Daily Loaf

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. In the aftermath of last year’s presidential election, some cultural critics wondered if political humor might suffer in the Age of Obama. Regular viewers of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher know that hasn’t been an issue with this cable talk show host/comic (who visits Tampa next week) — but fans of Sarah Palin, George W. Bush, and other GOP icons should not think they’ll get off any easier.

Although Bill Maher once described himself as a Libertarian, in the Bush years he became an icon to many in the progressive movement. His 2003 appearance in Tampa, where he skewered Bush shortly after he had declared “mission accomplished” in Iraq, led some supporters of the former President to the exits. Read the rest of this entry »

Last December, just a few months into Jobsite’s 10th anniversary season, I wrote this blog for Creative Loafing about lessons learned trying to run a theater for an entire decade.

We’re now just a few days away from the end of this 10th season, and I’ve had time for further reflection.

Left to right: Amy Gray, Chris Perez, Ami Sallee Corley, Spencer Meyers, Katie Castonguay, Stephen Ray and Jason Vaughan Evans in "Pericles." Photo by Brian Smallheer.

We finish the final show of our season, a rousing and hilarious punk rock mob reimagining of the Pericles story, with a video tribute to 10 awesome years in Tampa Bay.  From the genesis of the company, represented by a photo of five awkward and rebellious 20-somethings on the loading dock of USF’s Theater I, cycling through all of our productions and major milestones, to a staged promotional shot of our dead-sexy board in one of the Carol Morsani Hall dressing rooms, photographed by Steve Widoff.

It moves me every night.  Oh, yeah, I’ve watched every single performance of Pericles — from lights up to lights down — something I’ve never done before. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to Radar, where we run down the up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today’s edition is a perennial favorite that you can’t help singing along to, no matter how hard you try.

Forget what your preacher told you: Grease is the word, and the 50s-era rock ‘n’ roll musical about Danny, a leather-clad, too-cool for school T-Bird, and Sandy, a prim and proper gal from down under, kicks off the 2009-2010 season at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center later this month. Songs like “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightning” and “You’re the One That I Want” that inspired love (or, frequently, intense hate) for John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John are reprised for the stage, and in one of the most bizarre casting decisions of all time, Taylor Hicks (of American Idol but decidedly not Just for Men fame) urges beauty school dropouts to “go back to high school” in his role as Teen Angel. Then again, it might be an improvement over the fake-baked, afroed glory of Frankie Avalon. (Pictured: Will Blum, Brian Crum, David Ruffin, Eric Schneider and Nick Verina; photo by Joan Marcus) Aug. 18-23, 7:30 p.m. Tues.-Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri., 2 and 8 p.m. Sat., 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sun., Carol Morsani Hall, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa, $39.50-$72.50, 813-229-7827, tbpac.org. — Franki Weddington

It’s a hard-knock life for everyone but Daddy Warbucks right now, but little orphan Annie is here to remind us that maybe tomorrow we’ll find a new job, or move out of our parent’s house, or … well, at least there’ll be a sun. Everyone’s favorite plucky redhead is currently celebrating her 30th anniversary tour with director Martin Charnin, who brought the original, Tony-winning production to the Great White Way in 1977. Annie’s bright outlook proved irresistible for audiences across the world — everyone loves to root for her in her quest to find her parents. Along the way, she encounters everyone from Sandy, a spunky pup who becomes her faithful companion, to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who aids her in her search. Along the way she spreads hope and cheer among her fellow orphan girls and the homeless who’ve been disenfranchised by the Great Depression, and even icy businessman, Oliver Warbucks. The endlessly cheery musical is a perfect pick-me-up for anyone down on his luck — you can bet your bottom dollar on that. June 12-14, 8 p.m. Fri., 2 and 8 p.m. Sat., 2 and 7:30 p.m., Sun., Carol Morsani Hall at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa, $38.50-$72.50, 813-229-7827, tbpac.org. (Franki Weddington)

Experience the sights, sounds and flavors of the islands at the Caribbean Carnival, a festival that features a costume parade, authentic cuisine and popular performing artists like Sean Paul, Gilberto Santa Rosa and soca queen Alison Hinds. Also on stage are Auturo Sandoval, DJ Ibis, Neauva Saka, steel band Tamboo Bamboo, and traditional dancing by Paulette Rolle of Alesnik and Dancers. See the full schedule of performers and events at tampacarnival.com. Noon-10 p.m. Sat, 10 a.m-10 p.m. Sun., June 13-14, Vinoy Park, 501 5th Ave NE, St. Petersburg, $10 a day or $15 for both days.

The blue-collar Jedi of humor is ready to split your side with his uncompromising honesty at LOL: An Evening with Tony Gaud. Be part of the guinea pig audience when Gaud debuts new material for his next comedic venture. 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat., June 12-20, Shimberg Playhouse at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa, $5; free for Jobsite season ticket holders, 813-229-7827, jobsitetheater.org.

Many, many more events after the break:

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