Sarasota's 5 Things To Know: Van Wezel Finishes With Strong Year

1. The has just completed one of the most successful seasons in the theater’s 42-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, according to Van Wezel. That's a 10 percent increase in revenue.

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.

“It was simply a phenomenal year for us all. I have so many memories, starting with the multi-talented Dolly Parton, Audra McDonald who went directly from enchanting our audience to Broadway to star in Porgy and Bess, the Alvin Ailey company’s exquisite dancing, and  Diana Krall—who came to us from performing on the Grammy’s with Paul McCartney,"  Van Wezel Executive Director, Mary Bensel said. "Frankly, I could go on and on. Our season was so magical and our audience so gracious — it is a joy to welcome these world-class performers to Sarasota. Our education program, which is dear to the staff’s heart, also thrived this year, and we look forward to our Friday Fest free concert series on the Bay Front, this summer. None of this would be possible without our audience, staff, subscribers, volunteers, sponsors, City family and the Van Wezel Foundation.”

2. The Carreño Dance Festival will now have $35,00 to pay for a portable sprung floor for dancers thanks to a grant by the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation.

The funds will be used to acquire equipment for the Summer Intensive Program of the Carreño Dance Festival, starting its second season in August.

The equipment is described as a portable sprung floor, necessary for protecting dancers’ legs and feet during rehearsals and performances.  The flooring will be used at the Sarasota Opera House during the August session of the Summer Intensive extensive coaching for pre-professional students and for the Festival of Stars performances on Aug. 24-25 that serve as a culmination of the program.   Also included are a number of ballet barres, required for classical ballet class work.  

3. Check out Riverview High's new aquascience greenhouse this weekend from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday during a guided tour. The greenhouse and the school’s existing planetarium form an educational demonstration site designed to teach students and adults of all ages about the undersea and outer-space environments.

Some 9,000 elementary students are expected to visit the school annually.

4.  has made a $100,000 investment to add the area’s only complete endoscopy center for companion animals to its advanced veterinary medicine clinic.

The new endoscopy center includes a human grade, high definition, fiber optic Fujinon endoscope and a full range of rigid and flexible scopes from Richard Wolf Medical Instruments, said Dr. Anne Chauvet, veterinary neurologist and CCVSS founder.  The new endoscopy and laparoscopic equipment provides better visuals and allows access farther into the intestinal tract and into smaller areas of the body, including lung bronchi, nasal passages and ears, than had been available here, Chauvet said.  While CCVSS and others have had basic endoscopy previously, the new equipment provides more options for diagnosis and treatment of conditions through minimally invasive procedures, she added.

The new equipment may be used for exploration and biopsies to pinpoint diagnoses as well as for thoracic, abdominal, bladder, gynecologic, ear/nose/throat and arthroscopic surgeries. 

“Our scope systems rival those in veterinary teaching institutions and many human medical facilities,” Chauvet said. “Our mission is to continue bringing the most advanced veterinary medical care to our area.”

5.  will celebrate International Day of the Midwife by bringing Bali to Sarasota on May 5 from 3 to 6 p.m.

“An Afternoon in Bali”, produced by WSLR weekly radio program Maternally Yours, will begin with authentic Balinese dance from the Purnama Sari Balinese Dance Company, followed by an exclusive screening of the documentary Guerrilla Midwife, featuring 2011 CNN Hero of the Year (and Maternally Yours guest) Robin Lim.

A discussion will follow the film as well as authentic Indonesian fare from Curry Creek Cafe.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Advance tickets are available at Rosemary Birthing Home and Birthways Family Birth Center, and online at wslr.org.  All proceeds benefit WSLR and Yayasan Bumi Sehat, Robin Lim's non-profit healthy birth clinic in Bali.