The Curtains Rise: A Guide to Sarasota's 2024-2025 Performing Arts Season

From world-class productions and Broadway spectacles to moving dance numbers and electrifying musical concerts, here's just a taste of what's coming to the stage on Florida's Cultural Coast. Find your must-see events and snag your tickets before they're sold out. As they say, the show must go on.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe 

As one of three professional black theatres in the state of Florida, come celebrate the high-spirited songs and aspiring stories that promote and celebrate African American history and experience. Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's 25th anniversary season will theme around "25 Years of Black Heritage" – offering adaptations of fan favorites as well as new, original pieces from its talented troupe of singers, actors and dancers. 

Opening the season is Soul Crooners Solid Gold Edition, a dance-in-your-seats show paying homage soul music during the 1970s. Later in the year, catch a special holiday show, Motown Christmas (which will run Nov 27 – Jan 5th). 2025 will bring Fences by August Wilson, considered one of the most significant African American "generational plays" of the 20th century, as well as Five Guys Named Moe, a tribute to R&B pioneer, Louis Jordan, and Synocapted Avenue, a world premiere show and WBTT's first-ever tap dance revue, starring a New York-based tap dance artist and choreographer. 

WBTT's season runs from October 9, 2024 through May 25, 2025, and all performances take place in WBTT’s Donelly Theatre. Subscriptions and individual tickets are now available. For more information, visit their website.

The Sarasota Ballet

The Sarasota Ballet is the Gulf Coast of Florida’s only professional ballet company, and has garnered a national and international reputation for its diverse repertoire of rarely performed ballets. The Sarasota Ballet will continue to elevate the art of dance, enrapture audiences and enrich the community with the spectacular 2024–2025 Season. With beloved classics mixed with new works to the repertoire and contemporary pieces, this year will include many ballets by some of the most celebrated and prestigious choreographers and composers of the ballet world. With an impressive lineup of seven programs, as well as "Dance Extras," the audience can secure their seats at various area venues. Some highlights of the 2024-25 season include Relative Works; Giselle; The Nutcracker; Fanciful Journey; Quintessential; Romeo & Juliet; Movements of Genius; Images of Dance and more! 

Single tickets and subscriptions are now available for purchase for the season. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the company's website or call the box office at 941-359-0099.

Urbanite Theatre

The intimate black-box theatre in downtown Sarasota is always reinventing the wheel with drama-filled performances and HBO-style shows. Ticket holders of Urbanite's 11th season can expect thrilling shows including Jennifer Who is Leaving this fall, followed by Spaceman, then No One is Forgotten from March to April and culminating with From 145th to 98th Street, running the entire month of June. This year also presents the 5th year of Modern Works Festival, a five-day playwriting contest, reading festival and celebration of women in theatre. 

Grab your festival passes online or look into subscribing to one of Urbanite's four subscription packages: The Ultimate Pass; Main Stage Pass; Winter/Spring Pass; and Flex Pass.

The Pops Orchestra

The Pops Orchestra is a premier-level community orchestra with musicians from all walks of life aged 15 to 90! And the organization is no stranger to selling out of all its concerts. Having had such a successful season last year, they have since added an extra concert on Sunday evenings at Riverview Performing Arts Center for each of its four season programs. Celebrating its 49th anniversary this season, join the live symphony group for joyful concerts like Great Balls of Fire, celebrating Rock 'n Roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis, and A Wicked Fun Holiday, starring the Broadway star of Wicked. In the new year, catch Islands in the Stream, paying homage to country sweethearts Kenny and Dolly, and celebrate artists from right here on Florida's Cultural Coast in Love It Like a Local.

Season packages are available here and single tickets here. Or call the box office at 941-926-7677.

