Manatee Players' 'Oliver' opens today; Sarasota Ballet brings 'Modern Greats;' Players of Sarasota 'Mame;' AMI Players arrive with 'Last Train to Nibroc'

Four highly-recommended shows open this weekend in Manatee and Sarasota.

Enjoy.

Lionel Bart's classic musical "Oliver!" — based on Charles Dickens' classic novel "Oliver Twist" — opens today at the Manatee Players' Riverfront Theatre in downtown Bradenton.

On Friday (Dec. 3) and Saturday (Dec. 4) Sarasota Ballet will present "Modern Greats" featuring works by contemporary choreographers Christopher Wheeldon, Will Tuckett and Twyla Tharp.

The Sarasota Players' staging of the beloved Jerry Herman musical "Mame" opens today at the Players Theatre in Sarasota.

Also opening today is the Anna Maria Island Players' rendition of Arlene Hutton's emotive, 1999 off-Broadway drama "Last Train to Nibroc."

CLICK TO READ ABOUT ALL FOUR PERFORMANCES. 

"Food Glorious Food" from the 1968 film version of "Oliver!"