Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Today's post is brought to you by the letter "Q"



Sadly, all things must come to an end and this is no exception for the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Avenue Q. After 2,534 performances and 22 previews the show will play its last performance on Broadway Sept. 13. Even though Avenue Q will be sadly missed, we all have learned many valuable lessons...



We now know what the Internet is for.

We're working on finding our purpose.

We've learned that the mix tape isn't dead.

There is life outside our apartment.

and...

Everyone's a little bit racist, sometimes.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Looking for RENT fans!


We are currently looking for enthusiastic RENT fans that would like to help distribute flyers and posters throughout the Tampa Bay area as well as posting online to promote the show coming to the TBPAC July 7-12. It's pretty easy and in exchange for helping promote the show I'll hook you up with a pair of opening night tickets.


If you're interested, shoot me an email at angela.lakin@tbpac.org and I'll be happy to fill you in on all the details.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Find us easier on Facebook!

We've taken advantage of the new purl service offered by Facebook:


Follow that link to become a Fan of TBPAC on Facebook (you have to chose "Become a Fan" under our user picture after the jump) and you can get updates in your live feed on new shows, tidbits, discounts and more!

Friday, June 12, 2009

New 'Wonderland' musical scheduled at Houston's Alley

Following its world premiere in Tampa, the new Frank Wildhorn/Jack Murphy musical "Wonderland" will head to Houston where it will be part of the Alley Theatre's Broadway season and run from Jan. 9-Feb. 14.

"Wonderland" is directed by Gregory Boyd, the artistic director of the Alley.

Part of the Bank of America Best of Broadway Tampa Bay series, the musical opens in previews in Tampa on Nov. 24. The world premiere is set for Saturday, Dec. 5, as part as TBPAC's annual fundraising event.

For more information on "Wonderland," go to www.wonderlandthemusical.org or to http://tinyurl.com/WonderlandHouston.

Another round of auditions is set for next week in NYC, and an announcement on the full creative team is imminent. -- MichaelK

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Come meet Annie & Sandy

If you're looking for something to do with the kids tomorrow afternoon, 6/12, head over to WestShore Plaza's Center Court. There will be Annie themed activities from 1-3 p.m. and Annie will make an appearance with her dog Sandy from 1:30-2 p.m. You can also register to win tickets to the show!

Make our Forever Plaid cast forever part of the DVD!

On July 9th 2009, the Forever Plaid 20th Anniversary Video will be played at select theaters across the country. For the Tampa Bay area, it will only be shown at the Citrus Park Mall.

The "Bleeding Love Plaid's" of Tampa Bay's Performing Arts Center have entered our music video of the hit Leona Lewis tune "Bleeding Love" public vote!

We are seeking your support in hopes of becoming the top winner, whose performance will be shown at the Forever Plaid 20th Anniversary Special event on Thursday, July 9th, an event broadcast nationwide to 375 movie theaters. In addition, the winning group will be immortalized on the Forever Plaid DVD set for release this fall. Voting for the online video contest begins Monday, June 1st at http://ForeverPlaid.Fathomevents.com and ends Wednesday June 24th.

Here is the direct link to check it out and cast your vote: http://foreverplaid.fathomevents.com/video.php?id=5

We thank you all in advance for your time and votes! (Feel free to vote as often as possible!)

Shboom,

Frankie, Sparky, Jinks, and Sumdge

Monday, June 08, 2009

$10 off STOMP


STOMP is back with new surprises June 19-21 and you can save $10 on tickets! Just enter promo code ZIPPO when ordering. Offer expires June 17.


Offer excludes Sat. at 5 p.m. and price level 4. Limit 4 tickets. Not applicable to prior sales. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Subject to availability. Service charges apply.

Friday, June 05, 2009

Don't forget to watch the Tony Awards

The Tony Awards air this Sunday, June 7, at 8 p.m. on CBS. Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, the show will feature lots of great performances including Dolly Parton with the cast of 9 to 5 and Elton John with the cast of Billy Elliot: The Musical (15 nominations). For a complete list of nominees, performers and presenters, visit http://www.tonyawards.com/.


