Musical legends, tributes and ‘Moulin Rouge’ on Van Wezel season schedule
For the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall’s 2024-25 season, Executive Director Mary Bensel is hoping audiences are in the mood for laughter, a few musical legends, some local debuts and an extensive array of current and recent Broadway hits.
Last season included a sold-out, two-week run of the ground-breaking musical “Hamilton.” It represented something of a milestone for the hall, and Bensel said she wasn’t trying top it except by bringing in as much variety “to meet our audience expectations.”
The new season was a little tougher to put together because more artists seem to be touring in the summer, “but I think this was a joyous year to plan for. We’ve got a lot of comedy, some of the greatest artists coming back and we have some new people we’ve never had before.”
After earlier announcing the Broadway lineup that includes touring productions of Broadway hits “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” “Beetlejuice” and “Funny Girl,” Bensel is following tradition by revealing the full season lineup before the box office opens at 10 a.m. Sept. 7.
Van Wezel's season of comedy
Comedian Lewis Black, who riled up audiences on “The Daily Show” with his dyspeptic views of the world and politics, returns for what is billed as his “Goodbye Yeller Brick Road: The Final Tour” just a month after the presidential election.
Paula Poundstone, who has been a fixture on the NPR series “Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me,” is back for the first time in several years, while former late-night comedy rivals Jay Leno and Arsenio Hall share the stage for the first time. And Leslie Jones, the former “Saturday Night Live” performer who starred in the 2016 reboot of “Ghostbusters” and a recent series of commercials seen during the Olympics, makes her Sarasota debut. Rising comedian John Crist is one of the rentals taking over the hall in September.
“I think we all need to laugh, so I’m happy we have so many comedians this year,” Bensel said.
Van Wezel debuts
Bensel also is bringing a wide array of musical artists to make their Van Wezel debuts, including the legendary trumpeter Herb Alpert, longtime leader of the Tijuana Brass. Alpert, who was also a co-founder of the independent record label A&M, will be joined by his wife, singer Lani Hall. Alpert hit the Top 40 list 14 times with such songs as “A Taste of Honey,” “This Guys in Love With You” and “Spanish Flea” during the 1960s and 1970s.
“I always loved his music,” Bensel said. “They apparently have been in Sarasota and driven by the theater and said they wanted to play at the Van Wezel.”
Debbie Gibson, who became a star at 16 in the 1980s and became known for such hits as “Only in My Dreams” and “Foolish Beat,’ makes her Sarasota debut with the holiday show “Winterlicious.” In recent years she has been performing in stage musicals on Broadway and in London, including “Les Miserables” and “Cinderella.” “Winterlicious” is inspired by her 2022 album, which featured more than a dozen holiday favorites.
Matteo Bocelli, the son of singer Andrea Bocelli, makes his Van Wezel debut as he builds his own solo career after appearing in some of his father’s concerts. Like his father, he has become a rising star in the crossover classical music scene. Bocelli released his self-titled debut solo album last year.
Holiday traditions
In addition to Gibson’s show, the holiday season will be filled with some traditional shows and new entries, including David Koz & Friends, Cirque Musica Spectacular, the “Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet” and the annual Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert. The Four Phantoms – four past stars of “The Phantom of the Opera,” – return with a holiday-themed concert, and dancer and choreographer Derek Hough returns with his own holiday-themed dance show.
“I love working with Derek Hough. I love his chemistry and his joy,” Bensel said.
Classic groups and stars return
A few groups who scored major hits over the past 60 or so years are at the Van Wezel this season, beginning with The Commodores, who sold more than 70 million albums and had seven No. 1 hits, including “Easy,” “Three Times a Lady” and “Brick House.” They will present an evening of greatest hits on Nov. 16.
Air Supply, which hit the charts with “All Out of Love” “The One That You Love” and “Making Love Out of Nothing,” features Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell on Nov. 17.
The Allman Betts Family Revival on Dec. 11 has become an annual tradition featuring the sons of Allman Brothers Band founders Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts, joining with top names in Blues, Americana, country and rock ‘n’ roll.
