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A journey of discovery! Theater provides the perfect stage for learning for all ages with renowned national and international artists! Whether you are just beginning to appreciate the magic of words or are looking for ways to broaden your understanding of the world around you, the theater will open the doors of your mind.

Join the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall as we take you on a tour around the block and around the world. Look at the familiar in new ways and explore the exotic with wonder and openness.

Our youngest audiences will thrill to see If You Give A Pig A Party brought to life on stage. The Very Hungry Caterpillar returns with Eric Carle's familiar characters shown in neon bright colors. The black light effects will have students saying "ooh" and "ahh" as Little Cloud, The Hungry Caterpillar and The Mixed-Up Chameleon float across the stage.

Older students will witness history and consider topics that impact all our lives; war, first amendment rights and our own place as citizens of the world. Three special performances will provide material that fosters discussion on these very real issues.

• Letters Home: Voices of American Troops From the Battlefields of Iraq portrays the day to day existence of the men and women serving in Iraq. Their stories are told through their letters home to friends and family – letters that tell the story of their daily lives from the mundane, to the exciting and often to the tragic.
• Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers is the true story of the Washington Post’s decision to publish a top-secret study documenting U.S. involvement in Vietnam. A riveting, original docudrama with continuing implications for today.
• Catch-22, a special evening performance available to our Schooltime audiences, is a new and timely production of Joseph Heller’s own stage adaptation of his classic novel, centering on World War II bombardier Yossarian, who’s caught in a world of absurdity and irrational madness. The first-ever professional production of this important work to tour nationally.

All ages will be able to see the best of dance through two special programs – one bursting with innovation, imagination, and the amazing acrobatic skills of Momix and the other filling the Hall with the traditional and colorful music and dance of Ballet Folklorico de Mexico.

The doors of The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall are open to students and teachers for another year of the best of the performing arts for young people through our Schooltime Performance Program. Tickets are just $7. All performances support the Florida Sunshine State Standards and District Schools’ Curriculum. Study materials will be provided. Be sure to ask us about school bus reimbursement.

The Van Wezel’s nationally recognized education program continues outside the Hall as we extend the performances with artist visits and workshops in schools and community centers. Teachers will find a selection of professional development opportunities for teaching in, through, and about the arts through our participation in the Kennedy Center Partners in Education program. Our 10 year partnership with the Kennedy Center and the School Board of Sarasota County has nurtured a program that brings the finest nationally recognized artist educators to our community leading workshops that provide teachers the tools to enhance learning in all subject areas by teaching through the arts. Visit our Arts Odyssey pages to learn more.