Music and comedy legends and Broadway hits highlight Van Wezel season

Though most of the public discussions lately about Sarasota’s Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall have focused on its future and the prospects for a new and larger facility, there are still years of shows to be presented as the Purple Cow prepares for its 53rd season.

Executive Director Mary Bensel is planning a busy 2022-23 season with a lineup of Broadway hits including “Mean Girls” and Disney’s “Aladdin,” 10 Sarasota premieres led by Bonnie Raitt and Scotty McCreery, numerous returning favorites – have you missed Paul Anka and Frankie Valli? – and a heavy emphasis on comedy.

“I really relied on comedy this year. I think people need to laugh these days,” said Bensel, who is hoping to see bigger crowds return this season after COVID-19 kept many from the hall in the last year.

Arts Newsletter: Sign up to receive the latest news on the Sarasota area arts scene every Monday

Future of the Van Wezel: Leaders answer your questions about new Sarasota Performing Arts Center project

Opinion: What should Sarasota do with the Van Wezel?

Politics and arts: Three City Commission candidates have concerns about new performing arts center plan

“We ended up last season with about 78 percent of capacity, versus 85 percent before the pandemic. We are hoping that the audience is eager to come back,” she said. After a drop in subscriptions for both the variety and Broadway series last season, the hall is seeing numbers rise again.

Bensel said she tried to keep COVID-19 and the pandemic out of her thoughts while she was booking shows for the year. “I wanted to do the most diverse season we could have. I wanted this to be a regular season,” she said. But occasionally producers would propose a show Bensel thought might be a harder sell in a challenging climate.

Bensel said there are still open weekends and single nights on the hall’s calendar when more acts will be booked as the season progresses, and she is working on finding a major star to perform for the annual Van Wezel Inspiration Gala. Harry Connick Jr. took the stage for the event earlier this year.

This season offers a heavier lineup of comedians than in most recent years, both legendary performers and rising stars.

The legends include Jerry Seinfeld (Sept. 30), “Mad About You” star Paul Reiser (Nov. 20), Jay Leno (March 28), the pairing of Rita Rudner and Robert Klein (Feb. 22), Lewis Black (Dec. 11) and The Smothers Brothers (March 30), whose appearance was delayed because of the pandemic in Dick Smothers’ hometown.

Among the newer names are Nikki Glaser (Sept. 9); Leanne Morgan, with her “Big Panty Tour” (Oct. 16); “Tosh: 101” star Daniel Tosh (Nov. 27); and “Impractical Jokers” star Joe Gatto (Oct. 27).

Support from City of Sarasota: Sarasota Performing Arts Center passes key milestone with city approval of agreement

Private Support: Van Wezel Foundation raises $20 million for new Sarasota Performing Arts Center proposals

Planning for 2022-23: Music director’s death leads to changes in Sarasota Orchestra season

Bensel said she has been trying to book Raitt for years, and this season finally marks the singer’s Van Wezel debut with her “Just Like That ...” tour on Nov. 18. Among other newcomers to Van Wezel are “American Idol” country star Scotty McCreery (Feb. 10); Still Collins USA, a tribute to the music of Phil Collins and Genesis (Oct. 14); “Ireland with Michael” (Londra), the singer and voice of “Riverdance on Broadway” (March 16); “Disney Princess – The Concert” (Nov. 2); and Paramount’s Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular (Feb. 17).

Some of biggest names in popular music in from the last 60 years are returning, including Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (Jan. 15); The Temptations and The Four Tops (March 8); Paul Anka with “Greatest Hits: His Way” (March 29); Michael Bolton (March 26) and Judy Collins presenting “Wildflowers” (Jan. 18). Three Dog Night will bring some “Joy to the World” (Dec. 9): and Foreigner will perform its Greatest Hits (Nov. 17).

The Allman Family Revival (Nov. 28) features Greg Allman’s son, Devon, and his group The Devon Allman Project in a program that celebrates the life and music of Greg Allman.

“Audiences love seeing acts they grew up with, Bensel said. “It’s music they’ve loved over the years. It’s comfort food.”

