Famed composer Frank Wildhorn’s “Wonderland” musical—loosely based on the Lewis Carroll classics “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass”—premiered about a year ago at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, marking the first production in the center’s Broadway Genesis Project.
A revised and re-subtitled “Wonderland: A New Alice. A New Musical” returns to Tampa today boasting “four new songs, a vastly revised book (script), two new major cast members and a set on steroids,” reads the Straz Website.
Broadway shows grossed approximately $1.037 billion during the 2010 calendar year, according to statistics released by The Broadway League Jan. 4. Grosses are up from 2009, which brought in $1.004 billion at the box office. Attendance was also up for the year that just ended: 12.11 million in attendance in 2010 versus 11.88 million in 2009.
I've done some interesting interviews over the years.
But few, if any, beat the 90-minute one I did this morning with Bill Cosby, or, as I called him, "Mr. Cosby."
We talked about his days doing comedy in the Greenwich Village of the 1960s, "The Cosby Show" and the twisted mentality behind people who create celebrity death hoaxes such as the ones Mr. Cosby has endured.
Mr. Cosby asked my age, marital status and offered smart life lessons.
We agreed on the poignancy of a certain New Testament passage.
But what really got us going —especially Mr. Cosby — was jazz.
Turned out we're both enthusiasts of contemporary great Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, St. Pete-based piano ace Kenny Drew Jr.and countless classic artists such as Miles Davis,Oscar Peterson and John Coltrane.
We talked a lot about Coltrane. At one point, Mr. Cosby and I grappled with an album title. He gave me ample clues but I couldn't nail it. Opportunity lost, I thought.
The interview ended without either of us being able to recall that certain Coltrane record.
About five minutes went by. I talked to a reporter seated near me about the interview. Prepared to work on another story.
Then our metro editor yelled from across the newsroom:
"Hey, Wade, Bill Cosby's on the phone, what's your extension?"
Mr. Cosby had remembered the Coltrane album title: "Ascension."
After several minutes of searching — "No you look there, I'm looking here" — Mr. Cosby played me a portion of the title track, which clocks in at 27:39, while expertly remarking on the musicianship.
We talked some more. I thanked him for his time — sounding perhaps a bit too grateful. Mr. Cosby made a kind joke and said goodbye.
HERALD FILE PHOTO Steve Dawson as George and Dianne Dawson as Dot in the Players’ production of “Sunday in the Park with George.”
National award-winning community theatrical group the Manatee Players is holding auditions for the 1960s music revue "Shout!" (running March 24-April 10) and the musical "Singin' in the Rain" (May 5-22) based on the classic 1952 film of the same name.
Here's the info:
Auditions for the Manatee Players’ productions of SHOUT and SINGIN' IN THE RAIN are January 23 & 24 at 7p.m. Sunday's auditions will be at Saint Stephens Episcopal School Theater Room. Enter the parking lot at the intersection of 39th Street West and Manatee Avenue beside Mister Smoothie.
Monday's auditions will be at the Manatee Players, 102 Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton.
SHOUT is being directed and choreographed by Guest Director Matt May. It is a cast of five women and features songs of the 1960’s.
SINGIN' IN THE RAIN is being directed and choreographed by Rick Kerby and Dewayne Barrett.
SHOUT Performance dates are March 24-April 10 and SINGIN' IN THE RAIN performance dates are May 5-22.
There are NO children roles in either of these shows.
Those auditioning should prepare a song in their key and be ready for the movement portion of the audition that the director may require.
Those interested in volunteering backstage on the tech crew should call Kristin Ribble at 941-748-0111 or to help build the set, call Bill Booth at 941-748-0111.
Questions about all auditions should be directed to Rick Kerby at 941-748-0111.
Please note that by auditioning, you are obligating yourself to a considerable rehearsal and performance process. Please be certain that you are willing and able to make this commitment.
Damon Fowler tours nationally, records for the highly respected label Blind Pig and his 2009 release “Sugar Shack” reached No. 12 on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums chart.
Fowler also happens to live on Bradenton Beach.
Since relocating about a year ago to Anna Maria Island from Brandon, the singer/songwriter and guitar hero has returned from the road to regularly deliver powerful performances to a packed house at Ace’s.
Billed as “Bradenton’s live music venue,” it’s where Fowler will debut his ambitious new webcast series “Sugar Shack Mondays,” which features a nationally-touring guest each week. I’ve known Fowler for the past decade and gladly agreed to co-host the interview segment of the show.
“Last summer we were playing in Kentucky and the promoter did a webcast of our performance,” Fowler said. “I saw that it was well viewed and how cool and easy it could be.”
Boca Raton-based JP Soars and the Red Hots, the 2009 International Blues Challenge winner, is the special guest for the Jan. 3 premiere of “Sugar Shack Mondays.” The trio recently released the album “Back of My Mind.” Singer/guitarist Soars excels at everything from blues and jazz to rock and metal. Like Fowler, he’s an ace slide player as well.
Floridians have enjoyed a first look at The Greatest Show on Earth ever since Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey moved to Sarasota in 1927.
On Wednesday, Ringling Bros. premieres “Fully Charged” at the St. Pete Times Forum. Following its Jan. 5-9 run, the 141st edition of the circus tours the country via a mile-long train. Rehearsals began the day after Thanksgiving at winter quarters, which relocated to Tampa’s Florida State Fairgrounds in 1993 after spending 75 years in Sarasota County. Ringling Bros. offered local media a sneak peek of the production last month inside the fairgrounds’ Expo Hall.
Continue reading. It's based on the reporting done during visit to the circus' winter quarters last month, which I blogged about here.
Bradenton's first official New Year's Eve celebration, the "Pineapple Drop" in Sarasota and more to help you plan for the big night in my Weekend cover story.
Buzz Worthy is a forum for Bradenton Herald features writer/columnist Marty Clear to share his thoughts on the Bradenton-Sarasota arts, theater and music scene as well as the national entertainment scene, including television and movies. He welcomes feedback on all these topics.
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