Arts & Entertainment

Contemporary Culture Perspectives
Contemporary Culture Groundbreaking creators and Hermitage Fellows, Diana Al-Hadid and Raven Chacon, will join forces on the Hermitage Beach, alongside artist and curator Candice Hopkins. These three brilliant artists will share their creative practices and perspectives about the contemporary cultural landscape during “Visualizing Culture” on Thursday, May 23, 6:30 to 7:30pm, on the Hermitage Beach, 6660 Manasota Key Road. Diana Al-Hadid is an acclaimed visual artist whose work is currently on display at the Sarasota Art Museum. Raven Chacon is a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, performer and installation artist from the Navajo Nation. Candice Hopkins, from the Carcross/Tagish First Nation, is a curator whose exhibitions have traveled around the world. Registration is $5 at hermitageartistretreat.org.

Art Center Sarasota unveils its much-anticipated annual regional juried exhibit, “Beyond Comfort”, on Thursday, May 23rd. The exhibition calls upon artists statewide to delve into their interpretations of beauty and the grotesque within contemporary art and society. The exhibit will run through Saturday, July 27th. The opening reception is Thursday, May 23, 6 to 8pm. Pictured here is Sarasota Art Center Executive Director Virginia Shearer, who is the juror for the exhibit and will give a critique at 3:30pm on Thursday, May 30th. For more information, visit artsarasota.org or call 941•365•2032. The Sarasota Art Center is located at 707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

Laser Light Nights
The Bishop Museum of Science & Nature in Bradenton is bringing back Laser Light Nights this summer on Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 7 and 9pm, Thursday, May 23 through Saturday, August 31. Get ready to rock out with some of your favorite artists from the 70s, 80s and more in the planetarium. Please note there will be flashing lasers and a loud volume (earplugs suggested for those who prefer a lower volume). Tickets are $15 and are now on sale online at bishopscience.org. If show is not a sell-out, tickets will be available at the door. The Bishop is located at 201 Tenth Street West in Bradenton. For questions, call 941•746•4131.

Robert Pound

 

Hermitage Fellow Robert Pound (pictured here) will discuss his piano composition, “Sonata in Memoriam Lloyd Arriola”, on Friday, May 24, 5:30pm, at the Oak Street Stage, 2050 Oak Street, Sarasota. The piano composition was created after a brief encounter with Lloyd Arriola, a Juilliard-trained pianist, who unfortunately passed away before he could play it. Pound will provide insights about the composition, and you will hear it performed by Charles Hulin IV, another Julliard-trained pianist. $5 registration fee at hermitageartistretreat.org.

Friday Night Concert
The Friday Night Concert, at Centennial Park in Venice, on Friday, May 24th features Ryan Judy Music. The free concert is from 7 to 9pm and attendees must bring their own seating to Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Avenue, Venice. No alcohol permitted. For more information, go to visitvenicefl.org.

H20 Music Festival
Grab your boat, float, raft, tube, kayak or whatever will keep you afloat and head out to the Boca Grande Sandbar for the H20 Music Festival on Saturday, May 25, 10am to 3pm. The sandbar, off Dog Island and next to the Boca Grande bridge causeway, will be rocking with live music. Headliners are Trey Lewis and local favorite, “American Made”, with musical interludes by DJ Dank Williams. A huge jumbotron on its own barge will be showing live footage throughout the day. Bring some cash for the 50/50 raffle. The concert is free. For more information, call 305•761•8860.

Patriotic Pops Concert
The Venice Symphony is proud to present the fifth annual Patriotic Pops and Fireworks Concert – American Heroes on Saturday, May 25, 7:30pm, at CoolToday Park, 18800 S. West Villages Pkwy., Venice. Besides a salute to the Armed Forces, the “Liberty Voices”, a world famous eight-part acappella group, will perform Americana, folk and patriotic songs with the Venice Symphony. Tickets are $23 to $58 and may be purchased online at thevenicesymphony.org or by calling 941•413•5004.

Memorial Day Concert
Choral Artists of Sarasota concludes their 45th season with “United We Stand”, a Memorial Day concert commemorating the legacy of the brave women and men of the US Armed Forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The concert will be Sunday, May 26, 4pm, at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota. The performance features a tribute to the 80th commemoration of the Normandy Invasion. The Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble will perform with the Choral Artists. Tickets are $30-$60 adult and $5 student. Tickets may be purchased online at choralartistssarasota.org or call 941•387•4900.

Myakka River Blues Festival
Get your tickets now for the Myakka River Blues Festival on Monday, May 27, 11am to 5pm, at Snook Haven, 5000 E. Venice Avenue, Venice, Rain or shine. This year’s lineup features “Acoustic Blues”, “Delta Swamp Rats”, “Backtrack Blues Band” and the “Bridget Kelly Band”. Tickets are $35 or $50 for ticket & T-shirt. Tickets are limited to 400 people. For more information, music schedule and tickets, go to Eventbrite.com/e/Myakka-river-blues-festival or Facebook page Memorial Day Myakka River Blues Festival. Event is held rain or shine.

Wellen Park Theatre Classes
Venice Theatre is offering adult theatre classes at Wellen Park this summer in Solis Hall, 19745 Wellen Park Blvd., Venice. “Drop In Improv with Spencer Cross” meets on Thursday, May 30, Tuesday, June 25, Wednesday, July 10 and Thursday, August 1 from 5 to 7pm. This “drop-in” improv class is a lot of fun and caters to all experience levels with specially crafted improv games, warm-ups and exercises. Increase your confidence, decrease anxiety and find community. Tuition is $39 per class and you must be registered by noon two days prior to the class session. “A Complete History of Musical Theatre Abridged (with visuals) begins Monday, June 3 at 6pm and runs for seven weeks. Kristofer Geddie teaches this Monday night theatre appreciation class that offers exposure to the highlights and lowlights of musical theatre over the past 285 years. Students can expect a fast-paced romp through audio and video clips, anecdotes and lots of discussion. Tuition is $175 for the class. For registration, go to venicetheatre.org/education or call 941•486•8679.

Celebrating Pride Art Exhibit
Creative Liberties upcoming art exhibit will be “True Colors: Celebrating Pride”, which will be on display Thursday, May 30 through Saturday, June 29. The artwork will be displayed through the exhibit by colors represented on the LGBTQ flag. The opening reception will be Thursday, May 30, 5 to 7pm, at the gallery located at 927 N. Lime Avenue, Sarasota. For more information, visit creativeliberties.net or call 941-799-6634.

Summer Photo Contest
Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is delighted to announce the return of their virtual Summer Photo Contest. Photographers of all ages and experience levels are invited to share their original work showcasing the natural beauty of the Sunshine State. Works submitted must have been taken in Florida within the last year and fall into one of the following categories: The Big Picture (landscapes & waterscapes): The Art of Nature (abstract expressions in nature & science); Old Florida Charm (cultural heritage, ranching & rural communities); and It’s a Wild Life (wildlife). Up to three photos may be submitted by midnight Friday, May 31. The exhibition is entirely virtual with website and Facebook displays. For more info, visit conservationfound.com/summerphoto.

Schmidt Vocal Competition Finals
Sarasota Opera will host the national finals for the Schmidt Vocal Competition on Saturday & Sunday, June 1 & 2, at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota. The competition is for U.S. high school students that sees 400+ singers compete each year from across the country. The top three winners from each of 15 regional competitions will compete for a $10,000 first prize. Ticket price is $15 adult/$10 student for the Saturday semi-finals at 10am and $25 adult/$10 student for Sunday’s final round & awards ceremony at 10:30am and 1pm. Tickets may be purchased online at sarasotaopera.org or by calling 941•328•1300.

Summer Movie Nights
Back by popular demand, Summer Movie Nights at CoolToday Park resume on Sunday, June 2 with “Wonka”. Movies will be shown on the scoreboard beginning at 5pm on Sunday evenings through July 28th (no movie on July 7th). Other scheduled movies are “Paw Patrol Mighty Movie”, “Mission Impossible-Dead Reckoning”, “Barbie”, “Back to the Future”, “Arthur the King”, “Ghostbuster: Frozen Empire” and “The Shallows”. Tickets are $7 ages 10+, $3 ages 4-9 and free for kids ages three & under. Tickets are available now online at cooltodaypark.com or by calling 941•413•5004. Parking is free. Seats will be available in the seating bowl. No outside food allowed.

