Spring Awakening - we want to know what you thought!

It seems some of the coverage of the show in the local media has only focused on some of the more titillating aspects of this winner of eight 2007 Tony Awards - including Best Musical.

Personally, I feel like it's one of the best things to hit Broadway in at least a decade. I also have a fairly long history with the source material, a college professor of mine (Dr. Ralf Remshardt) wrote a brilliant translation of the original Wedekind play while I was in grad school that I had an opportunity to see. A few years later I would produce that very same script with my company, Jobsite Theater.

It's the prerogative of the masses I suppose to get outraged, or rail against things they think are obscene. Still, the sensibilities of individuals and what they find offensive is very subjective. I feel like TBPAC has been nothing but up front about the show, and even gave season ticket holders the option to opt-out of seeing/paying for it. No one is trying to trick anyone and certainly any play, book, CD or movie should be avoided by someone who feels like they wouldn't care for it - whatever the reason. Others still deserve the opportunity.

I'm very curious as to what our readers might think of the performance on stage this week. If you see the show - which I honestly hope you do as it's groundbreaking, powerful stuff - I hope you might remember to come back here and let us know what you think. The only thing I'll ask is that we keep it fair and clean since this is an open blog.

Free: Scene on the Green showing of the original Oceans 11

TBPAC hosts our first free Scene on the Green event for 2009 next Friday with the original Oceans 11 (y'know, the one from the '60s with that Sinatra dude in it).

Pack a picnic and a blanket and come on down!

Win tickets to the opening night of RENT!

Text RENT to TBPAC (82722) before each performance of Spring Awakening (Dec. 30, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 31, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.; Jan 1, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 2, 2009 at 8 p.m.; Jan. 3, 2009 at 2 p.m.; Jan. 3, 2009 at 8 p.m.; Jan. 4, 2009 at 2 p.m. and Jan. 4, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.) for your chance to win a pair of opening night tickets to see RENT on July 7, 2009. A winner will be chosen at random during every performance of Spring Awakening, notified by text message and given further instructions on how to claim the prize.

Standard text-messaging rates from your carrier apply. Only one entry per device. Entries will be received daily up until the scheduled show time. Saturday and Sunday will each have two contests with one ending with the matinee performance and the other ending at the evening performance.

For complete contest rules, click here.

TBPAC's SMS technology is provided by our friends at Agile Communications.

Music Director/Pianist needed

Audition Notice

The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center is currently seeking a musical director/pianist for our upcoming production, WAIST WATCHERS - THE CALORIE-FREE MUSICAL. Responsibilities will be all rehearsals starting January 12 2009, play all shows (2/6/2009-5/10/2009) 8 show week (Tues-Sun), any brush-up music rehearsals/understudy put-ins.

Please contact Scott Belowsky directly to set up an interview.

Scott Belowsky
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
PO Box 518
Tampa, FL 33601
813-222-1279

The Love Project

Coming Feb. 13-15

In the Heights connection to Sesame Street

Now that I have a baby I'm officially a Sesame Street watcher. If you're a parent of an infant or toddler you too have sat through your share of Sesame Street. The other day I was watching and the "Murray has a little lamb" segment came on. For those of you aren't active watchers, this is a segment where the muppet, Murray Monster, visits a new school each episode. He has a little lamb, Ovejita, who speaks Spanish and provides clues about the school so Murray can guess. In any case, the hip-hop/rap theme song came on and I knew I had heard the voice before. After a second listen I placed it. It's the voice of Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda is the composer, original conceptor and star of Broadway's Tony Award-winning Best Musical In The Heights!

And there's your random fact for the day. Impress your friends! :)

Want a discount to Spring Awakening?

If you're looking for a discount on Spring Awakening tickets, which is coming to Tampa next week, just break out your cell phone and text MORITZ to TBPAC (82722) for the offer and promo code. Yep, I'm making you work for it!

Photo by Paul Kolnik

TBPAC's SMS technology is provided by our friends at Agile Communications.

F. Reed Brown's VOICES

Coming Jan. 9 - 11, F. Reed Brown's Voices.

For those who may have enjoyed the two sold-out runs of Vincent, this is the same actor (a USF alum, even) who has put this multi-person show together.

Crazy awesome Midnight Madness sale - 12/12!

Midnight Madness - 12/12. 12 noon to 11:59pm

See A Christmas Story for free, stay to get all your Xmas shopping done on a dime!

WOO HOO!

http://www.tbpac.org/madness/

$20 tickets to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang when you donate an unwrapped toy!

Chitty flies into Tampa Tuesday through Sunday, Dec. 9-14, and she's bringing the holiday spirit along with her. For $20, you can see what The Miami Herald calls "a driving, floating, flying wonder" and help make a child's holiday a little brighter.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is offering $20 tickets for the Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday evening performances when you bring an unwrapped toy to the show. Visit the TBPAC Ticket Office (for the Tuesday performance, please visit the table located in the TBPAC Shimberg Courtyard, just steps from the Ticket Office windows) no sooner than two hours to show time on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, drop off your unwrapped toy and you can purchase a $20 ticket* for that evening's performance.

All of the toys collected will be donated to Metropolitan Ministries. For a list of suggested items, visit http://www.metromin.org/

*Discount tickets are available for remaining seats to the evening's performance you are purchasing. Discounted tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. One discounted ticket per toy. Limit 8 discounted tickets. Not applicable to prior sales. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

Sister's Christmas Catechism a hit with the Trib!

" Stefano made a wonderful nun ... serendipitous moments of ad-lib [made] the production sparkle ... Sister's Christmas Catechism is a nostalgic treat that everyone can enjoy — with or without confirmation." - The Tampa Tribune

Make sure to follow the above link to read the full review! Sister's Christmas Catechism is off tonight (12/3), but back on tomorrow through Dec. 21.

This just in: Jeff Dunham going on sale!

TBPAC will be presenting comedian Jeff Dunham at the at the St. Pete Times Forum (yes, you read that right - we're presenting it, but it's AT the Forum, not here) on March 22, 2009.

This show goes on sale TODAY (12/3) at 5pm for all TBPAC donors and will go on sale to the general public Friday, 12/5. You can buy as of noon from TBPAC.ORG, from the TBPAC Ticket Office window or by calling 813.229.STAR.

Here's a clip of Dunham introducing one of his favorite friends, Walter from his Spark of Insanity special: