Mother Load - coming soon!

WAISTWATCHERS: The Calorie-Free Musical opens next week!

Head over to TBPAC.ORG for more information on tickets!

Sister's Christmas Catechism a hit with the Trib!

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

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

The Rocky Horror Show opens tonight!

On stage now through Nov. 1 in the Jaeb Theater!



There are special 11pm shows on Fri. and Sat. nights featuring AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION with prop bags on sale in the lobby for $5.

Come to ANY performance in costume one hour before curtain for your chance to win a voucher that will allow you to buy a ticket for that performance for $15.50 (including service charge) that allows you to sit ON STAGE!

Don't dream it - be it!

Wild and untamed things ...

Rocky Horror director Rick Criswell sent me this candid photo from yesterday's rehearsal.

Looks like our production of The Rocky Horror Show is going to be something to make your heart pump and your blood sing. So let the party and the sound rock on as of Oct. 2 down in the Jaeb!

Rocky Horror confessions

I've probably seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show more than any other movie. Yes, more time that Star Wars or Clerks or even A Christmas Story.

I stopped counting when I hit 600. Seriously. I can quite literally recite it backwards and forwards, and I know all the naughty bits to yell out in the theater for the audience participation.

I did the stage show (The Rocky Horror Show - which is the stage show as opposed to the movie because it lacks the word 'Picture', see?) and participated in a live-cast-in-front-of-the-movie experience for close to 10 years.

Not usually something I admit much, or even often bring up in mixed company (like much of my true hardcore geekdom).

It all started when I was around 12, living in the San Marco area of Jacksonville. They had an old theater there that showed the movie late nights on weekends, and I lived just around the corner. I'd go there a fair amount to catch the dollar movies. One night while leaving the theater I saw what looked to be a costume party waiting out front. Girls in fishnets and bustiers. Hell, guys in fishnets and bustiers. Guys in nerd glasses wearing tuxes. Men and women dressed as bikers, butlers, maids as well as all other manner of unconventional conventionists.

I had to know what that was all about, so I stayed. What I saw was nothing short of amazing. Life changing, even. The movie (a crazy sci-fi horror musical about a tranny from outer space who comes to earth to corrupt wholesome good Amerrican kids and teach them to let loose their libidos) was being completely acted out by people in costumes in front of the screen. People in the audience shouted things in unison on key lines or at key moments. Also in unison everyone pulled out waterguns or newspapers, toast and hot dogs. It was the craziest thing I'd ever seen.

So I went back next weekend, and just about every weekend after. I got very good at knowing all of the audience participation lines. I even made some up. By the time I was 15 I was in the cast playing the parts Eddie and Dr. Scott. On "switch nights" everyone in the cast swapped parts based on gender, and I played Magenta. From 15 to 18 I spent virtually every Friday and Saturday night as one of the leaders of our own merry band of misfits, at the AMC Regency and the Murray Hill Theater.

No matter what else I had going on - other shows, parties, events, clubs - I'd always manage to make it out those freaky midnight showings. Heck, one time after we'd gone to a Mojo Nixon concert, we managed to get Mojo Nixon to actually come with us to the show. Quoth Mojo "Rocky Horror Picture Show? Ain't that where they got them men wearin' them black brassieres?" That night would also be my first introduction to drinking gin. Bad gin. In a mall parking lot at midnight in the back of a Nova with Mojo Nixon.

Only in Jacksonville, ladies and gentlemen ...

I collected an absurd amount of Rocky Horror paraphernalia over the years - shirts, buttons, books, posters - and the soundtracks. Oh, the soundtracks - I have versions in just about any language. I scored an original release of the cast recording on vinyl at a thrift store once for $1. I joined the fan club and got an autographed photo of Time Curry along with fan club president Sal Piro. For a while I was the official Jax fan club rep.

Even when I left for college I kept up my Rocky fix for a while. I always went back whenever I was home for the weekend, and I found a cast here in Tampa that I visited a few times but never tried to join. Even in grad school at UF I managed to even check out their cast, you know, for old time's sake.

