"The rain in Spain ..."

I did those interviews that David mentioned. I wanted to add that it's been quite an experience having the "My Fair Lady" creative team here for the last few weeks.

They've worked incredibly hard, with 10- and 12-hour days.

In the interviews, they're appropriately proud of the result.

A review in today's St. Petersburg Times calls it "A charming Lady. "

And the Times' review also says, "My Fair Lady at the TBPAC features a sparkling star, a wonderfully complex set and splendid choreography."

Check out the four interviews on our podcast. The final two should be posted a little later on today.

You'll learn which of producer Cameron Mackintosh's dozens of hit musicals are his favorites.

And what classic songs for "The Phantom of the Opera," "Les Miserables" and "Cats" were written literally at the last minute.

And the differences Lisa O'Hare found in playing Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady" vs. Mary Poppins.

And the challenges this mostly American cast had in playing British swells and toughs.

"My Fair Lady" has three more performances at TBPAC, one tonight and two on Saturday. Then it heads off to Pittsburgh for the beginning of the national tour.

That means you have three more chances to see this new hit musical before anyone else in the country. -- MichaelK/TBPAC

My Fair Lady podcasts

Head over to our podcasts page to check out interviews with Cameron Mackintosh, director Fergus Logan and actors Christopher Cazenove and Sally Ann Howes - with more to come!

As always, you can subscribe to our feed from that page, or search the archives for old podcasts!

A Tale of Two Cities

It’s a long way from London to Tampa. But for a theatrical young Brit, the distance between the two cities didn’t seem all that far.

Shaun Kerrison, who is currently hanging out and working at TBPAC as the director of the new production of My Fair Lady, is glad to be back in Tampa – although it’s not exactly the same city he remembers. Some things come back (a building, a restaurant) some things don’t (was it always this hot in September?).

Kerrison has been leading the My Fair Lady company through the rehearsal process here in town for the last few weeks. They’ll give five performances of the show here in Morsani Hall before heading off on a national tour.

As a kid growing up in England, his family became close with a Tampa family living in London. The family friendship allowed Kerrison to spend a couple of his formative summer holidays in Tampa. He even stayed around long enough to attend fall semesters at Horace Mann and Greco Junior High Schools.

All told Kerrison thinks he spent a couple of years in Tampa and he grew to love Florida. And although he’s not exactly sure what, he thinks there is something important he should remember about Sligh Ave., or was if Bearss Ave.? He’s got a few more days in the Florida sun before the company heads off to Pittsburgh … he’ll figure it out.

PB