Theater Review: Lively but long new musical puts spirit into traditions at Westcoast Black Theatre. @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.artsbeat.org/p/theater-re...

Sarasota Jewish Theatre closes its season with a couple of powerful performances from Jim Floyd and Michael Raver in David Gow's disturbing and impactful "Cherry Docs," about racism and hatred. @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.artsbeat.org/p/theater-re...

@asolorep.bsky.social Asolo Rep Theatre celebrates Sarasota's circus history with a world premiere as part of its 2026-27 season, which the theater boasts will be the "greatest season on earth." @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.artsbeat.org/p/asolo-rep-...

I guess it's official. Today is my last day at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and here's my farewell column. I'll have a few more stories in the next few weeks in the Herald-Tribune. New things are coming this fall. www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

There's a tender and moving play on stage at Florida Studio Theatre called "Dorothy's Dictionary" by E.M. Lewis that runs just about an hour but has a strong impact with two involving performances. @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Asolo Rep is delaying the fall production of a revised version of the Billy Joel-Twyla Tharp musical "Movin' Out" for a year. The Tony-winning "Come From Away" will now open the new season in November. www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Sarasota panel recommends flood-proofing the @vanwezelpah.bsky.social before a new venue opens www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/l... via @heraldtribune

New grants, gifts bring Venice Theatre closer to its fundraising goal to restore its hurricane-damaged building www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

We're going to have to wait another week to see the final version of the Purple Ribbon Committee's recommendations to the Sarasota City Commission about potential alternate uses of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/l...

Deborah F. Rutter, who was ousted as president of the John F. Kennedy Center, urges Sarasota artists, patrons and arts leaders to weather the storms causing challenging times. @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

A thrilling production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ closes Asolo Rep's season in rousing style. @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Venice Theatre artistic director Benny Sato Ambush, who came for one year but helped lead the company through four challenging seasons, is departing after four years. @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Many people know Will Luera as a brilliant improv performer. He reveals a different side of himself and his life story in his new play "Entangled." @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

As the world gets to know a new Pope, @asolorep.bsky.social is stepping back into history with a new production of "Jesus Christ Superstar," as the cast looks to find the people behind the iconic figures. @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Fans of tap dancing will find a lot of pleasure in the world premiere of "Syncopated Avenue" at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. I just wish it had a better book to tell the story. @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Florida Studio Theatre takes on a lighter tone in the hottest months with six shows in its mainstage and cabaret series. @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

The drama behind Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons is the heart of the Florida Studio Theatre production of "Jersey Boys," which features lots of hit songs that will have audiences humming along (and hopefully not sing out loud). @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Actor Samaria Nixon-Fleming has a big job ahead, playing 21 characters in Amanda Wilkin's one-woman show "Shedding a Skin" for Florida Studio Theatre's Stage III series. www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Actor Max Roll was the understudy to Sean Hayes during the Broadway run of Doug Wright's "Good Night, Oscar." Now he gets the role of Oscar Levant to himself at Asolo Repertory Theatre. www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

It is sometimes hard to watch, but Urbanite Theatre's "No One is Forgotten" by Winter Miller is a compelling drama about two women being held captive with two strong performances from Casey Wortmann and Dekyi Ronge. www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Some may find it a bit slow going, but Asolo Repertory Theatre's production of "Dancing at Lughnasa" is lovely, lilting look at the lives of five sisters in a small town in Ireland in 1936 and how changes impact them. @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

I had a chance to talk with director Joe Dowling, the longtime artistic director of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis and Abbey Theatre in Dublin about his production of Brian Friel's "Dancing at Lughnasa" at Asolo Rep @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe stages a lively, and fun revue "Five Guys Named Moe." @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

The clash between a librarian and a worried mother who wants a book removed from the shelves takes some unexpected and surprisingly funny turns in the world premiere of Sharyn Rothstein's "Bad Books" at Florida Studio Theatre. @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Asolo Rep Theatre will kick off its new season with some star power as Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp reimagine their 2002 dance hit "Movin' Out." www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Florida Studio Theatre is nearing its goal on fundraising for its new arts plaza in downtown Sarasota, and thanks to a successful match challenge, it now has a new name. www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Lloyd Suh's "The Chinese Lady" is a fascinating play about the first Chinese woman to come to the U.S., and the FSU/Asolo Conservatory gives it a fine production in an appropriate setting – The Ringling's Historic Circus Museum. @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Joining others in mourning the passing of longtime Asolo Rep artistic director Howard Millman. He was a major figure in both the Sarasota and national theater scene. www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Some major changes have been made to the initial concept designs for the proposed Sarasota Performing Arts Center. Renzo Piano Building Workshop architects reveal new ideas for the project that still awaits approval from the Sarasota City Commission. www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/l...

Next up at Asolo Rep @asolorep.bsky.social is Nilo Cruz's Pulitzer Prize-winning romantic drama "Anna in the Tropics," set in an Ybor City cigar factory. The theater's new production features some original music to heighten the emotions. www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

I had a great time chatting with author Ann Patchett about how she got started as a reader and as a writer in advance of her talk to the Library Foundation for Sarasota County next week. I'm eager to hear more from her at the sold-out event. www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

February is a really busy month in the Sarasota arts scene, with more than 70 theater openings, classical concerts, dance programs and art exhibits in the region. Who's up for trying to experience them all? www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Asolo Repertory Theatre has opened a stylish production of Ken Ludwig's comedy/thriller "Lady Molly of Scotland Yard," a world premiere. Here's my review. www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

The Sarasota Players, the community's oldest performing arts organization and the second-oldest community theater in Florida, is getting ready to celebrate its 95th birthday. And the company has a lot of plans for the years ahead with a new home. www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is giving audiences good reason to see its new production of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Fences." I know the story well and was still captivated. www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

The new national tour of the recent Broadway revival of "Funny Girl" is on stage this week at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Here's my review: www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Music we grew up listening to on television comedies and dramas is featured in two separate productions from the Sarasota Orchestra and Venice Theatre. How many will you recognize? www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Actress Hannah Shankman is fulfilling a lifelong dream playing Fanny Brice in the national tour of "Funny Girl," which comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall next week. Chart-topping singer Melissa Manchester plays Fanny's mother. heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

I got to meet, interview and know Linda Lavin a bit over the years and I'm sharing some memories of my encounters with this talented actress in this week's Behind the Scenes column. I had such respect for her as a performer and a person I got to know a bit. www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Urbanite Theatre blasts off into 2025 with the one-person play "Spaceman" starring a compelling Terri Weagant as an astronaut on a long, draining solo journey to Mars. www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

the Perlman Music Program displays future of classical music in Sarasota www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

With "All is Calm," Asolo Repertory Theatre presents a beautiful and poignant story perfectly time to the holiday season, a documentary play with music about the "Christmas Truce of 1914." It's engaging and emotionally powerful. @theatrecritics.bsky.social www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Over the last 54 years the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall became an iconic landmark in Sarasota. We are taking a look at its past and future. Purple Passion: The Van Wezel is a landmark that transformed Sarasota www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

Check out this article from Herald-Tribune: Top Broadway shows to see this fall for a fun week in New York www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...

My first BlueSky post: Are you looking for "The Nutcracker," "A Christmas Carol," holiday music and more seasonal events. We have your guide for shows in the Sarasota area. www.heraldtribune.com/story/entert...