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The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center has scheduled an impressive line-up of touring Broadway blockbusters, an astounding opera series, a stunning and provocative play series and a remarkable collection of dance, comedy, music and educational events for the 2009-2010 season. Tickets for most of TBPAC’s 2009-2010 season are now on sale at the TBPAC Ticket Office and online at www.tbpac.org. See attached schedule for a full listing of events. An online, interactive season brochure featuring video and audio clips from many 2009-2010 performances is available at www.tbpac.org.

“TBPAC remains the leading presenter of performing arts and entertainment in the Tampa Bay area,” said Judith Lisi, president of TBPAC. “Again in 2009 and 2010, our season will offer our audiences a dazzling assortment of first-rate, artistic programming, from grand opera to family-friendly fare and cutting edge dance and performance art to Broadway blockbusters. I am especially pleased that this season will include Wonderland, a new musical produced, presented and given its world premiere right here in Tampa.”

The 2009-2010 season at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center includes:

Music
TBPAC’s 2009-2010 season includes a diverse lineup of musicians including classical tabla virtusoso Zakir Hussain (March 18, 2010) as part of TBPAC’s Culture Quest World music and dance series and rocker Duncan Sheik (March 26, 2010) performing hits from his new release Whisper Horse and his Tony® Award-winning Broadway hit Spring Awakening. Performing what founder Chip Davis calls “18th century classical rock,” Mannheim Steamroller returns to TBPAC on Dec. 13, 2009, for a Yuletide concert of its signature new-age Christmas music.

Club Jaeb
Now celebrating its fifth season, Club Jaeb transforms TBPAC’s Jaeb Theater on the occasional Monday nights into a music space featuring folk, Americana, alternative, country and other music. The 2009-2010 Club Jaeb Series, presented by the Merchants Association of Florida, includes Danish sensation Lilyphone (Dec. 7, 2009). And in the new year, Club Jaeb will feature the insightful song craft of Kim Richey (Jan. 11, 2010), the return to the series of folk traditionalist John Gorka (Feb. 15, 2010), emotionally intense singer/songwriter Cheryl Wheeler (March 15, 2010) and the rural country blues sound of Guy Davis (April 5, 2010).

Lectures, Comedy and Illusion
The funniest, cleverest and most insightful shows are on TBPAC’s stages in 2009-2010. Comedy acts including Elon Gold (Nov. 19, 2009), Gabriel Iglesias (March 13, 2010) and the Second City 50th Anniversary Tour (March 27, 2010) will entertain and captivate audiences throughout the season. Greg Behrendt and Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt, co-authors of the New York Times best-sellers He’s Just Not That Into You and It’s Called a Breakup Because It’s Broken, talk candidly about relationships in So You Think You Want To Be in Love? (Feb. 20, 2010). Plus, TBPAC favorites Garrison Keillor (Nov. 24, 2009) and David Copperfield (Jan. 22, 2010) return to Tampa to enlighten and enchant audiences.

Cabaret
The Jaeb Theater will have a joyous season of cabaret shows including the TBPAC produced production of Godspell (Feb. 9-May 16, 2010). Featuring a sparkling score by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), Godspell boasts a string of popular songs, led by the international hit “Day by Day.” The cabaret season will also feature An Evening with Lucille Ball: Thank You For Asking (Jan. 5-17, 2010). Directed by Ball’s daughter Lucie Arnaz, this one-woman play performed by Suzanne LaRusch guides the audience though a lifetime of memories and recreates the comic genius of the “Queen of Comedy.” Plus, TBPAC will host the return of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (June 10-July 18, 2010), the musical comedy celebration of the modern-day mating game.

Dance
The 2009-2010 season is filled with exciting dance performances including the return of The Orlando Ballet in its production of The Nutcracker (Dec. 22 and 23, 2009) featuring students from the Orlando Ballet School at the Patel Conservatory and in an evening of mixed reparatory, Complexions Contemporary Ballet (Jan. 14, 2010), a company that explores the full range of human emotions with its cutting-edge choreography and original music grounded in the tradition of classical dance. And as part of TBPAC’s Culture Quest World music and dance series, the season will feature both the highly regarded, award-winning Ballet Folklórico de México (Feb. 13, 2010) and Moscow Festival Ballet (Feb. 27, 2010) in the most famous and loved story ballet of all time, Swan Lake.

