Tony Award-winning Broadway star and Disney’s “Frozen” voice Idina Menzel will headline the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation Gala on March 6, 2026, at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
Menzel rose to prominence as ‘Maureen’ in Rent and became a household name with her Tony-winning performance as ‘Elphaba’ in Wicked. Her iconic voice as ‘Elsa’ in Disney’s Frozen and Frozen 2 helped propel both films to record-breaking success, with “Let It Go” becoming a global anthem and earning an Oscar and a Grammy.
Menzel will perform at 8:30 p.m. as part of the foundation’s annual fundraiser. The evening includes cocktails along Sarasota Bay, an elegant dinner, a one-night-only performance, and a post-show after-party.
When do Idina Menzel tickets go on sale for Sarasota show?
Tickets for the concert-only event go on sale Friday, Oct. 3, via the Van Wezel box office at vanwezel.org and can be purchased by calling 941-263-6799.
Gala tickets, which include the performance and festivities, are available exclusively through the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation. To purchase gala tickets, email gala@performingarts.com or call 941-271-4177.
Menzel’s career spans Broadway, television and film, including her Tony-winning turn in “Wicked,” her role as Maureen in “Rent,” and starring credits in films such as “Enchanted,” “Uncut Gems,” and Netflix’s “You’re So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.” She recently returned to Broadway in “Redwood,” earning recognition from the Drama League.
Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation CEO Tania Castroverde Moskalenko said bringing Menzel to Sarasota is “both a celebration of today’s artistry and a promise to ensure the arts continue to flourish for generations to come.”
In 2024, the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation raised $1.5 million at its annual Transformation Gala, the most successful fundraising event in the organization’s history.
The 2024 fundraiser included a surprise appearance by Tony and Emmy Award-winning artist Kristin Chenoweth, who ended the evening with a performance at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall for over 1,300 people. The philanthropic event supports the foundation’s mission to sustain a vibrant performing arts center, advance education initiatives, and enrich communities through the power of the arts.
Past performers of the annual gala include musical stars such as Barry Manilow, Harry Connick Jr., and Seal in past years.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation work hand in hand to sustain Sarasota’s cultural heartbeat. The Van Wezel brings world-class performers to the region, from Broadway musicals and symphony orchestras to comedians and international dance, while also sending artists into schools and community spaces through its education programs.
Since 1987, the foundation has supported that mission by funding arts education for more than 40,000 students each year and, today, is also leading the vision for a new performing arts center at The Bay Park. The gala is more than a marquee night, but serves as the foundation’s fundraiser that fuels education, outreach, and Sarasota’s future as a artistic hub.
“The generosity and unwavering support for Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation illuminates the path toward a brighter future for arts and arts education in Sarasota and reaffirms our shared commitment to a new performing arts center on the Bay,” foundation CEO Tania Castroverde Moskalenko said. “I am grateful to everyone who contributed to helping us achieve this incredible milestone.”
For more information on the gala, sponsorships, or tickets, visit performingArtsFoundation.org.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Idina Menzel to headline Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation gala. Tickets on sale today
Reporting by Samantha Gholar, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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