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Your weekend arts forecast: Art shows, stage shows and an air show
The final performances of Always … Patsy Cline at the Straz Center are sold out (the show ends Sunday), but some tickets remain for the final weekend of freeFall Theatre’s outdoor “drive-in” production of War of the Worlds, which started before Halloween and has been a tremendous success. There are 7 p.m. performances today through Sunday (per-car tickets are here).
Tampa thespians Daniel Llaca and Diana Garle comprise the cast of Jerry Montoya’s drama Nosotros La Gente (We the People), presented by American Stage in a combination series of live-streamed and recorded/streamed performances. Here’s our story on the production; get details and tickets here.
Outdoor art show & sale
Part II of Florida CraftArt’s Craft Art With a Twist outdoor festival takes place Saturday, in the bank parking lot across the street from the gallery at 501 Central Ave. Eighteen fine craft artists will show and sell between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
You can’t go into the studios this year, but Gulfport’s fourth annual Art Jones self-guided tour is all set for this weekend (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10-4 p.m. Sunday). These are Gulfport’s professional artists, giving demos and talking about their life’s work all along the streets and alleys of the (very small) city. Download the map here.
Up in the air
They’re stressing mask-wearing, social distancing and the constant cleaning of common areas, but attend the Sun N’ Fun Holiday Flying Festival and Car Show, Friday and Saturday at the Lakeland Linder International Airport (right off I-4 in Lakeland) at your own risk.
If you’re game, they’ve got air shows both days, a hot air balloon launch, car and aircraft demos, a 5K run, food, available camping and a whole lot of other stuff. All the info is here.
Percussion and jazz
In Wednesday’s story we told you about Florida Orchestra first violinist and concertmaster Jeffrey Multer, and the Tchaikovsky and Vivaldi for Strings chamber concerts he’s got Saturday and Sunday at the Mahaffey Theater.
Alternating with the three presentations of the string concert is America’s Heroes, with TFO musical director Michael Francis conducting music by Copland, Hailstork, Tower and others – with most of the instruments that aren’t included on the strings program – woodwinds, brass and percussion! A highlight, in fact, will be Schwantner’s Percussion Concerto. Here’s a video demonstration with principal percussionist John Shaw.
America’s Heroes is presented at 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are here.
Trumpeter Jason Charos is the frontman for a livestreamed jazz concert Saturday (8 p.m.) from thestudio@620. The smokin’ quintet includes David Mason on alto saxophone, Kendric McCallister on tenor sax, Joe Porter on bass and John Jenkins on drums. Tickets are here.