Meet Jack Murhpy

Walt Belcher of the Tampa Tribune has done a wonderful write up on Jack Murphy, the lyricist for Wonderland. Murphy is collaborating with Broadway composer Frank Wildhorn and director Gregory Boyd on an updated fantasy sequel to Carroll's novels.

Read all about the article here.

-Kari G.

Baby T-rex at MOSI's Dino Day!

Always wanted to meet a dinosaur? Well... we can't make that happen but we can give you the next best thing. Tomorrow (9/30) MOSI is hosting Dino Day - a fun-filled day of dinosaur-themed activities and the Baby T-rex from WALKING WITH DINOSAURS: The Arena Spectacular (coming to the St. Pete Times Forum Oct 14-18) will be at MOSI making special appearances at 3, 4 & 4:45 p.m. Note that the museum closes at 5 p.m.

MOSI is extending a discounted admission of $10 when you mention the promo code REX at the MOSI Ticket Office. This admission price includes access to MOSI exhibit galleries, Kids In Charge! (the nation’s largest children’s science center) and admission to an IMAX® Dome Theatre film. Offer is only good for September 30, 2009. Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Excludes special engagement exhibitions and films.

Can't make it to MOSI but still want to see a little taste of the Baby T-rex? Check out FOX's Good Day, Tampa Bay tomorrow morning around 8:40 a.m. I hear there might be a special guest!

"In the Heights" tour cast annouced

Have you been waiting to see who will be cast in the 1st National Tour of IN THE HEIGHTS opening in Tampa on Oct. 27? The wait is over. Check out the cast list and learn more at playbill.com.

Paleontologists introduce the mini T-rex

Over the past couple months I have learned quite a bit about dinosaurs in preparation for our presentation of WALKING WITH DINOSAURS - The Arena Spectacular at the St. Pete Times Forum, Oct. 14-18.

Apparently Paleontologists in China are learning something new too. A recent dig has unearthed a tiny ancestor to the Tyrannosurus rex. It is believed this new tiny T-rex, named the Raptorex, lived 125 million years ago which would be approximately 35 million years before the T-rex we all know and love.

*** Photo is from WALKING WITH DINOSAURS- The Arena Spectacular.

Interview with the director of SOUTH PACIFIC

The Lincoln Center Theater Production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC is coming to the TBPAC in January. If you'd like an inside look at the new tour, then check out an interview with the director, Bartlett Sher, on KQED's (NPR) "Forum" with Michael Krasney this afternoon at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT). You can listen to the interview online or if you miss it you can pick-up the podcast.

Who's Marguerite Derricks? Watch GMA tomorrow, and you'll know.

Tune in to Good Morning America tomorrow morning (Friday, 9/18) to see Marguerite Derricks, choreographer for Wonderland!

She recently choreographed the remake of Fame, coming out in theaters next week.

A little trivia for you, too -- Marguerite is also behind the slick moves in these diverse film favorites: all of the Austin Powers films (you remember Mike Myers' go-go, right?), Striptease (I always envied that sexy, buff Demi.), Showgirls (I see a pattern here.), the cult classic Donnie Darko, Little Miss Sunshine (awesome!), and even Spider Man 3.

That's pretty big stuff, huh? And to think she's coming to Tampa to choreograph our little ol' world premiere.

Wicked Pre-Sale for Culture Shock Readers!

So Much Happened Before Dorothy Dropped In.

Get the best seats to WICKED before tickets go on sale to the general public on September 19.

Limited engagement begins February 3. And you, gentle readers have the unique chance to order your WICKED tickets NOW to get the best choice of dates and locations before seats go on sale to the general public on Saturday, September 19, at noon. Valid for performances February 3 - 28, 2010.

Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One -- born with emerald-green skin -- is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these unlikely friends end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch makes WICKED the most spellbinding new musical in years.

After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in 2006 and 2007, Broadway's biggest blockbuster returns to Tampa for a strictly limited four-week engagement in February.

Click here and enter promotion code: SHOCK

-Kari G.

And Baby Makes 7

The best thing about the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center is that our five theaters allow for live performance in all shapes and sizes. Whether you are getting excited for the spectacle that is Wicked in the 2600 seat Carol Morsani Hall (tickets go on sale Sept. 19th!), or you can’t wait for Spanish Lyric Theater's Anything Goes in the Ferguson Hall (Oct. 10) or the kick off of Club Jaeb with Anne McCue on Sept. 28 - you'll find there is something for everyone! It’s like Goldilocks and the Three Bears – some theaters might be too big for you, some might be too small, but I guarantee you’ll find one that is juuuuuuust right.

I’m biased, as a board member, performer and director of the Jobsite Theater, my favorite space is the Shimberg Playhouse. This black box space is the smallest at TBPAC with around 100 seats. In my mind, it’s the biggest stage in town. So much happens on the Shimberg Stage and so many local actors have once-in-a-lifetime opportunities in the space. In addition to the Jobsite Theater, Stageworks has been a regular company that has performed in the space. Of course, Stageworks is getting ready for their big move to their brand spanking new theater in the Channel District, but I bet if you asked Anna Brennan, she’d have some fond stories of the Shimberg. (If you want to see Stageworks in action – don’t miss the acclaimed My Children! My Africa! in its closing performances this weekend).

