TAMPA Entertainment GuideGo. See. Do.

TAMPA BAY PERFORMING ARTS (CONT'D)

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Million Dollar Quartet

January 3 - 8, 2012  |  Call for Ticket Prices  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is the smash hit Broadway musical, inspired by the true story of the famed recording session that brought together rock ‘n’ roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time.

On December 4, 1956, these four young musicians were gathered together by Sam Phillips, the “Father of Rock ’n’ Roll” at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions of all time. MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET brings that legendary night to life with an irresistible tale of broken promises, secrets, betrayal and celebrations featuring timeless hits including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “That’s All Right,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “I Walk the Line,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Who Do You Love?,” “Matchbox,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Hound Dog” and more.

This thrilling musical brings you inside the recording studio with four major talents who came together as a red-hot rock ‘n’ roll band for one unforgettable night. Don’t miss your chance to be a fly on the wall of fame... at MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET!

Showtimes TBA.

Jim Stafford In Concert

January 8, 2012  |  1:00 PM  |  $18.00, $25.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Eloise born and Winter Haven raised comedian/guitarist/singer-songwriter Jim Stafford offers music and satirical humor. From Spiders & Snakes and Cow Patti  to his classical guitar album Somewhere in Time, from performing and writing for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour to The Jim Stafford Show, movie soundtracks, hosting Nashville on the Road, co-hosting Those Amazing Animals and hosting and co-writing Branson USA, Jim has done it all. Wildwood Weed is among Jim’s six hits that have made the Billboard Top 40. Join him for classical guitar and heartwarming stories peppered with hilarious comedy.

Jobsite Theatre presents The 39 Steps

January 12 - 29, 2012  |  $24.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

By Patrick Barlow, based on the 1935 film by Alfred Hitchcock
Directed by Katrina Stevenson

WINNER of two Tony Awards and two Drama Desk Awards in 2008 as well as the 2007 Olivier Award

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theater. It's packed with non-stop laughs, with more than 150 zany characters, an on-stage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance. A man with a boring life meets a woman with a thick accent who says she's a spy. When he takes her home, she is murdered and soon, a mysterious organization called The 39 Steps is hot on the man's trail in a nationwide manhunt that climaxes in a death-defying finale!

Showtimes Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m. Sun. 4 p.m..

Stan Hunter Clearwater Jazz Holiday Jazz Combo

January 13, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $12.00, $17.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Joining an evening at the Murray Studio Theater at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Stan Hunter is a world class pianist, organist and composer who has performed with many of the greatest jazz artists of all time including John Coltrane, Sarah Vaughan, Sonny Stitt, and Dexter Gordon. He can be found on recordings with Jimmy Paxton, Chris Columbo, Sonny Fortune, Gil Askey, and Al Grey.  Featured in Downbeat Magazine Stan has played many international jazz festivals but tonight he is featured with the Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater Jazz Holiday Jazz Combo.  The evening will be a treat for any Jazz lover from any decade!  Originally from Philadelphia, Stan currently resides in St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife Pam.

Black Violin

January 13, 2012  |  8:30 PM  |  $10.00  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

To most people, jazz, hip-hop, funk, and classical are musical genres. But to revolutionary music group Black Violin, they're nothing but ingredients. Combining a daunting array of musical styles and influences to produce a signature sound that is not quite maestro, not quite emcee, this group of two classically trained violinists and their DJ is redefining the music world-one string at a time. With influences ranging from Shostakovich and Bach to Nas and Jay-Z, Black Violin breaks all the rules, blending the classical with the modern to create something rare-a sound that nobody has ever heard, but that everybody wants to feel. In an age where music is coming to be more and more defined by the labels given to it, Black Violin shows that music does not exist within a box, but rather exists in another space – one as open and unrestrained as the minds that produce it.

For the official website, click here.

Voxare String Quartet

January 14, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $37.00, $45.00  |  Capitol Theatre  |  727.791.7400

This exciting new ensemble is known for its inventive programming, technical prowess, attention to detail, and passionate performances. The concert features a new score played to the silent film The Man with the Movie Camera. Music is drawn from quartets by Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Stravinsky and Mosolov, Russian composers active when the film was made in 1929.  Voxare has frequently been The New York Times Classical Pick of the Week and received Chamber Music America’s 2010 ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming.

The Historic Capitol Theatre is located at 405 Cleveland Street in Downtown Clearwater.

The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion

January 15, 2012  |  1:00 PM  |  $18.00, $25.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Breathtaking illusions, dazzling special effects, drama, comedy, danger, magnificent set design: this is not your father’s magic show! “Modern day Houdinis” Kevin and Cindy Spencer, International Magicians of the Year and six times Performing Arts Entertainers of the Year, have created a high-tech wonder that is one of the largest touring illusion productions today. Artistry and theater converge intellect and amazement collide as this engaging duo offers an unforgettable theatrical experience.

The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra

January 17, 2012  |  1:00 PM  |  $18.00, $25.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Seventy Top Ten hits in four years, a GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award, attendance records at venue after venue; it’s difficult to exaggerate Glenn Miller’s impact. In one brief decade, he became the dominant Big Band leader and master of swing. A generation of teenagers fell in love with his unmistakable sound, dancing to In the Mood, String of Pearls, Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Kalamazoo, Moonlight Serenade and more. Gary Tole and the Glenn Miller Orchestra keep the magic alive entertaining the teenagers of yesterday and today!

Liza Minnelli

January 17, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $59.00, $82.00, $125.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

A true legend and consummate performer, the indefatigable Liza Minnelli has been honored with four Tony Awards®, an Oscar®, a special “Legends” GRAMMY®, two Golden Globe® Awards and an Emmy®.  Her success extends from stage to silver screen and television. Broadway triumphs include Flora and the Red Menace (for which she became the youngest woman to win a leading actress Tony®), Chicago, The Rink, Victor/Victoria and The Act. Her most famous movie performance was in Cabaret. Always an exciting concert performer, her generosity of spirit, enthusiasm and commitment to her craft are unequaled.

Seven Guitars by August Wilson

January 20 - February 26, 2012  |  $29.00 - $47.00  |  Raymond James Theatre  |  727.823.7529

“A play whose epic proportions and abundant spirit remind us of what the American theater once was.”
–New York Times

Floyd Barton is a natural musician with a hit song and, in the expansive atmosphere after World War II, he dreams of the big time. But as the play begins, his wife and friends mourn his death. In Wilson’s only play constructed in flashback, Seven Guitars takes us back to explore what happened. Who killed Floyd Barton, but more importantly, why?

Mature subject matter and language.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening curtain is at 7:30pm
Friday and Saturday evening curtain is at 8pm
Saturday and Sunday matinee curtain is at 3pm.

Tickets prices are $29-$47 depending on date and time of performance.
Students Rush tickets are $10, 30 minutes prior to curtain.

American Stage Theatre Company is located at the Raymond James Theatre, 163 3rd Street North in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. 

