The Sarasota Improv Festival’s been a beloved summer tradition, thanks to Managing Director Rebecca Hopkins. It’s not disappearing; organizers plan to bring it back next July.

“Forgotten Broadway” puts on a completely improvised musical comedy revue. They jump in with nothing prepared, grab suggestions from the audience, and build characters, songs, and full Broadway-style scenes right there in the moment. You can catch them at Bowne’s Lab at 7:30 p.m. on July 31 and August 1.

Right after, on August 8, FST’s own improv team returns with “Out of Bounds.” It’s fast, competitive, and totally unpredictable, two teams go head-to-head playing quick-fire games, guided by whatever the crowd throws at them. At the end, you don’t just watch, you pick the winner with your applause. “Out of Bounds” runs through September 9.

Performance details aside, the FST crew isn’t slowing down. All summer; they’re stacking the calendar with performances and hands-on improv workshops. Forgotten Broadway’s return and the local favorite “Out of Bounds” showdown promise a string of spontaneous, memorable shows.

“We love bringing so much creativity and joy to our audiences, especially the laughter,” says Sarah Durham, associate director of improv at FST. “The great thing about improv? No two shows are alike. Even if you return, you’ll always see something new.”

If you want to try improv instead of just watching, “Forgotten Broadway” has you covered. On August 1, they’re leading two workshops: Singing (Minus the Scary) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and The Story in the Songs! from 3 to 5 p.m. 

Singing (Minus the Scary) helps anyone, even the shy, build confidence singing without a script. It’s open and welcoming; no experience is necessary. The Story in the Songs! gets into how to weave stories, characters, and relationships into spontaneous musical numbers, without losing the fun. Each workshop costs $30, and you don’t have to be a seasoned improviser to join.

Since opening in 1973, the Florida Studio Theatre has grown from a single venue to a vibrant collection of five theatres, right in downtown Sarasota. Intimate spaces, big ideas. These theatres pack a punch, with over 225,000 people turning up every year for productions across Mainstage, Cabaret, Stage III, Children’s Theatre, Improv, The FST School, and new play development.

Even as it expands, FST sticks to a core mission: making theatre accessible and affordable for everyone. Under Producing Artistic Director Richard Hopkins, the theatre develops work that speaks directly to today’s changing world. It’s a place where the historic meets the hip, and where anyone can find something to engage with, onstage or in the audience.

Click here for more information.

1241 North Palm Avenue,
Sarasota, FL 34236
Box Office: (941) 366-9000
info@floridastudiotheatre.org

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Don’t sweat the heat, as they’re setting up huge evaporative cooling fans so you can wander, dance, keep your cool and soak up the festival without melting.

Here’s what’s happening:

Live Music:

– 10:00 a.m.: Vere Hill (North Side)
– 10:00 a.m.: David Lapio Steel Pan (South Side)
– 12:30 p.m.: Roots Almighty (North Side)

Festival Highlights:

– Dr. Pineapple Q&A at 10:15 a.m.
– Pink Pineapple Tastings
– Bake-Off & Home-Grown Pineapple Judging with awards from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m.
– Sand sculpting demos by Mitch Guerrero
– Plant sale, Creativity Corner, and stops with the Punta Gorda Historical Society, Neighborhood Land Conservancy, and Bird Gardens of Naples

Feeling hungry? Grab something from Priceless Island Grill, Living Vine Organic Café, Blue Duck Ice Cream, or Chell’s Wooden Ice. The bar is open on the North Side from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Stick around for the Key West Express ticket drawing at 1:55 p.m. And if you sign up for a new or renewed membership, they’ll send you home with a free Botanical Breeze Pack and some surprise extras.

Bring your friends, your family, anyone who loves pineapples and summer adventures. They’re excited to see you all enjoying the gardens, and yes, under the palm trees!

Be sure to check out this fun event on Saturday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens.

Click here for more information.

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On Friday, July 24, 2026, bring the family by for a special offer: every kid gets a free soft-serve cone or cup with any adult purchase. Take your pick from chocolate, vanilla, or twist, with or without sprinkles.

Drop in at Sweet Oasis Ice Cream on Placida Road to meet Christy and David, the new faces in Englewood’s ice cream scene. They’re ice cream fanatics through and through. Christy explains, “We knew we had to open a shop that brings the very best ice cream to the area.” She and David taste-tested countless varieties from across the country. They even held a tasting party with their closest friends. After all that, their favorite came straight from the heart of dairy country, Wisconsin.

