Arts & Entertainment

Message from the Hermitage
Dear Hermitage Friends, we deeply appreciate your support and concern for the Hermitage and our beautiful campus on Manasota Key. The love and support shown by our artists, supporters, neighbors, audiences, community partners, and collaborators has been overwhelming. I am happy to report that everyone on the team is safe, and because we were in the final days of some campus repairs, we had no artists in residence during Hurricane Helene. That said, Manasota Key experienced a significant storm surge and flooding, so many parts of the Hermitage campus were submerged with sand and water. There are substantial damages to the grounds and a considerable cleanup ahead, but with your kindness, patience, and generosity, we look forward to resuming our operations and programs as soon as possible. As we dive into our cleanup and repairs, our aim is to resume residencies and community programs as quickly as possible. Your generous support can help make this happen. If you are able, please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation to help our Hermitage Hurricane Repair Efforts, hermitageartistretreat.org. Whatever amount you are able to contribute would be enormously helpful as we look to revive our beautiful campus. With tremendous gratitude, Andy Sandberg, Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO.

Soul Crooners: Solid Gold Edition
The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s (WBTT) “Soul Crooners” first premiered on a rental stage at the Sarasota Arts Center in 2009 and has sold out during subsequent performances. “Soul Crooners Sold Gold Edition” continues to celebrate the music that ushered in a new era of soul during the 1970s. It spotlights WBTT signature male artists and was created, adapted & directed by Nate Jacobs. Don’t miss this show that runs Wednesday, October 9 through Sunday, November 17 at WBTT’s Donelly Threatre, 1012 N. Orange Street in Sarasota. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30pm and 2pm on Sunday. Adult ticket price is $52 and students 25 & under are $22. Purchase tickets online at westcoastblacktheatre.org or call 941•366•1505.

Back to the 80s Party
Artur’s Restaurant, 70 N. Indiana Avenue, is hosting a Back to the 80s Party in their tiki hut on Saturday, October 5, 6 to 9pm. Dress for the 80s and “party like it’s 1985”. Live music will be provided by FM Station FLA, an 80s cover band based out of North Port. There will be an 80s costume contest and special 80s drinks. This event is all ages friendly. The local Roper Romp group, “Caftan Queens”, will also be there. Reservations may be made by calling Artur’s at 941•473•0171.Learn more about FM Station FLA at fmstationfla.com and about Caftan Queens on their Facebook page. 

Keys & Classics
Step back in time at the Silent Film Festival with live organ accompaniment on Sunday, October 6, 3pm, at the Venice Performing Arts Center, One Indian Avenue, Venice. Witness the power of silent cinema, where emotions flicker across the screen, with organ music provided by Brent Douglas, talented organist and conductor of The Venice Chorale. Narrator Courtney Elvira will provide witty quips and engaging film insights. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased online at veniceperformingartscenter.com or call 941•218•3779.

Baila Miller: Gustav Klimt
Join Baila Miller for a lecture about Gustav Klimt, an Austrian Symbolist painter (1862-1918), who was one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. He was noted for his paintings, murals and sketches, and his primary subject was the female body. He was influenced greatly by Japanese art & its methods. This free program will be Tuesday, October 8, 10:30 to 11:30am, at the Elsie Quirk Library, 100 W. Dearborn Street. Seating is first come, first seated. The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Elsie Quirk Library. For more information, call 941•861•1225.

Artist Colony Indoor Gallery
Support local artists by visiting the Artist Colony’s Indoor Gallery on Wednesday, October 9, 10am to 3pm, at the Englewood Elks Lodge, 401 N. Indiana Avenue. Original artwork will be displayed for sale in the main ballroom. Visit with some of the participating artists. The public is welcome to have lunch when they come to view the gallery. Learn more about the Artist Colony in Englewood, Florida on its Facebook page. Artists interested in joining the Indoor Gallery should email Sydney at [email protected].

Charlotte Players: House on Haunted Hill
Beware the House on Haunted Hill! That’s the title for Charlotte Players’ Halloween-themed play, running Thursday, October 10 through Sunday, October 27 at the Langdon Playhouse, 1182 Market Circle, Port Charlotte. An eccentric millionaire promises six guests at his party a mysterious prize if they can survive the night in the only truly haunted house in the world. Curtain times are 7:30pm Thursday through Saturday and 2pm on Sunday. Tickets are $30.58 adult & $16.30 student, and may be purchased online at charlotteplayers.org or call 941•255•1022.

