Summer Events

Art

Selby Gallery. Continuing on view here through July 25 is Threads, a fiber arts show. Up next: a show of digital work, Aug. 8 through Sept. 13, followed by Part I of the annual Ringling College faculty show, opening Sept. 19 and running through Oct. 11. 359-7563.

Art Center Sarasota. Continuing through July 26: Humanity in Black and White, the 5th Annual Florida Photography Juried Exhibition; A Newtown: Photographs by Steven Katzman; and etchings and aquatints by Elizabeth Stevens. Coming up Sept. 2 through Oct. 25: Too Precious to Sell (or is it?), a juried members’ exhibition. 365-2032.

Galleria Silecchia. Continuing on view at the Palm Avenue space through July 30: works by sculptor Glenna Goodacre and mixed media painter Cary Henrie. Also on view this summer: new works by Ulla Darni, July 3 through Aug. 2; and art by glass artist Hiroshi Yamano and oils by Homero Aguilar, Aug. 3 through Oct. 3. 365-7414.

Ringling Museum of Art. Phantasmagoria: Specters of Absence continues here through Aug. 10, while Ringling Retro, offering modern and contemporary art from the permanent collection, is on view through Sept. 7. You can also enjoy Focus on Asian Art: 20th-Century Japanese Prints, July 12 through Nov. 30. 359-5700.

Venice Art Center. Artists John and Suzie Seerey Lester, Jack and Mary Jo Perkins, Maureen and Chuck Snyder and Dr. Robert Woefel are highlighted here through Aug. 15. Coming up next: Landscapes & Seascapes, running Sept. 12 through Oct. 4. 485-7136.

Museum of Fine Arts. On view at the St. Petersburg museum through Aug. 26: Unveiled: Rarely Seen Art from the Collection and Mrs. Stuart’s Legacy. On view through Oct. 5: Ansel Adams and the West, and through Sept. 28, Art, Friendships and the New York School: The Benjamin Gollay Collection. (727) 896-2667.

Salvador Dali Museum. Women: Dali’s View continues here through Sept. 21, offering 70 works from the permanent collection tracing the artist’s depiction of the feminine sex. (727) 823-3767.

Dabbert Gallery. Continuing through Sept. 30 is a Summer Showcase of gallery artists. 955-1315.

Canvas Café Gallery. Prints from a Master Printmaker, featuring the work of Conrad Schwabble, on view Aug. 1-30 at the Towles Court gallery, with a reception at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 8. 957-0609.

Film

Monday Night Movies at the Ringling. A selection of art, independent and foreign films, at 7 p.m. each Monday in July, August and September (except Sept. 1) at the Historic Asolo Theater. 360-7399.

Miscellaneous

Majestic Ma Xi Tuan. The Ringling Museum and Circus Sarasota partner to present this Chinese acrobatic troupe, lion dancing, hoop diving, pole climbing and more in performances through July 24 at the Historic Asolo Theater. 360-7399.

Fourth of July Fireworks. Sparklers to celebrate our country’s birthday are once again going off at various area venues, among them Sarasota Bayfront Park and Siesta Key beaches, around 9:15 p.m. on the Fourth. Plan to carpool.

Music

Gloria Musicae: A Glorious Fourth. The choral ensemble presents a concert of patriotic favorites for the holiday, starting at 4 p.m. July 4 at the Historic Asolo Theater. 360-7399.

Cocktails at the Cà d’Zan. Koko Ray provides the live entertainment for July’s outing on the Ringling Museum grounds, from 6 to 9 p.m. July 17. You can also count on music and refreshments here Aug. 21 and Sept. 18. 359-5700.

FridayFest on the Bay. The Van Wezel summer bayfront music series continues with live entertainment July 18, Aug. 15 and Sept. 19; bands TBA. 953-3368.

Oldies Concert. Featuring the music of Bandana, at 8 p.m. July 19 at Venice Little Theatre. 488-1115.

