Van Wezel Shows Return with Menopause the Musical 2

December 4, 2024 | Sarasota

GFour Productions, winners of 68 Drama Desk and 54 Tony Awards^®, are proudly bringing the brand-new national tour of Menopause The Musical 2: Cruising Through ‘The Change’® to Sarasota and will play the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall for two performances on January 4, 2025 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. This will be the first show back at the Van Wezel following temporary closure due to Hurricane Milton. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased at VanWezel.org, by calling 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office at 777 N. Tamiami Trl. Group discounts for 10+ are also available by calling 941-263-6726. Tickets are selling fast!

Menopause The Musical 2: Cruising Through ‘The Change’® is the sequel to long-running, international hit show Menopause The Musical®, a groundbreaking celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of, or have survived “The Change.” In its first year on tour, Menopause The Musical 2® continues to empower women dealing with life adjustments after 40 by embracing each other and the road ahead.

Five years after their chance encounter in a department store, we set sail with our beloved ladies for more high jinks on the high seas. Menopause The Musical 2® is a hilarious and heartfelt look at the joys of menopause and friendship — plus hot flashes, mood swings, and memory lapses! Join us on a trip of self-discovery, backed by a new soundtrack of toe-tapping parodied hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s. For these four ladies, menopause was not the end, but the beginning of a beautiful friendship where love conquers all, and friendships never fail.

The Menopause The Musical 2® cast coming to Sarasota features Terri Dixon (Iowa Housewife/Dance Captain), Rebecca Fisher (Soap Star), Donna J. Huntley (Professional Woman), and Sarasota local Melanie Souza (Earth Mother). For more information on the cast, click here.

The production is directed by Seth Greenleaf, with Kim Simari (Assistant Director) and Karie Koppel (Dramaturg), based on the original characters created by Jeanie Linders, with additional book and lyrics by Karen Bishko and Jeanette Hopkins. The creative team includes Choreography by Jonathan Stahl, Scenic Design by Sean McClelland, Sound Design by David Lanza, Lighting Design by Jean-Yves Tessiere assisted by Willow McGuinty, and Music Direction by Peter Aylin. It is exclusively represented by Columbia Artists Theatricals.

The original Menopause The Musical^®debuted in Orlando, Florida and ran Off-Broadway for four years performing for more than 1,500 audiences, followed by a U.S. national tour that is still running today. In 2007, it opened internationally in the United Kingdom and has performed in countries including Australia, South Korea, Brazil, France, Slovenia and many more. It is also the longest-running musical in Las Vegas history, performing nightly at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Beloved for more than 20 years and seen by more than 17 million, Menopause The Musical^® has played every state in the continental U.S., more than 500 cities worldwide, and has been translated into nine languages.

All Faith’s Food Bank will be a charitable partner in Sarasota during both performances of Menopause The Musical 2. Audience members can purchase a “Hot Flash Fan” during the beginning of the show for a suggested donation of $2. All proceeds from the fan sales will benefit All Faith’s Food Bank and support emergency food distribution in areas impacted by Hurricane Milton.

Menopause The Musical 2: Cruising Through ‘The Change’® will play the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on January 4, 2025. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased at VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799, or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726. For more information, visit www.MenopauseTheMusical.com.