Off-Center
TBPAC continues to challenge audiences to “expect the unexpected” with a mission to bring new and unusual works to the Tampa Bay area in the Off-Center series including the Puppet State Theatre Company of Scotland’s adaptation of Jean Giono’s ecologically oriented tale The Man Who Planted Trees (April 15, 2010). The series also includes Becoming a Man in 127 Easy Steps (April 22-25, 2010), as performer and audience together decide the sequence of events at each performance, choosing just a few of the 127 stories that a guy who was born a girl has to tell.

Kid Time and Wee Folk
The Merchants Association of Florida Kid Time and Wee Folk series will delight younger audiences with its 2009–2010 season line up. The Wee Folk series (ages 3 – 5) will feature a stage adaptation of P.D. Eastman’s classic picture book Are You My Mother? (Jan. 31, 2010), a musical adaptation of the award-winning book Click, Clack, Moo (April 18, 2010) and Shana Banana and her puppets Hal and Henson in the interactive musical Banana Beach Party (May 23, 2010). Included in the Kid Time series (ages 5 – 11) are stage adaptations of the popular and beloved books Jigsaw Jones: The Case of the Class Clown (Oct. 18, 2009), Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (Jan. 24, 2010) and Charlotte’s Web (April 11, 2010). And as part of TBPAC’s Culture Quest World music and dance series, the Kid Time series features Stepping With Step Afrika! (Feb. 28, 2010), an interactive display of world traditions and lively South African gumboot dance.

Free Events at TBPAC
TBPAC will host a series of FREE events in 2009-2010 including Rock School Blowout (Nov. 14, 2009 and March 27, 2010), and the annual community event Eggstravaganza (April 3, 2010), as well as a host of master classes, performance talk backs and educational and family-friendly events.

Additionally, the Free TBPAC Movie Series continues in 2009-2010 outside on the Riverwalk. The series will show films that will enhance the enjoyment of live stage performances coming to TBPAC, in addition to other fun and entertaining films. Films to be screened include South Pacific (Nov. 13, 2009), It’s a Wonderful Life (Dec. 11, 2009), Godspell (Jan. 8, 2010) and Nanny McPhee (Feb. 12, 2010). Films will be shown on a giant inflatable screen – stadium chairs and blankets welcome. Concessions will be available for purchase.

Sculpture
In partnership with the New York-based National Sculpture Society, the pre-eminent organization for sculptors, TBPAC will present a multi-piece art exhibit as part of the 2009-2010 season. Eleven pieces, including works by John Leon, Barry Woods Johnston and Tuck Langland, will be displayed in the Ruth Silbiger lobby of Carol Morsani Hall at TBPAC beginning in October of 2009. The exhibit will be open during shows in Carol Morsani Hall and during regularly scheduled TBPAC tours. Special tours may also be available. This project is funded in part by the National Sculpture Society and Sabal Trust Company and will remain on display throughout the season.

Special Events
The Board of Trustees of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center will host the Wonderland World Premiere Benefit on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009. In addition to seats to the world premiere performance, this black-tie event features a pre-performance cocktail dinner and a post-performance reception with the opportunity to mingle with the cast and creative team of Wonderland. And, no season would be complete without Taste the Best of Tampa Bay. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the area’s premier food event – a benefit for TBPAC’s education and mission-based programming and organized by the Producers volunteer group – is scheduled for Saturday, April 17, 2010.

Patel Conservatory
Celebrating its 5th anniversary in 2009-2010, the Patel Conservatory at TBPAC offers more than 90 school-year classes for all ages that meet after school, in the evenings and on weekends, with on-going enrollment for a more in-depth experience. Plus, more than 80 camps for kids and classes for adults are offered during the summer. The Conservatory now offers music classes for those as young as 2 years old, an expanded vocal program, plus many more courses for adults to explore.

The Conservatory’s pre-professional hallmark programs will present many concerts and performances throughout the season including the Patel Conservatory Youth Theater presentations of Annie Jr. (May 27-29, 2010) and Fame the Musical (June 4 and 5, 2010), the Patel Conservatory Youth Ballet in The Little Mermaid (May 7, 2010) and the Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra’s annual Fall (Dec. 6, 2009) and Spring Concerts (May 2, 2010). Additionally, Patel Conservatory vocal and instrumental jazz students will present Jazz Jams on Dec. 18, 2009 and May 14, 2010.

