News

As our remarkable ’16-’17 season draws to an end, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is elated to announce its upcoming 2017-2018 Broadway, Dance and Classical series!
“I’m now entering my tenth year as Executive Director of the Van Wezel (it seems more like ten months.) I am so honored to bring the dazzling Broadway musical Motown to Sarasota. To present Yo-Yo Ma, Renée Fleming and Joshua Bell is really a thrill for me. Sarasota should know that this is only the beginning of a fantastic diverse season of entertainment at the City’s jewel on the Bayfront.” Mary Bensel, Executive Director of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
Headlining our Broadway series with eight performances is Motown the Musical, the remarkable true story about the soundtrack that transformed America. The Broadway blockbuster features the timeless hits from legends like Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and The Temptations that touched lives and made history. Taking place (March 27-April 1), the Sarasota premiere is the next chapter of Motown’s incredible history – and an experience you will never forget.
                The 2017-2018 Broadway series features another seven remarkable Broadway shows and three great Broadway specials! Kicking off the Broadway series is the 2014 four time Tony® Award winning – including Best Musical - A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder (January 6 and 7), followed by Cabaret (January 30 and 31), Circus 1903 (February 5 and 6), The Wizard of Oz (March 6 and 7), Peter Pan (March 26), Jersey Boys (April 10 through 12) and A Chorus Line (April 24 and 25) with Broadway specials Buddy (December 5), A Night with Janis Joplin (January 8) and Neil Berg’s 109 Years of Broadway (March 13).

                Prepare for this season’s classical lineup to blow you away with its exquisite display of musical genius! The internationally renowned Renée Fleming returns for an encore on the Van Wezel stage (January 16) Carrying on with exquisite musicianship are the China National Symphony Orchestra (February 22), the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba (March 11) and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with Joshua Bell (March 24). Keeping the series on a serious high note is The Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma (April 19.) This incredible Grammy®-Award winning ensemble pursues a more harmonious world through a cross-cultural collaborative performance that cannot be missed. Back to ring in another exciting classical series is the triumphant special showing of Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert on January 3.

This season brings a new diverse and inspiring dance series beginning with Tango Fire (January 12) a true global phenomenon and the world’s leading Tango company, this exhilarating show combines the rawness and sophistication, seductive and sultry side of Tango, evoking the intoxicating passion of late night Buenos Aires. The highly innovative BalletBoyz carry on the series (February 1), followed by Travis Wall’s Shaping Sound After the Curtain (February 7.) One of America’s favorite choreographers Travis Wall brings this brand new show with its heart-wrenching, breath-taking and truly uplifting story.
The delightful Moscow Festival Ballet returns with Carmen & Romeo and Juliet (February 27.) Celebrating and reinventing some of Hollywood’s best musical moments on the silver screen is Dance To The Movies (March 12) Rounding out the dance series is the world-famous Mummenshanz with their newest creation “you & me” their one-of-a-kind theatrical performance that will dazzle you with inventive use of shadow light and creativity, focusing on the love and mutual joy experienced by the audiences and performers (April 26). This incredible dance series is sure to entertain, exhilarate and inspire!