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Weekend stage forecast: The new ‘new normal’
Remember the pandemic? Well, of course you do. It was in the middle of that elongated nightmare that the phrase “the new normal” became a thing. As in, nothing is exactly the way it was, so today’s abnormal is the new normal.
Welcome to the new normal, post-hurricanes.
While there remains a lot of devastation and sorrow around us, in some ways a healthy entertainment scene is an indicator that there is still beauty, and light, and fun in our community.
If nothing else, concerts, plays and the like are good distractions.
Here’s what’s happening, on both sides of Tampa Bay, this weekend.
On theater stages
There are two theatrical shows in St. Petersburg. At the Off-Central, the oft-delayed production of The Hollow continues tonight through Sunday. It’s a one-man adaptation of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Alan Mohney Jr. is the one man), and you can read all about it in our Wednesday story.
Back up at American Stage, for its final weekend, is the jukebox musical Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash. For every ticket purchased (here), a portion of the proceeds will go to the St. Pete Free Clinic in support of those affected by Hurricane Milton.
The comic book comedy/drama The Boy Who Loved Batman, based on the memoirs of film producer Michael Uslan, continues at the Jaeb Theatre (in Tampa’s David A. Straz Center), with Dan Fogler (a Tony winner for The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee) in the title role through Sunday’s performance – he’s off to shoot a film in Ireland. The play is being workshopped through Nov. 10 in preparation for a premiere on London’s West End; Tampa’s David A. Jenkins takes over the part from Fogler starting next week. Tickets are here.
Concerts
Sunday at Amalie Arena: Christian performer Brandon Lake. Publicity photo.
Christian music singer/songwriter Brandon Lake brings his unfortunately-titled “Tear off the Roof Tour” to Amalie Arena Sunday. Tickets are here.
Tonight at Ruth Eckerd Hall, blues guitar great Kenny Wayne Shepherd headlines the annual Experience Hendrix tour, with an all-star gang of six-string heroes pays tribute to the music of Jimi Hendrix. Read all about it here.
All Irish, all the time: The singing, dancing, celebratin’ Celtic Thunder returns to Ruth Eckerd Hall Friday. This year’s touring show, Odyssey, features a stage set reminiscent of ancient Celtic pathways, evoking the legends of Celtic lore. Find tickets here.
Actor and comedian Rob Schneider, a frequent visitor to bay area stages, performs Friday at the Mahaffey Theater. Tickets for the Deuce Bigalow, Male Gigolo star’s 7:30 p.m. standup show are here.
Friday at the Capitol Theatre, the Canadian musicians’ musician group Classic Albums Live reproduces the Stevie Ray Vaughn album Texas Flood. Find tickets here.
Men At Work, the Australian band who put the songs “Who Can it Be Now” and “Down Under” in to the American musical vernacular back in 1981 and ’82, was formed by Scotsman Colin Hay. He wrote and sang those songs. Hay, who has been a key member of the Ringo Starr All-Starr Band for 20 years, is bringing a reconstituted Men at Work to Ruth Eckerd Hall Saturday. Tickets are here.
Cuban-American singer and musician Willy Chirino, who’s considered the “Father of the Miami Sound,” appears Sunday at the Seminole Hard Rock event Center. Tickets.
The classics
Spanish violinist Francisco Fullana performs with The Florida Orchestra this weekend. Publicity photo.
Music director Michael Francis and The Florida Orchestra return with three performance, all taking place at the Mahaffey Theater. Thursday at 7:30 p.m., the ever-insightful maestro will take audiences “Inside Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 3,” his examination and explanation of said piece, followed by a full performance of it from the orchestra. This is pay-what-you-can general admission event.
The Rachmaninoff work forms the centerpiece of TFO concerts Saturday (8 p.m.) and 2 p.m. (Sunday), with Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, featuring violinist Francisco Fullana in his TFO debut. Find tickets here.
Something else altogether
Sunday brings Ancient Aliens Live to Ruth Eckerd Hall. A 90-minute adaptation of the History Channel program Ancient Aliens, the “performance” brings together “Ancient Astronaut” theorist Giorgio A. Tsoukalos, investigative mythologist William Henry, UK government UFO investigator Nick Pope and “real-life Indiana Jones” David Childress, talking extraterrestrial theories. Find tickets here.
The Tampa Theatre welcomes back the Victorian horror troupe Phantasmagoria Sunday with its 2024 show Grim and Grimmer Tales. It combines storytelling, dance, puppetry, projections and original music. Find more info, and tickets, here.
In the coming days
Canada’s Barenaked Ladies perform at the Baycare Sound Wednesday, Oct. 23, with Toad the Wet Sprocket. Tickets.
British comedian and actor Eddie Izzard appears Wednesday, Oct. 23 at Morsani Hall, in Tampa’s Straz Center. Tickets.
The National Ballet of Ukraine performs Thursday, Oct. 24 at Morsani Hall, in Tampa’s Straz Center. Tickets.
Your weekend stage forecast appears every Thursday in the Catalyst’s CREATE section.
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