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Your weekend arts forecast: Il Divo and ‘Star Wars’
The classical-singing quartet Il Divo returns to the Mahaffey Theater Friday. This is the multi-national group’s first tour without baritone Carlos Martin, who died of complications from Covid-19 in December. Steven Labrie now joins the surviving three members – David Miller, Sebastien Izambard and Urs Buhle – onstage for a “Greatest Hits” show.
Formed and promoted by media mogul Simon Cowell, Il Divo (“The Star”) has sold over 30 million albums, scoring 160 gold and platinum albums in 33 countries, making it the most successful act in the history of classical crossover music.
Tickets are here.
And may the Force be with The Florida Orchestra this weekend, as its much-ballyhooed “Music of Star Wars” concert lands at the Straz Center (Friday), the Mahaffey Theater (two performances Saturday) and Ruth Eckerd Hall (Sunday). Tickets are here.
As the Firestone St. Petersburg Grand Prix will be in full roar this weekend, parking at, and entering the Mahaffey will require some forethought.
TFO has it all worked out for us here.
Theat-uh
Michael Horn in “Mayday.” Gemini Arts.
It’s the final weekend at Studio Grand Central for the one-man show Mayday: Captain Lerro and the Skyway Bridge, with Michael Horn as John Lerro, the harbor pilot at the center of the 1980 ship collision that destroyed the Sunshine Skyway.
I am, of course, somewhat biased, since I wrote (and directed) this play. The comments we’ve been receiving, in person and on social media, have been overwhelmingly positive. Mayday, I can tell you, is an emotionally wrenching drama, as well as an entirely true story.
Shows are Thursday through Sunday. Tickets are here.
Also in its last weekend, at freeFall Theater, is another history-based one-man show: I Love to Eat, starring the eminently watchable Matthew McGee as celebrity chef James Beard. McGee is in his element in this funny-and-heartbreaking comedy/drama about the great epicurean reviewing the events of his life.
Shows are Thursday through Sunday, and tickets are here.
And yes, School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play will be at American Stage for one last weekend (Thursday through Sunday). Here’s our interview with stage and screen star Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, part of a remarkable ensemble cast. Tickets are here.
The gospel-singing dramedy Crowns, directed by St. Pete’s Bob Devin Jones, is onstage through March 6 in the Jaeb Theatre, part of Tampa’s Straz Center. Read more in our profile story here.
The new kid on this week’s block is Soup, a comic drama by David Zarko, now onstage in Ybor City from LAB Theatre Company. Read all about the show here.
Music and concerts
Band Of Horses. Publicity photo.
It’s St. Petersburg Jazz Festival weekend at the Palladium Theater. Here’s the lowdown, with ticket info.
The 2022 Gasparilla Music Festival, Friday through Sunday at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in Tampa, features music on four stages. Headliners include Black Pumas, Mavis Staples, Band of Horses, Revivalists and lots more. Tickets and info are here.
Ex-Poison singer Bret Michaels is at Ruth Eckerd Hall Friday, with Warrant. Tickets are here.
Engelbert Humperdinck has a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday at Ruth Eckerd. Tickets.
Platinum blonde Latin pop star Marisela is in concert Sunday at the Straz Center’s Morsani Hall, with Alvaro Torres. This is a Grandes Exitos (Greatest Hits) tour for the “Latin Madonna.” Tickets are here.
The Eagles, with Vince Gill on lead guitar, play Amalie Arena Monday. Tickets here.
And still more
At the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg, Defining Lines: The Prints and Drawings of Maxime Lalanne opens Saturday.
Improv comedy: The Never Know Show, hosted by Matt Walker and Geoff Fell, is at thestudio@620 Friday night, while The Mar introduces The Wet Bandits’ Valentine Hangover Show Saturday.
Also at thestudio@620: Radio Theatre Project returns Monday (Feb. 28). Tickets.
Please add us to your mailing list – send all press releases and event info to bill@stpetecatalyst.com.
You can also submit your events to the Catalyst calendar, by clicking here.
