Hot Tickets
December 2004
Through Dec. 8: Festival of Trees at the Historic Crosley Mansion. 776-0796.
Through Dec. 12: FSU/Asolo Conservatory presents The Two Gentlemen of Verona. 351-8000.
Through Jan. 1: Asolo Theatre Company presents Peter Pan. 351-8000.
Through Jan. 8: Florida Studio Theatre's Goldstein Cabaret presents G.I. Jive. 366-9000.
Through Jan. 9: Surrealism and Modernism: 20th-Century Masterpieces from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art on view at Ringling Museum. 359-5700.
Through Jan. 9: Golden Apple Dinner Theatre presents Chicago. 366-5454.
Through Jan. 12: Constructing Realities, Part II features works by Jin Soo Kim, Jane Hammond and Chris Piazza at Selby Gallery. 359-7563.
Through March 3: Asolo Theatre Company presents Sherlock Holmes and the West End Horror. 351-8000.
1: Van Wezel presents Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company. 953-3368.
1-31: Holidays on St. Armands, with Holiday Night of Lights Dec. 3. 388-1554.
2: Christmas Walk in downtown Venice. 484-6722.
2-12: Players of Sarasota present Gypsy. 365-2494.
3: 30th annual Palm Avenue Holiday Walk. 365-7414.
3-5: American Craft Council show takes place at Sarasota Bradenton International Convention Center. (800) 836-3470.
3-5: Florida West Coast Symphony presents Haydn's Creation with Key Chorale and soloists. 953-3434.
3-5: Junior League of Sarasota Holiday Tour of Homes and gift shop. 953-5600.
3-Jan. 6: Works by William Morris and Yuri Gorbachev on view at Galleria Silecchia. 365-7414.
3-March 31: Asolo Theatre Company presents Broadway Bound. 351-8000.
4: Sarasota Pops presents a Christmas concert at the Van Wezel. 795-7677.
4: Annual holiday parade takes place downtown at 7 p.m.
5: Jazz Club of Sarasota presents the Leon Merian Big Band at Florida West Coast Symphony's Holley Hall. 366-1552.
6: Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall presents Colors of Christmas with Peabo Bryson, James Ingram, Marilyn McCoo and En Vogue. 953-3368.
7: Van Wezel presents Jekyll & Hyde: The Concert. 953-3368.
7-19: Manatee Players present A Riverfront Christmas. 748-5875.
7-Feb. 5: Florida Studio Theatre presents Metamorphoses. 366-9000.
9: Holiday Splendor event takes place at Ringling Museum. 359-5723.
10: Van Wezel presents An Evening with Dave Mason and Rita Coolidge. 953-3368.
11: Sarasota Christmas Boat Parade of Lights takes place. 953-4636, ext. 2628.
12: Van Wezel presents In the Mood. 953-3368.
12: Van Wezel presents The Smothers Brothers. 953-3368.
13: Van Wezel presents Christmas from Dublin. 953-3368.
15: Museum of Asian Art opens an exhibition of designs created by Pei Partnership Architects. 954-7117.
16-23: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe presents Black Nativity. 954-9651.
18: Van Wezel presents Christmas Inferno. 953-3368.
18-19: West Coast Civic Ballet presents Coppelia at Booker High VPA Theatre. 358-8349.
19-Jan. 2: Perlman Music Program takes place in collaboration with Florida West Coast Symphony. 953-3434.
20-23: Sarasota Ballet presents La Boutique Fantasque at Van Wezel. 552-1032.
20-26: Van Wezel presents Forbidden Broadway, at the Players Theatre. 953-3368.
24: Van Wezel presents Babes in Toyland. 953-3368.
27-28: Van Wezel presents Broadway on Ice. 953-3368.
28-31: PAL Sailor Circus Holiday Spectacular takes place at arena on Bahia Vista. 361-6350.
29: Van Wezel presents A Salute to Vienna. 953-3368.
31-Jan. 2: Van Wezel presents Evita. 953-3368.
January 2005
5-6: Tim Russert speaks in Ringling School Town Hall series. 925-1343.
5-23: FSU/Asolo Conservatory presents Boston Marriage. 351-8000.
6-15: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe presents All Night Strut. 954-9651.
6-23: Manatee Players present 42nd Street. 748-5875.
7-9: Florida West Coast Symphony Masterworks series, with violinist Vadim Gluzman. 953-3434.
9: Van Wezel presents An Evening with Michael Feinstein and Barbara Cook. 953-3368.
