Art

Art Center Sarasota. On view through July 21: The Sum of Its Parts, including a collaborative show with Sarasota Audubon Society and an all-media juried exhibition. Opening Aug. 2 to run through Sept. 29: Deep See, featuring photography by Wayne Levin, works by Richard Herzog, and another all-media-open juried exhibition. 365-2032.

Selby Gallery. Carl Abbott: Architect continues through Aug. 3, displaying the Sarasota modernist’s work. Coming up Aug. 10 through Sept. 12: Curiosities: Rick Valicenti & 21st Century Thirst, showing work by the award-winning graphic designer. 359-7563.

Ringling Museum of Art. Deco Japan: Shaping Modern Culture, 1920-1945, exhibits examples of the craftsmanship and design of Japan in the pre-war and war era, from the Levenson collection, July 13 through Oct. 28. On display in the Circus Museum’s Tibbals Learning Center: Now Appearing in Howard Bros. Circus, recalling acts and stars of the American circus in lithographs that inspired model circus designer Howard Tibbals. 359-5700.

 

Comedy

Sarasota Improv Festival. Ten or so improv groups from around the country bring the funny to the stage of Florida Studio Theatre’s Goldstein Cabaret over two days and evenings, July 20 and 21. For up-to-the-minute info, go to floridastudiotheatre.org or call 366-9000.

 

Dance

Carreño Dance Festival. The summer festival returns, with extensive coaching for pre-professional students by faculty including Jose Manuel Carreño and Loipa Araujo Aug. 5-25, culminating in Festival of Stars performances Aug. 24 and 25 (stars TBA) at the Sarasota Opera House. For complete schedule and ticket info, head to carrenodancefestival.com.

 

Miscellaneous

Summer Circus Spectacular. The annual collaborative show between the Ringling Museum and Circus Sarasota continues through July 28 in the Historic Asolo Theater, starring aerialist Dolly Jacobs, the clown Renaldo, and more. 360-7399.

 

Music

Gloria Musicae. The choral ensemble presents its annual salute to Independence Day with a new setting of The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, at 4 p.m. July 4 at the Historic Asolo Theater. 360-7399 or 925-3183.

FridayFest on the Bay.  The Van Wezel continues to present its summer series of free outdoor concerts, the second Friday of each month—July 13 (Adrian Ray), Aug. 10 (The Venturas) and Sept. 14 (Bird Street Players), to be exact. 953-3368.

Sarasota Orchestra Chamber Soirees. A “Baroque Bites” concert features works from Bach, Stravinsky and Monteverdi, 5:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at Holley Hall; on Sept. 27, the theme is “Modern Miniatures,” offerings works by Piazzolla, Coleman and Bartok. 953-3434.

 

Sports

Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix. The big summer festival of boats concludes with the Grand Prix race in the Gulf itself, July 1. For more info call 371-8820 or go to suncoastoffshore.org.

 

Theater

Moonlight and Magnolias. The comedy about the making of the classic film Gone with the Wind ends its run July 1 at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. 366-5454.

Das Barbecu. This country-Western send-up of Wagner’s Ring Cycle continues its run at Florida Studio Theatre’s Keating Theatre through July 9. 366-9000.

Love, Loss and What I Wore. This collection of dramatic/comedic vignettes about women and their clothes (by Nora and Delia Ephron) continues through July 15 at the Asolo Rep. 351-8000.

A Lesson from Aloes. Athol Fugard’s play, set in 1963 apartheid South Africa, continues through July 15 in a Banyan Theater Company production in the Cook Theatre. 358-5330.

All Shook Up. Elvis Presley meets William Shakespeare (well, sort of) in this mash-up musical featuring both tunes from the King and shades of Twelfth Night, July 10 through Sept. 2 at the Golden Apple. 366-5454.

Talley’s Folly. Lanford Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize winner about an unlikely romance unfolding over the Fourth of July near the end of World War II takes to the stage of FST’s newly renovated Gompertz Theatre, July 11 through Aug. 12. 366-9000.

Taffetas. Musical nostalgia with a fictional 1950s girl group, onstage July 12-15 at the Players Theatre. 365-2494.

The Piano Teacher. An elderly, widowed instructor reminiscences about her past students and begins to contact them…but there is more than nostalgia at work in Julia Cho’s psychological thriller, running July 19 through Aug. 5 in another Banyan Theater summer show at the Cook. 358-5330.

Terra Nova. Ted Tally’s play about doomed South Pole explorer Captain Robert Scott is drawn in part from Scott’s own journals; it’s onstage July 19-22 at the Players. 365-2494.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Venice Theatre presents this summer stock production of the bawdy musical comedy about a bordello at risk of closing, July 25 through Aug. 4. 488-1115.

Lettice and Lovage. This comedy by British playwright Peter Shaffer centers on a tour guide at a historic home who embellishes the truth to better entertain her visitors. Runs July 26-29 at the Players. 365-2494.

Perfect Wedding. Florida Studio Theatre closes out its summer season with this British romp filled with slamming doors, mistaken identity and even a naked woman thrown in for good measure. Onstage at the Keating Aug. 1 through Sept. 1. 366-9000.

Stay. In this play by Sheila Cowley, a desperate woman schemes to keep her husband from leaving her. Running Aug. 9-12 at the Players. 365-2494.

Crimes of the Heart. Beth Henley’s Pulitzer Prize winner about three Mississippi sisters struggling to come to terms with their past and each other is onstage Aug. 9-26 in a Banyan Theater Company offering at the Cook. 358-5330.

Players New Play Festival. The Players’ annual fest brings to the stage readings of new plays by regional writers hoping to score a full production during the mainstage season; which one will you root for? Aug. 13-18 at the Players. 365-2494.

Legally Blonde, the Musical. This popular musical comedy about unlikely law student Elle Woods begins the Manatee Players Riverfront Theatre season Aug. 16 through Sept. 2. 748-5875.

Heidi. Johanna Spyri’s famous little Swiss miss is the focus of this Generations Theatre show, Sept. 13-30 at Venice Theatre. 488-1115.

Applause. The Players kick off their 83rd season with the musical based on the classic film All About Eve, Applause. Who will get to utter those famous Bette Davis/Margo Channing lines? Find out Sept. 19-30. 365-2494.

Evita. Don’t cry for her, Argentina…the Manatee Players give Ms. Peron another shot with this Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice hit, Sept. 20 through Oct. 7. 748-5875.