Arts & Entertainment

Lectures

Ringling College Announces 2027 Town Hall Speakers

What do two journalists, an AI expert, an Olympic gold medalist and the former prime minister of Canada have in common?

04/14/2026 By Staff

Review

WBTT's 'Lies, Spells & Old Wives' Tales' Leans into Ancestral Wisdom

The world premiere show features original songs and some entertaining stories.

04/13/2026 By Kay Kipling

ArtsBeat

Sarasota Ballet Celebrates Two Decades Under Iain Webb’s Leadership

The upcoming season will feature 16 ballets from 13 choreographers and eight company premieres.

04/13/2026 By Carrie Seidman/ArtsBeat.org

Lost Shaker of Salt

Norbert Putnam Produced Six Jimmy Buffett Albums. Catch Him in a Sarasota Film Festival Documentary Next Week.

"We’d get a six pack of beer, crank the diesel, pull her out and get her into the wind, tie her off and crank the stereo."

04/09/2026 By Lauren Jackson

Review

FST Closes Mainstage Season with Poignant 'Birthday Candles'

The play by Noah Haidle is a reminder of how fleeting even a long life can be, and how important it is to savor it.

04/06/2026 By Kay Kipling

Review

'A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical' Packs in All the Hits at Van Wezel

Plus, audiences will learn a little about what lay behind the songs.

04/02/2026 By Kay Kipling

Final Frame

Artist Susan Curry's Mosaics Are Made From Hundreds of Salvaged Fragments

Women and nature take center stage in her pieces.

04/01/2026 By Kendall Southworth

ArtsBeat

Theater Review: 'The Crucible' Stays Potent in Changing Times

The Arthur Miller classic about the Salem witch trials speaks to new generations at Sarasota Players.

03/30/2026 By Jay Handelman/ArtsBeat.org

ArtsBeat

Venice Theatre Takes a 'Drive' Through Sensitive Subjects

Paula Vogel won a Pulitzer Prize for her engaging and disturbing "How I Learned to Drive."

03/25/2026 By Jay Handelman/ArtsBeat.org

Review

What's the Buzz in Urbanite Theatre's 'The Apiary'?

The bees aren't doing so well in Kate Douglas' play. Neither are the humans.

03/23/2026 By Kay Kipling

Camera, Action

Actor Dylan McDermott Brings His 'Magic Realism' Exhibit to Sarasota

McDermott's street-photography exhibition opens Sunday, March 29, at Burns Gallery on Central.

03/20/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Suncoast Searchlight

Sarasota Erased Downtown Art Without Public Notice. Now Artists Are Seeking Damages.

Nine artists have filed claims against the city of Sarasota, alleging their rights were violated when officials removed pavement art in response to a state directive from the Florida Department of Transportation.

03/20/2026 By Derek Gilliam/Suncoast Searchlight and Carrie Seidman/ArtsBeat.org

Movie Talk

Here's the Full Lineup for the 28th Annual Sarasota Film Festival

There's a movie for everyone, whether it's a big-budget action thriller, a thoughtful documentary or a locally produced student work.

03/19/2026 By Staff

Yee-Haw!

Eight Amazing Pictures From the 98th Annual Arcadia Rodeo

Take a look at these photos from one of the nation’s biggest rodeos—that just happens to be right in our own back yard.

03/19/2026 By Lou Newman

ArtsBeat

Van Wezel Books ‘Hell's Kitchen' and 'Six' for 2026-2027 Broadway Season

The new season celebrates female empowerment with new and returning favorite musicals.

03/18/2026 By Jay Handelman/ArtsBeat.org

Screen Time

Sarasota Film Festival Announces Opening Night Film, an Ocean Survival Story Starring Aaron Eckhart and Sir Ben Kinglsey

Plus, Julian Schnabel will receive the festival's Achievement in Directing Award and more of this year's festivities.

03/18/2026 By Megan McDonald

Beyond the Beaches

Join Isaac Eger On a Journey Into Florida’s Forgotten Cowboy Culture

Eger will discuss his book "The Great Florida Cattle Drive," which shines a light on Florida's deep-rooted ranching history.

03/17/2026 By Staff

Reel Access

The Creative Empowerment Programs Offers Aspiring Filmmakers Real-Deal Industry Access

At a handful of events last week, working filmmakers and actress Heather Graham offered students and supporters a clearer path into the business.

03/16/2026 By Kim Doleatto

ArtsBeat

Against History and the Odds, Azara Ballet Sets a New Standard

In its third season, the company—which emphasizes inclusion and mental health—continues to challenge ballet culture and the political climate.

03/16/2026 By Carrie Seidman/ArtsBeat.org

Curtain Up!

Asolo Rep Announces Its 2026-27 Season

And it's heavy on connections to the circus and the year 1927.

03/12/2026 By Kay Kipling