April 23-May 10
The cast of the musical “Big Fish” rehearsing at the Manatee Performing Arts Center. Photo by Diane Shelby
You can expect some tall tales and adventures in the musical “Big Fish,” which closes the mainstage season for the Manatee Players. Producing Artistic Director Rick Kerby stages the show with a book by John August and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. Chip Fisher stars as Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman, who shares stories about witches, giants and mermaids with his skeptical son, who sets out to find out the truth before his father passes away. The musical was last presented in the area in 2017 at the Sarasota Players.
“Big Fish” runs April 23-May 10 at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Avenue West, Bradenton. Tickets are $34.50-$42.50. manateeperformingartscenter.com; 941-749-1111
— Jay Handelman
April 24
Steve Drury is one of four guests pianists who will perform in enSRQ’s milestone presentation of Steve Reich’s “Music for 18 Musicians” at the Sarasota Opera House. / Photo by Peter Gannushkin
Fifty years to the day after the world premiere of Steve Reich’s “Music for 18 Musicians,” the minimalist masterpiece will be performed by Sarasota’s own cutting edge contemporary ensemble, enSRQ, with the help of guest musicians that include four award-winning pianists performing on 9-foot grand pianos — Conor Hanick, Han Chen, Steve Drury and Wesley Ducote.
Reich debuted his groundbreaking work, which is based on a cycle of 11 chords, in 1976. His 90th birthday this year coincides with enSRQ’s tenth anniversary. What more fitting way to pay tribute to both the composer and the ensemble’s dedication to adventurous, transformative performances than to listen to this iconic work in the grandeur of the Sarasota Opera House?
Steve Reich’s “Music for 18 Musicians,” presented by enSRQ (ensemblenewSRQ), 7:30 p.m., Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $30. ensrq.org/seasons/s10/2026-04-24-music-for-18-musicians
— Carrie Seidman
April 24-25
Singer Morgan James joins the Sarasota Orchestra Pops for “Bond and Beyond.” Photo provided by Sarasota Orchestra
The long-running series of James Bond movies has kept audiences on the edge of their seats since Sean Connery starred as Agent 007 in “Dr. No” in 1962. But the movies have also been a hit on the music charts, which is the focus of the Sarasota Orchestra Pops concert “Bond and Beyond.” Christopher Confessore conducts three performances with vocalist Morgan James. The playlist includes “Diamonds are Forever,” “The Look of Love,” “For Your Eyes Only,” “Nobody Does it Better,” “Live and Let Die” and “Goldfinger.”
“Bond and Beyond” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. April 24 and 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. April 25 in the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail. Tickets are $41-$99. sarasotaorchestra.org; 941-953-3434
— Jay Handelman
April 24-May 10
Vera Samuels stars in the title role of Kate Hamill’s “Emma,” based on the Jane Austen novel, at Venice Theatre. Photo by Renee McVety provided by Venice Theatre
Jane Austen’s “Emma” gets a new life as a kind of feminist screwball comedy in Kate Hamill’s stage adaptation at Venice Theatre. Vera Samuels plays the young woman who helps fill her time by becoming a matchmaker for people she knows. But Emma might want to pay a little more attention to her own love life and her feelings for George Knightley (played by Zach Tudor). Kelly Wynn Woodland directs the production.
‘Emma’ runs April 24-May 10 in the Venice Theatre’s Raymond Center, 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice. Tickets are $39, $28 for college students and educators and $18 for youth. venicetheatre.org; 941-488-1115.
— Jay Handelman
April 25
If you read my recent feature on the Tania Vergara Dance-Theater, you know where I’m going to be on Saturday. Vergara Perez, who has reestablished the contemporary ballet company she started two decades ago in Cuba, is one of the most unique and adept choreographers on the local dance scene. One of her newest works, “HuMangrove,” inspired by the resilient mangrove root that sustains life along the shores of Sarasota Bay, draws a metaphor between the plant’s resilience and intertwining and human connections and the strength of community. Poetry and projections of mangrove paintings by the choreographer’s artist husband, painter and sculptor Guillermo Lopez Gonzalez, will intensify the piece, performed in the intimacy of Sarasota Contemporary Dance’s black box theater.
“HuMangrove,” 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tania Vergara Dance-Theater at Sarasota Contemporary Dance, 1800 Boulevard of the Arts, Suite 300. $30 reserved seating; $25 general seating; $20 streaming tickets. www.sarasotacontemporarydance.org/in-studio; 941-260-8485.
— Carrie Seidman
April 25
Art Center Sarasota, in partnership with Embracing Our Differences and The Patterson Foundation, invites families to take part in a free art workshop inspired by the beloved “Bucket Filling” books by local author Carol McCloud, which show how small acts of kindness can make a big difference. Kids can decorate a sand bucket to take home, receive a free copy of McCloud’s “My Bucketfilling Journal” (while supplies last) and enjoy a special appearance by the author, as well as refreshments. Advance registration is encouraged, but not required.
Family Saturday art-making with author Carol McCloud, 12 noon to 3 p.m. Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail. Free. Register at [email protected]; (941) 365-2032. artssarasota.org
— Carrie Seidman
