Life is all about second chances. And sometimes third, fourth or even fifth chances. The characters in The Sarasota Players’ new musical Last Chance Trailer Park know all about that. The original musical from The Sarasota Players Follies, a 55 and over performance group, premieres at The Players Studio Black Box this weekend.

Last Chance Trailer Park takes place in the heart of rural Georgia, within a community of mobile homes that while charming, has seen better days. Last Chance Trailer Park is run by its benevolent owner CC, who oversees an eclectic cast of residents with her friends Ginny and George, that includes rambunctious and imaginative teenagers, struggling millennials, gambling addicts and burgeoning families.

“When we originally started workshopping the show last July, it didn’t even start in a trailer park, it was more in an urban setting with a bunch of apartments. Our story was more focused on the community and people coming together and helping each other even in their worst times,” says Logan Junkins, the director of the show. “The two writers who wrote the script pulled from their own personal experiences. One of them had lived in a more rural area and had issues with tornados, so we have a tornado that passes through our story. We brought these things to the table to put our characters in the most turmoil that we could.”

While turmoil is generally the name of the game for character development, Last Chance Trailer Park is an ultimately uplifting tale about the power of community, full of brightness and levity as well. From even just some of the 55 and over actors playing teenagers to musical numbers such as “I Don’t Look Good Naked Anymore”, Last Chance Trailer Park mixes tenderness with hilarity in a way that audiences won’t soon forget.

May 10 and 11 at 7pm, May 12 at 2pm, The Players Studio Black Box, 1400 Blvd. of the Arts, Suite 200, Sarasota, Box Office: 941-365-2494. 

Pictured: Residents of Last Chance Trailer Park, Fran Hall as Ginny (left) and Connie Farris as CC (right). Photo courtesy of The Players Studio.

Wheel of Fortune LIVE!, a live theatrical experience, will be coming to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 7:30pm. The live stage show, produced by Right Angle Entertainment in collaboration with Sony Pictures Television and UTA, is the one-and-only way fans can experience America’s Game® in person outside of Sony Pictures Studios. Tickets go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m. EDT. Tickets start at $37 and can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726. 

Choral Artists of Sarasota announces the appointment of Danielle La Senna as its new executive director. La Senna brings over two decades of experience in arts and education, along with a passion for cultivating community engagement and musical excellence. She succeeds Susan Burke, who has served as the executive director of Choral Artists for the past decade. Burke will retire this month. 

The Hermitage’s year-round multidisciplinary programming offers audiences a one-of-a-kind look into the creative process. New June, July, and August programs are presented in partnership with regional arts and cultural organizations throughout Sarasota County including Asolo Repertory Theatre, Oak Street Stage, Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, Bookstore1, and more. New events include programs with current Tony Award nominee Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer and 2024 Hermitage Greenfield Prize Finalists The Lazour Brothers, joining previously announced May events including Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Raven Chacon, internationally acclaimed visual artist Diana Al-Hadid, Tony Award-nominated playwright Bess Wohl, and more. 

The Sarasota Players is proud to announce its 95th Season of bringing the community to the stage. The event will be held at their theatre space at The Crossings at Siesta Key (3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239) on May 20 at 6pm. Staff and supporters of the first performing arts organization in Sarasota will enjoy performances and updates about the theatre, along with seeing the upcoming 2024-25 lineup for the first time! The event will feature light bites and is free to the public. The Players is the perfect place for anyone in the community looking to become involved in the performing arts. From volunteering on the stage, in our costume shop, scenic department, painting or helping us organize, do laundry or attending classes there’s a way for everyone to join our family. It’s the perfect environment to learn and grow in. Even if you’ve never been involved with The Players, we encourage you to join us and learn more about what we have to offer. Want a sneak peek? Throughout the season, audiences are taken on a journey alongside these characters as they navigate the highs and lows of their quests. Whether it's overcoming adversity, breaking free from societal constraints, or finding the courage to pursue their dreams against all odds, the heroes of these shows embody the universal desire for fulfillment and self-realization.

3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130, Sarasota. Please park and enter the mall by Connor’s Steak and Seafood. 

To RSVP click here

Sarasota County commemorates the two millionth passenger milestone on its Siesta Key trolley. To mark the special occasion, the trolley is being rebranded as the Route 77 Siesta Islander. This rebrand includes a new name, updated appearance and improved app features. Sarasota County’s free trolley service launched on Siesta Key in 2017 under the name “Siesta Key Breeze.” Since then, the county's open-air trolleys have provided rides to residents and visitors traveling between Siesta Key Village, Siesta Beach and Turtle Beach. In summer of 2022, Sarasota County commissioners approved transitioning the county’s entire transit system to the “Breeze” brand, and the Transit Department rolled out the Breeze Rider app for standard bus routes.  The Transit Department has been installing technology on the trolleys that allows them to work with the Breeze Rider app. Passengers are now able to use the app to view the 77 Siesta Islander's arrival times and track the trolleys. The trolleys' new design with Breeze branding will complement Breeze buses, Breeze OnDemand minivans and future Breeze Plus paratransit vehicles. Transit team members estimate the two millionth passenger stepped aboard the trolley during the first week of May. Traveling on the 77 Siesta Islander continues to be free for all passengers, operating daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. For more information on the 77 Siesta Islander, visit scgov.net/breeze/touring or call 311.