There’s always a lot to choose from when it comes to the Sarasota area arts scene. Here are some recommendations of what to see this week.

Monday, February 2

You’ve got one last chance -- tonight -- to catch The Sarasota Ballet’s “Notes Unspoken” program, which includes “The Waiting Room,” an unusual (for her) world premiere by Gemma Bond; Ricardo Graziano’s “Valsinhas”  and Antony Tudor’s “Lilac Garden.” If “Lilac Garden” isn’t enough of a draw on its own, just wait until you see “The Waiting Room”…Check out my review from opening night here.

FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail. $35-$125. Sarasotaballet.org; 941-359-0099

Carrie Seidman

Tuesday, February 3 (through February 8)

I don’t know about you, but I’m super excited to see “MJ, The Musical,” the Tony Award-winning show that lands at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall this week. Not just because of MJ’s brilliant music and dance, but because of the creative team that put this show about MJ’s 1992 Dangerous World Tour together -- one of my favorite choreographers (Christopher Wheeldon) and the Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage. And if you’re feeling the need to express your inner MJ, there’s also a master class on February 4.

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail. $68-$208. Vanwezel.org; 941-263-6799

Carrie Seidman 

Feb. 4-15

The Sarasota Jewish Theatre opens its new season with “Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski,” a one-man play that sounds like it should be a moving experience. David Raver, who has been featured in several past shows, including “Lost in Yonkers” and “The Immigrant” returns to share the real-life story of a Polish hero who risked his life to share the story of Nazi atrocities. David Straithairn starred in a version that was shown the PBS series “Great Performances.”

Sarasota Jewish Theatre at the Sarasota Players, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Suite 1130. $38-$50, $19 for students. sarasotajewishtheatre.org; 941-365-2494.

Jay Handelman

Through Feb. 11

You have a little more than a week to catch up with Eboni Booth’s engaging, Pulitzer Prize-winning “Primary Trust” at Asolo Repertory Theatre. It’s about a lonely 38-year-old man who shares a sad story about his life and how he spends his nights drinking and talking to his imaginary friend. But something changes when just one person reaches out to make a connection. It’s a tale that will have an emotional impact.

Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. $35-$100. asolorep.org 941-351-8000.

Jay Handelman

Saturday/Sunday February 7-8

If you’re looking to make plans for next weekend, consider “Counterpoint,” part of the Ringling’s fantastic Art of Performance series. It’s a collaboration between pianist and composer Conrad Tao and choreographer and dancer Caleb Teicher, exploring the dichotomy of their different perspectives and artistic expressions. The duo maps out the constellations linking their disparate traditions through harmonic, rhythmic and theatrical counterpoint. It’s short (70 minutes without an intermission) and sweet.

Historic Asolo Theater, The Ringling, 5401 Bayshore Rd.  $40-$50. Ringling.org; 941-260-7399

Carrie Seidman

Through Feb. 15

Downtown Sarasota’s Urbanite Theatre is a small playhouse that seats no more than 70 people, so I’ve been surprised to hear so many people talking about its current production of “JOB”by Max Wolf Friedlich. But it’s certainly understandable considering the two deeply committed and gripping performances by Casey Wortmann and David Breitbarth. She plays a tech employee who needs to get a therapist to sign off on her returning to work after an emotional breakdown. He plays the therapist and their first session keeps you on the edge of your seat. There are limited seats available for the last two weeks of the run.

Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St., Sarasota. $44, $30 for under 40 and $5 for students. urbanitetheatre.com; 941-321-1397

Jay Handelman