Art

Galleria Silecchia. Continuing at the Palm Avenue gallery through March 15, works by oil painter Glenn Harrington and sculptor Glenna Goodacre. Also, March 1-31: oils by Joe McFadden and glass by Hiroshi Yamano. 365-7414.

Art Center Sarasota. Continuing through March 28: Feed the Soul, the overall name for a group of shows including Navel Gazing: Fresh-squeezed Visions of Florida; Inspired by Food (works by Vicki Chelf and Mark Schwartz); The Black Muse 2011 Artists of ASALH; photography by Mary Lou Johnson; and an open, all-media exhibition. Opening March 29 to run through April 22: the Community Show, featuring works by more than 15 community arts groups. 365-2032.

Selby Gallery. Rhythm and Structure: Mathematics, Art and Poetic Reflections, a show examining the relationships between math and art, continues here through April 2. 359-7563.

Ringling Museum of Art. Remaining on view through April 24: Gardens in Perpetual Bloom: Botanical Illustration from 1600-1850, comprised of more than 100 flower prints. 359-5700.

Longboat Key Center for the Arts. The LBKCA Annual Members Show opens with a reception at 5 p.m. March 3 and continues through March 31 in the Durante Gallery here. Also on view: the LBKCA Student Show, in the Cultural Media Room. 383-2345.

Venice Art Center. The center’s Members Only Show: Latest and Greatest, features works in all media, March 11 through April 8. 485-7136.

Aboard Seafair. Top art and design exhibitors from around the world are displaying work for sale aboard this megayacht docked at Marina Jack, March 25-28; to learn more about attending, call (239) 949-5411 or visit expoships.com.

 

Comedy

The Capitol Steps. What hot-from-D.C. political satire will the Steps serve up this time? Find out March 6 and 7 at Venice Theatre. 488-1115.

Ron White. Blue Collar Comedy phenom White entertains at 8 p.m. March 24 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

 

Dance

Sarasota Ballet. Out of Denmark, with guest artist Johan Kobborg, brings to the stage Flemming Flindt’s The Lesson, August Bournonville’s Napoli, Act III and other highlights from the Danish Ballet’s repertoire, March 4, 5 and 6 at the FSU Center for Performing Arts. Also this month: The ballet company celebrates its 20th anniversary with a gala and a special performance on March 25 at the FSU Center. 359-0099 ext. 101.

Rhythm of the Dance. The National Dance Company of Ireland blends traditional steps with jazz, modern and ballet in this day-after St.-Pat’s spectacle, set for 8 p.m. March 18 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Fuzión Dance Artists. Dance, music and poetry come together in a contemporary modern dance performance memorializing Holocaust victims, March 25-27 at the Cook Theatre. Part of the event: a reading of a poem entitled Chagall at Dachau: To Remember Is to Make Eternal, written by local poet Harold Wolfe. 359-0099 ext. 101.

Tango Buenos Aires. Ooooh, the tango…who doesn’t respond to its sultry call? See it performed in all its romantic glory by Argentinean professionals at 8 p.m. March 26 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

 

Miscellaneous

Shipwreck! Pirates & Treasure. This traveling, multimedia, interactive exhibit about the history of shipwrecks and pirates docks at G.WIZ March 2 through July 31, courtesy of Tampa-based Odyssey Marine Exploration. More than 500 authentic artifacts from shipwreck sites throughout the Atlantic Ocean, English Channel and Mediterranean will be on display, including a collection of more than 100 gold and silver coins. Visitors will also learn about the process of shipwreck exploration. 309-4949.

Masterworks Showcase Tour of Homes. The Sarasota Orchestra Association’s annual showcase morphs this year into two days of touring luxury homes made available by realtor Michael Saunders and Christie’s Great Estates. Five Casey Key homes are spotlighted March 4; five on Bird Key on March 5. For more details go to soassociation.org.

Longboat Key Garden Club Home Tour. The 25th annual tour, benefiting environmental programs, takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 5; for ticket info call 383-0117 or 383-1406.

Historic Homes Tour. The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation welcomes guests to a guided tour of four homes/schools in the McClellan Park neighborhood, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 6. 953-8727.

Creators and Collectors Tour. Artists and art lovers open their studios and homes for this 40th annual event to benefit the Fine Arts Society of Sarasota, March 11 and 12. In addition, 11 artists will be showcased in the Ulla Searing Student Center on the Ringling College campus. Tickets $20; call 330-0680 or visit fineartssarasota.com.

Sarasota County Fair. The 75th annual celebration of all things agricultural, plus the usual midway rides, games, entertainment and food. March 18-27 at the Sarasota County Fairgrounds. 365-0818.

Giving Hunger the Blues. The annual all-day block party in Southside Village to benefit All Faiths Food Bank, offering live bands, dance demos, kids’ games, and lots of food and drink. From noon to 8 p.m. March 27. 366-5555.

PAL Sailor Circus. Let Sarasota County students dazzle you with their feats of agility and daring in the 62nd annual spring version of this circus, March 30 and 31 (more shows in April) at the big blue tent on Bahia Vista. 361-6350.