Mozart's Don Giovanni

January 21, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $47.00, $58.00  |  Capitol Theatre  |  727.791.7400

Mozart’s Don Giovanni is presented by Teatro Lirico D’Europa with Symphony Orchestra in Italian with English supertitles.

The embodiment of evil, Don Giovanni, a dissolute serial rapist, is charming, wicked, egotistical and unrepentant. He thrives on seduction and is not above murder. Based on the actual escapades of Don Juan of Seville, an aristocratic serial rapist who lived during the 1600s, Mozart’s magnificent musical masterwork is one of unparalleled beauty, considered by many to be the greatest of all operas.

A Pre-show lecture at 7 pm provided by Pinellas Opera League, $3.50 with performance ticket.

Stars of Today Meet Stars of Tomorrow

January 22, 2012  |  Call for Ticket Prices  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

Next Generation Ballet's Stars of Today Meet Stars of Tomorrow Gala has been haled as “the highlight of the season” by New York Post critic, Clive Barnes, and thrilled New York City audiences for many years, becoming synonymous with the discovery of new dancers, choreographers, and companies. The unique Gala format is hosted by ABC's Lissette Campos, features the performances of international ballet stars and introduces the world’s brightest young dance talent. The world’s largest student ballet competition, Youth America Grand Prix, brings this “Gala of Galas” (Dance Europe Magazine) to Tampa featuring star dancers from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Boston Ballet alongside award-winning wunderkinds from around the nation. Don't miss this unique chance to see the best young dancers from around the globe and the world's top professional dance artists in one spectacular Gala evening!

Danny Aiello in Concert with The Bronx Wanderers

January 24, 2012  |  1:00 PM  |  $18.00, $25.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Aside from being an Academy® Award and Golden Globe® nominee (Moonstruck, Do the Right Thing, 29th Street and more), Danny Aiello is also an accomplished singer. His debut album I Just Wanted to Hear the Words peaked at #4 on Billboard magazine’s Traditional Jazz Charts. The New York Times said Aiello “….has the bounce of his idols like Bobby Darin, Sinatra and Louie Prima and the throaty lyricism of another idol, Tony Bennett.”  Danny has performed around the country including the famed Apollo Theatre, the Rainbow Room and performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra.  Now, with the release of his fourth album due, Danny and his band hit the road to perform classic hit songs and standards the audience will love.
 
Opening the show will be Danny’s favorite group and special guests – The Bronx Wanderers who will perform all the great hits of the 50’s, 60’s – from the likes of Dion, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and many more Doo Wop and Golden Oldies.

Cavalleria Rusticana & I Pagliacci

January 27 & 29, 2012  |  Call for Ticket Prices  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

The Straz Center for the Performing Arts present Pietro Mascagni's and Ruggiero Leoncavallo's Cavalleria Rusticana & I Pagliacci at Carol Morsani Hall.

Cavalleria Rusticana is a one act verismo opera based in Sicily. It is a tale of a soldier who returns from war to find that he has lost his fiancée to another man. In his torment, he ruins the reputation of a young woman and then seduces his former fiancée, ultimately ending in a confrontation with the enraged husband.

I Pagliacci is a one-act tragedy of adultery set in the small village whose townspeople are excited about the arrival of a clown troupe. The troupe’s mission is to be comical and entertain the crowds, but the underlying current of jealousy, lust and revenge tear them apart.

Showtimes Fri., Jan. 27, at 7:30 p.m. and Sun., Jan. 29, at 2 p.m..

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo Dance Company

January 28, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $35.00, $45.00, $50.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Can serious dance be funny? You bet! Since 1974, “The Trocks” have been presenting a playful, entertaining view of classical ballet. They are living proof that men can dance en pointe without falling flat on their faces, and their comic approach is impeccable. Although performances are offered as parodies, this all-male troupe is comprised of seriously talented dancers. The humor is in the choreography. An international dance phenomenon “The Trocks” are a treat for novices and ballet aficionados alike.

Blue Suede Shoes: The Ultimate Elvis Birthday Bash

January 29, 2012  |  1:00 PM  |  $18.00, $25.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Ruth Eckerd Hall presents Blue Suede Shoes - The Ultimate Elvis Birthday Bash starring Scot Bruce, Mike Albert, and the Big “E” Band.

The “King of Rock and Roll” returns! Once again, “Elvis” will be in the house. This show brings us the best of both worlds: Scot Bruce as the young Elvis that rocked the music world with swiveling hips and bedroom eyes, and Mike Albert as the glitzy, charismatic, polished Las Vegas professional. The Big “E” Band re-creates the authentic Elvis sound for this rock ‘n’ roll afternoon. From Love Me Tender and Are You Lonesome Tonight? to All Shook Up, Jailhouse Rock and It’s Now or Never, Elvis left an indelible mark on American popular music.

Les Miserables

January 31 - February 12, 2012  |  Call for Ticket Prices  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

Dream the dream.

Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo.  This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking box office records wherever it goes.

The New York Times calls this LES MISÉRABLES “an unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish.” The London Times hails the new show “a five star hit, astonishingly powerful.”  The Star-Ledger says "a dynamically re-imagined hit.  This 'LES MISÉRABLES’ has improved with age” and NY1-TV proclaims “this new production actually exceeds the original. The storytelling is clearer, the perspective grittier and the motivations more honest. Musical theatre fans can rejoice: ‘Les Miz’ is born again.”

Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, LES MISÉRABLES is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit.  The magnificent score of LES MISÉRABLES includes the classic songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Stars,” “Bring Him Home,” “Do You Hear the People Sing?,” “One Day More,” “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables,” “Master Of The House” and many more.

Showtimes TBA.

Becky Shaw by Gina Gionfriddo

February 2 - 19, 2012  |  $37.00  |  freeFall Theatre Company  |  727.498.5205  |  freefalltheatre.com

See Becky. See Becky get voted “most likely to succeed”. See Becky in a dead-end job with little to no prospects for success. See Max. See Max orphaned by the death of his mom and the departure of his dead-beat dad. See Max adopted by Suzanna’s parents. See Max and Becky on a blind date. From this fateful blind date comes a series of comically unfortunate events that ultimately lead us to ask, “What do we owe those we love? And more perplexing, what do we owe to the strangers who pass into our lives uninvited?” You may never want to play matchmaker again!

Showtimes Thu 7:00 PM, Fri 8:00 PM, Sat 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM, Sun 2:00 PM.

freeFall Theatre is located at 6099 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Let's Fall in Love!

February 3, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $17.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

The Clearwater Chorus and local favorites Suzanne and Matt Ruley bring the songs we love to life in the intimate Murray Studio Theater for this special pre-Valentine's Day performance. Bring someone you cherish and enjoy!

Known for performing quirky songs and musical versatility, Suzanne and Matthew will perform songs about finding love.  They have been enthusiastic supporters of the Clearwater Chorus for over 10 years from singing to administrating.  They are honored to perform with the Chorus again.

