SRQ DAILY May 22, 2026
Friday Weekend Edition
"I have been wanting to do something musical in our space since the beginning of time."
Urbanite Theatre is not afraid to push the boundaries of art in Sarasota. The black box theater has developed a reputation for producing contemporary, cutting edge material. Next week, Urbanite Theatre will do something that it has yet to do in its 12 seasons of operation—a musical production. On May 29, Urbanite will host the regional premiere of Who Is Eartha Mae?, a one-woman show created by and starring Jade Wheeler. The musical play—in which Wheeler is accompanied by a pianist—explores the story of musical icon Eartha Mae Kitt, an American singer, songwriter and actor who rose to fame in the late 1940s and throughout the ‘50s.
Eartha Mae is set backstage in Kitt’s dressing room during the quiet time between Eartha Kitt’s performances. Through song, Wheeler peels back the layers of Kitt’s personality, differentiating between the performer and the person.
“I have been wanting to do something musical in our space since the beginning of time,” says Summer Wallace, producing artistic director of Urbanite. “It’s hard to find small musicals that aren’t just a song cycle, but that actually have a heart, a soul and a story. I’m pitched biography solo shows all the time, but Eartha Mae is exciting because while Eartha Kitt is this icon and legend, people don’t know a lot about the person herself.”
Kitt became known as a cultural icon and social activist as well, with her career taking a downturn in 1968, after making anti-war sentiments at a White House luncheon to then First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson. “Eartha Kitt also became a queer icon as well,” says Wallace. “She has a very distinctive singing style, once you hear her voice, you can’t unhear it. Orson Welles once called her, ‘the most exciting woman in the world.’”
Eartha Mae is presented in partnership with the Hanover Theatre Repertory, which first produced the play. Livy Scanlon—the director of the production at both the Hanover and Urbanite—first introduced Wallace to the concept. “Livy likes to champion new work and new artists and for that sake, the show is a great fit at Urbanite,” says Wallace.
Who Is Eartha Mae, May 29-June 21, Urbanite Theatre, 1487 2nd St, Sarasota, 34236. 
Jade Wheeler in
Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to commence its 2026 Summer Mainstage series with Honky Tonk Angels, a high-energy musical celebrating country music’s greatest hits. Created by Ted Swindley – the mind behind Always… Patsy Cline – this spirited story begins performances in FST’s Gompertz Theatre on May 27, with an official opening on May 29, 2026. Subscriptions start at just $59 and can be purchased online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or by calling (941) 366-9000.
Sarasota Orchestra invites artists to submit applications to exhibit their work during the 2026-2027 concert season in the Orchestra’s Harmony Gallery, located in the atrium of the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center. The application deadline for 2026-2027 Harmony Gallery exhibitions is June 30, 2026. Exhibitors will be selected by jury and announced August 15, 2026. The application process is open to all Sarasota, Manatee, or Charlotte county artists and accepts two-dimensional works in any medium (excluding installation, video, performance or audio.) Exhibited in a public forum that regularly hosts children, subject matter deemed inappropriate for youth may be rejected at the sole discretion of the Sarasota Orchestra Art Committee. The Committee has final approval of work presented for hanging. Interested artists should submit a completed application, along with 10-15 digital samples of their most recent work. Applications are available online at https://www.sarasotaorchestra.org/forms/harmony-gallery-application
Arts Advocates is pleased to announce that 10 Sarasota and Manatee county students have each been awarded $5,000 scholarships for the 2026-2027 school year. The scholarship program awards students whose studies include visual and related arts, dance, writing, music, theater, and architecture. All scholarship monies are generated through Arts Advocates activities and donations. To learn more about or become a member of Arts Advocates, visit ArtsAdvocates.org.
Matthew Aucoin’s “Music for New Bodies,” created in collaboration with acclaimed director Peter Sellars, is a bold operatic meditation on humanity’s shifting place in the natural world. Premiered in 2024, this one-act visionary operetta fuses the poetic texts of Jorie Graham with visceral soundscapes for five singers, an 18-piece chamber orchestra, lighting, and electronics. Aucoin crafts a work that is at once urgent and transcendent, while Sellars’ visionary staging brings the music into striking visual focus. Presented in an historic collaboration with EnsembleNEWSRQ, this Sarasota premiere at the Sarasota Opera House invites you to imagine new forms of life, connection, and transformation.
The Players Studio is thrilled to announce its 2026-2027 Season, featuring an electrifying lineup of musicals and plays that will showcase the incredible talents of students of all ages. From laugh-out-loud satire and epic fantasy adventures to heartwarming family favorites and Broadway hits, the upcoming season promises unforgettable experiences for performers and audiences alike. “This season truly celebrates the imagination, creativity, and passion of our students,” said Studio Director Thayer Greenberg. “Whether it’s the hilarious chaos of Urinetown, the heartfelt magic of Frozen Jr., or the thrilling adventure of She Kills Monsters, every production offers something unique and exciting for our community.”