Cycle One’s Season Opens 
Cycle One of Art Center Sarasota’s new season opens on Thursday, October 10 with a reception from 5 to 7pm. Featured artists for this first exhibition are: Gabriel Ramos, who explores identity, community and cultural heritage, along with his personal narratives of Puerto Rico. Amy Sanders employs utilitarian objects, focusing on vessels designed for pouring and storing in her display, “Pouring, Storing and Ore-ing”. Ore-ing references the primitive essence of iron ore colorants used to decorate vessels. David Fithian’s exhibition, “Faces and Places”, presents a series of paintings and drawings deeply rooted in Cubism & Abstract Illusionism. The juried exhibit, “Euphoria!”, is a selection of artists expressing their exuberant selves. Cycle One ends on Saturday, November 16th. Art Center Sarasota is located at 707 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota and is open Monday-Friday, 10am to 5pm and Saturday, noon to 5pm. Admission is free. Learn more at artsarasota.org. 

Friday Night Concert
The Friday Night Concerts, at Centennial Park gazebo in Venice, are held on the second and fourth Friday evenings from 7 to 9pm. Performing at the Friday, October 11 concert will be Rocky Rick. “Swinging Bridge” will take the stage on Friday, October 25th. These concerts are free. Concert attendees should bring their own seating to Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Avenue, Venice. No alcohol permitted. For more information, go to visitvenicefl.org.

 

 

Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens proudly presents “Beguiled by the Wild”, a captivating and exclusive art exhibit featuring never-before-published works by the legendary Charley Harper. Immerse yourself in the wonder of the natural world through Harper’s unique artistic lens. Explore stunning living sculptures, an indoor gallery, and massive outdoor reproductions that bring the beauty of nature to life. Charley Harper (1922-2007) had a 60 year career as a prolific graphic designer, painter and illustrator. This exhibit will be on display from Friday, October 11 through January 20 at the gardens located at 5827 Riverside Drive in Punta Gorda. Admission is $20 adult, $17.50 senior and $10 students. The Gardens are open Tuesday through Sunday, 9am to 4pm. Learn more at peacerivergardens.org. Don’t miss this extraordinary celebration of art and nature, where creativity and the wild harmoniously intertwine.

A Symphonic Spooktacular
Gather witches, wizards, and ghosts for Venice Symphony’s newest addition to the concert season, a ‘not-so-scary’ Spooktacular featuring a harmonious collaboration of symphonic sounds and storytelling on Friday & Saturday, October 11 & 12. Become entranced by Bernard Herrmann’s “Psycho: A Short Suite for String Orchestra” and travel to otherworldly dimensions with music from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and other mystical medleys. Concert times are Friday at 7:30pm and 3:30pm on Saturday at the Venice Performing Arts Center, One Indian Avenue, Venice. Halloween costumes are encouraged. Ticket prices are $39 to $71 and may be purchased online at venicesymphony.org or call 941•207•8822. Note: Venice Symphony is offering students a 50% discount and a 25% discount for Florida educators. To take advantage of this special offer, tickets must be purchased through the box office by calling 941•207•8822.

Steppin’, Songs & Stories
Lemon Bay Playhouse (LBP) is hosting a benefit show, “Steppin’, Songs & Stories”, on Saturday, October 12th. This show will feature Venice Theatre’s Silver Fox Dancers, Florida Studio Theatre Storytellers, the Venice Gondoliers’ Quartet “Three Jacks and a Queen”, and award-winning ten-minute plays by members of the Sarasota Association of Playwrights, directed by and starring some of your LBP favorites. The lobby opens at 6:30pm and the show starts at 7pm. Your ticket will include hor d’oeuvres (list will be posted on the LBP Facebook page) before the show and at intermission, plus upscale wine, soda and water. You also get one raffle entry for great gifts, and additional chance tickets will be available on a cash-only basis. Funds will go towards improving the theater and continuing productions for you. Come help the theater and be entertained by community groups and performers who generously donated their time and talent for this benefit. Tickets are $60 and available online at lemonbayplayhouse.com or call the theater box office, 96 W. Dearborn Street, at 941•475•6756. 