Three of the most popular groups of the doo-wop era will share the stage, with the Drifters, Coasters and Platters singing such hits as “Charlie Brown,’ “The Great Pretender” “Under the Boardwalk” and “On Broadway.” They’re followed by blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who has become one of the standouts in the genre over the last 20 years.
The Grammy-winning Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, which had hits with “Mr. Bojangles,” “Modern Day Romance” and “Fishin’ in the Dark,” performs a farewell tour Feb. 25. Just a week later, the explosions you hear will be from TnT – The Temptations and The Four Tops, two of the most popular and iconic groups to come out of Motown.
Burton Cummins, lead singer and songwriter for The Guess Who, who had hits with “These Eyes” and “American Woman,” is joined on Feb. 11 by singer-songwriter Jim Messina, who was part of the groups Buffalo Springfield and Poco, and a musical partner with Kenny Loggins.
Tributes
Singers and groups from decades ago may have retired or passed away, but there are a number of traveling acts keeping their songs alive, including “The Music of George Michael,” which touches on his start in the group Wham and then as a solo artist.
The Carpenters – Top of the World features Debbie Taylor taking on the distinct vocal sound of the late Karen Carpenter, who had major hits with her drummer brother Richard Carpenter in the 1970s. “The Greatest Love of All” is a salute to the music of Whitney Houston in a program led by Belinda Davids, who has become a star in her native South Africa. Yacht Rock Revue recalls the sounds of Hall & Oates, Steely Dan and Michael McDonald, while “Stayin Alive” brings back the sound of the Bee Gees.
Led Zeppelin’s music is heard in “Get the Led Out,” and the Electric Light Orchestra Experience is a multimedia concert celebrating ELO. Elton John is celebrated in “The Rocket Man Show” and “Arrival from Sweden: The Music of ABBA” brings back the hits of one of the world’s most popular rock groups.
“RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles” recalls the hits of the Fab Four in a return visit and "The Simon and Garfunkel Story" highlights the dozens of hits recorded by one of the country’s most popular folk/pop duos.
Dance, classical and something different
The season includes Twyla Tharp Dance: Diamond Jubilee,” which marks the 60th anniversary of the ground-breaking troupe. Bensel said it will include “Diabelli,” Tharp’s award-winning ballet set to the music of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations,” and a new piece with music by Philip Glass.
Forever Tango also returns with 14 world-class tango dancers who perform to the music and styles of Argentina.
Itzhak Perlman, a fixture in Sarasota with the Perlman Music Program/Suncoast each December, returns for another recital program.
Matt Fraser, considered one of the nation’s top psychic mediums and a star of “Meet the Frasers,” will take the stage. Alton Brown, a former television commercial director who went to culinary school and became a star as the host of “Good Eats,” “Iron Chef America” and “Food Network Star,” will be discussing desserts in his Van Wezel return on Feb. 16.
Illusionist Rick Thomas brings his “Mansion of Dreams” to the Van Wezel with a mix of magic, comedy, dancers and story. He has been seen on “Masters of Illusion” and was named Magician of the Year by the Academy of Magic Arts.
And audience members can win some prizes and get stage time with “Wheel of Fortune Live” on Nov. 12.
Broadway and more
Over the last decade, Bensel has been building the Van Wezel’s Broadway touring lineup. Last season, audiences filled two weeks of performances of the megahit “Hamilton.”
This season, Bensel has booked several extended runs of major hits, led by “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” inspired by the Baz Luhrman film. The musical, which is still selling out on Broadway, tells a romantic story set in 19th-century Paris at the famed Moulin Rouge nightclub and told with some of the biggest pop hits of the last 40 years. It runs March 18-23. “Les Misérables,” one of the world’s most popular musicals, returns for another run in April, just two weeks before the local debut of “Beetlejuice,” the Broadway musical adapted from the hit film, which has been selling out theaters across the country.
The recent revival of “Funny Girl” has launched a national tour that makes its way to Sarasota in January. “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical,” celebrates the life and the legendary six-decade career of the singer who died last year with performances Dec. 13-15.
