THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

‘OLD BLUE EYES IS BACK’ WITH SCOTTY WRIGHT

7:30 p.m. at SCF Neel Performing Arts Center, 5840 26th St. W.

Bradenton

$15

Visit Calendar.scf.edu.

Come fly with jazz vocalist Scotty Wright from New York to Vegas for a rowdy tribute to Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack crooners.

‘PARALYZED’

7:30 p.m. at Florida Studio Theatre’s Bowne’s Lab Theatre, corner of

Cocoanut and First streets

$18-$39

Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.

In this world premiere, the lives of two strangers with little in common besides their names — Leigh and Lee —come together after the discovery of a mysterious suicide note. Runs through April 21.

‘CHICKEN & BISCUITS’

2 and 8 p.m. at FSU Center at the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail $33 and up Visit AsoloRep.org.

This hilarious play, presented by the Asolo Repertory Theatre, introduces the Jenkins family as they celebrate their recently deceased father and grandfather. When a secret is revealed, the comedy leads audiences through all the hilarious drama and antics that only family can inspire from one another. Runs through April 13.

FRIDAY

CARLOS MENCIA

6:30 and 8:50 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.

$37 Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

Carlos Mencia, star of the Comedy Central hit show “Mind of Mencia,” returns to his roots and shares his latest material with smaller audiences. Continues Saturday.

‘PUFFS’

7 p.m. at The Players Studio, 1400 Boulevard of the Arts #200

$15 Visit ThePlayers.org.

The Players Teens present the off-Broadway hit about the fellow travelers of a boy wizard. It’s billed as a tale for “anyone who has never been destined to save the world.”

Continues Saturday.

BETWEEN II BY DANCING EARTH

7:30 p.m. at Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road $10-$35 Visit Ringling.org.

Mixed heritage dance company

Dancing Earth examines the topic of renewable energy from differing ancestral, cultural and practical viewpoints. The performance uses mobile installation, oration, dancing, music, immersive media and eco-innovative design. Continues Saturday.

ROY BOOK BINDER

8 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court

$25 for members Visit WSLR.org/fogartyville

The legendary bluesman will mesmerize Sarasota audiences with his masterful finger-picking and lyrical storytelling. He will be joined on stage by Tampa’s Damon Fowler, a distinguished blues guitarist in his own right.

SATURDAY

LOVE THE PLANET ARTIST MARKET

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Creative Liberties Artist Studios & Gallery, 901B Apricot Ave. Free Visit CreativeLiberties.net.

Art vendors’ open studios in honor of Second Saturday, live music and free craft beer samples from local home brewers Ray and Patti Spicochi make this worth the trip.

‘GRAND STATEMENTS’

6:45 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $62 Visit LaMusicaFestival.org.

In the opening concert of the 2023 La Musica Festival, La Musica Chamber Music plays what it calls some of the “greatest achievements in chamber music history.”

SUNDAY

LILLY JANE

2 p.m. at Fogartyville, 525 Kumquat Court

DON’T MISS

20TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBIT OF ‘EMBRACING KINDNESS’

When: Until April 19

Where: Butler Park, 6205 Price Blvd., North Port

Tickets: Free

Info: EmbracingOurDifferences.org/dates-venue

The family friendly exhibit contains 50 billboard-sized images created by local, national and international artists, writers and students reflecting the theme “enriching lives through diversity and inclusion.” The showcase was previously on display at Bayfront Park.

$15 Visit WSLR.org/fogartyville.

Lilly Jane will play old-time traditional tunes, original songs and unusual arrangements of contemporary Americana music to help benefit the Will McLean Foundation, a nonprofit to promote the appreciation of the works of McLean and other Florida artists.

FEDER DUO

4 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Road $40 Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.

Former Sarasota Orchestra musicians Cheryl Feder and Abraham Feder return to Sarasota for a program of music for harp and cello, including their own transcriptions of music by Bach and Johann Strauss Jr. Abraham Feder is now assistant principal cellist of the Detroit Symphony, and Cheryl Feder is a sought-after harp soloist, chamber musician and recording artist.

MONDAY

CONNECTIONS DOCUMENTARY

FILM SERIES: ‘WILDCAT’

2:30 p.m. at Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail $15 Visit OLLIRinglingCollege.org.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute “Wildcat” follows a British soldier struggling with PTSD who turns around his life after meeting an orphaned baby ocelot in the Amazon rainforest.

SUNSET CRUISE WITH MATT DENDY

5 p.m. aboard Marina Jack, 2 Marina Plaza

$76.94 includes dinner and soft drinks

Visit MarinaJacks.com.

Matt Dendy has been a violinist and soloist in the Sarasota area since 1993 and has performed regularly with The Pops Orchestra of Sarasota, Southwest Florida Symphony and Florida Gulf Coast Symphony orchestras.

JAZZ AT THE CABARET:

DANNY SINOFF TRIO

7:30 p.m. at John C. Court Cabaret, 1265 First St.

$34-$39

Visit JazzClubSarasota.org.

Danny Sinoff, on vocals and piano, performs music from the American Songbook as well as jazz classics in an intimate cabaret setting. Food and beverage service begins at 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY

‘FIREWORKS’

7:30 at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.

$62

Visit LaMusicaFestival.org.

In this aptly named concert, strings performers, including violinists Kristen Lee, Chad Hoopes, Paul Huang and James Thompson, perform exhilarating Baroque masterworks.

‘MEAN GIRLS’

7:30 p.m. at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 77 N. Tamiami Trail

$47-$122

Visit VanWezel.org.

“Mean Girls” follows African transplant Cady Heron’s transition to suburban Illinois, where she is hazed by a trio of “frenemies.” The creative team behind the musical includes book writer Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), composer Jeff Richmond (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), lyricist Nell Benjamin (“Legally Blonde”) and director Casey Nicholaw (“The Book of Mormon”). Runs through April 16.

Our Pick

GREAT ESCAPES: ‘SOUNDS OF SPRING’

Sarasota Orchestra’s spring program includes sunny selections from musicals such as “Mary Poppins,” “Oklahoma!” and “South Pacific.” Also on the bill are Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers” and the “Spring” movement of Piazzolla’s “Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.”

IF YOU GO

When: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 12

Where: Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail

Tickets: $45-$108 Info: Visit SarasotaOrchestra.org.

‘LOVE’S LABOUR LOST’

8 p.m. at The Ringling Museum of Art’s Bayfront Gardens

$35

Visit AsoloRep.org/conservatory.

FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training presents the early Shakespeare comedy about four young men, one of them a king, who try to swear off women. Runs through April 23.

WEDNESDAY

THE WORLD SERIES OF COMEDY

7 p.m. at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd.

$25

Visit McCurdysComedy.com.

Forty professional comics hit the stage for the chance to compete in the finals of the World Series of Comedy in Las Vegas. The audience votes and helps judges choose the winners. Continues through April 15.

April 20-23