Let the Show Begin!

When coming to vacation in Sarasota, you need something to do at night after hitting the beach or nature trails during the day.  Going to a show is a great way to enjoy the Sarasota culture while having a fun night out!

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the Sarasota Opera House are two theatrical halls that are open year round and offer a variety of entertainment that families and couples will enjoy.

Van Wezel

The Van Wezel opened on January 5th, 1970 with a performance of The Fiddler on the Roof.  This performing arts hall offers a variety of music, theater, and dance shows, and averages about 140 performances annually. The Van Wezel has 1,736 seats, and is home to the Florida West Coast Symphony, the Sarasota Concert Association, and the Jazz Club of Sarasota.  Even some major stars, like Johnny Cash and  Itzhak Perlman,  have performed at the Van Wezel and had sold out shows.

The Van Wezel is a great modern performing arts hall to bring your friends and family to, and even enjoy a view of the water before heading in for the show (it sits right next to the bay)!

Photo Credit: Clyde Robinson

Here is a link about upcoming performances and ticket sales: Van Wezel Performing Arts 


Sarasota Opera

The Sarasota Opera House (also known as Sarasota Opera) has been around a bit longer in the local area. In 1960, the Asolo Opera Guild was formed to present the touring Turnau Opera in chamber-sized shows in the historic Asolo Theater, which is located on the grounds of the Ringling Museum of Art.  The guild was becoming a popular group and desired a space that was more vocal and sound affable for their operas.  The group purchased the historic A.B. Edwards Theater in downtown Sarasota.

The new theater opened in 1984, and just a year before that  to present day, the the company has been directed under the leadership of Victor DeRenzi.  They mostly perform neglected works from the Masterwork Revivals Series, and works known as, "The Verdi Cyle" by Guiseppe Verdi.

In 2008, there was a $20 million renovation in which the historic attributes of the theater were preserved, and the area was accommodated with 21st century technology and expansion.  The theater is a part of the National Register of Historic Places.  If you are looking for a Sarasota historic environment while enjoying state of the art operas, then this is the place for you!

Photo Credit: Clyde Robinson

For more information about upcoming operas and ticket prices: Sarasota Opera