Americana award winners

NASHVILLE -- In an awards program Thursday at the historic Ryman auditorium, the unlikely Americana duo of Robert Plant and Allison Krauss took home two awards, and Levon Helm one.


The titles of their most recent CDs are testaments to futility: Plant and Krauss released "Raising Sand" and Helm's latest is "Dirt Farmer." But they were triumphant Thursday.

The winners:


Album of the Year -- "Raising Sand," by Plant/Krauss

Artist of the Year -- Levon Helm

Instrumentalist of the Year -- Buddy Miller

New Emerging Artist of the Year -- Mike Farris (Is it me, or is that award title redundant?)

Song of the Year -- "She Left Me for Jesus," Hayes Carll and Brian Keane (who thanked God in his acceptance speech)

Duo/Group of the Year -- Plant/Krauss

President's Award -- Jerry Garcia

Spirit of Americana Free Speech Award -- Joan Baez

Lifetime Achievement for Songwriting -- John Hiatt

Lifetime Achievement for Performance -- Jason and the Scorchers

Jack Emerson Lifetime Achievement for Executive -- Terry Lickona, for 30 years producer of the PBS show "Austin City Limits," the longest-running music TV show in the history of television

Americana Trailblazer -- Nanci Griffith

Lifetime Achievement, Engineer/Producer -- Tony Brown

Lifetime Achievement, Instrumentalist -- Larry Campbell

-- MichaelK





One-liners (and bonus sentences) from the awards program:


"How did I get here." -- Robert Plant

"Don't ever play that on one of my songs." -- Buddy Miller, quoting his wife, Julie Lee

"The founding members of Americana: Jerry Lee Lewis and The Ramones." -- Jason and the Scorchers

"My mother always said, 'John, sing the pretty ones,' but I didn't want to sing the pretty ones because I was young and angry. Now, I mostly sing the pretty ones when I can because that's what people want to hear. "It's not so bad." -- John Hiatt


"I never was in a band where someone else sang. I like this better." -- Robert Plant on his partnership with Allison Krauss

The future of Americana

NASHVILLE -- Americana Honors and Awards Host Jim Lauderdale suggested the future of Americana music was so bright that it not only should wear shades, but that new charts might be created: Americana oldies, Lite Americana and Hot Americana 100.

He was being facetious, but he's not wrong about the growing popularity of the form. It's a big tent, and listeners are searching for meaning no matter what the musical form. -- MichaelK

A night full of stars

NASHVILLE -- Inspired by their peers, Americana artists provided moments of great music, both on stage at the Ryman during the Thursday night awards show, and afterward at the showcases at five venues.

A few highlights:

Tift Merritt joyfully performing her Song of the Year nominee, "Broken"

Emerging Artist of the Year winner Mike Farris putting the soul back in the Ryman, which used to be a church

Lifetime Achievement for Songwriting winner John Hiatt going to the piano for "Have a Little Faith in Me"

Jason and the Scorchers living up to their name as lifetime performance winners

James McMurtry recognizing time passing with "Just Us Kids"

Texan Joe Ely telling stories of farmers and immigrants

The American Beauty Project showcasing the roots of President's Award-winner Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead -- MichaelK

Hellooooo, Nashville!

NASHVILLE -- Ah, the trials of a rock star.

Americana award-winner Robert Plant on Thursday night, recalling his Led Zep days:

"I played here many years ago, I think it was with another band. They gave us the key to the city before the concert. And then about halfway through, they put us under house arrest for inciting something or the other. But times are changed and the city has changed and I've changed. It might not have even been this city."

(Might he be confusing a Nashville show with the rain-shortened 1977 concert at Tampa Stadium that led to a mini-riot and a ban on stadium concerts that lasted for a while?) -- MichaelK

A buffet of choices ...

The nice thing about having five stages at TBPAC is the variety of performers and shows that we can offer over a short period of time. We try very hard to avoid the phrase "something for everybody," but we do appeal to a wide sampling of tastes.

In the next 11 days, you can see the thought-provoking play "Blackbird," Randy Jackson's America's Best Dance Crew Tour, spoken-word artist Henry Rollins, comedian Margaret Cho and the reunion tour of Cheech and Chong. (Thirty years ago, I never would have imagined writing that last bit.)

Plus, Saturday is our annual free Open House and the last day for our 50 percent off Early Bird specials on selected shows and performances. (Note from our attorneys: Some restrictions apply.)

Check out the details on this page and throughout our site. Enjoy your weekend. -- MichaelK

Did you hear about the midnight rambler?

NASHVILLE -- OK, so it wasn't quite midnight, but Levon Helm took his legendary Ramble on the road to the Ryman for more than three hours earlier tonight.

Normally, the Ramble is set at Helm's home/recording studio in Woodstock, N.Y. But for the Americana Music Awards, he staged it at the "mother church of country music ..."

The show opened and closed countless standing ovations later with an audience sing-along of Helm's "The Weight," followed at the end only by an all-star encore version of "Forever Young."

For Helm, who has battled illness and at one point was told he would never sing again, the last song was an affirmation, a celebration and a prayer. His peers praised him for his drumming, his singing, his mandolin playing, his songwriting and his soul. If he hadn't been such an on-stage presence, you might have feared the worst.

The hard-core troubadour Steve Earle was in the 2,000-plus audience with his wife, singer Allison Moorer, who wore an angel's wing design on her back. John Hiatt was there, too. All three ended up on stage before it was through, joining Delbert McClinton, Sam Bush, Buddy Miller, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, Sheryl Crow, Billy Bob Thorton and a few other visitors.

Helm graciously shared the spotlight with his guests, turning over some well-known songs from The Band to his daughter and members of his 10-piece band-- including a mighty four-piece horn section that threatened to turn songs like "Rag Mama Rag" into a New Orleans Second Line procession.

The keyboard intro and lead to "Chest Fever" became a guitar showcase, perhaps in deference to absent friends.

Krauss and Plant, the most unlikely pairing despite their best-selling CD "Raising Sand," did the first song they ever performed together, the traditional "In the Pines," frequently linked to Leadbelly.

Crow told the crowd she was just a "frustrated country singer." And then proved at least half of that statement.

Miller mentioned that he had no right to sing the song he and his wife Julie wrote, "Wide River To Cross," since Helm covered it on his Grammy Award-winning CD, "Dirt Farmer," Helm's first solo studio effort in 25 years.

"Are you ready, Levon?" they asked at the start.

"I hope so," he said. And then joyfully, triumphantly began the Ramble.

What a great start to the AMA week.

The show ran so long I missed the everybodyfields at The Basement, but I did catch Anne McCue at 3rd and Lindsley, the last few songs of Marcia Ball's set as well as Kim Richey, Will Kimbrough and Mando Saenz at the Mercy Lounge.

Ball closed with her hurricane survival song "Ride It Out," from her new CD, "Peace, Love & BBQ."

Best non-legal legal notice: "We're filming tonight's show for a DVD. We'll be shooting the audience. What that means is, if you're sitting next to someone you shouldn't be seen with, it's time to move."

Best end-of-evening advice: "Don't drive home faster than your angels can fly."

Thursday night brings the Americana Awards and Honors show, also at the Ryman, with the stellar house band led by Buddy Miller. Showcases at the five clubs start at 10.

As always at these showcases, we're looking for people to bring to Tampa at the TBPAC. Our programmers will get the reports and do their best to book the best performers.

Stay tuned. -- MichaelK

Doing time at the Americana Festival

NASHVILLE -- If this conference is any indication, the Americana scene is thriving.

The annual Americana Music Association Festival and Conference begins today here in Nashville. The New York Times calls it "the coolest music scene today."

