Art

Selby Gallery. On view at the Ringling campus gallery through Feb. 15: Henk Pander: Sees All, Paints All, paintings by the Dutch artist stretching back to World War II. Opening Feb. 24 to run through March 28: Genius Unfolding—Annotated Proofs by J.M.W. Turner, part of the collection of Sarasota resident Douglass Graem. 359-7563.

Venice Art Center. On exhibit here through Feb. 17: Portrait and Figure. Coming up Feb. 25 and 26, a fine arts show. 485-7136.

Longboat Key Center for the Arts. Continuing here through Feb. 23: Horizon Lines, paintings by Rebecca Allen; and the nature photographs of Clyde Butcher. 383-2345.

Ringling Museum of Art. Peter Paul Rubens: Impressions of a Master, on view here Feb. 18 through June 3, presents more than 75 engravings after compositions by Rubens, drawn from the collections of the Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen and the Ringling itself. Also this month: Ringling in Bloom, bringing floral art to life in the galleries and including fresh floral arrangements from area designers inspired by the museum’s signature paintings and decorative art. Lectures, workshops and a luncheon are scheduled, too; the event takes place Feb. 22-26. 359-5700.

Art Center Sarasota. Continuing here through March 10 is The Story of the Sarasota Art Association 1926-1966, telling the tale of the center’s formative years. It’s accompanied by Artists Who Made Sarasota Famous, a sampling of artists active in the association in its heyday—some 30-plus in all, with subjects ranging from landscapes to portraits to circus themes. 365-2032.

Siesta Key Craft Festival. The 18th annual takes place Feb. 4 and 5 in Siesta Key Village. Other fests this month: the Downtown Bradenton Craft Festival, Feb. 11 and 12; and the Downtown Sarasota Festival of the Arts, Feb. 18 and 19. (561) 746-7715.

 

Comedy

Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld returns to his stand-up roots with two shows set for Feb. 25 at Van Wezel. The first, tied to the annual Van Wezel Foundation gala, is sold out; try for tickets to the second by calling 953-3368.

 

Dance

Forever Tango with Anna Trebunskaya. Tango dancers, a vocalist and an onstage orchestra join ballroom dance champ Trebunskaya in this celebration of the Argentinian art form, at 8 p.m. Feb. 9 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The Ailey company returns to the Van Wezel with both favorites and new pieces, at 8 p.m. Feb. 21. 953-3368.

Sarasota Ballet. Ballet legend Sir

Frederick Ashton receives tribute with this month’s performances at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, which include the U.S. premiere of his Valses Nobles et Sentimentales and a reprise

of Façade. Feb. 24-26; call 359-0099

ext. 101.

Moscow Festival Ballet. The company brings to life Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, at 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

 

Miscellaneous

Circus Sarasota. “Bello Mania” is the title for this year’s show under the Big Top, and that means headliner Bello Nock, a comic daredevil with a longtime Sarasota connection. Also part of the show: hand balancer Encho Keryazov, the Shandong Chinese Troupe, a horse act led by Heidi Herriott, the Muttville Comix, ringmaster Todd Robbins, and, of course, aerial artists Dolly Jacobs and Yuri Rijkov. Performances Feb. 10-26; call 355-9805.

 

Music

Sarasota Orchestra Chamber Soiree. This chamber performance includes works by Larsen, Faure, McCarthy and Prokofiev, at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at Holley Hall. 953-3434.

Joshua Bell. Superstar violinist Bell returns to the Van Wezel in concert, at 8 p.m. Feb. 2. 953-3368.

Venice Symphony. This month’s classical concerts feature The Barber of Seville Overture, Beethoven’s Concerto No. 5 (with pianist Young-ah Tak) and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, Feb. 3 and 4 at the Church of the Nazarene. 488-1010.

Sarasota Orchestra Pops Series. Dave Bennett’s Clarinet Swing Kings join the orchestra in an evening of music from Jimmy Dorsey, Pete Fountain, Woody Herman and other swing legends, at 8 p.m. Feb. 4 at Van Wezel. With vocalist Carol McCartney. 953-3434.

