SARASOTA THEATER REVIEWS

Rise Above Performing Arts brought a little magic to Sarasota this January with the Broadway adaptation of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. This crowd-pleasing rendition featured Rise Above’s large cast of talented young performers, and provided an opportunity for audiences of all ages to exp...

It is time for a little bit of magic as Manatee Performing Arts Center produces their next mainstage production of “Cinderella.” The theatre touts Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella as the new Broadway adaptation of the classic musical....

It is such an exciting time with Broadway reopened. I spent a day recently in New York City and the hustle and bustle of the theatre district reminded me of why I love the city and Broadway in particular. I have seen a measly 73 shows on Broadway or ones that are part of a Broadway tour and I have r...

There are shows that make you laugh and others that make you cry. We go to the theatre and are swept away by all kinds of emotions. Some shows make us angry and others inspire hope. Then there are the shows that just make us happy. Above all else, “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” at Florida Studio...

Sometimes theatre is different. Sometimes it is unique and thought-provoking with enough emotion to pull your heart strings and punch you in the gut all at the same time. There are times where a play is not conventional; yet allows its audiences to experiences an array of feelings that make us glad ...

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In a time where many theatres have struggled to survive, there is a new face in our community that is reimagining theatre during these unusual times. Dingbat Theatre Project is currently in production of “Shrek the Musical,” held at the outdoor theatre at The Bazaar on Apricot. The company has t...

Ovation Theatre took to the stage, or in this case the field to produce an energizing production of Disney’s Descendants. While the school’s spring musical production is typically held indoors, due to the pandemic the show was performed outside in Lakewood Ranch. The change of venue did not stop...

Somedays it seems like the world may never return to normal. It has been a challenging year for everyone and one of the hardest hit industries has been those involving live entertainment. Audiences are craving a return to live theatre which made the Asolo’s production of “Camelot” and even mor...

The stage has been pretty empty this past year, so it was refreshing to be able to go see a live performance, especially one indoors, with enhanced safety protocols. I have tried to attend as many events as my schedule will allow, but musicals naturally have been scarce. Rise Above Performing Arts a...

The world is in a surreal and crazy state. So, what better musical to be one of the first out of the COVID hibernation than Rise Above Performing Arts’ production of “Carrie.”...

Spring is in the air which means the start of baseball season. Baseball is my all-time favorite sport. While many say it is boring, there is such a passion and purity to the American Pastime that its enjoyment and place in our culture cannot be ignored. So, when you take my favorite sport and combin...

Entertainment options are endless in our town that is bursting with artistic performances. Florida Studio Theatre's latest Cabaret, a?oeOutlaws & Angels,a?? is billed as a rousing review that highlights and celebrates the a?oeoutlaws of country music and the angels who loved them.a?? However, what y...

The sunshine state always shines a little brighter when Kristin Chenoweth is in the house. The house being Sarasota's 'purple palace', the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, where Executive Director Mary Benzel and crew are celebrating the theater's 50th year on the Bay. In celebration, they are pullin...

Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim changed the face of American musical theater forever. A pupil of Oscar Hammerstein (of the famed songwriting pair Rogers & Hammerstein), Sondheim worked on his first Broadway show - a little known musical called West Side Story - at the young age of 27. Over th...

Lil Armstrong. The Woman Behind Louis Armstrong's Success. A Story Worth Telling....

The a?oeMatildaa?? hype is flying through our local community. A quick search of Music Theatre International's website will find five different venues within driving distance performing this show within the next year. However, Manatee Performing Arts has set a high bar with the Area Premiere of a sh...

Who isn't infatuated with trains - such a unique and even elegant way to travel. Although these coaches aren't leaving from Platform 9 ¾ for Hogwarts and your fellow passengers won't be Harry Potter and his curious classmates, the ride will be just as thrilling, if not more so. You'll be joining th...

As I entered the theatre to pick up my tickets for Rise Above Performing Arts production of a?oeWest Side Storya?? I overheard Artistic Director, Jacob Ruscoe talking with a patron about the show. He said, a?oeYou really can't judge a musical by the age of the performers because a great show is a gr...

Disney's Aladdin Lights Up The Straz With A Mega Production...

Sarasota High School produced a heart-warming rendition of Irving Berlin's a?oeWhite Christmasa?? this past week. The show which is full of laughter, was engaging and entertaining, and another shining example of the incredible theatre productions our local schools produce....

I love stories that make you think. You know they ones that make your mind contemplate what is wrong and what is right. I knew I was in for a great evening when Director Scott Keys took the stage before the show and asked the question, a?oeIf you could live forever, would you?a?? With that thought r...

The holidays are upon us and with it we have the pleasure of being surrounded by the looks and sounds of the season. Our local theatres are doing their part by presenting some memorable holiday tales. I have made it a point this year to delve into the holiday season and make it one full of joy so wh...

The Asolo Repertory Theatre is starting the 2019-2020 season off with a marvelous rendition of Rodgers and Hammerstein's a?oeThe Sound of Music.a?? Any time you go to see a classic piece of musical theatre your past experiences and schema come into play. Expectations are high (or low) based upon wha...

And rose they did. When Julie Andrews graced the stage at Sarasota's Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, a welcoming roar and immediate standing ovation was gifted to her by adoring fans of all generations in appreciation of her life's work....