Black Crowes play Mahaffey in St. Petersburg

   The Black Crowes have been on hiatus for a couple of years, but that hasn't diminished their fan base.

Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes

   They're back on an American tour now, just of a five-week tour of Europe, and a lot of their upcoming dates are already sold out.
  There are still some tickets for their April 30 show at the Mahaffey Theatre in St. Petersburg, but it's probably a good idea to get yours soon or you may not get them at all.
   The show starts at 7:30. Tickets are $39.50-$49.50. Call  727-892-5798 or visit www.themahaffey.com.

"Spelling Bee" plays park in St. Petersburg

   One of the funnest theater events in west central Florida every year is the American Stage in the Park Festival in downtown St. Peterburg.
   This year's show is "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," an odd but often very funny musical that won a couple of Tony Awards in 2005.
   It's based around a spelling bee in a fictional location, with some quirky kids participating and some quirky adults running the proceedings. The twist in the show is that several audience members are pulled up on stage to take part in the spelling bee. So if you want to see it but don't want to have to be part of the show, start now to practice looking inconspicuous.
   It all happens at Demens Landing, at First Ave. North and Bayshore Bloulevard Southeast, St. Petersburg. Previews are April 24 and 25, the "Gala Under the Stars" fundraiser is set for opening night, April 26, and then the show runs through May 26. There are no shows on Mondays or Tuesday.
   There are all sorts of ticket prices, starting at $13 for blanket seating in advance on weeknights, to $29 for reserved chair seating. The preview performances are "pay what you can" nights (with no concessions available) and pets are allowed April 28, May 5 and May 12.
   The gates open at 6 p.m. -- a lot of people bring picnics and have dinner before the show -- and curtain is at 8 p.m.
   Call 727-823-7529 or go to www.americanstage.org for information and tickets.

Sarasota Film Festival opens Friday with "Blackfish"

  A new documentary by a little-known director has landed the prestigious opening-night slot for this year's Sarasota Film Festival.

Tilikum at SeaWorld

  Gabriela Cowperthwaite's "Blackfish," which premiered at Sundance in January, explores the life of Tilikum, a captive orca who has been involved with the deaths of three people, including one of his trainers at SeaWorld in Orlando. The film traces Tilikum's treatment from the time he was captured near Iceland and explores the question of whether intelligent creatures ought to be be held captive for people's amusement.
  Critics have called it powerful and persuasive; SeaWorld officials have called it misleading.
   It's set to be screened at 7 p.m. Friday, April 5 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Cowperthwaite will be there.
Call (941) 364-9514 or go to www.sarasotafilmfestival.com for information on this film or any other films or events in the festival.

Asolo directors featured in talkback in Sarasota

   The next edition of "Inside Asolo Rep," the series of moderated talkbacks with the creative team from Asolo Repertory Theatre, features two directors on the topic of "American Women."
   Laura Kepley directed "The Heidi Chronicles," which ended its run in March, and Tea Alagic directs "Venus in Fur," which opens Friday, April 5.
   The talkback is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, April 8  at the Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. It's $5 for the general public, free, for Asolo Rep donors and Guild members. For reservations, call 941-351-9000.
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St. Petersburg show features great cast, director, writer

Director Lisa Powers

   James Rayfield is a longtime Tampa Bay area writer, actor and educator, and his quirky monologues have been delighting audiences for decades. On Sunday and Monday, a bunch of great local actors (John Huls, David O'Hara, Susan Alexander, Bonnie Agan, Chris Jackson and Lulu Picart) will perform six Rayfield monologues, under the direction of the wondrous Lisa Powers.
   These are some of the best theater professionals in the area, and most of them don't take to the stage too often these days. This should be something really special, especially for people who have been following the theater scene in St. Petersburg and Tampa over the years.
   The evening is titled "Bad Love." There are only two shows, at 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday, April 7 and 8. It's $10 at the door, at Studio@620, 620 First Ave. South, St. Petersburg. Call 727-895-6620 or visit www.studio620.org.

Manatee Players finally, formally announce "Les Miz"

   Perhaps the worst-kept secret in town has been that Manatee Players will be staging "Les Miserables" next season. Company officials have been publicly and frequently dropping unsubtle hints for months, including saying that they'll be performing a musical that "won't make you miserable."
   Now they've made it official. "Les Miserables" is slated to run Aug. 8-25. It'll be the first show of the Manatee Players' 2013-14 season.
   Any doubts that the company could pull off such a huge show were banished by the stunning production values of "Miss Saigon." the first and current show in their new home at the Manatee Performing Arts Center at 502 Third Ave. West.
   For information, call 941-748-5875 or visit www.manateeplayers.com.
  

Sarasota poker room to open on Sundays

   One-Eyed Jacks, the poker room at the Sarasota Kennel Club, will from now on be open on Sundays.
   It's been closed on Sunday ever since it opened about seven years ago, so some local poker players figured that laws required that. Poker players from the Bradenton area have had to drive to Derby Lane in St. Petersburg, or to a poker room in Fort Myers or one of three poker rooms in Hillsborough County if they wanted to play on Sunday.
   Hours are being expanded on other days too. One-Eyed Jacks will now open every day at 10 a.m., and close at 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
   The Sarasota Kennel Club is at 5400 Bradenton Road. For information, call 941-355-7744 ext. 1054 or go to skcpoker.com.