A December tour of the Gulf Coast arts scene might as well begin with “Holiday Splendor” on Thursday night, as visitors to Ca’ d’Zan walk in the elegant footsteps of John and Mable Ringling.
Look at the Christmas trees decorated with blown-glass ornaments.
Listen to the carols played on an 1892 Steinway grand piano.
Linger over a dining room table dressed with the original china and silver.
“The colors of the house change at night,” says Ron McCarty, mansion curator for the Ringling Museum of Art. “They’re much richer in that setting. This is when the Ringlings would have entertained, too, late in the evening. Florenz Ziegfeld would have been a guest, or the mayor of New York, or some of their movie star friends.”
Or friends from Florida.
Ninety-one years ago this month, Ca’ d’Zan made its society debut on the Sarasota bayfront.
“What’s wonderful is that the Ringlings came down in December of 1926 to open the house for the first time,” McCarty says. “It would have been spectacular, mind-boggling stuff to see in such a small town.”
5-8 p.m. Thursday, The Ringling Museum of Art, Circus Museum and Ca’ d’Zan, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. There will be food and drinks for sale, along with holiday music by elementary, middle and high school bands. Admission is free with one unwrapped toy per guest, or $15 for adults, $5 for children. 941-359-5700; ringling.org.
‘Motown Christmas,’ all month, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe
Nate Jacobs, founder of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, produced his first “Motown Christmas” program in 2015.
“I wanted to do something a little different,” he said. “I thought, ‘Motown Christmas.’ I started with the name and then did some research.”
To go along with classics such as “Jingle Bells,” Jacobs found Motown holiday songs such as “My Christmas Tree,” “Christmas Every Day” and “I Believe in Christmas Eve.”
“They all have that Motown sound,” Jacobs says. “A lot of them were written by Smokey Robinson.”
As a boy growing up in Daytona Beach, Jacobs loved the Christmas season. While the Jackson Five romped through “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” his family formed an even bigger band.
“The thing I remember is having a lot of people,” he says. “I have nine brothers and one sister.”
The Westcoast cast for the return of “Motown Christmas” includes Michael Mendez, Tarra Conner jones, JoAnna Ford, Ariel Blue, Ashley Brooks, Brian Boyd, Camilla Harris, Joey James, Raleigh Mosely II and Derric Gobourne Jr.
Choreography is by Donald Frison.
8 p.m., with 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees, through Dec. 23. Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1646 10th Way, Sarasota. $42 to $20. 941-366-1505; westcoastblacktheatre.org
‘Sounds of the Season,’ Monday, Venice Concert Band
The Venice Concert Band, conducted by Bob Miller, will perform “Sounds of the Season” on Monday at the Venice Performing Arts Center. The Venice Youth Chorus and guest soloist Kira Gaillard will be featured in this year’s program.
“The one thing we always do, with audience participation, is ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas,’” Miller says. “We divide the audience into 12 sections and they have a grand old time of it.”
7 p.m., Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave., Venice. $12. veniceconcertband.org
‘The Nutcracker,’ Saturday, Sarasota Cuban Ballet School
On Saturday, students from the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School will perform “The Nutcracker,” a classic Christmas ballet. The show is choreographed by artistic directors Ariel Serrano and Wilmian Hernandez, along with Delia Ballart Arcia and Tania Vergara.
7 p.m., Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave., Venice. $46 to $27. 941-365-8400; veniceperformingartscenter.com
‘Too Hot to Handel,’ Dec. 10, Choral Artists of Sarasota
Choral Artists of Sarasota and performers from the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe created a lively twist on Handel’s “Messiah” last season with its original concert program “Too Hot to Handel.” The popular concert, featuring guest soloist Amy Jo Connours along with the Florida Festival Singers, State College of Florida Concert Choir, Manatee School for the Arts Chamber Choir, is back with a few new additions for a gospel and jazz reinvention of this holiday classic.
7:30 p.m. Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets are $15-$75. 941-387-6046; ChoralArtistsSarasota.org
‘Circus Nutcracker,’ Dec. 15-16, Sarasota Ballet
In this Sarasota version of “The Nutcracker,” Clara runs away from New York City to join the circus on the Gulf Coast. Dancers portray everything from snarling cats to tightrope walkers on pointe.
Designs are by Peter Docherty, with choreography by Matthew Hart to the music of Tchaikovsky.
This is the only “Nutcracker” in Sarasota to be performed with live music. The Sarasota Orchestra will be conducted by Andrew Lane.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. $115 to $30. 941-359-0099; sarasotaballet.org
‘A Christmas Carol,’ Dec. 15-21, Venice Theatre
Eric Watters will play Ebenezer Scrooge and Charles Schoemaker will play Tiny Tim in the Venice Theatre’s 18th season of its original musical production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” The director is Murray Chase, with music direction from Michelle Kasanofsky and choreography by Julia King.
7 p.m. Dec. 15-16, 18-21; 2 p.m. Dec. 17 matinee. Venice Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice. $22, $14 and $12. 941-488-1115; venicestage.com
‘Cool Yule,’ Dec. 16-17, June Garber, Asolo Theater
This jazzy holiday tribute to Ella Fitzgerald features June Garber singing everything from “Santa Baby” and “Let It Snow!” to “Winter Wonderland” and “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”
Garber will be accompanied by Joe Delaney on piano, Brandon Robertson on bass and Rick Costa on drums. The concert also will feature of sextet from Choral Artists of Sarasota.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 16, 3 p.m. Dec. 17. Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. $45 to $25. 941-306-1200; artistsseriesconcerts.tix.com
‘A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live On Stage,’ Dec. 17
The Charles M. Schulz story and music by Vince Guaraldi will visit Sarasota Dec. 17 with “A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage.”
Grown-ups will enjoy the jazz score from the famous 1965 animated TV special. Kids will enjoy the holiday story featuring Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, Sally and Schroeder.
2:30 p.m., Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. $56 to $21. 941-953-3368; vanwezel.org
‘Swing’N The Holidays,’ Dec. 17, The Jive Aces
The Jive Aces, a swing and jive band from the United Kingdom, will offer high-energy renditions of Christmas classics in the style of Louis Prima, Bobby Darin and Dean Martin.
3 p.m., Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave., Venice. $56 to $23. 941-218-3779; veniceperformingartscenter.com
‘Holidaze,’ Dec. 21, Cirque Dreams
This holiday spectacle combines the spirit of Christmas with the acrobatics of a circus show and the production numbers of a Broadway musical.
Performers with Cirque Dreams include more than 20 acts and 30 artists from around the world.
7 p.m., Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. $105 to $51. 941-953-3368; vanwezel.org
‘New Year’s Concert,’ Jan. 3, Strauss Symphony of America
Ballroom dancers and the Kiev-Aniko Ballet will help the Strauss Symphony of America celebrate the New Year with a “Salute to Vienna” at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
This January performance has become a Sarasota tradition over the last 22 years. The musical program features highlights from “The Merry Widow,” “Die Fledermaus” and “Gypsy Princess.”
7 p.m., Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. vanwezel.org