Artist Colony Outdoor Gallery Resumes
Visit the Artist Colony of Englewood during their outdoor gallery on Wednesday, October 16, 10am to 3pm, at Pioneer Plaza, 325 W. Dearborn Street. Area artists will display a wide variety of original artwork for sale. Some artists will be creating new work as you watch and talk with them. The outdoor gallery will be held on the first and third Wednesday of the month through April. Learn more on their Facebook page. For questions or artists interested in joining, email [email protected].

LBP: Two Witches, No Waiting
Lemon Bay Playhouse, 96 W. Dearborn Street, will present “Two Witches, No Waiting”. This show will run Wednesday, October 16 – Sunday, November 3. Arlene Marcus and her sister, Elzbeth, are known as witches. At least, that’s the story spread by Opal Dunn just before she vanished. Arlene’s son, Jeremy, tries to get the sisters to sell their house. Eustace Sternwood desperately wants to buy the property, but he didn’t reckon on dealing with people who read bumps on his head, a “recipe book” full of spells and potions and getting lost in Elzbeth’s “mystery room.” Jeremy already has his hands full, so what happens when he seems to be falling in love with Bonnie, the new housekeeper? And just who is she? It’s a heady brew of twists and turns, where barn owls spy on people through windows, closets fly open and even the house itself seems alive! Show starts on time at 7:30pm, Wednesday through Saturday and 2pm on Sundays. No late seating. Reserved seat tickets are $25. Visit lemonbayplayhouse.com or you can also call the box office Monday-Friday, 10am to 2pm, at 941•475•6756.

Key Chorale: Baroquetoberfest
Key Chorale Chamber Singers and the Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota present a unique take on Oktoberfest, with a three day festival celebrating music of the Baroque period (and beer!). Four concerts featuring a star-studded cast of performers, chamber orchestra, and concluding with an authentic Biergarten Experience with German food, beer from Calusa Brewing and dancing to Bill Milner’s Oompah Band. Concert schedule: Friday, October 18, 7:30pm: Opening concert featuring music by the King of Baroque, George F. Handel. Tickets $10-$45. Saturday, October 19, 11:30am: Johnann Sebastian Bach Organ Recital with Sam Nelson who presents “Psychedelic Bach” with colorful visualizations. A gourmet Bach Lunch will follow. Ticket price $30, includes lunch. Saturday, October 19, 7:30pm: French Baroque Chamber Music Concert. Tickets $10-$45. Sunday, October 20, 4:30pm: Antonio Vivaldi Concert. Tickets: $10-$45. All events are held at the Church of the Redeemer, 222 S. Palm Avenue, Sarasota. A festival pass for all events is $210. Learn more and purchase tickets online at keychorale.org or call 941•552•8768.

Being Somebody – A Father/Daughter Tale
Sarasota Jewish Theatre (SJT) is pleased to present its season opener, “Being Somebody – Growing up Brooklyn, A Father/Daughter Tale,” on Saturday, October 19 at 7:30pm and Sunday, October 20 at 1:30pm. This hilarious, coming-of-age journey will take the stage at The Players Centre Studio 1130 at the Crossings at Siesta Key mall, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Dr. Howard Mase, an 88-year-old psychologist brings to life what it was like growing up as a skinny Jewish kid in Brooklyn’s post-war gleam of the 1940s, while his daughter Marla sings about holding fast to dreams and explores her femininity in the gritty disco era of the 1970s. Together, they take the audience on an emotionally charged, hilarious, coming-of-age journey that touches on universal themes. Ticket price is $30 and tickets may be purchased online at theplayers.org or call 941•365•2494. For more information, visit sarasotajewishtheatre.org. 

David Phelps

 

The First Baptist Church of Venice is pleased to welcome Award-winning David Phelps and his new “Speak of Love Tour” to Venice on Sunday, October 20, at 6pm. Comedian Mickey Bell will be joining Mr. Phelps. Once a childhood musical prodigy from Tomball, TX, David Phelps earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Baylor University. Since then, he has become a nationally celebrated vocalist. Perhaps best known as the powerful tenor for the multiple Grammy and Dove Award-winning Gaither Vocal Band, Phelps continues as a leading voice in Christian music. He has performed at numerous prestigious venues across the globe, including the White House, New York’s Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. First Baptist Church of Venice, is located at 312 Miami Avenue West.

