Upcoming Events

Join us for The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall’s FREE outdoor summertime concert series! The events run from 5-9pm and are located on the Bayside Lawn of the Van Wezel. Each of the four events will feature food trucks, beverage vendors and more – it’s the perfect spot to enjoy a summer sunset over Sarasota Bay. While blankets and lawn chairs are welcome at all Friday Fest events, ou

NOTE: The recently announced 9:30 PM show on Thursday, September 20 will go on sale on Friday, August 10 at 10:00 AM.   Jerry Seinfeld, will return to the Van Wezel stage on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 7:00 PM. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, July 20, 2018 at 10:00 AM. Seinfeld has been hailed for his uncanny ability to joke about the little things in life that r

World famous comedian Eddie Izzard makes his Van Wezel premiere on Thursday, October 11 at 8:00 PM. With his brand of keenly intelligent humor that ranges from world history, sexual politics, mad ancient kings, and chickens with guns, Izzard has built an extraordinary fan base that transcends age, gender, and race. Over the course of a thirty-year career, Eddie Izzard has proved himself to

From the mind of Michael Flatley, creator and star of Riverdance, comes Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games. Since 2014, the show thrills audiences around the globe with its intoxicating mix of dance and music that fuses the traditional with the contemporary in a classic tale that showcases the exceptional talent of the cast. The show features cutting edge technology including a giant Radiant flat screen

On Friday, October 19, 2018 at 8:00 PM, Grammy® Award-winning saxophonist Kenny G returns to Sarasota to fill the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall with his unmistakable sound. In a recording career that spans almost three decades and 23 albums, Grammy® Award-winning saxophonist Kenny G has grafted elements of R&B, pop and Latin to a jazz foundation solidifying his reputation as the premiere artist in contemporary jazz.

American icon Bob Dylan is returning to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall this season! With a career spanning 5 decades, singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has pushed the envelope as an artist and has received 11 Grammy Awards® for his influential contributions to the music industry. Dylan will perform with his band for a full evening of music with no opening act. Don’t miss your chance to reserve your seats before they’re gone!

Coming to the Van Wezel on Saturday, October 27 at 8:00 PM, The Simon & Garfunkel Story tells the fascinating tale of the world’s most successful music duo. This concert-style theatrical show takes you through the years that shaped them, the dramatic split, their individual solo careers and ending with a stunning recreation of the legendary 1981 Central Park reunion concert. Using a projectio

Capitol Steps, putting the MOCK in Democracy, returns by popular demand with their show Orange is the New Barack.  "The satire hits the mark!" – The Wall Street Journal

With a cast of Broadway stars and some of the greatest rock musicians, Neil Berg tells the exciting and incredible story of the fifty-year history of the music that changed the world forever! From the originators of Rock and Roll in the 1940’s, through the glory years of the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and early 80’s, Neil Berg’s Fifty Years of Rock & Roll tells fascinating stories and features

This November, the DooWop Spectacular returns to the Van Wezel with Volume 3: Caravan of Stars!  See The Capris, Norman Fox & the Rob Roys, The Legendary Teenagers, Jimmy Gallagher, The Mystics, and The Super Girls Group live at one big show on Saturday, November 10th at 7:30 PM.

Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famer singer-songwriter Stephen Stills met Grammy®-winner singer-songwriter Judy Collins more than 50 years ago. Their tumultuous love affair would later be immortalized by Stills with his composition "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," performed by Crosby, Stills & Nash on their landmark debut. Now, the two icons of folk will be on stage together at the

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis has been America’s ultimate holiday tradition for over 30 years! Grammy Award®-winner Chip Davis’ show features Mannheim Steamroller Christmas classics along with selections from Chip’s groundbreaking Fresh Aire series which introduced the distinctive Mannheim sound to all of America.

Beyond Glory, starring award-winning playwright, stage and screen star, Stephen Lang, brings to the stage the stories of eight different men who received the Medal of Honor for their bravery in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. These poignant portraits of men at war, pushed into narrow corners and faced with hard choices, are spell-binding and thrilling. Stephen Lang has appeared as Col. Miles Quaritch in Avatar an

In a career that spans more than three decades, legendary and Grammy®-nominated saxophonist Dave Koz returns with his 21st annual Dave Koz Christmas Tour 2018.  Special Guests joining Dave this year will be: Mindi Abair, pop/blues saxophonist/singer who will be making her first Christmas Tour appearance; South African guitarist/singer, Jonathan Butler, returning fo

Be part of the holiday concert tradition of the season with Grammy®-nominated songwriter and piano sensation Jim Brickman as he celebrates A Joyful Christmas, delivering the sound and spirit of the season with carols, classics and original songs on his 22nd annual holiday tour.  Holiday music brings yuletide memories to life as he helps you escape from the holiday hustle-bustle and keeps your days

Two worlds collide in this "breathtaking and exquisite" (The New York Times) musical, based on the 2015 Tony Award®-winning Lincoln Center Theater production. One of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s finest works, THE KING AND I boasts a score that features such beloved classics as "Getting To Know You," "I Whistle a Happy Tune," "Hello Young Lovers," "Shall We Dance" and &ldqu

Harmonies. That’s what Christmas songs are all about for music legend Brian Wilson. From the seminal 1964 classic The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album to his acclaimed 2005 solo effort What I Really Want for Christmas Wilson has been bringing holiday cheer to the world for more than five decades. This holiday season, for the first time Wilson and his crack band of musicians and vocalists along with long time bandmates Al J

The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast presents Florida West Coast’s Premiere of "Itzhak Perlman – In The Fiddler’s House – A Night of Klezmer" on Monday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m. Almost twenty-three years have passed since internationally-acclaimed violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman made his iconic album of klezmer music, "In the Fiddler

Just announced! Top-selling global super group Celtic Thunder returns to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at 7:30 PM. Celtic Thunder’s dynamic live music experience and uplifting songs will be accentuated by a full symphony orchestra. The performance will include magnificent set displays and dazzling songs from their new 10th anniversary album Celtic Thunder X. Celtic Thunder’s five mal

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE! A brand new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC is coming to the Van Wezel! The spirited, romantic and beloved musical story of Maria and the von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with its Tony®-, Grammy®- and Academy Award®- winning Best Score, including "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," "Climb Ev’ry Mountain," "Edelweiss" and the title song.

