Sarasota's Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, which recently announced its 2026-27 season, will host the second annual Family Fest, featuring other local arts groups such as Asolo Rep and Florida Studio Theatre, this week.
Florida Studio Theatre will have two new productions on its stage this week: a cabaret celebrating the musical genre of yacht rock, and an improv show inspired by murder mysteries. Dingbat Theatre Project will host another cabaret, this one raising money for a musical by a Sarasota creator that's headed to Off-Broadway next summer (and inspired by Homer's "Odyssey," also the source material for this summer's blockbuster movie).
Rounding out the list is a concert by Florida State University College of Music artist faculty in The
Ringling's Historic Asolo Theater. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change. And in case you missed last week's arts event picks, Urbanite Theatre's Modern Works Festival and The Sarasota Players' production of Shakespeare's "As You Like It" are running now through Sept. 27.
1. Family Fest at Van Wezel
Van Wezel will host this second annual free, family-friendly event on the venue's back lawn and grand foyer, featuring two performances of Asolo Rep on Tour's "Beanstalk: The Adventures of Jack and the Giant" at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and games with Florida Studio Theatre Improv at 11:30 a.m. Other offerings will include a Kids Market showcasing products made and sold by young entrepreneurs, as well as food trucks and themed activities with local organizations. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 26; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; free; 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org
2. 'Twelve Maids: Songs from The Journey' at Dingbat Theatre Project
"Twelve Maids," a musical inspired by Homer's "Odyssey" that reimagines the epic from the palace maids' perspective and features a book and lyrics by Sarasota creator Amanda Fischler (and music by Fischler and Adam Gloc), is headed Off-Broadway in summer 2027. This one-night-only fundraising cabaret will feature Fischler, joined by Sarasota artists Serenna Jones and Makena Benson, performing select songs from the show as well as some of their favorite songs tied to the themes of the musical. 5-7 p.m. Sept. 20; Dingbat Theatre Project, 7288 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $35, $50 VIP; twelvemaidsmusical.com
3. 'Sailing: Yacht Rock & Beyond' at Florida Studio Theatre
Florida Studio Theatre will kick off its 2026-27 Winter Cabaret Season with this show. Featuring favorites such as Christopher Cross' "Sailing" and "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)," Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville," Looking Glass' "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" and Rupert Holmes' "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)," the revue showcases the smooth sounds of the ’70s and ’80s that would later become known as yacht rock. Sept. 23-Feb. 7 (Sept. 24-25 previews); Florida Studio Theatre John C. Court Cabaret, 1265 First St., Sarasota; $37 and up single tickets, $59 and up Winter Cabaret subscription; 941-366-9000; floridastudiotheatre.org
4. 'Murder, She Improvised' at Florida Studio Theatre
Florida Studio Theatre will also this week host this show by Dad's Garage from Atlanta, previous performers at Sarasota Improv Festival. As the name implies, "Murder, She Improvised" is a murder mystery whodunit where a heinous crime is committed before the audience's eyes and a detective will have only their wits and "the audiences' deeply unhelpful suggestions" to aid them in solving the case and determining the killer. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25 and 26; Florida Studio Theatre Bowne's Lab, 1265 First St., Sarasota; $18-$20; 941-366-9000; floridastudiotheatre.org
5. Vocal Mosaic: An Evening of Song at Historic Asolo Theater
The Ringling's Historic Asolo Theater will host this concert featuring artist faculty from Florida State University College of Music. Soprano Marcía Porter, baritones André Chiang and Evan Jones, and vocalists Alisa Hauser and Tiffany Reneé Jackson, along with collaborative pianists Natalie Sherer and Katie Barr, will present songs, ensembles and duets from opera, musical theater, jazz and more. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24; Historic Asolo Theater at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; $10, free students; 941-360-7399; ringling.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 include free festival
