Your weekend arts forecast: The awesome, inspiring Jennifer Msumba

Tonight (Thursday, Aug. 11), there’s a one-of-a-kind musical experience at thestudio@620.

It’s a concert performance by Jennifer Msumba, a Hardee County musician (guitar and piano player, singer and songwriter) filmmaker, videographer and storyteller.

The 45-year-old Florida native is a member of American Mensa, which means she has a very, very high IQ.

Msumba also happens to be autistic.

In her short film The Fish Don’t Care When it Rains, Msumba describes her disability using gardening metaphors.

“I once was a seed. I lay buried for years, covered in layers of problems. There was obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety, social difficulties and loneliness,” she says in the narration.

“I wanted so badly to break through and soak in the sun. But it wasn’t yet my time.

“So I waited. And just like a seed, when the right elements came into play – I had my breakthrough.”

At a new facility, “I was re-planted. In this new place, I was allowed to grow. I fed my talents. I surrounded myself in music, and taught myself new skills … like how to create a vlog, which is kind of like a video diary. That the whole world watches.”

Watch Jennifer’s vlog episodes here.

Charming, funny and vivacious, Msumba is upbeat and positive, and her music and short films – along with her personality – are inspiring.

Tonight’s event, starting at 8 p.m., includes a musical performance, screenings of the short films The Fish Don’t Care When it Rains, Like the Girls Who Wear Pink and Heroes in Training, and an onstage interview with St. Pete/Clearwater Film Commissioner Tony Armor.

Click here to visit Jen’s website and learn more about here.

Click here for tickets for tonight’s event.

In the theater

Opening tonight at Studio Grand Central in St. Petersburg, Something Clean is a drama by Selma Fillinger about a woman whose son is incarcerated for unspeakable crimes. The play stars Debbie Yones, Alan Mohney Jr. and Tony Brooks. All tickets are here; we’ll have more on the show Friday in the Catalyst.

In Tampa, Stageworks Theatre’s Channelside venue plays host to ThinkTank Theatre for Young Audiences’ Exhibits in the Zoo, a Holocaust drama running Aug. 12 (this Friday) through the 21st. In a story earlier this week, we spoke with ThinkTank founder Georgia Mallory Guy, who’s also co-starring in the current freeFall production of Neil Simon’s Rose and Walsh, through Aug. 28.

Dan Coggins’ all-male musical comedy Nunsense: A-Men continues through Sunday at the Jaeb Theatre, in Tampa’s David A. Straz Center. Tickets. 

Music and concerts

Registration ended Aug. 10, but you can still attend the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay’s annual Summer Sing, Saturday (10 a.m.-1 p.m.) at the USF School of Music in Tampa (3755 USF Holly Drive, MUS 101). And hey, auditions for the upcoming season – starting with Carmina Burana, alongside The Florida Orchestra – are behind held in the very same room starting at 2. You never know.

Jazz sax player Eric Darius is onstage at the Palladium Friday. Tickets. 

Stevie B, Lisa Lisa, The Jets, Cover Girls and Brenda K. Starr will be at Amalie Arena Friday. Top ticket price, at press time, for the “Free Style Explosion Throwback Jam”: $79.50 (lowest $39.50).

Crooner Michael Buble is at Amalie Arena Saturday. Top ticket price at press time: $480 (lowest $65).

R&B vocalist Chris Brown plays Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre, with Lil Baby, Saturday. Top ticket price at press time: $1,125 (lowest $220).

Walkin’ the walk

Your monthly reminder that it’s time again for the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance’s Second Saturday ArtWalk, with open houses at 40 St. Pete art studios and galleries (5-9 p.m. Saturday). The white ArtWalk trolley will start at 5 at Craftsman House Gallery, 2955 Central Avenue, then make continuous loops until the end of the evening. You could walk or drive it, too, should you be so inclined. Here’s the August ArtWalk map.

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