So yeah, the impact is fairly significant. In a weird way it was perhaps my first time running a company as we'd organized to the point of knowing who'd do what parts what nights. Where the costumes and props would live and who would be responsible for bringing them. If we got in someone new and they needed to go in, we had rehearsals. Maybe me without Rocky Horror turns into later never producing or directing Gorey Stories, or The History of the Devil. You never know how that butterfly effect might have played out, right?

Now Tampa can stop dreaming it and start being it down in the Jaeb Theater for the month of October. The Rocky Horror Show (the stage show, not the movie - remember, it doesn't have 'Picture' in it) plays Oct. 2 - Nov. 1. I know I'll have to go at least once, if not 600.

There are special late night show at 10:30 which feature full audience participation (lines, props etc). You can't bring your own stuff in, but pre-approved items will be bagged up and sold in the lobby for $5.

And if you really want to get in on the action, show up in a costume as of an hour before the show for your chance to be able to win the ability to buy special on stage seating for just $15.50, which includes the service charge!

LET'S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN!

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.

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!

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS FEED

Jewtopia PR photos

I got to the office this morning to find these fantastic PR shots for the upcoming production of Jewtopia (opens Oct. 26 in the Jaeb) sitting in my inbox.

Take a peek! Click any of these to view the larger images. All photos are courtesy Rob Harris.

Another chick that rocks - Patty Larkin

Oh, i hope I can say that without catching any of the firestorm going on over at the CreLo site for their cover story from last week ...

Anyway, I noted in a few of the responses the mention of Patty Larkin as a for-sure top 100 pick on albums, and of course it reminded me that she'll be back here on May 7 - in just a few short weeks.

The Club Jaeb series is a great new programming strand here. I really love the concept of being able to see great singer-songwriters like Christine Lavin or Catie Curtis, or the smooth sounds of LeRoy Bell or the alternative bluegrass sound of Old School Freight Train. This is only the second year.

I mean, the theater only seats 268. It's small, intimate, there's not a bad seat in the room.

I've seen the sneak-peek at next year's lineup - it's a good one. Get yourself in the know by heading out May 7. Arrive at 6:30 for the Monday Music Mingle. Grab a bite and a drink and talk to people who love good music as much as you do.

-dj

Only 12 shows left for Cigar City Chronicles!

If you haven't made it out yet to see Cigar City Chronicles: A musical history of Tampa- you only have 2 more weekends to get down to the Jaeb Theater to see a living history lesson with some toe-tappin' tunes and some fine performances.

Don't miss it! Theater's not like DVD - you just can't wait for it to come out on DVD and add it to your Netflix cue!!!

-dj

Welcome, Thespians!

It's that time again - Downtown Tampa is crawling with thousands and thousands of high school dramaphiles - all here to perform, learn and of course have a good time away from home for a week.

State Thespian Festival was always a highlight of my high school years, and was a primary reason I ended up in Tampa.

For those of you who may be here and stuck high and dry after your events have sold out, or if you;re looking for something different - we're offering $5 tickets to all performances of Cigar City Chronicles: A musical history of Tampa if you show your festival badge at the Ticket Office window as of 30 minutes to any curtain.

The show is only here for TWO MORE WEEKENDS, so take advantage.

Enjoy!

-dj

Sticky love for Cigar City Chronicles

Check out feedback from Sticks of Fire on Cigar City Chronicles: A musical history of Tampa.

The show is only playing for a few more weeks, so make your plans sooner rather than later!

-dj

Cigar City Chroncles - free pre-show discussions!

We are hosting a series of discussions in conjunction with the world premiere of Cigar City Chronicles: A musical history of Tampa. Pre-show talks will be held at the John Germany Library auditorium (often referred to as "the big egg building" or simply "the egg") across the street from TBPAC. In addition to the scheduled scholar, a CCC representative, such as director Claude McNeil, Rick Criswell from our producing department, composer Stan Collins, a cast member, or another TBPAC representative will be in attendance.

Come and dig a little deeper into our collective history with the scholars who helped advise the playwright, then enjoy the show!

*EDIT* New event added!

Informance lecture, Monday, Feb. 5
TBPAC will offer a free Cigar City Chronicles Informance lecture on Monday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m., in the Jaeb Theater. Featuring members of the creative team and cast the Informance will include the audience in a discussion on the process of what it’s like to build an original musical from scratch. Those who attend will learn about the history of Tampa and the many sources of inspiration for this ambitious and entertaining tribute to the city and the people of Tampa. Informances are for everyone, novice and expert alike.

