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Looking forward: The month of December in the arts
Traditionally, December doesn’t register as a big laugh-out-loud month, but this year Santa has placed a giant box of top-shelf standup comedians under the bay area’s Christmas tree.
Take a peek at this month’s comedy dance card:
Brian Regan, Dec. 5, Mahaffey Theater. One of the funniest Floridians on the circuit, Regan is always a guaranteed sellout attraction, and this show’s getting close.
Martin Lawrence, Dec. 15, Seminole Hard Rock Event Center. The sharp-edged writer and standup was also the producer and star of the 1990s sitcom Martin, and leading man in Big Momma’s House, Life, House Party, Wild Hogs and many others.
Jerry Seinfeld, Dec. 13 and 14, Ruth Eckerd Hall. Another veteran standup who spent most of the 1990s in a TV sitcom. Yeah, that’s the guy.
Sebastian Maniscalco, Dec. 7 at Amalie Arena. One of the highest-grossing touring comedians in the country (he sold out Madison Square Garden five times in a row this year) Maniscalco is also a writer and actor; in his 2023 film About My Father, he co-starred with Robert De Niro.
Atsuko Okatsuka, Dec. 5 at Tampa Theatre. The Japanese/American comic’s Tampa Theatre show was moved from Oct. 5 (during hurricane week #2). Her HBO standup special The Intruder (directed by Tig Notaro) was named “Best Debut Special of 2022” by the New York Times.
Nurse Blake, Dec. 5 at Ruth Eckerd Hall. From the “Laughter is the Best Medicine” Department: Viral phenom Blake Lynch is a registered nurse who recently told a podcaster “I started building this sense of community and these nurses really helped me realize that, you know, humor is okay, humor lets us get through things.”
Sheng Wang, Dec. 7 at the Tampa Theatre.
Ben Brainard, Dec. 6 at the Capitol Theatre. With nearly 3 million TikTok followers, Florida-born Brainard’s trademark bit is “The Table,” at which he portrays different American states, talking with one another in an attempt to iron out their differences.
Patton Oswalt, Dec. 28 at the Capitol Theatre. Last but certainly not least, another veteran standup with caustic wit and observational powers. He’s an actor, too. Close enough to New Year’s Eve that one might make a celebration out of it.
Without getting ahead of ourselves, January will bring Sarah Silverman, Steve Martin and Martin Short, Paula Poundstone, Jeff Arcuri, Mike Epps and others. We’ll talk in a month.
Concerts, plays and holiday events
At freeFall Theatre, Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Adventure is now onstage, and continues through Dec. 15.
At Stageworks Theatre, The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical is now onstage, and continues through Dec. 22.
Dec. 3
The a capella vocal group Pentatonix sings at Amalie Arena.
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band Creole Christmas at the Capitol Theatre.
Riley Green and Ashley Cooke headline US 103.5 Jingle Y’all country music show at the Seminole Hard Rock Live Event Center.
Dec. 4
Derek Hough Dance for the Holidays at Ruth Eckerd Hall. The Dancing With the Stars alum choreographs a Yuletide spectacular.
Dec. 5
The hard rock trio Kings X, with Sound & Shape, at the Capitol Theatre.
The Womack Family Christmas at freeFall Theatre.
Wonderful Life, an adaptation of Frank Capra’s beloved holiday film, opens today and runs through Dec. 22 at American Stage.
A Christmas with C.S. Lewis, at Straz Center’s Jaeb Theatre, features British actor David Payne as the beloved children’s author.
Dec. 6
In the Shimberg Theatre, Straz Center: A production of It’s a Wonderful Life – A Live Radio Play opens today and runs through Dec. 23.
Dec. 7
The 1970s trio America (original members: 1) at the Mahaffey Theater.
The Next Big Thing at the Baycare Sound, with The All-American Rejects, Something Corporate, Dayglow, Judah & The Lion, Gigi Perez and Jonah Kagen.
Australian acoustic guitar master Tommy Emmanuel at the Capitol Theatre.
St. Pete Baroque in the Marly Music Room, Museum of Fine Arts (matinee).
The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay with Handel’s Messiah, at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter.
A live orchestra plays along to the movie Elf at in Morsini Hall (Straz Center).
Dec. 8
The annual Clearwater Latin Jazz Festival at Baycare Sound, with musicians from Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the U.S. And it’s free.
Gulfport’s annual Art Jones Studio Tour.
Whiskey Myers – rock band whose exposure on TV’s Yellowstone sent their albums up the charts – at the Mahaffey Theater.
At Ruth Eckerd Hall: Bowzer’s Holiday Rock ‘n’ Roll Party, with Peter Noone, Joey Dee, the Tokens and ex-members of Sha Na.