This performance takes places in the Murray Studio Theater.

'Memphis' A New Broadway Musical

February 7 - 12, 2012  |  See Times Below  |  $40.00 - $70.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

MEMPHIS, Broadway’s current Tony Award® winning Best Musical, is hitting big screens nationwide for an exclusive four-night run on Thursday, April 28; Saturday, April 30; and Tuesday, May 3 at 7:30 pm, with a special matinee on Sunday, May 1 at 12:30 pm (all times local).  Locally MEMPHIS will be screened at Hyde Park Cinebistro & Citrus Stadium Park Mall 20 in Tampa, Grove 16 Cinemas in Wesley Chapel, Woodland Square 20 with IMAX in Oldsmar, Park Place Stadium 16 in Pinellas Park, Regency 20 with IMAX in Brandon, Sarasota 12 and Hollywood Stadium 12 in Sarasota, Lakeside 18 Cinemas in Lakeland and Cobb Grand 10 Cinemas in Winter Haven.
 
This is the first time the current Tony Award®-winning Best Musical will be presented in movie theaters while concurrently running on Broadway. In addition to the electrifying musical, audiences will be treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the musical that won four 2010 Tony Awards® and continues to play to sold out houses on Broadway. MEMPHIS was captured live in performance earlier this year with the original Broadway cast for this special Fathom event presentation.
 
Tickets for MEMPHIS are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of theater locations, prices and additional information — including cast photos and other details —visit the NCM Fathom website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
 
Presented by NCM Fathom and Broadway Worldwide, MEMPHIS was captured live in performance at Broadway’s renowned Shubert Theatre in New York City, and will be broadcast to more than 530 movie theaters nationwide through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network.  Broadway Worldwide’s production team is led by founder and executive producer Bruce Brandwen, Emmy Award®-winning director Don Roy King (Saturday Night Live, CBS’ The Early Show, Survivor) and Grammy® and Emmy Award®-winning sound producer Matt Kaplowitz (Ghandi, PBS’ To Bear Witness).
 
MEMPHIS takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 50’s, where a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun (Chad Kimball) fell in love with everything he shouldn’t:  rock and roll and an electrifying black singer (Montego Glover). MEMPHIS is an original story about the cultural revolution that erupted when his vision met her voice, and the music changed forever. Bursting off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love, this incredible journey is filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock 'n' roll.
 
“We are absolutely thrilled to share the story of MEMPHIS and its Broadway experience with audiences nationwide,” said MEMPHIS producer Sue Frost. “It’s an extraordinary opportunity for all of us involved with the production, and we can’t wait for Broadway lovers across America to see it on the big screen!”
 
MEMPHIS features a Tony®-winning book by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and a Tony®-winning original score with music and lyrics composed by David Bryan, Grammy Award® winning keyboard player and founding member of Bon Jovi.  Directed by Tony® nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) with choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys), the all-star cast features Tony® nominee Chad Kimball, Tony® nominee Montego Glover, Derrick Baskin, J. Bernard Calloway, James Monroe Iglehart, Tony® nominee Michael McGrath and Cass Morgan.
 
“MEMPHIS has been dazzling audiences since its Broadway premiere, and for the first time ever, audiences around the country will be able to experience Broadway’s current Best Musical at its finest – direct from Broadway – in their own hometown movie theater,” said Dan Diamond, vice president of NCM Fathom.
 
MEMPHIS will launch a U. S. national tour in Memphis, Tenn., in October 2011 at the Orpheum Theatre and will include the exclusive Tampa Bay area premiere at Ruth Eckerd Hall in February 2012.  Information about dates, times and to purchase tickets will be announced this summer.  Additional cities, dates and casting will be announced at a later date.  The national tour is being booked by The Booking Group contact Meredith Blair (212) 869-9280 www.thebookinggroup.com.
 
For more information about MEMPHIS on Broadway, please visit www.MemphistheMusical.com
 
Tickets will go on sale this summer to MEMPHIS, the Tony Award® winning Broadway Musical live on stage at Ruth Eckerd Hall February 7-12, 2012.

Showtimes:
Tuesday, February 7 at 8 pm
Wednesday, February 8 at 8 pm                        
Sunday, February 12 at 7 pm
$60, $50, $40
 
Thursday, February 9 at 8 pm                            
Friday, February 10 at 8 pm                                                                               
Saturday, February 11 at 2 & 8 pm
Sunday, February 12 at 2 pm
$70, $60, $50

Boeing Boeing

February 9 - April 22, 2012  |  $31.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

A high style, knee-slapping romp through the age of glamorous, jet-setting air travel

What seems to be the ultimate fantasy bachelor life, with intricately scheduled gorgeous flight attendants, turns out
to be a dizzingly hilarious over-the-top ride for one man, who finds out that one woman is all he can handle.

Boeing Boeing comes to Tampa Feb. 9-April 29! The debonair Bernard, an architect living in Paris, is juggling relationships with three vivacious flight attendants – each of whom believes she is his only girl. All goes well until his friend Robert arrives for a visit, and the airlines decide to change their schedules! Chaos and fun take off as Bernard’s clever plans unravel. The Boeing Boeing Tampa engagement is high-flying fun! Boeing Boeing recently enjoyed a successful Broadway revival with 279 performances.

Regularly priced tickets start at $31.50; $19.50 for preview performances on Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 11 at 2 p.m.

Showtimes Tues.-Fri. 7:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 2 and 7:30 p.m. There will be 4 p.m. performances on Feb. 12 and 26, April 1 and 29.

Daedalus Quartet

February 11, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $37.00, $45.00  |  Capitol Theatre  |  727.791.7400

The New York Times praises them as “imaginative and energetic…insightful and vibrant…polished and vigorous.” “One of the finest young groups to emerge in our current golden age of American string quartets” (The New Yorker), Daedalus Quartet brings the ethereal beauty of Shubert balanced with a contemporary piece that demonstrates the broad range of this ensemble’s virtuosity. Winner of Lincoln Center’s Martin E. Segal Award and Chamber Music America’s Guarneri String Quartet Award, Daedalus has assured its place among today’s string ensembles.

The Historic Capitol Theatre is located at 405 Cleveland Street in Downtown Clearwater.

Barbra & Frank: The Valentine That Never Was

February 14, 2012  |  1:00 PM  |  $18.00, $25.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Dare to dream the impossible, and Sharon Owens and Sebastian Anzaldo will make that dream seem like reality: Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra, the Chairman and the Diva, on stage together at last! Sharon looks uncannily like Barbra and has the voice to match. Sebastian masterfully re-creates a confident young Frank in his prime, cocky, swingin’ and with the Sinatra swagger. Their show from Las Vegas includes video clips.