The Sarasota Players , 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130, Sarasota, 941-365-2494, www.theplayers.org
Join us for a special performance by singer-songwriter Danielle Mohr at our Historic Spanish Point campus. Born and raised in Dunedin, Florida, Danielle has built a notable presence in the music scene with her soulful vocals, acoustic guitar, and distinctive soul-pop sound. Incorporating a looping pedal into her live performances, she creates rich, layered harmonies and rhythmic textures that captivate audiences. Danielle’s natural talent and engaging stage presence invite guests to truly feel the music while enjoying an unforgettable evening of original songs, cover songs and inspired artistry. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Tuesday, June 2, 6:30 to 7:30pm, Historic Spanish Point campus, 401 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey.
In The Pulse of the Piece, our conversation series leading up to the Sarasota Music Festival in June, we’re inviting SMF faculty artists to put us in their seat at the music stand. A human story lies behind every masterpiece featured on the programs at SMF 2026, and who better to tell those stories than the musicians who live and breathe the notes? By sharing their insider perspectives, we hope to deepen your own connection to the music long before you take your seat in the hall.
Juana Romani (1867–1924) was one of the most fascinating and successful painters in late-nineteenth-century Paris. Born in Italy, Juana—whose given name was Giovanna Carlesimo—moved to Paris with her mother and stepfather at the age of ten. She took up painting, studying under the well-known painters Jean-Jacques Henner (1829–1905) and Ferdinand Roybet (1840–1920). Romani quickly earned both critical praise and significant fame for her deftly painted, richly colorful depictions of strong, sensual women adorned in lavish textiles.
Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
Mayer explores the impact of technology on the human body through this interactive sculpture series. Slumpies invites viewers to sit and slump on these sculptures, much like furniture, and find a place of comfort while using their technological devices.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Art immersion class for children ages 6-18. Small classes with fine arts materials. Visit linarinconart.com for more information and to register.
Creative Liberties Artist Studios, Gallery & Creative Academy, 927 N Lime Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237
The summer 2026 exhibition at Selby Gardens will celebrate the creative collaboration between two legendary figures and longtime friends, photographer Lynn Goldsmith and singer-songwriter Patti Smith, who is Selby Gardens’ artist in residence. The exhibition will feature Goldsmith’s photographs of Smith, past and present, in the Museum of Botany & the Arts. The images will offer an intimate portrait of an iconic artist over the course of her remarkable career.
Selby Gardens, 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Maria A. Guzmán Capron explores the complexities of identity through vibrant figurative textiles. Drawing inspiration from her own multicultural heritage, the artist creates layered portraits of exuberant, multi-faceted characters.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Featuring works by such acclaimed modern and contemporary artists as Louise Bourgeois, Chuck Close, Yoko Ono, David Hockney, Ai Weiwei, and more, this never-before-seen exhibition offers a rare glimpse into private collections held throughout Southwest Florida.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
This beloved classic has delighted audiences across the globe for over six decades. Tevye, the village milkman, is trying to provide his wife and their five daughters with a life filled with prosperity, faith, and tradition. But a revolution is on the horizon and everything they have come to cherish hangs in the balance. One of the most beloved musicals of all times makes its long-awaited debut on the Asolo Rep stage.
Asolo Repertory Theatre , 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Café on St. Armands is introducing Prime Rib Sundays, a new weekly dining feature available every Sunday beginning at 11 AM. Guests are invited to enjoy a classic prime rib dinner, thoughtfully prepared and served as part of Café’s elevated all-day dining experience. The featured Prime Rib entrée includes chianti herb and Dijon-crusted prime rib, garlic confit mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, rich au jus, and creamy horseradish. The dish is available for $46.
Cafe on St. Armands, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, FL
Step into the spotlight with One Hit Wonders, a toe-tapping celebration of those unforgettable songs that lit up the charts and became part of our lives. From the epic storytelling of “American Pie” to the carefree whistle of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” this show celebrates the artists who gave us a single great hit.
Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Calder’s work is a great source of interest to the team at Selby Gardens. His fascination with energy and motion, coupled with his exploration of suspension and equilibrium, provides creative inspiration for the dynamic display of epiphytes, or air plants. Selby Gardens is a leading center for the study of air plants and is home to the best scientifically documented collections of living epiphytic orchids and bromeliads in the world. The Calder exhibition at Selby Gardens will highlight the artist’s use of abstract forms rooted in nature and emphasize his interest in science and engineering. The exhibition will also explore Calder’s enchantment with the circus, stemming from his studies of performers and animals at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1925.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Think while you drink! Gather your friends, co-workers or family and join us for a fun-filled evening. Prizes and specials each night. Monday – Wednesday at 7:30pm. Gecko’s on Clark – Monday ; Gecko’s on SR64 & Stickney Point – Tuesday ; Gecko’s on Hillview – Wednesday.
Wednesdays, 10:30am. Explore Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern (the Sarasota School of Architecture) and Mediterranean Revival Architecture buildings, homes and structures of Sarasota on this 90-minute mainland tour.
Saturdays, 1pm. This tour led by circus historian Bob Collins explores the fascinating legacy of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Thursdays, 10am. Discover with our expert guide, Kendra Cross, why Sarasota is the only place in the world that the Amish and Mennonite communities come to vacation en masse. In Pinecraft, enjoy the tour stops at Alma Sue’s Quilt Shop, The Carlisle Inn and Der Dutchman Amish Kitchen Cooking Restaurant for shopping and a pie shooter sample of their delicious pie!
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