7am. There will be pancakes for all after the race. RSVP required https://stores.newbalance.com/sarasota CLICK on EVENTS.
Get your Irish on at our epic Irish Celtic Festival and Lucky Dog Parade. It is the perfect St. Patricks Day celebration. Enjoy Celtic food, craft beers, and sensational entertainment. Kids will have a blast too, with face painting and park fun. Do not miss the Lucky Dog Parade and the 21 and up Relay Race. To learn more, visit LWRIrishCelticFestival.org.
Join us for a day of fun and outdoor adventure at the Wild About Nature Festival on Saturday, April 6, 2024 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Reconnect with the great outdoors and help foster a love of nature in the next generation as you spend a day in the sun on the beautiful shores of Little Sarasota Bay at Bay Preserve. Families of all ages are encouraged to take part in this fun-filled day of nature-based education and exploration. The wide variety of activities includes dip-netting, face painting, hula-hoop lessons, crafts, games, and more. There will be live music and food trucks making this a guaranteed good time. This is a FREE family festival open to all. Registration is not required. The event will take place at our Bay Preserve headquarters located at 400 Palmetto Ave. in Osprey. For more information, visit conservationfoundation.com.
For more than a decade, Theresa Caputo, known worldwide as the Long Island Medium, and star of the new Lifetime Series Raising Spirits, has touched the lives of millions of fans, comforting supporters when they need it most. Now Sarasota fans will get their chance at healing when the acclaimed medium and beloved personality appears live at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Thursday, April 11 at 7:30pm. Known for her unique ability to communicate with those who have passed on, Theresa Caputo Live: The Experience brings Theresa face-to-face with her fans as Spirit guides her through the audience. A full-stage video display ensures that everyone in the theater has an up-close experience regardless of seat location. Through personal life stories, candid humor, and intimate details about her gift to communicate with those who have passed, the beloved television personality and best-selling author delivers healing messages to her audience, reassuring them with the revelation that their deceased loved ones are still with them, just in a different way. Recognized as one of the most renowned mediums for over 20 years, Theresa Caputo Live: The Experience is an awe-inspiring event you will not want to miss. Learn more about Theresa at www.theresacaputo.com. Tickets start at $64.23 and can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office. Pre-show dining is available through Mattison’s at the Van Wezel which is located inside the theatre. Reservations can be made on VanWezel.org or through the box office.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is excited to welcome The Concert, A Tribute to ABBA to Sarasota on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 8 p.m. The Concert: A Tribute To ABBA continues to be the top ABBA tribute group in the world, dazzling all who see with their fantastic performance while playing the most iconic hits from ABBA, including Mamma Mia, S.O.S, Money, Money, Money, The Winner Takes All, Waterloo, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, and Dancing Queen. Tickets are $30-$75 and can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726. Pre-show dining is available through Mattisons at the Van Wezel which is located inside the theatre. Reservations can be made on VanWezel.org or through the box office.
Visit Fresh Harvest, the newly launched weekly farmers market in Downtown Wellen. Fresh Harvest offers a selection of local goods from nearly 40 local vendors. Fresh Harvest takes place every Sunday in Downtown Wellen from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees can peruse different vendor booths and stock up on a variety of goods. Vendors will offer a wide variety of locally grown and produced food, including herbs, spices, cut flowers, teas, canned and preserved fruits and vegetables, syrups, baked goods, pickled foods, fresh seafood, meats, poultry, eggs, milk and prepared food and beverages. A limited selection of craft vendors also participate in the farmers market. For a listing of participating vendors and more information on Fresh Harvest Farmers Market, visit wellenpark.com/events/fresh-harvest-farmers-market. Downtown Wellen, 19745 Wellen Park Blvd., Venice.
Head out to Waterside Place for a rocking evening as part of the Lakewood Ranch Sights and Sounds Program. Enjoy a live concert in partnership with Easterseals and EveryoneRocks, featuring artists who are rocking their spectrum. This event is free and open to the public; there is limited seating at the Plaza, but attendees are welcome to bring their own seats. Food and beverages will be available from numerous Waterside Place merchants. For more information on shows, dates, and times, visit lakewoodranch.com/sights-sounds/. Waterside Place, 1560 Lakefront Dr., Sarasota.
Siesta Key Rum runs free year-round tours for guests to learn the story of the craft distillery, the awards they have won and the secret to how they make their rums taste so good. During our 30-45 minute tour we will discuss the following topics: history of Siesta Key Rum, an overview of the awards our small company has won, what makes our rums taste so good, the rum-making process from mashing and fermentation to distillation, barrel aging and bottling of our rums. After the tour, we welcome you to sample a freshly made Siesta Key Rum cocktail, stock up on your favorite rums and browse our gift shop. 2212 Industrial Blvd., Sarasota.
Experience some of the best food and flavors of the region with more than 100, and still growing, curated vendors. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch has fast become a favorite weekly tradition for people from all over the region seeking farm-fresh produce, delicious prepared foods, and specialty items and gifts. Aside from all the goodies you can shop at the Farmers Market, find your flow in a free yoga class or have the kiddos get creative during weekly-hosted workshops. 1561 Lakefront Dr., Lakewood Ranch.
Realize Bradenton is happy to announce the return of the Bradenton Market to its weekly schedule. This beloved community gathering will be held Saturdays through May 25, 2024 from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm on Old Main Street in Bradenton. Founded in 1979, the Market has expanded to include more than 90 local vendors. In addition to the weekly shopping and music, the Market hosts special event days throughout the season. Halloween at the Market will be held on Saturday, October 28. This family-friendly event includes trick or treating with vendors, face painting with Manatee School for the Arts Academic Team from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, and a dance performance by Slick Motion Studios at 10:00 am. For more information, visit RealizeBradenton.com.
Join your friends, after-work buddies and the team at Geckos for our new Late Night Happy Hours. Every Friday and Saturday from 10 pm to Midnight, we will offer food, wine, cocktails and beer specials sure to prolong your weekend fun. Join us and ask your friendly barkeep or server about our Late Night Happy Hours. ONLY at Geckos on Hillview Street in Southside Village. GeckosGrill.com.
Please join us to experience this unique exhibition featuring father/daughter local artists, Pamela Olin and Richard Olin. This premiere exhibition features three-dimensional works that offer a glimpse from the perspective of two distinctly different generations. The pieces address the transitions they have experienced over the last several years, making them relatable to all ages. As a duo, this public exhibit is both a curiosity and an insight into the self-expression of two generations of artists linked by DNA. Plymouth Harbour Gallery, 700 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. Visit www.pamelaolin.com and www.olinrich.com to learn more.
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