Mandy Patinkin: Dress Casual with Paul Ford on Piano

February 15, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $45.00, $59.00, $75.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Before he was an Emmy®-winning TV star, Mandy Patinkin was already a Tony®-winning Broadway legend.  Mandy Patinkin: Dress Casual presents the acclaimed actor/singer/ storyteller in his most electrifying role: concert performer.  “Mandy Patinkin is in the business of showstopping,” raves The New Yorker, and that’s exactly what he does in this powerful, passionate evening of popular song.  From Irving Berlin to Stephen Sondheim, from Cole Porter to Harry Chapin, Mandy Patinkin takes you on a dazzling musical journey you’ll never forget.

The Improvised Shakespeare Company

February 16 - 18, 2012  |  Time TBA  |  $38.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

The Improvised Shakespeare Company returns to Tampa Feb. 16-18! The Improvised Shakespeare Co. creates a fully improvised play in Elizabethan style. Each of the players has brushed up on his “thee’s” and “thou’s” to bring you an evening of off-the-cuff comedy using the language and themes of William Shakespeare. Each play is completely improvised.

For more visit improvisedshakespeare.com.

Showtimes: Thurs., Feb. 16, 8 p.m.; Fri., Feb. 17, 8 p.m.; Sat., Feb. 18, 8 p.m.

Michael Amante Italian-American Festival

February 18, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $30.00, $38.00, $48.00, $78.00*  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Michael Amante returns with his engaging stage presence, versatility, charisma and vocal power. A true crossover talent, Michael is captivating singing pop, rock, Broadway, gospel and opera, equally comfortable singing Nessun Dorma, Music of the Night and Roy Orbison’s Crying. He thrills audiences with his incredible four-octave range and emotionally-charged delivery. Michael is joined by singer-songwriter Patrizio Buanne, Italy’s crooner in the tradition of Dean Martin and Tony Bennett. Michael’s power and range and Patrizio’s warm baritone combine to create an Italian-American Festival unlike any other.

*Includes premium performance seating and VIP reception with Michael Amante. Limited availability.

Arias & Encores

February 18 & 19, 2012  |  Call for Ticket Prices  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

The Straz Center for the Performing Arts present Arias & Encores: A Concert of Beautiful Music at Ferguson Hall.

Opera Tampa’s own Sherrill Milnes, the leading baritone of his time, is your host for an evening of all your favorite opera music and show tunes sung by special guest stars and our own Opera Tampa New Artists. Whether you love opera or are new to its music, you will love this evening of great and familiar melodies.

Showtimes Sat., Feb. 18, at 7:30 p.m. and Sun., Feb. 19, at 2 p.m..

Vicky Lawrence and Mama

February 19, 2012  |  2:00 PM  |  $39.00, $49.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Vicki Lawrence’s classmates were spot on when they voted her “Most Likely to Succeed.”  From her eleven hilarious years with The Carol Burnett Show (which won her an Emmy®) to her gold record for The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia, her TV series Mama’s Family, her hosting of Win, Lose or Draw, Vicki! and Fox After Breakfast, and numerous stage productions, Vicki approaches everything with a sense of humor, because “Life is much too serious to be taken seriously!” She and Mama share some of that marvelous humor with us.

La Cage Aux Folles starring George Hamilton

February 21 - 26, 2012  |  Call for Ticket Prices  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

La Cage aux Folles, Winner of three Tony Awards® including the award for BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL, this hilarious new production of La Cage aux Folles was the biggest hit of the 2010 Broadway season, leaving audiences in stitches night after night!

La Cage tells the story of Georges, the owner of a glitzy nightclub in lovely Saint-Tropez, and his partner Albin, who moonlights as the glamorous chanteuse Zaza. When Georges' son brings his fiancée's conservative parents home to meet the flashy pair, the bonds of family are put to the test as the feather boas fly! La Cage is a tuneful and touching tale of one family's struggle to stay together... stay fabulous... and above all else, stay true to themselves!

With a glorious score of hummable melodies and a dynamite cast featuring the "notorious and dangerous Cagelles," La Cage is an indisputable musical comedy classic ... and this extraordinary new version shows you why!

Showtimes TBA.

Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience

February 23, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $12.00 , $17.00  |  Capitol Theatre  |  727.791.7400

Join us for a treat at the Capitol. Evening at the Murray moves to the Capitol Theatre in Downtown Clearwater for Grammy® Award-winning artist Terrance Simien. A direct descendant of one of the first Creole families to settle St. Landry Parish, offering an eclectic fusion of zydeco that is evolving yet remains true to its origins, Terrance is one of the most respected and internationally recognized artists in roots music today and has been a major contributor to the renaissance of a genre once in danger of disappearing. Simien gives voice to our deepest human emotions.

The Historic Capitol Theatre is located at 405 Cleveland Street in Downtown Clearwater.

Night Cap Bonus: $10 with purchase of Evening at the Murray series package.

Debby Boone: Swing This

February 24, 2012  |  1:00 PM  |  $18.00, $25.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Debby Boone throws the party she’s waited a lifetime to host, offering her own personal take on the exhilarating Las Vegas style swing songs that inspired her to become a singer. Richard Kaufman, Principal Pops Conductor of the Pacific Symphony, raves, “In the tradition of great singers who can bring a song to life just the way the composer intended, Debby Boone does just that…and more.” Having progressed far beyond her megahit You Light Up My Life, she has demonstrated that she is a superbly talented vocalist with impeccable taste and style.

Verdi's Rigoletto

February 25, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $47.00, $58.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Verdi’s Rigoletto is presented by Teatro Lirico D’Europa with Symphony Orchestra in Italian with English supertitles.

Destinies collide as the womanizing Duke of Mantua and his vengeful court jester Rigoletto weave a fascinating drama of seduction, betrayal, curses and vendettas. Verdi creates an intriguing study in contrasts between good and evil, drama and comedy, honesty and deception. The physically deformed hunchback Rigoletto, sarcastic and vindictive, cursed by one he has mocked and condemned by his physical appearance to play the “fool,” is none the less a protective and loving father. Despite this nobler side of his character, Rigoletto’s desire for revenge results in tragedy.

A pre-show lecture at 7:00 PM provided by Pinellas Opera League, $3.50 with performance ticket.

The Irish Rovers

February 28, 2012  |  1:00 PM  |  $18.00, $25.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

For four and a half decades, these jolly ambassadors of Irish music, wit and good times have brought joy and delight to millions of fans around the world. Wasn’t That A Party, Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, The Irish Rover, Drunken Sailor, A-Rovin’, and their signature song The Unicorn remain timeless favorites.

Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake

February 29, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $38.00, $45.00, $50.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Ruth Eckerd Hall welcomes Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake presented by the Moscow Festival Ballet on February 29 at 7:30 PM.

A classic battle between an evil sorcerer and the power of true love is told through the silent beauty and grace of dance accompanied by the magical music of Tchaikovsky. Follow Prince Siegfried on his journey to manhood and authority to reign over his kingdom. As he leaves the carefree whims of youth behind and the time is at hand for him to choose a bride, evil is afoot and temptation lurks. Brought to life with the choreography of the great Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, the tale of Siegfried unfolds. Will love triumph over the sorcerer’s curse?

