TONIGHT: Radiohead at Tampa Bay Times Forum

Art-rock heroes Radiohead return to Tampa in support of their acclaimed 2011 album “The King of Limbs.”

Of course, don’t expect the smash single “Creep” or even fan faves such as “Fake Plastic Trees,” “Karma Police” or “Everything in its Right Place.”

But if the performance is half as sonically and visually mind-blowing as the one I caught at the (then) Ford Amphitheatre in 2008 attendees should leave the Forum satisfied regardless if the setlist is bereft of  the band's classics.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29, Tampa Bay Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Tickets: $42.25 $66.50 Information: 813-287-8844 or www.ticketmaster.com.


—Publicity photo credit: Kevin Westenberg

Sarasota family wanted for reality show in Europe

Who wants to an European reality TV star?

British casting directors are searching for a Sarasota family to star in one episode of a new reality television show highlighting international sister cities.

“Twin Towns,” a 10-episode reality show, will feature families from the United States swapping lives with families in their sister cities or “twin towns” in the United Kingdom, the City of Sarasota announced today.

The selected family from Sarasota will win a week-long expense paid trip to Dunfermline, Scotland, Sarasota’s sister city. The program will be produced and aired in the United Kingdom on the Discovery Channel’s DMAX service and in central Europe via BSkyB satellite.

Casting directors with Knickerbockerglory are interested in a Sarasota family, with a high school or college student, which has never visited the United Kingdom. Filming will take place in both Sarasota and Dunfermline.

“We are looking for fun families from Sarasota to have an all-expenses paid trip to the U.K,” said Sarah Speirs, casting producer, in a statement. “Those families will get the chance to experience the life of a Dunfermline family and all that the city has to offer.”

The selected Sarasota family will swap homes with a family from Dunfermline for one week. Families will exchange jobs and homes, and the children will visit local schools or colleges. The exchanges are scheduled to take place between April 16 and June 30.

Families interested in being selected will need an existing valid U.S. passport. Casting call responses should be submitted via email to: TwinTownsUS@Knickerbockerglory.tv In the reference line, add: "ATTN Sarah, Casting Producer."

—Photo courtesy City of Sarasota

'Voice' finalist Beverly McClellan to play Village of Arts in Bradenton

The Village of the Arts will host a major concert this Friday (March 2) when highly talented blues singer/songwriter/guitarist Beverly McClellan performs for free from  6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Blues Revue office.

McClellan appeared on season one of NBC's "The Voice," finishing in the top four as part of Christina Aguilera's team. Her latest CD, "Fear Nothing," will be available for sale at the Blues Revue office.




This appearance will coincide with the City of Bradenton and the Village of the Arts in celebrating the installation of the sculptural work by nationally known public artist Catherine Woods. The sculpture titled Chrysalis Launcher is one of the new prominent pieces in the City of Bradenton's public art program. The event will also be held on Friday (March 2), from 5:30 to 6 p.m. on the corner of 9th St. W. and 12th Ave. W. Music, food and beverages will follow the unveiling. This will take place at the corner of 12th Street West and 11th Ave.

McClellan will also be attending the dedication and has most recently appeared at The Clearwater Sea Blues Festival and 17th Annual Human Rights Campaign Gala at the Charlotte Convention Center. McClellan also performed for The Grammy Foundations "One Night Only: A Celebration of the Live Music Experience" along side performers including Grammy winners Robert Cray, Jonny Lang with whom McClellan performed a duet and also three solo songs.

McClellan will be starting a tour with B.B. King on March 20.

Details: 6:30 p.m. March 2, Blues Revue, 1001 11th Ave. W., Bradenton. Admission: Free. Information: 866-702-7778 or bluesrevue.com.

REVIEW: 'Aida' at Manatee Players features star performance by lead

Candace Delancy makes a striking debut in the title role of the Manatee Players’ production of “Aida.”

The 24-year-old Miller Elementary school teacher originally from Titusville acts with aplomb and sings with more emotion than typically heard in a Broadway musical.

From start to finish, she exudes star power.

Similarly, director/choreographer Rick Kerby and crew do an outstanding job using smart lighting, projections and a revolving stage to offer a visually appealing presentation of the show dubbed “elaborate sets” when it premiered in 1998.

Alas, I didn’t leave the Riverfront Theatre in downtown Bradenton particularly entertained when “Aida” opened Thursday.

For starters, the story about a Nubian princess (Delancy) who is captured by an Egyptian military captain named Radames (William Masuck) and then falls in love with him hits levels of unintentional silliness and predictability that border on insulting — even by Disney standards. (The show was originally going to be a cartoon).

It took three people hired by the entertainment titan to write the book based on the Giuseppe Verdi opera and there’s not a single memorable line or clever plot twist.

The greatest offense, though, is how the would-be tragic ending is rendered ridiculous.