The hall also will host a long-delayed tour stop of the Tony Award-winning “Dear Evan Hansen,” along with a stage version of the hit board game “Clue,” and returns of both “The Addams Family” and “Come From Away.”
The season also includes the area premiere of “Menopause The Musical 2: Cruising Through ‘The Change,” a sequel to one of the country’s most successful theatrical productions.
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How to Get Tickets
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Sept. 7 online, vanwezel.org, by phone, 941-263-6799, or at the box office, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.
Van Wezel 2024-25 season
September
Kat Timpf, Sept. 22 (rental)
John Crist, Sept. 26 (rental)
October
Billy Ocean, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m.
Music of George Michael, 7 p.m. Oct. 20
November
“Dear Evan Hansen,” Nov. 1-2
Neil Berg’s 50 Years of Rock & Roll Part VII, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7
“Wheel of Fortune Live,” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12
The Commodores, 8 p.m. Nov. 16
Air Supply, 7 p.m. Nov. 17
Cirque Dreams "Holidaze," 7 p.m. Nov. 19
Black Violin – BV20: Then and Now Tour, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21
Leslie Jones, 8 p.m. Nov. 22
Disney Jr. Live on Tour: Let’s Party, 4 p.m. Nov. 23
December
Dave Koz & Friends, 7 p.m. Dec. 1
Derek Hough Holiday, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4
Lewis Black: Goodbye Yeller Brick Road, The Last Tour, 8 p.m. Dec. 6
Allman Betts Family Revival, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11
Debbie Gibson, "Winterlicious," 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12
“Tina – The Tina Turner Musical,” Dec. 13-15
Matt Fraser, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17
Four Phantoms in Concert (Holiday), 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18
The Carpenters – Top of the World, 8 p.m. Dec. 20
Fairy Tale New York, 8 p.m. Dec. 21
Cirque Musica Spectacular, 6 p.m. Dec. 22
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet, 3, 7 p.m. Dec. 27 (rental)
Straight No Chaser, 8 p.m. Dec. 28
Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert, 7 p.m. Dec. 29
“Clue,” Dec. 30-31
January
Snow Queen Ballet, Grand Kyiv Ballet, Jan. 2 (rental)
“Menopause The Musical 2: Cruising Through ‘The Change,’” 2, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 4
The Greatest Love of All, 7 p.m. Jan. 5
“Funny Girl,” Jan. 14-19
Frankie Avalon, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21
Yacht Rock Revue, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23
“HMS Pinafore,” 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27
“The Addams Family,” Jan. 28-29
February
Electric Light Orchestra Experience, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4
Drifters, Coasters & Platters, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5
Forever Tango, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 8 p.m. Feb. 7
Steve Solomon – My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10
Burton Cummins & Jim Messina, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11
Herb Alpert & Lani Hall in Concert, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12
Chris Botti, 8 p.m. Feb. 14
Paula Poundstone, 8 p.m. Feb. 15
Alton Brown: Desserts, 7 p.m. Feb. 16
“Come From Away,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18-20
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25
Stayin’ Alive, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26
March
Neil Berg’s 115 Years of Broadway, 7 p.m. March 2
The Temptations and Four Tops, 7:30 p.m. March 3
Twyla Tharp Dance: Diamond Jubilee, 7:30 p.m. March 4
Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles, 7:30 p.m. March 6
Matteo Bocelli, 7:30 p.m. March 12
Jay Leno/Arsenio Hall, 8 p.m. March 14
Get the Led Out, 8 p.m. March 15
Itzhak Perlman, 7 p.m. March 16
“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” March 18-23
April
The Simon and Garfunkel Story, 7:30 p.m. April 1
Branford Marsalis Quartet, 7:30 p.m. April 2
“Les Misérables,” April 8-13
The Rocket Man Show, 7:30 p.m. April 16
“Beetlejuice,” April 22-27
Arrival from Sweden: The Music of ABBA, 7:30 p.m. April 29
May
Rick Thomas, 7 p.m. May 2
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota’s Van Wezel books musical legends, comedians, Broadway hits.