The days are filled with workshops and sessions on the music industry, publishing and connecting with fans. The attendees are performers, radio folks, journalists and fans.

The nights are mostly filled with four or five one-hour sets, at four different venues, accessible by courtesy van. That's 16 to 20 sets a night. If you time it right, you can see six or seven of them at the clubs, and that doesn't count Levon Helm's all-star Ramble on the Road at the Ryman tonight or the Americana Honors and Award program there tomorrow night.

It's a boatload of music, and this is just the city for it.

I'm particularly interested in Kane/Welch/Kaplan, Marcia Ball, Kim Richey, Joe Ely, The Waybacks, Kathy Mattea, Paul Thorn, James McMurtry and Buddy Miller.

But there are always surprises.

We found Mary Gauthier and Amy Speace at this festival a few years ago and were able to bring them to Club Jaeb, our intimate singer/songwriter space at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. (And Mary's coming back to Tampa as part of this year's Club Jaeb lineup!)

Who knows what this year will bring?

Check back often. As long as the wireless holds out, I'll post early and often. -- MichaelK

Just a week left on 50% off savings

If you wanted to take advantage of the INSANE 50% off Early Bird Special deal at TBPAC, you best act fast. Our Open House on 9/20 marks the end of this unprecedented ticket special.

Take advantage.

Jobsite opens Blackbird tonight

Jobsite Theater, resident theater company in the Shimberg Playhouse, opens David Harrower's provocative and intense drama Blackbird tonight at 8pm. Blackbird was commissioned for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and won the 2007 Olivier Award for Best New Play.

From the show website:

Una and Ray had a relationship that resulted in disastrous consequences. Ray moved on with his life, ensuring that they would never set eyes on each other again. Fifteen years later, Una has found Ray.

Never has a more thought-provoking play been written about such a taboo subject. The play explodes with unresolved and possibly irresolvable concerns that make it one of the most daring new plays in recent theater. Blackbird is a brilliant, unnerving and controversial play that taunts us with the limits of our own language and our conceptions of love, abuse and that much-abused neologism "closure".

Blackbird stars Paul J. Potenza and Caitlin Eason under the direction of Karla Hartley, who is also the Producing and Artistic Manager of the Shimberg Playhouse. The scenic design is by United Scenic Artists member Scott Cooper. Karla and Scott previously collaborated together on the Jobsite production of Mamet's Boston Marriage.

The show is also the start of Jobsite's 10th anniversary season. Though Jobsite has performed at TBPAC during each of their previous seasons, they were named resident theater company in 2003 and have performed all of their plays here since.

Here is a preview on the show that ran in today's St. Pete Times.

Blackbird is on stage through Sept. 28. This show is intended for mature audiences only.

*disclosure - I am also the Producing Artistic Director of Jobsite.

NYTimes slideshow: The curtain comes down on RENT

Check it out here!

Don't forget that TBPAC will host RENT with original cast members Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal!

Spring Awakening news

Our own on-maternity-leave Angela sent me this email today:

Hey… I ran across an iTunes Live from SoHo recording of 6 songs from Spring Awakening. The tracks include some of the original cast members as well as Duncan Sheik singing on three of them (The Guilty Ones, Touch Me and Bitch of Living).

Also, I read in the album notes that the new CW 90210 will feature “Brenda Walsh” directing drama students in a SA production on the show.

Thought it might be blog worthy…

It is, Angela! Thanks for the news! Hope you and the kid are doing well!

New 'Tale' and more on previews

Last weekend, I saw the new musical, "A Tale of Two Cities," in New York previews. This is the production that started at Sarasota's Asolo Theater. James Barbour is incredible -- funny, poignant and sad -- as the lout who does a far better thing than he has ever done before.

Barbour has his own blog, and he recently posted about previews, to add to our previous discussion here:

http://jamesbarbour.blogspot.com/

What's the deal with a Preview?

What is a preview?

We get this question a lot. Folks want to know if they'll see a whole performance, or if a preview is really a rehearsal that will stop and start.

A preview is simply one of the first (or in some cases the first) performance for an audience. In most cases, just like in New York, previews are priced less than the later performances, starting with the official "opening night."

So, to answer those common questions:

• YES! You will absolutely see a full production.
• NO! A preview is not a rehearsal that will stop and start. Seeing a preview is seamless to an audience member.

For a locally produced show, it is often the first opportunity for the actors and crew members to gauge audience reaction -- when are people going to laugh? When are people going to applaud? Should that light cue come a half second earlier? Should that music cue be one second later? Large touring Broadway shows also may choose to have previews. These shows already have a good gauge of audience reaction and their technical needs since they have probably performed their show hundreds of times, but they are adjusting to a new space. So, they might need to cue a scenic element to fly in a few seconds earlier or later than they did in their last city, because it has to travel a longer (or shorter) distance.

These minor behind-the-scenes adjustments are to make the cast and crew more comfortable in their new surroundings.

Any comments or questions about previews (or anything else)? Let us know and we'll be happy to answer!

Spring Awakening opens in San Francisco

Check out this story on MerucryNews.com. Then you can head over to TBPAC.ORG to hear samples of the music, watch a video and learn how you can save 50% off select seats!

Take advantage before the offer expires!

Cheech and Chong light up TBPAC on 9/28

Cheech and Chong come to TBPAC's Morsani Hall on 9/28 with their Light Up America ... tour.

Onsale information:
Music Today and Tier 1 TBPAC donors: 8/26 at 12n
Tier 2 TBPAC donors: 8/27 at 12n
General public: 8/29 at 4:20pm

Tickets are $39.50 and $59.50.

This show was just added to a whole slate of great stand-up comedians and spoken word artists coming up at the end of Sept./start of oct. including:

Margaret Cho - 9/25
Henry Rollins - 9/29
Lewis Black - 10/3
Joel McHale - 10/4

Tomorrow: Test Drive Your Seats

Do you need to see it and feel it to believe it?

Come visit us on Sat., Aug. 23 from 10 – 11:30 a.m.

All seats still available for season tickets will be marked with checkered flags ready for you to take for a spin. You can take one – or 21! – for a test drive and then decide which seat will give you the perfect view to experience the best of Broadway next season. The 2008-2009 Bank of America Best of Broadway Tampa Bay series includes The Wizard of Oz, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Spring Awakening, A Chorus Line, Frost/Nixon, The Rat Pack – Live at the Sands, Fiddler on the Roof and Waist Watchers, The Calorie-Free Musical.

Jobsite Theater scores solid reviews for Embedded

Embedded is on stage now in the Shimberg Playhouse through Aug. 31. Check out the reviews that have published in the past two days. Follow the links for the full articles:

" ... the play is harsh, unrelenting, at times grotesque and exceedingly refreshing. In a more perfect universe, every city would have a theater troupe that performed plays like Embedded every time there was a national crisis ... See it before the Constitution goes the way of the Geneva Conventions ... If you don't believe that the live theater can be a potent political instrument, see this play and change your mind." - Creative Loafing

"Jobsite Theat[er] could not have picked a finer show than "Embedded" to close out the 2007-08 season. Written by Tim Robbins, this was, by far, Jobsite's best production ... "Embedded" is a creative, original and intelligent play that lingers long after the curtain goes down." - The Tampa Tribune

"... the script and the production both fare best during the very human vignettes ... A touching opening scene has soldiers saying goodbye to their loved ones as they go off to war. One of the few ethical reporters, played appealingly by Meg Heimstead, recounts with fear and sadness an errant bomb attack. A fictionalized account of the Jessica Lynch story, with a poignant performance by Betty-Jane Parks, is perhaps the show's most profound and effective anti-war statement ... Some of the best acting comes during those repeated segments with the presidential advisers. Even though the actors' faces are hidden behind masks ... their gestures are phenomenally evocative." - St. Pete Times

And for those interested, here's the TV spot:



Full disclosure: I am also the Producing Artistic Director of Jobsite and one of the co-directors of the show.