As for sonics, the six-piece band does its best to lift Elton John’s music but the Rocket Man’s melodies are much more akin to his banal 1980s ballads than the classics he composed during the previous decade.

Likewise, lyricist Tim Rice doesn’t come close to his “Jesus Christ Superstar”/“Evita”/“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” halcyon days.

The cast does its best to breathe life into the boring tale of forbidden love in ancient Egypt.

Trina Rizzo, a gifted actor and serviceable singer, generates the show’s only real laughs as Amneris, Radames’ fabulously fashionable fiancée who happens to be the daughter of the Pharaoh (Rodd Dyer) and the warrior’s key to the throne.

Masuck displays a decent singing voice but I never believed that his character would throw everything away for Aida. Then again, the story is such that perhaps no actor alive could pull off such a feat.

Delancy will grab your attention.

But I can’t say the same about the overall show.

Photo: Candace Delancy as Aida and William E. Masuck as Radames in "Aida." TIFFANY TOMPKINS-CONDIE — ttompkins@bradenton.com

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/02/19/3883654/aida-bradenton-school-teacher.html#storylink=cpy

'Aida': Bradenton school teacher makes Manatee Players debut in title role

If you go
What: “Aida”
When: Through March 11; 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays
Where: Manatee Players Riverfront Theatre, 102 Old Main St., Bradenton
Tickets: $25/$11 students
Information: 941-748-5875 or www.manateeplayers.com.

Singer Sara Bareilles to present Southeast High in Bradenton with $10,000

Star singer, songwriter and pianist Sara Bareilles will be at Southeast High in Bradenton at 1 p.m. Monday (Feb. 27) to present a check for $10,000 to support music programs at the school.

According to the announcement made today by the School Board of Manatee County, the donation is from the Stremicks Heritage Foods/8th Continent Soymilk contest “Nice Job, Mom: We Rock.” It invited mothers from across the U.S. to submit advice on promoting their families’ health and happiness. Winners were determined by company representatives and by the public, who voted for the entries online.

Jillian Cupps, an Orlando resident who graduated from Southeast High in 2000, won the contest.

She was awarded VIP treatment at a Bareilles’ concert and a $10,000 donation in her name to the music education program at a school of her choice. Cupps chose to reward the music programs at Southeast High School and she is expected to be at the check presentation on Monday.

Bareilles first gained national fame with her 2007 smash single "Love Song" and her latest album, 2010's "Kaleidoscope Heart," topped the Billboard 200 pop chart. She also serves as a celebrity judge on the NBC talent show “The Sing-Off.”

Diana Ross sells out Mahaffey in St. Petersburg

From her star role with the greatest of girl groups, The Supremes in the 1960s, to her numerous solo hits that spanned from the 1970s to late '90s, Ross established herself as the ultimate pop diva.

She also won a Golden Globe (and Oscar nomination) for her poignant portrayal of Billie Holiday in the '72 film "Lady Sings the Blues" plus a Tony Award later the same decade for her one-woman show, "An Evening with Diana Ross."

And at age 67, Ross, who was finally honored earlier this month at the Grammys, remains a top concert draw, selling out every seat of the 2,031 capacity Mahaffey in St. Pete at $65-$100 per.




—File photo of Ross (Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts) courtesy of Los Angeles Times

Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 24, The Mahaffey, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg. Tickets: Sold out. Information 727-892-5798 or www.themahaffey.com.

Is 'Disenchanted' Broadway bound? Catch this must-see musical at the Golden Apple before it goes to the Big Apple

When “Disenchanted” had its full-length, Florida premiere at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre in October, I called the Disney-dissing musical “a laugh-out-loud joy ride of bouncy melodies goosed with plenty of snark, wit and a cleverly delivered message of female empowerment."

‘Disenchanted’ is a must-see musical

In case you missed it, the show returns to Sarasota for a month-long run on Tuesday (Feb. 28).

That same day, Town Square Productions is offering an invitation to the investment of the off-Broadway production of "Disenchanted."

An informational get-together for potential investors will be held in Orlando, where the musical originated

The event will feature appearances by Don Frantz (executive producer), Laurie Brown (associate producer), Dennis Giacino (author/composer), Fiely Matias (director) "and a few surprise guests."

“We’re so excited we can’t contain ourselves,” Giacino said when I reached him by phone this afternoon at the Town Square Productions office in New York City.

‘Disenchanted’ gives princesses fresh voices

He added, “Golden Apple Dinner Theatre is the last company we will be licensing the show to until further notice as we seek out the off-Broadway production.”


Photo by PAUL VIDELA/pvidela@bradenton.com of Alex Torres, who plays Sleeping Beauty in the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre production of "Disenchanted."

For more info on attending the potential investors event in Orlando contact RSVP@TownSquareProd.com or visit the "Disenchanted" Facebook page.

Show details: Feb. 28-March 25, Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, 25 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. Tickets: $40 for dinner and show. Information: 941-366-5454 or www.thegoldenapple.com.