CLEARWATER - One of Broadway’s hottest musicals is coming to Ruth Eckerd Hall for a limited engagement, Feb. 7-12, and in anticipation of the big event, Ruth Eckerd Hall Drive has been temporarily renamed Memphis Drive.
A number of dignitaries attended the unveiling of the new street name Monday morning, including Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard, Mayor-elect George N. Cretekos, as well as Clearwater Assistant City Manager Rod Irwin and Ruth Eckerd Hall’s President and CEO Zev Buffman. The ceremony took place at the corner of McMullen Booth Road and the new Memphis Drive.
Memphis runs Tuesday, through Saturday, at 8 p.m. with matinees scheduled on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. The final performance is set for Sunday at 7 p.m.
Tickets priced at $70, $60, $50 and $40 are available at the Ruth Eckerd Hall Ticket Office, 1111 McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater, by calling 791-7400, and online at www.rutheckerdhall.com.
Memphis is being touted as one of the best Broadway musicals of modern times. The show is the winner of four 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Book and Best Orchestrations.
The show also won four Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Performance by an Actress, Outstanding Music and Outstanding Orchestration. In addition, Memphis won four Outer Critic Circle Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Score, Outstanding Actress and Outstanding Choreography.
Memphis is set in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 1950s, where a young white disc jockey fell in love with everything he shouldn’t: rock and roll and an electrifying black singer. This is an original story about a cultural revolution that erupted when his vision met her voice, and the music changed forever.
The show features a Tony-winning score with music by Bon Jovi’s founding member and keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. DiPietro also wrote the musical’s book.
For 35 years Penn & Teller have defied labels - and at times physics and good taste - by redefining the genre of magic and inventing their own very distinct niche in comedy. With sold-out runs on Broadway, world tours and Emmy-winning television specials, comedy’s only team show no signs of slowing down.
With an amazing six wins, including 2011’s Las Vegas Magicians of the Year, their 10-year run at The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino makes them one of the longest running and most-beloved shows in Las Vegas history, outselling every other resident magician on The Strip. Their acclaimed Showtime series, “Penn & Teller: BS!” has been nominated for 13 Emmys and is the longest-running series in the history of the network. The show tackles the fakes and frauds behind such topics as alien abduction, psychics and bottled water. Their newest television venture, “Penn & Teller Tell A Lie” premiered on the Discovery Channel in 2011.
ST. PETERSBURG - The Studio@620 is producing the Florida premiere of Daniel Talbott’s controversial drama about teen gay bullying, Slipping previews Thursday, Feb. 9, and continues through Feb. 19.
For tickets, call 727-895-6620 or visit studio620.org.
Alone, numb and friendless after the violent death of his father and being dumped by his abusive boyfriend, openly gay high school senior Eli moves with his mom from San Francisco for a fresh start in Iowa. A possible relationship with a boy named Jake at school exposes Eli again to the possibility of closeness and the danger of being swallowed by it.
ST. PETERSBURG - American Stage continues its Sunday Comedy Series with One Man Cho, Feb. 12, 8 p.m.
A one-man song parody comedy extravaganza, Jonathan Cho is going to bring his guitar to American Stage and play some of the songs he has written. In the style of the music comedy of Zack Galifianakis, Andy Samberg and Bo Burnham, Tampa Bay actor, songwriter, and all around funny man, Cho, brings his unique brand of acoustic comedy to the Sunday series.
Cho has a knack for taking the pop and alternative songs you love (or hate) to hear and turn them on their ear using a style all his own. Peppered with some original songs about pop culture, politics and maybe what it’s like to be human, come and see what Cho has in store.
Some of these songs are funny, some of these songs are risqué; but chances are, it will be musicand a whole lot of laughs.
TARPON SPRINGS - Auditions for the children’s chorus for New Century Opera’s production of “Carmen” are Sunday, Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m., at Tarpon Springs Cultural Center, 101 South Pinellas Ave.
The New Century Opera will hold Children’s chorus auditions for its upcoming production of Bizet's "Carmen" with performances March 30-31 and April 1.
Age range is 7 to 14. The opera will be sung in English.
For more information, call director Constantine Grame at 727-365-5645.
Becky Shaw “Becky Shaw,” by Gina Gionfriddo, presented by freeFall Theatre Company, Feb. 2-19, at freeFall, 6099 Central Ave. Performances are Thursday, 7 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Matinees are Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. Ticket prices vary according to performance date and time. Call 498-5205 or visit www.freefalltheatre.com. Starting with a fateful blind date, Becky and Max are subjected to a series of comically unfortunate events.
contain it!, Trashy Treasures and Eat This!, contain it!, Trashy Treasures and Eat This!, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10-11, at Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd, Dunedin. The DFAC will host a triple-header of events including contain it!, in which hand-selected artists rework the interior of PODS containers; and Trashy Treasures, a fabulous art garage sale. New this year is Eat This!, featuring a variety of food trucks selling enticing cuisine. Participating in the food truck rally will be Ballers Traveling Bistro, FoodeeZ Mobile Catering, La Creperia Café with crepes to go, Michelle Faedos On The Go, Tamales and South Of The Border and Wicked Wiches. The annual fringe arts festival will will kick off Friday, Feb. 10, with a party and silent auction, at the center, 1143 Michigan Blvd. Admission is $5. The exhibition will be open to the public Saturday, Feb. 11, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. For event information, call 298-3322 or visit www.dfac.org.
