TOP PICKS
- Sea & Savor: Moonlight & Manatees is a reception-style culinary experience at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 Savor an elevated evening of chef-inspired bites, tasty hors d’oeuvres and curated wine pairings beside Mote SEA’s manatee and river otter habitats.
- “Waiting for Godot” at The Laboratory Theater of Florida through Sept. 6. Two men wait on a desolate road, filling time with comedy and philosophy in Beckett’s surreal, timeless exploration of hope and human existence.
- “Songbirds of the Seventies” plays at Florida Studio Theatre through Sept. 6. This cabaret spotlights the powerhouse singer-songwriters of the ’60s and ’70s, featuring hits from Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Carly Simon, Helen Reddy, Stevie Nicks and Linda Ronstadt.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Teenyboppers Teen Improv Troupe 2026 performs at Venice Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30. Enjoy fast-paced, laugh-out-loud improv as the Teenyboppers create hilarious, unscripted stories live on stage. Tickets are $15. 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice. 941-488-1115 or venicetheatre.org.
“Legacy: Motown & More” is a live musical performance at Florida Studio Theatre’s Goldstein Cabaret through Oct. 4 with multiple showtimes. It’s a high-energy soul party packed with Motown magic, pop hooks and nonstop hits that keep the crowd dancing from start to finish. Tickets are $18. 1241 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 941-366-9000 or floridastudiotheatre.org.
“Harriet the Spy” will be performed at Venice Theatre from Sep. 11-20 with multiple showtimes. Harriet the Spy turns secrets into chaos when her brutally honest notebook goes public. Can this pint-sized sleuth win back her friends? Tickets are $30. 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice. 941-488- 1115 or www.venicetheatre.org.
THURSDAY 8/27
Golden Groovers: My Fair Lady – Senior dance class at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall at 2 p.m. Golden Groovers invites seniors to warm up, move, and learn themed choreography in a fun, welcoming dance class. Tickets are $18. 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 941-263-6799 or vanwezel.org.
Retroactive – Live music on stage at TT’s Tiki Bar at 6 p.m. 33 S Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda. 941-637-6770 or ttspg.com…