“American Idiot,” May 17-19, in Carol Morsani Hall, at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Performances are Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Call 813-229-7827 or visit www.strazcenter.org.

Direct from Broadway, the smash-hit musical “American Idiot” tells the story of three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia. Based on Green Day's Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum album and featuring the hits "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "21 Guns, "Wake Me Up When September Ends," "Holiday" and the blockbuster title track, “American Idiot” boldly takes the American musical where it's never gone before.

The production features direction by Michael Mayer, choreography by Steven Hoggett and orchestrations and arrangements by Tom Kitt. “American Idiot” contains adult content and strong language.

Bayside String Quartet, Sunday, May 19, 2 p.m., at Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum, 100 Beekman Lane, Tarpon Springs. Tickets are $24 for adults and $20 for members and students. Call 942-5605 or visit www.tarponarts.org.

The Florida Orchestra’s Bayside String Quartet will perform a chamber concert. The quartet features principal players from the Florida Orchestra, including Saundra Buscemi Kitts (violin), Virginia Respess (violin), Kathie Aagaard (viola), and James Connors (violoncello).

“Behind the Gates,” by Wendy Graf, presented by Jobsite Theater, May 1-26, at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Call 813-229-7827 or visit www.jobsitetheater.org. Performances are Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m. Matinees are Sunday, 4 p.m. Tickets are $28.

Blast Off, Sept. 7 through Aug. 17, 2013, at the Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin. One of four exhibits designed to present an array of work gathered to reflect a broad, though singular theme, in Blast Off: The Final Frontier, the David L. Mason Children’s Art Museum casts its gaze to the stars with a trip to outer-space for the entire family. An exhibit of work from DFAC Summer Camp artists shares the same name, but occupies its own space in the Kokolakis Family Youth Gallery. DFAC galleries are open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. Gallery admission is free. DLM Children’s Art Museum admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and free for DFAC members and children 2 and younger. Call 298-3322 or visit www.dfac.org.

“Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits,” created and written by Gerard Alessandrini, May 3-19, presented by Eight O’Clock Theatre, at Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Drive, Largo. Performances are Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m. Matinees are Sunday, 2 p.m. Tickets are $25.50 for adults and $12.50 for children 19 and younger. Call 587-6793.

“John & Jen,” by Tom Greenwald and Andrew Lippa, May 3-26, at freeFall Theatre, 6099 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Call 498-5205 or visit www.freefalltheatre.com. Performances are Thursday, 7 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Matinees are Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. Tickets are $37 for adults and $34 for students, seniors and military members. There is a $7 surcharge for premium seating.

“Pippin,” by Stephen Schwartz and Roger Hirson, May 9-26, at Francis Wilson Playhouse, 302 Seminole St., Clearwater. Call 446-1360 or visit www.franciswilsonplayhouse.org. Performances are generally Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m. Matinees are Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. Tickets for nonmusicals are $21 for adults, $11 for students. Tickets for musicals are $26 for adults, $13 for students.

Sound Lives and Moves, presented by The Studio Dance Company, Sunday, May 19, 2 p.m., at The Mahaffey, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg. Tickets start at $16. Call 892-5798 or visit www.themahaffey.com.

S.L.A.M showcases the talent of dancers at The Studio Dance Company. The show will feature amazing performances in hip-hop, ballet, contemporary modern, lyrical, jazz and break dancing. Attendees will experience dance at its finest. S.L.A.M also will feature performances and choreography from its ballet partner the Sarasota Ballet.

“The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee,” by Rachel Sheinkin and William Finn, American Stage Theatre’s 28th annual American Stage in the Park, April 27 through May 26, with previews April 25-26.

The production will be staged at Demens Landing Park, on the corner of First Avenue North and Bayshore Boulevard Southeast in downtown St. Petersburg.

For ticket information and performance times, call 823-PLAY (7529) or visit www.americanstage.org.