Sarasota Opera

Also in downtown, discover Sarasota's historic Sarasota Opera House, where an exciting new season will include six exciting opera productions. The start of the season this fall will include the return of The Music of Giueppe Verdi, highlighting the ongoing partnership with Sarasota Orchestra, and the industry-leading Sarasota Youth Opera acclaimed production of The Hobbit™ by Dean Burry. Lovers of the opera will be delighted to learn the new year will bring Italian-singing classics such as Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci; The Barber of Seville; The Marriage of Figaro; and Stiffelio. 

Single tickets and subscriptions for the 2024-25 season are now available for purchase or renewal online or at the box office: 941-328-1300.

The Circus Arts Conservatory

The Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) is home to world-class performances, excellence in training the circus arts and community-based outreach programs. CAC was born from decades of circus history and today serves as a legacy to those who have set the standards for international circus artistry and education. The organization is set to present numerous professional shows this season, including Circus Sarasota Under the Big Top, Cirque des Voix (in collaboration with Key Chorale orchestra), the Summer Circus Spectacular (in partnership with The Ringling), Windjammers Unlimited Circus Band; and Sailor Circus Jubilee (celebrating Sailor Circus Academy's 75th anniversary in training young students circus art disciplines) and more! Due to the overwhelming success of last year's holiday season, CAC will present its popular holiday circus show, Wonderland Illuminate, running from November to January.

Explore all upcoming shows and purchase your tickets online here or call the box office at 941-355-9805.

Key Chorale

The Suncoast's premier symphonic chorus provides one-of-a-kind programming across Sarasota County—known for its exciting collaborations with other local arts organizations, including Sarasota Opera, The Venice Symphony, and Circus Arts Conservatory. The 2024-25 Season celebrates 40 years of Key Chorale and will feature 17 guest artists coming from around the world. This season's repertoire will take place in various locations around the area and include pieces such as Gospel and Baroque, as well as masterful compositions of Verdi and Beethoven. 

Exciting collabs coming up include: Winter's Glow with the Sarasota Ballet this winter, inspired by the aurora borealis and Nordic music and tales, and Annual Cirque des Voix® with Circus Arts Conservatory, set under the brand-new big top at Nathan Benderson Park next spring.

Explore the upcoming concert schedule, check out its season subscription brochure or purchase single tickets through their website. 

Venice Theatre

Celebrating its 75th Diamond Anniversary Season, the Venice Theatre is ready to take the stage. Kick off the 2024-25 season with The Mousetrap, a masterful thriller by Agatha Christie; followed by The Torch Bearers, the theatre's very first production in 1950; 9 to 5, a Tony-nominated score by Dolly Parton; the return of the theater's musical version of A Christmas Carol to get in the holiday spirit; plus a family-friendly production of Alice in Wonderland and a number of musical tributes to legendary artists such as Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Elvis, The Beatles, The Temptations, Eric Clapton, The Eagles and more! 

Single tickets and Subscription packages, which includes all five shows of the season, can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 941-488-1115.

Sarasota Contemporary Dance

Continuing to bring cutting-edge dance to Sarasota, performing arts enthusiasts will love the awe-inspiring movements of SCD's 2024-25 season. Its 19th Season kicks off with The Barker Project, a dazzling collaboration rooted in Jazz, with a blend of Funk, Rock, Blues and Gospel, followed by a number of exciting In-Studio productions. Ticket holders can also look forward to the return of a favorite show-stopper, Dance Makers, as well as the annual Voices: Rising Choreographers 2025, which allows the next generation of choreographers and ensemble to shine on-stage alongside the SCD Company. 

Explore five different subscription package options: Legacy, Family, Friend, Main Stage, and Virtual, or call the box office for more information on upcoming shows at 941-260-8485. 

Rise Above Performing Arts Centre

With a focus on theatrical education and development for emerging young local talent, audiences have a chance to support the youth of our community and enjoy well-loved shows, from beloved films like The Little Mermaid to Broadway classics like Rent. Season 9 has in store five full-length musicals and one play including The Lighting Thief, Grease, The Wizard of Oz, and an elaborate production of a monumental piece of art and history, The Diary of Anne Frank.