Van Wezel Tours
Arts Advocates and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall offers a monthly tour, “Behind the Curtain: Exploring the Van Wezel from the Art to the Stage”. This month’s tour takes place on Monday, October 21, 1:30 to 3pm. A docent leads a tour of the paintings and sculptures created by Florida artists. A Van Wezel guide leads participants around the stage and shares stories about show business. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Van Wezel box office, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota or call 941•263•6799.

Potpourri by Venice Musicale
Venice Musicale opens its 73rd season on Thursday, October 24th with “Potpourri” at St. Mark’s Church, 508 Riviera Street, Venice. Like the meaning of the word potpourri, the concert’s musical selections are a variety of songs and instrumentals from various periods and musical genres from Classical to Broadway and the American Songbook. The concert starts at 3pm and is free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated and go towards the Musicale’s scholarship program. For more information, visit venicemusicale.org.

“Much Ado About Nothing”
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is excited to welcome a relaxed, sensory friendly version of the Asolo Repertory On Tour’s Much Ado About Nothing on October 27 at 11am and 3pm. The sensory friendly performance will also feature touch tours prior to the show. These are free performances with multiple accommodations available. Seating is limited, so reservations are strongly encouraged. Accommodations for the performances include noise canceling headphones, fidgets, flexible seating, softer volume, and a quiet room available. This show is appropriate for all ages but is recommended for students in fifth grade or above. This is an entertaining, high quality show for families with children needing sensory accommodations. 

 

 

The Venice Institute of Performing Arts (VIPA) kicks off its pre-season with “Smokin’ Renegade”, a tribute to “Boston/Styx”. This dynamic South Florida Band will kick off VIPA’s lineup of shows on Saturday, November 9, 7pm, at the Venice Performing Arts Center, One Indian Avenue, Venice. Tickets are $29-$59, and may be purchased online at: veniceperformingartscenter.com or call the box office at 941•218•3779.

Winter Art Market Applications
Englewood Art Center, 350 S. McCall Road, is continuing to accept applications for its Winter Art Market on Friday & Saturday, December 13 & 14, 10am to 4pm. Art space fee is $150 non-refundable and art space fee & lunch is $175. Potential applicants must provide three images of their artwork & one image of their display booth. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, October 15 at 4pm. For application, go to surveymonkey.com/r/EAC_WinterartMarket_2024. For questions, call 941•474•5548.

Call for Artists
The Artist Colony of Englewood is accepting applications for the Winter Art Show on Dearborn to be held Sunday, December 8th. One block of West Dearborn Street will be closed for this outdoor art show. Artists who are interested in participating should email Sydney Martin at [email protected]. This event hopes to be a reboot of the Winter Art Show that was last held in 2019.

Venice Musicale New Season
Venice Musicale has announced their upcoming season so pull up your calendars and mark the dates so you don’t miss any of the great shows scheduled. “Potpourri”, a wide range of music from various periods & genres, is Thursday, October 24 at 3pm in St. Mark’s Church, 508 Riviera Street, Venice. On Thursday, November 21 at 3pm, concert pianist, Haig Yaghoobian, shares the connection of classical composers with performers who bring their selection to life during “Classical Connections”. “Spring Sensations”, another classical concert, will be Saturday, March 15 at 3pm. Suncoast Duo Pianists, Venice Musicale’s four-hand piano ensemble, starts the holiday season on Friday & Saturday, December 6 & 7, 3pm, with its “Sounds of the Season”. They then present “Time for Romance” on Friday & Saturday, February 7 & 8 at 3pm, and end their season with “The World of Music” on Friday & Saturday, April 4 and 5 at 3pm.The ENCORE Chorus, a 30-voice ensemble of male & female singers, hold two concerts: “Sign of the Seasons” on Thursday, December 12 at 3pm and “All Nature Sings” on Thursday, March 20, 3pm at St. Mark’s Church. Two additional musical variety programs are offered, “Let the Music Move You” on Thursday, January 23 & Saturday, January 25 at 3pm, and “American Standards” on Thursday, February 20 and Saturday, February 22 at 3pm. The final date to add to your calendar is Tuesday, April 29, 6pm, when the Scholarship Concert is performed at St. Mark’s Church. Concerts are held at the William Jervey Public Library, 300 Nokomis Avenue South in Venice, unless listed elsewhere. All concerts are free and open to the public, with space limited. Donations are accepted for the Venice Musicale Scholarship Program. Learn more about the programs at venicemusical.org and on Facebook.