(May. 7 10:13 PM) - St. Petersburg Opera is presenting its fourth Opera Idol evening of singing on Saturday, May 12. The culmination of its Music in Motion series of workshops, Opera Idol will feature ten singers, all from the local area, who will vie to become the audience choice.

(May. 5 12:30 AM) - Shen Yun returns to the Bay area at The Mahaffey today, May 5 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. After a successful sold-out run in Tampa earlier this year, Shen Yun Performing Arts presents classical Chinese dance and music in a gloriously colorful and exhilarating show. More than 100 of the world’s foremost classically trained dancers, choreographers and musicians seek to revive Chinese culture while providing an experience of sublime beauty.

(May. 3 11:34 AM) - St. Petersburg Opera is presenting its fourth Opera Idol evening on Saturday, May 12. The culmination of its Music in Motion series of workshops, Opera Idol will feature ten singers, all from the local area, who will vie to become the audience choice.

(May. 3 12:30 AM) - One of the greatest stand-up comedians of all time, Dennis Miller comes to the Mahaffey Theater for one night only, tonight, May 3, 2012.

(Apr. 24 5:24 PM) - Coming to The Mahaffey this summer is multi-Grammy nominated singer Ledisi! Together with Eric Benet, their “Be Good To Yourself” (BGTY) headline tour begins June 24th in Philadelphia, PA before stopping in beautiful St. Petersburg at The Mahaffey on August 4th.

(Apr. 22 12:30 AM) - IN THE MOOD returns to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Sun. Apr. 22, 2012 at 7:00 PM. More than a concert, IN THE MOOD is a Big Band Theatrical Swing Revue. It’s the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Erskine Hawkins, The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, and other greats of the 1940’s. Featuring a company of In the Mood Singers and Dancers with the sensational String of Pearls Big Band Orchestra, the show’s music arrangements, costumes and choreography are as authentic as it gets!

(Apr. 21 12:30 AM) - The Palladium and St. Petersburg College will present A Grand Night for Broadway Gala on Saturday, April 21, featuring Brian Lane Green, Lee Lessack and John Boswell. Tickets for the gala event are $125 and benefit the Friends of the Palladium. To purchase tickets, contact Cory Adler-Leidersdorff, (727) 341-7918.

(Apr. 21 12:30 AM) - On Saturday, April 21st, Broadway’s top rated revue 3 MEN AND A BABY...GRAND comes to the Palladium. Three Broadway stars, Brian Lane Green, Lee Lessack, and John Boswell, present their signature collection of show tunes and Rat Pack favorites. The show will take place at 8 p.m.

(Apr. 19 12:30 AM) - BURN THE FLOOR, the Latin and Ballroom dance spectacular that has thrilled audiences in more than 30 countries, brings the fire and passion of their live performance to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Thurs. April 19 at 8 PM.

(Apr. 16 12:30 AM) - Dance, shout and shake your booty over to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall when CIRQUE DREAMS newest stage spectacle, Pop Goes The Rock makes its debut in Sarasota by presenting Cirque Dreams variety acts and acrobatic feats to popular songs and chart topping hits spanning the decades Mon. April 16 at 7:30 PM.

(Apr. 16 12:30 AM) - In this special Alhambra After Dark performance, The Improv Effect improvisational comedy troupe will be performing at the Alhambra with a full 90 minutes of improvisational comedy.

(Apr. 15 8:13 AM) - Celebrating 50 years in music, multi-Grammy® winner and Band Leader Sergio Mendes and three-time Grammy® winner Jon Secada bring a Brazilian high-energy style of Latin Jazz featuring Mendes’ mix of light jazz, bossa nova beats and contemporary soft pop melodies, and vocal stylings of Jon Secada. Catch the performance at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sun. Apr. 15, 2012 at 7:00 PM.

(Apr. 14 12:32 PM) - Shen Yun returns to the Bay area at The Mahaffey on Saturday, May 5 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. After a successful sold-out run in Tampa earlier this year, Shen Yun Performing Arts presents classical Chinese dance and music in a gloriously colorful and exhilarating show. More than 100 of the world’s foremost classically trained dancers, choreographers and musicians seek to revive Chinese culture while providing an experience of sublime beauty.

(Apr. 12 4:16 PM) - Bobby Collins is an award-winning comedian, who has starred in his own Showtime Special, was the host of VH1's “Stand Up Spotlight,” and most recently was seen on the “Joy Behar Show.” He has toured with Cher, Julio Iglesias, Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett, among others. In addition, he’s released three DVDs and six CDs, with his second CD, “Out of Bounds,” earning him a Grammy nomination. His latest CD, “I'm on the Boat, Woman and Children First,” is on its way to becoming a number one best seller.

(Apr. 12 12:38 PM) - In this special Alhambra After Dark performance, The Improv Effect improvisational comedy troupe will be performing at the Alhambra with a full 90 minutes of improvisational comedy.

(Apr. 11 7:38 PM) - Asolo Repertory is presents events leading up the Spanish performances of Hamlet, Prince of Cuba. Set in late 19th century Cuba, the show is currently enjoying a run in English at Asolo Rep and will have two performances in Spanish with English supertitles on May 3 at 8 p.m. and May 5 at 2 p.m. After concluding its run in Sarasota, the show will move to the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center in Miami where there will be both English and supertitled Spanish performances May 11-13. Hamlet, Prince of Cuba features guest artist Frankie J. Alvarez as Hamlet, Gisela Chípe (of Asolo Rep’s Yentl) as Ophelia, Emilio Delgado as Claudius (known for his role as Luis on Sesame Street), Mercedes Herrero as Gertrude and Andhy Mendez as Laertes. The following programming will be offered in conjunction with the production.

(Apr. 10 7:08 PM) - IN THE MOOD returns to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Sun. Apr. 22, 2012 at 7:00 PM. More than a concert, IN THE MOOD is a Big Band Theatrical Swing Revue. It’s the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Erskine Hawkins, The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, and other greats of the 1940’s. Featuring a company of In the Mood Singers and Dancers with the sensational String of Pearls Big Band Orchestra, the show’s music arrangements, costumes and choreography are as authentic as it gets!

(Apr. 6 1:52 PM) - Florida Studio Theatre opens Jericho by Jack Canfora, a National New Play Network (NNPN) Rolling World Premiere, tonight, Friday, April 6, 2012, in the Keating Theatre (1241 N. Palm Avenue). Part of the Sarasota Festival of New Plays, Jericho makes its final stop of it’s “rolling” world premiere, after opening at Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis and New Jersey Repertory Company early this season. Tickets for the world premiere play are on sale through June 9 and can be purchased online at www.FloridaStudioTheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000 or by visiting the Box Office.