Daily Loaf

HCC’s Visual and Performing Arts Series presents Danny Hoch’s (pictured) critically acclaimed one-man show, Jails, Hospitals and Hip-Hop — with a twist. Accompanying lone actor Curtis Belz’s eight monologue characterizations – which include Flip, a good ol’ boy from the Midwest who has come to identify with urban hip-hoppers; Bronx, a sidewalk vendor who gets pinched for selling without a license; and Sam, a prison guard with an anger management problem (evidenced by his beating a prisoner nearly to death) –are musician Matt Wetherington and choreographer/dancer DeMario Henry. Wetherington’s original score includes mixing on stage and live guitar; Henry shows off fresh hip-hop moves and dance, and his hip-hop troupe, the VYB Dance Company, kicks off the show. Sept. 17-19, 7:30 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., Hillsborough Community College – Ybor Campus, Performing Arts Building, Corner of Palm Avenue and 14th St., Ybor City,  $10 general admission, $5 students and seniors, free for HCC students, faculty and staff, 813-253-7695. – Lily Reisman Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. This weekend, HCC’s Visual and Performing Arts Series presents a limited run of playwright Danny Hoch’s (pictured) acclaimed one-man show, Jails, Hospitals and Hip-Hop — with a twist.

Accompanying lone actor Curtis Belz’s eight monologue characterizations – which include Flip, a good ol’ boy from the Midwest who has come to identify with urban hip-hoppers; Bronx, a sidewalk vendor who gets pinched for selling without a license; and Sam, a prison guard with an anger management problem (evidenced by his beating a prisoner nearly to death) — are musician Matt Wetherington and choreographer/dancer DeMario Henry. Wetherington’s original score includes mixing on stage and live guitar; Henry shows off fresh hip-hop moves and dance, and his hip-hop troupe, the VYB Dance Company, kicks off the show. Sept. 17-19, 7:30 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., Hillsborough Community College – Ybor Campus, Performing Arts Building, Corner of Palm Avenue and 14th St., Ybor City,  $10 general admission, $5 students and seniors, free for HCC students, faculty and staff, 813-253-7695. – Lily Reisman

Ruth Eckerd Hall continues its partnership with the historic and recently refurbished Capitol Theatre in Clearwater by bringing another show to its stage: Barrage, a nine-piece performance troupe that takes fiddling to a whole new level of fiery fusion. The ensemble actually began rehearsing for their U.S. tour at the Capitol and kick off their new program, Animado (which means “lively” in Spanish), at tonight’s night’s show. Described as a cross between Riverdance and STOMP, the music, song and dance production features a back-up band and six fiddlers who combine the traditional sounds of Old World Europe with contemporary world music influences (calypso, Latin jazz and bolero, rock, folk and more), layers of vocal harmonies, and throbbing rhythms, all of it choreographed into one stunning spirited spectacle. Thurs., Sept. 10, 7 p.m., Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater, $29.75 and $35, 727-791-7400, rutheckerdhall.com. – Leilani Polk Read the rest of this entry »

As a freelance artist I find myself in a lull of productivity sometimes.  In the springtime I tend to do a lot of administrative work for the Access Arts Scholarship program for the Patel Conservatory, so my artistic side isn’t being shopped out to other companies as much (i.e. I don’t audition for shows during that time.)

In these times I always think I am going to dust off that script of the one-woman show I’ve always wanted to work on.  Problem is, when you do a one-person project it seems like you have to do all the work for yourself; be your own motivator, be responsible to only yourself.  It’s hard to pull through on the deliverables when it is only you that you have to answer to.