The Shimberg is a busy little space. With not a week off in between productions, Jobsite Theater will mount And Baby Makes 7 on Sept. 24. Anna, Ruth and Peter await the arrival of their newborn child, but first they must rid the crowded apartment of their three imaginary children. Hilariously startling and brilliantly funny, Paula Vogel (The Mineola Twins, How I Learned to Drive) redefines the meaning of family and completely blurs the lines between illusion and reality, power and subjection, friendship and love, female and male.

Come out and try the little theater with the big heart and support local theater!

-Kari G.

Spoiler Alert: Lin-Manuel Miranda on "House"

IN THE HEIGHTS' Lin-Manuel Miranda will appear on Monday's season premiere of "House." Check it out Sept. 21 on FOX. If you'd like to read more, follow this link.

Pet Shop Boys Haiku Winner!

Thanks to everybody who participated in the Pet Shop Boys Haiku contest. We had lots of great entries! Finally, we decided that Audra Dunn won on the merits of “authenticity and awesome.”

Growing up with Lowe
In coastal North Shields England
True West End girl here

We had to know more about this "True West End girl" and so Audra was kind enough to answer a few random questions:

The TBPAC marketing department loved your haiku – but we want to know: Did you grow up with Chris Lowe literally or metaphorically?

I grew up with Lowe and Tennant metaphorically and lyrically.

Favorite Pet Shop Boys song:

I’m old school, you can’t beat “Girls and Boys”.

As a “true West End girl” did you ever date an East End boy?

Occasionally, when I felt the need to go clubbing with the dodgy types from Hackney, I would venture to the East End… but I’m truly a West End girl at heart.

Finally, America is forever in debt to North Shields England for the gift of Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy fame. Out of curiosity, do you have trouble watching Hugh Laurie without thinking of A Bit of Fry and Laurie?

When I’m watching Hugh Laurie, I think of nothing else. But I prefer him mature and grey, rather than young and spry as in the Fry and Laurie days. Handsome any decade though.

And there you have it - West End Girl, Hugh Laurie Lover and Haiku Genius Audra Dunn! Enjoy the show tonight Audra!

You can still get tickets if you move quick! And if you want to know just how awesome PSB were a few days ago - check out this review!

Kari "You can't hide, run with the dogs tonight" G.

In the Heights goes on sale Sunday!

The TBPAC's 2009-2010 season is getting ready to kick off in a big way... with the launch of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning IN THE HEIGHTS. Not only does IN THE HEIGHTS open the TBPAC's season, but Tampa is the opening city for the first national tour. That means we're double excited!

Single tickets go on sale this Sunday, Sept. 13, at the TBPAC Ticket Office. Season tickets are also still available.

To learn more about IN THE HEIGHTS, visit the TBPAC website or you can check out the show's website for videos, downloads, widgets, e-cards and more!

Pet Shop Boys Haiku Contest is ON LIKE DONKEY KONG!

That's right - we're giving away 2 tix to Sept. 10 Pet Shop Boys concert at TBPAC. Here's how to play:

Twitter - post your 5/7/5 with #petshopboys or direct it to @TBPAC http://twitter.com/tbpac

Facebook - the contest is in full gear in the comments under the contest status update. Just visit http://www.facebook.com/tbpac

MySpace - same as facebook. http://www.facebook.com/tbpac

And now here on the blog - feel free to post your most inspired haiku. We'll announce the winner 09/09/09. Woo-hoo!

- Kari "I've got the brains" G.

Pet Shop Boys on Jimmy Fallon

Listening to Pet Shop Boys is as close to youthful euphoria as I will get, figuring I will never fit into my side zip Guess jeans ever again...

Pet Shop Boys, Pandemonium tour, Sept. 10 @ TBPAC. Be there.

-Kari "West End Girl" G.

Lea Michele heads to FOX

Lea Michele, best known as "Wendla" in Broadway's hit musical "Spring Awakening," is getting ready to try her hand at TV. This fall you can catch her on the new FOX show "Glee." Read an interview with Lea about her new role at washingtonpost.com.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Labor Day is supposedly a last hurrah for summer. A chance to say good-bye to white shoes and embrace the turning of leaves and the arrival of football.

Labor Day is a little different here.

Here in Florida, we find that summer finally exits stage left sometimes after Halloween. In our tropical climate, people wear shorts 12 months out of the year, and Hurricane Season doesn't end until the Thanksgiving turkey is completely consumed. However, we do get very excited about football.

All that said, we still celebrate the three day weekend and heck, we house a Union organization (Yay Local #321!), so of course we believe in Labor Day.

So special thanks to all our IATSE men and women, who keep us safe, efficient, effective and professional.

Our box office will be closed on Monday in observation of the holiday. But you can always buy tickets online and you only have until Sept. 19 to take advantage of our Early Bird Special!

Have a very safe and happy holiday everyone.

-Kari G.

Spike Lee didn't pass on "Passing Strange"

A couple years ago I was in NYC for an annual Broadway conference and the buzz of the week was a new show called "Passing Strange." Wow... that's definitely not a "traditional" Broadway show! Really unique staging with the musician playing in sunken boxes on the stage while all the action happened around them. It was theater mixed with rock concert.

Apparently Spike Lee thought it was pretty nifty because it's now a movie. It has been released nationwide via On Demand so check your local cable listings. To learn more, check out a movie review on NPR.com.