Want to follow and comment on the action as it happens? We'll be tweeting live! Follow us on Twitter at WHOBroadway. If you don't have Twitter, don't worry. You can read the posts on Culture Shock. Just look to the right for the heading WHOBroadway Twitter Updates.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Win tickets to RESPECT!

Send the text RESPECT to short code 24453 for your chance to win a pair of opening weekend tickets (June 19-21) to see RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women in the Jaeb Theater.

From "Someone To Watch Over Me" to "I Will Survive," RESPECT is the journey of women, told through Top-40 music. From the codependence of "I Will Follow Him" to the anger of "These Boots Are Made for Walking," to the cynicism of "What's Love Got To Do With It," and finally to the strength of "Hero." Combining excerpts of 60 songs with women's own stories about finding dreams, lost love, relationship issues, entering the workforce, gaining independence, and more, this show is "exhilarating!" It's more than just a story worth telling, it's a must-see and must-hear.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

DVR alert... In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams


The TBPAC is delighted to launch the first National Tour of the four-time Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights, Oct. 27 - Nov. 1, as part of the 2009-2010 Bank of America Best of Broadway Tampa Bay series. As we prepare to welcome the show to Tampa, we invite you to watch In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams that airs on WEDU tomorrow, May 27, at 8 p.m. as part of their Great Performances series.


In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams chronicles the personal stories of composer/lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda and the cast of In the Heights in the months leading up to opening night. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn how this young, diverse group of relatively unknown artists and performers dreamed of making it on Broadway and after eight years found success beyond their wildest expectations!

View the trailer of the PBS special here.

After you watch the program, circle around and leave a comment. We'd love to hear what you think!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Save on tickets to GREASE!

GREASE is coming back to Tampa in August. This new production, direct from Broadway, has all of your favorite songs: "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightnin'" and "We Go Together" as well as additional songs from the hit movie: "Grease," "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and "You're the One That I Want."

Plus, GREASE features American Idol winner Taylor Hicks as "Teen Angel"!

Learn more about this production at: http://www.greaseonbroadway.com/

SAVE 30% on single tickets

Receive 30% off tickets now through May 31! Use promo code DANNY when ordering. Offer is for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evening only. Excludes price level 4. Limit 4 tickets. Not applicable to prior sales. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Subject to availability. Service charges apply.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

"Doing it on the Road" - a free workshop for touring artists

A free workshop for performing artists who take their work on tour across the country will be held on Friday June 5 from 4:00-6:00pm, in the TECO Theater at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, as part of the National Performance Network’s support of and service to performing artists. The workshop is being offered by the National Performance Network (NPN) in conjunction with NPN Partner Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

According to Karla Hartley, Shimberg Playhouse’s Artistic Director, all over the country, contemporary performing artists are going outside their local communities, bringing their art to audiences that are eager to see new and innovative theater, dance, music, spoken word, and puppetry. “Touring, a significant aspect of the contemporary performing arts world, presents artists with enormous creative and business demands,” Hartley said. “NPN is interested in sharing what it really takes to take your show on the road. And if you are already touring your work, what more can you do to make the experience more successful?” “Doing it on the Road: a Guide for Touring Performing Artists” is a free information-packed workshop, designed and presented by the NPN. “Doing it” demystifies the touring process for artists who are interested in touring, are ready and have the capacity to tour, have already toured regionally or want to expand touring their work.

NPN devotes a large part of its programming in support of touring artists. After almost 25 years as a national nonprofit arts organization, NPN is very familiar with what it takes for artists to tour their work. NPN has 61 “Partner” presenters in 41 cities across the U.S., and represents diverse cultural organizers, including artists, working to create meaningful partnerships and to provide leadership that enables the practice and public experience of the performing arts in the United States.

