Opening December 28
[ good girls ]

Want a fun and exciting way to roll in the New Year? Don’t miss our very own Christine Alexander appearing at the Backlot in the The gg Monologues; a New Year and a Good Guy. This second installment of the popular gg monologues is sure to entertain. Women will identify with the joys, trials and tribulations of, well, being women. Men will enjoy the lively cast of women, envy the one male actor on stage and maybe even learn a secret or two about the working of a woman’s brain (I said maybe). This isn't your grandma’s theater, folks! Order your tickets now.

(anythingarts.com readers get 2-4-1 tickets for tonight's show! And tomorrow night too! Make sure to let them know at the door or by calling the Backlot. 941-363-9300)

December 30
[ sake and song ]

Sing Out Louise! debuts at the Metro on December 30 at 8:00 pm. Here’s your chance to enjoy the lively piano of Gary Kauffman as Rochelle Seldin leads the audience in song and merriment with all of your favorite show tunes and more. That night, the Metro is also having a Sake-tini bar and contest. Don’t miss it!

December 30 - 31
[ new year’s bash ]

The Venice Little Theatre presents New Year’s Eve Show-Stoppers presenting a non-stop celebration of Broadway classics. Call 941-488-1115 or visit the Venice little Theatre on-line here.

Opening January 3
[ bingo, (clap) ingo ]

BINGO! A Winning New Musical debuts at The Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. Call 366-5454 or visit The Golden Apple on-line here.

January opening
[ get tix soon ]

The Sarasota Opera’s 48th Season opens with Puccini's tale of a geisha who marries and is then abandoned by an American naval officer. Madama Butterfly is one of opera's most beloved and tragic heroines and the music is some of the most romantic and affecting in the repertoire. This operatic masterwork returns to Sarasota Opera for the first time since 1994 in a new production.

January 3 - 21
[ drugs, sex and growing up ]

This is Our Youth opens at the FSU/Asolo Center for the Performing Arts in the Cook Theatre. “Kenneth Lonergan is an outstanding playwright and filmmaker whose keen observations about contemporary society cut to the core and penetrate the surface of people’s lives,” says Artistic Director Greg Leaming. “This play is edgy, funny, and genuine in its portrayal of people who have a way of sabotaging their lives. It makes for great theater—and for complex and dimensional roles for our acting students.”

On-going
[ art exhibit ]

The Paradigm Art Gallery at 1540A Main Street in Sarasota will be exhibiting CURIO, new paintings by artist, Michael Pukac. Pukac is a Ringling Alumni and has been painting for the last 16 years. He describes his work as "a kind of cultural aesthetic gumbo poured into its own reality.”

January 5
[ art walkS ]

That’s right, walks! In downtown Sarasota it is time for the Palm Avenue Gallery/Art Walk and in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts it is ArtWalk. Two great choices to get out and walk off the pounds you added during the holidays!

January 5 - 27
[ doodle art ]

Tony Halstead doodles. Then Tony translates his doodles in to beautiful stained glass and digital pieces of art. You can check our Halstead’s work at the Kaos Gallery in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts. There is also a special artist’s reception during the ArtWalk from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. Call 941-747-0823 for more information.

January 6
[ no respect ]

Center Stage at the Flanzer JCC/Sarasota Family YMCA presents "An Evening with Rodney Dangerfield,” performed by Bill Peterson, at 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm. Tickets are $18 ($15 for Members); tickets are $2 more when purchased the night of the show.  Tickets are available by calling the Center Stage Box Office at 378-5568 x227, online.

January 9
[ the british are coming ]

Experience the music of The Beatles, Herman’s Hermits and Rod Stewart at the FST Cabaret’s production of The British Invasion - The Sound Heard ‘Round the World. This ain’t your granny’s cabaret, but the whole family will love the tunes just as we did the first time around.

January 11
[ training ]

Learn how to use a Wacom Pen Tablet at the Digital Technology Centre. Artists will learn how to set up the pen, express keys and touch strip. Discover the 21 tools in Adobe Photoshop that are pressure sensitive and how to clone your photos in Corel Painter to make them look like paintings. This is a hands-on class. Check out all training sessions at The Digital Technology Centre on-line here.

January 11 – 21
[ saigon players ]

Don’t miss the acclaimed musical Miss Saigon at The Players Theatre of Sarasota. It’s a pop musical with unforgettable tunes and a very important message.

January 14
[ latin tunes ]

POPS Extras! present Los Rumberos at South Florida Museum under the Bishop Planetarium Stars. Los Rumberos are one of the hottest bands around and ensure a lively evening. Seating is limited. Call 941-362-7632 for general information on this concert and others in the POPS Extras! Season at South Florida Museum and The Historic Asolo Theater.

January 14
[ arts day returns ]

Arts Day is back and as big and entertaining as ever. Experience over 100 artists exhibiting their work, 20 different arts & crafts stations for kids to have hands-on fun, 13 live stages  with 80 performers from local dance, music and theater groups. It is all from 10:00 - 5:00 for free, but a $5 donation is suggested and is worth every penny!

[ acting classes ]

Register now for The Venice Little Theatre’s expanded Spring acting classes. Beginning classes for kids, teen classes in characterization, environment and script analysis and adult scene study are among the many offerings. Register online or by phone at 941-486-8679.

[ auditions ]

Theatre Odyssey will hold auditions for its 2007 Ten-Minute Play Festival at the Backlot Theater from 6:30 until 9:30 PM on Monday, January 8. The production is in March at the Backlot. Contact Theatre Odyssey at 941-744-6858 or Tom Aposporos at 941-704-4250.

[ auditions ]

The Golden Apple Dinner Theatre of Sarasota will hold auditions for their upcoming production of CARNIVAL on Tuesday, January 9, 2006 at 25 N. Pineapple Ave. in Sarasota from 10:00 to 5:00 pm.  Appointments are necessary so please call for appointment time. The auditions are open to all Equity and non-equity actors, singers and dancers; circus or acrobatic experience a plus.  Those auditioning are required to bring a picture and resume stapled to back.  Singers/dancers should prepare sixteen bars of two contrasting songs and should be prepared to dance and do cold readings from the script if asked. An accompanist will be provided. For an appointment call 941-366-2646.

[ auditions ]

The Sarasota Senior Theater is holding a second audition for "And That's The Way It Was," an award-winning original musical.  This show will have four (4) performances at The Players Theatre on April 12 and 13, 2007.  Rehearsals begin in mid-January.  Auditions will be held Monday, January 8, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm at The Backlot.