The life and music of Buddy Holly are featured in show Sarasota

The film version of "The Buddy Holly Story" was hugely entertaining but, as most Buddy Holly fans know, it took a lot of liberties.

People who know the stage musical "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story" say it's a much more accurate biography. And it still features tons of great Buddy Holly songs ("Peggy Sue," "That'll Be the Day," "Oh Boy!" and many, many more) and number by Holly contemporaries J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson and Ritchie Valens.

The jukebox musical, which premiered in England in the late 1980s, will be at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota for three evenings beginning Monday. (Two shows were scheduled at first, but ticket sales were so brisk that a third was added.)

The show has been popular in touring productions in the United States and England, and has earned Tony Award and Olivier Award nominations for Broadway and West End runs. The production on London's West End was especially successful, running for 12 years with the support of Paul McCartney, who owns the rights to Holly's music and who reportedly objected to the biographical inaccuracies of the film.

Details: 8 p.m. Jan. 4-6, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets: $35-$75. Information: 941-953-3368, vanwezel.org.

-- Marty Clear

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 5:24 PM with the headline "The life and music of Buddy Holly are featured in show Sarasota ."