Jamie Allan’s performances marry illusion and technology to create astounding magic events, such as a Mercedes-Benz appearing out of thin air or making a helicopter disappear and reappear on the deck of a cruise ship. Jamie Allan His fascination with magic, though, was sparked by one of the oldest tricks in the book: the disappearing... Continue Reading →
An Exclusive from INSIDE Magazine Lucas Hallauer is a self-declared “theater kid” portraying Marty McFly in Back to the Future: The Musical as he and the famed time-traveling DeLorean land at Straz Center April 29-May 4. We didn’t ask what he’d feed the Flux Capacitor, but we did inquire what was in his fridge and... Continue Reading →
Sure. After all, that’s what theBlog is about. See? April 17 is International Haiku Poetry Day and we know what you’re thinking: A) Didn’t we just finish putting up the decorations from last Haiku Poetry Day? and B) Isn’t Haiku Poetry redundant? The answers are, of course A) Yes. Time is fleeting and B) Yes,... Continue Reading →
A GUIDE TO THE AMAZING OPENING SCENE OF DISNEY'S THE LION KING ON TOUR “Circle of Life,” The Lion King’s jaw-dropping, much-talked about opening number, introduces a menagerie of animals who stride, leap, gallop and dance across the stage. A closer look reveals the creative magic at work behind this breathtaking bit of stagecraft. LET’S... Continue Reading →
First, a clarification: A movie’s score and a movie’s soundtrack are not the same thing. A soundtrack is a collection of songs old and/or new that tie in (or don’t) with the film’s storyline. Whether the soundtrack is good, bad or indifferent, it’s essentially merchandise, like a T-shirt or a tote bag. That’s an important... Continue Reading →
At Straz, we’re witness to class after class of performing arts students attending Patel Conservatory, learning dance, theater and, of course, music. An organization founded by husband and wife music teachers takes music learning into their community and sponsors events to encourage music education. Every child should have the opportunity to play music: That belief... Continue Reading →
Guitar heroes actual and fictional covet Gibson’s 1959 Les Paul Standard, widely considered the finest solid-body ever made. Watch as Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) expounds on the instrument’s qualities to a clearly impressed Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner) in the 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. https://youtu.be/g7-5io1muSQ?si=sqHaRe12oDTWACOm Spinal Tap may be fictional but the ’59 Les... Continue Reading →
Mark Leib was familiar with the real-life setting of his play When the Righteous Triumph, the long-gone Woolworth on Franklin Street in downtown Tampa. “That’s the Woolworth I used to go to as a child,” Leib said. “I remember that lunch counter from my childhood. “It never occurred to me that black people weren't allowed... Continue Reading →
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 →