Mary Bensel News

As one season draws to an end, another phenomenal one must begin! The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is elated to announce its 2016-2017 Broadway, Dance and Classical series. 

?Synonymous with grace, beauty, and artistry, famed Italian movie star Sophia Loren graces the stage at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Thursday, March 31st at 8:00pm. The Oscar-winning actress will captivate the audience with an intimate onstage conversation and question-and-answer session lead by Entertainment Tonight correspondent Bill Harris, as well as film clips from her prolific career spanning more than five decades.

Spend A Very Special Evening with Josh Groban. The internationally renowned singer, songwriter, and actor's baritone voice has taken the world by storm ever since his double-platinum debut self-titled album in 2001. His follow-up album "Closer" went 5-times platinum and the trend continues to this day. His tour, Stages, at the Van Wezel on February 28, 2016, is a unique musical event featuring songs from the world's greatest musicals. In serendipitous fashion, Josh Groban is also an avid arts education philanthropist, making him the perfect star for the Van Wezel Foundation Gala which helps support the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, its educational initiatives and programing. Tickets will go on sale September 19, 2015 @ 10am.

In an exciting recent announcement from Visit Sarasota County, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall was ranked the #1 tourist attraction in Sarasota County during the January-March quarter. This is the first time the hall has appeared at the top of the ranking, with 36% of tourists considering the hall a must-see destination during their stay in Sarasota. St. Armands Circle, which usually tops the ranking, was a close second. Additionally, the Van Wezel is ranked as the #1 Performing Arts Hall in North America, in the 2000-seat category in the June edition of Venues Today Magazine. Van Wezel Executive Director, Mary Bensel stated, "This has been the Van Wezel's most successful season since I arrived at the hall 9 years ago, both artistically and financially. I really believe that the depth of the diversity of our programming and our great partners such as the Sarasota Orchestra and Van Wezel Foundation are the main factors in these latest achievements. This great news is the perfect way to cap off our 45th Anniversary Season featuring some of the best shows I have ever seen including Ringo Starr, Sarah McLachlan, Harry Connick Jr., Audra McDonald, Chris Botti, Phillip Phillips, Jersey Boys and so many more. I want to thank the staffs of the Hall, the Van Wezel Foundation, our partners, the City of Sarasota, our sponsors and volunteers. Together we made this happen!"

Coming off a record-setting year, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall's 2015-2016 Broadway Season continues to bring some of the most sought-after Broadway shows, as well as classic musicals that continue to excite and inspire generation after generation.

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall finishes a record setting streak with its week long engagement of Jersey Boys! After hosting 8 performances, the Van Wezel is ecstatic to report that it smashed patron attendance records and tallied up its largest grossing week in its forty five year history!

In keeping with the 45-year tradition of bringing the most sought-after shows to the bayfront theatre, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall lands the extraordinary Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band to play the hall's 45th anniversary celebration tonight, February 24, 2015 at 8pm.

In keeping with the 45-year tradition of bringing the most sought-after shows to the bayfront theatre, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall lands the extraordinary Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band to play the hall's 45th anniversary celebration on February 24, 2015 at 8pm.

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall's 2014-2015 season just got a lot brighter with the announcement of two of entertainments most beloved stars: Ringo Starr And His All Starr Band to celebrate the Van Wezel's 45th anniversary season on February 24 and Grammy, Billboard and Juno award winner Sarah McLachlan as the star of the Van Wezel Foundation Gala on March 27. Tickets go on sale for both shows on November 14 at 10am.

Once again crowned as the No. 1 Performing Arts Hall of its size in North America (Venues Today, 2000 seat category), the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is proud to announce a new season bustling with fresh talent and seasoned stars, with every performance delivering a dose of extraordinary. Single tickets go on sale this coming Saturday, September 13 at 10 AM at the Box Office, online, and by phone. Appointments are available for ticket buyers by calling the Box Office at 941-953-3368.

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is proud to welcome Betsy Bender as the new Director of Marketing. Ms. Bender comes with more than 15 years' experience in the entertainment industry, including most recently, as the Director of Marketing and Sales at BIG ARTS on Sanibel, FL.

Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan February 19 and 20, 2013 engagement at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has been canceled due to the shows inability to lock in a second stop on the Florida leg of the tour, after they lost their original dates for the latter half of the week. Ticket sales for the Sarasota dates were strong and the Van Wezel is disappointed that the show had to cancel. Mary Bensel, Executive Director of the Van Wezel stated "we are extremely disappointed with the show's decision, as it was one of the highlights of the season."

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has announced that it has been ranked as the No. 1 Performing Arts Hall in North America in the 2,000 seat category of 'top spots' in Venues Today (July 2012 issue), the industry bible of performance venues.

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has just completed one of the most successful seasons in the theater's forty-two year history, surpassing last season's sales. This year's sales were $6,207,790 and 108,737 tickets sold, while last year's sales were $5,559,227 and 99,946 tickets sold. This amount consists of Van Wezel presented Main Stage performances only, and does not take into account local companies, event rentals, and Van Wezel Schooltime performances.

Sarasota Orchestra and Van Wezel Pay Tribute to 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Concert Proceeds to Benefit Local Charities

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall announces a 2011-2012 Season rife with star-studded talent.

Sarasota Orchestra and Van Wezel Pay Tribute to 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Concert Proceeds to Benefit Local Charities

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall announced today that Dame Edna, scheduled to perform on April 12, 2011, cancelled plans for touring for the foreseeable future. We hope to bring her back in another season.