Tue. Mamma Mia! show cancelled due to Fay

Because of the threat from Fay, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center has canceled the Tuesday, Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m., performance of Mamma Mia!

TBPAC staff members will contact ticketholders to move their tickets into another one of this week’s performances of Mamma Mia! The show runs through Sunday, Aug. 24.

If there is a price difference between the original seats and the new ones, patrons will be refunded the difference through their original point and method of purchase.

True to the old showbiz motto “the show must go on,” it is anticipated that performances will fully resume on Wednesday, Aug. 20. The Ticket Office is scheduled to open at noon that day and can be contacted at 813.229.STAR (7827) or 800.955.1045.

A decision will be made later this evening on whether the TBPAC Ticket Office and administrative offices will be open on Tuesday.

For more information about this cancellation and the remaining performances of Mamma Mia! at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, please visit TBPAC.ORG.

Mamma Mia! student rush offer!

Mamma Mia! Student Rush: Get 50% off tickets to the Tue. - Thu. Mamma Mia! performances. This offer is valid as of 90 minutes to curtain on up to 2 tickets by presenting your student ID at the TBPAC Ticket Office window. Excludes price level 1. Not valid on prior sales or in conjunction with any other offer. Sorry, no rain checks.

1st 0809 Club Jaeb show - Tracy Grammer

Now that the season has been announced, here's a link to a cool blog from our first 0809 Club Jaeb artist, Tracy Grammer.

Don't forget, this is one of the shows you can get the Early Bird Special to!

TBPAC 0809 Early Bird Specials!

2008-09 Season Announcements!

The secret's finally out! Here's the full lineup of programming at TBPAC next season.

St. Petersburg Times

The Tampa Tribune

Plaidtastic version of Bleeding Love

The Plaids, Edna and a chicken present a digital short.



Ok, so maybe I don't get the chicken.

Forever Plaid closes Sunday. Get in while you still can!

Forever Plaid to the Silver Screen

Check out this story on Playbill.com on the film version of Forever Plaid, coming soon to a theater near you. The live show was filmed on a CBS soundstage and features the "celestial" voice of David Hyde Pierce.

You can also see it live if you hurry, the show closes in the Jaeb Theater on Sunday.

Jennifer O'Connor - NPR's Song of the Day

Once-local gal and Club Jaeb headliner Jennifer O'Connor has the NPR song of the day. Check it out here. And if you're not a fan of the Song of the Day - maybe you want to be?

Look for the 0809 lineup this weekend in your friendly neighborhood newspaper!

Momma Cho steals show on Family Feud

I've always loved Margaret's impersonation of her mother. Now I can actually put a name to the face thanks to this item from Jezebel.com.

Margaret Cho plays Morsani Hall on Sept. 25, but you can catch her first on VH-1 when her Cho Show premieres on 8/21. Check your local listings for details.

Jennifer O'Connor online widget

If you're a long-time fan of Jennifer O'Connor's work, or if you just came and enjoyed her Club Jaeb show last season, here's the code for a nifty widget you can add to your blog, website or preferred social networking site.

Stay tuned, Club Jaeb fans - our 0809 announcement is coming soon!

Watch GMA for more RENT!

Check it out, some exciting stuff here - including info on who will be coming to Tampa with the show!

From a tour release sent to us:

CAST OF RENT TO PERFORM LIVE ON “GOOD MORNING AMERICA”

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1 IN BRYANT PARK

WITH A SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE BY ORIGINAL CAST MEMBERS ADAM PASCAL AND ANTHONY RAPP

BROADWAY’S RENT TO CLOSE SEPTEMBER 7

PASCAL AND RAPP BEGIN NATIONAL TOUR OF SHOW

IN CLEVELAND, OHIO JANUARY 6, 2009

The cast of the landmark Broadway musical RENT will perform as part of the “Good Morning America” Summer Concert Series on Friday, August 1. The concert will air nationwide on ABC in the half hour beginning at 8:30 am.

The concert will include a special performance by original cast members Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp who are not currently in the Broadway company, but who will be starting a national tour of the show in Cleveland, Ohio on January 6, 2009.

The cast of RENT includes Tracie Thoms who starred as Joanne in the movie of RENT and has come to the Broadway company in the same role as well as Will Chase as Roger, Renee Goldsberry as Mimi, Eden Espinosa as Maureen, Michael McElroy as Collins, Adam Kantor as Mark, Justin Johnston as Angel, Rodney Hicks as Benny with Shaun Earl, Andrea Goss, Marcus Paul James, Telly Leung, Tracy McDowell, Jay Wilkison, and Gwen Stewart (“Seasons of Love” soloist). Rodney Hicks and Gwen Stewart were both in the original company of RENT and have rejoined the cast to close the show.

RENT, written by Jonathan Larson and directed by Michael Greif, opened at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre, on April 29, 1996 following a history making, sold out, extended limited engagement at off-Broadway’s New York Theatre Workshop. The musical went on to win every major best musical award, including the Tony Award, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for drama. RENT is the seventh longest running show in Broadway history. RENT is scheduled to close on Sunday, September 7.

Visit www.siteforrent.com for more information.

Notes on Idina Menzel

Check your tickets: an original flyer for the show and this week's CreLo listing show the concert at 7. It's actually 7:30 (so, hey, that just means everyone will actually be on time to the show, right?).

Also, pick up a copy of the St. Pete Times Weekend section for a cover story on Idina, including a center double-truck. All full color! Oo-la-la.

Talk about Popular ...

(har)

"Money, Money, Money"

The folks behind "Mamma Mia!" are singing just that! The movie debuted this past weekend at No. 2 earning $27.6 million. And it doesn't stop there. The "Mamma Mia!" soundtrack holds the #3 place on the Billboard 200 . ABBA also continues to be huge landing on the Top Pop Catalog and Top Cast Album charts. Now I'd say that's something to sing and dance about!

Follow TBPAC on Twitter

If you're a user of the nifty (if not always reliable) service Twitter, follow TBPAC to get instant updates, news, notes and offers.

(and hey, check that out, the post itself was in fact under 140 characters ...)

"How can you afford to see all those shows?" Ushering.

Our Director of Patron Services brought back this article from a recent trip to Atlanta on how people can save money by volunteering at a theater, where a key fringe benefit is almost always being able to see show for free.

Volunteer shows way to free theater seats - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Red, White and Plaid!

The guys for the TBPAC production of Forever Plaid sang the “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “O’ Canada” at the Sunday afternoon (7/20) game at the Trop between the first place Rays and Toronto Blue Jays.

Sure there was a guy dressed as giant cup of Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee wandering around the field, a dude that played “God Bless America” on a violin and a couple of Frisbee-catching pups, but the highlight of the day was certainly the tight harmonies of the Plaids out on the infield in front of a crowd of 21,037.

While the Plaids fared well … the Rays did not. They lost to Toronto 9-4.

-Paul B.

Phantom II coming?

Looks like Sir Andrew is looking to keep the story going on some of his most famous creations in Christine, Raoul and the Phantom as he shows off the first act of Phantom: Once Upon Another Time to a select group at his annual Sydmonton Festival outside London.

He could have done worse - we could have always had Starlight Express II: Locomotive Boogaloo or somesuch. What about a new take on an old idea - LOLCATS?

