Daily Loaf

Leading Ladies is sort of like Some Like It Hot for the theater world — a funny farce that follows Jack and Leo, two down-on-their-luck Shakespearean actors who resort to cross-dressing in an attempt to swindle a little old lady out of her fortune, with a mix-up of romantic entanglements along the way! Visit franciswilsonplayhouse.org for more info. (Pictured: Leading Ladies at Theatre Jacksonville, courtesy eujacksonville.com) Sept. 16-20, 8 p.m. Weds.-Sat., 2 p.m. matinees Sat. and Sun., Francis Wilson Playhouse, 302 Seminole St., Clearwater, $10-$20.

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Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today’s edition is another installment in the Dalí and Beyond Film Series, screening next Thursday at the museum.

See Guillermo del Toro’s Cronos, the lastest addition to the Dalí and Beyond Film Series’ collection of sometimes surreal, usually weird movies. This visually striking film retains del Toro’s characteristically creepy style and borrows from vampiric lore to tell the tale of an alchemist who discovers the secret of immortality. Cronos is del Toro’s debut film, paving the way for Hell Boy and Pan’s Labyrinth. Thurs., Sept. 3, 6 p.m., Salvador Dalí Museum, 1000 Third St. S., St. Petersburg, $5 after 5 p.m., salvadordalimuseum.org. – Joe Bardi

The air is getting crisp, the leaves as starting to fall, and everywhere you go, the smell of autumn is in the air…oh, no? Wait, we live in Florida, so our sad excuse for a pre-winter season won’t be here for a few months, but that’s not stopping the [5]art folks from debuting a fantastic new fall collection of exhibits, including Fresno G25, which features original works – paintings ranging from abstract to graphic, organic sculpture, wall art and more — by a dozen resident artists of Gallery 25 in California. Next up is a, um, revealing exhibit by Keith Thomas called Haven’t I Seen You Online? It includes large-scale paintings and drawings that explore his “life as a gay boy in the sprawling suburbs of Tampa,” and was inspired by the wide world of internet sex and dating sites. The final exhibit is a one-night-only affair in honor of the opening reception, and includes works by April Childers, whose small-scale sculptures have graced previous [5]art exhibits; photo art by Rion Sabean, and more. DJ Oblivion puts dancers in a trance at the reception, catered by Cigar City Brewing – providing a welcome break from the humdrum of house wines with a selection of microbrews, including Jai Alai IPA and Maduro Oatmeal Brown Ale. Pictured: a work from Keith Thomas’ Haven’t I Seen You Online? exhibit) Opening reception, Fri., Aug. 28, 7-10 p.m., Fresno G25 and Haven’t I Seen You Online? on display through Sept. 18, West Tampa Center for the Arts, 1906 N. Armenia Ave., #211, Tampa, free, 813-245-1034, five-art.com. – Franki Weddington 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 creepy, campy weekend’s worth of vintage horror flicks:

Sharks, skulls, and ghosts, oh my! It’s a weekend of terror and suspense at the Gulfport Horror Film Festival, a fundraiser for the Gulfport Arts Center, which opens for classes this fall. A different campy classic is screened each day, beginning with Tormented, in which Tom is shadowed by the spirit of a bitter ex-girlfriend on the eve of his wedding. Next, a less cerebral selection with of She Gods of Shark Reef. Two brothers are stranded on an island inhabited by beautiful women – who choose one of their own to be sacrificed to the sharks (dun dun DUN!). Can they save her? Finally, the fest wraps with The Screaming Skull, where a mysterious mansion, a newlywed couple, a freak accident and a creepy groundskeeper combine in a recipe for cheesy horror flick success. Along with the usual popcorn and candy, Smokin’ Joe serves up smoked salmon and pulled pork, and you can chow down at the picnic tables on the lawn, set up especially for the event. Aug. 7-9, 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Scout Hall, 5315 28th Ave. S., Gulfport, $5, gulfportartscenter.org. — Franki Weddington