10: Van Wezel presents Opera Verdi Europa: La Boheme. 953-3368.
11: Van Wezel presents Larry Elgart and his orchestra. 953-3368.
11-30: Venice Little Theatre presents No Sex, Please, We're British. 488-1115.
11-March 6: Golden Apple presents Wonderful Town. 366-5454.
11-March 19: Florida Studio Theatre's Goldstein Cabaret presents The Rise and Fall of Western Civilization According to Tom Lehrer. 366-9000.
12: Van Wezel presents Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. 953-3368.
13: Van Wezel presents The Comedians, with Shelley Berman, Bill Dana, Dick Gregory, Louis Nye and Mort Sahl, hosted by Dick Cavett. 953-3368.
13-23: Players of Sarasota present Zorba. 365-2494.
14-15: Van Wezel presents Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk. 953-3368.
16: Sarasota County Arts Council presents Arts Day downtown. 365-5118.
16: Van Wezel presents Smokey Joe's Café. 953-3368.
17: Van Wezel presents Prague Symphony Orchestra. 953-3368.
18-19: Homer Hickam speaks in Ringling School Town Hall series. 925-1343.
18-19: Van Wezel presents The Full Monty. 953-3368.
20: Van Wezel presents Tim Conway and Harvey Korman with special guest Louise DuArt. 953-3368.
20-22: Venice Symphony presents Pops Concerts at Church of the Nazarene. 488-1010.
21-May 5: Asolo Theatre Company presents The Smell of the Kill. 351-8000.
21: Van Wezel presents Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. 953-3368.
21-Feb. 18: Constructing Realities, Part III features works by Virginia Beth Shields, Dread Scott, Ray Azcuy and Davis Estis; also painter Sandy Winters. 359-7563.
22: Circus Ring of Fame ceremony on St. Armands Circle. 388-1554.
22: Jazz Club presents Ed Polcer and the Magic of Swing Street at Holley Hall. 366-1552.
23: Van Wezel presents the Moiseyev Dance Company. 953-3368.
25: Florida Studio Theatre opens The Goat or Who is Sylvia? at Gompertz Theatre (Stage 3). 366-9000.
25-26: Van Wezel presents Thoroughly Modern Millie. 953-3368.
27-Feb. 13: Venice Little Theatre's Stage II presents Anton in Show Business. 488-1115.
28-30: Florida West Coast Symphony presents Masterworks series, with guest conductor Kenneth Schermerhorn. 953-3434.
28-Feb. 6: Seventh annual Sarasota Film Festival offers screenings, parties, panels and more. 364-9514.
28-May 3: Asolo Theatre Company presents The Front Page. 351-8000.
29: Sarasota Pops performs at Neel Performing Arts Center. 795-7677.
29-March 19: Sarasota Opera presents Don Giovanni for selected dates. 366-8450.
29-April 10: Ansel Adams: Celebration of Genius on view at Ringling Museum of Art. 359-5700.
30: Van Wezel presents the Vienna Choir Boys. 953-3368.
31: Van Wezel presents Johnny Mathis. 953-3368.
February
TBA: Coexistence 2005 event takes place all month at Bayfront Park. 378-8377.
1: Van Wezel presents The Fab Four. 953-3368.
2: Van Wezel presents Bernadette Peters. 953-3368.
3: Van Wezel presents Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. 953-3368.
4-27: Circus Sarasota presents Live the Dream under the tent at Tuttle and Ringling. 355-9335.
4-27: 2005 Symphony Designer Showcase takes place at Meridian at the Oaks Preserve. 953-4252.
5-6: Van Wezel presents David Copperfield. 953-3368.
5-March 18: Sarasota Opera presents Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci for selected dates. 366-8450.
6: Jazz Club presents Pepper & Fine Thyme at Holley Hall. 366-1552.
7: Van Wezel presents Les Brown's Band of Renown. 953-3368.
8-9: Van Wezel presents Riverdance. 953-3368.
8-April 9: Florida Studio Theatre presents The Last Schwartz. 366-9000.
10: Van Wezel presents Steve Solomon's My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm in Therapy. 953-3368.
10-27: Manatee Players present Sophisticated Ladies. 748-5875.
11-13: Antonio Fava in The Life/Death and Resurrection of Pulcinella at the Cook Theatre, FSU Center. 351-8000.
11-14: Sarasota Ballet presents A Midsummer Night's Dream at FSU Center for the Performing Arts. 552-1032.