Well, local actor Curtis Belz found the gumption, self-motivation, and two friends (eventually more), to pull off Danny Hoch’s (pictured) Jails, Hospitals and Hip-hop, a one-man show demanding that he play several personas, including Flip, a good ol’ boy from the Midwest who has come to identify with urban hip-hoppers; Bronx, a sidewalk vendor who gets pinched for selling without a license; and Sam, a prison guard with an anger management problem — evidenced by his beating a prisoner nearly to death. The show is playing tonight as Jobsite’s latest Job-side project. This is the second of two preview performances before its full incarnation in September at HCC Ybor. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s the last week to see two interesting mixed-medium exhibits at Hillborough Community College and St. Pete College, where featured students, faculty and professional artists prove that not all of Tampa Bay’s best artwork is housed in galleries and museums.

Stretching the Imagination is a collection of contemporary paintings by HCC Adjunct Professor of Art Jeanne Cameron and her students. Cameron’s past projects have consisted primarily of oil paintings, but recent works also incorporate digital elements, providing a pleasant mix of old and new mediums. On display through July 17. (Pictured: Consideration (left) and Gift Triptych by Jeanne Cameron. Images formatted to fit the screen.) Gallery Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon-Fri., HCC-Ybor Art Gallery, 2112 N. 15th St., Ybor City.

The Florida Artist Group: 58th Annual Exhibition is a juried show of paint, ink, pencil, photography, mixed media and sculpture by 80 Florida-based artists who are members of the Florida Artist Group. To complement the exhibit, LRMA displays five works created by internationally-known artist Sam Gilliam, who is the juror for this year’s show. Through July 19. Gallery Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Weds., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thurs., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun.; Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art at St. Pete College, 600 Klosterman Rd., Palm Harbor, spcollege.edu.

Francophiles enjoy a seven-course meal paired with professionally selected wines at the Bastille Day Wine Dinner in honor of the storming of the prison. The menu includes French favorites like escargot, a Beurre Blanc salmon and shrimp skewer, ratatouille, a variety of artisanal cheeses and more. A live auction follows dinner. Proceeds benefit the Abilities foundation, which helps locals with disabilities find employment and housing. Please call Dave Gauler at 727-784-8584 to reserve a spot. 6:30 p.m. Tue., July 14, Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, 105 N. Bayshore Dr., Safety Harbor, $75.

Editor’s Note: Actor/director/teacher/playwright Ami Sallee Corley (right) continues her series of posts about the challenges of being a freelance artist in Tampa Bay. This week’s topic: Auditions.

One of the major factors in being a successful freelance actor is getting work, right?  Well ask any actor in the Bay area how to find out when auditions are happening and you’ll get as many answers as people you ask.

There is no one-stop shopping spot where people list auditions.  If there is, it has got to be Tampa’s best-kept secret.  Raise your hand if you knew that Jobsite just held their 2009-2010 season auditions last week and that American Stage held their auditions over a month ago?  Most other theaters are participating in the Tampa Area Unified Auditions next weekend, hosted by HCC Ybor. Read the rest of this entry »

Today marks the kick-off of the seventh annual Ybor Festival of the Moving Image. Tonight’s event schedule includes the opening of Sideshow with Postage Due, a two-person show featuring mixed-media circus banners by Tampa artist Lori Ballard and postal art by Gulfport graphic designer Steve Smith, and a screening of the Buster Keaton classic, The Playhouse, with live accompaniment by Ray Villadonga and Rick Olson. (Pictured below: “Amazing Insecticycles,” by Steve Smith.) April 1-5, with a free opening party tonight from 6 to 9 p.m., Performing Arts Building, HCC-Ybor City Campus, Tampa.

Sunscreen Film Festival hosts a “Film and Guest Lineup” launch party in honor of its fourth annual event, which is set to occur April 29-May 3. Locals are invited to come and find out more about the 2009 program — which films have made it in, the schedule of parties, and the roster of special guests, judges and celebrities expected to attend and take part. Attendees can also snag advance passes to the fest, meet filmmakers, and win various prizes throughout the night. 6-10 p.m., Nova 535 Art Lounge, St. Petersburg, free admission. Read the rest of this entry »