45-532: The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is a performing arts venue located at 777 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida neighboring the Sarasota Bay . The main theater of the 80,000 square feet (7,400 m) facility contains 1,741 seats. The initial construction of the 1,736-seat hall was partly funded by a bequest from local residents Lewis and Eugenia van Wezel, who donated $ 400,000 of the total construction cost of $ 2.5 million. The architectural design
90-527: A commission–manager form of government. There are a total of five city commissioners: two that are elected "at large" and three from single-member districts. The mayor and vice mayor are selected from the five city commissioners. Mayors of Sarasota, Florida include: Sarasota has many musical, dance, theatre, circus and other performing arts venues, including the Sarasota Ballet , Sarasota Opera , Asolo Repertory Theatre , Florida Studio Theatre ,
135-406: A bachelor's degree or higher. In 2020, the median household income was $ 56,093 with a per capita income of $ 43,387. 15.6% of the population lived below the poverty threshold . As of the 2010 United States census , there were 51,917 people, 22,775 households, and 11,603 families residing in the city. Sarasota municipal government was incorporated in 1913, changing from a town type to adopting
180-464: A census and birth registration, an area PTA, and a Red Cross Auxiliary. The Sarasota Woman's Club relocated in 1976 and the building became slated for demolition. Marian McKenna, a patron, and supporter of the arts, did not want to see the building and her memories destroyed. She purchased the building and later sold it to Florida Studio Theatre. In 1985, the Sarasota Woman's Club building
225-601: A crime drama starring Denzel Washington and Eva Mendes used the Blackburn Point Bridge , Boca Grande and Cortez . In 2013, Taylor Hackford 's action movie Parker , with Jason Statham , Jennifer Lopez , Nick Nolte had scenes filmed at Ca' d'Zan in Sarasota. In June 2017, director Kevin Smith shot his 2022 film, KillRoy Was Here , in Sarasota. Sarasota is home to Mote Marine Laboratory ,
270-763: A marine rescue, research facility, an aquarium, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens , the Sarasota Jungle Gardens and the Big Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary. Since 1998, the city has hosted the Sarasota Film Festival annually. The festival attracts independent films from around the world. It claims to be one of Florida's largest film festivals. In 2009 the annual Ringling International Arts Festival , held its premier and held its closing event in
315-728: A small town just South of Sarasota. The name Sarasota Chalk Festival remains the same. It is also home to the Fabulous Arts Foundation, formerly the Harvey Milk Festival, an independent music festival in support of civil rights , focusing on the LGBTQ community. It has been celebrated in May annually since 2010 on the weekend closest to Harvey Milk 's birthday. It is currently the largest independent music festival in Sarasota , with thousands of attendees throughout
360-542: A theater that could be adapted for either vaudeville performances or movie screenings. Renowned stripper Sally Rand did her bubble bath and fan dance here. Tommy Dorsey , Will Rogers and Elvis Presley each performed at the Edward Theatre. It is now the Sarasota Opera House . It remains at the intersection of Pineapple Avenue and Second Street, having been restored and used for performances by
405-721: Is a city in and the county seat of Sarasota County, Florida , United States. It is located in Southwest Florida , the southern end of the Greater Tampa Bay Area , and north of Fort Myers and Punta Gorda. Its official limits include Sarasota Bay and several barrier islands between the bay and the Gulf of Mexico . Sarasota is a principal city of the North Port- Bradenton- Sarasota, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area . According to
450-600: Is disputed, with some claiming that it is based on conquistador Hernando de Soto's daughter Sara, and others claiming that it comes from "sara-de-cota," meaning "an area of land easily observed" in the language of the Calusa indigenous tribe. Around 1883 to 1885, The Florida Mortgage and Investment Company of Edinburgh bought 60,000 acres for development in what is now Sarasota. Many Scottish people began to arrive in Sarasota in December 1885. The municipal government of Sarasota
495-651: Is located in Sarasota. The Circus Ring of Fame is a series of commemorative plaques in St. Armand's Circle , honoring prominent figures in circus history, similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame . Honorees include Paul Binder , Nik Wallenda , and the King Charles Troupe , among over 150 others. Residents of Sarasota that have been associated with the circus include daredevil and Guinness World Record holder Bello Nock , himself an honoree of
SECTION 10
