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Your weekend arts forecast: Sellouts, and near-sellouts
The Florida Orchestra is back with a one-off pre-season concert Saturday at the Mahaffey Theater. As the 1984 film Amadeus screens in high definition, TFO will perform the entire Mozart score, as it happens, along with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay Chamber Singers.
Amadeus Live has been touring the world since 2016. In much the same way a lot of us were introduced to classical music through Warner Bros’ “Looney Tunes” cartoons, the Amadeus film – winner of eight Academy Awards – brought the majesty of Mozart to the masses.
Saturday’s concert, conducted by Julian Pellicano, is listed as sold out.
Next on the TFO calendar: Chelsea Gallo conducts Pops in the Park Sept. 24 in Vinoy Park, and the 55th season celebration, with violinist Itzhak Perlman, Oct. 1 at the Mahaffey.
The season proper begins with Orff’s Carmina Burana, Oct. 7-9 at the Straz Center Morsani Hall, Mahaffey Theater and Ruth Eckerd Hall, respectively.
Speaking of sellouts: At press time, a few hundred tickets had just been released for tonight’s Amalie Arena appearance by comedian Kevin Hart; it’s the opening date on his fall tour. And don’t think about trying to score tickets to Sunday’s Alicia Keys show at the Seminole Hard Rock Event Center. It’s been sold out for months.
Also sold out – every show for the entire run – is Stageworks’ production of The Color Purple (there’s a waiting list for tickets here).
Mo’ music
Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes are onstage tonight at the Seminole Hard Rock. Tickets.
We’re looking at a busy few days at the Side Door Café, downstairs at the Palladium Theater. Bay area jazz saxophonist Trace Zacur takes center stage Friday, with Alejandro Arenas on bass, Mark Feinman on drums, and Judi Wasko Glover on piano. Tickets.
Guitarist Greg Koch and his trio blaze an electric trail of rock, blues, jazz and funk Saturday. Here’s what Steve Vai had to say about Koch: “Greg Koch is one of those rare guitarists that can blend various styles with a light-hearted approach and a tremendous amount of technique. Hearing him play is inspiring to a guitar player to achieve greatness on the instrument.” Guitar World calls Koch ”one of the most prodigiously gifted players of his generation.” Tickets.
The Covid-postponed appearance by Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band finally arrives at Ruth Eckerd Hall Friday; tickets are here. And ‘80s Britpop act The Fixx is at the Capitol Theater, Ruth’s sister venue, on the same evening (tickets).
Gin Blossoms, along with Sister Hazel’s Ken & Andrew, perform at the Florida Aquarium Saturday as part of “Rhythm & Brews By the Bay,” a fundraising event Friday. Learn more here.
Theater stages
Friday brings four writers from The Daily Show with Trevor Noah to Largo’s Central Park Performing Arts Center. The four comedians are Kat Radley, Matt Koff, Randall Otis and Joe Opio. Tickets are here.
Steve Martin’s “smart” comedy Picasso at the Lapin Agile is in its first weekend at the Shimberg Plyhouse, in Tampa’s Straz Center for the Performing Arts, courtesy of Jobsite Theater. A 2013 production of this play remains one of the most successful runs in Jobsite history. Read more here.
Humming right along, and bringing in good crowds, are the musicals Green Day’s American Idiot (read all about the American Stage production here). More on this show Friday in the Catalyst.
Back after a short break is Avenue Q, the Tony-winning, slightly off-color puppet musical comedy, at the Straz Center’s Jaeb Theatre. Read all about it here.
And J. Elijah Cho’s one-man comedy play Mr. Yunioshi (read our interview here) is onstage tonight through Sunday at freeFall Theater.
Other things
Wordier Than Thou’s annual Banned Books are a Drag burlesque show takes place tonight (Thursday, Sept. 15) at thestudio@620. Drag and burlesque performers from throughout the Tampa Bay area will interpret some of the most beloved banned books in the world, including literary classics and children’s favorites. With games and prizes! Tickets.
Smithsonian Magazine’s nationwide Museum Day, former known as Free Museum Day, returns this Saturday. While the Dali Museum and the St. Petersburg Museum of History are offering free admission to Pinellas County residents with ID, the following will be admission-free to all: The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, Imagine Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg. Advance tickets (click here) are required.
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