The Sarasota theater scene hits a high note tonight with the opening of Divas: Time After Time, at Florida Studio Theatre. Starring Jannie Jones, Dakota Mackey-McGee, and Aja Goes playing themselves, the story follows a trio of young performers with aspirations of diva-dom, as they find strength and inspiration in the songs—and the stories—of the divas who came before them. The latest from cabaret creators Rebecca Hopkins, Richard Hopkins, and Ben Liebert—and featuring everything from Whitney Houston to Carrie Underwood and Christina Aguilera—it’s an evening in celebration of the music, the voices, and, ultimately, the powerful women behind both.

“It’s the hero’s journey for the Diva archetype,” says Rebecca Hopkins, who also serves as managing director at FST, where, for the last year or so, she and her co-creators have been debating divas and sifting through discographies, looking for that narrative throughline that transforms a mere concert into a compelling cabaret story. It’s harder than you might think.

“A lot of people think it’s just pouring your favorite songs into a hat and then fishing them out,” says Hopkins with a laugh. “That would make my life a lot easier, but that’s not what it is.” And while Divas features iconic tunes from iconic divas like Tina Turner, Cher, Barbra Streisand and more, what drew Hopkins to these women in particular was actually their stories—and the commonalities they shared. Stories of humble beginnings and breaking down barriers, of overcoming challenges to find their strength, their power, their self in their music.

“It’s learning to be an independent woman,” says Hopkins. And with Divas, she celebrates that independence while also highlighting the strength and community of the shared sisterhood that is being a diva. A diva stands alone but on the shoulders of diva-giants, she follows her own path but takes her bearings from those who came before. And they sing with voices of steel.

“They never let the world drag them down,” Hopkins says. “They stand up to it and inspire others to do the same.”

Directed by Catherine Randazzo, Divas: Time After Time opens tonight at Florida Studio Theatre and runs through June 22. 

Pictured (L to R): Aja Goes, Jannie Jones, and Dakota Mackey-McGee in FST's Divas. Photo by Sorcha Augustine.

The Sarasota Ballet’s Margaret Barbieri Conservatory experienced great success at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Semi-Finals held in Tampa, FL, between 9-12 January 2025. Notable successes include receiving the Outstanding School Award and student Reaganne Beamer winning the Senior Grand Prix Award, amongst a host of other coveted prizes won by the Conservatory. Five students, along with the Conservatory’s Ensemble group, have been invited to attend the competition’s finals held in Tampa in April. Taylor-Tatiana Andre, Reaganne Beamer, Macie Miersch, Elin Mulock, Madelyn Murphy, and the Conservatory’s Ensemble group have been invited to attend the YAGP Finals held between 22-27 April 2025 at the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts.

January 16 through 18, 2025 The Sarasota Players Studio attended the Junior Theatre Festival (JTF) in Atlanta, Ga. The students were given an award for Excellence In Music for The Players Studio production of The Little Mermaid Jr. The group featured 12 students. Unfortunately, one actor got sick after arriving in Atlanta, but overcoming adversity, the group restaged the day of the show and performed with only 11 actors. The judges were impressed by the volume and harmonies produced by the "small but mighty" team. Their triumph is a testament to the quality of the education students receive at The Players Studio and the tenacity of the students. JTF brings together student musical theater troupes from all over the world for a weekend of musical theater mayhem and madness. Each troupe performs 15 minutes from a Broadway Junior®ï¸ show for adjudication by a panel of musical theater experts.  

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is pleased to announce that it has been nominated for “Best Botanical Garden” in the United States through USA Today’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. Nominees for the category were submitted by a panel of experts whereby Selby Gardens was selected as one of the final botanical garden nominations from around the country by 10Best editors.  

Readers can vote once per category, per day. Explore and vote here

The Venice Symphony is proud to present a spectacular concert event, Hollywood in Venice, featuring a curated selection of iconic movie scores from legendary composers, accompanied by stunning vocal performances. The event will be held at the Venice Performing Arts Center, with two performances: February 21, 2025 at 7:30pm and February 22, at 3:30pm and 7:30pm. Ticket Prices: $38-$70

The Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave., Building 5, Venice. 

For ticket information click here.

