Cary Elwes cancels tour, including Tampa appearance

   I hope you weren't getting all excited about seeing Cary Elwes at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, because he has canceled.

Robin Wright, Cary Elwes in "The Princess Bride"

   He was supposed to be there on Oct. 10 for something called "The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes" that would have featured a screening of the classic film followed by Elwes telling behind-the scenes stories. (He starred as Westley.)
   The announcement from the people at the Straz Center said he is canceling his whole tour because of "the filming of a new movie in which he will star as well as direct."

   If you bought tickets with a credit card you'll get a refund automatically. If you paid with cash or check you'll receive a check in a week or two.

   If you want to talk to somebody about it, call 813-229-7827. The Straz Center website is strazcenter.org.

2Cellos cancel U.S. tour, including Tampa date

   If you you were planning on spending the evening of May 9 watching two young Croatian cellists rock out, well ... sorry.

Stjepan Hauser (left) in happier times

   2Cellos were supposed to perform at Ferguson Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa that night, but on Friday the show was canceled. Apparently Stjepan Hauser -- one of the 2Cellos -- has injured his neck. It's not a serious injury, 2Cellos' p.r. people say, but still the duo has canceled its US tour. The people at the Straz say a new date will be announced soon.
   Meanwhile, if you already have tickets, you got some money coming back to you. If you bought them with credit card you'll get an automatic refund. If you paid with cash or a check, you'll get a check in the mail in a week or two.
   For more information, call 813-229-7827 or go to strazcenter.org.

"Pippin" scores in Tampa despite off-key Pippin

   It was opening night for the national tour of “Pippin’ at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. The house lights came on for intermission during the opening. In the audience, two friends compared their observations.

   “The guy who plays Pippin cannot sing at all.”
   “SO bad!”
   “But he’s really hot.”
   “SO hot!”

Sasha Allen and "Pippin" castmates

   How good is this new production of the classic musical?

   Despite an actor in the title role who regularly hits notes as sour as month-old milk, it turns out to be one of the best Broadway shows that has come our way in years.

   Sam Lips is the guy who plays Pippin in this very fictionalized story about Charlemagne’s son, and it's only fair to note that his acting is adequate and his dancing and acrobatic work are quite good.
   And, fortunately, he’s surrounded by an amazing cast without any other weak links.
   Sasha Allen, who lists “The Voice” first among her credits in the program, is ferocious as the Leading Player, a role most often associated with male actors. Allen has the vocal chops, the confidence and the charisma the role demands. She sometimes makes you think of Tina Turner in “Beyond Thunderdome.”

   John Rubinstein, the original Pippin on Broadway, is a lot of fun here as Charles, and Adrienne Barbeau is a revelation as Pippin’s grandmother Berthe.

   The 70-ish Barbeau swings from a trapeze, performing stunts, singing well while she’s hanging upside-down and looking quite good in her somewhat revealing form-fitting costume.
    Director Diane Paulus’ circus motif for the production, created by Gypsy Snider with a luscious big-top set by Scott Pask, is wondrous, packed with impressive illusions and Cirque du Solieil-style aerial stunts. Dominique Lemieux’ costumes, Kenneth Posner’s lights and Chet Walker’s choreography are all lovely and flavorful. And there’s killer a four-piece pit orchestra that sounds much larger than it is.
And, of course, “Pippin” is packed with great Stephen Schwartz songs and a clever book by Roger O. Hirson.
   It’s a show that’s almost flawless.

   Unfortunately, its one flaw is huge. 
   It runs through April 19 at the Straz Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. The remaining shows are at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets will run you $61.50-$85.50 plus service charge. call 813-229-7827 or go to strazcenter.org.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2015/04/09/5735830_pippin-opens-at-the-straz-in-tampa.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

Comedian Chris Tucker comes to Straz in Tampa June 12

Chris Tucker

   Chris Tucker is one of those rare entertainers who equally adept at both acting and stand-up comedy.
   It's easy to find him on screen, because every movie he does seems to turn into a huge ht, from the "Rush Hour" series with Jackie Chan to "Silver Linings Playbook" with Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro.
   Soon it'll be easy to catch his stand-up act, too. He'll be at the Straz Center for Performing Arts in Tampa on June 12.
   If you know Tucker from his movies, you might not know that he was a favorite on Russell Simmons' "Def Comedy Jam" in the '90s. He also has a stand-up special coming out on Netflix in July.
   Tickets for the Tampa performance are $45.75-$65.75 plus service charge. They'll go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, April 17. Call 813-229-7827 or go to strazcenter.org
 
   

Abba musical 'Mamma Mia!' returns to Tampa

   It was a pretty lousy movie, but on stage "Mamma Mia!" can be a massive amount of fun.
   We'll all get another chance to see when the jukebox musical based on songs by Abba when it returns Tampa. The just-announced non-Equity run at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts is set for June 23-28.