Changing leaders: Sarasota theater company fires artistic director after only seven months

New director: Professor of acting named new leader of FSU/Asolo Conservatory

Michael Feinstein, the musical historian, nightclub director, pianist and singer, marks the centennial of Judy Garland’s birth with his show “Get Happy” (Feb. 7), which lists Garland’s daughter Liza Minnelli among its executive producers. Emmy and Tony-winning actor and singer Mandy Patinkin presents his “Being Alive” concert performing Broadway and classic pop songs on Feb. 16.

“So many people know him as a movie star or a TV star and have no idea he has this amazing voice and that he starred in all these shows on Broadway,” Bensel said of Patinkin, best known from “The Princess Bride,” “Chicago Hope,” “Evita” and “Sunday in the Park with George.”

David Foster, the 16-time Grammy Award-winning producer, composer and music executive who has worked with just about every prominent musical artist, joins his wife, “American Idol” contestant and Broadway and TV performer Katharine McPhee to present a live stage version of their viral Instagram show “The Kat and Dave Show” (Feb. 2). The couple was originally scheduled to perform in Sarasota in March 2020, but the show was postponed because of health issues Foster had to deal with, just weeks before the pandemic shut down theaters.

“Disney Princess: The Concert” on Nov. 2 is another pandemic-delayed show. It grew out of a series of cabaret programs and features several Broadway performers singing hits from Disney films and stage musicals. Among the stars expected in Sarasota are Susan Egan, who originated the role of Belle in “Beauty and the Beast” on Broadway and Christy Altomare, who starred in “Anastasia” on Broadway.

Post Modern Jukebox, which presents its “Life in the Fast Lane Tour” (April 23), is a group started by pianist Scott Bradlee who wanted to remake pop hits from today with the sounds of stars from the past. The show may feature a Spice Girls song in the style of the Andrews Sisters, or a Miley Cyrus hit reminiscent of The Platters.

There are a number of tribute groups planned for the season, including the return of “RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles” (May 5); “The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA” (May 11) and The Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular” (Feb. 17).

Bensel, a major theater fan, has arranged an extensive lineup of Broadway tours, including Disney’s “Aladdin,” playing Jan. 24-29; “Tootsie,” a musical version of the hit film with Dustin Hoffman (Feb. 13-15)  and Tina Fey’s musical version of her movie film “Mean Girls,” which will be presented April 11-16. Other musicals include “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” (Oct. 22); “Chicago” (Nov. 29-30); “My Fair Lady” (Dec. 13-15); “Legally Blonde” (Jan. 4-5); Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado” (March 9); “On Your Feet” (March 14-15) and “Cats” (April 18-20).

There are some unique experiences planned, including “Dirty Dancing in Concert,” which features a screening of the film favorite Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze, with a live band and singers performing the iconic songs. That will be presented Nov. 22 and is one of several rentals that are being promoted in the Van Wezel’s brochure.

For dance fans, the hall will present International Ballet of Florida’s “The Nutcracker” as part of an extensive lineup of holiday season shows, as well as KOLO, a combination of music, dance and singing that brings Ukrainian culture to life on stage on Dec. 26. Riverdance will celebrate its 25th anniversary (a little belatedly) Jan. 10-12. Momix will bring its unusual sense of choreography and storytelling back to Van Wezel (Feb. 8). Ailey II expands cultural boundaries in dance in its performance (Feb. 23), while Pilobolus marks its “Big Five-OH!” on March 7 with a show that features some classic routines and new work.

The holiday season will be filled with returning favorites, but it also includes the Sarasota premiere of “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” (Dec. 10), featuring a dozen dancers, a DJ, a violinist and MC Kurtis Blow, one of the first commercially successful rappers.

“My staff knows that when it comes to the holidays, I would book 30 Christmas shows if I could,” Bensel said, noting that one perennial, a touring version of “A Christmas Carol” was canceled shortly before the brochure was put together.

But there are plenty of other holiday options. The seasonal programs include the 25th anniversary of saxophonist Dave Koz and friends (Nov. 26) and “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas,” a holiday twist on the hit Broadway musical “Million Dollar Quartet,” featuring songs by Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis (Dec. 7). Cirque Musica: “Holiday Wonderland” (Dec. 17) takes audiences to magical land in a show featuring acrobats, aerialists, comedy and seasonal music. Jim Brickman returns with his “A Very Merry Christmas” tour (Dec. 22). And the hall kicks off the new year Jan. 2 with the 2023 edition of “Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert.”

