Sarasota is home to many talented people. Orchestra, circus, dance and opera are a few of the many arts that have shaped Sarasota into the city it is today. If you enjoy the performing arts, you may want to visit these locations during your vacation.
The Players Centre for Performing Arts features both new and professional local actors. The community theater is dedicated to presenting productions of mainstage classics.
Widely recognized by its unique purple color, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall hosts scores of plays and performances throughout the year. These performances include: Broadway musicals, performers, comedians, orchestras, classic, modern and ethnic dance, as well as local performance groups: the Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Ballet, Sarasota Concert Association and the Ringling Library Town Hall Lecture Series.
The Asolo Repertory Theatre is a professional theater in Sarasota that stages up to fifteen productions per season. Home to more than 100 talented artists, this theater is the largest professional not-for-profit theater in the U.S. south of Atlanta.
This opera house originally opened in April, 1926 as a theatre. The beautiful and historic performance space was restored in 2008. The Sarasota Opera House places importance on education through performance. There are a variety of performances offered, for both the novice and seasoned opera-goer.
John Ringling brought his circus to Sarasota in the late 1920s. This circus then became an important part of Sarasota's identity as a community. The Sarasota Circus stages professional performances throughout the year. 80% of ticket revenue for the circus goes to outreach programs in Sarasota.