The real Abba

   Only eight shows in Broadway history have run longer than "Mamma Mia!" It's been running since 2001 and as of Monday had notched 5,550 performances.
   The plot, retro-fitted to the songs, is pretty silly, but the songs are so great you
won't mind too much.
   One tip, if you go: Don't rush out of the theater when the actors take their bows, as a lot of people do. There's a bit afterward in which the cast performs a few songs that didn't fit into the plot and it's one of the most enjoyable parts of the whole show.
   Tickets go on sale online at 10 a.m. Friday, March 20. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday – Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday,  at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. They'll set you back  tickets are $25-$65.50 plus service charge. Call 813-229-7827  or go to strazcenter.org. 

Opera Tampa scores with season-opener 'Rigoletto'

   The winter opera season is in full bloom, and in case Sarasota Opera's current productions of 'Tosca" and "The Marriage of Figaro" aren't enough to satisfy your cravings, Opera Tampa is offering a terrific production of "Rigoletto."
   The Verdi classic kicks off the 20th anniversary season for the company, which performs at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.
   The cast for this production is stunning. On opening night, the most thrilling moments came from soprano Claire Coolen as Gilda, who wielded a gorgeous voice with impressive control and a powerful stage presence, and tenor David Guzman as the Duke of Mantua.  Guzman's rendering of the opera's most famous piece, "La Donna e Mobile," was simpy beautiful, and his duets with Coolen were highlights of the evening.

Guzman as the Duke. Photo by Will Staples

    Sarasota soprano Johanna Fincher was also impressive in a smaller role as  Countess Ceprano. (Fincher will be performing closer to home this spring, in concert with Gloria Musicae in April and the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota in May.)
   All the design work, especially the  evocative and textured lighting by Chad Jung, is a treat to look at.
   The only downside is that Opera Tampa is only presenting this lovely production twice. The remaining performance is at 2 p.m. Sunday, February 15. Tickets are $49.50-$99.50 plus service charge. If you love grand opera it's well worth the price and the drive. Call 813-229-7827 or go to strazcenter.org.

 

'Book of Mormon' lottery returns to Tampa

   If you want to see "The Book of Mormon" but you don't want to shell out $66 for the cheapest tickets, here's some good news for you.

  The producers of the show are again offering a lottery that will let you purchase tickets for $31. And they're not all cheap seats. You could end up getting a $178.50 tickets for $31.

   Here's how it works: Between two and two and a half hours before any performance, you go to the box office at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa and fill out a form. You specify whether you want one ticket or two for that performance. You can't enter any drawing more than once.

 

A scene from "the Book of Mormon"

 Then, two hours before curtain, someone draws names and an unknown number of people will get the discounted tickets. It's cash only. You have to be there to win. 

   These lotteries have drawn as many as 800 entrants. You might have a better shot earlier in the run, before word of mouth about the show and about the lottery has peaked. You might also have a better shot on weekdays, because the drawing will at 5:30 p.m and a lot of people won't be able to get to the Straz Center after work by then.

  The Straz Center is at 1010 N. MacInnes Place in downtown  Tampa. "The Book of Mormon" opens Jan. 20 and runs through Feb. 1. Curtain is at  7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Call 813-229-7827 or go to strazcenter.org.

Lewis Black performs in Tampa March 15

   Back in February,  comedian Lewis Black came to Sarasota with his popular stand-up show "The Rant Is Due."
   Now he's coming back to the area with a new show, titled "The Rant Is Due: Part Deux."
   It's not for a few months -- specifically, March 14 at  the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa -- but Black is a popular guy with Bradenton-area audiences

Lewis Black

so if you're a fan you'd be well advised not to wait too long to get tickets. His February show at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall sold out.
   Black is an author, a playwright, a movie actor and “Daily Show” commentator. But he sees himself himself primarily as a stand-up comedian. About 200 days a year he’s on a stage somewhere, grumbling hilariously about things that annoy him.

    Tickets are $25-$65 plus service charge and they'll go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. Call 813-229-7827 or go to strazcenter.org.