#1732780726005540-693: Is one of the largest and most active jazz clubs in the United States and has promoted jazz events in Sarasota for 39 years. Elvis Presley , Tommy Dorsey and Gregg Allman each played concerts in Sarasota. Joe Perry of Aerosmith , Brian Johnson of AC/DC , Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers Band , Donald Dunn of the Blues Brothers and Graeme Edge of the Moody Blues have all settled in Sarasota. Sarasota and
585-452: Is water. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is the name given to the many natural deep water sections as well as humanmade channels, canals, and cuts that link the entire Sarasota Bay system. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 54,842 people, 25,209 households, and 12,474 families residing in the city. Of that population in 2020, 3.9% were under 5 years old, 14.6% were under 18 years old, and 28.0% were 65 years and older. 52.5% of
630-510: The 2020 U.S. census , Sarasota had a population of 54,842, up from 51,917 at the 2010 census. The Sarasota city limits contain several islands, called keys, including Lido Key , St. Armands Key , Otter Key, Coon Key, Bird Key , and the northern portion of Siesta Key as well as Bay Island. Longboat Key is the largest key separating Sarasota Bay from the Gulf of Mexico but is a separate municipality. The city limits expanded significantly with
675-520: The Bauhaus and Frank Lloyd Wright 's "organic" architecture. The style developed as an adaptation to the area's sub-tropical climate and used newly emerging materials that were manufactured or implemented following World War II. By the end of the twentieth century, many of Sarasota's more modest historical structures were demolished. Recently, two historic buildings, the Crocker Church and
720-683: The Circus Museum and the Tibbals Learning Center , established in 1948. Sarasota is also home to The Circus Arts Conservatory, which is responsible for the tent show Circus Sarasota and the "oldest youth circus", Sailor Circus. In 2017, The Circus Arts Conservatory took part in the Smithsonian Folk Festival. The Showfolks Club, a social organization that also puts on an annual circus performance billed as "Sarasota’s longest running circus event",
765-707: The Sarasota Opera and others. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . In the early 1950s, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art purchased a historic Italian theater, the "Asolo" (now called the Historic Asolo Theater). This theatre was originally built for Queen Caterina of Cyprus' palace in Asolo, Italy in 1798 but was dismantled in 1931. A. Everett "Chick" Austin,
810-543: The "Going Vertical" project, and although it sometimes coincides with the chalk festival, it is distinct from it and often continues throughout the year. Except for a few commissioned on public property in the Palm Avenue Parking Garage, the murals are on private property and are in many sections of Sarasota and Manatee County. As of 2014 the Sarasota Chalk festival has relocated to Venice, FL,
855-644: The Bidwell-Wood House (the oldest remaining structure in the city), first restored by Veronica Morgan and members of the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation that she founded, became city property. These structures were relocated to this park, despite protests from residents who objected to the loss of park area. In the late 1970s, Sarasota County purchased the Terrace Hotel that Charles Ringling built and renovated it for use as
900-740: The Circus Ring of Fame, as well as aerialist and circus proprietor Dolly Jacobs , who cofounded The Circus Arts Conservatory. In 1952, Cecil B. DeMille filmed and premiered The Greatest Show on Earth (with James Stewart , Charlton Heston , Betty Hutton ) in Sarasota. In 1998, two studio films were filmed in Sarasota: Alfonso Cuaron 's Great Expectations , with Ethan Hawke , Gwyneth Paltrow , Hank Azaria , Anne Bancroft and Robert De Niro ; and Volker Schlondorff 's Palmetto , starring Woody Harrelson , Elisabeth Shue , and Gina Gershon . Out of Time (2003),
945-653: The Cultural Coast are home to fine art, film-making, circus history and performance, and decorative arts. The Sarasota Art Museum and the Ringling Museum are both in Sarasota. One of Sarasota's nicknames is "Circus City", or alternatively "The Circus Capital of the World", owing in part to John Ringling's decision to move the winter quarters of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to Sarasota in 1927. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art houses
SECTION 20
#1732780726005990-569: The Palm Tree Playhouse in 1951. The Playhouse closed again in the 1960s. In the mid-1970s, Asolo Theatre purchased the space for production purposes and their Stage Two Theatre program. It was subsequently sold to Anita Katzman and reoccupied by Siesta Key Actors Theatre and Theatre Works in the 1980s. The building was acquired by Florida Studio Theatre and renamed the Gompertz Theatre in honor of Mrs. Leila Gompertz, who made
