But theater is not the only note in town. The area’s professional music organizations, including the Sarasota Opera, the Jazz Club and the newly renamed Sarasota Orchestra, will have you tapping your toes from prelude to encore.

And there’s no reason you have to stay in your seat. With award-winning community theaters, amateur music groups and all sorts of arts education programs, you’re welcome to tread the boards and toot your own horn.

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.

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, Sarasota Ballet of Florida and, in the summer, the Banyan Theater Company. Performances on two stages year-round.

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.

Historic Asolo Theater. This restored 18^th-century theater presents plays, concerts, films and more, on the Ringling Museum grounds. 360-7399.

Manatee Players, 102 Old Main St., Bradenton. 748-5875. Community theater presenting a full season of plays September 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 Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice. 488-1115. Community theater presenting mainstage, Stage II and cabaret productions September through May, as well as educational and other outreach programs.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 366-1505. Professional African-American theater company presenting a season at the Sudakoff Center at New College of Florida.

MUSIC, DANCE & POETRY

Fuzion Dance Artists, 345-5755. Sarasota’s contemporary dance company, performing at a variety of venues.

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 each spring.

Key Chorale, 921-4845. Ensemble performing choral masterworks.

La Musica International Chamber Music Festival, 366-8450. International chamber music festival takes place in April, with rehearsals open to the public and concerts at the Sarasota Opera House.

Lake Osprey Village Cabaret, 6239 Lake Osprey Drive, Lakewood Ranch. A nonprofit cabaret focusing on local performers. Comedy, jazz, show tunes, Motown, folk and more. (941) 907-9252

Sarasota Ballet of Florida, 359-0099. International professional company performing classical and contemporary repertoire, October 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 Orchestra, 709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 953-4252. Formerly the Florida West Coast Symphony; 80-member orchestra is the oldest continuing orchestra in the state. Presents the annual Sarasota Music Festival in June. Also includes an acclaimededucation program headlined by the Youth Orchestra.

Sarasota Pops, 926-POPS. 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 Sarasota Orchestra 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 winter 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, 366-6200; 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 Hotel and Marina, 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 tracks 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.