Top 10 arts events for Sarasota-Manatee: Dec. 9-15
Four exhibits open at Art Center
Art Center Sarasota opens four distinct exhibitions in its galleries with an opening reception from 6-8 p.m. today. One of them features selected works by George Pappas, a Sarasota artist who died earlier this year. The showcase features a selection of mixed-media abstract paintings. The center also will present “Bassmi Ibrahim: A Meditative Experience,” featuring paintings designed to take you to another plane; “Untitled Cup Shop,” with an assortment of handcrafted ceramic cups, mugs and goblets by local artisans, and “Modes of Abstraction,” a juried exhibition of abstract works in all media. All four shows will be on display through Jan. 15 at 707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. For more information: 941-365-2032; artsarasota.org
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‘Marvelous Wonderettes’ to the rescue
The Players Centre for Performing Arts heads into the holiday season by taking audiences back in time with “The Marvelous Wonderettes.” Charlotte Crowley, Hanna Doster, Emily Eader and Debbi White portray four friends and song leaders who get called on to sing at their high school’s senior prom as a last-minute replacement. During the show, the audience learns a little about each of the young women as they sing hits from the 1950s and 1960s, including “Lollipop,” “Stupid Cupid” “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me” and “It’s In His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song).” Dennis Clark directs and choreographs the production, which runs through Dec. 19 at the company’s new Studio 1130 inside the Crossings at Siesta Key mall, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130, Sarasota. Tickets are $29.50, $14 for students. 941-365-2494; theplayers.org
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Hermitage explores the muse of poets
The Hermitage Artist Retreat touches on music, poetry and what inspires the creative process for its latest Hermitage at the Bay program “Muse(ic) and Poetry.” At 2 p.m. Sunday, Mae Yway, a renowned international poet from Myanmar, will present work in her native language and in translation. She will be joined by Jamaican poet Ishion Hutchinson, a Guggenheim Fellow and Rome Prize winner. Composer David “Clay” Mettens, winner of the Hermitage Prize in Composition at the Aspen Music Festival, will talk about how his work connects to poetry. The program is presented outdoors at the Bay’s Civic Green, on the north side of the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. There is a $5 registration fee. For more information: hermitageartistretreat.org
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enSRQ goes to the opera
ensembleNewSRQ goes to the opera for its latest performance, a program featuring new music by Matthew Aucoin, whose “Eurydice” recently had its premiere at the Metropolitan Opera. Aucoin returns to Sarasota for the first time since 2018 and is joined by Sarasota Opera soprano Hanna Brammer to perform arias and musical interludes from “Eurydice,” which is based on a play by Sara Ruhl. He’ll also be sharing stories about the history of the opera from his new book “The Impossible Art.” The concert is at 7:30 p.m. Monday at First Congregational Church, 1031 S. Euclid Ave., Sarasota. (This program is available in-person only). Tickets are $25. For more information: ensrq.org/tickets. Before the program, Aucoin will be at Bookstore1Sarasota for a book singing from 4-5 p.m. Monday./ 12 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 941-365-7900; sarasotabooks.com
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A magic slipper at Manatee Players
A familiar tale comes to life on stage at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, which will spend the holiday season presenting a new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.” The version begin staged by Preston Boyd is the recent Broadway revival, adapted by Douglas Carter Beaned. But it still features the same story about a young woman forced to take care of her stepmother and stepsisters, who gets a chance to meet and fall in love with a prince at a ball. Katie Priest plays Ella and Christos Nicholoudis plays Prince Topher in the production that runs through Dec. 19 in Stone Hall, 502 3rd Ave., West, Bradenton. Tickets are $30-$41. For more information: 941-748-5875; manateeperformingartscenter.com
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Booker VPA stages ‘Dreamcoat’
While the Booker High School VPA Theatre undergoes a renovation, the show still goes on in a new venue as the school’s theater department presents the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice hit “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” This year’s production will be presented in the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium today through Saturday. It also marks the directorial debut of Cynthia Ashford, who takes over from Scott Keys, who retired from the school after 21 years. Ashford choreographed many of the shows that Keys directed. Johnni Mnich will lead the orchestra as music director for the production that features Judah Woomert as Joseph and Abbey Holdway as The Narrator. For ticket information: 941-355-2967; bookervpa.com
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A musical ‘Christmas Carol’ returns
Brad Wages is preparing for some transformational nights as he returns to the role of Ebenezer Scrooge for another season of Venice Theatre’s original musical version of “A Christmas Carol.” The production, back for its 21st year, is directed by Murray Chase, who works with a large cast, including Douglas Landin as Bob Cratchit, Ryan Hunek as Fred, and Cora Clinch as Tiny Tim. The production was created by book writer and lyricist Scott Keys with composer E. Suzan Ott. Over the years, Keys, Eli Schildkraut and Jason Brenner added additional music to the story. The new production opens Friday and runs through Dec. 20 in the Jervey Mainstage, 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice. For ticket information: 941-488-1115; venicetheatre.org
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Sarah Brightman’s presents a ‘Christmas Symphony’
During the lockdown last year, Sarah Brightman wanted to do something to stay connected with music and her fans during the holiday season, so she managed to create a socially distant concert that was made available for streaming around the world. The singer who became world famous as Christine in the original cast of “The Phantom of the Opera” is now bringing that concert to venues around the world, including an 8 p.m. Tuesday concert in the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. It’s the singer’s first time touring with a holiday-themed show. She will be joined by a local orchestra and choir to perform her own variations on Christmas traditions. Tickets are $145-$185. 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org
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Bells ring with Pops Orchestra
The Pops Orchestra, led by Robyn Bell, will literally “Ring in the Holidays” in a concert featuring the area’s premier hand bell ensemble, Ring Sarasota. Former Navy bandleader Rick Holdsworth directs the ensemble featuring 17 ringers and more than 200 bells. The concert will feature seasonal favorites including “Joy to the World,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “We Three Kings,” “Hevenu Shalom Aleichem” and “Chanukah.” Concerts are at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way Sarasota, and 7:30 p.m. Monday at Neel Performing Arts Center on the State College of Sarasota Manatee-Sarasota campus, 5840 26th St., West, Bradenton. Tickets are $30-$35. For more information: 941-926-7677; thepopsorchestra.org
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Happy birthday Sarasota Art Museum
The Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College marks its second anniversary on Tuesday with a party, cupcakes (as long as they last) and a member shopping day in the gift shop. Festivities are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. From 4-7 p.m., the museum hosts member shopping hours in the gift shop, along with a happy hour with wine, beer and snacks, followed by dancing under the stars on the plaza. On Friday and Saturday, members are invited to bring a guest and tour the exhibits. New Executive Director Virginia Shearer will be available for coffee from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. both days. The museum in the old Sarasota High School opened in 2019 and drew crowds for a few months before the pandemic forced it to close for seven months. It is now open seven days a week and free days are on the second Sunday of each month. During the anniversary celebration, visitors can sample the new exhibition “Judith Linhares: The Artist as Curator” featuring works by Linhares and five other contemporary artists. 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. sarasotaartmuseum.org
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top 10 arts events for Sarasota-Manatee: Dec. 9-15