13: Gloria Musicae presents Let Your Voice Be Heard. 954-4223.
13: Van Wezel presents Bill Cosby. 953-3368.
14: Van Wezel presents the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players in The Mikado. 953-3368.
14-15: His Royal Highness Prince Edward speaks in Ringling School Town Hall series. 925-1343.
15: Van Wezel presents Momix. 953-3368.
15-March 13: Venice Little Theatre presents Fiddler on the Roof. 488-1115.
18: Van Wezel presents the New World Symphony. 953-3368.
18-20: Asolo's Cook Theatre and Fallon Theatre for Young Audiences present Holes. 351-8000.
18-20: Florida West Coast Symphony presents Masterworks series, with violinist Ilya Gringolts. 953-3434.
19: Sarasota Pops performs with Jacobites Pipers and Dancers at Van Wezel. 795-7677.
19-March 12: Sarasota Opera presents Stiffelio for selected dates. 366-8450.
20: Van Wezel presents Joan Rivers and Louie Anderson. 953-3368.
21: Van Wezel presents Teatro Lirico d'Europa: Carmen. 953-3368.
22: Van Wezel presents Cookin'. 953-3368.
23: Van Wezel presents Tony Bennett. 953-3368.
24-March 6: Players of Sarasota present Show Boat. 365-2494.
24-March 13: Venice Little Theatre's Stage II presents the premiere of In the Lap of the Gods. 488-1115.
25-26: Venice Symphony offers Classical Concerts at Church of the Nazarene. 488-1010.
26-March 19: Sarasota Opera presents Lakmé for selected dates. 366-8450.
March
TBA: Spring training begins for Cincinnati Reds at Ed Smith Stadium (953-3388) and Pittsburgh Pirates at Bradenton's McKechnie Field (748-4610).
1: Van Wezel presents Glen Campbell. 953-3368.
1: Florida Studio Theatre opens The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron? at Gompertz Theatre (Stage 3). 366-9000.
2: Van Wezel presents Cirque Eloize. 953-3368.
2-20: Play TBA in Asolo Conservatory's Cook Theatre. 351-8000.
3-April 2: American Illustration from the Collection of Charles Martignetti features works from Charles Dana Gibson, Dean Cornwell, Norman Rockwell and others at Selby Gallery. 359-7563.
4: Van Wezel presents the St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre: Romeo and Juliet. 953-3368.
5: Van Wezel presents Orchestre National de France. 953-3368.
6: Van Wezel presents The Ten Tenors. 953-3368.
6-April 3: ASID Designer Showhouse in Harbor Acres. 926-7794.
7: Van Wezel presents This Land Is Your Land. 953-3368.
7, 12: Funnybones Luncheon and Cartoon Classic gala of the Sarasota Comedy Festival. 365-1277.
8: Van Wezel presents Contact. 953-3368.
8-9: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto speaks in Ringling School Town Hall series. 925-1343.
8-May 8: Golden Apple presents Cats. 366-5454.
10-13: Florida West Coast Symphony presents Masterworks series, with pianist Brian Ganz. 953-3434.
10-27: Manatee Players present Side Show. 748-5875.
11: Van Wezel presents Boots Randolph. 953-3368.
12: Sarasota Pops performs with soprano Grace Gibbs at Neel Performing Arts Center. 795-7677.
12: Van Wezel presents the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. 953-3368.
14: Van Wezel presents the Italian-American Music Festival. 953-3368.
17-20: Sarasota Ballet presents Cà d'Zan: A Fantasy at Van Wezel. 552-1032.
18-19: Venice Symphony presents Classical Concerts at Church of the Nazarene. 488-1010.
18-27: Sarasota County Fair takes place at fairgrounds. 365-0818.
18-May 8: Asolo Theatre Company presents A Midsummer Night's Dream. 351-8000.
21: Van Wezel presents the Juilliard String Quartet at FSU Center. 953-3368.
21: Van Wezel presents The Beach Boys. 953-3368.
22: Van Wezel presents Paul Anka. 953-3368.
22-May 28: Florida Studio Theatre's Goldstein Cabaret presents Three Friends, Two Guitars and a Broken Tambourine. 366-9000.
23: Van Wezel presents Kenny Rogers. 953-3368.
23-April 2: PAL Sailor Circus presents spring show at arena on Bahia Vista. 361-6350.
24-26: 25th Sarasota Jazz Festival at Van Wezel. 366-1552.
24-April 2: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe presents The Wiz. 954-9651.
