Each year, International Women’s Day celebrates the accomplishments of women in the social, economic, cultural and political arenas. IWD also advocates for more progress toward the ultimate goal of gender equality. Women account for half of the college-educated workforce yet hold just 25% of senior management or leadership roles, and only about 10% of CEO... Continue Reading →
Coffee lovers, rejoice! National Barista Day is approaching — a day to celebrate the skilled hands and creative minds behind your favorite espresso shots, frothy cappuccinos and perfectly poured lattes. At Straz Center, we're aiming to acknowledge the talented baristas everywhere but especially the incredible team behind the counter at our very own coffee shop... Continue Reading →
AN EXCLUSIVE FROM INSIDE MAGAZINE Set designer Tom Hansen knows artistic liberties can be essential in telling a story. When the story is set about a five-minute drive from the theater, though, he leans more toward the true-to-life. Tom Hansen, set designer of Opera Tampa's Candide and Don Pasquale. Opera Tampa’s production of Gaetano Donizetti’s... Continue Reading →
Expectations must have been a thorn in the side of Michael Jackson. Consider this: His 1987 album, Bad, sold roughly 35 million copies worldwide. That’s impressive by anyone’s standards, except Jackson’s: His previous album, 1982’s Thriller, sold twice that number. https://open.spotify.com/album/3Us57CjssWnHjTUIXBuIeH?si=LJlW_X-kQLWS4ImMhD9_lA MJ the Musical takes place on the eve of Jackson’s tour supporting the album... Continue Reading →
“Where it began / I can’t begin to know when,” go the first two lines of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” The where and when of the song’s subject may not matter to Neil, but the where and when of “Sweet Caroline,” matter quite a bit. https://youtu.be/ty1dwBCR6D0?si=Mj2GtZWo4vyy6HjH When was 1969. Where was Memphis, Tenn., and yes,... Continue Reading →
The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble played a handful of dates in the U.K. late last year, opening its program with the work of Wendy Carlos. Moog is an instrument brand, specifically, not an instrument. But the groundbreaking sonic simulators made by Moog were such a step into the future that the electronic keyboard feels to... Continue Reading →
We all know Leonard Bernstein’s celebrated musical, West Side Story, but what about Candide, the seldom-staged opera eclipsed by its exuberant overture? Opera Tampa opens its new season on Jan.31 with a rare production of Candide, which begins with Bernstein’s single-most performed work, a rollicking hodgepodge of themes and break-neck tempos that hint of what... Continue Reading →
It’s a busy time here at the Straz, so busy we’ve had to find creative ways to get the word out about all our shows. We want to make sure you know that Jobsite is presenting another of their bloody great Shakespeare productions. Macbeth runs Jan. 15 through Feb. 9 in the Jaeb Theater. https://youtu.be/C0WYHmP4wOQ... Continue Reading →
If the outfits worn by the actresses in The Cher Show look familiar it’s because they are recreations of the sometimes outrageous costumes the actress-singer has worn throughout her career. And if those replicas look like dead ringers for the original outfits, down to the last sequin, it’s because they were re-created by the original... Continue Reading →
For its first decade or so of existence, Detroit-based record company Motown was the American Dream in excelsis. Founder Berry Gordy nurtured his small, local business into a worldwide success. Gordy was smart, resourceful and hard-working. Most importantly, he knew white kids could dig R&B just as much as the black kids. The label’s slogan,... Continue Reading →
After ripping open holiday presents on Wednesday, don’t pack away those red and green decorations just yet -- The Straz Center has more holiday fun in its stocking. Cirque Dreams Holidaze, the longest-running cirque holiday spectacular, will dazzle in Morsani Hall Thursday and Friday, Dec. 26-27. The Broadway-style production is an infusion of contemporary circus... Continue Reading →
The city sounds familiar but the accent isn’t what you expect. When the Straz’s new senior director of guest services mentions he’s from Boston, you expect the steamrolled vowels endemic to the U.S. city’s natives. Anthony Winter-Brown’s accent is decidedly English, though. He’s from the other Boston, the original, actually, In Lincolnshire. In the U.S.,... Continue Reading →
Next Generation Ballet®’s annual production of Nutcracker always adds an extra sparkle to the holidays. This year’s presentation will shine even brighter when, for the first time, an NGB alum from a major American ballet company returns to perform in Nutcracker. Jarod Curley, a soloist with American Ballet Theatre, spent “the two most intense years... Continue Reading →
Jack Lemmon’s most celebrated roles occurred in film – Ensign Pulver in Mister Roberts, Felix Unger in The Odd Couple and Jerry/Daphne in Some Like It Hot. The touring Broadway musical of Some Like It Hot will be presented at the Straz Dec. 10-15. Broadway musical Some Like It Hot, sponsored by Bank of America... Continue Reading →
Twenty years since its opening, the Patel Conservatory is going strong and ready to grow. The Straz Master Plan will give the performing arts school a significant increase in space, and planning for its use is being addressed enthusiastically. “We're picking out flooring, special mirrors, special soundproofing. Special features like this will really address the... Continue Reading →
Ariana Grande added “proofreader’ to her list of credits recently. The actress spotted an error in the captioning of the video for “Popular,” from the upcoming film Wicked, in which she stars. The video used the word “poise” in place of the correct “ploys,” which Grande called out in the comments section. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENkfNb1I0jc&pp=ygUOcG9wdWxhciB3aWNrZWQ%3D This was more than an... Continue Reading →
If “gourmet” and “grab and go” seem like opposite poles on the dining axis to you, the new Maestro’s Café could change your mind. Javier Rasmussen, vice president of Food and Beverage at the Straz, is confident that the café’s new concept will unite gourmet and grab and go in a way that’s both convenient... Continue Reading →
The Wiz was a Broadway smash, a retelling of The Wizard of Oz with an African-American cast and P.O.V. It had a four-year run, won a shelf-full of Tonys® and introduced the world to Stephanie Mills. https://youtu.be/uR2IZ9LFyxM The film version was a dumpster fire, swapping the musical’s book for trendy psychobabble, and replacing Mills (17... Continue Reading →
National Geographic has for years provided its readers with unparalleled portraits of the natural world. National Geographic explores its subjects’ scientific, social and ecological significance, exposing the wonders of land and sea and space. Its articles and photography bring readers in close to see the beauty and complexity of nature. National Geographic Live! takes audiences... Continue Reading →
The PBS series Mystery! enjoyed a long and successful run from 1980-2006. The anthology series drew from British mystery and crime material and was one of the network’s more popular titles. The show introduced American audiences to such titles as Rumpole of the Bailey, Inspector Morse and Prime Suspect. The show no doubt also introduced many viewers... Continue Reading →