Arts & Entertainment
October 30, 2024 at 1:33 p.m.
Off the Page Literary Celebration
Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources kicks off their 2024 Off the Page literary celebration on Friday, November 1st. This event features best-selling authors, writing workshops, book signings and special outreach events at the library branch locations. Notable events include best-selling suspense novelist Lisa Unger at 2pm Wednesday, November 6 at the Jervey Venice Library, 300 Nokomis Avenue South, Venice; best-selling author Amor Towles (“A Gentleman in Moscow and “Rules of Civility”) at 7pm Friday, November 8 at the Venice Performing Arts Center, One Indian Avenue, Venice; Chef Edward Lee (“Buttermilk Graffiti”) at 6pm Tuesday, November 12 at the Shannon Staub Library, 4675 Career Lane, North Port; author John Fowler (“A Forest in the Clouds”) at 3pm Thursday, November 21 at the Gulf Gate Library, 7112 Curtis Avenue, Sarasota. Go to sarasotacountylibraries.org/offthepage to see the complete schedule and to register for events.
Venice Art Festival
The 36th annual Downtown Venice Art Festival is still on for Saturday & Sunday, November 2 & 3, 10am to 5pm, along the 100-300 blocks of West Venice Avenue. Start your Christmas shopping or pick out something for your home – a wide variety of artwork in different mediums and crafts to choose from. Visitvenicefl.org.
Home of the Brave Concert
Venice Concert Band presents “Home of the Brave” on Monday, November 4 at 7pm at the Venice Performing Arts Center, One Indian Avenue, Venice. This concert will honor not only military veterans and first responders, but also this great country. The concert will open in a very solemn way with the playing of “Taps”, “American Fanfare”, and “Home of the Brave”. Other selections include “Nimrod” by Edward Elgar and a new arrangement of “American the Beautiful” by David Gillingham. During the “Armed Forces Salute”, there will be a medley of tunes from the Big Band Era. Prior to the concert, Wylie Crawford will play the carillon outside the venue from 6:15 to 6:45pm. Tickets are $14 and may be purchased online at veniceconcertband.org or call 941•218•3779.
The Hermitage Artist Retreat was badly damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton; however, the public presentations will continue at new locations. On Thursday, November 21, 1 to 2pm, Hermitage Major Theater Award Finalist Sam Steiner and Hermitage Roundabout Fellow Alex Lin will explore the craft of playwriting, their unique journeys to date, and describe what’s next on their agendas during “The Structure of Things: Making Theater on Both Sides of the Atlantic”. Bring a pen or pencil and join this cross-continental master class on the art of telling stories. This program will be held at New College of Florida, Robertson Park, 359 College Drive, Sarasota. Registration is required at hermitageartistretreat.org. $5 per person. Photo: Sam Steiner (left) and Alex Lin.
A Ballroom Dancing Romance
Venice Theatre presents “Syncopation”, a ballroom dancing romance set in 1911 New York City, Friday, November 8 through Sunday, November 24, at the Pinkerton Theatre located at 140 Tampa Avenue West, Venice. The passion for dance and a search for a more meaningful life brings two unlikely souls together who tango and foxtrot their way to new possibilities. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm. Adult tickets are $37 and $15 youth (all tickets have a $3 restoration fee added). Purchase tickets online at venicetheatre.org or call 941•488•1115.
Friday Night Concert
The Friday Night Concert Series at Centennial Park gazebo in Venice is held on the second and fourth Friday evenings from 7 to 9pm. “Tiki Vibe” will take the stage on Friday, November 8th. The Friday, November 22nd concert features “Swinging Bridge”. 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.