Note: Tickets go on sale Friday, April 13 at 10:00 AM.
Christmas is coming and so is the one and only Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker. Presenting world class Russian artists, hand-painted sets, Russian Snow Maidens, and jubilant Nesting Dolls – Great Russian Nutcracker brings the Christmas spirit to life for all ages. "Kids wide-eyed with delight!"

From their humble beginnings in Cuba, Emilio and Gloria Estefan came to America and broke through all barriers to become a crossover sensation at the very top of the pop music world. But just when they thought they had it all, they almost lost everything. ON YOUR FEET! takes you behind the music and inside the real story of this record-making and groundbreaking couple who, in the face of adversity, found a way to end up on their

Celebrate New Year's Eve at the Van Wezel. Attend The "Sweet Caroline" Tour: A Neil Diamond Concert Celebration, starring the #1 Neil Diamond Performer in the world, Jay White. Proceeds benefit Parkinson Place and the Parkinson Research Foundation, supporting initiatives to increase awareness and fund research to find a cure for Parkinson's disease. The full New Year's Eve event encompasses a VIP cocktail reception, fi

This holiday season, the spirited romance of operetta, the glamour of ballroom dance, and the delicate beauty of ballet will waltz you into a triumphant New Year. A Sarasota tradition for 23 years, this charming celebration blends acclaimed European singers and dancers with full symphony orchestra for a rich cultural experience that will leave your toes tapping. NOTE: Subscriptions are now available, but individu

SOMETHING ROTTEN! is "Broadway’s big, fat hit!" (New York Post). Set in 1595, this hilarious smash tells the story of Nick and Nigel Bottom, two brothers who are desperate to write a hit play. When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first MUSICAL! With its heart on its ruffled sleeve and sequin

In 2009, Pilobolus created Shadowland, the first show of its kind, which it has since performed in 32 countries for over a million people. Now, Pilobolus is proud to present Shadowland: The New Adventure. Employing animation, video, and live shadow theater, this madcap adventure dips its toe into the genres of science fiction, film noir, and romantic comedy to tell a love story about two people and their quest to save a magical bird. <

Neil Berg returns to the Van Wezel celebrating a record-breaking decade of annual
performances with an exciting all new show! 110 YEARS OF BROADWAY recreates the finest moments from the most memorable shows of the century featuring the actual Broadway stars of shows like Jersey Boys, Wicked and Mamma Mia! Backed by an excellent New York-based band, Neil Berg presents skillful arrangements of Broadway classics as well as electrifying

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1936 by Bronislaw Huberman and its inaugural concert was conducted by Arturo Toscanini. The IPO plays in subscription and in special concerts and series throughout Israel as well as the world. In 1969 Zubin Mehta was appointed Music Advisor to the IPO and in 1977 he became Music Director. Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) was named IPO Laureate Conductor in 1988, in 1992 Kurt Masur (1927-2015) wa

Boston Pops on Tour returns to the Van Wezel with Lights, Camera, Music...Six Decades of John Williams. Conducted by Keith Lockhart, this blockbuster program will immediately bring you back to some of the greatest movies ever to hit the silver screen. Hear some of your most beloved film themes performed live, including Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Schindler's List, Star Wars

STOMP is explosive, inventive, provocative, witty, and utterly unique—an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages. The international percussion sensation has garnered armfuls of awards and rave reviews and has appeared on numerous national television shows. The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps – to

The winner of Broadway.com’s Audience Choice Award for Best Musical, this breathtaking smash "captures the kid-at-heart," says TIME Magazine. Vogue cheers, "It’s a must-see you’ll remember for years to come!" Directed by visionary Tony®-winner Diane Paulus and based on the critically-acclaimed Academy Award®- winning film, FINDING NEVERLAND tells the incredible story behind one of the world&

The Sleeping Beauty, a crowning jewel of Marius Petipa’s career, is often considered the finest achievement of the Classical ballet. It is a grandiose and refined blending of the traditional mime, expressive pas d’action and spectacular divertissements in a lavish theatrical setting and set to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score.  Founded in Moscow during the transitional period of Perestroika in the late 1980s, t

Giraffes strut.  Birds swoop.  Gazelles leap.  The entire Serengeti comes to life as never before.  And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist. This is Disney’s THE LION KING, making its triumphant return to the (Theatre)!
More than 90 million people around the world have experienced the awe-inspiring visual artistry, the unforgettable music, and the uniquely theatrical storytelling of

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary season, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is a company of professional male dancers performing the full range of the ballet and modern dance repertoire, including classical and original works. The troupe incorporates comedy by exaggerating the foibles, accidents, and underlying incongruities of serious dance. The men dance all the parts — heavy bodies delicately balancing on toes as swans, sylphs,

More than two decades ago Jonathan Larson’s RENT opened on Broadway and forever changed American theatre. It continues to speak loudly and defiantly to audiences across generations and the world. And now, this Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®-winning masterpiece returns to our stage with its vibrant 20th anniversary tour. A re-imagining of Puccini’s La Bohème, RENT follows the lives of seven artists struggling to follow