The Opera Workshop of St. Petersburg College and Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center have joined to form a new opera company, the New Century Opera. The first production, planned for April 21-24, will be Mozart's Magic Flute, sung in English.
Original work to hail chorale anniversary
The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay has commissioned Stephen Paulus to write a work to celebrate the group's 25th anniversary this season. It will premiere in February. Paulus is one of the most widely performed contemporary American composers, with works on more than 50 recordings.
To raise money for its anniversary, the chorus is seeking donated items from businesses and individuals for a silent auction, to be held during a gala Oct. 16 at Maestro's Restaurant of Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Items may include new goods, services, tickets to events and collectibles. Call (813) 258-9468.
New musical mines local history
Colleen McDonnell and Eric Davis will star in Crossing the Bay, the new musical by Bill Leavengood and Lee Ahlin. It's the latest project of LiveArts Peninsula Foundation, which also produced Leavengood and Ahlin's Webb City: The Musical. The new musical "marries local history to the wit and romance of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice," according to a news release. It is scheduled to premiere Jan. 6-23 at the Janet Root Theatre of Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg and then transfer to Tampa's Falk Theatre Jan. 26-30.
Changed lyrics for "change of life'
Menopause, The Musical fills out the 2004-05 Asolo Theatre season, the rest of which was previously announced. Written and directed by Jeanie Linders, the show about four women who meet at a Bloomingdale's lingerie sale features "relyricized" songs from the '60s and '70s such as I Heard It Through the Grapevine. The Asolo production will run May 14-June 12 at the mainstage Mertz Theatre of the FSU Center for the Performing Arts in Sarasota.