1035-611: The Players Centre for Performing Arts, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Urbanite Theatre, Sarasota Contemporary Dance, Sarasota Orchestra, La Musica, Jazz Club of Sarasota, Sarasota Youth Opera, Circus Arts Conservatory and many others. Theatrical venues include Florida Studio Theatre , Asolo Repertory Theatre , Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall , The Players Theatre, Urbanite Theatre, and the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. In 1925, A. B. Edwards built
1080-459: The Sarasota Woman's Club, is amongst the oldest surviving buildings in Sarasota. Founded in 1903, the Sarasota Woman's Club eventually set out to create a meeting place to house social events, activities, and forums. On January 1, 1915, the cornerstone was laid at the corner of Palm Avenue and Park Street (now Cocoanut). It served as the town's first library and hosted numerous clubs and public committee gatherings. The Woman's Club also maintained
1125-522: The United States of America. Celebrating the sixteenth-century performance art of Italian street painting, the festival hosted Maestro Madonnaro Edgar Mueller from Germany, who created the first street painting that changed images from day to night. The festival has a different theme each year and has introduced new techniques in street art. Other applications of street art such as murals and "cellograff graffiti" have become companion events also produced by Avenida de Colores, Inc. The murals are part of
1170-409: The airport, fire departments, property and ad valorem taxes, voting, the health department, extension services, stormwater control, mosquito control, the courts, and the jail. The municipal government of Sarasota was established when it was incorporated as a town on October 14, 1902. Sarasota was then reincorporated as a city on May 13, 1913. Since its incorporation, Sarasota has been governed by
1215-448: The ceremonial positions of "mayor" and "vice-mayor", as chosen by the commission every April. Two at-large commissioners are elected by all voters and the city is divided into three districts for which the residents of each elect one district representative to the five member commission. Many aspects of the city are overseen by the county government ranging from the schools, the libraries, the bay, major waterways, county-designated roads,
1260-465: The city type of local government found in the United States and the title of its government changed to "City of Sarasota". Sarasota later was designated as the county seat when Sarasota County was carved out of Manatee County in 1921 during the creation of several new counties . In 1945 the commission-manager government form was adopted for the city and it is governed by a five-person commission elected by popular vote, two members of which serve in
1305-545: The country and worldwide. The Festival has become a destination event, drawing thousands across Florida and beyond. Past performers have come from as far as Mexico, Canada, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom to perform on Florida's Gulf Coast. In 2010, the Sarasota Chalk Festival that is held yearly in the historic area of Burns Square became the first international street painting festival in
1350-562: The free, public, multi-day event that also includes gallery showings, film, and other live performances. A large number of homes and buildings are designed in the Italian style. Italian architecture and culture are present in the area including at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Ringling's home, Cà d'Zan , was mostly modeled on the Venetian. Examples of those more typically seen in
1395-475: The historic Asolo theater, which had been moved and rebuilt again. The historic Venetian theater now is housed in the reception building for the museum where it is used for special events as well as performances, informative purposes, and another seasonal film series hosted by the museum. Florida Studio Theatre produces the annual Sarasota Improv Festival. Founded in 2009 by Rebecca Hopkins, FST's annual Sarasota Improv Festival brings together improvisers from across
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall - Misplaced Pages Continue
1440-650: The lead gift enabling the purchase. Sarasota is the home of the Sarasota Orchestra , which was founded by Ruth Cotton Butler in 1949 and known for years as the Florida West Coast Symphony . It holds a three-week Sarasota Music Festival that is recognized internationally and boasts it attracts renowned teachers and the finest students of chamber music. Sarasota also boasts a symphonic chorus, Key Chorale, and professional vocal ensemble, Choral Artists of Sarasota. The Jazz Club of Sarasota
1485-656: The museum's first director, arranged the purchase and reassembly of the theater for performances of plays and opera. In the 1960s philanthropists Lewis and Eugenia Van Wezel enabled the city to build a performing arts hall on the bayfront. The auditorium, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall , was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright 's successor firm, Taliesin Associated Architects team under the direction of William Wesley Peters . Wright's widow, Olgivanna Lloyd Wright , who participated in