Jeff Corwin cancels Saturday's show in Tampa

Corwin

    If you had planned to see Animal Planet host Jeff Corwin at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts Saturday, you'll have to make some different plans. His show, "Tales from the Field," has been canceled without explanation.
   There's no announcement of a new date and no talk about rescheduling, so it's apparently been just plain canceled. 
   If you bought tickets with a credit card you'll get an automatic refund. If you paid by cash or check you should have your money back by check with a week or two.
   The box office number is 813-229-7827. The Straz website is strazcenter.org.

2 Cellos add second concert in Tampa

   When 2 Cellos played a concert at Tampa's Straz Center for the Performing Arts a couple of years ago, there wasn't an empty seat in the house.
   The upcoming 2 Cellos shows at the Straz is apparently selling very well too. It's still seven months away, but already the Straz has added a second show.
   The added show is on the same date -- Saturday, May 9 -- but it's a 2:30 p.m. matinee.

2 Cellos

The original show (which is still on, of course) is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
   Croatian cellists Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser have have gained stardom by using the cello as a pop and rock instrument. They created a hugely popular version of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal," they were the first instrumental act to appear on "Glee" and they've performed with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
   Tickets for their Straz shows are $35-$45 plus service charge. Call 813-229-7827 or go to strazcenter.org.

'Dixie's Tupperware Party' in Tampa is a hoot

  If you haven't seen "Dixie's Tupperware Party" you're in for a most wondrous surprise.
  It sounds like one of the lamest shows ever. Kris Andersson, who's a man, plays Dixie, who's a woman, and the show is an actual Tupperware party. There are order forms on your table and Dixie tells you what numbers to circle if you want to buy the various containers she's touting.
   It's hard to describe the show, because Andersson relies largely on improv and audience interaction. Dixie's ad libs are so clever that it's usually impossible to tell which parts of the shows are scripted and which are off-the-cuff.  It's also hard to describe how funny the show is, partly because Dixie's so joyously foul-mouthed that it's inadvisable to repeat most of her jokes. Even the handful of audience members Dixie picked at random to make fun of through the whole evening seemed to feel privileged.
  But somehow, Dixie's irresistibly likeable.

Andersson as Dixie

  The show takes serious turn at the end, when the lights lower and Dixie breaks from the silliness to talk about the woman who invented the Tupperware party more than 60 years ago and ended up being the first woman who was ever on the cover of 'Business Week." It seems to be a heartfelt tribute. It really has no place in such a raucous and ribald show, but Andersson makes it effective, even inspirational and almost poignant.
   Even if nothing about the show sounds like it would be your spill-proof plastic cup of tea, it's worth checking out just for Andersson's astounding performance. It's as impressive, in its way, as almost any performance you'll see on any stage, in any show.
   It runs through Sunday at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $37.50 plus service charge. Call 813-229-7827 or go to strazcenter.org.

 
  
   
  
   

'Disenchanted' heads Off-Broadway after Tampa Bay previews

Michelle Knight in "Disenchanted"

   “Disenchanted" the hilarious and whimsically subversive musical that had preview runs in Sarasota and Tampa, is going to open Off-Broadway.
   Some local people will be involved in the show. Tampa’s Alison Burns will reprise her roles as Belle, the Little Mermaid and Rapunzel, and Michael Raabe, who’s best known for his work with St. Peterburg's freeFall Theatre, will be the musical director. Both Burns and Raabe worked in the “Disenchanted” production at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts earlier this year. The show had previously played at the old Golden Apple in Sarasota. Also heading to New York from the Tampa cast is Lulu Picart, who has appeared in lots of shows for freeFall and American Stage in St. Petersburg, and Michelle Knight.
   “Disenchanted!” is set for a nine-week run at the Theatre at St. Clement's, on 46th Street at Eight Avenue. Previews start Nov. 6 and opening night is Dec. 4.
   The show revolves around princesses from Disney movies – women such as Pocahontas, Mulan and Cinderella – who are angry about the way they’re portrayed on screen as weaklings who need to be saved by men.

The Lone Bellow adds Tampa concert

The Lone Bellow

   The Lone Bellow has only released one album, and it wasn't a huge hit. But among people who pay attention to what's going on in music, the trio is one of the most respected current bands in the country. People magazine called the band's debut record the album of the year, and Bob Boilen of NPR's "All Songs Considered" said, “The world of acoustic music is about to get a new household name. The music of the Lone Bellow is born from tragedy and told with heart and simplicity.”
   Their music is gorgeous and their live show, which lot of people caught when they toured the country opening for the Civil Wars, has been just as well-reviewed as their album.
   They're coming to the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa on Nov. 11. They'll be in the Jaeb Theater, which seats a little more than 250 people and should be a great venue for this kind of show.
   The Lone Bellow is based is Brooklyn, but their music has Southern roots, with jazz, folk and gospel influences.
    Foreign Fields and Kristin Diable open.
   Tickets are $24.50 plus service charge. Call 813-229-7827 or go to strazcenter.org. Handling fees will apply.

