With all the Fourth of July festivities, it’ll be a quieter week than usual for other events. Yet there will still be museum, circus and stage shows to see in the Sarasota area, including one celebrating the holiday.
Selby Gardens’ new art exhibition will continue this week, as will a summer circus show at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater. The Ringling will also debut its own new art exhibition, all themed around the circus.
There will also be multiple shows at downtown Sarasota’s Florida Studio Theatre, including a Fourth of July-themed FST Improv production taking place on the holiday itself. Here are this week’s highlights. Event details are subject to change.
1. ‘Shared Light: Lynn Goldsmith’ at Selby Gardens
For its summer exhibition, Selby Gardens will showcase the work of photographer Lynn Goldsmith, known for her celebrity portraits and fine art images, with this exhibition combining images of flowers with portraits of Patti Smith, Selby Gardens’ inaugural artist in residence. Goldsmith’s books include “Patti Smith: Before Easter After,” as well as work centered on fellow rock stars Bruce Springsteen and The Police, and “Flower” about flowers. Through Sept. 13; Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St., Sarasota; included with admission ($28, $12 ages 5-17/member guests, free ages 4 and under/members); 941-366-5731; selby.org
2. Summer Circus Spectacular at The Ringling
Sarasota’s Circus Arts Conservatory and The Ringling once again team up for this summer show held at the Historic Asolo Theater on the latter’s campus, featuring circus artists including ringmaster Ashley Vargas, clowning/slack wire act Davis Vassallo, juggler Noel Aguilar, aerialist Emma Grace Clarke, Duo Transcend, who’ve appeared on “America’s Got Talent,” and hand-balancing act Yelitza Vivas. Attendees can pay an additional $5 for admission to The Ringling’s Circus Museum. Through Aug. 8; Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; $20, $15 ages 12 and under; 941-360-7399; ringling.org
3. ‘Canvas City: The Materials of the Tented Circus’ at The Ringling
The Ringling’s art museum will host this exhibition that includes drawings by tentmaker William Hobson, photographs by Frederick W. Glasier, costumes made by seamstresses at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ Sarasota winter quarters and more. The exhibition supplements behind-the-scenes work to document The Ringling’s collection of circus costumes, with that work intermittently on view in the gallery space and costumes on view rotated from time to time. Through Jan. 3; The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; included with museum admission ($30, $5 ages 6-17, free under age 6/members, Ca’ d’Zan extra); 941-359-5700; ringling.org
4. ‘Freedom! The Musical’ at Florida Studio Theatre
If you haven’t made your Fourth of July plans yet, FST Improv will present this Independence Day-themed show that will take place on the holiday itself. Celebrate the birth of our nation that turns 250 this year and learn “the back, back, backstory behind the major historic events” of America’s founding in this “never-before-seen musical.” 7:30 p.m. July 4; Bowne’s Lab at Florida Studio Theatre, 1265 First St., Sarasota; $15-$18; 941-366-9000; floridastudiotheatre.org
5. ‘Dog Mom’ at Florida Studio Theatre
This play by Tate Elizabeth Hanyok that is part of Florida Studio Theatre’s Summer Mainstage Series follows Liz, a New Yorker “with a life falling apart faster than her morning bagel,” who finds a stray dog on her stoop. Despite not being a “dog person” in the least, Liz reluctantly agrees to foster it, which becomes a journey of self-discovery and unlikely friendship. Through July 26; Keating Theatre at Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota; ticket prices vary; 941-366-9000; floridastudiotheatre.org
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top Sarasota art events this week include museum, circus, stage shows
Reporting by Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune | USA TODAY Network