Chris Botti

March 2, 2012  |  7:00 PM  |  $39.00, $45.00, $70.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Since the release of When I Fall In Love in 2004, Chris Botti has become the largest selling American instrumental artist. His success has crossed over to audiences usually reserved for pop music and his association with PBS has led to four #1 jazz albums and multiple gold, platinum and GRAMMY® Awards. He has recorded and performed with music giants including Frank Sinatra, Sting, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, John Mayer, Andrea Bocelli, Joshua Bell, Yo-Yo Ma and Steven Tyler. Chris and his incredible band have performed with many of the finest symphonies.

A Jew Grows in Brooklyn

March 2 & 3, 2012  |  Call for Ticket Prices  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

A smash hit on Broadway, where it played for a more than a year and a half, A Jew Grows in Brooklyn is an “engaging, poignant and hilarious” (Palm Beach Post) comedy musical about the search for identity and meaning. Through stories, comedy and music – performed with a live band and including a classic Rock Medley, a multi-instrumental version of Louis Prima’s Sing, Sing, Sing, a selection of Yiddish songs and multi-media video and photos – the show chronicles the life of Jake Ehrenreich, an American-born child of Holocaust survivors. From the streets of Brooklyn and struggle with his family’s past, to the laughter and rebirth of Catskills summers, to his mother and sisters heartbreaking early Alzheimers disease, Jake mesmerizingly recreates his unforgettable journey of discovery and lessons learned.

For the official website, click here.

Itzhak Perlman, violin with Rohan De Silva, piano

March 4, 2012  |  7:00 PM  |  $50.00, $65.00, $125.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

“…for warmth of tone and generosity of spirit he remains without peer…an ambassador of the joys of music throughout his illustrious career…”
- The Toronto Star
 
Known for his irrepressible joy in making music, his charm, humanity, and his dedication to education, violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman is the winner of fifteen GRAMMY® Awards and four Emmy® Awards, founder of the Perlman Music Program, and a Kennedy Center Honoree, among numerous other distinctions. With him for this concert is his frequent collaborator Rohan De Silva, native of Sri Lanka and both a graduate of and faculty member at The Juilliard School in New York. Join us for this extraordinary evening of unforgettable music and virtuosity.

Simply Sinatra

March 5, 2012  |  1:00 PM  |  $18.00, $25.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Spend an afternoon enjoying music from some of the great composers of our time including Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen and Rodgers and Hart. From crisp, popping swing tunes to lush, poignant ballads, Simply Sinatra, backed by a hot, swinging band, will take you on a nostalgic musical journey with Sinatra masterpieces like I’ve Got You Under My Skin, The Lady Is A Tramp, That’s Life, Mack the Knife, You Make Me Feel So Young, The Best Is Yet To Come, and, of course, My Way.

Jobsite Theatre Hot Nights for the War Wives of Ithaka

March 8 - 25, 2012  |  $24.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

By Christopher Buehlman
Directed by Chris Holcom

Aphrodite, goddess of love, and Pan, god of shagging everything, have come to wreak havoc on the island of Ithaka. Fill your wine glass, nail down your goats, and prepare to laugh really hard.

Showtimes Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m. Sun. 4 p.m..

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

March 10, 2012  |  Time TBA  |  $38.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, comprising 15 of the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players today. The big band performs a vast repertoire, from rare historic compositions to Jazz at Lincoln Center-commissioned works, including compositions and arrangements by: Duke Ellington; Count Basie; Fletcher Henderson; Thelonious Monk; Mary Lou Williams; Billy Strayhorn; Dizzy Gillespie; Benny Goodman; Charles Mingus; Chick Corea; Oliver Nelson; and many others.

Scheduled ensemble players (artists subject to change) include: Wynton Marsalis, Music Director (Trumpet); Ryan Kisor (Trumpet); Marcus Printup (Trumpet); Kenny Rampton (Trumpet); Vincent R. Gardner (Trombone); Elliot Mason (Trombone); Chris Crenshaw (Trombone); Sherman Irby (Saxophones); Ted Nash (Alto and Soprano Saxophones, Clarinet); Walter Blanding (Tenor and Soprano Saxophones, Clarinet); Victor Goines (Tenor and Soprano Saxophones, Bb and Bass Clarinets); Joe Temperley (Baritone and Soprano Saxophones, Bass Clarinet); Dan Nimmer (Piano); Carlos Henriquez (Bass); and Ali Jackson (Drums).

Taylor's Traditional Irish Cabaret

March 13, 2012  |  1:00 PM  |  $18.00, $25.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Ruth Eckerd Hall presents Taylor's Traditional Irish Cabaret featuring legendary Irish performer Noel V. Ginnity.

Get ready for St. Patrick’s Day with an afternoon of Irish music, song, dance and laughter (thanks to Noel Ginnity, Ireland’s funniest comedian). High-energy dance routines choreographed by national star Ciaran Keating and accompanied by accordion, uilleann pipes and piano will lift your spirits, and soprano Emer Hartnett and tenor Paul Hennessy offer poignant and stirring Irish songs. Balladeer Andrew McCarty captures the true Irish spirit of traditional songs such as Rocky Road to Dublin and Whiskey in the Jar while renowned piper Tommy Keane completes the magic.

Rip. Tied. by Aleshea Harris

March 15 - April 1, 2012  |  $37.00  |  freeFall Theatre Company  |  727.498.5205  |  freefalltheatre.com

In this world premier production of a new play by Aleshea Harris, Viola and Donis Masterson live in a sleepy Southern town, in a crooked crazy house, where love is tucked into dark secret places, where people die without dying, and where it may be possible to fly. Inspired by numerous African folk tales used to explain the disappearance of runaway slaves as literally flying away to freedom, this compassionate and lyrical new play explores family, legend, and the value of self-determination.

Showtimes Thu 7:00 PM, Fri 8:00 PM, Sat 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM, Sun 2:00 PM.

freeFall Theatre is located at 6099 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Red by Jonathan Logan

March 16 - May 6, 2012  |  $29.00 - $47.00  |  Raymond James Theatre  |  727.823.7529

“A sizzling, intellectually thrilling two-character drama.” –Chicago Tribune

"There is only one thing I fear in life, my friend... One day the black will swallow the red.” –Mark Rothko

Winner of six 2010 Tony Awards, including “Best Play,” Red follows Mark Rothko in his New York studio in the late ’50s, painting a group of murals for the exclusive Four Seasons restaurant. He gives orders to his young assistant, Ken, as he mixes the paints, makes the frames, and paints the canvases. Ken, however, questions Rothko’s theories of art and why he accepted such a commercial commission. The resulting 90 minutes is an intense exercise in art, ideas... and a lot of red paint.

Contains mature language.
Performances and ticket prices are as follows:
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening curtain is at 7:30pm
Friday and Saturday evening curtain is at 8pm
Saturday and Sunday matinee curtain is at 3pm.

