Van Wezel Education Department Continues Programming

November 1, 2024 | Sarasota

The Van Wezel Education and Community Engagement Department is keeping arts education alive in the local Sarasota/Manatee area despite setbacks from Hurricane Milton. Community programs like Dancin’ Through the Decades and master classes have been relocated to The Players Studio. Community members looking to join one of these classes can register online at VanWezel.org. Limited space remains.

The department has also relocated the schooltime performances of Doktor Kaboom! to Parrish Community High School and Origami Tales to Booker High School. Local schools who were set to attend these performances at the Van Wezel have been notified. This comes after a successful run of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, which was rescheduled and relocated to North Port immediately following the storm. The Van Wezel Education and Community Engagement Department also hosted a successful production of Asolo Rep on Tour’s production of Much Ado About Nothing, with Sarasota Contemporary Dance providing the location.

Justin Gomlak, Director of Education and Community Engagement for the Van Wezel, shares, “We at the Van Wezel believe so strongly in the importance of bringing the performing arts into the community. It was imperative that we not cancel our education and community outreach programming, even though we temporarily lost the use of the Purple Cow. Luckily, we were able to lean on our school and community partners, and they came to the rescue!”

This programming is made possible through the generosity of our partners at the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation.

Shows at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall will resume in January. While the Box Office is temporarily closed, tickets can be purchased 24/7 online at VanWezel.org.