'God's Man in Texas' moves to Tampa

Will theatergoers in Tampa find God's Man in Texas? The American Stage production of David Rambo's play about a power struggle in a Baptist megachurch transferred last week from the company's mainstage in St. Petersburg to a new venue, the Smith Black Box Theater at Tampa Preparatory School.

"This is an experiment for us," said Todd Olson, the American Stage artistic director, at Friday's opening performance. "How we do will depend on word of mouth."

The word of mouth ought to be strong. After almost 10 weeks together in the St. Petersburg run, the three-man cast - Matthew Carlton, Henry Haggard and Warren Hammack - is giving a finely honed, often hilarious performance. Rambo's script deftly treads the line between spoofery and seriousness, and these excellent actors bring the story to life beautifully. This is one of the best productions of the year.

The play drew 3,200 during its long run in St. Petersburg. Over the first weekend at Tampa Prep, about 90 people attended the three shows. Among them was Wendy Ceccherelli, Tampa's director of arts and cultural affairs, who touted the effort in remarks before Friday's opening. "It's professional Equity theater, something we don't have in Tampa," she said.

The Smith Black Box is well-equipped and configured to seat about 100 for God's Man in Texas. The space feels a little institutional - it is in a school, after all - but the staging worked well.

American Stage has tried to bridge Tampa Bay in the past, several times transferring its Shakespeare in the Park production, with mixed results. In October, the theater will move Anna in the Tropics from St. Petersburg to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Nilo Cruz's Pulitzer Prize-winning play is set in an Ybor City cigar factory.

Olson, completing his first full season as artistic director, is trying to broaden the theater's reach beyond its 140-seat mainstage. Its production of My Way, a Frank Sinatra revue, is now at the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg.

God's Man in Texas continues through Aug. 14 at Tampa Prep, 727 Cass St., across the Hillsborough River from TBPAC. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday. $22-$32. (727) 823-7529.

The fledgling Acorn Theatre will make its debut this month with Death of a Salesman, which could be the most famous American play. "I wanted to set the tone with a good show that can be done well," said Levi Kaplan, the company founder who is directing the Arthur Miller classic. "It's something we can bring our own truth to."

One challenge: Rob Glidden, cast as the failed dreamer, Willy Loman, is in his early 30s. Most actors in the role are much older. "I wanted a younger Willy," said Kaplan, adding that Glidden will be made up to look older.

Acorn and American Stage have joined forces to sell "Bay-Flex" tickets for $90, providing six seats in any combination for shows at both theaters.

Death of a Salesman opens Aug. 26 and runs through Sept. 12 at the theater of Hillsborough Community College in Ybor City. $10, $18. (813) 728-5324.

It's Miller time in bay area theater. While Acorn takes on Salesman, Stageworks is doing another Miller classic, All My Sons, from Sept. 2 through Sept. 19 in TBPAC's Shimberg Playhouse. Stageworks has also announced most of the rest of its 2004-05 season, which includes Eugene Ionesco's The Chairs (Jan. 6-23) and Lanford Wilson's Talley's Folly (March 31-April 17).

John Fleming can be reached at 727 893-8716 or fleming@sptimes.com