Featured Artists
Dolly Jacobs and Pedro Reis

Circus, oh we got Circus,
Right here in Sarasota city!
With a capital "C"
That rhymes with "T"
And that stands for Tickets,
That stands for Tickets.
We've surely got Circus!
Right here in Sarasota,
Right here!
Gotta figger out a way
To be truly entertained!
Circus, Circus, Circus

The popular Grand Hotel promises a grand time at The Players. The musical takes place over a weekend in a lavish Berlin hotel in 1928. A wild mix of guests includes a fading prima ballerina, a handsome but destitute Baron, a cynical doctor, a typist with Hollywood dreams and a fatally ill Jewish bookkeeper. The show is directed by award winning director/choreographer Bob Trisolini, who recently staged Jekyll & Hyde and Nine on the Players main stage. *may extend through the 27th. For tickets and information click here.

Don’t miss two great shows now running at the Venice Little Theatre; “Apt 3A” and “Run For Your Wife.” Both shows will surely entertain and you can read more here. Plus, in the Cabaret, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” opens February 5. 

The American Stage Theatre Company, St. Petersburg, presents “Moonlight and Magnolias." The comedy pays homage to the golden age of Hollywood and all the action that really took place as David O. Selznick dealt with production problems during the shooting of Gone With the Wind. He pulls Victor Fleming off of the set of the Wizard of OZ and they lock-down for five days to save the script. This is the American Stage’s last production in their current building and there is even a “pay what you can night” on January 29. Map. 

Join artist Peppi Elona at the Venice Art Center or “Origyn: Homage to Womanhood”- an intimate conversation about her art and artistic evolution. Call 941-485-7136 for more information. (“Keeper of the Sun and Moon” Oil on Canvas, 72”x60”)

The Manatee Community College Fine Art Gallery (5840 26th Street in Bradenton) proudly exhibits the work of Eleanor Merritt in a show called “Color Matters” through February 21. Join the artist at a reception on January 25 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Call 941-752-5225. (Seated Woman, Mixed Media on Paper, 40"x30")

The British Invasion seems like yesterday if you are having a flash-back, and let’s hope you are, and you certainly remember Chad & Jeremy and their US hits like “Willow Weep for Me” and “A Summer Song”. While the duo has been off and on again for a few years, they are back on stage and reliving the glory days at the East Village Cabaret in Lakewood Ranch. You can buy your tickets on-line via a secure site at SRQ Box Office by clicking here. Listen and watch them sing “A Summer Song” here and “Willow Weep For Me” here.

The 5th Annual St. Armands Winter Art Festival is sure to be a great time each day from 10:00 – 5:30 pm. The show will feature 175 of the finest artists, jewelers and sculptures from around the country as well as local Artist and Ringling Alumni Steve Whitlock. Steve's highly detailed work features salt water game fish and wildlife illustrated onto coastal charts.  

Camp Cigma will entertain families and kids with two special performances. First, check the hocus pocus at Books-A-Million, in Sarasota, on January 26 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm and then on February 1 from 7:00 – 8:00 pm at Little Bookworms on Main Street, Lakewood Ranch. The 45-minute, shows are family friendly and best for kids 7 - 13 years old but all are welcome. (no charge)

The Metro has become a fab place to enjoy music and socializing with friends. On January 26 experience Lauren Lapointe’s folk and acoustic originals. Then on February 2 get your salsa shakin’ with Vizcaya-Guitarras and their lively flamenco and rumba sounds. You should also know that Chef Adam Straatman is hard to work bringing new and exciting food to the Metro. Go for the first time or give the Metro another try, you’ll be happy you did. Call 941-365-1800.   

Jean Blackburn’s “Myakka Series: New Works”, photography and paintings, opens at the Rhea Chile’s Studio at Gulf and Pine (10101 Gulf Drive on Anna Maria Island) with an artist’s reception from 4:00 – 7:00 pm and a Gallery Talk at 5:30 pm. The artist will share her inspiration and experiences working and living along the Myakka River. Guests at the opening can enjoy Anna Maria chowder, The River Jazz Trio and cold brew. A portion of the proceeds from the exhibit, which runs through March 28, benefits the Myakka Conservancy and the Friends of the Myakka River. Call 941-778-1906 for more details. ("Submerged Frond" Oil on Panel, 48" x 48")

The renowned Chamber Orchestra of Florida will present an all Bach and Mozart concert at the Church of the Redeemer at 4:00 pm. The featured work of this concert is the "Concerto in d minor" for three harpsichords by J. S. Bach. The harpsichords will be played by Patricia Muller, Ann Stephenson-Moe, and Virginia Bray; all area recitalists on harpsichord, organ and piano. For more information, contact the Church of the Redeemer at 941-955-4263. Also, Joseph Holt, concert pianist with the U.S. Army Chorus, will perform at the Church of the Redeemer on Saturday, February 2 at 7:30 pm. The concert is no charge and the public is warmly invited.  

Lilla Cabot Perry will appear at The Glenridge Performing Arts Center to present "Impressions of Monet and Giverny." Mrs. Perry provides an illuminating discussion of her life as a Boston Brahmin, her friendship with Claude Monet, and describes how a group of young artists transformed the French village of Giverny into the "cradle of American Impressionism." Performing in her one-woman show as Perry is Sarasota actress Jenny Aldrich. Admission: $15. For tickets, call GPAC at 941-552-5325.   

AnythingArts.com’s Christine Alexander and Rick Hughes will be on the Cliff Roles Talk of the Sun Coast show on January 30. Since we are speaking about ourselves in the third person, give Christine and Rick an on-air call and let’s talk about your upcoming event - 941-952-1220. Then on February 1 the stars of the Golden Apple’s production of “Evita” will be Cliff’s guests: Kyle Ennis Turoff, Rachel Anton and Joey Panek. Then on February 4 Barbara Strauss and Jim Shirley will be on hand to talk about the upcoming Foreigner concert to benefit the PAL Sailor Circus Captial Campaign. Listen right here every weekday from 4:00 – 5:00 pm.

