. . . and the reviews are terrific. It only runs till Wednesday; if you’ve "been meaning to . . .", better do it now.

. . . for this Sunday, December 4 at 8:00 p.m. We had to do it because ticket sales are so strong - and it’s only November! What a stalwart cast this is. The added performance means they’re doing two shows on December 4 (and this is a very physical show) .

. . . is how American humorist Mark Twain described golf. We, however, choose to celebrate the game the way only theatre can! Yup. It’s Golf, the Musical and it opens tonight in the Pinkerton Theatre. This is a cabaret performance. Tickets are $20.00 and worth twice that because there’s nothing more fun than poking fun at ourselves and doing it with song. Golf, the Musical will run through December 30. Directed by Allan Kollar, it features four VLT favorites - Allan Kretschmar (Jekyll & Hyde), Rodd Dyer (Animal Crackers, Cocoanuts), Ellie Pattison (ditto) and Al Jackson (Assassins).

. . . don’t forget that it’s the Venice Boat Parade and the bridges you use to get here can be closed to vehicles. The north bridge could go up as early as 5:30 p.m. (parade is scheduled to start before or at 6:00 p.m.); the Venice Avenue bridge shortly thereafter. The south bridge stays open to traffic - but if you’re coming from the north, be sure to come early or take the long way around. Parking will be a bit competitive as well. Forewarned is forearmed.

. . . here at VLT. From our 6th annual production of A Christmas Carol, to our fifth annual Sounds of Christmas concert and all the way to the Sing in the New Year celebrations on MainStage with Broadway’s Larry Alexander and Donna Kane. Here are some details:

. . . the lobby has been transformed for the Holidays and Kim Kollar and the rest of us are grateful to you volunteers who came on November 20, and gave so generously of your time to make it happen. Thanks to E’lyssa Jones, Dawn Mail, Scott Mersinger, Gail Smith, Rhonda Sudik, Scott Vitale and those amazin’ Tufenkjians - Karly, Nina and Tay.

. . . auditioning actually - not quite ‘singin’ yet. Sunday and Monday (December 4-5) at 7:30 p.m. at the theatre we’ll be auditioning for one of the greatest musicals of all time - Singin’ in the Rain. Our director is Jim Carver , who is traveling to us from Boulder CO to direct. He’s a nationally renowned community theatre director and we’re delighted he’s doing this show. Musical Director is Rick Bogner, who has numerous VLT and credits and choreographer is Jillian Godfrey, former resident choreographer at the Mark 2 Dinner Theatre in Orlando and currently onstage at the Golden Apple in Sweet Charity. We’ll be casting 25-35 people, from teens upward.

. . . on December 13 at 12:30 p.m. Most VLT audiences never see our Troupe in A Trunk - but 8500 kids in the Sarasota County schools do. Every spring, we tour a show to pre-K, K, and lower grades all over from Englewood and Northport, through Venice and up into Nokomis and Osprey. We also do a few performances here on MainStage for our most local kids and for the Loveland Center clients. It’s an important aspect of our Outreach programming and a terrific tradition as well.

This season’s show will be Fool of the World and directing is our own Director of Education and Outreach, Sandy Davisson (Sandy was named Best Director by Sarasota Magazine for her work on the Stage II production, Boom Town). She’ll be casting eight adults and notes that ALL REHEARSALS and PERFORMANCES are during daytime hours. So put on some comfortable clothes and come to auditions in the Education Studio (upstairs) at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 13.

DECEMBER 2 - opening of the Stage II Cabaret: Golf, The Musical. Runs through December 30 and tickets are only $20.00.

DECEMBER 4-5 - AUDITIONS for Singin’ in the Rain. 7:30 p.m. at the Theatre.

DECEMBER 16-18 - A Christmas Carol will be on MainStage with 7:00 p.m. performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and 2:00 p.m. performances on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $8.00.

DECEMBER 20-22 - It’s our annual Sounds of Christmas concert - this year presenting A Very Diva Christmas with VLT’s own divas. Performances at 8;00 p.m. and tickets are $20.00.

DECEMBER 30-31 - Our second annual Sing in the New Year concert featuring Broadway stars Larry Alexander and Donna Kane. This year’s show is Songs of the Silver Screen. Performances at 8:00 p.m. and tickets are $25.00 and $35.00.

JANUARY 3-8 - A VLT Spotlite Cabaret featuring Valerie Sneade. Tickets are $20.00.

JANUARY 10-29 - Steve Martin’s The Underpants on MainStage. Tickets are $20.00.

JANUARY 15-16 - AUDITIONS for The Dunes, set for Stage II performances March 16 - April 2. This is a world premiere production. 7:30 p.m. at the theatre.

JANUARY 16 - CONCERT: The Sounds of Harry James and the Andrews Sisters. Two shows, 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Tickets $25.00.

JANUARY 19-FEBRUARY 12 - The one and only Cabaret! - our second Stage II production of the year. Tickets are $20.00.

JANUARY 23 - OLDIES CONCERT: The Mills Brothers. Two shows at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $25.00.

JANUARY 29-30 - AUDITIONS for Greater Tuna. 7:30 p.m. at the theatre.

JANUARY 29-30 - CONCERT: Jack Benny "Laughter in Bloom" starring Eddie Carroll. Three shows - 8:00 p.m. on Jan. 29 and Jan. 30; 4:00 p.m. on Jan. 30. Tickets are $25.00.