Parallels: Arts and Journalism

Recently St. Pete Times Arts Critic John Fleming wrote a bit of a scathing preview on the fact that we have Forever Plaid playing again in our Jaeb Theater. He also managed to take a swipe at other shows we do in the theater like Menopause the Musical, Hats! and so on. Shows that sell extremely, extremely well and that help our building do work like the Off Center Series (was Expanding Horizons) and that allow TBPAC to be able to work with Jobsite, The Florida Orchestra and Orlando Ballet.

Today a coworker forwards me this link from to a letter to the editor of the Times that agreed with Mr. Fleming's assessment. In short that the building offers too much sweets and not enough sustenance.

Both stories suggest that TBPAC has a responsibility to do more "artistic" and "challenging" work.

Now, I have to walk a careful line here as both an employee of and a producing artist at TBPAC. I didn't really start this blog post today to argue why we should produce Plaid over Sondheim.

THIS IS PURELY MY OPINION AND IN NO WAY A REFLECTION OF OR A STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF TBPAC.

The following is really nothing more than my thoughts, with a lot of experience thrown in, and also in the end a comparison of our field to the field of journalism - sparked by a recent Frontline documentary I watched. There are some striking similarities it seems.

First, to the idea that it's a bad thing to produce or present work that people actually want to see - even if it's been here before. Um, it's not a bad idea. At all. This building has nearly 4,500 seats all told on any given night, and there's way more variety here than a lot of folks actually give us credit for.

The juggernaut is of course Broadway, and long running shows that play in the Jaeb, but the truth is that those are the shows that get the bulk of the people in the door, that train folks to come here and have a good time. I know, as a member of the TBPAC marketing team, that we do everything we can to get folks interested in other work once we get them in the door for one of the blockbusters. We want them to come back and discover all we have to offer. What's the saying about flies and honey?

And, if I can editorialize a tiny bit, Fleming says in his original article that "It's as if TBPAC is trying to appeal to those who never go to the theater" - like that's a bad thing. That elitist tone, often found in fine arts criticism, is in my opinion part of the problem as to why a lot of people - unaccustomed to going to fine arts shows - find a lot of fine art inaccessible. It's a fact that there are obviously not enough die-hard fervent theatergoers to keep any organization here in the area in the clear, so everyone makes their adjustments.

If we're to survive as an industry we have to find a way to get new people into the theater and to have people in an extremely poor economy, where disposable income just isn't very disposable choose to come here over less expensive options like movies or free options like just going to a park or staying in and watching the toob over a home-prepared meal. Did I mention we have about 4,500 seats a night across five theaters?

TBPAC isn't just serving cake. It's more like the big table of desserts when you walk into a restaurant that gets you hungry and excited to be there in the hopes that you'll look to all corners of the menu to see what they chef really has to offer and come back again and again.

Since I am involved with both marketing and programming here, I can honestly say that there is always a desire to do more "artistic" or "meaningful" work, and all of the programmers have a deep love and passion for what they do and wish that they could do more of it. We still have a budget to balance. We're still a not for profit. We're still in a horrid economy. It's a common misconception that money is just falling out of TBPAC's pockets. I know for a fact that there is always a desire to balance the "art" with the "entertainment." There is a commitment to converting those who may only come to our pop shows to try something different.

It's harder than it looks. Way harder.

As individuals we like what we like. We can tell an audience member that this dance company or that symphony orchestra is the finest in the world and list off every award they've ever been given and it won't likely transfer over to ticket sales. If that same orchestra backs up Taylor Swift on a VH-1 special and the MSM makes a big giant deal over it and they end up on the cover of Entertainment Weekly - then we might have a chance.

Personal illustration - I have a Masters of Fine Arts degree, and you'd practically have to drag me kicking and screaming to just about any opera (ok, so I like Wagner). I'm not much of a fan of Broadway, but I'll watch just about any off-the-wall one person show, obscure expressionistic play, gritty modern drama and so on. I like what I like. If I don't want a Brussels Sprout - I'm a grown, educated man and I do not have to eat one. And in the end it's my opinion. I'm sure plenty of people think what I like is too "out there" or "not real art."

A lot of people might not eat a Brussels Sprout because they may not want to eat anything just because someone says it's good for them. Others plainly may not like the taste. Not everyone wants to develop a taste for something, and if you tell them they have to acquire a taste for anything - they may simply tell you they have better things to do with their time and money than sit around and eat something they hate in the hopes one day they might change their mind. Then of course there are those who may be predisposed to new things or experiences, or are just simply moved to give something a shot - and those are the people we want to go after. We can't force-feed anything to anyone.

If you just produce - for the sake of argument let's just say classical music, which historically has a hard time just about anywhere - and continue to lose money on it month after month, year after year at what point do you maybe decide to adapt? The only other option is to find enough funders who are ok with your mission of continually losing money on programming that has no one seeing it.

Have you ever been to a live show where it's been empty? Isn't that a miserable, odd feeling? Artists aren't too fond of that either.

So I think TBPAC largely has it right - support one with the other, and make a sincere effort to turn people on to something new while they're here. The discussions about bringing in more "art" to balance the "entertainment" are ongoing and lively, I assure you.

And don't even get me started on the irony that the newspapers generally bend over backwards to write story after story on Spamalot! or The Lion King, but we fight tooth and nail to get any mention at all for a show like the Beijing Modern Dance Company or the Turtle Island String Quartet or a South American adult-oriented puppet troupe coming in to do Romeo and Juliet in Spanish with marionettes.

Now, to my journalism comparison. That Frontline documentary I watched bemoaned the slow death of true journalism in this country for what's essentially tabloid or magazine journalism. Soft journalism. Sensationalist, human interest stuff.

Now, the old school journos in the documentary all sat and talked about how they had a responsibility to the people and to their profession. The new school editors and media owners also claimed a responsibility (and not just to shareholders), a responsibility to offering a wide palette of information and types of stories in a 24/7/365 news world where there is option upon option.

A lot of the argument went back to ratings - the hard news old school shows just didn't pull the numbers, but hide a camera in a house where a guy is going to go try to pick up an underage girl and they're through the roof. People are voting with their remote, and the market follows.

I think 60 Minutes might have one of the better balances of hard and soft journalism on TV. They're giving both. Like I feel TBPAC does with art.

And there's that irony again that we get beat up a little for bringing in shows too many times or shows that appeal too much to the "lowest common denominator" (yet another elitist statement), yet those are still the same shows that get the press while dozens of "artistic" and "challenging" shows go by every year that the press ignores.

We have to be careful - be it in the arts or the news - when we start talking too surely and with too much certainty that we know what's best for people. Our job is to be here for the entire community and to offer a wide variety. Who are we to tell anyone that the type of show they like isn't "good enough," particularly when it's selling a theater out for weeks straight? We stop offering the things people want to see, they could stop coming here altogether and then we'd really be in crisis.

Got a thought? Sound off. There's a whole lot to be had of this discussion, to be sure.

Vote in the 2008 CreLo Best of the Bay Awards

Now is your chance to vote for all that is right (and wrong) with Tampa Bay as the polls are open in the 2008 Creative Loafing Best of the Bay Awards Reader's Poll.

There's around 100 categories that you can let your voices be heard on as to the best of Tampa Bay when it comes to where to eat, drink, party, play, live, love and loathe. You have to vote in at least 26 categories for your ballot to count. Should be pretty easy to get that many in, even if you're not a socialite. Best Beach? Check. Best Soul Food? It's all there.

Now of course we're putting this over here on Culture Shock for a reason - we want your votes! So see some recommendations below as some ways you can show your love for all that goes on at TBPAC!