David adds, “Our supplier in Madison, Wisconsin has been making ice cream since 1962. They source their milk exclusively from small, local dairies.” That’s why every scoop is fresh, rich, and made with all-natural ingredients.

And if you bring your pup, they’ll love it, too. Not only is Sweet Oasis pet-friendly, but their “pup cups” come filled with vet-approved, lactose-free frozen yogurt so your dog can enjoy a treat with no worries.

Craving more? They serve thick shakes, Hurricanes, and classic cones, too. 

Location Sweet Oasis Ice Cream 
2550 Placida Rd 
Englewood, FL
Questions? Call 941-304-7788
Click here to check out the Sweet Oasis Ice Cream Facebook page.

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By July 20, artists had already filled up slots for 30 different classes running through July and August. There’s a big lineup, but some classes are on the smaller side and can fill up quickly.

Artists are still looking over their schedules and signing up to teach both adults and children. You’ll see a lot of special options, too: Mom (or Dad) and Me, Date Nights, After School for Kids, Girl’s Night Out, and plenty more.

Stained glass, quilling, 3D cards, beading, felting, batik, custom hats, resin, and the list keeps growing. Classes run during the day, in the evenings, and on weekends. “Our artists are offering the same class at different days and times,” explained Sydney Martin, director of The Artist Colony. “With the YMCA’s big membership, we want to make sure everyone finds a class that fits their schedule.”

The Artist Colony is getting ready to celebrate five years in the fall, and it’s marking its second year as a 501c3 nonprofit. Since September, the group has collected more than $10,000 worth of musical instruments and gear, which they’ve repaired and handed out to Lemon Bay High and L.A. Ainger Middle School. What happens to instruments they can’t fix? They become art and the group then auctions them off. “Rock the Track, Jack,” a life-size sculpture, is on display with his saxophone in the Chophouse lounge.

The Marching Band still needs three new sousaphones, $30,000 in total. They received part of that, so the fundraising continues this season. They’ve already hosted two benefit concerts: one for the music department, one for St. David’s Pantry. This season, they’re planning six Sunday benefit concerts and family festivals. While they no longer have events like FAME, the seafood, or the shrimp festival, live music isn’t going away. “As a nonprofit, we’re focused on bringing entertainment to the community and channeling donations to local causes.”

Click here to go to The Artist Colony Facebook page for more information.

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If you love Marvin Gaye, now’s your last chance to see “Marvin: A Marvin Gaye Revue” at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. It runs just four more nights, Tuesday through Friday at 7:30 p.m. After that, Nate Jacobs takes the show to the International Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem.

Sarasota Contemporary Dance is putting on “In the Round” for one night only, Friday at 7 p.m., in their Boulevard of the Arts studio. That’s it, just one shot.

On Saturday, the final “Bubbles Under the Banyans” event of the summer pops up at Selby Gardens.

On Thursday, The Sarasota Players debut “Hadestown: Teen Edition.” If you miss it this week, you’ll have to wait for another run.

Florida Studio Theatre’s “Dog Mom” has proven so popular that they’re letting it run until August 2. So, you still have some time to catch it if you haven’t been yet.

And fittingly, Florida Studio Theatre opens “The Last Romance” on Wednesday.

For more information about all of the performances and more, head over to The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County. There’s a lot going on, but the clock’s ticking.

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After pouring himself into every inch of the renovation and opening, Erik has made it his mission to flood Englewood with art. His philosophy? Keep it simple: bring your creativity, leave your hesitation at the door. “We’re all about community here. If you can get your project through the door, I’ll find a way to say yes. No limits about size or what you want to do. Artists need space to breathe.”

Erik says he grew up bouncing between Philadelphia and Orlando. He’s been coming to Englewood for three decades, but settled here for good 15 years ago with his wife, where they welcomed their daughter. They share the house with a dog and three cats, definitely a lively bunch. 

Before this, Erik spent years working in galleries and museums in New York City and the Bay Area. He genuinely just loves making stuff: painting, writing, music, you name it. For Erik, running the gallery feels like another creative project, but say, “This one’s better because it’s not just for me. I get to support other artists, help them stretch their imaginations, and show off what they can do. That’s what I want: to push local artists to aim higher and help their work get the spotlight it deserves.”

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

I probably overuse the word ‘yes’ too much, as I like to try to keep things flowing and progressing. 

Which living person do you most admire?

I probably most admire Mark Grosenbacher, former principal at Englewood Elementary.

Which living person do you most despise?

I probably despise Elon Musk most, if I had to pick.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

The trait I most deplore in others is irreverence.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

My idea of perfect happiness would be exemplified by the world just prior to the discovery of electricity.