Sarasota Rising Festival
Sarasota Rising, the non-profit arts organization producing the Living Arts Festival, announces the festival is still on for Sunday, November 10-Sunday, November 17 with pre-festivities on Friday, November 8, 5:30 to 7pm (Pre-Festival Party with a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of the coming week’s activities $100) and on Saturday, November 9, an all-day free family-focused arts exposition at Sarasota Municipal Auditorium (801 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota) with hands-on kids’ activities. On Thursday, November 14, the festival goes to Venice where arts groups take over downtown with an area-wide celebration of the arts at bars, restaurants and hotels for pop-up visual arts exhibits, and impromptu street performances. The day starts at 1pm and includes a VIP tour of Venice Theatre at 3pm (140 Tampa Avenue West, Venice), Venice Art Center Art Walk 4-6pm, a performance by Venice Symphony at 4:30pm at the Venice Art Center (300 Nokomis Avenue South, Venice), and music by Venice High School Small Band Ensemble and Jazz Band from 6 to 8pm at the Centennial Park gazebo (200 E. Venice Avenue, Venice). For more information and to view the complete week’s schedule, go to sarasotarising.org.
The Venice Institute of Performing Arts (VIPA) kicks off its 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.
Artful Lobster Location Change
The Artful Lobster, the Hermitage signature fundraising event scheduled for 11:30am Saturday, November 9, will be relocated from the Hermitage campus to the newly finished outdoor courtyard of The Ora, 578 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. The luscious lobster feast is catered by Michael’s on East and features live entertainment by Hermitage Fellows. For more information and to purchase tickets, contact Amy Wallace at [email protected] or call 941•475•2098, ext. 2.
Mark Evans Comedy
Lemon Bay Playhouse, 96 W. Dearborn Street, brings you the “clean” comedy of Mark Evans on Saturday, November 9 at 7:30pm. Evans has been a professional touring comic since 1993 in venues in the U.S. and aboard. He also teaches aspiring comedians how to write and perform clean comedy. Ticket price is $27 and may be purchased online at lemonbayplayhouse.com or call the box office at 941•475•6756.
Capstan Chamber Series
The Venice Symphony Brass Quartet will be presenting a free concert on Sunday, November 10, 3:30pm, on the Great Lawn at Wellen Park, 19745 Wellen Park Blvd., Venice. Bring your chair and enjoy the delightful sounds of The Venice Symphony. For more information, visit venicesymphony.org. This concert is sponsored by Capstan Financial Consulting Group.
Hot August Nights
Fans of Neil Diamond’s music will want to attend “Hot August Nights” on Monday, November 11, 7:30pm, at the Venice Performing Arts Center, One Indian Avenue, Venice. Barrie Cunningham is one of the world’s top Neil Diamond tribute artists and this high-energy musical experience features some of Diamond’s greatest hits from the 60s to the present like “Cherry Cherry”, “Sweet Caroline”, “Red Red Wine”, “Song Sung Blue”, “Forever in Blue Jeans”, “Coming to America” and many more. Ticket Price is $66 and may be purchased online at venicetheatre.org or call the box office at 941•488•1115.
Readers Theater Date Change
Lemon Bay Playhouse’s Reader Theater will meet on the second Monday of the month in November at 10am (November 11) at the Playhouse located at 96 W. Dearborn Street. Starting in December, it will meet on the first Monday of every month at 10am (December 2nd). Participants of the Readers Theater do not memorize lines but read from scripts. It is a good way for new actors to try their hand at public performance and to gain familiarity with skills such as script analysis, character development, and other acting tools. For more information, email Bob La Salle at [email protected].
Marie Selby Gardens Artist in Residence, Patti Smith, will be at Historic Spanish Point on Thursday, November 14, 7-8pm, for “An Evening with Patti Smith and Her Book of Days”. “A Book of Days” is a collection of photographs taken of her life on and off the road and offers an intimate view of her life on and off the road. A selection of these of photographs will be on exhibit at the Spanish Point campus through August 31, 2025. Patti Smith is recognized worldwide for her revolutionary emergence of artistic disciplines and is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, national book award-winning author and fine artist. Tickets are $175 and may be purchased at selby.org or call 941•366•5731. Historic Spanish Point is located at 401 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey.
