SARASOTANS OFTEN BOAST ABOUT OUR PERFORMING ARTS SCENE—and with good reason. Our professional theater, ballet, orchestra and opera companies frequently win raves from New York critics, while some of our many community theaters have won international recognition. We’re also home to some outstanding  local dance, choral and film programs. For professional theater, take your pick: [...]

The victim died of lead poisoning–a dozen bullets from a submachine gun. The sheet-covered body sped off in a coroner’s truck. It was 1988, the tail end of Florida’s so-called Cocaine Cowboy War. The war was mainly waged in the Miami area, but not entirely. A drug gang had driven up the Tamiami Trail and [...]

“Twin” Peaking Growing up in Venice in the 1990s wasn’t the most pleasant experience for George Lewis Jr. A native of the Dominican Republic, he was lonely and alienated and occasionally felt the sting of racism. But Venice was also the place where, in a church choir, he first sang in public and began to [...]

Q. Porgy and Bess has sparked controversy because of changes made to the original. What’s your reaction? A. Certain people say I should recuse myself from the show or they’ll never come to a concert of mine again. The only thing you can do is focus on your work and do what you believe in. [...]

DANCE Dancing Diamonds The legendary Suzanne Farrell on the piece that’s at the heart of her collaboration with the Sarasota Ballet. BACK-STAGE STORY Every time I stage one of Balanchine’s ballets, I see something different. I’m constantly discovering another facet of his genius. I call Mr. B’s ballets “worlds” because each one is so different. [...]

An old producer with a jaundiced view of Broadway recently surveyed the new crop of original musicals and said: “You know, from the looks of things, I’d say Spider-Man might win the Tony for Best Musical next year.” That the most expensive and dangerous show in Broadway history—$80 million and counting, four actors rushed to [...]

Ringling Arts Festival Creates Lots of Buzz Unlike last year, Mikhail Baryshnikov won’t be dancing during the Ringling International Arts Festival. But there’s still plenty to be intrigued and excited about at this year’s event, which opens Oct. 11 with a “block party” in the Ringling Museum courtyard and runs through Oct. 16. “The best [...]