Best Theater Troupe: Jobsite Theater (TBPAC's resident theater company that performs in the Shimberg Playhouse
Best Actor/Actress: Ok, so no way we can single a guy and gal out here. Even if we could, we don't want to live with that wrath. So this is what we'll say - did you see a show in the Jaeb Theater or Shimberg Playhouse in 2008? Odds are they were local, and they'd love for you to vote for them. Can't remember their name? Dig out that program! Did you lose it? Ask me in the comments, maybe I can help you remember.
Best Live Concert Venue: Again, your call - maybe you're a fan of the super-intimate shows in out Club Jaeb Series - where every seat is perfect and you can practically reach out and touch the notes. Maybe Ferguson Hall is more your speed - where Idina Menzel plays later this month. Or, perhaps you just can't get enough of our acoustically-perfect opera house Morsani Hall.
Best Kept Secret: Again with the choices! Is there a part of TBPAC that you just can't believe doesn't get more attention? Maybe it's the locally-produced spectacles put on by Opera Tampa, the offerings of the Patel Conservatory, the cutting-edge work of Jobsite Theater or the soulful singer-songwriters of the Club Jaeb Series. Seems like we have a lot of secrets!
Most Underrated Thing in Tampa Bay: For our organizational size, operating budget, footprint in Downtown's landscape, world-class programming and outstanding attendance - you think every show we'd have would simply be bursting at the seams full of people. We're in no way saying we're the little guy, but you can certainly make the argument we're, as a whole, an underrated part of life in Tampa Bay.
Best Place to Volunteer: TBPAC. 'Nuff said.

Now it's your turn to put your votes where you think they belong. Enjoy!

Broadway goes 9 to 5

The working ladies of 9 to 5 are back and hitting Broadway. There will be performances this fall in LA and then the show moves to Broadway in March 2009 for previews. Official Broadway open date is April 23, 2009.

Set to star in the Broadway version are four-time Emmy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Allison Janney as Violet, Stephanie J. Block (if you saw Wicked in Tampa, she was Elphaba) as Judy, Megan Hilty as Dorelee, and two-time Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch as Mr. Hart.

The book is written by the original screenwriter, Patricia Resnick. Music and lyrics are by, who else, Dolly Parton. Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler (In the Heights) will choreograph.

Forever Plaid returns on Friday!

Can you believe it's been 15 years since Forever Plaid first played our Jaeb Theater? And did you know that this was the first theater outside of New York to ever host the kitschy, harmonious squeaky-clean musical?

Well, it is and it was. I was actually in attendance at one of those first performances while and undergrad at USF back in 1993.

But, that was then and this is now. We have a completely fresh, all-new cast and they're chomping at the bit to get in front of a live audience. Preview performances start tomorrow night (those looking for a deal might want to think about calling, previews are typically not advertised but are traditionally priced at least half of what normal performances are). The show officially opens on Friday.

Here are a few press shots of the new cast and the TV spot (click for larger versions).

Plaid is only here for a limited time - through Aug. 11.

Edgar Vincent (1918 - 2008)

You may not know his name, but Edgar Vincent was responsible for the names of opera stars you do know – Placido Domingo, Lily Pons, Anna Moffo, Risë Stevens, Eleanor Steber, Jussi Bjoerling, George London, Leonard Warren, Mirella Freni, Shirley Verrett, Beverly Sills and, more recently, Cecilia Bartoli, Dolora Zajick and Salvatore Licitra. He was responsible for the careers of scores of opera luminaries and other classical artists including conductors Erich Leinsdorf, Leopold Stokowski and Georg Solti; the cellist Mstislav Rostropovich; Mikhail Baryshnikov; and the violinist Isaac Stern.

His connection to Opera Tampa was very strong. He represented our Opera Tampa Apprentice Micaela Oeste and was a strong supporter of VoicExperience. One of the new voice teachers at our Patel Conservatory, Eleni Matos was the first singer Mr. Vincent signed when he moved from publicity to management.

I had the honor of meeting Mr. Vincent at a VoicExperience event at The Players Club in New York City this past Spring. I knew I was meeting a huge part of opera history in the 20th Century, but I didn’t expect him to “look” the part. A consummate gentleman, he was dressed in the fashion of a man of society. If I had called Central Casting and asked for an “opera manager” I am quite sure they would have sent Edgar Vincent over to play the role. He personified dignity and class, yet he had an affable and generous way about him that made him much younger than his 90 years.

I am honored to have met Mr. Vincent and I am sure that Beverly Sills will be so pleased to have her close friend and advisor with her again.

-Kari G.

Phantom keeps going, and going, and going

July 3 will mark the 8500th performance of Andrew Lloyd Weber's The Phantom of the Opera. Already the longest running Broadway show in history, Phantom is in its 21st season. This fall, Oct. 30-Nov. 22, the TBPAC will have its 5th engagement of the show. The show goes on sale to the public Sunday, July 13, at noon. It's only here for 4-weeks, so I'd suggest you get tickets early. There's a reason the show is going to hit its 8500th Broadway performance!

The Fly – the opera – the hits – just keep on coming ...

I don’t know what is worse out of this preview for The Fly which will open in Paris – the fact that it’s an opera or the fact that the article incorrectly credits the 1986 Jeff Goldblum film as “the original.”

On behalf of Vincent Price and the 1958 cast of The Fly, “Help Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

I guess ripping off the rip-off is the new rip-off. Somewhere in a dark room, creativity just died.
-Kari G.

Sirius ABBA

Can't get enough of ABBA? Don't worry, Sirius satellite radio has your fix. For a limited time starting on Monday, July 7, channel 3 will play 24/7 ABBA. Now if that doesn't put you in the mood to see Mamma Mia (the movie or live here at the TBPAC in August) I don't know what will.

Not a Sirius radio subscriber, don't worry. You can get a 3-day trial when you visit their website. And no... I don't secretly work for them or own stock. Just a fan!

Chris Rock plays Morsani Hall 7/2-3

Chris Rock is in town this week and plays Carol Morsani Hall on July 2-3 with his "No Apologies Tour."

I caught his "Black Ambition Tour" a few years back and he had the capacity crowds, including my wife and I, rolling in the aisles. Not only a brilliant comic, I think Rock (like most of the truly great comedians) is an astute social critic as well. I think he catches a little bit of heat from all races who want to claim he's a racist (including his own), but I think when you're offending everyone you must be doing something right. People love it when you're telling jokes about people, as long as you don't happen to fall into the subset of folks being targeted.

Actually, there's always the exception of Stuff White People Like, which any day now should include an entry as to how much white people love Stuff White People Like.

In person, Rock is a very nice, sort of soft-spoken guy. Meet and greets are always awkward, but I was glad I got to be a foot away from him and shake his hand. Not every day you get to rub elbows with the 13th Apostle.

"Everything's Alright" with this rush discount!

A students and military rush discount was just annouced for Jesus Christ Superstar here at the TBPAC this weekend only (June 26-29)! If you fit either one of those criteria, you can receive 50% off remaining tickets to the show no sooner than 90 minutes prior to curtain time. Student discount is available for children under 18 and college students with a valid ID. Military must present ID.

If you need more reasons to go, how about these:

1) The show comes from the legendary Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber

2) Memorable songs "I Don't Know How To Love Him," "Hosanna," "Everything's Alright," "What's the Buzz" and "Superstar" (We have a horrible habit of breaking out into "Superstar" anytime someone mentions the show around here)

3) The show features Ted Neeley (star of the groundbreaking movie) in the title role and Living Colour's Corey Glover as Judas.

4) The show runs a little over 2 hours which includes the intermission.

