Sarasota bayfront · Broadway & concerts

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

The purple, seashell-shaped hall on Sarasota Bay: Broadway tours, concerts and comedy.

The Van Wezel is Sarasota's landmark purple hall on the bayfront. It was designed by William Wesley Peters of Taliesin Associated Architects, Frank Lloyd Wright's successor firm, and opened in 1970 with 1,741 seats.

It hosts touring Broadway shows, concerts and comedy. A foundation is raising money for a new performing arts center on the bayfront; current plans keep the Van Wezel operating as a venue alongside it.

Tips

  • All ticket sales are final.
  • Coming up: Boz Scaggs (Oct 11), Rumours of Fleetwood Mac (Oct 17) and The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA (Oct 18).

Coming up here

Good to know

How many seats does the Van Wezel have?

1,741.

Why is the Van Wezel purple?

Its distinctive lavender color is part of the original design; locals call it the Purple Cow.

More stage & concerts

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