1530-533: The performing hall. Then in 2019, the foundation changed its name to the Sarasota Performing Arts Center Foundation, Inc. In addition to supporting the arts education initiatives, the foundation is also raising funds to construct a new performing arts center. While continuing to operate under its old "Van Wezel" name, the new foundation actively promoted the new hall while denigrating the still functioning hall. This campaign
1575-425: The population were female persons. As of 2020, 4,056 veterans lived in the city and 16.7% of the population were foreign born persons. In 2020, the median gross rent was $ 1,177. 92.5% of the households had a computer and 84.2% of the households had a broadband internet subscription. In 2020, 90.0% of the population over 25 years had completed a high school education, and 37.2% of the population over 25 years had
1620-577: The project, selected its purple color. In 1989, Stuart Barger, a local architect, designed and oversaw the construction of another Asolo Theater, housed in the Florida State University Center for the Performing Arts . It is a multi-theater complex, located farther east on the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art property, being placed between Bay Shore Road and Tamiami Trail, and facing south toward Ringling Plaza. It
1665-462: The real estate rush of the early twentieth century, reaching almost 70 square miles (180 km ). The speculation boom began to crash in 1926 and the city limits began to contract, shrinking to less than a quarter of that area. The area known today as Sarasota appeared on a sheepskin Spanish map from 1763 with the word Zarazote over present-day Sarasota and Bradenton . The origin of the name
1710-530: The same style are the residences of Edith Ringling and of Hester Ringling Lancaster Sanford, that also are among the structures in the Caples–Ringling Estates Historic District . Italian inspired statues are also common and the copy of Michelangelo's David at the museum is used as the symbol of Sarasota. The Sarasota School of Architecture developed as a variant of mid-century modernist architecture. It incorporates elements of both
1755-415: The summer regularly push the heat index over 100 °F (38 °C). There are distinct rainy and dry seasons, with the rainy season lasting from March to November and the dry season from December to February. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 24.08 square miles (62.4 km ), of which 14.70 sq mi (38.07 km ) is land and 9.39 sq mi (24.3 km )
1800-627: Was added to the National Register of Historic Places. After completing more renovations to the historic building in 2003, the theatre was renamed the Keating Theatre in honor of Ed and Elaine Keating, and in 2004, additional lobby space was built in the theatre - the Bea Friedman Room. FST's Keating Theatre now seats 173 and remains a cultural center of Sarasota. In 2003, FST purchased the Gompertz Theatre. The building
1845-672: Was built around a rococo , historic Scottish theater previously called the Dunfermline Opera House , which had been shipped to Florida. The complex provides venues and facilities for students of Florida State University 's MFA Acting program, the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training . This was the administrative home of the Sarasota French Film Festival for several years. Florida Studio Theatre 's Keating Theatre, formerly
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall - Misplaced Pages Continue
1890-400: Was carried out by William Wesley Peters , of Taliesin Associated Architects , who used seashells as inspiration for the design. The purple and lavender color scheme was suggested by Frank Lloyd Wright 's widow, Olgivanna Lloyd Wright . The Henry C. Beck Company was general contractor for construction of the hall. The Van Wezel Foundation was formed in 1987 to support the operations of
1935-717: Was considered deceptive by the namesake Van Wezel family resulting in a cease and desist request. In 2023, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall was listed on the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation's 11 to Save, citing "time and environmental threats," including the plans to build a new performing arts center. This article about a building or structure in Florida is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Sarasota, Florida Sarasota ( / ˌ s ær ə ˈ s oʊ t ə / )
1980-414: Was established when it was incorporated as a town on October 14, 1902. John Hamilton Gillespie was the first Mayor of the town government. When reincorporated with a city form of government on May 13, 1913, A. B. Edwards became the first mayor of the city government. Sarasota has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and cooler, milder winters. The high temperatures and high humidity in
2025-740: Was originally the Park-Seventh Movie House in the 1920s. Due to the Depression, the movie house shut its doors and became an empty venue. During its predominantly vacant period in the 1940s, the theatre hosted a variety of roadshows and performers, including Tom Mix and his Wonder Horse and the All Girls' Orchestra. During this time it was known as the Garden Theater, and later the Art Theater, before becoming known as
#4995