Due to audience demand, Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is extending its critically acclaimed production, The Cancellation of Lauren Fein, through Saturday, March 15, 2025, in the Gompertz Theatre. Written by Christopher Demos-Brown and directed by FST’s Artistic Director Richard Hopkins, this gripping drama has captivated audiences and critics alike with its thought-provoking themes and high-stakes storyline. Tickets are available at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or by calling (941) 366-9000. 

Venice Theatre is proud to announce its latest production, The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical, an electrifying stage adaptation of Rick Riordan’s popular and award-winning YA novel. This captivating musical adventure will light up the Pinkerton stage from Feb. 28 through March 23, 2025 at Venice Theatre. Shows are Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There are also two Wednesday morning school time performances at 10:30 a.m. on March 5 and March 12. Audiences of all ages are invited to embark on this epic journey filled with Greek mythology seen through the eyes of modern-day teens and set to an upbeat pop-rock score led by a live band. Tickets are available at VeniceTheatre.org or 941-488-1111. Educators and homeschool families are encouraged to contact Kristofer Geddie at kgeddie@venicetheatre.net for more information about Wednesday morning performances.  

To learn more, visit.

Azara Ballet, a non-profit professional dance company, will be performing “Momentum" the exhilarating finale of the Azara Ballet season 2024/2025 season at the beautiful theater inside Manatee Performing Arts Center. This captivating performance symbolizes the significant strides Azara Ballet has made in its second official year. 

To learn more, visit.

The Hermitage Artist Retreat (Sarasota County, Florida) has received an $80,000 grant award from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts in support of Hermitage visual artists and their associated public programming. These funds, spread across a two-year period, are intended to support and increase visibility for the work of Hermitage Fellows in the visual arts through support of these artists’ Hermitage residencies and associated programming. This is the first grant award for the Hermitage from the Warhol Foundation, which is committed to providing visual artists with invaluable, career-advancing opportunities to work in partnership with other artists and organizations. The Hermitage also supports the work of artists spanning the disciplines of music, theater, literature, dance, and more. 

To learn more, visit.

This Saturday, Feb 15th, the Spotlight is on Limelight Market! This fun, pop up market happens in the courtyard of The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime with rescue dogs, unique guest vendors, food, and live music. Check out the 40+ local creators and curators inside. Great way to support local! Free, until you buy something amazing! For more information visit www.BazaaronApricotandlime.com Located at 821 Apricot Ave in Sarasota. 

Ronnie Johnson, RN was a long-time intensive care unit (ICU) nurse who worked the night shift. Shonna Rush, RN worked in the progressive care unit (PCU) but on the day shift at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital. They never crossed paths until October 2022. Shonna took a temporary assignment to help out on the night shift.  The ICU nurses were friends for six months, working side by side on the night shift until one day they decided to go out for sushi together. After that, she says they both knew it was true love.  The couple was married in January and recently returned from their honeymoon. They look forward to continuing to work together, on the shift now. 

Pictured: Shonna Rush Johnson and Ronnie Johnson on their wedding day in January 2025.

Tuesday, January 28th, SRQ Magazine hosted the annual Giving Coast and Good Hero Philanthropic Awards Luncheon. Local nonprofits, foundations, corporate donors, individuals and civic leaders came together to celebrate the community's spirit of giving and recognize leaders in philanthropy. Attendees were invited to share their “giving wishes” on behalf of area nonprofits by writing their wishes on gift tags and hanging them for display on the SRQ Giving Wish Tree.

Child Protection Center wishes to fund an expansion of therapy available to victims of child abuse cases in North Port. To help facilitate this, contact Sheila Miller (SheilaM@CPCSarasota.org).

The Senior Friendship Center wishes to have community collaboration to help all. To initiate this collaboration, reach out to Kathy Pappas (kpappas@friendshipcenters.org).

Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue wishes to gain support for 10 animal treatments at their organization. To fulfill this wish, reach out to Megan Baxter (mbaxter@honoranimalrescue.org).

Project 180 wishes to gain sponsorships for first week out clients with products such as hygiene products or socks, as they return to Sarasota. To help Project 180 with this wish, contact them (info@project180la.com).

Walk a Teacher to Poland wishes to be in every high school in Sarasota County. To make this happen, reach out to Katherine Adams-Love (theoaksend@aol.com).

As these organizations call on the community to fulfill their wishes, click on each organization to learn more and find ways to give back. The spirit of giving is for all who want to give back to our local community!