Englewood Performing Arts Series (EPAS) kicks off its season with “Dancing with the Celts” on Friday, November 15, 7pm, at Englewood Methodist Church, 700 E. Dearborn Street. This dynamic musical extravaganza packs concert halls around the world with unique music and original blending Irish, Scottish and American roots, electrifying dance and enchanting storytelling. Tickets are still available at englewoodmethodist.com/epas/. Ticket prices are $30-$40 per person.
To honor the men and women who have defended this country through their selfless service to the U.S., Chuck Gillespie presents “To Our Veterans With Love” on Saturday, November 16, 7:30pm, at Lemon Bay Playhouse, 96 W. Dearborn Street. Hear music that expresses their courageous lives and see over 300 selected images capturing the challenges and triumphs and burdens of liberty of all who would destroy this way of life. Tickets are $27 per person and are on sale at lemonbayplayhouse.com or call 941•475•6756.
Classical Music from the Masters
Meet the original classical influencers at the Venice Symphony’s November concert on Friday and Saturday, November 15 & 16 at the Venice Performing Arts Center, One Indian Avenue, Venice. From Beethoven to Vivaldi, Hadyn and Brahms, at this concert you’ll discover their common connection. Celebrate the legacy of classical music and composition with timeless works from the masters. Concert times are evenings at 7:30pm on Friday and Saturday, and 3:30pm on Saturday. Ticket prices range from $39-$66 and may be purchased online at venicesymphony.org or call 941•207•8822.
Music/Audio Demonstration
Calling musicians, podcasters, voice actors/dubbers, and anyone who needs to record. Englewood Charlotte Library, 3450 N. Access Road, will be obtaining Focusrite Scarlett 2i2(4th Gen) Audio interface and there will be a demonstration of the equipment on Saturday, November 16, 11am to 1:30pm. The demonstration is free. For questions, call 941•681•3736.
Baila Miller presents “Gustav Klimt: A Golden Age” on Monday, November 18, 10:30 to 11:30am, at the Elsie Quirk Library, 100 W. Dearborn Street. Gustav Klimt (1862-1918), an Austrian Symbolist painter, was one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. Klimt is noted for his paintings, murals, and sketches. Klimt’s primary subject was the female body, and his works are marked by a frank eroticism. Among the artists of the Vienna Secession, Klimt was the most influenced by Japanese art and its methods. The program is free and is sponsored by the Friends of Elsie Quirk Library. Seating is first come, first seated. For questions, call 941•861•1110.
“Classical Connections” Concert
Venice Musicale invites you to attend their “Classical Connections” concert on Thursday, November 21, 3pm, at the Venice Jervey Public Library, 300 Nokomis Avenue South, Venice. Concert pianist, Haig Yaghoobian, shares the connection of classical composers with performers who bring their selections to life. The concert is free. Donations are gratefully accepted for the Musicale’s scholarship program. Learn more about the Venice Musicale at venicemusicale.org.
Englewood Art Center (EAC) announces their new exhibitions in the galleries located at 350 S. McCall Road. In the Loranger Gallery you will find “Kaleidoscope of Curiosities”, 2D & 3D artwork that is eccentric, whimsical and peculiar. It runs through Saturday, December 7th. In the other galleries and running through Saturday, December 14th, are “Dual Horizons: The Artistic Journey of Matteo Caloiaro and Brooke Olivares” in the Mitchell Gallery; “Luminal Worlds” by Sarah Riley in the Mangrove Gallery; and in the Members Gallery, is “Bad Clowns” by Pam Jones. EAC is open Tuesday and Thursday, 9am to 9pm, and Wednesday, Friday & Saturday, 9am to 4pm, and can be reached at 941•474•5548. Visit online at eacringlingcollege.org.
Call for Artists
The Artist Colony of Englewood is accepting applications for a 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.