DECEMBER 2005

Through Dec. 29: Asolo Theatre Company presents A Christmas Carol. 351-8000.

Through May 31: Season of Sculpture exhibition continues along the bayfront. 331-2008.

1-11: Oliver! onstage at Players Theatre. 365-2494.

2: Holiday Night of Lights on St. Armands Circle. 388-1554.

2-4: American Craft Council Show takes place at Sarasota Bradenton International Convention Center. (800) 836-3470.

2-4: Junior League of Sarasota Holiday Tour of Homes takes place. 953-5600.

3: Downtown holiday parade begins at 7 p.m. along Main Street. 363-5517.

3-4: Entre Nous Club's Holiday Tour of Homes showcases five Manatee County homes decorated for the season. 761-0160.

4: Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall presents An Evening with Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra. 953-3368.

4: Key Chorale presents a concert celebrating composer Daniel Moe, at St. Boniface Church. 921-4845.

4-11: Bud Collins Hackers Classic tennis tournament takes place at the Colony on Longboat Key. 383-6464.

5: Fine Art Society of Sarasota "Celebrate the Arts" luncheon. 351-0844.

5-6: Oklahoma! onstage at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

7: Van Wezel presents Dave Koz and Friends: A Smooth Jazz Christmas. 953-3368.

7-Feb. 4: Florida Studio Theatre presents Brooklyn Boy. 366-9000.

8-11, 15-18: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe presents Black Nativity at the Backlot Theatre and Glenridge Performing Arts Center, respectively. 363-9300.

8-18: Manatee Players presents Cinderella. 748-5875.

9-11: Florida West Coast Symphony Masterworks concerts. 953-3434.

10: Sarasota Pops performs Hanukkah and Christmas music at Neel Performing Arts Center. 351-8000.

10: Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights takes place. 953-4636 ext. 2628.

11: The Irish Rovers Holiday Show onstage at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

12: Christmas with the Mantovani Orchestra and Chorus at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

12: Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon Days onstage at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

13: Gloria Musicae choral ensemble presents Christmas Treasures, at Church of the Redeemer. 954-4223.

14: Blast! onstage at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

15: Lee Greenwood and Crystal Gayle perform at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

16-17: Broadway's Spirit of Christmas entertains at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

16-17: Venice Symphony presents Holiday Concerts. 488-1010.

18: The Beach Boys Holiday Show onstage at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

19: Babes in Toyland onstage at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

19-24: Van Wezel presents Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit at the Players Theatre. 953-3368.

22-Jan. 3: The Perlman Music Program in residence at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

27-28: Broadway on Ice onstage at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

28-31: PAL Sailor Circus Holiday Spectacular takes place under tent on Bahia Vista. 361-6350.

JANUARY 2006

Through Jan. 7: Florida Studio Theatre Cabaret presents My Way. 366-9000.

Through Jan. 8: Picturing What Matters: An Offering of Photographs on view at Ringling Museum of Art. 359-5700.

Through Jan. 15: Golden Apple Dinner Theatre presents Sweet Charity. 366-5454.

TBA: Florida Studio Theatre Stage III season begins. 366-9000.

1: Van Wezel presents a Salute to Vienna. 953-3368.

3: Van Wezel presents the musical Bowfire. 953-3368.

4: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

4-22: FSU/Asolo Conservatory presents What the Butler Saw. 351-8000.

5-22: Annie Get Your Gun onstage at Manatee Players. 748-5875.

6-8: Florida West Coast Symphony Masterworks concerts. 953-3434.

6-27: Selby Gallery presents Sarasotans Collect III: The Art of Glass. 359-7563. Also through March 31: Painted/Stacked, an outdoor installation by Russell Maltz.

6-April 8: Asolo Theatre Company presents Trying. 351-8000.

10-29: Venice Little Theatre presents The Underpants. 488-1115.

10-March 25: Florida Studio Theatre Cabaret presents Piano Men. 366-9000.

11: Town Hall series presents Bill Moyers at Van Wezel. 925-1343.

11-15: Florida West Coast Symphony Great Escapes concerts. 953-3434.

12: Linda Ronstadt performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

12-15: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe presents Sophisticated Ladies at Booker High Performing Arts Center. 363-9300.

12-22: The Most Happy Fella onstage at Players Theatre. 365-2494.

13: Sinbad entertains at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

14: The Dave Brubeck Quartet performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

15: Sarasota County Arts Council's Arts Day takes place downtown. 365-5118.

15: The Glenn Miller Orchestra performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

15: Jackie Mason: Freshly Squeezed onstage at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

16: Roberta Flack appears at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

17-18: Van Wezel presents Liza Minnelli. 953-3368.

17-March 12: Golden Apple Dinner Theatre presents Urinetown. 366-5454.

19: Van Wezel presents The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial. 953-3368.

19-21: Venice Symphony presents Pops Concerts. 488-1010.

19-Feb. 12: Venice Little Theatre's Stage II presents Cabaret. 488-1115.

20-April 27: Asolo Theatre presents Anything to Declare? 351-8000.