Hope you have a chance to see "What's the Buzz!" (ok, ok... that was bad)

Fine print: Two discounted tickets per ID. Cash only at the TBPAC Ticket Office. Subject to availability. Not applicable to prior sales. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

Photo by Joan Marcus

First The Producers, now Young Frankenstein

A few weeks back, I saw Young Frankenstein on Broadway and Mel Brooks has done it again! He first used his hysterical (and often perverse) sense of humor to bring his own classic film The Producers to the Broadway musical stage – now its Young Frankenstein’s turn.

Embedded in our collective minds from the 1974 film – and used to great success on the stage –are tons of trademark Brooks’ sight gags and shtick:

• Igor (that’s pronounced EYE-GORE) asks Dr. Frankenstein (that’s pronounced FRAUNK-AN-STEEN) to “Walk this way;” and so he does, literally, dragging a foot and imitating Igor’s hunchback.


• The horses bray and whinny as if frightened by something horrible, every time someone mentions the name Frau Blucher.


• And speaking of Frau Blucher (heeeeeeeee) – she, of course, exclaims “He vas my boyfriend!” – in the stage show it gets its own musical number!


• Then there is the sight of the monster in tux and tails belting out “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”


• I won’t even get into the gag about a huge set of (door) knockers.

All those classic film moments and more translate brilliantly to the new stage musical version of Mel Brook’s Young Frankenstein.

If you are Brooks’ fan, you’ll love it.

If not, well then, you are just "Abby Normal."

We've got some leftover fun for one of you.

Text FRANK to TBPAC (82722) for your chance. You get this nifty Young Frankenstein doctor's bag,

but it's the stuff inside the bag that counts: T-shirt; creepy syringe-pen; Abby Normal squishy brain (good stress reliever, just give it a squeeze); keychain; fake Rx pad (it's just a note pad people. Don't get too excited.); and some revival "pills" (we assume it is some kind of candy).

-- Paul

George Carlin (1937-2008)

There's is a black and white glossy press shot of George Carlin over my desk. I still remember the day we booked the show, for New Year's Eve in our Morsani Hall. He did two shows.

I also recall there were some who attended who were so surprised at how foul-mouthed he was, and how negative they thought his act was.

My initial thought was to wonder if any of those people had perhaps caught Carlin's act since the '70s. If they were expecting the Hippy Dippy Weather Man.

The photo over my desk is the black and white version of the photo that appears on the cover of his book Brain Droppings. I have that book at home, along with When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?

I know I've seen every one of the 14 or so HBO specials he's done at least twice. Many of them I saw live on the first airing. I used to hide in my uncle's room at my grandparents house (where I also saw all of the comedy specials up through about 1986) and listen to the records of A Place for My Stuff and the seminal Carlin on Campus.

He proved to me that he was in fact a very good actor in the movie Jersey Girl, where he was perhaps one of the brightest spots of the film.

There are also several Carlin bits/phrases that have totally made their way in to my common argot, personally and professionally. Um, I guess I can't really repeat any of them here but one deals with two people named Claus and Rebecca. There are also two bits that are preshow rituals several of us always do in the dressing room right before the places call. One is the "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television" (a bit which took Carlin all the way to the Supreme Court) - spoken extremely rapidly and as a tongue-twister, the second is a cheer of sorts that deals with rats, bats and lizards.

I guess that doesn't even make much sense as a clue once you take all the swear words out.

George Carlin died last night at the tender age of 71. I think I thought that old codger would live forever. Easily one of the most influential stand-ups comedians of all time, his work will no doubt stand the test of time and effect the work of up and comers for generations.

Kari G. likens opera stories to News of the Weird – News of the Weird covers opera – Kari G. declares herself a pop culture goddess

10 days ago I concluded that my posts about opera were beginning to sound like Chuck Shepherd’s News of the Weird.

Guess what? Guess what’s in this weeks News of the Weird?

Behold this nugget:

Great Art!

Austrian director Johann Kresnik's re-interpretation of the classic Verdi opera "A Masked Ball" opened for a limited engagement in Berlin in April, aimed at America's "war and the excesses of American society today," he said. In one scene, against a backdrop of the ruins of the World Trade Center, 35 naked senior citizens danced, wearing Mickey Mouse masks. [Agence France-Presse, 4-10-08]

/I got nothing.

-Kari G.

Breaking News: Wicked's Idina Menzel booked 7/27

Tony Award-winning Broadway star Idina Menzel will play Ferguson Hall on Sun., July 27, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $38.50 and will go on sale to her fan club, TBPAC donors and TBPAC Broadway Series season ticket holders on June 24 at noon. The show will go on sale to the general public on Fri., June 27 at noon.


Idina Menzel originated the role of the green-skinned Elphaba in the blockbuster Wicked, which won her a 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She's also very well known from her portrayal of Maureen in the Broadway and film versions of RENT.

Since this show is in our more intimate 1,042-seat Ferguson Hall, we recommend you get your tickets when they go on sale to ensure you get a seat!

The revenge of the little black dress

With the Tonys over, another year of gossip, intrigue and speculation has passed. Where or where can we find our snarky theater fix?

How about the opera? In this hilarious YouTube video, our favorite diva, Deborah Voigt (who wowed audiences in a concert performance for Opera Tampa in 2007) takes on the Little Black Dress that caused her so much pain.



If you don’t remember why the Little Black Dress haunts this amazing diva – see this blog post from last year.

She’s bringing the sass to Covent Garden tonight singing the title role in Ariadne auf Naxos! In bocca al lupo Deborah – you strong and sexy thang!

- Kari G.

2008 Tony winners from June 15 ceremony

Winners in the 62nd Annual Tony Awards recognizing the Best of Broadway, presented Sunday night at Radio City Music Hall

Best Musical: "In the Heights"

Best Play: "August: Osage County"

Best Direction for a Musical: Bartlett Sher, "South Pacific"

Best Direction for a Play: Anna Shapiro, "August: Osage County"

Leading Actor in a Play: Mark Ryland, "Boeing-Boeing"

Leading Actress in a Play: Deanna Dunagan, "August: Osage County"

Leading Actress in a Musical: Patti LuPone, "Gypsy"

Leading Actor in a Musical: Paulo Szot, "South Pacific"

Featured Actress in a Play: Rondi Reed, "August: Osage County"

Featured Actor in a Play: Jim Norton, "The Seafarer"

Featured Actor in a Musical: Boyd Gaines, "Gypsy"

Featured Actress in a Musical: Laura Bonanti, "South Pacific"

Best Revival of  a Play: "Boeing-Boeing"

Best Revival of a Musical: "South Pacific"

Best Book of a Musical: Stew, "Passing Strange"

Best Original Score and Best Choreography: "In the Heights"

For complete coverage, go to the official Tony site, www.tonyawards.com

-- MichaelK

Tony's Sunday night... set your DVR

Just a quick reminder that the Tony Awards are Sunday night on CBS at 8 p.m. Lots of great performances are part of the line up and the evening will be hosted by Whoopie Goldberg. Check out an interview on MSNBC.com with Whoopie regarding this hosting gig.

Also, if you'd like to play along at home, here's a link to where you can download a printable ballot. The TBPAC staff is having a little fun with a friendly, little contest. I'll let you know how many categories our TBPAC winner gets right. Then you can see if you beat the folks in the industry. :)

Have a great weekend!

Spring Awakening announces tour route

Since I've been talking about the Tonys this week, just thought I would give you the update on last year's eight-time Tony Award winner, Spring Awakening. They just announced their complete tour route for the 0809 season. In case you don't live in Tampa or NYC, here's a list of all the tour cities, in order, from Sept. 4, 2008 - Aug. 3, 2009...

San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, LA, Tempe, Tampa, Houston, Des Moines, St. Louis, East Lansing, Cleveland, Toronto, Boston, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.

