In between trips to Sarasota’s world-class beaches and sunny state parks, residents and visitors alike flock to scenes of harsh Dickensian winters and snow-covered magic forests. That’s because Sarasota’s innumerable arts organizations present music, theater, dance and cinema as fine as the sand on Siesta.
Our internationally recognized professional arts organizations include orchestras, opera, ballet, several theater companies and even two celebrated film festivals. Plus, inspired by the pros to similar acts of greatness, Sarasota’s award-winning community theaters and amateur and volunteer performing arts groups come in all shapes and colors.
And Sarasota is also dedicated to serving the next generation of artists and audiences. There are countless children’s programs and performances presented by the Van Wezel, Florida West Coast Symphony, Sarasota Opera and many others. The city’s proud circus history also makes it a haven for clowns, acrobats, high-wire acts and high-flying trapeze artists, many of whom still ply their skills with Circus Sarasota.
THEATER
Asolo Repertory Theatre, 351-8000. Resident professional theater company presenting productions in rotating repertory at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, October through June.
The Backlot, 363-9300. Cooperative arts, sports and education facility.
Banyan Theater Company, 358-5330. Professional company offering three productions, June through August.
The FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 351-8000. Home to the professional Asolo Repertory Theatre, FSU/Asolo Conservatory of Professional Actor Training and Sarasota Ballet of Florida. Performances on two stages from October to June.
Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 366-9000. Professional theater presenting a mainstage winter season, plus a cabaret season next door and a three-play season at Stage III in the Gompertz Theatre. Also offers comedy improv, staged readings of new plays and a special season each summer.
Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, 25 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. 366-5454. Year-round season of professional Broadway musicals accompanied by cocktails and buffet dining. Soon-to-open new venue in Lakewood Ranch as well.
Manatee Players, 102 Old Main St., Bradenton. 748-5875. Community theater presenting a full season of plays October through May, as well as educational programs.
The Players Theatre, 838 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 365-2494. The area’s oldest community theater offers productions September through April, along with concert series, year-round special events and educational programs.
Venice Little Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice. 488-1115. Community theater presenting a mainstage, Stage II and cabaret productions September through May, as well as educational and other outreach programs.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 358-9228. Professional African-American theater company presenting a four-play season at the Historic Asolo Theater at the Ringling Museum.
MUSIC, DANCE & POETRY
Florida West Coast Symphony Inc., 709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 953-4252. Under this umbrella heading are the bi-county Florida West Coast Symphony; chamber groups Florida String Quartet, New Artists Piano Quartet, Florida Wind Quintet and Florida Brass Quintet; several Youth Orchestras; and the annual Sarasota Music Festival in June.
Gloria Musicae, 954-4223. Professional chamber chorus presents several concerts per season.
The Jazz Club of Sarasota, 330 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 111, Sarasota. 366-1552. Promotes and perpetuates jazz year-round with jams, members’ concerts and educational programs; presents the annual Sarasota Jazz Festival at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall each spring.
Key Chorale, 921-4845. Ensemble performing choral masterworks.
La Musica Di Asolo, 366-8450. International chamber music festival takes place the first two weeks in April, with rehearsals open to the public and concerts at St. Thomas More Catholic Church.
Sarasota Ballet of Florida, 359-0099. International professional company performing classical and contemporary repertoire, November through April, at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts and Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
Sarasota Concert Band, 4029 N. Washington Blvd., Sarasota. 359-8024. Professional musicians perform monthly concerts as well as summer performances in area parks.
Sarasota Opera, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. 366-8450. Presenting a season of professional opera productions, as well as concerts and special events, at the newly renovated Sarasota Opera House.
Sarasota Pops, 756-7603. Presenting a concert season in addition to on-site community outreach performances.
SOULSPEAK/SOULMOVES, 535 Columbia Court, Sarasota. 366-6468. Live poetry performances, as well as dance and art; also produces videos and documentaries.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 953-3368. City-owned performing arts hall presents a full season of nationally touring music, dance, theater, children’s programs and more, as well as performances by local groups, including the Florida West Coast Symphony and the Sarasota Ballet of Florida. Primary season is October to May; student and teacher discounts available for certain events.
Venice Symphony, 488-1010. A 75-piece symphony orchestra presenting classical, pops and chamber music as well as a summer music camp.
CIRCUS
Circus Sarasota, 355-9335. One-ring circus presents spring performances under the Big Top near Ed Smith Stadium. Also offers numerous educational and outreach programs.
COMEDY
McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 3333 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 925-FUNY. Featuring national stand-up comedians, open-mic nights and training and special programs through the Humor Institute.
FILM
Sarasota Film Festival, 364-9514. Year-round arts organization culminates in an annual film festival each spring.
Sarasota Film Society/Burns Court Cinema, 955-FILM or 364-8662. SFS presents international films at its Burns Court location in downtown Sarasota and sponsors education programs and the Cine-World Festival in November. Also operates a cinema in Lakewood Ranch.
MAGIC
Houdini’s Showplace, Sarasota Cay Club, 7150 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 355-2781. Year-round dinner theater featuring professional magic shows Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, in addition to accommodating special groups, on-site fund raisers and field trips.
ARTS EDUCATION
Manatee Community College, 5840 26th St. W., Bradenton. 752-5000. The Fine and Performing Arts department at MCC includes instruction on art, photography, film, music and theater. Many local students begin their artistic education here, then proceed to four-year institutions like New College of Florida and Ringling College of Art and Design.
New College of Florida, 5800 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. 487-5000. An innovative, award-winning, four-year liberal arts school, the honors college of the state university system. Academic tracts include art, art history and music.
Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 351-5100. Four-year professional art and design school, offering programs in 12 disciplines, including graphic and interior design, computer studies, fine arts, illustration and photography.
Sarasota County Arts Council, 1226 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 365-5118. Promotes, develops and coordinates the arts, arts organizations and related programs in Sarasota County.
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 359-4200. Thirty-nine academic programs, including 11 master’s degrees, from its campus just north of the Ringling Museum.