Tickets prices are $29-$47 depending on date and time of performance.
Students Rush tickets are $10, 30 minutes prior to curtain.

American Stage Theatre Company is located at the Raymond James Theatre, 163 3rd Street North in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.

Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance

March 18, 2012  |  3:00 PM  |  $29.50  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

The stories had all been written and everyone knew their parts. But the ancient clan, sitting in their stone circles, heard rumblings and the spirit’s dream was troubled. A new dark power had emerged to challenge the Lord of the Dance. The spirit travels through time and space to help the lord of the dance protect his people. On an incredible adventure, they encounter love, desire and danger.

For the official website, click here.

Neil Berg's 104 Years of Broadway

March 19, 2012  |  1:00 PM  |  $18.00, $25.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

These Broadway concerts are a Ruth Eckerd Hall favorite. Once again, Neil Berg brings us an all-new musical revue with five stars from the Great White Way backed by an all-star New York band. Together, they re-create memorable moments from the most successful Broadway hits of the past century. Relive some of the greatest scenes from your favorite musicals. This show sells out quickly, so get your tickets early to be sure to be part of the fun!

Pilobolus Dance Company

March 21, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $48.00, $59.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Dance as no one else creates it! Bursting with surprises and originality, Pilobolus has developed a genre of modern dance all its own. Through a collaborative approach to choreography that springs from intense creative play based primarily on the assembling of multi-bodied, shape-shifting forms, Pilobolus compositions are acrobatic, organic, elemental – and fun. With more than 100 works to its credit, Pilobolus recently celebrated 40 years of imagination, discovery and communication through dance.

The Great American Songbook: Jazz & Broadway

March 23 & 24, 2012  |  Showtimes Below  |  $12.00, $17.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Ruth Eckerd Hall presents The Great American Songbook, Jazz and Broadway with Rosemary and Stan Collins.

Rosemary and Stan return with songs reflecting the rich American music of Broadway and jazz. With the growth of Broadway in the early 20th century came the need to adapt enjoyable songs to the constraints of theater and plot, encouraging the rise of composers like George Gershwin, Vincent Youmans, Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern. Their songs have endured and are known as the Great American Songbook.  Rosemary, Stan and Hoffman Institute performers take us through the Songbook to jazz-influenced Broadway tunes of today.  Celebrate this great American music with us!

This performance takes place inside the Murray Studio Theater.

Showtimes are Friday, March 23 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, March 24 at 7:30 PM.

Navah Perlman, piano

March 24, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $37.00, $45.00  |  Capitol Theatre  |  727.791.7400

Ms. Perlman has established herself as one of the most poetic and admired pianists of her generation. A Juilliard graduate, she has performed worldwide with leading orchestras and is a member of the Perlman/Quint/Bailey Trio, known for its energetic and passionate chamber music performances. She is also active in educational outreach programs. Experience the lyrical eloquence of Navah Perlman and the magnificence of Schumann, Beethoven, Corigliano and Chopin in the intimacy of the historic Capitol Theatre. Ms. Perlman last appeared in Clearwater as a soloist with the Prague Symphony Orchestra.

The Historic Capitol Theatre is located at 405 Cleveland Street in Downtown Clearwater

The Joffrey Ballet

March 24, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $28.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

The Joffrey Ballet present “Night,” “In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated” and “Age of Innocence”

The Joffrey Ballet has been hailed as “America’s Company of Firsts.” The Joffrey Ballet’s long list of “firsts” includes being the first dance company to perform at the White House at Jacqueline Kennedy’s invitation, the first to appear on television, the first American company to visit Russia, the first classical dance company to go multi-media, the first to commission a rock ‘n’ roll ballet, the first and only dance company to appear on the cover of Time magazine, and the first company to have had a major motion picture based on it, Robert Altman’s The Company.

David Benoit & Brian Culbertson

March 25, 2012  |  7:00 PM  |  $42.50, $59.50  |  Capitol Theatre  |  727.791.7400

Two of the highest profile pianists in contemporary jazz join together for a  completely unique pairing.  Playing two acoustic grand pianos, Benoit and Culbertson will perform some of their best known compositions along with original music they’ve collaborated on specifically for this project.  Combining these two very distinctive styles in an acoustic setting will make for a new and exciting concert experience sure to ignite some unexpected sparks!

An Afternoon of Music & Comedy with Debbie Reynolds

March 27, 2012  |  1:00 PM  |  $30.50  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Ironically, it was a beauty contest that first brought Debbie Reynolds to the attention of scouts from Warner Bros. and MGM (impressed with her lip-synching rendition of a Betty Hutton tune). Known for starring roles in Singin’ in the Rain and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, her wit, dancing and singing ability, versatility as an actress, successful nightclub and casino acts, and film and television roles, Debbie has proven to be a star with enduring appeal. She has won the respect of her colleagues and the affection of audiences around the world.

Sister’s Easter Catechism: Will My Bunny Go To Heaven?

March 27 - 31, 2012  |  See Times Below  |  $39.75  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

We’ve been through Hell with Sister - Heaven, marriage and last rites too. Now she unravels the mysteries of all things Easter: bunnies, eggs, baskets, bonnets, and, of course, those yummy Easter Peeps. Find out who Mary Magdalene and St. Francis were, learn about pet Heaven and the significance of those cute baby chicks. Why doesn’t Easter fall on the same day every year like Christmas? All this and more will be revealed in this sinfully funny sequel to Late Nite Catechism.

Showtimes:
Tuesday, March 27 at 2 & 8 pm
Wednesday, March 28 at 2 & 8 pm
Thursday, March 29 at 8 pm
Friday, March 30 at 2 pm
Saturday, March 31 at 2 & 8 pm

This event is being held at Murray Studio Theater at Ruth Eckerd Hall.

Jake Shimabukuro

March 29, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $29.00, $39.00  |  Capitol Theatre  |  727.791.7400

It’s rare for a young musician to be compared to the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis, and when the musician’s instrument of choice is a ukulele, it’s nothing short of amazing. Redefining his instrument, Jake Shimabukuro conjures sounds from his four-string, two-octave uke unlike anything ever heard. This artist mixes jazz, rock, classical, traditional Hawaiian music and folk creating a unique sound exhibiting technical virtuosity and emotional power. His CD Peace Love Ukelele injects humor and showcases Jake’s lightning-fast skills and dexterity.

Come Fly Away

March 27 - April 1, 2012  |  $38.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

Come Fly Away is the new Broadway musical that brings together the legendary music of FRANK SINATRA and the creative vision of Tony Award-winner TWYLA THARP (Movin’ Out). This one-of-a-kind experience combines the seductive vocals of “Ol’ Blue Eyes” with the sizzling sound of a live 14-piece big band and the visceral thrill of Tharp’s choreography. As 15 of the world’s best dancers tell the story of four couples falling in and out of love, you will experience the exhilaration of a first kiss, the excitement of a first dance, and the bittersweet moments of a first good-bye in a world of sparkling romance and astonishing beauty.

