Next to Normal This Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical, about a mother struggling with bipolar disorder, makes its Sarasota premiere at Florida Studio Theatre Nov. 2 through Jan. 2. It’s helmed by FST artistic director Richard Hopkins; for tickets call 366-9000 or go to floridastudiotheatre.org.

Sarasota Bluesfest The 21st annual welcomes Los Lobos, Ryan Shaw, Shaun Murphy, Lightnin’ Malcom and child prodigies Mike Imbasciani and Alex Shaw to the grounds just across from Ed Smith Stadium, Nov. 5. sarasotabluesfest.com or The Gator Club and Rossiter’s and Manatee River Harley-Davidson.

Cine-World Film Festival You never know what movies you’ll be able to snag tickets to at this international fest at Burns Court Cinemas, but with some 50 films showing over 10 days (Nov. 11-20), you’ve got lots of great choices. Info: filmsociety.org or call 955-3456 or 364-8662.

Sarasota Season of Sculpture Under Azure Skies, the new edition of this bayfront biennial exhibition of large-scale sculptures, bows Nov. 11 and continues through May 15, with pieces by Albert Paley, Dennis Oppenheim, Verina Baxter and Peter Lundberg among the mix. Info: sarasotaseasonofsculpture.org.