Panel will include: Claude McNeil – Author, Lyricist, & Director / Stan Collins – Composer / Rick Criswell – Project Director / Alison Burns – Performer / Rodney Kite-Powell – Scholar

Thu., March 29 from 5:30 – 6:30 PM

USF History professor, author and Tampa Tribune history columnist Dr. Gary Mormino will speak on the history and contributions of Italians in Tampa followed by Q & A from the audience.

Gary R. Mormino, the Frank E. Duckwall Professor of History, is co-director of the Florida Studies Program at USF St. Petersburg. He is a prolific writer, author of a wide range of academic and popular books. Immigrants on the Hill (University of Illinois press, 1986) won the Howard Marraro Prize as the outstanding book in Italian history. The Immigrant World of Ybor City (University of Illinois Press, 1987) received the Theodore Saloutos Prize for the outstanding book in ethnic-immigration history. In addition, two of his articles have received prizes for the best writing in Florida history. He has written for the St. Petersburg Times, Orlando Sentinel, and Miami Herald. He currently writes a bi-weekly column on state and local history for the Tampa Tribune.

Almost two decades ago, he began to research a social history of modern Florida. Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams: A Social History of Modern Florida was published in the spring of 2005 by the University Press of Florida. Readers have called it a seminal study in state history.

Michael Gannon, Distinguished History Professor at the University of Florida, writes that Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams “will be the book by which all future studies of modern Florida will be measured.” In 2006, the Florida Historical Society awarded the book the Charlton Tebeau Prize.

Dr. Mormino received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina and has taught at USF since 1977. In 2003 the Florida Humanities Council named him its first Humanist of the Year.

Sat., March 31 from 12:30 – 1:30 PM.

Scholar and discussion TBD. I'll be sure to post more when I get the information.

Thursday, April 19 from 5:30 – 6:30 PM

Dr. Kenya Dworkin y Mendez, Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies at Carnegie-Mellon University, will talk about the history and cultural importance of Spanish theater in Ybor City, followed by question and answer.

Dworkin y Mendez received her Ph.D. from the University of Hawai’i. Her current research involves an analysis of the cultural and sociolinguistic survival of a unique Latin community in Ybor City, Florida, through its tradition of Spanish-language and particularly Cuban theater. More specifically, the project also involves an analysis of the U.S. government's WPA Federal Theater Project during the 1930s and 1940s and its assimilatory goals with respect to the Spanish-speaking community in Ybor City. Other projects include 1) a sociolinguistic, ethnographic study of the circumstances surrounding the emigration of Puerto Ricans to Hawai’i; 2) a psycholinguistic and cultural analysis of the literary production of Latino monolingual, bicultural writers; and 3) an analysis of the self- contradicting discourse of identity and independence in late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century Cuba. She has published in Nuevo Texto Crítico and Lucero: A Journal of Iberian and Latin American Studies.

Feed your mind!

Yesterday was opening night of Mind Games, and I took a group to see what’s so intriguing about Marc Salem’s Mind Games. I’ll admit it… I was pretty blown away.

He starts off with a few “simple” games to get warmed up, and builds up the show to a mind blowing finish. Several people in my group were chosen to partake in the show, and it was quite an experience. I was pretty relaxed and determined to stump this mentalist, but that was all shot when he began focusing on me. I’m not sure what gave me away, but he was right on the money.

I encourage everyone to witness this amazing show. Keep a sharp focus or you’ll trip up on the easiest questions. Believe me, several people did and it was hilarious!

-Pablo A.

See Marc Salem on 60 Minutes

Check out this link to watch mentalist Marc Salem on 60 Minutes. He'll be in Tampa Jan. 25-28.

-dj

Christmas Cabaret: A satisfied customer speaks ...

From an email I received today from Deborah Kobritz in regards to our Christmas Cabaret show, currently playing through Dec. 31 in our Jaeb Theater:

The show was great -- so many songs from my childhood. I have to bring my Mom – I don’t think she will have an opportunity to hear a Christmas concert of such quality anyplace else.

-dj