The Come Fly Away Tampa engagment features a score of beloved Sinatra classics including “Summer Wind,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “My Way,” “New York, New York” and “I’ve Got the World on a String.”

Showtimes TBA.

Fiddler on the Roof

March 30 & 31, 2012  |  $50.00, $60.00, $70.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, Tony Award®-winning Fiddler On The Roof has been lauded by critics and has captured the hearts of people around the world with its universal appeal. With a rousing, heartwarming score which includes Tradition, Matchmaker, Matchmaker, If I Were A Rich Man and Sunrise, Sunset, Fiddler On The Roof is a timeless classic. No other musical has so magically woven music, dance, poignancy and laughter into such an electrifying and unforgettable experience.

Showtimes: Friday, March 30 at 8 pm and Saturday, March 31 at 2 & 8 pm.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

April 6 & 7, 2012  |  $50.00, $60.00, $70.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

This breathtaking new production of South Pacific is based on the 2008 Tony Award® winning Lincoln Center Theater production directed by Bartlett Sher. Set on a tropical island during World War II, the musical tells the sweeping romantic story of two couples and how their happiness is threatened by the realities of war and by their own prejudices. The beloved score’s songs include Some Enchanted Evening, I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair, This Nearly Was Mine and There is Nothin’ Like a Dame.
 
“The best revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein in a generation!” raves The Washington Post.

Showtimes: Friday, April 6 at 2 pm and Saturday, April 7 at 2 & 8 pm.

The Rocky Horror Show by Richard O'Brien

April 11 - May 13, 2012  |  $11.00 - $27.00  |  Demens Landing Park  |  727.823.7529

The 27th Annual American Stage in the Park presents the biggest and baddest rock ‘n’ roll musical ever! On the way to visit an old college professor, two clean cut kids, Brad and his fiancée Janet, run into car trouble and see a light down the road. It’s coming from the Frankenstein place, where Dr. Frank’n’Furter is in the midst of one of his maniacal experiments. Follow the squeaky-clean sweethearts on an adventure they’ll never forget, with the scandalous Frank’n’Furter, rippling Rocky, and vivacious Magenta. Get ready for a night of fun, frolics, and frivolity in this thrilling production of Richard O’Brien’s cult classic!

Tickets prices for general admission lawn seats are $11 at the box office and $13 at the event for Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday performances and $14 at the box office and $16 at the event for Friday and Saturday performances. Premiere blankets are $21 and reserved chair seatings are $27. Performances are at 8pm. Gates open at 6pm and will call opens at 5:30.

Contains mature language and themes. No alcohol or pets are allowed to be brought into the park (by city ordinance). Food and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are sold at the event.

American Stage in the Park is performed outdoors at Demens Landing Park, located on the corner of 1st Avenue South and Bayshore Boulevard SE in downtown St. Petersburg, FL. The box office is located at 163 3rd Street North in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg.

American Stage Theatre Company is located at the Raymond James Theatre, 163 3rd Street North in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.

Broadway Melodies

April 15, 2012  |  2:00 PM  |  $15.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Songs in tribute to the Great White Way will fill the Hall in April for the Clearwater Chorus' annual spring concert. Wear your toe-tappin' shoes and share a lovely afternoon of favorite show tunes!
 
Friends of the Chorus package: Enjoy all three Chorus concerts for only $30.

Jared O'Roarke: Hearing in Color

April 20, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $12.00, $17.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Discover a night filled with colorful characters depicting universal emotions that connect us all.  Jared O’Roarke brings the loveable character Little Stevie back to the Murray Studio as he delivers an evening of brightly painted stories. Hear the tints and shades of the stories of a war vet, a southern cook and a father who simply wants to know how to praise his son.

Giuseppe Verdi's Aida

April 20 & 22, 2012  |  Call for Ticket Prices  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

The Straz Center for the Performing Arts present Giuseppe Verdi's Aida at Carol Morsani Hall.

Aida, princess of Ethiopia, is captured and brought into slavery in Egypt. A high ranking military commander is torn by his love for her and his duty to the Pharaoh, with tragic consequences for both. This epic opera will be presented in all its glorious spectacle on the grand Morsani Hall stage.

Showtimes Fri., April 20, at 7:30 p.m. and Sun., April 22, at 2 p.m..

Burn the Floor

April 24 - 29, 2012  |  Call for Ticket Prices  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

The international dance sensation Burn the Floor comes to Tampa April 24-29 direct from its record-breaking run on Broadway!  You've seen Ballroom dance on shows like "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance."  Now, with Burn the Floor,  you will feel, live on stage, all the passion, the drama and the sizzling excitement of 20 gorgeous champion dancers, in a true theatrical experience, a performance with a grace and athleticism that The New York Times calls, "Dazzling!"

From Harlem's hot nights at The Savoy, where dances such as the Lindy, Foxtrot and Charleston were born, to the Latin Quarter where the Cha-Cha, Rumba and Salsa steamed up the stage, Burn the Floor takes audiences on a journey through the passionate drama of dance. The elegance of the Viennese Waltz, the exuberance of the Jive, the intensity of the Paso Doble - audiences will experience them all, as well as the Tango, Samba, Mambo, Quickstep and Swing.

Burn the Floor-it's Ballroom.  Reinvented.

Showtimes TBA.

An Evening with Yanni

April 26, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $45.00, $65.00, $89.00, $125.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

His concerts are legendary.  His live shows have amazed millions on every continent in the world.  Yanni as you know him best, performing his instrumental hits from the shows that have become famous around the world. The live show will feature music from Yanni's new album Truth Of Touch, which is the composer’s first album of original studio music in almost a decade. This is Yanni returning to his roots with a live performance that will deliver old and new fans the very best of Yanni and his music. Come hear the music that touches the world.

In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play

May 3 - 20, 2012  |  $37.00  |  freeFall Theatre Company  |  727.498.5205  |  freefalltheatre.com

This charming and irreverent comedy of manners, set against the backdrop of the Victorian medical practice of using vibrators to cure women of hysteria, explores the nature of intimacy in married life. Catherine Givings is frustrated with her husband Dr. Givings. They love one another, but the good doctor is unable to express his love in any way that is meaningful to his wife. When Catherine learns long-kept secrets of the details of her husband’s practice; and when Elizabeth, their baby’s wet nurse, explains that husbands are capable of creating the same “paroxysms” achieved by the doctor’s equipment, she sets out on a mission to revitalize her marriage, even within the confines of staunch Victorian prudence. With great respect for the modesty of its characters and audience, this charming, hilarious, and ultimately deeply moving play will surely be one of the most talked about in the season.

