Looking for something to do? Here's a super calendar, ranging from Christmas cannoli to a comedy festival.
By SHANNON BREEN
Published November 28, 2003
The always raucous Aerosmith and the always outlandish Kiss perform Wednesday at the St. Pete Times Forum as part of the Aerosmith-Kiss Rocksimus Maximus Tour.
Each band promises full sets crammed with hits and spectacular stage shows. They will play on a rotating "turntable" stage so that setup time between the two will be less than 30 minutes.
Aerosmith became a household name with its 1975 breakthrough album, Toys in the Attic. Hits Sweet Emotion and Walk This Way became classic rock staples. Other hits include Dude (Looks Like A Lady), Rag Doll and Angel.
Just Push Play, the first Aerosmith album produced by Stephen Tyler and Joe Perry, came out in March 2001, the same month the band earned a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Kiss similarly stormed the music scene in the 1970s. Guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons formed the group in New York in 1972. Drummer Peter Criss and lead guitarist Ace Frehley rounded out the lineup.
Kiss' fourth album, Alive! (1975), had the group's first huge hit, Rock And Roll All Nite, which earned Kiss a place in the pantheon of rock stardom. The 1976 follow-up album, Destroyer, was the group's first to reach platinum status, due largely to Criss' power ballad, Beth, which reached No. 7 on the singles chart.
Kiss mania hit its peak between 1976 and 1979 when the band scored a string of platinum albums, including 1976's Rock and Roll Over, 1977's Love Gun and 1979's Dynasty.
The show begins at 7 p.m. at the St. Pete Times Forum. Tickets cost $46.75-$126.75.
For information, call 301-6500.
28 TODAY
FESTIVAL - ESPIRITU DE YBOR: On vacation from the North Pole, Santa Claus will make an appearance at the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce's second annual Festival - Espiritu de Ybor, a family celebration offering tours of historic Ybor homes, an antique car show and other holiday festivities. noon to 5 p.m. today; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; Ybor City; free. Call 248-3712, ext. 22 or go to specialevents@ybor.org
FAME: THE MUSICAL. Fame might just live forever. The 1980 film, which became a successful TV series for six years, is now on a national tour as a musical. Fame: The Musical, a 24-member ensemble, takes the audience inside the souls of gifted students from diverse backgrounds who are brought together by their uncommon talent, ambition and a quest for immortality. 3 and 8 p.m.; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $25-$55. Call 1-800-826-9303.
29 SATURDAY
A CHRISTMAS CANNOLI: OR A TALE OF TWO FAMILIES The success of HBO's The Sopranos is proof that there's a strong appetite for mafia-centered entertainment. Joe Pauly knows that, too. Two summers ago, he wrote a mob-style Christmas comedy based on Dickens' A Christmas Carol with Scrooge portrayed as a Godfather-like character: Ebenezer Skungili. Instead of Bob Cratchit, there's Bob Clemenza. Through Dec. 13. 3 p.m. Nov. 29, Dec. 6 and 13; and 8 p.m. Nov. 28-29, Dec. 5, 6 (sold out) and 12-13, Silver Meteor Gallery, 2213 E Sixth Ave., Ybor City; $10. RSVP required. Call 818-0991.
ITALIAN MASTERWORKS OF CHRISTIAN IMAGERY: The Hoffman Porges Gallery hosts a collection of antique bookplate engravings - circa 1840 - depicting the work of such Renaissance and Baroque luminaries as Botticelli, Raphael and Caravaggio. Opening reception is from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday. The show runs through Jan. 3. noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and by appointment; 1907 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City; free. Call 247-2000.
ART EXHIBIT: The Brad Cooper Gallery is hosting a solo exhibition, "Ceramic Constructions," by Leland Shaw with a new series of vases, mugs and bowls. The exhibition runs through Jan. 31. The show opens with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the gallery, 1712 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City.
COMEDY/SOUL FESTIVAL: Walter Latham, producer of the Original Kings of Comedy tour, brings to Tampa his 20-city comedy/soul festival, Jammin' with Old School R&B. The three-hour show features Earth, Wind & Fire, the Isley Brothers and comedians Rickey Smiley, Bruce Bruce, Earthquake and J. Anthony Brown. 8 p.m.; St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa; $36.75-$56.75. Call 301-6500.
DAVID COPPERFIELD: Master magician David Copperfield has used his powers to rob Ellis Island of Lady Liberty and walk through the Great Wall of China. Copperfield returns to the Tampa Bay area for "An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion." 3:30, 6 and 9 p.m. Saturday; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $40-$55. Call toll-free 1-800-826-9303.