Definitely catch this show if you can. I saw it in April and was blown away. I promise, you won't be disappointed!!! The soundtrack is permanently loaded on my iPod. Other than a couple choice songs from Avenue Q, it's the only Broadway on it. Yes, it's that good!

A Dream Play opens tonight

Jobsite Theater, TBPAC's resident theater company in the Shimberg Playhouse and winner of four 2007 Creative Loafing Best of the Bay Awards, is opening Caryl Churchill's adaptation of August Strindberg's 1901-penned A Dream Play tonight.

"Everything can happen, everything is possible and probable. Time and place do not exist." So said August Strindberg in his preface to the original play. Following the logic of a dream – in which images and characters merge and separate, locations change in an instant, and a locked door recurs obsessively – A Dream Play is a potent mix of Freud plus Alice in Wonderland. The play itself is a dream about Agnes, a girl from another world. Quite possibly an angel or even a goddess, Agnes comes to Earth and becomes caught up in the sufferings and cruelties of mankind.

You can read stories written on the production from various sources here. You can also learn all about the cast and crew here.

A Dream Play runs through June 29.

PLEASE NOTE: A Dream Play contains adult language, brief nudity and fog effects.

(full disclosure: I am also the Producing Artistic Director of Jobsite Theater)

HEIGHTS' Tony nominations and your chance to win

In case you haven't been keeping tabs on the Tony Awards and the nominees (that's why you have me, right?), the show to keep an eye on this Sunday is IN THE HEIGHTS who leads the pack with 13 nomination.

I actually had the opportunity to see the show this past April when I was in NYC. Set in the Washington Heights neighborhood NY (complete with a corner bodega), IN THE HEIGHTS is a journey of hope and self-discovery. Personally, the most impressive part is the music. It's a great fusion of rap, hip-hop and Latin. Definitely very different from what we've come to expect from a hit Broadway musical.

You can learn more at the show's website complete with downloads, videos, etc.

During my trip in April, I just happened to be given a little swag to support the show. Want to win it? It's an IN THE HEIGHTS messenger bag and souvenir program. Text the word HEIGHTS to TBPAC (82722) for your chance. A random entry will be drawn and notified on or around June 16, 2008, via text message. Contest ends on or around June 16.

Good luck!

Special Tony Award performances

My favorite part of the Tony Awards (and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade) are the Broadway performances. There will be 13 performances in total from the various nominees, however there will be special performances by The Lion King and Rent.

The original principal cast members of Rent are schedule to appear alongside the current Broadway cast to celebrate the show's 12-year run, which comes to an end on Sept. 7. In addition, the current cast of The Lion King will be on hand for a special performance to commemorate the show's 10-year anniversary on Broadway.

As always, more information is available on the Tony Award website.

I wish I could quit – ripping off Hollywood

My opera updates are starting to sound more like Chuck Shepherd’s News of the Weird. Last week we explored the idea of a lonely polar bear singing a heartbreaking aria on a melting icecap in An Inconvenient Truth – The Opera.

Today we get to decide who the baritone is and who is the tenor? In the new announcement that the New York City Opera will be staging Brokeback Mountain – The Opera.

Really? Really? Well Ennis and Jack – I’m really looking forward to the aria by Alma,”Don't try and fool me no more, Ennis; I know what it means! Jack Twist. Jack Nasty! You didn't go up there to fish!”

-Kari G.

Tony Awards 2008

Check out this nifty widget for the Tony Awards. Follow the links and get your own widget!

Enjoy the moment ...

The spring concert of the Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra (PCYO) on May 18 featured Dream Threads -- the world premiere of a commissioned work by Grammy® Award-winning ASCAP artist Augusta Read Thomas. TBPAC is working on a mini-documentary of the Dream Threads project. Watch it here.

John Fleming of The St. Petersburg Times called Dream Threads “full of shimmering, finely honed effects that suggest the ballets of Stravinsky,” while Kurt Loft of The Tampa Tribune called the piece “pure concert music.” Loft continued, saying the PCYO musicians “showed remarkable confidence ... playing as a concise integrated unit. It was hard to believe it was an orchestra made up of teenagers.”

Of course, these are the same young musicians who received a standing ovation when they played Carnegie Hall last summer. And the bios of the PCYO graduating seniors is jammed-packed with phrases such as “National Honor Society member,” “received numerous scholarships,” and “top of graduating class.” They are headed off to Vanderbilt University, MIT, Yale, Georgia Institute of Technology, Mercer University and The Juilliard School of Music. These are students who excel on and off the concert stage. As conductor Dr. William Wiedrich told the audience at the concert, “These students are not only great musicians, they are great people.”

Dream Threads is based on the French story “The Magic Thread,” a tale of a young boy who finds a magic thread which, when pulled, propels time forward. Every time the boy encounters difficulties in life, he pulls the string. But as he reaches the end of his life, he realizes that he has missed out all that makes life complete. It’s a story that we all need to remember ... and enjoy the moment.

Auditions for the 2008-09 PCYO program begin June 12-15. Call 813.222.1273 for more information.

-Carol C.

You could be a winner

We've been promoting our SMS service (provided by the good folks at Agile Communications) for some time now.

We're learning how all of this applies to our patrons still, to be sure, but just as I said in today's previous post - we're trying all these things out because we want to make sure we can provide people the information they want in the format they want to get it in.

We're also doing weekly contest via our eCenter newsletter. Even if you don't need a TBPAC schedule on your phone, or you've been coming here for so long you have everything memorized - you can enter to win contests for goody bags, special commemorative items from shows and even tickets!

We've given away a Spring Awakening gift pack, Chris Rock tickets, a fun Chitty Chitty Bang Bang light up pendant, an Avenue Q gift pack - and we have a lot more planned. All you have to do to enter to win is sign up for eCenter, then follow the instructions once you get the email (which right now is bi-weekly due to a lighter summer schedule).

What are you waiting for?

That’s why I love being a girl

I was listening to WUSF this morning, because I’m an NPR junkie. Carson Cooper was doing the toss to Russell Gant to go from Morning Edition to the classical programming. They began to talk about the world famous composer Marin Alsop who recently became the first woman to conduct at La Scala in Milan.

Marin Alsop referred to the honor in her blog, “The first woman thing does get a bit old - it seems like such a ridiculous reason to garner attention - but I must confess that my experience at La Scala was truly thrilling.”

Lately I’ve noticed that the first woman thing is getting a bit old for me too – and I’m a woman. As a woman, born in the 70’s at the height of the women’s liberation movement, I wore teeny tiny shirts that promoted ERA. I had a sign in my room (that still hangs in my office) that read, “Girls Can Do Anything!” I was the only girl on my soccer team growing up, I was the only girl climbing trees growing up, and I was the only girl in many of the sketch comedy groups and improvisation troupes I have been a part of over the years. I was never upset at the boys that I was the only girl. I was upset with the girls for not joining me.

My life in sketch comedy and improvisation often came with the back-handed compliment, “You are really funny – for a girl.” I walk in the shadow of extraordinary comedians who happen to be women – Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Elaine May, Gilda Radner, Rosanne, Catherine O’Hara, Ellen DeGeneres, Tina Fey and the list goes on. Is this still an issue? Really? Oh, I’m so bored ...

So the first woman conducted in La Scala – well it opened it 1778 so that didn’t take very long. The next president could be a woman – whatever – just decide already. And the list goes on. I say its time for this female designation nonsense to stop. Yes Augusta – I’m looking at you – I’d like to golf without a male chaperone – thank you very much.

Congratulations Marin Alsop for conducting in La Scala. Not because you have two X chromosomes, not because you might or might not have gotten excited that the Sex in the City movie finally came out, but because you got to stand in front of an orchestra in a great and storied hall. You got to manipulate and produce sounds in an opera house that has heard some of the greatest music and witnessed the greatest musical minds the world will ever know. And you, Marin Alsop are one of them. That is all that needs to be acknowledged.