21: Circus Ring of Fame honorees inducted at St. Armands Circle Park. 388-1554.

21: Florida West Coast Symphonic Pops presents John Pizzarelli and the American Songbook. 953-3434.

22: Pilobolus performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

22-Feb. 19: ASID Showhouse takes place at two historic St. Armands homes. 926-7794.

23: Helikon Opera presents a Russian Evening of Opera at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

25: Town Hall presents Maya Angelou at Van Wezel. 925-1343.

27: Cleveland Orchestra performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

27-29: Sarasota Ballet presents Ballet NY at FSU Center. 552-1032.

27-29: Florida West Coast Symphony Masterworks concerts. 953-3434.

28-April 2: Waking Dreams: Art of the Pre-Raphaelites from the Delaware Art Museum on view at Ringling Museum of Art. 359-5700.

29: Comedian Steven Wright performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

30: Michael McDonald entertains at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

31: Van Wezel presents Tap Dogs. 953-3368.

FEBRUARY 2006

Through Feb. 2: Asolo Theatre presents the comedy Laughing Stock. 351-8000.

Through Feb. 26: Asolo Theatre presents Enchanted April. 351-8000.

1: Van Wezel presents Sing! Sing! Sing! A Tribute to Benny Goodman. 953-3368.

1: Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant 40th Anniversary Massacree onstage at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

2: Town Hall series presents Robert Reich at Van Wezel. 925-1343.

3: An Evening with Michael Feinstein and Linda Eder at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

3-26: Circus Sarasota presents performances under the Big Top. 355-9335.

3-26: Florida West Coast Symphony Association Designer Showcase at Phillippi Landings. 953-4252.

3-March 3: Selby Gallery presents Contemplation and Action: The Drawings and Paintings of Richard Upton. 359-7563.

4: Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme in concert at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

4-March 25: Sarasota Opera presents La bohème. 366-8450.

5: The Shanghai Circus performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

7-12: Movin' Out onstage at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

8-April 8: Florida Studio Theatre presents Moonlight and Magnolias. 366-9000.

10-13: Sarasota Ballet presents Anne Frank at FSU Center. 552-1032.

11-March 25: Sarasota Opera presents The Marriage of Figaro. 366-8450.

12: Gloria Musicae presents Happy Birthday, Wolfgang! at Holley Hall. 954-4223.

14: Kenny Rogers entertains at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

14-March 12: Venice Little Theatre presents Singin' in the Rain. 488-1115.

16: Van Wezel presents The Will Rogers Follies starring Larry Gatlin. 953-3368.

17: Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons perform at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

17-19: Florida West Coast Symphony Masterworks concerts. 953-3434.

18: Sarasota Pops performs Swing with the Pops at Van Wezel Hall. 351-8000.

20: Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

22: Van Wezel presents Mark Russell: The Laughter and Song of Politics. 953-3368.

22-26: Florida West Coast Symphony Great Escapes concerts. 953-3434.

23: Donna Summer performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

23-26, 30-April 2: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe presents Nobody: The Bert Williams Story at Glenridge Performing Arts Center and the Backlot Theatre, respectively. 363-9300.

23-March 5: Man of La Mancha onstage at Players Theatre. 365-2494.

23-March 12: Manatee Players present The Elephant Man. 748-5875.

24-25: Venice Symphony presents Classical Concerts. 488-1010.

24-May 6: Asolo Theatre presents To Kill a Mockingbird. 351-8000.

25-March 18: Sarasota Opera presents Verdi's I masnadieri (The Robbers). 366-8450.

26: Our Sinatra onstage at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

28: Engelbert Humperdinck performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

MARCH 2006

TBA: Spring training commences for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton (748-4610) and the Cincinnati Reds in Sarasota (953-3388).

Through April 2: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe presents Nobody: The Bert Williams Story, at Glenridge Performing Arts Center and the Backlot Theatre, respectively.

1: Polish Chamber Orchestra performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

1-19: FSU/Asolo Conservatory presents Five by Tenn, five short plays by Tennessee Williams. 351-8000.

2: Town Hall series presents Colin Powell at Van Wezel. 925-1343.

3: The Russian National Ballet Company presents The Sleeping Beauty at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

4-26: Sarasota Opera presents Die Fledermaus. 366-8450.

5: An Afternoon with Jack Klugman at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

5: Van Wezel presents An Evening of Classic Lily Tomlin. 953-3368.

6: Van Wezel presents Gilbert & Sullivan's HMS Pinafore. 953-3368.

7: Philadelphia Orchestra performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

9-12: Florida West Coast Symphony Masterworks concerts. 953-3434.

10: Martha Graham Dance Company performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

10-April 7: Carrie Mae Weems: The Louisiana Project on view at Selby Gallery. 359-7563.

10-May 7: Asolo Theatre presents Lady Windermere's Fan. 351-8000.

13: Russian National Orchestra performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

14: Town Hall series presents writer Amy Chua at Van Wezel. 925-1343.

14-May 28: Golden Apple Dinner Theatre presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast. 366-5454.

