Next week, West Coast Black Theatre Troupe’s Stage of Discovery summer musical theater camp will come to an end. The camp, which enrolled 34 students aged 11-18 in a five week intensive course with lessons in dance, acting, singing, improvisation and creative writing, celebrated its 10th anniversary this summer and will culminate in an original two act musical Alice in Boogie Wonderland shown on July 12 and 13.

“We’re hopefully giving them the foundations so if they’re interested in a life in the performing arts, they’ll be able to take this information with them and strengthen their skills as they go,” says Jim Weaver, education director/artistic associate at WBTT. “My favorite part of camp is when you see the lightbulb go off in their eyes after weeks of lessons and they finally get it. It’s such a gratifying moment.”

Weaver, who wrote and will direct Alice in Boogie Wonderland, selected the musical with the intention of providing the students with something that would put all of their skills they’ve learned over the course of the camp to the test. “I wanted the kids to be challenged, but I also wanted them to have as much opportunity as possible to incorporate what they’re studying with singing, dancing and acting into the production,” says Weaver. “Alice in Wonderland has such defined, extreme characters that encourage the actors to step out of their comfort zones and explore what they’ve been studying about character development and physical presentation.”

Alice in Boogie Wonderland deviates from the original story both in the narrative structure—which Weaver wrote in so that the students can take part in a story with a beginning, middle and end—and in its musicality. In Weaver’s story, Wonderland is a fantasy world where music from all eras serves as the connective tissue, linking the characters together. Featured musical numbers include Roy Hamilton’s 1958 R&B hit Don’t Let Go, 1973’s Yesterday Once More by the Carpenters and Fantasy from Earth, Wind & Fire. “Part of the intention behind the song selection is to expose our students to other kinds of music that were around before they were born,” says Weaver. “It’s a continuation of them learning and being exposed to different things, but also incorporating a cross section of musical styles within the show itself.”

Alice in Boogie Wonderland, July 12 at 7:30pm, July 13 at 2pm, 1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota, 34236 

Students from the 2024 Stage of Discovery program perform in last summer's culminating show, Make Room for Me. Photo by Sorcha Augustine.

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The Sarasota Players is proud to present Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret, the groundbreaking and unforgettable musical running July 31 through August 10 at The Crossings at Siesta Key, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. With unforgettable songs like “Wilkommen,” “Maybe This Time,” and “Cabaret,” the show explores the blurred line between performance and truth, delusion and consequence. 

Wellen Park is turning up the summer fun with a curated lineup of events every Monday and Tuesday from July through September at Solis Hall in Downtown Wellen. Activities span a gamut of fun and creative ways to spend a weekday afternoon or evening, from music bingo, acting and writing classes for children and adults to storytime, line dancing and defense sessions. The events are open to the public and offered in addition to weekly wellness classes, plus Friday night jazz cabarets in July and August. For more information about the Sollis Hall Summer Series and to register for events, visit wellenpark.com/solis-hall-summer-series. 

After teasing the idea of a podcast to Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall followers on social media, the Hall has officially launched “Curtain Call Conversations: A Van Wezel Podcast.” The first episode airs today, July 2, on VanWezel.org/podcast and on popular podcast streaming channels like Spotify and YouTube. Episodes will air every two weeks on Wednesdays and will feature a variety of topics related to Sarasota’s Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the arts industry in general. Photos and video clips of “Curtain Call Conversations” are available for download. 

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The Hermitage Artist Retreat recently announced that three Florida public school arts teachers will spend part of their summer on Manasota Key while working on their own artistic endeavors. They are the recipients of the 2025 State Teachers Artist Residency program (STARs) – now in its fifteenth year – presented by the Hermitage Artist Retreat in partnership with the Florida Alliance for Arts Education (FAAE). This year's recipients were selected from dozens of impressive applicants, and the three teachers selected from across the State of Florida include two visual arts educators and a theater teacher recognized for her playwriting talents. These three artists receive a residency at the nationally renowned Hermitage Artist Retreat, where they can focus on their own work as creative artists. These teaching artists will present a family-friendly showcase of their work on Friday, July 11 starting at 11:30am. This special event will be held at the Englewood YMCA, by invitation only for the students in the community. 

Celebrate the greatest game played on grass in your white or light tennis fashion at Jack Dusty Coastal Cuisine and Crafted Cocktails’ Grand Slam Soirée. On July 12 and 13, enjoy a British-inspired food menu curated by the resort’s Executive Sous Chef and proud Brit Andrew Thompson and a themed cocktail menu fit for a champion. Nosh includes Umpire’s Tea Sandwiches, Game. Set. Match. Fish and Chips, Championship Cottage Pie and Quintessential Strawberries and Cream. Sips, crafted exclusively with Moët Hennessy brands, include a Centre Court Cooler, Royal Break and Champagne Volley. Big screen match viewing will be available Saturday, July 12 (Women's Final) and Sunday, July 13 (Men's Final) beginning at 11 a.m. For those hoping to hit a few aces, badminton and table tennis will be set up on the Hotel Lawn. Don't leave without snapping a few photos in front of the green tennis wall photo opportunity. This event is free to attend. Attendees are encouraged to come and go as they please as the exciting Finals matches will likely last a few hours. 

Join us for the inspiring 10th Annual SRQ Women Who Roar Leadership and Awards Luncheon, celebrating local women leaders who significantly impact our community. Enjoy a dynamic program featuring the introduction of the esteemed 2025 Leadership Circle inductees, engaging PopUp Boutiques, and opportunities to network during our post-event reception. 

Get ready to be inspired at the Annual Giving Coast Luncheon: Philanthropic Agenda & Good Hero Awards, recognizing local changemakers. Join us in bringing the philanthropic community together on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at Michael's On East and help celebrate the nonprofit spirit of our area. Featuring a panel of distinguished philanthropic leaders discussing giving trends, the honorable Good Hero Awards, and the interactive Giving Tree Program, this event will be nothing short of spectacular. Also highlighting the acclaimed SRQ Lifetime Good Hero Achievement Award, the program will uplift attendees and spark meaningful change. 

Reserve your space in SRQ Magazines' September publication, featuring three opportunities to spotlight your business: Living Lakewood, connecting Lakewood Ranch businesses with the community; Elite Top Attorneys, spotlighting the region’s most trusted legal professionals; and In Conversation: Career-Based Education, a dialogue on workforce development and training. Secure your space and connect with our readers. Contact us!