Greg Proops Greg Proops, Friday, Feb. 10, 9 p.m., at The Club at Treasure Island, 400 Treasure Island Causeway, Treasure Island. Tickets are $35 plus service charge. Call 367-4511 or visit theclubti.com. Proops is best known for his participation in the television show “Whose Line Is It Anyway.” He also has appeared on “Drew Careys Green Screen Show” and “Drew Careys Improv-A-Ganza.” He has established himself as a lightning-witted comedic sharpshooter. In addition to improv, Proops also has lent his voice to a number of films and television shows such as Tim Burton's “The Nightmare before Christmas,” “Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace,” “Bob the Builder” and Nickelodeon's “True Jackson, VP.” Described as unpredictable and utterly unorthodox, Proops will bring his show off his improv skills in the clubs intimate setting for one night only.
Lie, Cheat and Genuflect “Lie, Cheat and Genuflect,” by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore, presented by Early Bird Dinner Theatre, Jan. 5 through Feb. 26, at the Italian-American Club, 200 S. McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater. Seating for performances is Thursday through Sunday, 4 p.m. Seating for matinees is Thursday and Saturday, 11 a.m. Cost is $29.90 a person. For reservations, call 446-5898. Visit www.earlybirddinnertheatre.com. The Buckle brothers, Billy and Tom, are in big trouble: Tom's infallible eye for slow horses has drained away all of Billy's savings and he has borrowed from loan shark Pizza Face Petrillo, who now wants his money back or else. There's plenty of money in grandfather Buckle's will, but these two black sheep are pretty sure they'll never see any of that. What else to do but dress Billy up as a nun and have him pose as their cousin who is to inherit the entire fortune?
Seven Guitars “Seven Guitars,” by August Wilson, presented by American Stage Theatre Company, Jan. 20 through Feb. 26, in the Raymond James Theatre, 163 Third St. N., St. Petersburg. Performances are Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Matinees are Saturday and Sunday, 3 p.m. Ticket prices vary. Call 823-7529 or visit www.americanstage.org. 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 Wilsons only play constructed in flashback, “Seven Guitars” takes us back to explore what happened. Who killed Floyd Barton, but more importantly, why? This play contains mature subject matter and language.
Slipping “Slipping,” by Daniel Talbott, Feb. 9-12, 16-19, at The Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg. All performances are at 7 p.m. except Saturday, February 18, which will be a 3 p.m. matinee. For tickets, call 895-6620 or visit studio620.org. The Studio@620 is producing the Florida premiere of Talbotts controversial drama about teen gay bullying. Alone, numb and friendless after the violent death of his father and being dumped by his abusive boyfriend, openly gay high school senior Eli moves with his mom from San Francisco for a fresh start in Iowa. A possible relationship with a boy named Jake at school exposes Eli again to the possibility of closeness and the danger of being swallowed by it. “Slipping” is being directed by Bob Devin Jones and stars Bonnie Agan, Drew Smith, Vincent Stalba and Ian Muentener.
Becky Shaw “Becky Shaw,” by Gina Gionfriddo, presented by freeFall Theatre Company, Feb. 2-19, at freeFall, 6099 Central Ave. Performances are Thursday, 7 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Matinees are Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. Ticket prices vary according to performance date and time. Call 498-5205 or visit www.freefalltheatre.com. Starting with a fateful blind date, Becky and Max are subjected to a series of comically unfortunate events.
contain it!, Trashy Treasures and Eat This!, contain it!, Trashy Treasures and Eat This!, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10-11, at Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd, Dunedin. The DFAC will host a triple-header of events including contain it!, in which hand-selected artists rework the interior of PODS containers; and Trashy Treasures, a fabulous art garage sale. New this year is Eat This!, featuring a variety of food trucks selling enticing cuisine. Participating in the food truck rally will be Ballers Traveling Bistro, FoodeeZ Mobile Catering, La Creperia Café with crepes to go, Michelle Faedos On The Go, Tamales and South Of The Border and Wicked Wiches. The annual fringe arts festival will will kick off Friday, Feb. 10, with a party and silent auction, at the center, 1143 Michigan Blvd. Admission is $5. The exhibition will be open to the public Saturday, Feb. 11, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. For event information, call 298-3322 or visit www.dfac.org.
Fireside concert CLEARWATER - A fireside concert is set for Saturday, Feb. 11, 7 to 9 p.m., at Moccasin Lake Nature Park, 2750 Park Trail Lane. Suzanne and Jim Maintaining the Americana Roots Music Tradition is set to perform. There will be music, storytelling, dance, comedy, a campfire and smores. The concert and activities are free with admission to the park.
Visit www.suzanneandjim.com.
Lie, Cheat and Genuflect “Lie, Cheat and Genuflect,” by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore, presented by Early Bird Dinner Theatre, Jan. 5 through Feb. 26, at the Italian-American Club, 200 S. McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater. Seating for performances is Thursday through Sunday, 4 p.m. Seating for matinees is Thursday and Saturday, 11 a.m. Cost is $29.90 a person. For reservations, call 446-5898. Visit www.earlybirddinnertheatre.com. The Buckle brothers, Billy and Tom, are in big trouble: Tom's infallible eye for slow horses has drained away all of Billy's savings and he has borrowed from loan shark Pizza Face Petrillo, who now wants his money back or else. There's plenty of money in grandfather Buckle's will, but these two black sheep are pretty sure they'll never see any of that. What else to do but dress Billy up as a nun and have him pose as their cousin who is to inherit the entire fortune?
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