Tom Hall

Ten art collectors from Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota have loaned the best of their collections to the Sarasota Art Museum for a show called “Something Borrowed, Something New.” This exhibition is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these works of art not just out of the homes of the collectors, but also in conversation with one another.

Haven’t been to the Baker Museum yet? Now’s your chance. The Baker Museum is offering free admission on Sundays beginning May 17 and continuing through Sept. 6 along with Art After Hours on the last Wednesday of each month. Summer at the Baker also includes jazz in the Daniels Pavilion.

The costumes are stunning, the choreography is breathtaking and the flamenco-inspired movement, castanets and fans add depth to the staging.

This week, three shows open, two close and nine others continue their runs at Southwest Florida equity and community theaters with 'Much Ado About Nothing' at The Naples Players leading the way.

During May, five exhibitions open, seven close and 25 others continue their runs at Southwest Florida museums. In addition, the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy in Sarasota closes for the summer on May 23.

From Sarasota to Marco Island and Venice and Sanibel to Arcadia and LaBelle, Southwest Florida is home to more than a dozen art centers. Most host visual art exhibitions showcasing member, regional and nationally renowned artists that change every month. In May, there are 31 shows at these venues, underscoring the importance of the arts in our part of the country.

Rebar reaches skyward atop 10 stout concrete columns while backhoes and front-end loaders scrape the ground that was previously the Gompertz Theatre parking lot. Construction is well under way on the eight-story arts complex named for Florida Studio Theatre benefactors Dennis and Graci McGillicuddy. Managing Director Rebecca Hopkins says that $57 million project will be completed in stages.

The High School Musical Theatre Awards take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 8 at the Barbara B Mann Performing Art Hall at FSW. Patterned after the Tony Awards, the evening features performances by each participating school, along with awards in a number of categories, including Best Overall Production, Best Ensemble and Best Actor and Supporting Actor in both Male-Identifying and Female-Identifying roles.

This week, three shows open including Sondheim & Weidman's 'Assassin' at The Sarasota Players, three plays close and eight others continue their runs at Southwest Florida equity and community theaters. In addition, there are three limited engagements plus five staged readings at Florida Repertory Theatre that are part of the PlayLab Festival of New Works.

For five years, Michelle and Jeremy Kuntze have been building an excited pool of actors and patrons at Fort Myers Theatre on San Carlos Boulevard. Now, they’re opening a second location. The Fort Myers Dinner Theatre will produce its inaugural play in July.