Itäó»s another jam-packed week in Pinellas, and a great time to get out and see it all with family and friends. In particular, thereäó»s an awful lot of live theatre to catch this week, mostly classics and reinterpretations thereof.
Going out to a live show is a great way to celebrate the holidays äóñ and itäó»s also a great way of supporting the arts, since theatre groups, orchestras, and operas depend heavily on holiday-season ticket revenue throughout the rest of the year. So, as youäó»re enjoying The Nutcracker or Peter Pan, remember that youäó»re also helping to put new plays and music into rotation all year äóÖround.
Here are our top picks for the week/weekend:
American Stage–Itäó»s a Wonderful Life : A Live Radio Play
This production reimagines the classic Jimmy Stewart/Frank Capra fable as a 1940s-era radio play, including old-school foley effects and limited staging. Readings like this are fascinating because they show how much of the theatre experience takes place in our mind. As Andrew Meacham put it in his recent Times review, the setup also makes this classic story easier to enjoy as pure nostalgia äóñ though hopefully the occasional darker undercurrents of Capraäó»s vision arenäó»t left behind.
Wednesday-Sunday, various times, through December 24
$30
Raymond James Theater, 163 Third Street North, St. Petersburg
Info and Tickets Here
Frida Kahlo at the Dali
The continuing critical ascendance of Frida Kahlo from the shadow of her partner Diego Rivera is certainly one of the most worthy consequences of our changing attitudes towards gender. Rivera was great, but Kahloäó»s dream-like visual language, precise lines and colors, and revealing self-examination make for a transcendent, puzzling, endlessly productive body of work. This exhibit includes more than 60 Kahlo pieces, including 15 paintings, as well as a garden installation that explores Kahloäó»s own relationship to nature.
$24
Opens: Saturday, December 17, through April 17
(Previews for Dali Members December 14-16)
Dali Museum, 1 Dali Blvd, St. Petersburg
Nutcracker at Ruth Eckerd Hall
On Saturday, December 17æthe Tampa Bay Ballet Theatre presents what looks to be a fairly traditional rendering of the worldäó»s most popular ballet. A must-see for the nine year old ballerina in all of us.
$25-$125
2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater
Info and Tickets Here
Peter and the Starcatcher
This 2009 play is a prequel to the J.M. Barrie classic. It gives Peter Pan an origin story, and its original production won a fistful of awards from Tonys to Obies to Drama Desk awards. The story, based on a novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, sets off from a grim British Empire and winds up in Neverland, simultaneously reminding us of the context of Barrieäó»s original creation, and resurrecting the sense of wonder that made it a classic.
December 16- January 28
$25-52
Freefall Theatre, 6099 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg
Info and Tickets Here
Mind Your Manners Local Rock Festival
Rick Manners was a champion of St. Petersburgäó»s local music scene until passing away unexpectedly on December 5. Apparently, one of his last wishes was to be celebrated with a show at the Local 662 äóñ and his friends have delivered. This epic lineup includes 15 of the most celebrated young acts in Tampa Bay, from Geri X to The Real Clash to Red Feather.
Sunday, December 18
4 p.m. äóñ Midnight
The Local 662, 662 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
More Info Here
Honorable Mentions:
Hannahäó»s Homeless Charity Ball, Saturday December 17, 7 p.m., Low Tide Kava Bar, Gulfport. Info Here.
Gulfport Art and Gallery Walk, Saturday December 17, 6 p.m., Downtown Gulfport. Info Here.
Holiday Spectacular at Fubar, Saturday December 17, 9 p.m. Info Here.
St. Petersburg Operaäó»s Seasonal Sparkle 2016, December 18æand 19, Palladiam Theatre. Info and Tickets Here.
