Audience is UNKNOWN VARIABLE in Shear Madness

All they wanted was a play that had a role for each of them. The play they created has been running for more than 40 years. It’s probably being staged even as you read these words. It’s an interactive-whodunit-murder mystery-comedy that was first produced before anyone used the word “interactive” to describe a theatrical experience.... Continue Reading →

COMEDY TONIGHT!

Something familiar. Something peculiar. Something for everyone. AN EXCLUSIVE FROM INSIDE, THE STRAZ CENTER’S OFFICIAL MAGAZINE Jim Gaffigan’s upcoming comedy special will appear to be a single performance, a seamless set of the comedian’s anecdotes and observations. The special, though, which will be taken from Gaffigan’s shows at the Straz Center’s Carol Morsani Hall, likely... Continue Reading →

Get Thee To Nunsense: A-Men, These Nuns Did!

There weren’t just nuns on stage Thursday night at Nunsense: A-Men’s return to the Jaeb Theater. Members of the Tampa Bay Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence attended the Straz-produced musical comedy which features misters as sisters cracking wise and singing their habits off to raise money to bury fellow nuns who succumbed to a bad batch... Continue Reading →

Singer Welcomes Challenge of Opera Tampa Double-Header

Jean Carlos Rodriguez “Let’s play two!” was the catchphrase of Chicago Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks. Opera occasionally schedules double-headers as well. Opera Tampa is closing its season with two one-act operas: Puccini’s comedy Gianni Schicchi and Mascagni’s tragedy Cavalleria Rusticana. Jean Carlos Rodriguez performs in both operas and he’s wondering how much time he’ll have... Continue Reading →

A Whole New World: Crafting a Season

A small but mighty coterie of Straz staffers gathers the selections that make each year’s season announcement a much-anticipated event. At the start of every year, as sure as the Florida gardenias blossom, The Straz announces a new season. Every year that season blends old and new, funny and serious, musical and non-musical, spectacular and... Continue Reading →

Why don’t oysters give to charity?

Because they're shellfish. It's no coincidence that National Humor Month begins with April Fool's Day, a day which has sanctioned frivolity and amusement for hundreds of years. "National Humor Month was conceived as a means to heighten public awareness of the therapeutic value of humor. Laughter and joy - the benchmarks of humor - lead... Continue Reading →

TTRL’s Top Moments

For the past five months, theaters across the globe have gone dark due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Find out how you can help “Save Our Stages” here.) Many artists and arts workers have had their livelihoods thrown into chaos as they try to navigate the unknown - and while our stages are silent, the need... Continue Reading →

What The Heck Is A Spymonkey?

This Q&A from the cast of Hysteria sheds a little light on the renowned British troupe and will hopefully get you even more excited to see this exclusive United States debut at The Straz. How would you describe Spymonkey to a stranger? Aitor Basauri (joint artistic director, performer): Spymonkey is a unique and original form... Continue Reading →

From the Hip: Q&A with Piff the Magic Dragon and The World’s Only Magic Performing Chihuahua™, Mr. Piffles

If the phrase “magic performing chihuahua” didn’t have you clamoring for tickets on our website, maybe this down-and-dirty Q&A with said pup’s pet human—wacky magician Piff the Magic Dragon—will give you a little more hype for this unusual show arriving in early April. The Straz Center’s INSIDE magazine managing editor Carol Cohen caught up with... Continue Reading →

Epic Theater Fails

Our new Broadway season opens in two weeks with the side-splitting comedy The Play That Goes Wrong. To celebrate, we found this collection of Broadway and musical theater blooper reels. Crying. We were crying by the time we picked out this video mash-up of Broadway mishaps for your viewing pleasure for the Straz Center blog... Continue Reading →

The First To Taste The World

Rarely do we get twins performing together on stage at The Straz, so it is a double (quadruple?) treat to have Will and Anthony stopping by the Jaeb this Saturday for their cabaret show. We thought we'd celebrate this rare occasion with some interesting factoids about twins from around the world. We also threw in... Continue Reading →

Dixie’s Dream Tupperware Party

This week “Caught in the Act” was commandeered by the saucy, red-headed Tupperware wonder Dixie Longate whose show, Dixie’s Tupperware Party, opens in the Jaeb Theater October 15. I was looking at the Straz Center's site to see my pretty picture rotate on the screen between other amazing shows and I saw there was a... Continue Reading →

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