“Doing it on the Road” takes place in conjunction with each of the 4 NPN Partners Regional Meetings and is hosted by an NPN Partner. Attending artists will receive a syllabus of touring tips and tools at the 2-hour session. Space is limited: RSVP to 813-222-1087 if you are planning to attend; email Pam Roberts pam@npnweb.org for more information.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Get massive RESPECT with this deal!

We're calling it the Ultimate Girl's Night Out, and we're packaging it up two different ways:
  • Get a 4 tickets at the same table for any performance of RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women + 4 tickets good for any drink from the bar for just $122 plus handling fee (which is $4 less per person than if you just bought 4 regular seats to the show with NO drinks, plus you save money on service charges!)
  • Get a 4 tickets at the same table for any performance of RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women + 8 tickets good for any drink from the bar for just $138 plus handling fee (which is the same price as 4 regular seats to the show with NO drinks, plus you save money on service charges!)
Due to the configuration of the Jaeb, we can only offer this package in multiples of four. We can also only sell these packages at the Ticket Office window or over the phone by calling 813.229.STAR.

Get down to the Jaeb, cut loose and have an Ultimate Girl's Night Out! (Men, you're invited too! We won't tell!)

If you have a group of 12 or more and looking for an even bigger bargain, try calling our Group Services Department at 813.222.1018.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Save on tickets to Annie

ANNIE, the timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie, is returning to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, June 12-14. You can save $15 off tickets to see ANNIE when you use promo code WARBUCKS or call the TBPAC Ticket Office at 813.229.STAR to purchase a family four-pack for $100. Hurry! Offers end May 24.
*Performance and seating restrictions apply. Not applicable to prior sales. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Subject to availability. Service charges apply.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Follow In The Heights!

If you love In The Heights, the show is now on Facebook and Twitter. Become a fan of the show on Facebook and/or follow them on Twitter... http://twitter.com/ninarosario

And for all the Rent Heads, or wanna be Rent Heads, you can also follow the new Rent Broadway Tour (coming to the TBPAC in July) on Twitter... http://twitter.com/rentthebwaytour

Following any other Broadway shows?

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

And the nominees are...

This morning the nominees for the 2009 Tony Awards were announced. Go here for the complete list. Billy Elliot, The Musical is the front runner with 15 nominations followed by Next to Normal (11), Hair (8) and Shrek The Musical (8).

The Tony Awards will broadcast live on CBS Sunday, June 7, starting at 8 p.m. from Radio City Music Hall.

And if you want to stay up-to-date with all things Broadway, visit our new "What's Hot on Broadway" page at TBPAC.org.

Friday, May 01, 2009

Broadway Family Nights!

Looking for a fun (and inexpensive) way to treat the family to a Broadway show? Check out Broadway Family Nights for the upcoming performances of Annie and Stomp.

The fun part...
A great time out with the family seeing a live show everyone can enjoy complete with free pre-show activites.

The inexpensive part...
For the selected Broadway Family Night performances, you can purchase a regularly priced adult ticket and receive a free child (12 and under) ticket for free! (Restrictions apply. Call the TBPAC Ticket Office for more details.)

Annie's Broadway Family Night is Friday, June 12 and Stomp's is Friday, June 19.

And, as an extra bonus, stay after the Friday night performance of Stomp for a free talkback with the artists.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Taylor Hicks returns to Idol



Catch American Idol winner Taylor Hicks tonight on Idol performing his new song, "Seven Mile Breakdown." And then catch him live performing the role of "Teen Angel" in the tour of Grease when it comes to the TBPAC in August!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Free stuff is awesome! Win tickets and a CD!

Text PATTY to 24453 for a chance to win 2 tix to the Patty Larkin Club Jaeb show on 5/18 plus her CD "Watch the Sky" - this is an album she plays every single instrument on: vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, baritone guitar, lap steel, national steel, bass, banjo, bazouki, loops, toy organ and door chimes.

She was a huge hit last season during the Club Jaeb series and we hope she has the same kind of turnout this year!

Here's Patty singing Wolf at the Door at a live show (the video isn't great, but the audio is good)



And here's a totally acapella/scat/hip-hop number from a concert in 2007.