With Sarasota arts groups starting or announcing their 2026-27 seasons — including our area's most prominent venue, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall — it's a week with multiple new events, as well as one big show concluding.
Van Wezel will host the top event this week, a benefit concert featuring Sarasota Orchestra commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Also taking part in that event will be Nate Jacobs of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, which that same week will hold separate benefit concerts raising money for WBTT.
Opening this week are a stage adaptation of a childhood favorite at Venice Theatre, and an exhibition at The Ringling featuring an artist known for her woodblock prints and paintings of flowers. Speaking of which, it's your last
chance to see another floral-themed exhibition at Selby Gardens' downtown Sarasota campus. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
1. 'Summon the Heroes' at Van Wezel
Sarasota Orchestra and Van Wezel will present this benefit concert commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11, led by conductor Evan Roider, with music such as "Fanfare for the Common Man," "Adagio for Strings," "Summon the Heroes," "Liberty for All" (with narration by Nate Jacobs of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe) and “Amazing Grace” and “America the Beautiful” (with soprano Amy Owens). Proceeds will benefit Resilient Retreat, Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Charitable Foundation, Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund and Sarasota Police Foundation. 7 p.m. Sept. 10; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $40-$50; 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org
2. 'Shared Light: Lynn Goldsmith' at Selby Gardens
It's the final week for this summer exhibition at Selby Gardens' downtown Sarasota campus, showcasing the work of photographer Lynn Goldsmith, known for her celebrity portraits and fine art images, with this exhibition combining images of flowers with portraits of Selby Gardens' inaugural artist-in-residence Patti Smith. Goldsmith's books include "Patti Smith: Before Easter After," as well as work centered on fellow rock stars Bruce Springsteen and The Police, and "Flower" about flowers. Through Sept. 13; Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St., Sarasota; included in admission ($28, $12 ages 5-17/member guests, free ages 4 and under/members); 941-366-5731; selby.org
3. 'Yoshida Fujio: Secret Gardens' at The Ringling
Speaking of flower-themed art shows, The Ringling will debut this exhibition featuring work by Yoshida Fujio. One of the first Japanese women to receive formal training in Western-style painting, Fujio married fellow artist Yoshida Hiroshi and lived to be nearly 100 years old. The first exhibition in the Southeast devoted to the artist, "Secret Gardens" brings together a selection of woodblock prints and one painting spanning Fujio's long career, from early naturalistic works to the abstractions of her later decades. Sept. 12-April 4; The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; included with museum admission; 941-359-5700; ringling.org
4. Soul Sensations at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe
Founded and produced by longtime Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe board member Dr. Randall C. Morgan Jr., Soul Sensations brings together area musicians and vocalists for a cause near and dear to Dr. Morgan's heart: WBTT. All proceeds directly benefit WBTT, with a $100 ticket option including a pre-show reception with light bites, beer and wine. 6-7 p.m. pre-show reception, 6:30 lobby doors open, 7:30 p.m. show Sept. 10-12 and 12:30-1:30 p.m. pre-show reception, 1 p.m. lobby doors open, 2 p.m. show Sept. 13; The Donelly Theatre at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota; $50-$100; 941-366-1505; westcoastblacktheatre.org
5. 'Harriet the Spy' at Venice Theatre
Based on Louise Fitzhugh’s 1964 novel of the same name, "Harriet the Spy" follows 11-year-old Harriet, who writes in a secret notebook, only for it to fall out of her hands and its subjects to discover what she's written about them. The novel has been adapted several times — including a 1996 Nickelodeon film, 2010 Disney Channel TV movie and 2021 Apple TV+ animated series — with the play originally commissioned in 1988 and last presented by Venice Theatre in 2005. Sept. 11-20 (special schooltime performance 10:30 a.m. Sept. 16); Venice Theatre Pinkerton Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice; $30 adults, $26 college students/current educators, $19 youth; 941-488-1115; venicetheatre.org
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top Sarasota arts events this week honor heroes and icons