30 SUNDAY
TAMPA ORATORIO SINGERS: The Tampa Oratorio Singers' annual holiday concert features the Florida Orchestra Brass Quintet. Founded in 1967, the Tampa Oratorio Singers, a volunteer chorus of more than 70 members, presents about five concerts each season. 4 p.m.; University of Tampa, Fletcher Lounge; $17.50. Call 247-3866 or go to www.tostampa.org
COLORS OF CHRISTMAS 2003: Sheena Easton, Peabo Bryson, Irene Cara and Christopher Cross star in the "Colors of Christmas." The tour combines a full orchestra and a gospel choir. 7 p.m.; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $45-$60. Call toll-free 1-800-826-9303.
1 MONDAY
THIRD EYE BLIND: Formed by songwriter Stephan Jenkins in the early 90s, Third Eye Blind hit a high in 1997 with the catchy single, Semi-Charmed Life. The album Blue followed in 1999 but never gained the praise and popularity of the band's previous endeavors. The group toured extensively in 2000 then took some time off in 2001. This year, it released Out of the Vein, which critics say isn't much to talk about. You can catch up with the band in Tampa at 8 p.m.; Twilight, 1507 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City; $30. Call 247-4225.
HILARY DUFF: The teeny bop star gained success when she landed a starring role in the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire. She has had subsequent roles on the silver screen with The Lizzie McGuire Movie and Agent Cody Banks. Her debut album, Metamorphosis, has been climbing the Billboard charts. Duff was also the latest victim on MTV's reality prankster show, Punk'd. Her concert is sold out. 7:30 p.m.; Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Carol Morsani Hall, Tampa; sold out. Call 229-7827.
IRISH TENORS CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR: Accompanied by a full orchestra, the Irish Tenors - Anthony Kearns, Ronan Tynan and Finbar Wright - are returning to Ruth Eckerd Hall to perform holiday favorites. 8 p.m.; 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater; $50-$75. Call (727) 791-7400.
2 TUESDAY
HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS: Wouldn't it be great to sit in the same room with Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, George Burns, Jack Benny? You'll come close during "Fred Travalena's Hollywood Christmas," a show of impersonations. There also will be holiday music, a Jimmy Stewart impression from It's a Wonderful Life and Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. 1 p.m.; Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater; $15. Call (727) 791-7400.
DANCE COMPANY OF SIBERIA: While not deviating too far from its folk dance traditions, Krasnoyarsk Dance Company of Siberia includes modern dances with picturesque narratives. 8 p.m.; Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater; $20-$39. Call (727) 791-7400.
3 WEDNESDAY
SEVEN NATIONS: Born in New York City, Seven Nations - a trio now based in Orlando - features an unlikely combination: bagpipe, fiddle and guitar. 8 p.m.; Twilight, 1507 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City; $12. Call 247-4225.
4 THURSDAY
GLEN PHILLIPS: Formerly of Toad the Wet Sprocket, Glen Phillips recorded a solo album, Abulum, and has been on tour for the past few years. He has described his music as upper harmonic works of epic poems, staggering in depth and greatness - that will pass unknown into the ether when he dies and is forgotten. 8 p.m.; Twilight, 1507 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City; $13. Call 247-4225.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL - THE MUSICAL: Scrooge and the Cratchit family return in this full-length musical of the Charles Dickens classic. It's a holiday tradition for the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Dec. 7; 8 p.m. Dec. 5; 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 6; TBPAC, Ferguson Hall, Tampa; $15.50-$25.50. Call 229-7827.
THE LONG CHRISTMAS DINNER: Thornton Wilder's The Long Christmas Dinner, a co-production of Gorilla Theatre and the Looking Glass Theatre, begins in the early 19th century, traversing 90 years and four generations of the affluent, midwestern Bayard clan's yuletide feasts. In accelerated motion, the classic tale, filled with memories, traditions and legacies, happens in one act. Through Dec. 21; 7 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 3 p.m. Sundays; Gorilla Theatre, Tampa; $20-$25. Call 879-2914.
FLICKS
NEW IN THEATERS:
The Haunted Mansion
Timeline
The Missing
COMING SOON:
The Last Samurai (Dec. 5)
My Life Without Me (Dec. 5)
Honey (Dec. 5)
Anything But Love (Dec. 5)
NEXT WEEKEND
CHRIS ROCK: Dec. 6, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa.
TAMPA BAY HERALDS OF HARMONY CHRISTMAS SHOW: Dec. 6, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa.
MARTINA McBRIDE: Dec. 7, USF Sun Dome, Tampa.
ETTA JAMES: Dec. 9, Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg.
RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR: Dec. 11, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa.
LOOK AHEAD
WAYNE NEWTON: Dec. 16, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater.
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL: Dec. 21, St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa.
B.B. KING: Jan. 3, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR: Jan. 13-18, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa.
GEORGE WINSTON: Jan. 25, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa.