In the Spirit of John Lennon, a tribute in song and story with singer and musician Drew Harrison, in the Straz Center’s Jaeb Theatre – on the 44th anniversary of Lennon’s murder.
Dec. 10
A national tour of the Broadway musical adaptation of Some Like it Hot begins a five-day residency at the Straz Center, in Morsini Hall.
Dec. 11
The Allman Betts Family Revival (descendants of the Allman Brothers Band musicians) at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Plus Luther and Cody Dickinson, Anders Osborne, Jimmy Hall, Robert Randolph and other top figures from the jam band scene.
Palladium (Theater) Chamber Series #1: Mozart, Dvorak, Schumann.
Alan Parsons and his Project are at the Baycare Sound, accompanied by The Florida Rock Symphony and a Laser Light Show.
Dec. 12
Who’s Holiday! opens (and runs through Dec. 22) at the Off-Central. It’s a comedic riff on the adult adventures of Dr. Seuss’ Cindy Lou Who.
Nate Najar’s Jazz Holiday at the Palladium Theater.
Avatar: The Last Airbender In Concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Music from the beloved animated series, performed by a live orchestra to projected film highlights.
Dirty John’s XXX-Mas Spectacular at The Studio@620. Three shows of sketch comedy shenanigans over three nights (Dec. 12-14)
Dec. 13
The Florida Orchestra and the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay combine for Classical Christmas, in the Straz Center’s Ferguson Hall. Program repeats Dec. 14 at the Mahaffey Theater).
A screening of The Polar Express, and a holiday sing-along (matinee) at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Free.
The Outlaws Green Grass and Yuletide Jam – Henry Paul and company, with guests John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band. There’s a second show Nov. 14. Capitol Theatre.
Dec. 14
Rock singer Bret Michaels hosts Parti-Gras 2.0 at the Baycare Sound, along with Night Ranger, and Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider.
Country’s Kathy Mattea at the Capitol Theatre.
Dec. 15
1980s pop sensation Debbie Gibson stops in at the Capitol Theatre.
The mighty rock ‘n’ electronica Trans-Siberian Orchestra returns to Amalie Arena.
Dec. 17
Holiday Sparkle, the annual St. Petersburg Opera Company musical cabaret, at the Palladium Theater (second show Dec. 19).
Cheap Trick returns yet again, to hello there, ladies and gentlemen the Seminole Hard Rock Live Event Center.
“Miracles Holiday and Hits,” jazz artist Kenny G’s year-end-tour, visits the Baycare Sound.
Dec. 18
Patti Labelle at the Mahaffey Theater.
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening at the Seminole Hard Rock Event Center. The hard-drumming son of Zeppelin’s hard-drumming John Bonham is back in town, with a full band and a “songs and stories” evening of entertainment.
Dec. 19
Holiday Cabaret at The Studio @620. Four performances of Soulstice Dec. 19-22.
Dec. 20
The Florida Orchestra Holiday Pops at Ferguson Hall, Straz Center.
A Very Broadway Christmas, from Tampa’s Broadway on the Bay, at the Mahaffey Theater.
A Christmas Carol in Concert at freeFall Theatre, today through Dec. 24.
Christmas with The Celts at Central Park Performing Arts Center. Irish singing, dancing and music-making.
St. Pete’s homegrown jazz saxer Mindi Abair brings her holiday tour to the Capitol Theatre, with Lindsey Webster and Marcus Anderson.
Dec. 21
The Florida Orchestra Holiday Pops at the Mahaffey Theater (2 and 8 p.m.)
Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland – combining holiday cheer and circus aerobatic feats – at Ruth Eckerd Hall.
The a capella vocal group Rockapella plays the Capitol Theatre.
Dec. 22
The Florida Orchestra Holiday Pops at Ruth Eckerd Hall (2 and 7:30 p.m.)
A Celtic Angels holiday concert visits the Capitol Theatre. Irish singing, dancing and music-making.
Dec. 23
A touring production of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol visits Ruth Eckerd Hall for one performance only.
Dec. 26
Cirque Dreams Holidaze, combining more holiday cheer with more circus aerobatic feats, is in Morsini Hall (Straz Center) Dec. 26 and 27.
Dec. 27
At the Capitol Theater: The venerable New Orleans rock trio Zebra, celebrating 50 years in 2025.
Dec. 28
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet (international tour) at the Mahaffey Theater Dec. 28 – and the 29th.
Dec. 29
Vegas-caliber magic as Jen Kramer’s Magical Holiday Show comes to Ruth Eckerd Hall.
Websites
Central Park Performing Arts Center
Seminole Hard Rock Event Center