Showtimes Thu 7:00 PM, Fri 8:00 PM, Sat 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM, Sun 2:00 PM.

freeFall Theatre is located at 6099 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Jobsite Theatre presents Race

May 10 - 27, 2012  |  $24.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

By David Mamet
Directed by David M. Jenkins

America's most controversial topic is tackled in a provocative new tale of sex, guilt and bold accusations. "There is intrigue within intrigue, showing how personal prejudice and individual missteps govern the course of things ... adroitly mixes comic darts with tragic arrows." – Bloomberg News

Two lawyers find themselves defending a wealthy white executive charged with raping a black woman. A new legal assistant gets involved in the case, and opinions that boiled beneath now explode to the surface as dangerous truths are revealed and no punches are spared.

Showtimes Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m. Sun. 4 p.m..

Pinellas Youth Symphony: Finale Chamber Concert

May 11, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $5.00, $10.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Under the direction of professional musicians from The Florida Orchestra, senior level student musicians from the Pinellas Youth Symphony will perform classical music repertoire selections for string, woodwind, and brass chamber ensembles. The PYS chamber groups perform at community/charity functions and on occasion prior to concerts or programs in local halls.

$10.00 Adults, $5 Students & children.

Next Generation Ballet's Swan Lake

May 12, 2012  |  $15.00+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

This indelible classical ballet with ballerinas turned into swans will feature guest artists with the award-winning dancers of the Straz Center’s Next Generation Ballet. Swan Lake was introduced to the world by Anna Pavola in 1909 and has grown to be one of the most famous ballets of all time – most recently featured in the movie Black Swan. Like the Imperial Nutcracker, Swan Lake features music by Peter Tchaikovsky and original choreography by Marius Petipa.

Showtime TBA.

Vanishing Point by Rob Hartmann

June 1 - July 8, 2012  |  $29.00 - $47.00  |  Raymond James Theatre  |  727.823.7529

“A playful experiment in which the four A's - Amelia, Aimee, Agatha, and the audience - come briefly and melodiously unglued in time and space.” –Chicago Sun-Times

Agatha Christie vanished for eleven days in 1926. That same year, evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson vanished for three weeks. Amelia Earhart disappeared during her 1937 around-the-world flight and was never seen again. Agatha and Aimee never spoke of what happened during their disappearances. Vanishing Point, a musical fantasy, brings these three women together on a road trip through time and space as they recall their past and explore their future, stepping in and out of one another’s lives. The show has a cast of three: the actresses play multiple parts (each other’s mothers, husbands, reporters, fans, etc.).

Performances and ticket prices are as follows:
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening curtain is at 7:30pm
Friday and Saturday evening curtain is at 8pm
Saturday and Sunday matinee curtain is at 3pm.

Tickets prices are $29-$47 depending on date and time of performance.
Students Rush tickets are $10, 30 minutes prior to curtain.

American Stage Theatre Company is located at the Raymond James Theatre, 163 3rd Street North in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.

Cabaret The Musical

June 21 - July 15, 2012  |  $37.00  |  freeFall Theatre Company  |  727.498.5205  |  freefalltheatre.com

The legendary 1966 musical smash with score by Kander and Ebb is set in pre-war Weimar Germany in the seedy world of a Berlin cabaret called The Kit Kat Klub. While tensions build outside with the rise of the Nazi party, the care-free abandon of the bohemian world of the club is interrupted. Battle lines are drawn and the world of the cabaret begins to parody the politics outside its doors. The season ends with freeFall’s stunning production of this beloved classic.

Showtimes Thu 7:00 PM, Fri 8:00 PM, Sat 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM, Sun 2:00 PM.

freeFall Theatre is located at 6099 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Jobsite Theatre presents Closetland

July 12 - 29, 2012  |  $24.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

By Radha Baradwaj, based on her 1991 screenplay
Directed by Gavin Hawk

In an unnamed country, in unspecified times, a man purporting to be the government’s representative interrogates a female author of children’s fiction, on the grounds that her harmless story of children and farm animals, Closet Land, is politically subversive.

Powerful and terrifying, Closetland ultimately links political, state-sponsored violence with intimate, personal abuse, asserting that both forms of violence stem from the same root. It captures the psychological landscape of those who engage in torture and aggression, while also defining the nature of courage and resistance. Its gripping, unflinching scrutiny of both, and its sweep and power, captures the nature of violence, and violence against a woman, in particular, without resorting to exploitative gore. You will leave with a deeper understanding of why some human beings violate others — and why some manage to soar above the abuse.

Showtimes Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m. Sun. 4 p.m..

Job-side Production's Chapel Perilous

July 19 - 29, 2012  |  $15.00+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts |  813.229.7827

The Straz Center for the Performing Arts presents Job-side Production's Chapel Perilous at the Shimberg Playhouse.

Fraternal twins Mae and Jake own a dodgy beach bar and massage parlor. When they learn a hurricane is on the way, they do what comes naturally – throw a party and sing some karaoke. However, the forces of chaos, destruction, unrequited love, and poisonous hotdogs threaten to destroy everything.

Showtimes Thurs.-Sat. 10 p.m., Sun. 6 p.m..

The Foreigner by Larry Shue

July 27 - September 2, 2012  |  $29.00 - $47.00  |  Raymond James Theatre  |  727.823.7529

“Larry Shue has raided comedy's storehouse!” –Bergen Record

The Foreigner demonstrates what can happen when a group of devious characters deal with a stranger whom they think knows no English. The scene is a fishing lodge in rural Georgia often visited by Froggy LeSeuer, a British demolition expert who occasionally runs training sessions at a nearby army base. This time Froggy has brought along a friend, a pathologically shy young man named Charlie who is overcome with fear at the thought of making conversation with strangers. So Froggy, before departing, tells all assembled that Charlie is from an exotic foreign country and speaks no English. Once alone the fun really begins as Charlie overhears more than he should—the sinister plans of a two-faced minister and his redneck associate, the fact that the minister’s pretty fiancée is pregnant, and much more. What Charlie does fuels the nonstop hilarity and sets up the breath-taking climax.

Performances and ticket prices are as follows:
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening curtain is at 7:30pm
Friday and Saturday evening curtain is at 8pm
Saturday and Sunday matinee curtain is at 3pm.

Tickets prices are $29-$47 depending on date and time of performance.
Students Rush tickets are $10, 30 minutes prior to curtain.

American Stage Theatre Company is located at the Raymond James Theatre, 163 3rd Street North in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast

August 3 - 5, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $15.00 - $17.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

A romantic Broadway musical for all generations, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast has won the hearts of millions worldwide. This classic love story based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film is filled with unforgettable characters, lavish sets and costumes, and dazzling production numbers including Be Our Guest and the beloved title song. Can the Beast learn to love and be loved before he and his household are doomed for all eternity? Will the curse be broken? Experience the romance and enchantment as Disney’s Beauty and the Beast premieres this season on the Ruth Eckerd Hall stage.
 
Showtimes: Friday, August 3 at 8 pm, Saturday, August 4 at 2 & 8 pm and
Sunday, August 5 at 1 & 7 pm.