24-April 10: Venice Little Theatre's Stage II presents Extremities. 488-1115.
28: Van Wezel presents Crazy For You. 953-3368.
29-30: David Halberstam speaks in Ringling School Town Hall series. 925-1343.
30: Van Wezel presents the Kirov Orchestra. 953-3368.
31-April 3: Florida West Coast Symphony presents Masterworks series, with pianist Joaquin Achucarro. 953-3434.
31-April 10: Players of Sarasota present a world premiere musical, Neighbors. 365-2494.
April
1: Van Wezel presents Art Garfunkel. 953-3368.
1-3: Sarasota Ballet presents Ballet Florida at FSU Center. 552-1032.
3-19: La Musica International Chamber Music Festival offers concerts, open rehearsals and other events. 346-2601.
4: Van Wezel presents the American Big Band. 953-3368.
5-24: Venice Little Theatre presents I Do!, I Do!. 488-1115.
7: Van Wezel presents Comedy Pet Theatre. 953-3368.
7-24: Manatee Players present Amadeus. 748-5875.
8: Van Wezel presents Chuck Berry. 953-3368.
9: Van Wezel presents Engelbert Humperdinck. 953-3368.
9-16: Van Wezel presents Festival Diapente. 953-3368.
10: Gloria Musicae presents Royal Treasures. 954-4223.
10: Van Wezel presents Wynton Marsalis. 953-3368.
10: Jazz Club presents the Valerie Gillespie Quartet at Holley Hall. 366-1552.
11: Van Wezel presents Ballet Hispanico's Nightclub. 953-3368.
12-17: Manatee Players present Quilters. 748-5875.
12-June 4: Florida Studio Theatre presents Runaway Beauty Queen. 366-9000.
13-May 1: FSU/Asolo Conservatory presents The Island of Slaves. 351-8000.
15-16: Venice Symphony presents Classical Concerts at Church of the Nazarene. 488-1010.
15-May 6: The Best of Ringling annual student competition on view at Selby Gallery. 359-7563.
17: Key Chorale performs at Van Wezel. 921-4845.
19-24: Van Wezel presents Late Nite Catechism at the Players Theatre. 953-3368.
21-24: Florida Winefest and Auction takes place at Ritz-Carlton and other venues. 952-1109.
22-25: Sarasota Ballet presents the Spring New Choreography Festival at FSU Center. 552-1032.
26: Florida Studio Theatre opens The Exonerated at the Gompertz Theatre (Stage 3). 366-9000.
26-May 1: Van Wezel presents Groucho, starring Gabe Kaplan, at the Players Theatre. 953-3368.
29-30: Venice Symphony presents Pops Concerts at Church of the Nazarene. 488-1010.
30-July 31: Duane Hanson: Portraits from the Heartland on view at Ringling Museum of Art. 359-5700.
May
TBA: Florida Studio Theatre Festival of New Plays. 366-9000.
5-22: Manatee Players present Always.Patsy Cline. 748-5875.
7-29: Asolo Theatre Company presents Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie. 351-8000.
8-18: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe presents One Mo' Time. 954-9651.
10-15: Van Wezel presents Les Miserables. 953-3368.
10-28: Venice Little Theatre presents To Kill a Mockingbird. 488-1115.
13-June 3: Selby Gallery hosts works by Suncoast Watercolor Society members and Ringling alumni William and Judy Axe. 359-7563.
13-June 12: Asolo Theatre Company presents Menopause: The Musical. 351-8000.
30-June 18: Sarasota Music Festival offers chamber music concerts. 953-4252.
31-July 24: Golden Apple presents Footloose. 366-5454.
June
TBA: Florida Studio Theatre summer productions begin. 366-9000.
TBA: Banyan Theater Company season begins at the Cook Theatre. 358-5330.
TBA: "World's Richest" tarpon tournament in Boca Grande. 964-0568.
TBA: Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix powerboat races. 371-2827.
July
4: Fireworks along downtown bayfront and on Siesta Key.
26-Sept. 4: Golden Apple presents a musical TBA. 366-5454.
August
20-Oct. 30: Dutch Painting: Time and Transformation in 17th-Century Art on view at Ringling Museum of Art. 359-5700.
October
TBA: Stone Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival at the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort. 383-6464.
November
TBA: Sarasota Reading Festival downtown. 906-1733.
TBA: Sarasota Bluesfest at Sarasota Fairgrounds.
TBA: Cine-World Film Festival at Burns Court Cinema. 955-FILM.