 

Music

I Lombardi. Verdi’s seldom-seen opera, set against the backdrop of the First Crusade, offers family strife, jealousy and, yes, even patricide. March 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 20 in a Sarasota Opera production. 366-8450 ext. 1.

Michael Amante: A Tribute to Luciano Pavarotti. Amante performs love songs and arias Pavarotti style, at 8 p.m. March 2 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Barrage. Lots of strings with zing as the international musical group plays and dances, at 8 p.m. March 3 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Don Giovanni. Mozart’s dark masterpiece about that master seducer continues onstage March 4, 12 and 18 at the Sarasota Opera House. 366-8450 ext. 1.

Venice Symphony. The orchestra offers classical concerts featuring works by Puccini, Strauss and Gounod, March 4 and 5 at the Church of the Nazarene. 488-1010.

Dukes of Dixieland. That famed New Orleans sound invades the Van Wezel, at 8 p.m. March 5. 953-3368.

The Crucible. Composer Robert Ward’s adaptation of Arthur Miller’s play debuts the American Classics series of the Sarasota Opera, March 5, 8, 10, 13, 16 and 19. A talk with Ward also takes place at 1 p.m. March 5. 366-8450 ext. 1.

Sinatra Sings Sinatra. Frank Jr. pays homage to his father with songs from his long career, at 7 p.m. March 6 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

La boheme. Puccini’s durable, tragic love story brings Mimi and Rodolfo together once more, March 6, 11, 15 and 19 at the Sarasota Opera House. 366-8450 ext. 1.

Emanuel Ax. Pianist Ax returns to Sarasota March 7 at Van Wezel, in a Sarasota Concert Association offering. 955-0040.

Sarasota Orchestra Masterworks. The orchestra, Leif Bjaland and 21-year-old piano phenom Yevgeny Sudbin join forces for all-Beethoven concerts, March 10-13, including Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor and Symphony No 3 (Eroica). Later in the month, the orchestra welcomes mezzo-soprano Jennifer Hines, Key Chorale and Sarasota Young Voices on Mahler’s Third Symphony, March 31 through April 3. 953-3434.

Johnny Mathis. Lots of musical memories come to the fore when crooner Mathis appears at the Van Wezel, at 8 p.m. March 11. 953-3368.

Brent Barrett/Christopher Denny. Broadway star Barrett (Annie Get Your Gun, West Side Story) performs Music of the Night and more, accompanied by musical director Denny, March 13 and 15 at the Historic Asolo Theater, thanks to the Artist Series of Sarasota. 360-7399.

Camerata Ireland. Another Sarasota Concert Association presentation, this one featuring conductor and pianist Barry Douglas and soprano Ailish Tynan, March 14 at Van Wezel. 955-0040.

Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. Keith Lockhart leads the orchestra in a salute to song master Cole Porter, at 8 p.m. March 15 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Natalie Cole. Pop songstress Cole returns to the Van Wezel with songs from her latest album, at 8 p.m. March 16. 953-3368.

Sarasota Orchestra Great Escapes. The orchestra salutes sports and spring with a “Spring Training” theme, including music from Casey at the Bat, Rocky and Chariots of Fire. March 16-19 at Holley Hall. 953-3434.

REO Speedwagon. The ’70s-’80s rockers continue to Take It on the Run, making a stop at the Van Wezel at 8 p.m. March 17. 953-3368.

Chris Botti. Jazz man Botti brings his trumpet to the Van Wezel, at 8 p.m. March 19. 953-3368.

The Verdi Concert. The Sarasota Opera season concludes with a celebration of works by the maestro not heard at the Opera House before, at 8 p.m. March 20. 366-8450 ext. 1.

Jury’s Irish Cabaret. Spend a night in Dublin without the airfare, as Irish music and dancing enliven the Van Wezel. At 8 p.m. March 22. 953-3368.

Richard Nader’s Doo Wop Celebration. Get nostalgic with songs from The Crystals, Gene Chandler, Tommy Mara & the Crests, Jay Siegel & the Tokens and Jay Traynor, at 8 p.m. March 23 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Three Dog Night. Easy to be Hard, An Old-Fashioned Love Song, Joy to the World…those are just a few hits from this pop group, now in its fifth decade, that fans will hear at 8 p.m. March 25 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Jason Vieaux. Guitar Sarasota presents the youthful guitar virtuoso at 7:30 p.m. March 26 at St. Paul Lutheran Church. 360-7399.

Engelbert Humperdinck. Fans of “The Hump” will congregate at the Van Wezel at 7 p.m. March 27 for more renditions of love songs done the Engelbert way. 953-3368.

Jamie Barton/Patrick Harvey. Mezzo Barton teams with pianist Harvey on songs by Satie, Schoenberg, Mahler and others, in an Artist Series of Sarasota recital, March 27 and 29 at the Historic Asolo Theater. 360-7399.

