Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is a city-operated performing arts venue on Sarasota’s waterfront, with a program spanning Broadway, music, comedy, and dance. For a Sarasota evening out, check the event calendar first, then plan your ticket purchase and arrival around the performance you choose.
- Location: 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236.
- Venue: Roskamp Auditorium has 1,741 seats.
- Tickets: Buy through the hall’s box office online, by phone, or in person.
- Parking: The lot accommodates 850 vehicles, with access from 10th Street and 6th Street.
What takes place at Van Wezel?
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall presents touring productions and performances by local cultural organizations. Its program includes Broadway musicals, performers, comedians, symphony orchestras, and classical, modern, and ethnic dance. The hall was built in 1968 and 1969 with funding from a City of Sarasota bond referendum and a bequest from Lewis and Eugenia Van Wezel.
The official event calendar groups performances into concerts, Broadway, comedy, dance, classical, family, community, and backstage-tour categories. That range makes the calendar the best starting point: browse by category, then open an individual listing to find the details for a particular performance.
How do you find performances and buy tickets?
Choose a performance in the official event calendar and select “Buy Tickets” to purchase online. The Veteran Air Box Office also sells tickets in person and by phone, and accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, cash, and local checks. A service charge is added to each order.
The hall advises buying through its own box office because it cannot guarantee that tickets from third-party sellers are genuine. Ticket sales are final: Van Wezel performances do not offer refunds or exchanges, so check your selection before completing an order.
When should you arrive, and what happens at entry?
Allow time for entry screening before the performance. Ticket holders and their belongings may be screened or searched for prohibited items, and illegally possessed weapons are not allowed in the facility.
The box office’s regular hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., and Saturday, 12 p.m.–4 p.m. It also opens two hours before performances held outside regular hours and stays open through intermission on hall-sponsored performance days. Hours can change, so check the official site before you go.
Where can you park, and what accessibility features are available?
Van Wezel’s parking lot holds 850 vehicles and can be reached from 10th Street or 6th Street, also known as Boulevard of the Arts, off U.S. 41/North Tamiami Trail. Valet parking is offered in front of the venue; confirm the current price with the hall before your visit.
The hall describes itself as fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and says it provides more accessible seating than required. A T-coil-compatible hearing loop system is available in both the auditorium and box office. Sarasota Breeze Transit buses stop near the hall; consult the transit route map when planning a bus trip.
How do you get to the waterfront venue from the motel area?
The hall is on North Tamiami Trail, at the Sarasota waterfront. If you are staying at a motel in Sarasota, use the venue’s address to plan your trip.
FAQs
Who operates Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall?
The City of Sarasota owns and operates the hall.
Does the venue have a hearing loop?
Yes. Its T-coil-compatible hearing loop system is available in the auditorium and box office.
Can you buy tickets at the box office on a performance day?
The box office opens two hours before performances outside its regular hours and remains open through intermission on hall-sponsored performance days.