The FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training in Sarasota is bringing Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew to the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg. The cast includes, from left, Ken Ferrigni (Lucentio), Devon Pipars (Gremio), Sam Osheroff (Baptista), Deanna Gibson (Kate) and Terry Small (Petruchio).
"It's clear from the first scene of The Taming of the Shrew that the crew at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory is having fun with Shakespeare," wrote Colette Bancroft, reviewing the production for the St. Petersburg Times in March. "In 16th century England, women were forbidden to take the stage, so originally all of Shakespeare's female characters, from tender Juliet to bloody Lady Macbeth, were played by men. In the conservatory's production of Shrew, more than half the male roles are taken by women.
"It's not a sober gender-studies gloss on this tale of wrangling over sex roles. The cross-dressing is played for laughs, just one reminder that this is, after all, a comedy."
The Palladium has performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. $10-$15. (727) 822-3590.
Classical guitarist closes series
French-Canadian classical guitarist Remi Boucher is known for his eclectic programming. His recital Friday will feature his own compositions and traditional Celtic music, plus works of J.S. Bach, the Renaissance Polish lutenist Jakub Reys and Anton Garcia Abril, a contemporary Spanish composer. Boucher, born in Quebec in 1964 and trained at the Montreal Conservatory, lives in Austria. His concert is this season's finale of the excellent guitar series on the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough Community College. The performance is at 8 p.m. in the Student Services Building Auditorium, across Dale Mabry Highway from Raymond James Stadium, Tampa. $7. (813) 988-2734.
