Visual and performing artists and events in the news in March, 2025

This is who and what’s creating news in Southwest Florida’s visual and performing arts community during the month of March, 2025:

1     ART NEWS AND EXHIBITIONS

Rachel at the Well is fine, even if her ‘surround’ is not

Fort Myers City Council voted 5 to 2 on February 18 to start over procuring bids for repairs to the columns and fencing that surround Rachel at the Well. Rachel, a 99-year-old statue of a Grecian maiden that stands at the entrance to Edison Park at Llewellyn Drive and McGregor Boulevard, is fine, but her “surround” has still not been rebuilt more than two and a half years after Hurricane Ian. When it was installed in 1926, the statue was flanked by two tall columns that were connected by a curved wrought iron fence. Over the years, the bougainvillea planted behind the sculpture became entwined in the fence’s vertical spires. During Hurricane Ian, that bougainvillea acted like the sail of ship, toppling the heavy wrought iron fence along with the top of the westernmost column. The fence landed on Rachel, breaking her back and neck. Read/hear the full story on WGCU.

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Baker Museum’s ‘Florida Contemporary’ exposes local people to new work by state’s leading visual artists

Florida is home to a vast number of award-winning emerging to mid-career contemporary artists. Each year, The Baker Museum of Art invites three of them to exhibit their work in a show called “Florida Contemporary.” The idea is to expose local people to new work by the state’s leading artists. Read/hear more on WGCU.

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Marielle Plaisir installation at The Baker Museum explores a legacy of colonialism

Marielle Plaisir is one of three artists being featured by The Baker Museum of Art in its 12^th Annual Florida Contemporary exhibition. The Miami-based French Caribbean artist is known for “backlits,” which are light boxes that contain as many as 40 layers of multi-dimensional design and pattern. Executive Director Courtney McNeil said their theme is especially timely. Hear/read the full story on WGCU.

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Naples Art Institue hosting exhibition of Henri Matisse cut-outs and prints

Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso were two of the most influential artists of the 20^th century. Following abdominal surgery in 1941, Matisse was no longer able to paint. Rather than abandon art, he began painting with scissors, transforming paint and paper into a world of plants, animals, figures and shapes. These were his cut-outs, and a selection of them along with Matisse’s illustrations and prints are on display at Naples Art Institute in an exhibition titled “Art in Balance: Matisse and His Illustrated Works.” Read/hear more on WGCU.

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Two dozen visual art exhibits on display at Southwest Florida art centers

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 March, there are 24 shows at these venues. Each will stimulate your imagination and underscore the importance of the arts in our part of the country. Visit WGCU.org for a synopsis of each visual art exhibition, along with its venue, opening and closing dates and other pertinent information.

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2     ART FAIRS AND FESTIVALS 

Downtown Sarasota and Peace River art festivals are March 15 and 16

Two outdoor art festivals take place the weekend of March 15 and 16. The 3^rd Annual Downtown Sarasota Fine Art and Craft Fair will be held along Main Street and the 17^th Annual Peace River Art Festival will be held in Laishley Park on Nesbit Street in Punta Gorda. Hear/read more on WGCU.

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Southwest Florida is scene of three outdoor art festivals the weekend of March 1 & 2

Bonita Springs National Art Festival takes place in Riverside Park on Old 41 in historic downtown Bonita Springs March 1 and 2, the Sarasota Festival of the Arts comes to JD Hamel Park and the 24th Annual Downtown Venice Art Classic sets up along West Venice Avenue. Visit wgcu.org for hours and more information.

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3     ON STAGE AT AREA THEATERS

Here’s what’s onstage at Southwest Florida theaters the week of March 10

Opening this week are “A Murder Announced” at Charlotte Players, “Flatlanders” at Players Circle Theatre and “Man of La Mancha” at The Naples Players. Closing are “Anna in the Tropics” at Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, “The Cancellation of Lauren Fein” at Sarasota Studio Theatre, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” at The Belle Theatre in Cape Coral, “Gypsy” at Fort Myers Theatre, “Murder for Two” at Southwest Florida Theatre at Gulf Coast Symphony and “Jersey Boys” at TheatreZone. “The Silver Foxes” enjoys a limited, one-week run at Venice Theatre. Ten other shows continue their runs at theaters from Sarasota to Naples. Visit wgcu.org for a synopsis of each show, along with play dates, times and ticket information.