Every edition, Englewood REVIEW spotlights someone who stands out in the community. We ask each person to tackle The Proust Questionnaire; a classic set of questions created by Marcel Proust, the French writer.

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Lemon Bay Playhouse is calling all local actors for auditions for Bell, Book and Candle, John Van Druten’s charming fifties classic. Auditions run July 26 and 27, 7 p.m. at 96 Dearborn Street. The story follows Gillian Holroyd, a witty witch living in Greenwich Village, who finds herself in trouble when she casts a love spell on her neighbor, publisher Shepherd Henderson. She’s hoping to keep him away from a rival, but there’s a catch: witches can’t really fall in love without risking their magic.

Caught between life as a witch and the messy, mundane reality of genuine romance, Gillian faces a choice: does she stick with her magical, bohemian freedom or risk everything for real human connection?

The play premiered on Broadway in 1950 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, with John Van Druten directing, with Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer headlining. Later, James Stewart and Kim Novak brought the story to life in the 1958 film adaptation. Bell, Book and Candle even inspired the iconic TV show Bewitched. 

Susana Falcon, Lemon Bay Playhouse’s Executive-Artistic Director, will direct this production. If you love a little magic and drama, don’t let this audition pass you by.

Click here for more information about Lemon Bay Playhouse.

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This nomination is an enormous deal for Anderson and for “The Pitt.” The show racked up 25 nominations for its second season, including three wins last year, one of them for best drama. Anderson isn’t alone, either; two of her co-stars, Brittany Allen and Tina Ivlev, are also in the running for guest actress, along with Miriam Shor (“Pluribus”), Merritt Wever (“The Gilded Age”), and Shailene Woodley (“Paradise”). NBC and Peacock will announce the winners at the 78th Emmy Awards on September 14, airing live and streaming.

Anderson’s story is about more than local pride. She is on the autism spectrum, and critics have praised her performance as Becca King, especially this season when her character is admitted for treatment, for its honesty and realism. This isn’t her first time playing an autistic character, either. Back in 2019, she had a breakthrough playing an autistic college student on Netflix’s “Atypical.”

She doesn’t set out to only play autistic roles. For her, it’s about good parts and steady work. Still, she’s glad she can bring a more nuanced, positive portrayal to the screen, something she rarely saw growing up. Diagnosed at age four, Anderson remembers feeling invisible in the media as a child. “It’s important, in my opinion—as an autistic person myself—to see someone in the media you relate to, who makes you feel seen, like you belong,” she said in a March 2026 interview. “Not having that representation, especially for children, really affects confidence and self-esteem.”

Anderson graduated from Cape Academy in 2016, moved to Los Angeles after earning her film degree from Full Sail University, and has stayed close with her Southwest Florida roots, even as her whole family joined her in California. Before “Atypical,” she acted in independent shorts and on stage at the Florida Rep in Fort Myers.

Now, she’s making Emmy history and changing how Hollywood tells stories about people on the autism spectrum. No matter what happens next, it’s clear she’s not just representing Southwest Florida; she’s making sure an entire group of kids can finally see themselves on TV.

Click here to visit Tal Anderson’s website.

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Why do we all flock to ice cream shops this time of year? For starters, Florida’s heat index often creeps past 100°F, so eating ice cream really helps cool you down from the inside out. 

Beyond temperature, there’s science behind that smile on your face: the sugar and fat get your brain pumping out dopamine and serotonin, so you feel happier and, honestly, ready for anything. Don’t forget, real dairy ice cream also packs nutrients like calcium, Vitamin A, and B12, which is good news for your bones and immune system. And, of course, grabbing a cone from a local shop is a perfect excuse to cool down, chat with neighbors, and get out into Englewood.

Need ideas for local ice cream spots? The Englewood REVIEW has you covered. Here are a few of our favorite shops in town:

Lickity Split Cafe

This spot’s a go-to for more than just ice cream. Sure, the homemade flavors are a hit, but don’t skip their burgers, sandwiches, salads, and even quiche. Lickity Split offers extra treats; they now make fresh fruit bouquets and strawberries dipped in chocolate. These bouquets make beautiful gifts or edible centerpieces, and you can pick one up or have it delivered. The staff’s always happy to help, and they love seeing familiar faces return. Stop in to see the selection, pick up something for yourself, or call to order a bouquet. Either way, the friendly folks at Lickity Split are grateful for the support from the Englewood community.

Located in Englewood
2828 S. McCall Rd, Ste 5, Englewood, FL 34224
941-474-2185
Click here for more information about Lickity Split Cafe.

