Arts Editor: Community theaters focused on building and rebuilding

As we pause to honor our nation’s veterans on Memorial Day, we are also getting a clearer picture of what the next community theater season is going to look like in the Sarasota area.

Venice Theatre recently announced plans for its 75th season to a cheering crowd of more than 100 people standing in the lobby, just feet from where work crews are in the process of rebuilding the main Jervey Theatre that was destroyed in 2022 by Hurricane Ian.

Venice Theatre has a special relationship with its patrons, who have helped to make it the second-largest community theater in the nation. And the hurricane damage only increased the connection, making it more personal.

Murray Chase, the restoration supervisor, says it’s going to take at least $10 million to get the Jervey Theatre rebuilt and outfitted. It could be significantly more by the time all the work is done. As sad as it is to see a big hole in the back of the building, that construction project is giving patrons something to root for beyond what’s on stage. T

Sarasota Players and Manatee Players seasons

The Sarasota Players is gearing up for its 95th season with a lineup of four musicals, inspired by literary works with family-friendly themes. The season, announced at a public event with some musical excerpts, was selected by a team of staff and volunteers who are working as artistic coordinators since the resignation of Artistic Director Steven Butler in March. The theater also is planning a number of special events, including a 95th anniversary gala during the season. And the outdoor “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” will return in time for Halloween at the Sarasota Polo Grounds.

The Manatee Players took a different approach in announcing its season by posting a video on social media featuring Producing Artistic Director Rick Kerby wandering around the Manatee Performing Arts Center to reveal the titles. It’s a season of mostly familiar works and past hits meant to boost attendance as the Manatee Players, like many other companies around the country, work to rebuild attendance to pre-COVID levels. I am excited to see what Kerby does in staging Stephen Sondheim's “Merrily We Roll Along,” a one-time flop that has become Broadway’s biggest hit of the season in a well-received revival.

A musical ‘Twelve Angry Men’

Some reviews come more easily than others to write. I struggled a bit with my critique of Asolo Repertory Theatre’s “Twelve Angry Men: A New Musical,” because as enjoyable as it can be, I kept wondering why it seemed odd, at times, that the jurors in this classic drama were singing. That’s not always an issue in other musicals. Since my review was published, I’ve heard from quite a few people who shared their thoughts, mostly positive with some reservations. I’m curious to know what you think. Feel free to let me know at jay.handelman@heraldtribune.com.

Urbanite Theatre’s latest world premiere

Sarasota’s Urbanite Theatre has commissioned a number of plays in the last few years, and it’s about to open its second world premiere with Terry Guest’s “OAK,” which closes the company’s 10th season. The play is a spooky story set in the South where residents of a small community are worried about some kind of spirit or monster that has been grabbing teenagers and making them disappear. The theater commissioned the play from Guest, who may be remembered for his popular “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” two years ago. It’s the third world premiere of the season for the company.

Skyway 2024 exhibition opens

Visual arts writer Marty Fugate has a preview of the Skyway 2024 exhibition, which is now open at The Ringling, and will expand through the summer and into the fall to include the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg; the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College, the Tampa Museum of Art and the University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum. The exhibition, which began in 2017 and returned in 2021, features the work of Tampa Bay area artists in all five venue. Marty focuses on a few of the pieces that spoke to him on display in The Ringling.

Thank you to our veterans.

Jay Handelman

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