Florida West Coast Symphony Splendid September Series. Offering musical afternoons each Sunday in September at 4 p.m. at Holley Hall, this series begins Sept. 7 with the Florida Brass Quintet performing a world premiere by Brusick and selections from Ewald, Bach, Bernstein and Pirchner. On Sept. 14, the Florida String Quartet offers Haydn, Shostakovich and Brahms; on Sept. 21, the Florida Wind Quintet performs Farkas, Janacek and Hidas; and on Sept. 28, the New Artists Piano Quartet diverts with selections from Mozart, Francaix and Strauss. 953-3434.

Sports

Sarasota Reds. The minor league team continues to play throughout the summer at Ed Smith Stadium; for ticket info go to sarasotareds.com.

Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix. The big summer event continues through July 6 and includes a Sarasota Reds baseball and fireworks night and festival parade of boats, July 3; powerboats by the bay and the world’s largest offshore party July 4; a bike show July 5; and, of course, the big boat race itself starting at 11 a.m. July 6 (best viewing along Lido Beach). Proceeds benefit the Florida Center for Child and Family Development; for more info call 371-8820 ext. 1800 or go to suncoastoffshore.org.

Theatre

Chicago. The Kander-Ebb-Fosse hit ends its run at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre July 6. 366-5454.

The Mystery of Irma Vep. Two actors play eight classic characters (think Wuthering Heights, The Mummy’s Curse and more) in this campy, quick-change satire, playing through July 13 on Florida Studio Theatre’s mainstage. 366-9000.

Menopause the Musical. More hot flashes and failing memories as the popular musical receives a reprise, through July 13 on the Asolo Repertory Theatre’s mainstage. 351-8000.

The Play’s the Thing Playreading Festival. A minimum of six new plays will receive readings at the Players Theatre in this annual summer competition, taking place July 7-12 with performances at 7:30 p.m. each night. 365-2494.

The Musical of Musicals The Musical. Remember that old melodrama line “I can’t pay the rent”? It turns up again in this musical parody, which offers stories and songs on that theme done in the style of various composers, including Andrew Lloyd Webber and Kander and Ebb. Onstage July 8 through Aug. 31 at the Golden Apple. Coming in September: A NEW SHOW TBA COPY WILL COME ASAP BUT NOT UNTIL MAY SOMETIME. 366-5454.

If the Devil Could Fall in Love. Satan develops a thing for a New York novelist in this new piece by Jenny Beres, winner of the Players’ 2007 The Play’s the Thing competition. Onstage at the Players Theatre July 17-20. 365-2494.

True West. Two brothers clash violently while collaborating on a Hollywood script in this Sam Shepard play, onstage July 17 through Aug. 3 in a Banyan Theater Company production at the Cook Theatre. 358-5330.

Southern Comforts.A play by Kathryn Clark about a retirement-age couple (he a New Jersey widower, she a Southern widow) who marry and face questions about their new life together, onstage July 23 through Aug. 9 at Florida Studio Theatre. 366-9000.

Oklahoma! A “summer stock” production of the classic musical, running July 30 through Aug. 9 at Venice Little Theatre. 488-1115.

The Clean House. Sarah Ruhl’s play about a Brazilian cleaning woman with a penchant for comedy, and the complicated lives of her employer and family, onstage Aug. 7-24 in a Banyan Theater offering at the Cook. 358-5330.

Summer Rep Series. Titles TBA in this Venice Little Theatre series, running Aug. 12-23. 488-1115.

The Will Rogers Follies. The Manatee Players open their season with this look at the life of folksy humorist Rogers, Aug. 21 through Sept. 7. 748-5875.

Forbidden Broadway. A Venice Little Theatre cabaret production of the long-running spoof, Sept. 5-21 in VLT’s Pinkerton Theatre. 488-1115.

Company. One of composer Stephen Sondheim’s earlier works, centering on a young bachelor whose friends are all married…for better or for worse…and his own fears of commitment. Playing Sept. 25 through Oct. 5 at the Players Theatre. 365-2494.

Steel Magnolias. Playwright Robert Harling’s comedy-drama about the ladies in a small-town Southern beauty parlor takes to the stage Sept. 25 through Oct. 12 at the Manatee Players. 748-5875.

Steel Magnolias. No, it’s not déjà vu…this Southern-fried weeper is actually onstage at Venice Little Theatre as well, Sept. 30 through Oct. 19. 488-1115.