 

Sports

Major League Baseball Spring Training. The season really gets into gear at a local level, with the Baltimore Orioles playing at Ed Smith Stadium (games March 1 through 29) and the Pittsburgh Pirates swinging their bats at McKechnie Field in Bradenton (March 1-27). Get your peanuts and crackerjacks now. For tickets to the Orioles, call (888) 329-3365; for the Pirates, 747-3031.

2011 First Watch Sarasota Half-Marathon and Relay Race. Turn out to support the runners in this race, which begins and ends at Van Wezel Hall and takes them over the Ringling Bridge, on March 13. For more info, visit sarasotahalfmarathon.com.

 

Talks

Forum Truth. The politically oriented lecture series welcomes reporter-analyst John Harwood March 2; author Jacob Hacker (Winner-Take-All Politics), March 15. Both at 7:30 p.m. in the Hyatt Regency ballroom. 349-8350.

Friends of the Selby Public Library Author Luncheon. New York Times bestselling author John Jakes (a Sarasota resident) will be the keynote speaker at this luncheon, 11:30 a.m. March 7 at Sarasota Yacht Club. For tickets, call 861-1140.

Ringling Town Hall Today Series. The series’ season concludes this month with appearances by author and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, March 8, and the team of New Yorker writers Malcolm Gladwell and Adam Gopnik, March 21. Both at the Van Wezel at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.; call 925-1343 to see if any tickets remain.

 

Theater

Guys and Dolls. Frank Loesser and Damon Runyon combine forces in this musical about gamblers confronted by a Salvation Army doll, running through March 6 at the Manatee Players Riverfront Theatre. 748-5875.

The Great American Trailer Park Musical. In the mood for some spoofy fun? Pay a visit to Venice Theatre through March 6 to see this cabaret show hitting targets of road kill, kleptomania, disco and more. 488-1115.

The Lady from the Sea. The FSU/Asolo Conservatory MFA students tackle Ibsen in his play about a woman struggling to choose between two men. Onstage through March 13 at the Cook Theatre. 351-8000.

The King and I. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s version of the relationship between governess Anna and the ruler of Siam continues through March 13 on Venice Theatre’s mainstage. 488-1115.

Brassy Broads: The Next Generation. This revue highlighting tunes made famous by “broads” Ethel Merman, Sophie Tucker, Bette Midler and others continues through March 19 in Florida Studio Theatre’s Goldstein Cabaret. 366-9000.

Race. David Mamet’s look at guilt, class, sex, lies and race continues through March 20 on Florida Studio’s mainstage. 366-9000.

Twelve Angry Men. Reginald Rose’s stimulating drama focuses on a jury trying to come to agreement about a young defendant, in rotating rep through March 26 at the Asolo Rep. 351-8000.

Avenue Q. The naughty musical comedy utilizing puppets to tell the story of young slackers in New York City continues through April 10 at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. 366-5454.

Boeing Boeing. A bachelor leading a high-flying romantic life with three flight attendants—each unaware of the others’ existence—navigates a tangled web indeed in Marc Camoletti’s farce. Onstage through April 23 at the Asolo Rep. 351-8000.

An Evening with Lucille Ball: Thank You for Asking. The redhead’s daughter, Lucie Arnaz, directs this one-woman show starring Suzanne LaRusch as the Queen of Comedy, onstage at 7:30 p.m. March 1 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Dearly Departed. Southern family dysfunction erupts at a funeral in this comedy, onstage March 2-20 at the Lemon Bay Playhouse. 475-6756.

Five Guys Named Moe. Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe brings back an earlier hit with this lively tribute to the songs of Louis Jordan, March 9 through April 3. 366-1505.

The Producers. Leo and Max and Ulla and dancing Nazis…who could ask for anything more? The megahit musical entertains March 10-20 at the Players Theatre. 365-2494.

Rabbit Hole. David Lindsay-Abaire’s play centers on a couple grieving over the loss of their young son. Onstage March 17 through April 3 at the Island Players. 778-5755.

Las Meninas. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage (Ruined) revisits a forgotten bit of history with this story of an illicit love affair in the royal court of France. Onstage in rotating rep March 18 through May 15 at the Asolo Rep. 351-8000.

Spring Awakening. The Tony-winning Broadway hit about teens entering a scary new world of sex and love makes its Sarasota debut at 7 p.m. March 20 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Shout! The Mod Musical. Get ready to relive the ’60s with this show featuring songs, dances and fashions of that era, March 24 through April 10 at the Manatee Players. 748-5875.

Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare’s classic tale of doomed love, playing March 24 through April 10 at Venice Theatre’s Stage II. 488-1115.

Golda’s Balcony. Tony-nominated actress Tovah Feldshuh brings the former Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir, to vivid life, at 8 p.m. March 28 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Grease. It’s still the word. Sandy and Danny, Rizzo and Kenickie and all the gang at Rydell High are back, at 8 p.m. March 29 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Laughing Matters: Unconditional Surrender. Florida Studio Theatre continues its tradition of new political comedy revues, March 30 through June 12 in its Goldstein Cabaret. 366-9000.