At Florida Studio Theatre, “Jewtopia” a Goy meets Girl love story. Chris, a gentile, wants to marry a Jewish girl so he'll never have to make another decision. Adam, a Jew, wants to marry a Jewish girl to please his family but can't get a date to save his life. Chris promises he will help Adam find the Jewish girl of his dreams if Adam will help Chris shed his gentile-ness. Stereotypes collide, cultures clash and chaos ensues. Tickets on sale now. 

Mystical and Whimsical come to The Dancing Crane Gallery, in the Village of the Arts, with an exceptional exhibition of “Goddesses and Nudes." Show opens to the public on Friday, February 1st with a reception to meet the artists from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Art, Poetry, Readings and more. Some of the artists include: Joanna Coke, Martin F. Hennigan, Barbara Schicitano, Wil Dawson, Anita Wexler, Michael Panarella, Nancy Heart, Carol Doenecke, Lea Gitow, Alice Benjamin, Lolly Owens, and Colleen White. (“Faith” by Martin F. Hennigan) 

Eight directors join the opening night celebration of the 9th annual Through Women's Eyes Film Festival at the MetLife Filmmakers’ Reception on Friday, February 1 from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. at Esca, 1888 Main Street, Sarasota. Proceeds from the reception and film festival at Hollywood 20 on February 1 and 2 benefit UNIFEM’s Safe Cities Program to end violence against women and girls in Latin America. Reception tickets $50. Call 914-284-1027. Complete film festival schedule and ticket information online here. Presented by Gulf Coast Chapter of US National Committee for UNIFEM. 

Yes, it is the beginning of another month already! Has time slipped you by? Have you declared that you will take time to enjoy the arts walks this year but still rush around, stressed out, forging ahead at break-neck speed only to have regrets for not having taken the time? Well, this is your WAKE UP CALL. Friday February 1 is the Arts Walk in both downtown Sarasota and the Village of the Arts in Bradenton. Just do it! Just click here for details on the Sarasota and here for Bradenton.  

Through Women's Eyes Film Festival is not only a great opportunity to see films by female filmmakers, but it is also a way to support UNIFEM. (picture: Academy Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman is a UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador, raising awareness of women's rights and putting a spotlight on violence against women.) Check out the full film schedule here. 

Art Center Manatee’s Big Art Blowout sale is for two days only. Local artists have priced things to go including paintings, sculpture, pottery and jewelry and more. February 2 from 10:00 – 4:00 pm and February 3 from 10:00 – 2:00 pm. Call Polly for more dish at 941-746-2862.

The Longboat Key Center for the Arts presents “Jazz in the Gallery”, at 7:30 pm, featuring Greg Nielsen and The Foot Note Jazz Band. Also, don’t miss the artwork of Judy Lyons Schneider in the Glen Gallery from January 30 – February 20. For info on all of this call 941-383-2345. (piece shown is “Offerings” by Judy Lyons Schneider)  

Kicking off the Florida Studio Theatre Stage III season is “In the Belly of the Beast.” Eric at FST gets an A for sending us a great release that we are repeating most of here: “In the Belly of the Beast” explores the criminal mind. A delinquent foster child, Jack Henry Abbott was imprisoned at a young age. He was robbed of nurturing, cut off from any human contact for more than twenty years. Knowing only primal survival instincts, he lived a constant struggle to remain human, like a solitary light bulb flickering in and out of Sanity. Once released into the world, the ravishing beast inside took over any human spirit he had left. Directed by Debra Whitfield, the show was called “awesome, brilliant, perversely ingenuous” by The New York Times. The cast will include David Sitler as Abbott, Patrick Jones and Douglas Coler. Call 941-366-9000 or click right here for more details and tickets.

Visit the Katharine Butler Gallery to check the artwork of Ruth Dwyer and Ellen Kaiden. While in Towles Court, be sure to stroll around the other galleries and plan on staying for lunch. (photo: Ruth Dwyer, Blue Cabin - oil 24 x 24 )   

The Van Wezel Foundation’s Annual Gala is right around the corner and features the famed Patti LaBelle. Proceeds from the Gala, the concert, after-party and events benefit the Van Wezel’s Schooltime Performances program which reaches 40,000 students and educators annually from Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. There are many levels of participation in which to enjoy this special 20th Anniversary of The Van Wezel Foundation. Call Jennifer Wilson at 941-366-5011 for more information. 

Embracing Our Differences is returning to Sarasota’s bayfront in April, displaying beautiful and thought provoking billboard-size art that speaks to diversity and tolerance. Each piece of art is accompanied by quotes submitted by the public. For example: “People don't judge footprints. They show no color, no religion, no race. They simply show that someone has walked before you.” Alex Dodson, 7th Grade, Booker Middle School.

Submit your thoughts on diversity by clicking here.  (pdf)

In the Artist’s Garden: A Day of Plein Air Ink and Watercolor Painting – Learn watercolor and sketching techniques, then paint a lively & colorful work directly from nature at the Artist's Retreat on Lido Key under the guidance of plein air artist, Marguerite Jill Dye, who has painted her way across the globe. The class runs from 10:00 – 5:00 pm and the $120 includes instruction, materials, beverages and gourmet luncheon. For information and registration call 941-388-5098.

Watch this short, informative film by one of the Ben & Jerry’s guys. Click here. 

Information about show times, places and dates is assumed accurate but not guaranteed. Please contact the presenting organization directly, by the link or phone number provided, to confirm information.

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