Theatre (35)
Sacred Sounds Saturday Takes Poetry to the Next Level
Written by Julie Knight
Saturday, April 24, four poetry teams from around the state will compete for a grand prize of $300 in the first ever Sacred Sounds Saturdays Team Takeover at the Got Jokes? Comedy House.
Children sang and danced in the heartfelt story of the hopeful but sometimes miserable life of an orphan, in the Broadway production of Annie Jr. Their purpose was to raise awareness and raise funds so the orphans in Haiti will see the light of a better life. Produced by International Youth Theatre in coordination with Youth for Human Rights Florida, the show had a one-night showing at the Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater.
A Raisin in the Sun Celebrates Black History Month at the Ft. Harrison Hotel Featured
Written by Alice Roses
On February 6th, Harlem Nights Productions, the Mt. Carmel Community Development Corporation of Clearwater, Inc. and the North Greenwood Community Coalition came together to celebrate Black History Month with A Raisin in the Sun, the classic Loraine Hansberry play depicting an African American family about to receive an insurance check, and their struggle to agree how best to use this gift to improve their situation.
Opera Carmen to Come to Ruth Eckerd Hall January 30th
Written by Alice Roses
Bizet’s Carmen presented by Teatro Lirico D’Europa with Symphony Orchestra will come to the Ruth Eckerd Hall January 30th at 8:00 p.m. The story of betrayal and jealousy will be presented in French with English subtitles. Carmen has been one of the most performed operas since 1880.
Ruth Eckerd Hall Ranked Top Twenty in the World By Leading Trade Magazine
Written by Katie Pedretty
Entertainment industry trade publication Pollstar announced that Ruth Eckerd Hall ranked #18 in the world in venues having 10,000 seats or less in their 2009 year end ticket sales for the top 100 worldwide theatre venues. Within that same ranking, Ruth Eckerd Hall is #2 in venues having 2,500 seats or less. This ranking is based on concert and event gross tickets sales from January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009 with performances during that period. Ruth Eckerd Hall ranked higher than such prestigious venues as the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Fabulous Fox Theatre in San Diego, Chicago Theatre, Royal Albert Hall in London and the Carol Morsani Hall in Tampa.
On a cold Sunday night following New Years day, 120 people gathered in the lobby of St. Petersburg's American Stage, many of them standing in the back or sitting on the floor, to watch Gavin Hawk and Ricky Wayne perform as The Dumb Show, improvising 60 minutes of comedy from the simple audience suggestion of a dumb New Year’s resolution: “loose weight.”
Bob Newhart Comes to Ruth Eckerd Hall January 10
Written by Katie Pedretty
Although Bob Newhart is a successful entertainer with award-winning television shows, multi-platinum albums, fourteen feature films and a book, he will bring his first love, stand-up comedy to the Ruth Eckerd Hall stage on Sunday, January 10 at 2:00 p.m. His stand-up shows across the country and abroad have sold-out and he is the subject of a PBS American Masters documentary.
Comedian Chuck Glass Wins Talent Contest The Big Bang Show Season One Hosted by Got Jokes Improv
Written by Alice RosesIt's the Big Bang, Baby!
Six months of fierce competition between some of Tampa Bay’s best up and coming talent came to an end with the December 3rd season finale of The Big Bang Show, at Nova 535 in St. Pete.
Talent Contest Variety Show The Big Bang Show Season Finale to Take Place Thursday, Dec 3
Written by Alice Roses
Since June, the Tampa Bay area’s top talent has been competing in NOVA 535’s ongoing talent/variety show: The Big Bang Show. At 8:00 pm on Thursday, December 3rd, six months of competition will culminate in the season finale of this popular monthly event, with the final champion taking home the $1,000 grand prize.
Scott Sanders Day Declared to Honor Tampa Bay Premier of The Color Purple at Ruth Eckerd Hall
Written by Katie Pedretty
The Pinellas County Board of Commissioners announced that Tuesday, November 24, 2009 will officially be Scott Sanders Day throughout the county.
