Jay Handelman

Florida Studio Theatre presents "The Last Romance," a gentle comedy about an 80-year-old widower finding new love.

SARASOTA — The characters in Joe DiPietro’s sweetly gentle romantic comedy “The Last Romance” are all in need of a change in their lives. They have been trapped in routines,

From the window of his second floor office in the Manatee Performing Arts Center, Producing Artistic Director Rick Kerby can see his company's future under construction.

Sarasota County arts organizations seeking a share of $2.1 million in public grant funding this year are facing a new requirement tied to new Florida restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

of 7 Jon Joseph Gentry, left, and Tyler Gevas in a scene from the Urbanite Theatre production of “Monsters of the American Cinema.” Gentry

of 4 Zahara Greco as Natasha in the Dingbat Theatre production of “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.” PHOTO BY KAYLA LEE WEBSTER

of 5 A scene from a reading of Jenny Stafford's “Ahoy-Hoy” during the 2025 Urbanite Theatre Modern Works Festival.

Jay Handelman | ArtsBeat During 12 years of planning seasons and keeping the Urbanite Theatre running, whenever Summer Wallace feels

Jay Handelman | ArtsBeat Dingbat Theatre Project , which has staged some innovative productions of classic musicals over the years, is

VENICE — The Venice Symphony has grown and changed a lot since it started in 1974 as a community orchestra with volunteer musicians.