Many shows, including those in the Broadway, Kid Time and Wee Folk series, have study guides available online at www.patelconservatory.org and in the Patel Conservatory’s Chairman’s Library.

Broadway
It’s going to be a high-flying Broadway season in 2009-2010 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. The Bank of America Best of Broadway Tampa Bay series includes In the Heights, the 2008 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical; South Pacific, the 2008 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical Revival; Little House on the Prairie starring television icon Melissa Gilbert; the spectacle of Cirque Dreams Illumination and the family favorite Mary Poppins. The series will also include Godspell produced by TBPAC, the world premiere of the new musical Wonderland: Alice’s New Musical Adventure and the eagerly anticipated return of Wicked.

For most family friendly shows in the Broadway series, TBPAC offers a night of affordable family fun at Broadway Family Night. While some restrictions apply, a child’s ticket is FREE with the purchase of a full-price adult ticket at these select performances. Broadway Family Nights are scheduled for Wonderland (Dec. 2, 2009), Little House on the Prairie (March 3, 2010), Cirque Dreams: Illumination (March 24, 2010), Godspell (May 5, 2010) and Mary Poppins (June 2, 1010). Typically there are also free, pre-performance games and activities for the kids as well as post-performances talk-backs with cast members.

Opera Tampa
The 2009-2010 Opera Tampa season, celebrating the company’s 15th anniversary, includes Donizetti’s thrilling Lucia di Lammermoor (Nov. 20 and 22, 2009) and Puccini’s rarely seen La Rondine (April 23 and 25, 2010). There will also be an evening of Arias & Encores (March 28, 2010), celebrating 15 years of Opera Tampa, and a concert by opera superstar Renée Fleming (Jan. 26, 2010). Additionally, Opera Tampa’s 15th Anniversary Benefit Dinner, with a special appearance by renowned tenor Marcello Giordani, will be held on May 16, 2010. As part of the Opera Tampa Benefit Dinner, the Anton Coppola Excellence in the Arts Award will be presented to legendary composer Carlisle Floyd.

Opera Tampa will also host a series of pay-what-you-can opera events including observational master classes with Opera Tampa Artistic Advisor Sherrill Milnes (Nov. 6, 2009 and March 19, 2010), renowned soprano and 2009 Anton Coppola Excellence in the Arts Award recipient Renata Scotto (January 2010) and tenor Marcello Giordani (May 17, 2010). And before you go to the opera, Sherrill Milnes presents Prelude to Lucia di Lammermoor (Nov. 8, 2009) and Prelude to La Rondine (April 11, 2010).

Jobsite Theater Play Series
With every engaging production, TBPAC’s resident theater company, Jobsite Theater, solidifies its reputation as a dynamic, cutting-edge theatrical force unlike any other in the Tampa Bay area. As a theater company, Jobsite fearlessly keeps a finger on the pulse of new and challenging work. The 2009-2010 season features a stage adaptation of the great horror film classic; What the Butler Saw (Jan.6-24, 2010), a swinging ‘60s British sex farce by Joe Orton; two hilarious new comedies fresh out of New York – boom! (March 10-28, 2010) and Dead Man’s Cell Phone (June 2-20, 2010); and finally, a very adult coming-of-age tale inspired by one of the world’s most beloved comic strips…Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead (Aug. 4-22, 2010).

Tickets for most performances in TBPAC’s 2009-2010 season are now on sale at the TBPAC Ticket Office and online at www.tbpac.org.

Season tickets for the Bank of America Best of Broadway Tampa Bay season, Opera Tampa’s 15th Anniversary season, the Jobsite Theater Play Series, the Club Jaeb series and the Merchants Association of Florida Kid Time and Wee Folk Series are now available. Those interested in subscribing to any TBPAC series should call the Ticket Office at 813.229.STAR or 800.955.1045 outside Tampa. For more information about 2009-2010 series, please check www.tbpac.org.

Generally, single tickets for each Broadway event go on sale six to eight weeks before the first performance. For more information about the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and its upcoming events, visit www.tbpac.org. Events, days, dates, times, performers and prices are subject to change without notice.
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