 

Arts Advocates announces that Suzanne Havens’ “Seeing with Imagination” will be on exhibit on Saturdays during the month of June from 2 to 4pm only. One of Havens’ photographs won best in show at the 40th annual Selby Gardens Juried Photographic Exhibition. Afterwards, she became one of six volunteer photographers for Selby Gardens. Besides Havens’ exhibit, the Sarasota Art Colony and Florida Highwaymen works are on permanent display. Free admission to the gallery located at The Crossings at Siesta Key Mall, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Learn more at artsadvocates.org.

Power of Movement
Jess Pope presents an art talk, “The Transformative Power of Movement and Human Connection”, in celebration of Pride Month, on Tuesday, June 4, 4 to 6pm, at the Arts Advocates Gallery in The Crossings at Siesta Key Mall, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Raised in a strict Pentecostal family, Pope was taken to a ballet by a neighbor when she was seven years old and her life & dreams were changed forever. Her work as a dancer & chorographer derives its point of view through issues of gender, erotic power and queer mothering. Free for Arts Advocates members and $5 for non-members. To register, go to artsadvocates.org.

The Hermitage Artist Retreat extends its congratulations to the Hermitage Fellows who were nominated for the 2024 Tony Awards. The Tony Award nominees are Jackie Sibblies Drury for Best New Musical “Illinoise”; Joshua Harmon for Best New Play “Prayer for the French Republic”; Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer for Best Featured Actress in a Musical “Spamalot”; Leigh Silverman for Best Direction of a Musical “Suffs”; Paula Vogel for Best New Play “Mother Play”; Whitney White for Best Direction of a Play “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding”; and Kara Young for Best Featured Actress in a Play “Purlie Victorious”. Learn more about the Hermitage Artist Retreat at hermitageartistretreat.org. Pictured here clockwise from upper left: Paula Vogel, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Kara Young, Whitney White, Leigh Silverman, Joshua Harmon and Jackie Sibblies Drury.

LBP Presents “Doubt”
Lemon Bay Playhouse, 96 W. Dearborn Street, presents “Doubt: A Parable”, running Wednesday, June 5 through Sunday, June 23. “What do you do when you’re not sure?” so asks Father Flynn, the progressive and beloved priest at the St. Nicholas Church School in the Bronx, in his sermon. It’s 1964, and things are changing, to the chagrin of rigid principal Sister Aloysius. However, when an unconscionable accusation is leveled against the Father, Sister Aloysius realizes that the only way to get justice is to create it herself. And as for the truth of the matter? As Father Flynn says, “Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty.” This play is an exquisite, potent drama that will raise questions and answer none, leaving the audience to grapple with the discomfort of their uncertainties. Please Note: No intermission during this 90-minute play. Also, incense will be burned. The show starts on time at 7:30pm Wednesday through Saturday and 2pm on Sundays. No late seating. Reserved seat tickets are $25 and may be purchased online at lemonbayplayhouse.com or call the box office at 941•475•6756. 

Chris Bush: Standing at the Water’s Edge
London theatergoers can’t get enough of 2024 Hermitage Major Theater Award winner Chris Bush’s latest musical, “Standing at the Sky’s Edge”, and now Chris Bush will be at the Hermitage Beach on Friday, June 7, 6:30pm, to speak about her career, creating theater in the UK and how she plans to reimagine Virginia Woolf’s iconic novel, “Orlando”, for the 21st century and set in Florida. Registration is $5 at hermitageartistretreat.org. The Hermitage Artist Retreat beach is at 6660 Manasota Key Road.

Calling All Book Lovers
The Venice Area Audubon Society is kicking off a Venice Area Book Club this summer. Plan to join them on the second Monday of the month beginning in June. Two discussion groups will be available. An in-person group will meet at the Venice Audubon Center at 4002 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, on Monday, June 10, 10 to 11am, Please register for this session at veniceaudubon.org/events. A second discussion group will meet online via Zoom with the date/time to be announced. June’s book selection is “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson. The July book will be Noah Stryker’s “Birding Without Borders: An Obsession, A Quest and the Biggest Year in the World” and the in-person meeting will be Monday, July 8 at 10am. For more information, go to veniceaudubon.org.

Stop by the Englewood Art Center, 350 S. McCall Road, and view artwork created by local artists during the past winter on exhibit titled “What Did You Create Last Winter?” The exhibit will be available for viewing until Saturday, June 8th. Ribbons were awarded for People’s Choice first, second and third place. The Art Center is open Tuesday and Thursday, 9am to 9pm, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 9am to 4pm. For more information, call 941•474•5548 or visit ringling.edu/eac.