Leno, "Once" added to Straz Center season

   The Straz Center in Tampa has announced a bunch of additions to its 2014-15 season.
   By far the biggest of newly announced acts are the return of "Once," (Sept, 22-27, 2015), the wonderful musical that was a hit at the Straz earlier this year, and Jay Leno, who brings his standup comedy to the Straz on March 29

Jay Leno

   Leno headlined the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall gala last season, but he's not scheduled to come back to the Bradenton-Sarasota area in 2014-15. But several of the new shows on the Straz Center  season schedule will also be at Van Wezel, including The Piano Guys (at the Straz Feb. 4, at Van Wezel Feb. 7), Celtic Woman (Straz April 25, Van Wezel April 24) and "Menopause: The Musical" (Straz June 2-7, Van Wezel Jan. 5). So the Straz shows give Bradenton-area residents some alternate dates.
  Most of the recently announced acts aren't slated to come any closer than Tampa, though. You might have make the drive up to the Straz if you want to see comedians Demitri Martin (Dec. 12), Russell Peters (Jan. 18) and musicians Gaby Moreno (Nov. 7), the Celts (March 19), Kissy Simmons (Nov. 1), Will and Anthony (Dec. 6), Karen Mason (Feb. 14) and Natalie Prass (May 11). A lot of the concerts, including "Lion King" star Simmons, are in a cabaret setting in the intimate Jaeb Theater.
  Theatrical shows that have been added include "Dixie's Tupperware Party" (Oct. 15-19), "50 Shades! The Musical Parody" (Jan. 25), the one-man musical "My Sinatra" (Feb. 28) and "Late Nite Catechism With Sister Mary Z."
   Dance performances includes the Youth America Grand Prix (Jan. 10) and Next Generation Ballet's "Coppelia" (May 1-2).
   Tickets for most shows go on sale Saturday, Aug. 30. Call 813--229-7827 or go to strazcenter.org. The entire season, most of which was announced in June. is on the website. more shows will almost certainly be added later.

Tickets for "Mormon" in Tampa on Aug. 17

   It's still six months until "The Book of Mormon" returns to Tampa, but lots of people are already excited about exciting to see it again.
   That's why it's probably a good idea to get your tickets very early. Single tickets for the general public go on sale at noon Aug. 17. The two-week run of the show starts Jan. 20 at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. Prices for those tickets haven't been announced, though. (Tickets for groups and for Straz Center members are already on sale.) Regularly priced single tickets will run between $38.50 and $163.50, plus service charge.

   "The Book of Mormon," which sprung from the minds of the creators of "South Park" and "Avenue Q," has been famously called "the best musical of this century," and it lives up to the hype. It's fresh and hilarious and its songs are great. It won the Tony Award (and just about every other major theater award) for Best Musical and its cast recording won the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. Lots of theater aficionados think it's the best musical they've ever seen.
   It's not for the easily offended, though, so even though it's ultimately positive, you might not want to bring the kids or Grandma.
   You can get tickets by calling 813-229-7827 or strazcenter.org.
 

Garfunkel and Oates play Tampa's Straz Center

    Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci, who are collectively known as Garfunkel and Oates, are coming to Tampa.
   The comedy-folk duo will be at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts on Nov. 21. Tickets go sale at noon Friday, July 18.
   There's a good chance you've already caught them on TV, or at

Lindhome (Garfunkel) and Micucci (Oates)

least heard their songs. (One, "Screw You," was featured in an episode of "Scrubs.") They've had their own special on Comedy Central and a couple of hit albums. Micucci plays Lucy, Raj's girlfriend on "The Big Bang Theory."
   In August, they'll debut their new series, aptly titled "Garfunkel and Oates," on IFC.
   Regularly priced tickets are $29.50 plus service charge. Call 813-229-7827 or go to www.strazcenter.org.

"Return to the Forbidden Planet" adds a performance

   Tampa’s Jobsite Theatre has scored by far the biggest hit in its history with “Return to the Forbidden Planet,” and it has added an extra performance for this weekend.