The hall also continues to serve as a home for performances by the Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Ballet, Sarasota Concert Association, Ringling Library Association Town Hall lecture series and more local events.

Ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. Sept. 10. Subscription packages are now available. 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org

Van Wezel 2022-23 season

777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

Subscriptions now available. Single tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Sept. 10. 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org

• Nikki Glaser: One Night with Nikki Glaser, 7 p.m. Sept. 9

• Jerry Seinfeld, 7, 9:30 p.m. Sept. 30

• Still Collins USA, 8 p.m. Oct. 14

• Leanne Morgan: Big Panty Tour, 4 p.m. Oct. 16

• “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22

• Joe Gatto’s Night of Comedy, 7 p.m. Oct. 27

• Disney Princess: The Concert, 7 p.m. Nov. 2

• Neil Berg’s 50 Years of Rock n Roll: Part V, 8 p.m. Nov. 12

• Foreigner’s Greatest Hits, 8 p.m. Nov. 17

• Bonnie Raitt: Just Like That ... Tour 2022, 8 p.m. Nov. 18

• Paul Reiser, 7 p.m. Nov. 20

• “Dirty Dancing” in Concert, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22

• Dave Koz and Friends 25th Anniversary Christmas Tour, 8 p.m. Nov. 26

• Daniel Tosh: Florida Trash Tour, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27

• Allman Family Revival, 8 p.m. Nov. 28

• “Chicago,” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29-30

• “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas,” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7

• Three Dog Night, 8 p.m. Dec. 9

• The Hip Hop Nutcracker, 7 p.m. Dec. 10

• Lewis Black: Off the Rails, 7 p.m. Dec. 11

• “My Fair Lady,” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13-15

• Cirque Musica: “Holiday Wonderland,” 7 p.m. Dec. 17

• Jim Brickman: A Very Merry Christmas, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22

• International Ballet of Florida: The Nutcracker, 6 p.m. Dec. 23

• KOLO, 3, 7 p.m. Dec. 26

• A Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert, 7 p.m. Jan. 2

• “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” 7:30 p.m. Jan. 4-5

• Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10-12

• Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, 8 p.m. Jan. 15

• Cornell Gunter’s Coasters, The Drifters and The Platters, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16

• Judy Collins performing “Wildflowers,” 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18

• America, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19

• Disney’s “Aladdin,” Jan. 24-29

• Blue Man Group, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31-Feb. 1

• Kat and Dave Show, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2

• Get Happy: Michael Feinstein celebrates Judy Garland Centennial, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7

• MOMIX: Alice, 7 p.m. Feb. 8

• Scotty McCreery, 8 p.m. Feb. 10

• “Tootsie,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13-15

• Mandy Patinkin: Being Alive, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16

• The Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular, 8 p.m. Feb. 17

• Rita Rudner and Robert Klein, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22

• Ailey II, 7 p.m. Feb. 23

• Celtic Woman: Spring Tour 2023, 3 p.m. March 5

• Neil Berg’s 113 Years of Broadway, 7:30 p.m. March 6

• Pilobolus: The Big Five-OH!, 7 p.m. March 7

• The Temptations and The Four Tops, 7:30 p.m. March 8

• “The Mikado,” 7:30 p.m. March 9

• “On Your Feet!” 7:30 p.m. March 14-15

• Ireland with Michael LIVE, 7:30 p.m. March 16

• Michael Bolton, 7 p.m. March 26

• Jay Leno, 7:30 p.m. March 28

• Paul Anka – Greatest Hits: His Way, 7:30 p.m. March 29

• An Evening with the Smothers Brothers, 7:30 p.m. March 30

• The High Kings and Gaelic Storm, 7:30 p.m. April 5

• “Mean Girls,” April 11-16

• “Cats,” 7:30 p.m. April 18-20

• Post Modern Jukebox: Life in the Past Lane Tour, 7 p.m. April 23

• RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles, 8 p.m. May 5

• The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA, 7:30 p.m. May 11

Follow Jay Handelman on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Contact him at jay.handelman@heraldtribune.com. And please support local journalism by subscribing to the Herald-Tribune.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Music and comedy stars and Broadway hits fill new Van Wezel season