The Color Purple North American Tour Will Come to Ruth Eckerd Hall Nov 24 - 29
Written by Alice Roses
The North American tour of The Color Purple: The Musical About Love, produced by Oprah Winfrey and Scott Sanders, will come to Ruth Eckerd Hall for eight performances. The Color Purple will run from November 24th to November 29th. Improv Group Got Jokes? to Perform at Channelside Cinemas in Tampa Oct 29
Written by Alice Roses
Got Jokes? Improv will return to the Channelside Cinemas for a performance on Thursday, October 29th. Instead of playing a movie, one theatre will feature a live two hour improv comedy performance from Got Jokes?, Tampa’s up and coming improv group. The show will be live and interactive, drawing heavily upon audience participation. “It will be a movie experience beyond high definition,” says Daniel “Motown Pride” Jefferson, the founder of Got Jokes?
Tim Conway of The Carol Burnett Show will Perform at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Feb 6
Written by Heidi Lux
Five-time Emmy® winner comedian and actor Tim Conway will bring his friends Chuck McCann and Louise DuArt for one incredible night of classic stories and sketches to Ruth Eckerd Hall on Saturday, February 6 at 7:30 pm. The production will include video screens for easy viewing.
Big Bang Show at NOVA 535 Will Return for "Wild Card Night" on Oct 1 and Nov 5
Written by Alice Roses
Since June, Tampa Bay’s hottest undiscovered talent has been competing to win a $1,000 prize in The Big Bang Show.
On Thursday, October 1st, and Thursday, November 5th, the five “Wild Card” winners from the previous shows will come back to compete for two slots in the Thursday, December 3rd finals.
The Big Bang Show is the wild ride of the Gong Show, the drama and suspense of American Idol, and the swank of a world-class live Vegas show combined into one fabulous evening. The show is filmed live each week.
Got Jokes? Improv Will Perform at Channelside Cinemas in Tampa Sept 24
Written by Alice Roses
“Imagine you are taking your significant other out for another movie night,” says Daniel “Motown Pride” Jefferson the director of Got Jokes? Improv. “Once you get there you look to see what’s new. One of the movie selections catches your eye because it’s live interactive comedy for the same price as a movie ticket.”
That’s exactly what you will get at the Channelside Cinemas this Thursday, September 24th at 8:00pm. Got Jokes?, Tampa’s premier improv comedy group will be performing their live, interactive show at the venue the last Thursday of every month beginning in September. It will be a movie experience beyond high definition.
Comedian Steven Wright to Perform at Capitol Theatre Downtown Clearwater on Jan 15, 2010
Written by Ruth Eckerd Hall
Academy Award-winning, Grammy® nominated comedian, actor and writer Steven Wright will bring his distinctly deadpan delivery of ironic, witty philosophical and sometimes nonsensical jokes and one-liners to the historical Capitol Theatre in the Cleveland Street District in Downtown Clearwater on Friday, January 15, 2010 at 8 pm.
While performing the Boston area comedy circuit, Steven was first noticed by the producer of The Tonight Show and was invited to appear in 1982. He so impressed host Johnny Carson and the studio audience that Wright was brought back less than a week later. In 1985 Wright released his first comedy album I Have A Pony, which was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. In 1989, he and fellow producer Dean Parisot won an Academy Award for their 30-minute short film The Appointments of Dennis Jennings, directed by Parisot and written by Mike Armstrong and Wright. He has also starred in a reoccurring role the television sitcom Mad About You and in 1990 his comedy special Wicker Chairs and Gravity aired.
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Improv Comedy Show from Got Jokes? at The Lodge in Tampa Aug 30
Written by Alice Roses
Improv comedy group Got Jokes? will perform at The Lodge in Tampa on Sunday, August 30th at 8:00pm.
Got Jokes? has quickly become known as one of Tampa’s hottest up and coming talent. The group is composed of talented and diverse stand up comics, spoken word poetry artists, improvisers and actors. The individual members of the group have performed on Wild 98.7, HBO Def Comedy, Bet Comic View, HBO Brave New Voices, USA Network. Got Jokes? has played three consecutive 300+ sold out shows at the Improv in Ybor City
Clearwater Jazz Holiday Announces 2nd Annual Clearwater Jazz N Art Walk Oct 17 & 18 2009
Written by Joanie Sigal
Clearwater Jazz Holiday is proud to announce the Second Annual Clearwater Jazz ’N Art Walk in downtown Clearwater, October 17th and 18th from 10AM – 5PM.
Each year more than 60,000 visitors come to Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater to enjoy 4 days & nights of FREE Jazz by some of today’s greats. The visitor experience is complemented by the Clearwater area’s mild fall weather, miles of world-famous Gulf beaches, brilliant sunsets, nearby attractions, accommodations and dining to suit every taste and budget.