The company could probably sell out several more shows, but this will probably be the last added performance. Jobsite has another show, “Inventing Van Gogh,” opening next week.

   A couple of Bradenton-area actors, Jonathan Harrison of Parrish and Owen Robertson of Sarasota, are the male leads in “Return to the Forbidden Planet,” and they’re both standouts in a large and excellent cast.

   If you’ve been following local theater or music for any length of time, you’ll probably know Harrison’s work. He fronts the band Vodkanauts and he’s done tons of theater in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area, including American Stage’s Shakespeare in the Park series.

Jonathan Harrison and Amy Elizabeth Gray

   His charismatic performance and great singing in this show are no surprise, but Robertson, who seldom performs in musicals, is a revelation. He has a powerful voice and an even more powerful stage presence.
    The show itself is a slight but very fun jukebox musical that takes pop and rock sings from the late '50s and early '60s and interjects them into a story vaguely based on “The Tempest.”
    The whole cast in the Jobsite production is strong, and so is the onstage band. (The show, which dates back to the 1970s, was originally staged with the actors playing their own instruments.)
    Director David M. Jenkins turns the show into a bit of a “Star Trek” spoof, with help from a nicely done set by Brian Smallheer.
  The only real weakness is the choreography, which ranges from mediocre to embarrassing.

   It’s not a well-known show outside of theater circles, and it’s a difficult one to do. But it’s done often around here (this is at least the third production just in Tampa) and it’s always been a crowd-pleaser. Jobsite,which usually performs in the Shimberg Playhouse at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, has moved next door into the much larger Jaeb Theatre for this show, and has been selling out most performances.

   The added performance is at 7:30 p.m Sunday, July 6. The other remaining shows are at 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.
     Tickets are $29.50 plus service charge. If you’re going to that show at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, and if you order online, you an save $10 by using the promo code ASTEROID. Go to strazcenter.org or call 813-229-7827.

   The Straz Center is at 1010 N. MacInnes Place inTampa.

Eclectic duo Johnnyswim perfoms in Tampa

   Johnnyswim is a terrible name for a band, but it’s a really good band. Husband-and-wife team Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano write beautiful songs and sing them beautifully, with voices that blend in a stunning way.
   They’ve been knocking around the music scene for years, but with their new album “Diamonds” – their second full-length release, which came out last month -- and some high-profile TV appearances in recent months, they seem as though they may be on the verge of breaking

Johnnyswim

through.
   They’re coming to Jaeb Theater, one of the smaller spaces in the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, at 7:30 p.m. July 26. It should be an ideal venue for their ethereal music.
   Tickets are $20 plus service charge. Call 813-229-7827 or go to strazcenter.com.

   Sudano, by the way, is the daughter of Donna  Summer, and toured with her mom as a backup singer for several years.

Jay Mohr comes to Tampa's Straz Center

  Comedian, actor, radio host and best-selling author Jay Mohr is bringing his standup show to Tampa.

Jay Mohr

   Mohr got his first taste of national fame in his two years on "Saturday Night Live," but he's probably better known for his role as Bob Sugar, the sports agent in "Jerry Maguire," and for "Jay Mohr Sports," his daily radio show on Fox Sports.
    He's not as well-known as a standup comic, but hes been doing standup for nearly 30 years.
   He'll be in Ferguson Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20.
Tickets go on sale at noon Friday, May 2. They'll run you $36.50 plus service charge. Call 813-229-7827 or go to www.strazcenter.org.

Miggs plays intimate show at Tampa's Jaeb

   Indie pop-rock band miggs has spent the past 13 years touring constanty, often as an opening act for such acts as Plain White T’s and KT Tunstall, or at events with Aerosmith, Meat Loaf, Maroon 5 and Train.

miggs

   But they have a solid fan base of their own. Their latest album was produced by the legendary Phil Ramone, and Lindsey Lohan starred in the video for their song "Let the Games Begin." They also recently appeared on "Good Morning America," for what that's worth.
  You usually only get to see bands like miggs in big concert venues or in smoke-filled clubs, but they're playing an show in the Jaeb Theatre, one of the smaller spaces at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts Canter in Tampa, at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 17.
   It should be a cool place to see a show like this one: There's cabaret seating, great acoustics, cocktails for sale and no smoking inside the theater.
   Tickets are on sale now for $20 plus service charge. VIP tickets that include a meet-and greet are $50 plus service charge.  Call 813-229-7827 or go to www.strazcenter.org.