You may have to look a little harder to find new arts events now that “the season” has officially come to an end. But we’re making it a little easier with this week’s suggestions on what to see and experience.
May 26-31
Chloee Cheers and Kyle Mangold in a scene from the touring production of “The Notebook” at the Straz Center in Tampa. Photo by Roger Mastroianni provided by the Straz Center
Nicholas Sparks has made millions shed tears with his romantic novels and the films adapted from them. His work is also the inspiration for the 2024 Broadway musical “The Notebook,” about a man whose wife is suffering from Alzheimer’s. He starts reading to her a story from a notebook that is actually the tale of how they met and fell in love. It features a score by best-selling singer-songwriter Ingrid Michzaelson. Bekah Brunstetter, a writer on the hit TV series “This is Us” and the author of the play “The Cake,” wrote the book. It is directed by Michael Greif, who staged such hits as “Rent,” “Next to Normal” and “Dear Evan Hansen.”
‘The Notebook” runs May 26-31 at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Tickets are $62-$193. strazcenter.org; 800-955-1045
— Jay Handelman
May 27
Steve Arvey
Born out of poverty and sheer ingenuity, cigar box guitars — made from emptied wooden tobacco boxes, broom handles and repurposed wire — played an important role in the development of American blues and roots music in the early 1800s. Steve Arvey, who has traveled around the world to seek out builders and new sounds of this unusual instrument, brings 50 years of experience in the music business to this performance. And if you’re curious about just how a cigar box guitar is built, you’ll get a rudimentary lesson in that as well.
“The Sound of Cigar Box Guitars,” presented by Steve Arvey as part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail. 10-11:30 a.m. $20. 941-309-5111. olliringlingcollege.org
— Carrie Seidman
May 28
Singer, songwriter and musical director Rona Siddiqui returns to the Hermitage Arist Retreat for a program on “Songwriting for Character.” Photo provided by Hermitage Artist Retreat
Singer, songwriter and musical director Rona Siddiqui has been seen frequently in programs presented by the Hermitage Artist Retreat, where she is a fellow. She’s back for a new program dealing with “Songwriting for Character.” She’ll be joined by Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe veterans Raleigh Mosely II and Maicy Powell, performing songs that demonstrate Siddiqui’s approach to songwriting. She served asmusic director and orchestra of Michael R. Jackson’s Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning “A Strange Loop” and is the recipient of numerous songwriting prizes and grants.
“Songwriting for Character” will be presented at 6:30 p.m. May 28 on the Hermitage Beach, 6660 Manasota Key Rd., Englewood. $5 registration fee. hermitageartistretreat.org
— Jay Handelman
May 29
Jay’s too modest to blow his own horn here, so Carrie will blow it for him. As part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the Sarasota Art Museum, Jay will be delivering a talk on the history of musical theater, tracing its origins from “The Black Crook” in 1866 to the present day. There will be audio clips of historic musical numbers, and possibly video snippets too. As the Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s theater critic for four decades and a longtime leader of the American Theatre Critics and Journalists Association, Jay has far more stories to share than will fit into this single hour-long session, but it’s a start.
“The History of Musical Theater,” a presentation by Artsbeat co-founder and theater critic Jay Handleman, part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the Sarasota Museum of Art, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail. 1-2 p.m. $15. Reservations at 941-309-5111; olliringlingcollege.org.
— Carrie Seidman
May 29
Eric Zabala on the vibraphone. / ericzabalamusic.com
When you think of jazz, the vibraphone may not be the first instrument that comes to mind. Resembling a large xylophone, but featuring aluminum bars arranged like a piano it’s played with mallets and is famous for its warm ringing tone.
This week, vibraphonist Eric Zabala, a longtime member of Sarasota’s Barker Project, which blends funk, soul, rock and gospel, is joining the Chaunces Trio, a St. Peterburg-based jazz trio led by drummer Chance Reynolds with bassist Cooper Madden. They’ll combine straight ahead jazz, hip hop and experimental music to create a distinctive sound — spearheaded by the unique sound of the vibraphone.
Chaunces Trio, at the Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court. Doors open at 7 p.m.; music begins 8 p.m. Tickets $13-$25. 941-894-6469. https://wslrfogartyville.ticketspice.com/05292026-eric-zabala-trio
— Carrie Seidman
May 29-June 21
Jade Wheeler stars as Eartha Kitt in her one-woman play with music “Who is Eartha Mae?” at Urbanite Theatre. Mike Hendrickson photo provided by Urbanite Theatre
Urbanite Theatre’s highly successful 2025-26 season comes to an end with the one-woman play with music “Who is Eartha Mae? Jade Wheel created and stars in this piece about the truly original stage and screen star Eartha Kitt, exploring the differences between the glamarous and confident person audiences loved and the challenges in her upbringing that may have led her to stardom. It is directed by Livy Scanlon (who starred in the Urbanite production of “Judith”) and this show is a presented in a partnership with Scanlon’s Hanover Theatre Repertory in Worcester, Massachussetts. Wheeler has been performing for 20 years and first performed this piece as a 10-minute workshop in Washingtonj, D.C.
“Who is Eartha Mae?” runs at AUrbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St., Sarasota May 29-June 21. Tickets are $44, $30 for those 40 and younger and $5 for students. urbanitetheatre.com; 941-321-1397
— Jay Handelman
May 29-June 21
From left, Haillie Lucille, Hannah Taylor and Alexandra Melrose star in the Florida Studio Theatre production of “Honky Tonk Angels.” Photo by Sorcha Augustine provided by FST
Florida Studio Theatre opens its summer 2026 mainstage season with “Honky Tonk Angels,” a musical that celebrates some of country music’s great stars and their hits. It was created by Ted Swindley, who previously found enduring success with his two-character show “Always… Patsy Cline.” Ben Liebert directs and choreographs the production, which features Hailie Lucille, Alexandra Melrose and Hannah Taylor as three women chasing their dreams of country stardom and leaving their troubles behind. They perform such hits as “Stand By Your Man,” “9 to 5,” “I Will Always Love You,” “These Boots Are Made for Walking” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”
“Honky Tonk Angels” is presented by Florida Studio Theatre in the Gompertz Theatre, 1245 First St., Sarasota. Tickets are $39-$56. floridastudiotheatre.org; 941-366-9000
— Jay Handelman