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Here’s what’s onstage March 1st and 2nd in Southwest Florida theaters

It’s a busy week in Southwest Florida for area theaters, as seven shows open, eight shows close and five others continue their runs. Closing are Death of a Salesman at The Naples Players, The Lehman Trilogy at Gulfshore Playhouse, The Fantastiks at Players Circle Theatre, Bloomsday and Boca at Florida Repertory Theatre, Something Rotten at Cultural Park Theatre in Cape Coral, Drinking Habits at Charlotte Players, and My Fair Lady at Venice Theatre.

Visit wgcu.org for a synopsis of each show along with play dates, times and ticket information.

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4     ACTORS & DIRECTORS

Annette Trossbach retiring from Laboratory Theater of Florida

In February, the Laboratory Theater of Florida announced that Annette Trossbach is retiring as its producing artistic director. Trossbach founded the lab in 2009. During her 16 years at the helm, she established the lab as a bastion for innovative, groundbreaking theater productions. Along the way, she transformed local theater into a safe and acceptable environment in which artists and audiences can explore, discover and expand personal horizons and raise their social consciousness. Hear/read the story on WGCU.

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5     THEATER

‘Gypsy’ is the story of an underdog who goes from ‘excess baggage’ to iconic burlesque star

Before she became Gypsy Rose Lee, Louise Hovick was “excess baggage” in her mother’s eyes. Momma Rose wasn’t a monster, or even neglectful. It was a matter of focus — on June, her younger, more talented daughter. Lauren Perry plays Momma Rose. She provides this insight into the reason Momma Rose doted on June to Louise’s virtual exclusion. “I’m a stage mom who is living vicariously through her children, slash child, the favorite child, who I have chosen to lavish all of my attention and affection on because I believe she can make it and, thus, I make it,” Perry pointed out. Read/hear the full story on WGCU.

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Cultural Park Theatre’s production of ‘Something Rotten’ closes on March 2 with 3 p.m. matinee

Eggs are top of mind for a lot of people right now. Back in 1595, they were for Nick and Nigel Bottom, too. The Bottom Brothers are playwrights. They’re vying with William Shakespeare for fame and fortune, but the Bard is a rock star. They’re not. To gain an edge, Nick visits a back alley soothsayer. “Nick goes to Nostradamus and is like ‘What’s Shakespeare’s next biggest hit?’ He says that it’s ‘Omelet,’ and not ‘Hamlet,’” explains Cultural Park Choreographer Reese Thurmer. Read/hear the review on WGCU.

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6     OPERA AND BALLET

Combining professional company with school, Gulfshore Ballet’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’ will be something special

When Iliana Lopez and Franklin Gamero joined Gulfshore Ballet 12 years ago, they envisioned the day they’d be able to establish a professional ballet company. That day came last year, and the results will be on display when Gulfshore Ballet performs Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty” ballet at the Wang Opera Center on Saturday. Hear/read the full story on WGCU.

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Here’s what’s at the opera and ballet in Southwest Florida the week of March 10

Opera Naples Festival Under the Stars closes on Saturday, March 15, with two performances of Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty” performed by Gulfshore Ballet in the Wang Opera Center. Gulfshore Opera offers a “Taste of Opera” on Thursday at the Naples Sailing & Yacht Club. And the Sarasota Opera House will perform five different operas over the course of the week. Hear/read the full story on WGCU.

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Nicoletta Pavarotti to reflect on life with Luciano and recent accomplishments 

Famous opera singer Luciano Pavarotti died in 2007 at the age of 71. Six months later, his widow, Nicoletta Pavarotti, established a foundation in his name to keep his memory alive and bring opera to more people, as he always tried to do. She’s in Naples this week and next for the Opera Naples Festival Under the Stars. On March 3, she’ll appear at the Wang Opera Center to share details of her life with the famed tenor. Read/hear the full story on WGCU.

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Ballet and opera performances abound the weekend of March 1 & 2

This weekend in Southwest Florida, the 5th Annual Festival Under the Stars continues in Cambier Park with Mozart’s The Magic Flute, while the Sarasota Opera House will perform Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci on March 1 and The Barber of Seville on March 2 and Sarasota Ballet will present performances by the acclaimed Mark Morris Dance Group on both Saturday and Sunday. For more, read/hear more on WGCU.