Consider Rise Above's Circle Membership Benefits to further help students—spanning from kindergarten through college—continue their journeys exploring the performing arts at no cost to their families. Rise Above is the only young adult community theater in our area that has created a professional component in which a college performer can participate as a working actor on a professional show. For the purchase of single tickets, visit here or call 941-702-4747.

Asolo Repertory Theatre

The historic theatre neighboring The Ringling Art Museum announced its new season of previews running from November to January. A highlight includes Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, showcasing the hit singer's journey was as extraordinary as her music. And for the month of December, don't miss Asolo's holiday show, All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, making its Sarasota debut with acclaimed runs on Broadway for saluting heroes of The Great War. 

At the start of the new year, catch the world premiere of Ken Ludwig's Lady Molly of Scotland Yard, as well as Pulitzer-prize-winning masterpiece Anna in the Tropics and the Tony and Olivier-award-winning memory play Dancing at Lughnasa, the regional premiere of Good Night, Oscar, and finally, Jesus Chris Superstar wrapping the season in May. 

Subscriptions are now on sale for Asolo Rep’s 2024-25 season. You can renew or become a new subscriber online or call the box office at 941-351-8000 to redeem flex passes.

Perlman Music Program Suncoast

This year marks the 21st year of the PMP Winter Residency in Sarasota. Under the guidance of the renowned violinist and conductor, this two-week event, December and January, not only brings enjoyment to local audiences but also provides outstanding musical training to gifted students specializing in violin, viola, cello, and bass, aged 14-20+ from around the world. Audiences are invited to attend free works-in-progress (WIP) recitals, chorus and orchestra rehearsals on the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus.

There will be PMP alumni concerts, recitals and events held throughout the year. Alumni events this season include the Zota Quartet in November, the Abeo Quartet in February, the Renaissance Quartet in March and the Aeolus Quartet in April. Also in January, PMP Suncoast will present a Celebration Concert, featuring the PMP String Orchestra and the PMP Chorus at the Sarasota Opera House. 

Additional performances and events will be announced soon. Explore opportunities to become a part of the audience of PMP online or by calling 941-955-4942.

The Venice Symphony

Presenting its 51st-anniversary musical season of events from November 2024 to April 2025 at the Venice Performing Arts Center, The Venice Symphony has added Saturday night performances to every concert weekend. With conductor Troy Quinn at the helm and a talented ensemble, arts and music fans alike will be able to enjoy a diverse repertoire, including holiday classics like A Symphonic Spooktacular, The Nutcracker and Home for the Holidays. Come January, celebrate some of the most recognizable music of sports with Sports Orchestrated; then take a trip down memory lane with a A Salute to the Pops! concert; followed by Hollywood in Venice; Crazy for Gershwin; The Rat Pack is Back; and Cosmic Woods. 

Season subscriptions and packages are available now, with 2024-25 Subscription Order Forms available to download here. Order forms and brochures can also be picked up at The Venice Symphony's office or call 941-207-8822 for more information. 

Englewood Art Center

If you can't catch a performance and would rather flex your own creative muscles, shift gears to more of the visual arts. At Englewood Art Center (EAC), explore various exhibitions and community events for artists and audiences alike to exchange ideas and inspire your next project. In addition to four galleries for exhibitions, EAC houses two 2D studio classrooms, a ceramics studio and a digital media studio in south Sarasota County. 

Explore this year's season of exhibitions and classes online.

Creative Liberties Artist Studios & Gallery

Looking for your next piece as an art lover, or want to find somewhere to house your own artwork? Creative Liberties provides affordable studio space for 22 visual artists, as well as affordable display and sale space for over 40 local visual artists from around the Gulf Coast. 

Aside from Creative Liberties' various art programs and free events during season—including Family Art Day and Stitch n' Bitch Open Studio—the organization will host the second annual Gaze & Graze Progressive Dinner & Trolley Tour in December, as well as collab with other community organizations for additional art-making events. 

Mark your calendar or find upcoming events listed here.