15: The Pipes, Drums and Highland Dancers of the 1st Battalion; The Black Watch and The Band of the Welsh Guards perform at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

15-19: Florida West Coast Symphony Great Escapes concerts. 953-3434.

16: Van Wezel presents An Evening with Paul Anka. 953-3368.

16-April 2: Venice Little Theatre's Stage II presents The Dunes. 488-1115.

17-18: Forever Tango onstage at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

17-18: Venice Symphony presents Classical Concerts. 488-1010.

17-26: Sarasota County Fair runs at fairgrounds. 365-0818.

19: Tony Kenny's Ireland onstage at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

19: An Evening with Marvin Hamlisch onstage at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

20-25: Sarasota Comedy Festival includes Funnybones Luncheon and Cartoon Classic Gala. 362-3972.

21: Sarasota Ballet presents its 15th anniversary gala at the Van Wezel. 552-1032.

24-26: Sarasota Ballet presents Carmina Burana at the Van Wezel. 552-1032.

28: Natalie Cole performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

28-April 15: Venice Little Theatre presents Greater Tuna. 488-1115.

28-June 10: Florida Studio Theatre Cabaret presents The Flip Side. 366-9000.

29-April 8: PAL Sailor Circus spring shows run under tent on Bahia Vista. 361-6350.

30-April 2: Florida West Coast Symphony Masterworks concerts. 953-3434.

30-April 9: Sondheim revue Putting It Together onstage at Players Theatre. 365-2494.

31-April 9: Sarasota Film Festival presents new films, panels, outreach programs and parties. 364-9514.

APRIL 2006

1: Sarasota Pops performs Pipes & Pops III at Van Wezel. 351-8000.

3: Van Wezel presents An Evening with Jane Fonda. 953-3368.

5-19: La Musica International Chamber Music Festival offers concerts at the Opera House April 5, 8, 11, 17 and 19, with other events as well. 366-8450, option 3.

6-9: Sarasota Jazz Festival presents concerts at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

6-23: Manatee Players and Westcoast Black Theatre present Dreamgirls. 748-5875.

7-8: Venice Symphony presents Classical Concerts. 488-1010.

8: Duke Ellington Orchestra performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

8: Dick Hyman & Friends perform at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

9: Gloria Musicae presents Messiah, Parts II and III at St. Boniface Church. 954-4223.

9-15: Festival Diapente takes place at Van Wezel and other locations. 953-3368.

10: The Ten Tenors perform at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

11: Thoroughly Modern Millie onstage at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

12-June 10: Florida Studio Theatre presents Around the World in 80 Days. 366-9000.

13-30: Venice Little Theatre's Stage II presents The Vagina Monologues. 488-1115.

14-May 6: Best of Ringling Juried Student Exhibition on view at Selby Gallery. 359-7563.

18-23: Van Wezel presents Steve Solomon's My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish and I'm in Therapy at the Players Theatre. 953-3368.

19-May 7: FSU/Asolo Conservatory presents Pericles. 351-8000.

20-21: David Copperfield performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

20, 22: Florida West Coast Symphony presents A Day in the Life of Mozart concerts. 953-3434.

21-23: Sarasota Ballet presents its season festival finale at FSU Center. 552-1032.

22: Nana Mouskouri performs at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

23: Key Chorale performs John Rutter's Mass of the Children with the Pine View School chorus at St. Boniface Church, along with other works. 921-4845.

25-30: Van Wezel presents Sex and the Second City at the Players Theatre. 953-3368.

28-29: Venice Symphony presents Pops Concerts. 488-1010.

MAY 2006

TBA: Florida Studio Theatre presents its Festival of New Plays. 366-9000.

2-14: Venice Little Theatre presents Little Women. 488-1115.

11-28: Manatee Players present Follies. 748-5875.

12-June 6: Selby Gallery hosts exhibitions featuring Women Contemporary Artists and paintings by Leona Sherwood. 359-7563.

12-June 18: Asolo Theatre presents Rounding Third and String of Pearls in rotating repertory. 351-8000.

13-June 11: Asolo Theatre presents Crowns. 351-8000.

20: Florida West Coast Symphonic Pops with Cherish the Ladies Celtic band. 953-3434.

29-June 17: Sarasota Music Festival takes places, with classes, rehearsals and concerts at Holley Hall. 953-3434.

30-July 23: Golden Apple Dinner Theatre presents the musical Big. 366-5454.

JUNE 2006

TBA: Banyan Theater Company presents its summer season. 358-5330.

TBA: Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix Festival begins. 371-8820.

JULY 2006

4: Fireworks light up the downtown bayfront, Siesta Key Beach and other venues.

25-Sept. 3. Golden Apple Dinner Theatre presents Golddiggers of 1633. 366-5454.

OCTOBER 2006

TBA: Stone Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival takes place at The Colony on Longboat Key. 383-6464.

TBA: Sarasota Bluesfest takes place.

NOVEMBER 2006

TBA: Sarasota Reading Festival takes place downtown. 906-1733.

TBA: Cine-World Film Festival presents international movies at Burns Court Cinema. 955-FILM.