The Arctic Alligator Creamery

Founded in 2019, Arctic Alligator Creamery makes some of the best small-batch ice cream around, using fresh Florida dairy and all-natural colors and flavors. Their team of “flavorologists” makes everything fresh, and they source ingredients locally when they can. Besides ice cream, you’ll find cakes, shakes, and baked treats made daily. If you want to taste inventive, high-quality creations made right here in Englewood, you don’t want to miss Arctic Alligator Creamery.

Located in Englewood
3385 S Access Rd Unit 1, Englewood, FL 34224 
941-460-3647
Click here for more information about The Arctic Alligator Creamery.

A Better Scoop Ice Cream Shoppe

A Better Scoop opened in 2009 and has been a true mom-and-pop shop ever since, run by Kevin and Sarah Gleba, Englewood locals who really love ice cream (so much so that they also run Arctic Alligator Creamery). 

A Better Scoop is all about making ice cream the old-fashioned way, with local, fresh ingredients. The staff’s known for being cheerful and welcoming, and they’re always on the hunt for the very best recipes, so much so that they opened their own production facility to keep quality sky-high. If you want to taste the pride and passion of local owners, you know where to go.

Located in Englewood
70 S Indiana Ave, Englewood, FL 34223 
941-473-2650
Click here for more information about A Better Scoop Ice cream Shop.

Uncle Louie G

Sometimes, there’s just nothing quite like authentic Italian ice. Uncle Louie G serves classic Italian ices and ice cream, and their flavor lineup seems endless. Seriously, check the menu, featuring over 90 Italian ice flavors, including vegan, sugar-free, and dairy-free options, plus specialty treats like Belgian waffle sundaes and chocolate lava explosions. On top of that, you’ll find espresso, bagels, and breakfast sandwiches. If you love variety and want to try something new each visit, Uncle Louie G is your spot.

Located in Publix Super Market at Gulf Cove
13435 S McCall Rd Unit 6, Port Charlotte, FL 33981 
941-688-4182
Click here for more information about Uncle Louie G.

Made in the Shade Ice Cream

If you’re looking for that old-school ice cream shop vibe, Made in the Shade is calling your name. They’ve got a legit jukebox, retro decor, and a huge menu: vegan ice cream, shakes, floats, sundaes, cotton candy, snow cones, and probably your favorite old-fashioned bottled soda. Outside, you’ll find covered seating and space to bring your pup along. Inside, check out their mini museum of vintage memorabilia or try your luck at vintage arcade games and pinball. They even make homemade dog ice cream and treats, so everyone leaves happy.

Located in Feodor’s Plaza
2411 S McCall Rd Ste A/B, Englewood, FL 34224 
941-681-2204
Click here for more information about Made in the Shade Ice Cream. 

When the summer heat in Englewood feels impossible, you know what to do. Grab a friend, pick a shop, get yourself a cone, and enjoy the sweet taste of summer.

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July’s the month to catch all the action, because Englewood’s on Dearborn closes up shop in August and September for a summer break. They’re back in October, ready to celebrate fall.

Be sure to swing by for happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. and let the rhythm take over as the place fills with the live music that makes you want to stay all night.

The Shaelyn Band takes center stage on Saturday, July 11. They bring a blast of horns and switch things up; one minute you’re in a soul blues groove, the next it’s pure rock energy. Shaelyn (or Shae Mulberry), who leads the band, belts out songs with the power of Joyce Kennedy and the charm of Aretha Franklin. Missing that would be a mistake.

If blues gets your heart beating, don’t miss Trey Wanvig. He’s a Sarasota standout, just 24, but already an accomplished blues-rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. His shows always fill the house.

You’ll find Englewood’s on Dearborn at 362 W Dearborn St. in Old Englewood Village. This spot has a reputation: fresh seafood, tender steaks, and their famous schnitzel, all paired with regular live blues acts. Choose from indoor dining, a street-side patio perfect for people-watching, or step out to the tropical courtyard where music fills the air.

Some menu standouts? Specialty schnitzel with mashed potatoes and red cabbage, grilled chicken, Saku tuna, pan-roasted mussels, lollipop lamb chops, and salads topped with steak, Ahi tuna, or teriyaki salmon.

Known as the “Home of the Blues,” the venue hosts live performances in three distinct spaces: the bustling front patio, the cozy indoor dining room, and an outdoor courtyard and music hall that brings both local and national acts to the stage.

For details or reservations, call (941) 475-7501. This July, music and good food are on tap at Englewood’s on Dearborn. Don’t let summer slip by without a visit.

Click here to go to the Englewood’s on Dearborn website.

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