Several arts organizations start their fall seasons in October, so now’s the time to keep abreast of what’s coming up and pencil in your calendar accordingly. Here are a few suggestions for the coming week from the ArtsBeat staff.

October 2-3

Sarasota Contemporary Dance kicks off the first mainstage show of its 2026-2027 season, “Raices y Vuelos” with a former collaborator in a new venue. “SCD + The Barker Project” reunites the dance company with bassist Johnnie Barker and his combo at the Manatee Center for the Performing Arts.

The Barker Project brings an improvisational blend of funk, jazz, blues, rock and gospel world that matches SCD’s canny ability to respond dynamically in real time, that’s bound to result in an exhilarating if unpredictable performance. Show up early and join Artistic Director Leymis Bolanos Wilmott, guest artists and fellow dance lovers in a toast with a live jazz background to celebrate the start of the company’s 21st season.

“SCD + The Barker Project” at the Manatee Center for the Performing Arts, 502 Third Avenue W., Brandenton. Tickets $20-55. sarasotacontemporarydance.org/in-theater/

— Carrie Seidman

October 2-4

Theatre Odyssey started out producing an annual 10-Minute Play Festival each year, but then started giving playwrights a little more time to tell their stories with a one-act play festival. this year’s sixth annual event features four plays by writers from across the country who are competing for the $1,000 Verna Safran prize. This year’s entries are Claudia Haas’ “Sunday Sauce,” Philip Middleton Williams’ “Reasonable Doubt,” Arianna Rose’s “A Change of Heart” and Matthew Green’s “Waiting to Film Waiting for Godot.” The directors are Bob Trisolini, Marcus Johnson, Ann Morrison and Lee Gundersheimer and a four-person panel of theater professionals serve as the adjudicators.

The Sixth Annual Theatre Odyssey One-Act Play Festival is presented Oct. 2-4 at the Cook Theatre in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets are $32, $17 for students, educators and active military. theatreodyssey.org; 941-748-5875

— Jay Handelman

October 2-11

Todd Olson was looking for a way to write a play about the Beatles that wasn’t actually about the Fab Four. When he saw a documentary about a young woman who ran their fan club from the band’s early days, he started developing “Beatle Girls,” which opens the new season at Tree Fort Productions. Olson, who was artistic director of American Stage in St. Petersburg for 11, has mostly retired from his artistic director and administrative theater jobs and is now focusing on playwrighting. He describes “Beatle Girls” as a memory play in the present that tells stories about the band and the fan group that supported them from 1963 to 1970, and includes the assassination of John Lennon and the death of George Harrison. the play also looks at what the group meant to the fan club leaders.

“Beatle Girls” runs Oct. 2-11 at Tree Fort Productions, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail in the Crossings at Siesta Key Shopping Center. Tickets are $40, or $140 for a four-show subscription. treefortproductionsprojects.com/buy-tickets-2026-2027/

— Jay Handelman

October 3-25

For the last few years, Ren Pearson has been creating live radio plays that have developed a strong following for the presentations at Bookstore1Sarasota, where he works. Pearson now has a chance to expand his work with a production of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” that will have a run over three weekends in the intimate Sarasota Players Studio Black Box. Pearson’s adaptation stars Amanda Heisey in the title role, with Martin Nicholas as Van Helsing and Ella Aleksandrowski as Lucy and Tom Horton as Jonathan Harker.

“Dracula” runs Oct. 3-25 at the Sarasota Players Studio Black Box, 1400 Boulevard of the Arts, Suite 200, Sarasota. Tickets are $30, $15 for students. theplayers.org; 941-365-2494

— Jay Handelman

October 3

Ease back into the concert-viewing season with this 75-minute, no intermission program featuring the lighter side of classical music and featuring commentary from the ever-entertaining Sarasota Orchestra Musical Director, Giancarlo Guerrero. From Mozart’s “A Musical Joke” and the comic spirit of Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” to a powerhouse performance by pianist Terrance Wilson in Michael Daugherty’s tribute to Liberace, its a lively program that sure to leave a smile on your face and a lilt in your step.

“Classical Music Humor,” presented by the Sarasota Orchestra at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $27-71. buy.sarasotaorchestra.org/events

— Carrie Seidman

October 4

The Sarasota Opera fall season is still about a month away, but if you’re in need of a fix before then, you can catch this HD version from the Royal Opera of Verdi’s masterpiece, Rigoletto, an epic and emotional story of deceit, revenge and love about a serial womanizer whose reckless behavior brings danger to those around him.

This production marks director Oliver Mears’ Royal Opera debut, and features Carlos Alvarez in the title role, Lisette Oropesa as Gilda, and Liparit Avetisyan as the Duke of Mantua. Conducted by Antonio Pappano, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera delivers Verdi’s powerful score.

“Rigoletto,” performed by the Royal Opera, part of the HD at the Opera House series at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. 1:30 p.m. Tickets $20. sarasotaopera.org/summer-and-fall-2026-hd-opera-house

— Carrie Seidman