Foreigner. This is Foreigner (Cold As Ice, Waiting For a Girl Like You) with a difference, as they perform, not in a huge stadium, but in the more intimate venue of the Van Wezel. At 8 p.m. Feb. 7. 953-3368.

The Official Blues Brothers Revue. Performers Wayne Catania and Kieron Lafferty channel the sunglassed Jake and Elwood in this tribute to Chicago’s musical history, at 8 p.m. Feb. 8 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Sarasota Orchestra Great Escapes. Get ready for Valentine’s Day with “Embraceable You,” an evening of romantic music ranging from Gershwin to the Beatles to Mozart. Feb. 8-11 at Holley Hall. 953-3434.

Carmen. A new production for the Sarasota Opera of the Bizet classic opens the season, running Feb. 11 through March 24. Frederika Brillembourg stars in the title role. 328-1300.

Chad Hoopes. The teen violinist performs Bach, Brahms and Tchaikovsky in an Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota presentation, Feb. 12 and 14 at the Historic Asolo Theater. 360-7399.

An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin. The two longtime Broadway dynamos team up for an evening showcasing some of their favorites, at 8 p.m. Feb. 14 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Sarasota Orchestra Masterworks. Conductor Leif Bjaland’s farewell concerts this month team him with pianist Orion Weiss; the program includes Wagner’s Prelude to Die Meistersinger, Grieg’s Piano Concerto and Schumann’s Symphony No. 2. Feb. 16 at Neel Performing Arts Center; Feb. 17-19 at Van Wezel. 953-3434.

Kirill Gerstein. The Russian piano master performs at 8 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Van Wezel, in a Sarasota Concert Association Series presentation. 955-0040.

Lucia di Lammermoor. The doomed Lucia returns in Donizetti’s beloved opera, loosely based on a Sir Walter Scott novel, running Feb. 18 through March 23. 928-1300.

Linda Eder & Tom Wopat. The big-voiced Eder (Jekyll & Hyde) and genial music man Wopat (Annie Get Your Gun) bring their talents to the Van Wezel at 8 p.m. Feb. 24. 953-3368.

Dick Fox’s Golden Boys. Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell reunite once more for this nostalgic evening centered on their hits, at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

The Irish Rovers. St. Paddy’s Day arrives a little early with the appearance of these perennial purveyors of Celtic cheer, at 8 p.m. Feb. 27 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The fans keep coming as Frankie keeps singing, 60 years after he began his career as a Jersey Boy. Onstage at 8 p.m. Feb. 29 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

 

Talks

Hermitage Salon Series. Pulitzer finalist and Tony nominee Arthur Kopit (Wings, Nine) will discuss his current work-in-progress, Feb. 2; artist Anne Patterson does the same Feb. 16, both at the Historic Asolo Theater. Plus, the Hermitage offers a beach reading, open house and open studio Feb. 25 at the artist retreat on Manasota Key. 475-2098 or 360-7399.

Ringling Town Hall. The series continues its season with Harvard economist Roland Fryer, Feb. 1, and former leader of Joint Special Operations Command Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Feb. 13. Both speak at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. 925-1343.

Bookstore1Sarasota. Among the events on tap at the downtown bookstore this month: poet Martin Galvin, Feb. 6; poet and prose writer Kirk Nesset, Feb. 10; a book signing with Terrence J. Roberts (Lessons from Little Rock), Feb. 11 (at the Hyatt Sarasota); novelist (and Sarasota Magazine contributor) Adam Davies, Feb. 13; novelist Carin Clevidence, Feb. 18; poet William Heyen, Feb. 20; poet Karla Linn Merrifield Feb. 22; and author Andi Brown (The Whole Pet Diet), Feb. 28. Plus, humorist Gina Barreca entertains at a Feb. 23 luncheon to support the Women’s Resource Center, at Michael’s On East. Complete info at bookstore1sarasota, or call 365-7900.

Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning (SILL). The 2012 season of lectures by U.S. policy experts and world-famous musicians continues this month, with events at venues including Holley Hall, the Players Theatre, Venice Community Center and the Unitiarian Universalist Congregation. Among the speakers: Russian expert Dr. Robert Barylski and husband-and-wife opera team Victor DeRenzi and Stephanie Sundine. For a complete schedule, go to sillsarasota.org.

 

Theater

The Last Romance. Joe DiPietro’s heart-tugger about a widower finding new love continues through Feb. 12 at Florida Studio Theatre’s Gompertz Theatre. 366-9000.

Les Miserables. The 25th anniversary tour of the megahit musical continues through Feb. 12 at the Straz Center in Tampa. (813) 229-7827.

A Raisin in the Sun. Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe presents Lorraine Hansberry’s ground-breaking, semiautobiographical play about a black family integrating a Chicago neighborhood, through Feb. 19. 366-1505.

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do. This comedy packed with Neil Sedaka tunes ends its run Feb. 26 at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. 366-5454.

Once in a Lifetime. The Kaufman-Hart comedy about vaudeville performers struggling to make it in Hollywood at the dawn of the talkies era continues through Feb. 29 on the Asolo Rep’s mainstage. 351-8000.

Next Fall. Geoffrey Nauffts’ play centers on an unlikely couple suddenly forced to rely on family and friends for support, through March 25 in FST’s Keating Theatre. 366-9000.

Shake, Rattle and Roll. The revue harking back to the songs of Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins and Ritchie Valens continues through March 25 in FST’s Goldstein Cabaret. 366-9000.

God of Carnage. Yasmina Reza’s sharp-edged comedy about two sets of parents going head to head after their children’s playground fight continues through April 6 at Asolo Rep. 351-8000.

Yentl. Gordon Greenberg directs this version of the Isaac Bashevis story of a young Jewish woman seeking a forbidden education. With music; through April 26 at Asolo Rep. 351-8000.

Altar Boyz. The musical about a boy band with a religious fervor entertains Feb. 3 through March 4 in Venice Theatre’s cabaret show series. 488-1115.

Nick Danger: Third Eye. Simply Gourmet presents the national theatrical premiere of this classic Firesign Theatre radio show parody of the hardboiled private detective genre, Feb. 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and March 1 at the Powel Crosley Estate. Tickets include dinner as well as the performance; call 225-9122.

Cats. They spring into action once more in this Andrew Lloyd Webber “Now and Forever” show, taking the stage at 8 p.m. Feb. 10 and 11 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

The Music Man. Professor Harold Hill returns to River City with dreams of a marching band, Feb. 14 through March 11 at Venice Theatre. 488-1115.

A Chorus Line. The Players Theatre brings back the now classic musical about young dancers giving their all for show biz, Feb. 16-26 at the Players. In conjunction, Chorus Line movie actress and Sarasota resident Audrey Landers performs “The T&A Soiree,” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20, as a benefit for the Players. 365-2494.

The Robbers. Two brothers complete for their father’s love and money in this Friedrich Schiller play, onstage Feb. 21 through March 11 in an FSU/Asolo Conservatory production at the Cook Theatre. 351-8000.

La Cage aux Folles. George Hamilton is Georges, Christopher Sieber the flamboyant Albin, in this touring production of the Jerry Herman hit, running Feb. 21-26 at the Straz Center in Tampa. (813) 229-7827.

Aida. The Elton John-Tim Rice version of Verdi’s classic love story replaces the previously announced Evita on the Manatee Players stage, Feb. 23 through March 11. 748-5875.

Disenchanted. The musical comedy about some Disney princesses who are less than happy with their lot returns to the Golden Apple after its fall run, Feb. 28-March 25. 366-5454.

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This article appeared in the February 2012 issue of Sarasota Magazine.

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