Some stories are timeless. Those of Frog and Toad most certainly are. Arnold Lobel’s children series, published from 1970-79, follows the adventures of best friends Frog and Toad and their cohort of fellow animals in tales that are simple, humorous and often heartfelt. Lobel’s stories were eventually turned into a Broadway musical, A Year with Frog and Toad, which is now in production at Asolo Repertory Theatre through August 3.

“The aesthetics of the show are reminiscent of vaudeville theater from the 1920s and ‘30s, in both song and acting style,” says Peter Rothstein, producing artistic director of Asolo Rep. “I think adults will find it as charming as kids—it’s an incredibly funny and charming show.”

A Year With Frog and Toad follows Frog, the more chipper of the two leads, and Toad, a perpetual worrywort, through the four seasons as the pair face different obstacles that test their friendship. While the show is simple, the story progression is effective: Toad, much through his own anxieties, is often concerned about the state of his relationship with Frog. While Frog is at times pulled away from Toad through a series of actual events, his relationship with his best friend remains steadfast. The story parallels the real-life fears and worries that come with childhood friendships and later on, romantic relationships, with a sincere message at the end: that real friends will always stick by your side.

For Asolo Rep, A Year With Frog and Toad is not only a chance to give emerging actors an opportunity—the cast features a mix of undergraduate students from Florida State University and students in the FSU/Asolo Conservatory—but also return to children’s programming, which the organization has not focused on since before the pandemic. “I'm thrilled that the Asolo is committed to creating work for all of Sarasota and that we're welcoming the younger folks to the theater,” says Rothstein. “We’ve set up the lobby with games and balloons and the program is a coloring book so it feels a bit like a carnival in here.”

A Year With Frog and Toad, July 16-August 3, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 34234 

Alex Hatcher (left) as Frog and Will Westray as Toad in "A Year With Frog and Toad". Provided Photo.

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We are excited to announce the upcoming audition date August 5th 2025 for Sarasota Contemporary Dance Ensemble (SCDE) our pre-professional training company for aspiring dancers. SCDE members perform throughout the year at community events, in-studio performances, and in collaboration with Sarasota Contemporary Dance. Above all, SCDE is a space for dancers to grow, explore their artistry, and find their unique voice in a supportive environment. 

Café on St. Armands is turning up the volume every Friday night this August and September with Summer Fridays. An evening of deep house and lounge vibes spun live by DJ Shambala. Guests 21 and up can vibe late into the night with: new signature bar bites menu, curated drink specials, all the good vibes. Whether you’re kicking off the weekend or keeping the night alive, Summer Fridays at Café are the place to unwind in style.

Every Friday, August 1 through September 2025, 9pm-1pm, Cafe on St. Armands, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota. 

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (The Ringling) is pleased to announce Nuestro Vaivén (Our Sway), the Museum’s first major exhibition of contemporary Latinx art. This regional survey features 22 artists—representing 11 Latin American nations and 11 Florida counties from Osceola to Sarasota to Miami-Dade. Organized by New York-based independent curator Amy Rosenblum-Martín (Florida resident 1994–2000) with Sarasota-based Community Curator and Ringling Trustee Emeritus Javi Suárez, the exhibition will be on view from October 4, 2025, to March 8, 2026. At its core, Nuestro Vaivén centers dialogue between four Latinx Sarasotan community leaders from various fields and four pairs of exhibiting artists to create installations that celebrate and reflect the wide-ranging ideas and experiences of their local communities. An exhibition-within-the-exhibition will feature the work of 14 additional Latinx artists, showing the broad spectrum of artmaking in Central and South Florida.  

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The Sarasota arts community lost an icon this week – Donna Maytham. A classically trained dancer who co-founded the Richmond (VA) Ballet in 1957, Donna and her husband Walter moved to Sarasota in 1996 and played an integral role in the Friends of the Sarasota Ballet and the Carreño Dance Festival. Many were privileged to be mentored by Donna over the years as members of her Ballet Book Clubs, most recently reincarnated as the Arts Advocates Ballet Club. From its earliest years, Donna was a staunch supporter of the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School and provided scholarships for many young dancers. Donna often expressed that she considered Sarasota Cuban Ballet Artistic Director Ariel Serrano to be one of the finest teachers of male ballet students in the country.  

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Shumaker’s long-standing legacy of excellence and its bold vision for the future have been nationally recognized. Bloomberg Law has named Shumaker one of the country’s top law firms in its inaugural Leading Law Firms Ranking, which spotlights nearly 100 firms that exemplify strength, innovation, and strategic growth in the legal profession. The 100 firms recognized in the ranking are split into two categories based on financial performance: 50 firms with profits above $500 million and 50 firms with profits below $500 million. Shumaker ranked in the upper echelon of firms in the under-$500 million category, placing 10th in the Business & Innovation category and 16th in the Growth category. Moving forward with confidence. Shumaker’s team of 300+ attorneys and advisors work together to help move your business forward with confidence.