Sarasota Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 3

Review: WICKED at Straz Center
by Carolan Trbovich - March 12, 2023

What did our critic think of WICKED at Straz Center?...

Review: DREAMGIRLS at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe
by Carolan Trbovich - March 04, 2023

What did our critic think of DREAMGIRLS at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe?...

Review: HEDY! THE LIFE & INVENTIONS OF HEDY LAMARR at Sarasota Jewish Theatre
by Carolan Trbovich - February 24, 2023

What did our critic think of HEDY! THE LIFE & INVENTIONS OF HEDY LAMARR at Sarasota Jewish Theatre?...

Review: CHICKEN & BISCUITS at Asolo Repertory Theatre
by Carolan Trbovich - February 19, 2023

What did our critic think of CHICKEN & BISCUITS at Asolo Repertory Theatre?...

Review: TOOTSIE THE COMEDY MUSICAL at Van Wezel
by Carolan Trbovich - February 14, 2023

What did our critic think of TOOTSIE THE COMEDY MUSICAL at Van Wezel?...

Review: MOMIX - ALICE at Van Wezel
by Carolan Trbovich - February 12, 2023

What did our critic think of MOMIX - ALICE at Van Wezel?...

Review: CIRQUE MUSICA HOLIDAY WONDERLAND at Van Wezel
by Carolan Trbovich - December 18, 2022

What did our critic think of CIRQUE MUSICA HOLIDAY WONDERLAND at Van Wezel?...

Review: HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAYS at Riveview Performing Arts Center
by Carolan Trbovich - December 12, 2022

What did our critic think of HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAYS at Riveview Performing Arts Center? The Pops Orchestra celebrates the holiday season with the Hollywood Holidays concert led by its imaginative and ever-entertaining music director, Dr. Robyn Bell. The long list of amazing holiday films is only surpass...

Review: MISS HOLMES at David S. & Anne V. Howard Studio Theatre
by Carolan Trbovich - November 21, 2022

What did our critic think of MISS HOLMES at David S. & Anne V. Howard Studio Theatre?...

Review: A Dazzling, Haunting, and Relevant CABARET Opens at Asolo Repertory Theatre
by Drew Eberhard - November 20, 2022

Saturday’s opening night crowd was all a buzz as they stepped into the halls of the Asolo Repertory Theatre for the opening of their 2022/2023 season. Their season opener being the stunningly beautiful, sexy, and haunting work of Kander & Ebb, and a production none other than Cabaret. This was my f...

Review: THE BURDENS at Urbanite Theatre
by Jacob Ruscoe - November 09, 2022

“The Burdens” should not be missed. If you love to text message, (and who doesn’t) this is the show for you....

Review: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's GUYS AND DOLLS
by Carolan Trbovich - October 17, 2022

Guys and Dolls is a musical featuring lyrics and music by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrow and Jo Swerling. The production follows the lives of New York’s underworld of guys who are cheats, gamblers and gangsters, and the dolls they love that make their lives even more complicated. It premiered ...

Review: NEW YORK STATE OF MIND at Florida Studio Theatre
by Carolan Trbovich - September 07, 2022

What did our critic think of NEW YORK STATE OF MIND at Florida Studio Theatre?...

Review: LET IT BE at Players Centre For The Performing Arts
by Jacob Ruscoe - August 25, 2022

Let It Be is a great way to experience the classic songs of the Beatles! The Players Centre for the Performing Arts is continuing its 92nd season with the concert revue style musical, 'Let It Be.' Director, Sunny Smith, notes that the musical is 'the journey of Beatles songs through the turmoil of w...

Review: THE JERSEY TENORS - PART II at Florida Studio Theatre
by Carolan Trbovich - August 08, 2022

What did our critic think of THE JERSEY TENORS - PART II at Florida Studio Theatre? Back for a triumphant return to Sarasota since 2017, Jersey Tenors are packing the house at Florida Studio Theatre with The Jersey Tenors - Part II....

Review: HOOD at Asolo Repertory Theatre
by Nora Long - June 20, 2022

The joy that this production seeks to impart upon the audience is palpable, and understandably necessary after the past two years. The process of watching a hero come to life on stage is an undeniably entertaining one, and HOOD's well-intentioned themes have potential to inspire as this new musical ...

BWW Review: THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE at Florida Studio Theatre
by Nora Long - May 02, 2022

The themes addressed by “The Legend of Georgia McBride” sparkle in Florida Studio Theatre’s production, in a way both respectful of drag as an art form but also approachable, with characters that transporting them a glitter-filled odyssey though sexuality, gender expression, and family. The show run...

BWW Review: LITTLE SATCHMO at Sarasota Film Festival
by Carolan Trbovich - May 01, 2022

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BWW Review: A SKEPTIC AND A BRUJA at Urbanite Theatre a Haunting Experience
by Jacob Ruscoe - April 12, 2022

In a deviation from your typical theatrical experience, may I present you Urbanite Theatre’s World Premiere of “A Skeptic and a Bruja.” Much to its title premise, this new work takes you on a paranormal journey....

BWW Review: THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Venice Theatre Provides Raw Emotion
by Jacob Ruscoe - March 29, 2022

Some shows get away from all the glitz and glamour and just tell a story. There are times where musical theatre transcends the fancy costume and strobe lights; a place where the big numbers wait for another time. What we are left during those moments is something raw and powerful. What we have is “T...

BWW Review: THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG at Florida Studio Theatre is Comedic Perfection
by Jacob Ruscoe - March 06, 2022

By nature, musicals are vastly more popular than plays. They have a natural ability to engage an audience and if there are any lulls in the action, you have a high-flying musical number to bring the show back to life. A play has no safety nets. The actors must be dynamic and make genuine connections...

BWW Review: OUR TOWN at Asolo Rep is Simplistic and Powerful
by Jacob Ruscoe - February 09, 2022

The Asolo continues its season with the timeless play, Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” directed by Desdemona Chiang. Any time I see this classic piece on stage I am drawn to its simplicity. The show is typically done without a set or props and relies completely on the characters themselves to tell the...

BWW Review: CINDERELLA at Rise Above Performing Arts Showcases Talent and Imagination
by Nora Long - January 31, 2022

Rise Above Performing Arts brought a little magic to Sarasota this January with the Broadway adaptation of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. This crowd-pleasing rendition featured Rise Above’s large cast of talented young performers, and provided an opportunity for audiences of all ages to experie...

BWW Review: CINDERELLA at Manatee Performing Arts Center
by Jacob Ruscoe - December 07, 2021

It is time for a little bit of magic as Manatee Performing Arts Center produces their next mainstage production of “Cinderella.” The theatre touts Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella as the new Broadway adaptation of the classic musical....

BWW Review: COME FROM AWAY at Van Wezel all that you can want and so much more
by Jacob Ruscoe - November 24, 2021

It is such an exciting time with Broadway reopened. I spent a day recently in New York City and the hustle and bustle of the theatre district reminded me of why I love the city and Broadway in particular. I have seen a measly 73 shows on Broadway or ones that are part of a Broadway tour and I have r...