Looking forward: The month of July in the arts

July brings a lot of concerts this year, most of them outdoors, and the majority taking place in Tampa or Clearwater.

The big one, however, happens at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. Seven times.

That’s the seven-show run of jolly-dude comedian Bert Kreischer. He’s taking the Fourth off, but the shirtless wonder will be virtually in residence at the Mahaffey July 3 through 7.

Kreischer, who was born in St. Petersburg and raised in Tampa (where he began his standup career), is one of the most successful road comics working today. He is a prolific podcaster, host of a YouTube cooking show Something’s Burning, an actor and the author of a memoir, Life of the Party: Stories of a Perpetual Man-Child.

The Machine, a film he wrote and starred in (co-starring Mark Hamill), is in the Top Ten on Netflix. Kreischer has 12.2 million fans across all social media platforms, and 205.7 million total views on his YouTube channel alone.

Kreischer chose St. Pete, and the Mahaffey, to shoot his sixth Netflix special. Initially, it was reported that the actual taping would be July 6 (he has shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m. that day). As tickets sold, more dates were added.

“I am so proud to call Tampa Bay my hometown,” Kreischer said when the Mahaffey dates were first announced, “and proud that you treat me like family when I come back.”

On theater stages

American Stage opens The Figs July 10. Directed by Helen R. Murray, it’s the world premiere of Doug Robinson’s play, which was workshopped as part of the company’s New Play Festival in 2023. At that time, American Stage’s website described The Figs as “A gay, Black, funny fairy tale that pokes fun at reality.”

Jobsite Theater debuts The Rocky Horror Show July 10 in the Jaeb Theatre (Straz Center). This is the larger of the two rooms traditionally used by the company, as the timeless tale of Brad + Janet + Dr. Frank N. Furter has always been somewhat larger than life.

LAB Theatre Project has LAB Laughs, its annual summertime collection of never-before-produced short comedies, premiering July 11.

Outdoor concerts

Twenty Years of Tears, July 6 at the Baycare Sound amphitheater. Hawthorne Heights, Anberlin, I See Stars, Armor for Sleep, Emery and This Wild Life.

Morgan Wallen, July 11 and 12 at Raymond James Stadium

The Doobie Brothers, July 11 at Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheater.

XScape and SWV, July 13 at Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheater.

Sammy Hagar, July 14 at Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheater.

Janet Jackson and Nelly, July 16 at Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheater.

New Kids on the Block with Paula Abdul, July 19 at Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheater.

Styx, Foreigner, John Waite, July 20 at Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheater.

Third Eye Blind, Yellowcard, July 25 at Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheater.

Sad Summer Fest,  July 27 at the Baycare Sound amphitheater. Mayday Parade, The Maine, The Wonder Years, We the Kings, Real Friends, Knuckle Puck, Hot Milk, Daisy Grenade and Diva Bleach.

Lindsay Sterling, July 31 at the Baycare Sound amphitheater.

From left Ciara, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes. Performing July 24 at Amalie Arena. Publicity photo,

Indoor concerts

The Alarm, July 6 at the Capitol Theatre, with Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel and Belouis Some.

KC & the Sunshine Band, July 7 at the Seminole Hard Rock Event Center.

John Lodge, July 9 at the Capitol Theatre. The Moody Blues’ legendary bass player.

Jimmy Vaughan and the Tilt-a-Whirl Band, July 21 at the Capitol Theatre. Texas guitar hero.

Asia, July 22 at the Seminole Hard Rock Event Center. Keyboardist Geoff Downes is the sole original member of this 1980s British supergroup.

Missy Elliott, July 24 at Amalie Arena. The first female rapper to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is joined by Busta Rhymes, Ciara and Timbaland.

Donny Osmond, July 25 at the Seminole Hard Rock Event Center.

Jonas Brothers, July 31 at the at the Seminole Hard Rock Event Center. Stadium stuffers Nick, Joe and Kevin play a 1,500-seater.