Mary Bensel News

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has announced its 2020-2021 Subscription Series, featuring a diverse collection of Broadway productions, Classical and Dance performances as well as exciting Subscriber Specials.

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and Van Wezel Foundation have partnered together to launch a new arts education service called Artworks Anywhere, a free online service for parents, educators, caregivers and children to meet the growing needs and changing roles of families due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has announced that the theater's newly rescheduled 50th Anniversary Celebration will take place on opening night of the award-winning Broadway musical, Come From Away. The show, making its Sarasota debut, opens on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.

Mary Bensel, Executive Director of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, is thrilled to announce the 2019-2020 Season, marking the 50th Anniversary Season for the hall. Filled with returning favorites and exciting Sarasota premieres, the upcoming season features some of the top names in live entertainment and includes something for everyone!

Mary Bensel, Executive Director of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, announces five shows for the upcoming 50th Anniversary Season. Tickets for these shows go on sale Friday, July 12, 2019 at 10 a.m. The remainder of the 2019-2020 season will be announced at a later date.

Anthony "Tony" Becich, General Manager of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, was named to the Board of Directors of the Florida Facilities Managers at its annual meeting on June 11 in Palm Beach. The FFMA is an association of Florida's major stadiums, arenas, convention centers and performing arts centers. The FFMA is focused on best practices of venue management from security, construction and tickets to booking and beyond.

National Endowment for the Arts Acting Chairman Mary Anne Carter has approved more than $80 million in grants as part of the Arts Endowment's second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2019. Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $10,000 to The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Education Department for the Artworks for Schooltime initiative, an extension of the School Partnership Program. Art Works is the Arts Endowment's principal grantmaking program. The agency received 1,592 Art Works applications for this round of grantmaking and will award 977 grants in this category. 

Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America, announced today that Michael Martella, President of Boar's Head in Sarasota, FL and Chairman of the Van Wezel Foundation's Board of Directors will be honored with the Business Committee for the Arts Leadership Award. This award recognizes individuals for their extraordinary vision, leadership and commitment to supporting the arts and for encouraging other businesses to follow their lead.

Disney's THE LION KING is celebrating a sold-out record breaking engagement which ended on Sunday, March 31. 

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is thrilled to announce its 50th Anniversary Season Subscription Series, featuring an inspiring collection of Broadway and Classical performances in 2019 and 2020.

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall announces its 2018-2019 season. Filled with outstanding classical performances, top-notch comedians, Sarasota premieres, returning crowd-favorites, and a Broadway lineup like never before, the 2018-2019 season has something for everyone and is set to be the best one yet!

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has received two grants totaling over $100,000 for the 2018-2019 season. The Sarasota County Commission awarded $93,481 to the Van Wezel as part of the Tourist Development Cultural/Arts Program, which ensures that tourist tax collections are reinvested in arts and cultural programming. Similarly, the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs awarded $9,950 to the Van Wezel from the General Support Program grant, an award designed to support organizations which further the state's cultural objectives.

Join us to Celebrate a Sarasota Sunset on the Bay welcoming guests from the World Rowing Championship and visitors from around the world. The free event Sunset on the Bay will take place on the Van Wezel bayside lawn and will welcome Yesterdayze and the West Coast Black Theatre Troupe to the outdoor stage on Saturday, September 30, 2017 from 4PM-8PM.

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is delighted to unveil its 2017-18 season! Our "Sensational New Season" is overflowing with award-winning Broadway shows, classical performances, dancing stars, legendary comedians, returning favorites and exciting new performances!

Join us to Celebrate a Sarasota Sunset on the Bay welcoming guests from the World Rowing Championship and visitors from around the world. The free event Sunset on the Bay will take place on the Van Wezel bayside lawn and will welcome Yesterdayze and the West Coast Black Theatre Troupe to the outdoor stage on Saturday, September 30, 2017 from 4PM-8PM.

New Weekly Series Starting By BWW Sarasota Highlighting Performance Venues and Who's Who At the Helm

Over 500 volunteer ushers were honored at the annual Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Usher Appreciation Party on May 10. The ushers were applauded for their dedication and generosity in volunteering their time; without them the City-owned theater would not be able to operate. All the City Commissioners were in attendance and the then-outgoing Commissioners Atwell and Chapman were acknowledged for their strong support of the Hall over the years.

As our remarkable '16-'17 season draws to an end, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is elated to announce its upcoming 2017-2018 Broadway, Dance and Classical series!

Regretfully, the Van Wezel must announce the cancellation of the highly-anticipated Julianne and Derek Hough: Move - Beyond - Live on Tour which was scheduled for May 14, due to an unavoidable professional conflict on Ms. Hough's part, who has issued the following statement:

Mary Bensel, Executive Director of the Van Wezel, has announced the Sarasota premiere of Disney's The Lion King at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall during the 2018/19 season. Performance dates and times will be announced at a later time.