Your Top 9 Things to Do: Nov. 3-9
Opening Nov. 9
Million Dollar Quartet at FST
Million Dollar Quartet opens the Florida Studio Theatre mainstage season with a jolt of high energy. Place yourself in Memphis, Tennessee, back in December 1956, at the legendary Sun Record Studios where a unique foursome—Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins—is jamming for one night only. That’s the premise of this hit Broadway musical, playing through Jan. 1 at FST’s Gompertz Theatre. floridastudiotheatre.org
Nov. 4-13
Cine-World Film Festival
Thirty-two new films—including Natalie Portman’s buzzed-about star turn as Jacqueline Kennedy in Jackie—make up the 2016 Cine-World festival produced by the Sarasota Film Society at Burns Court Cinema. Happy viewing. filmsociety.org
Image: Daniel Perales
Nov. 5
InspireSarasota
The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County’s new InspireSarasota festival will take over downtown’s Five Points Park Saturday. The festival is designed to boost public participation and “create an environment where people can feel proud of our cultural heritage,” says Arts Alliance executive director Jim Shirley. The line-up includes mini-performances, author talks, an exhibit of student artwork, booths for art groups and more. inspiresarasota.net
Image: Courtesy Sarasota Orchestra
Nov. 4-6
Sarasota Orchestra: The Rite Music
The orchestra commences its Masterworks season with conductor Anu Tali leading the musicians, including violinist/concertmaster Daniel Jordan, in performances of Beethoven’s Overture to Egmont, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, and Stravinsky’s groundbreaking The Rite of Spring, a work so shocking at the time, the orchestra tells us, that it caused a riot at its premiere. sarasotaorchestra.org
Nov. 5
Fall Family Festival at Bay Preserve
Tree climbing, family hula hoop lessons, slacklining, expert bocce instruction, face painting, water conservation activities, live music and a chance to try kayaking are part of the fun when the Gulf Coast Conservation Foundation hosts its annual free Fall Family Festival on the grounds of Bay Preserve in Osprey. conservationfoundation.com
Image: Courtesy Gloria Musicae
Nov. 6
Gloria Musicae: “Viva España!”
The fiery music of Spain and Latin America takes center stage when choral ensemble Gloria Musicae opens its season with “Viva España!,” with works by Isaac Albéniz, Manuel de Falla, Heitor Villa-Lobos and more. Shown here, guitarist Jonathan Godfrey is among the guest artists.
Nov. 5-6
Nathan Benderson Park Rowing Festival
Here’s your chance to get out on Nathan Benderson Lake—the site of the 2017 World Rowing Championship—and learn to row, or simply cheer on the racing, at this family festival. Live music, a beer garden, food trucks and fun on the park’s brand-new playground, too. Free; parking’s $5. Check out the event schedule at nbprowingfestival.org.
Image: Courtesy TheRingling
Opening Nov. 4
Pathless Woods at the Ringling Museum
Multimedia artist Anne Patterson’s mesmerizing Pathless Woods, a site-specific installation made of thousands of ribbons, opens the new gallery devoted to contemporary art at the Ringling. Read more about it and watch a short video here.
Nov. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20
Sarasota Medieval Fair
The Sarasota Fairgrounds transforms into Ringling Woods for three weekends of jousting, giant chess matches, Celtic music, comedy acts, rides and games, and lots of Medieval Fair fare (think turkey legs and Cornish pasties). sarasotamedievalfair.com