Got Jokes? Performs at The Lodge in Tampa on Sunday, August 16
Written by Heidi Lux
Tampa's premier comedy troupe, Got Jokes? will return for a second show at The Lodge in Tampa. The group performed at this venue last month to great success.
Helen Mirren and the National Theatre's Production of Phedre at the Capitol Theatre Featured
Written by Heidi Lux
On July 10th, The Capitol Theatre brought Helen Mirren to Clearwater. Sort of. The National Theatre in London premiered an experimental new program called NT Live, in which a play is performed at the National Theatre in London while simultaneously broadcast live via satellite to theatres throughout the world.
The Capitol Theatre participated in this experiment by re-broadcasting the event a few days later, as the satellite equipment to receive the live broadcast was $8,000. (The Capitol Theatre is still in its fundraising for renovation stage, so this money is better spent on new seats or rafters).
Entertaining, spectacular and remarkable are just a few of the words to describe the stage filled with youth from ages 2 to 17, in the Broadway production of “Annie Jr.” presented by International Youth Theater at the Francis Wilson Playhouse Theater, on August 8, with proceeds to benefit Youth for Human Rights Florida.
The production was entertainingly unique, as the young performers love both the art of theater and the education of human rights; and the evening intertwined them both. A play written for children, filled with funny lines singing and dancing, it still carried a message of how children’s human rights can be so easily violated.
Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre at Bon Appetit in Dunedin on August 12
Written by Lil BarcaskiThe Showcase Arts Foundation Inc. (SAFI), dedicated to creating theater arts performances in the Tampa Bay Area, is proud to present another of their interactive comedy, murder mysteries. This will be a fun filled evening of entertainment accompanied by the wonderful food and beautiful atmosphere of the waterfront restaurant Bon Appetit at the Harbor in Dunedin.
Youth Sing and Dance for Human Rights Education August 8, 2009
Written by Denise McGahee
A stage filled with youth, from ages 2 years of age to 17, will not only sing and dance their hearts out for their audience, but they will also entertain them with skits that educate their audience about human rights, in a one-of-a-kind Broadway production of “Annie Jr.”, on Saturday, August 8, at 6:00 p.m. at the Francis Wilson Playhouse Theater. In addition to an awe-inspiring evening, proceeds go to Youth for Human Rights Tampa Bay, a group dedicated in promoting the education of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights to children and adults, to make a better world.
Walking with Dinosaurs Stage Show Comes to St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa October 2009
Written by
TAMPA BAY- Dinosaurs once again roam the earth in a spectacular theatrical arena show, “Walking with Dinosaurs – The Arena Spectacular”, based on the award-winning BBC Television Series. “Walking with Dinosaurs – The Arena Spectacular” is now on tour and will have eight performances at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, presented by the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (TBPAC).
Carmen Pavlovic, CEO of the Creature Production Company, said, “The BBC Series was a brilliant blend of special effects, escapism, excitement and information. Our show brings together all of that, plus something extra - it’s live! In this production, 17 roaring, snarling “live” dinosaurs mesmerize the audience – and are as awe-inspiring as when they first walked on earth.”
Disney on Ice Princess Classic this September at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa 2009
Written by Heidi Lux
The magical world of the princesses Disney has been creating through cartoon films for the past 70 years will come to life with Disney On Ice. Come experience some “Disney magic” and spend a fantastical evening with Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Mulan and Snow White as they skate into the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa with “Disney On Ice Presents Princess Classics”. There will also be a special guest appearance by Tinkerbell.
Pourin' on the Sunscreen at the Fort Harrison Hotel 2009 Featured
Written by David Ziff
The lights lowered on the audience, all eyes riveted on the bright stage when, suddenly, from the back of the Fort Harrison Auditorium, a familiar voice swelled, putting nearly 200 heads on a swivel. Eyes stayed glued as Paul Wilson, singer extraordinaire, weaved his way through the crowd to mount the stage singing, “Luck Be a Lady,” followed by “New York, New York.” It was in this spectacular fashion that the Sunscreen Film Festival Concert began on the evening of June 20th, 2009 at the recently refurbished hotel at 210 S. Fort Harrison Avenue in downtown Clearwater.