The 2025-2026 Broadway season is here at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, and Public Relations Director Muffy Lavens had a chance to speak with Shafiq Hicks from The Book of Mormon. Learn about the upcoming performances at the Van Wezel, playing December 9-14, 2025. Plus, learn about Shafiq's career touring with other productions and performing for the Pope! It's a career you'll want to learn more and more about. Get tickets to The Book of Mormon at https://www.vanwezel.org/events/detail/the-book-of-mormon

Executive Director Mary Bensel and Public Relations Director Muffy Lavens sat down with the mean, green one himself...The Grinch! All the way from Mount Crumpit, The Grinch stopped by the Van Wezel to share a little bit about his musical, Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, coming to Sarasota November 14-16 for five performances. Tickets on sale now at VanWezel.org

October 22 is National Make a Dog's Day so Manatee County-based nonprofit Dogs, Inc. joins Van Wezel Public Relations Director Muffy Lavens to discuss what exactly Dogs Inc does. Duo-Certified Training Marisa Blanco shares the importance of training guide dogs and service dogs, and talks about the day guide dog trainers spent at the Van Wezel so the dogs could get some real life experience in a theater setting. Then, meet the dogs of the Van Wezel! Staff members share their furry friends they go home to each day after work.

Learn more about Dogs, Inc. at dogsinc.org

See all the upcoming shows at the Van Wezel by visiting VanWezel.org