www.yourobserver.com stories: Reviewshttps://www.yourobserver.com/news/arts-entertainment/reviews/www.yourobserver.com stories: Reviewsen-usTue, 19 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0400<![CDATA[Florida Studio Theatre's 'Don't Dress for Dinner' serves up a frenetic farce ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/19/review-fst-dont-dress-for-dinner/Marty FugateTue, 19 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/aug/19/review-fst-dont-dress-for-dinner/Lily Kren and Gil Brady star in Florida Studio Theatre's "Don't Dress for Dinner," which runs through Sept. 7.<![CDATA[Florida Studio Theatre's 'Dorothy's Dictionary' defines redemption ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/jul/21/review-fst-dorothys-dictionary/Marty FugateMon, 21 Jul 2025 11:30:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/jul/21/review-fst-dorothys-dictionary/Ethan Jack Haberfield and Alice M. Gatling star in Florida Studio Theatre's "Dorothy's Dictionary," which runs through Aug. 10 at the Keating Theatre.<![CDATA[Ahoy there! 'Dames at Sea' sets sail at Florida Studio Theatre ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/jun/20/review-dames-at-sea-fst/Marty FugateFri, 20 Jun 2025 09:30:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/jun/20/review-dames-at-sea-fst/Devin Johnson, Emily Ann Brooks, Kelsey Stalter, Larry Toyter, Jenna Coker-Jones and Joel Newsome star in Florida Studio Theatre's "Dames at Sea."<![CDATA[Telling a tale of Black family life without the usual cliches ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/jun/11/review-urbanite-from-145th-to-98th-street/Marty FugateWed, 11 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/jun/11/review-urbanite-from-145th-to-98th-street/Brian D. Coats and Imani Slates star in "From 145th to 98th Street," which runs through June 29 at Urbanite Theatre.<![CDATA[Shostakovich piano trio leaves a lasting impression at Sarasota Music Festival ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/jun/09/review-sarasota-music-festival/Gayle WilliamsMon, 09 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/jun/09/review-sarasota-music-festival/Pianist Nicolas Namoradze performs at the Sarasota Music Festival.<![CDATA[Asolo Rep stages a stirring 'come to Jesus' moment ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/may/19/review-jesus-christ-superstar/Marty FugateMon, 19 May 2025 10:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/may/19/review-jesus-christ-superstar/Mary Magdalene (Sarah Kay) mediates a showdown between Judas (Heath Saunders) and Jesus (Jesse Nager) in Asolo Rep's "Jesus Christ Superstar."<![CDATA[Florida Studio Theatre's 'Jersey Boys' moves from streetlights to spotlights ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/may/06/review-florida-studio-theatre-jersey-boys/Marty FugateTue, 06 May 2025 16:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/may/06/review-florida-studio-theatre-jersey-boys/Florida Studio Theatre's "Jersey Boys" runs through May 31 at FST's Gompertz Theatre.<![CDATA['Good Night, Oscar' captures a tortured celebrity caught in a harsh spotlight ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/apr/11/placeholder-for-martys-review-of-good-night-oscar/Marty FugateFri, 11 Apr 2025 09:22:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/apr/11/placeholder-for-martys-review-of-good-night-oscar/Max Roll and Jonathan Acosta star in Asolo Rep's "Good Night, Oscar."<![CDATA[Sarasota Orchestra parades artistry in Masterworks concert ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/apr/06/review-masterworks-grand-treasures/Gayle WilliamsSun, 06 Apr 2025 18:30:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/apr/06/review-masterworks-grand-treasures/Sarasota Music Festival alum Earl Lee was the guest conductor for Sarasota Orchestra's Masterworks: Grand Treasures concert.<![CDATA[Asolo Rep's 'Dancing at Lughnasa' looks back at a magical summer ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/apr/02/review-dancing-lughnasa/Marty FugateWed, 02 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/apr/02/review-dancing-lughnasa/Tyler Michaels King and Derdriu Ring star in "Dancing at Lughnasa," which runs through April 19 at Asolo Repertory Theatre.<![CDATA[Defying cruel captivity with loving solidarity ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/mar/28/review-no-one-forgotten/Marty FugateFri, 28 Mar 2025 14:30:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/mar/28/review-no-one-forgotten/Casey Wortmann and Dekyi Rongé star in "No One is Forgotten" at Urbanite Theatre.<![CDATA['Lost in Yonkers' is a family affair ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/mar/23/review-lost-in-yonkers/Marty FugateSun, 23 Mar 2025 16:00:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/mar/23/review-lost-in-yonkers/<![CDATA[Sarasota Opera's 'Stiffelio' is a timeless tale that shouldn't be missed ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/mar/16/review-opera-stiffelio/Gayle WilliamsSun, 16 Mar 2025 12:30:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/mar/16/review-opera-stiffelio/Victor Starsky and Ricardo Jose Rivera star in Verdi's opera, "Stiffelio," at the Sarasota Opera through March 30.<![CDATA[Sarasota Orchestra's musical powers shine brightly in 'The Planets' ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/mar/09/review-sarasota-masterworks-planets/Gayle WilliamsSun, 09 Mar 2025 10:30:00 -0400https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/mar/09/review-sarasota-masterworks-planets/<![CDATA[Dreams go up in smoke in Asolo Rep's 'Anna in the Tropics' ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/mar/06/review-anna-in-the-tropics/Marty FugateThu, 06 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/mar/06/review-anna-in-the-tropics/Gabriell Salgado, Zuleyma Guevara and Jenyvette Vega star in Asolo Rep's "Anna in the Tropics," which runs through March 13 at FSU Center for the Performing Arts.<![CDATA[Sarasota Orchestra's 'Melting Pot of Music' delivered melange of flavors ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/feb/24/review-melting-pot-music/Gayle WilliamsMon, 24 Feb 2025 13:00:00 -0500https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/feb/24/review-melting-pot-music/Miguel Harth Bedoya conducts the Sarasota Orchestra's Masterworks concert, "Melting Pot of Music," at the Van Wezel from Feb. 21-23.<![CDATA['The Chinese Lady' sheds light on a dark chapter of American history ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/feb/22/review-asolo-conservatory-chinese-lady/Marty FugateSat, 22 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/feb/22/review-asolo-conservatory-chinese-lady/Uri Zhang YueYing stars in FSU/Asolo Conservatory's "The Chinese Lady," which runs through March 2.<![CDATA[Sarasota Opera performs a double bill that withstands the test of time ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/feb/17/review-opera-cavalleria-rusticana-pagliacci/Gayle WilliamsMon, 17 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0500https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/feb/17/review-opera-cavalleria-rusticana-pagliacci/The Sarasota Opera's double bill of "Cavalleria Rusticana" and "Pagliacci" runs through March 30.<![CDATA[When the crucible comes to campus ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/feb/07/review-cancellation-lauren-fein/Marty FugateFri, 07 Feb 2025 16:30:00 -0500https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/feb/07/review-cancellation-lauren-fein/Rachel Moulton stars as an embattled professor in Florida Studio Theatre's "The Cancellation of Lauren Fein," playing through March 15 at FST's Gompertz Theatre.<![CDATA[Lady Molly is on the case at Asolo Repertory Theatre ]]>https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/feb/02/review-lady-molly/Marty FugateSun, 02 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0500https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/feb/02/review-lady-molly/The world premiere of Ken Ludwig's "Lady Molly of Scotland Yard" runs through Feb. 8 at Asolo Repertory Theatre.