-Kari G.

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TBPAC is now on Twitter

Now that I've personally had a chance to play on the (in)famous Twitter service for a few months now, I've branched out and created an account for TBPAC. The service seems to be going down a lot these days, which I'll rack up to growing pains which will hopefully work themselves out soon.

The account? You guessed it - TBPAC.

So, if you're a Twitterer. Err, if you tweet. Umm, ok, if you're part of the mighty Twitterati, go ahead and follow us!

I'll admit that this Twitter thing is a bit cooler than I gave it credit for. I remember reading about it, and even checking it out when the service first started getting popular. People would actually be interested in me sending a text message from Starbucks announcing "grabbing latte, i <3 caramel" or "at the mall waiting for iron man to start," really?

I had a hard time seeing the real use when I had so many other p2p tools at my disposal.

But now, that's changed.

I use several social networking applications and I now use Twitter to regularly update almost all of them when I don't have time to create full posts, update my status or anything else. Those 140 character updates really seem to get it done, and keep me active in those places. Twitter updates my status on Facebook, once a day it exports all of my tweets to my LiveJournal account ... handy!

I've turned off the mobile applications for Twitter (you don't even have to activate them). I'm simply not that interested in what my friends are doing enough to get text updates. Sorry, guys.

So anyway ladies and gents, we plan on using this service for the same reasons we're using the others - a fast way to get you the information you want. We can remind folks that a certain show just went on sale, x-post a blog entry here at Culture Shock, point you to an article in a newspaper story, send out a special offer with a promo code.

We're always looking for ways to get people the info they want, the way they want it.

Is there a way that you'd like information that we don't currently take advantage of?

-dj

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The New York Times' Tony Award picks

See them in all their glory right here.

Seems a little bit of contention over whether In The Heights or Passing Strange wins Best Musical and whether either of those shows *should* win.

There's also a lot of love out there for Macbeth (including a nomination for Captain Picard as the brutal, mustachioed Scotsman), August: Osage County, The Seafarer, Boeing-Boeing, Gypsy and South Pacific.

See any of the shows this year? Agree? Disagree?

Discuss ...

-dj

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It’s not over until the PowerPoint presentation sings ...

The themes of grand opera are universal: passion, betrayal, murder, love, loss, terminal illnesses, secret identities, war and of course – climate change and its potential for disaster.

At least that’s what La Scalla believes. The famed opera house announced late last week that they have commissioned Italian composer Giorgio Battistelli to write an opera based on the Oscar-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore.

Battistelli has a unique reputation in the opera world. His adaptation of Bernstein’s Candide featured a satirical scene that involved opera singers, wearing only underpants and the masks of world leaders. The Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, was depicted swimming in a sea of Iraqi oil.

f those are the kind of liberties you can take with Voltaire, I can only imagine what you can do with a slide show and a genie-lift. For me, I’m hoping for the polar bear aria, Speriamo che il tuo amore guida Hummer, ti preghiamo di inviare cibo (I hope you like driving your Hummer, please send food).

-Kari G.

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The Lion King roars with CreLo's critic

This might just sum the whole gosh darn 5-loaf review (follow the link for the full story):

If you haven't lost the capacity for wonder -- or if you're hoping to regain it -- find a ticket if you can. This musical is so special that it's possible that you'll never see anything like it again in your lifetime.

I know that sounds excessive.

And I mean every word. - Creative Loafing

The Lion King is here through June 22.

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Touring shows are "going green"

If you've been around the TBPAC when a show pulls into town, you've seen the truck lined up to unload set pieces, instruments, costumes, etc. Now tours, including many Broadway shows (The Lion King, The Drowsy Chaperone, Spamalot and Mamma Mia), are working with Clark Transfer, Inc and NativeEnergy, Inc on a new green initiative. It's appropriately called "Touring Green." It's designed to help offset the impact of carbon emissions created by transporting quality entertainment around the country. Check out this article for more information.

Broadway is a business

Want to learn a little more about Broadway as a business? Check out this article from the latest edition of Fast Company. A few Broadway producers give you their perspective and thoughts on Broadway and what it takes to bring a show to the stage.

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Forever Plaid - coming soon!

Forever Plaid is on sale now, and sure to be a sell-out smash-hit. The Jaeb Theater has always been in a way "the house that Plaid built," so whether it's your first or your tenth time this show is guaranteed to be a huge amount of fun.

Trivia: Forever Plaid was the first show I saw in the Jaeb Theater and my first show as an audience member at TBPAC after I started college at USF. That production would be the first of many incarnations of Forever Plaid. This year's cast is ALL NEW!

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This week at TBPAC

THIS WEEK

Disney's The Lion King - on stage now through June 22

WMNF presents Terrence Brewer - May 29

Stageworks presents Brighton Beach Memoirs - through June 1

COMING SOON

Jobsite Theater presents A Dream Play - June 12-29

Jesus Christ Superstar - June 26-29

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Lisi wins tourism award

TBPAC President and CEO Judy Lisi was named the Gonzmart Family Ambassador of the Year for her work in the hospitality industry.

Lisi was surprised with the award May 20 at the Tampa Bay and Company (formerly TBCVB) annual Tourism Week luncheon.

More than 25 percent of patrons who attended the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and Jersey Boys were from outside a 50-mile radius, according to an independent survey.

"The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center is a destination site for many Tampa Bay area visitors," Lisi said. "I'm so pleased that we have been recognized and included in such stellar company as Tampa International Airport, Busch Gardens and the Florida Aquarium."

--MichaelK

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The Lion King's new, local Nala on WTSP

Check out the story and video here on Dan'yelle Williams.! You can also scroll back to the TBO story and a post from our own Spencer Meyers on her.

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Things that make marketers (even more) crazy

People keep telling me "Lion King" is sold out.

True, it's doing very well, but it's not sold out.

If it were sold out, we'd stop running ads and save the money.

So if you've been thinking about seeing this show, or any show, don't assume it's sold out until you try ... especially if you're still seeing ads for it. -- MichaelK

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Hey, we were tweeted!

I just got this message via my Twitter feed from TBO.com:

Breaking News: Arts Center's 'Lion King' Features A Local Talent: TAMPA – A graduate of Blake... http://tinyurl.com/4cdl2

It's all about the new Nala we have here in The Lion King. Check out the full story via the tinyurl above!

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More on student rush offers

We've gotten a few questions recently via email about student rush offers, and so I thought I'd post this response from Nick Smith, one of your friendly neighborhood Ticket Office Managers. This response was to a question as to how someone goes about getting one of the 50% off student rush tickets to The Lion King:

Thank you for your interest in our theater!

On June 3rd the only performance we have scheduled is a 7:30pm showing of Disney’s The Lion King. If you are interested we do have a student discount that is 50% off. This discount is available 90 minutes prior to the performance, with a valid student ID at the ticket office window.

For the latest information on discounted performances you can click this link:

http://www.tbpac.org/ticketoffice/discounts.htm

We look forward to seeing you at the theater!

Nicholas Smith
Ticketing - Customer Service Manager
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

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Too much free stuff!

There is still time to win the Avenue Q hand puppet eyeballs and Original Broadway Cast Recording. Text AVEQ to TBPAC (82722) NOW for your chance to win!

We also have a pair of Chris Rock tickets being given away - send the text ROCK to TBPAC (82722) for your chance to score those.

Between this blog, our SMS service and our eCenter newsletter - we hope to be making you happy with free swag at least once a week! Free! Woo hoo!

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