Bradenton's music and arts give reason for thanks
When you give thanks Thursday, chances are you'll be thinking about things like food, family, health -- all the universal objects of gratitude, plus maybe a few more personal ones.
Anyone who's even moderately interested in concerts and arts has extra reasons to be thankful for this time of year. The quantity and quality of live music and performing arts in Bradenton has exploded in recent years. This time of year tends to bring a lot of great shows in from all parts of the country because we have gorgeous weather and the rest of America does not. And you're more likely to have some time off around now, and maybe family and friends visiting from out of town.
This Thanksgiving season offers even more great events than usual to give us extra reasons to be grateful.
The biggest and arguably the best is the Bradenton Blues Festival, which is set for Dec. 5 on the Riverwalk. Music lovers come from all over the country for the festival, and blues musicians love the chance to play here. Most blues festivals take place in the summer months, so a lot of the players who are on the festival circuit are available to come to Bradenton.
The lineup's been solid every year, but this year's looks to be among the strongest, with headliner Janiva Magness capping a day that includes Rick Estrin and the Nightcats. Joanna Connor and Super Chickan and the Fighting Cocks among the nationally known artists performing during the day. You can get information at bradentonbluesfestival.org.
Also in downtown Bradenton, right at the same time, Manatee Players are staging "The Little Mermaid" at the Manatee Performing Arts Center. Manatee Players are in the middle of perhaps their most impressive season since they moved into their new home, and "The Little Mermaid" should offer some phenomenal family entertainment, with the great Alan Menken songs that made the movie a hit across the world and the musical a hit on Broadway. It runs Dec. 3-20 in Stone Hall. Call 941-748-5875 or go to manateeperformingartscenter.com.
That's some pretty impressive entertainment for a town like Bradenton. Cities a lot larger won't have as much great stuff going on in early December. But one of the best things about Bradenton is that we're nestled in among a lot of nearby cities and towns that also have great arts, within an easy drive.
Sarasota's the most obvious stop, and there's amazing theater happening there in the days and weeks ahead.
Asolo Repertory Theatre recently opened a spectacular staging of the Leonard Bernstein-Stephen Sondheim musical "West Side Story," with phenomenal sets, singing and dancing. It runs through Dec. 27, and it's a must for anyone who appreciates musical theater. For information: 941-351-8000 or go to asolorep.org.
If you want something more daring, Sarasota's most adventurous theater company, Urbanite Theatre, opens a new shows called "Lungs," a recent drama about a young couple who are considering having their first child, while both their relationship and their planet's environment are in peril. It's not a family show by any means, but all of Urbanite's shows so far have been edifying and rewarding. You can get details at urbanitetheatre.com, or by phone at 941-321-1397. If you want to see it, you should get tickets soon, because Urbanite's shows sell out quickly.
Just a few blocks away, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is offering something in a more traditional holiday vein. WBTT is acknowledged as one of the best theater companies is the country, and its original musical revues are one of the reasons audiences love the company so much. This year, artistic director Nate Jacobs has put together a holiday show called "A Motown Christmas" that features holiday songs as sung by Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5 and other Motown stars. WBTT's talent pool is astounding, so anyone who likes Motown or Christmas music ought to enjoy this show. It opens Dec. 5 and runs through the end of the year. Call 941-366-1505 or go to westcoastblacktheatre.org.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall brings some of the most popular entertainers in the world to just a short drive from Bradenton, and this holiday season brings us comedians Craig Ferguson (Dec. 1) and Carrot Top (Dec. 12), pop hitmakers Daryl Hall & John Oates (Dec. 2), and Christmas shows from smooth jazz master Dave Koz (Nov. 27) and Kenny G (Dec. 3). You can get details by calling 941-953-3368 or going to vanwezel.org.
The major Broadway tours sometimes come to Van Wezel ("The Book of Mormon" comes in for a week in February) but they're more likely to stop at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. The one most Broadway fans are especially excited about this season is "Kinky Boots." The first American tour of the hit musical, with songs by Cyndi Lauper, will be at the Straz for six days staring Dec. 1. 813-229-7827, strazcenter.org.
If you prefer arts of the visual variety, Sarasota has one of the best art museums in the country, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. But you don't even have to go that far. Bradenton's Village of the Arts is packed with quaint and quirky galleries and studios, and this coming Saturday, Nov. 28, is an ideal time to check them out. Starting at 11 a.m., artists in the village are sponsoring a scavenger hunt. It's free to enter and you can win prizes. Follow clues that will take you to locations around the village, get to know the galleries and the artists, and accrue points as you go. You can get information by calling Fun Girl Art at 941-448-7485 or by going to villageofthearts.com.
So, even after the turkey is devoured, the last football game of the weekend is played and your visiting relatives from up north have overstayed their welcome, you've got a lot to be thankful. You're surrounded not only by fabulous beaches but by world-class arts and entertainment that few mid-sized cities can offer.
Marty Clear, features writer/columnist, can be reached at 941-708-7919.
Follow twitter.com/martinclear.
This story was originally published November 20, 2015 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Bradenton's music and arts give reason for thanks ."