A VIDEO OF VERDI'S "UN BALLO IN MASCHERA' (A Masked Ball) will be shown at 12:30 p.m. today at the Centennial Library, 5740 Moog Road, Holiday (1.2 miles east of U.S. 19). A young Luciano Pavarotti stars as the ill-fated governor of Boston at the time of the American Revolution. Admission is free.
THE COMEDY-FARCE "NO SEX, PLEASE, WE'RE BRITISH' continues through Aug. 14 at the Show Palace Dinner Theatre, 16128 U.S. 19, Hudson. Shows are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 1:30 p.m. some Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays. Doors open two hours before each show for cash bar and included buffet. Dinner and show, $41; show only, $29.95; ages 12 and younger, $23.45 and $18.45, all plus tax and tip. Call 863-7949 in west Pasco or toll-free 1-888-655-7469.
"FRIDAY NIGHT FLING' will take place from 7 p.m. to midnight today in downtown New Port Richey. The evening features the jazz band, Mike McKinley Group of Citrus County, acoustic musicians, coffee and Italian ice vendors, a free movie in Cavalaire Square at dark (bring a folding chair), outdoor dining and wine tasting ($20) at the Grand (formerly Cafe Grand), a beer sampler at Boulevard Beef & Ale, an art exhibit with wine and cheese at Progress Energy Art Gallery, live music with wine and cheese at the Turtles Nest gift shop, an indoor art exhibit and theater tours at Richey Suncoast Theatre and shops open late. Walking maps are available at participating merchants. Those who visit all participants will be eligible for an Island Hoppers vacation package and gift baskets. Sponsors are Greater New Port Richey Main Street.
IRA LEVIN'S PLAY "DEATHTRAP' will be presented weekends today through July 31 at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, 324 Pine St., Tarpon Springs. Shows are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $15; $13 center members or students. Call (727) 942-5605.
ELVIS IMPERSONATOR DON JETT will perform at 8 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Stage West Community Playhouse's Forum, 8390 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. Jett impersonated Elvis for 32 years before he announced his retirement in 1997. "This is my first show in 8 years," Jett said. Band members are Denny Sabo, Allen and Doug Elston and Shelly Brady. Backup singers are Jessica Nicole, Julie Hackler and Wahnita Dow. Featured performer is comedian Karen O'Neil Ganci. Tickets are $12 at the box office, which is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and an hour before each show.
VISUAL ARTS
"FRAGILE FLORIDA: WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS BY TAYLOR IKIN' opens Saturday and continues through Sept. 11 at Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, 600 Klosterman Road, Tarpon Springs (a quarter mile west of U.S. 19). The paintings are of environmentally protected lands. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays (admission $5 adults, $4 seniors; free to children and students); and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays (admission free).
A RECEPTION HONORING PARTICIPANTS IN "ART ANNUAL 2005' will be at 5 p.m. at Pasco Arts Council's art center, 5744 Moog Road, Holiday. Winners will be announced at 6 p.m. The exhibit continues through Sept. 2. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Admission is free.
PROGRESS ENERGY ART GALLERY continues La Femme ... A Change of Consciousness, a tribute in visual art and words to women and women's bodies, through July 30. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. The gallery is at 6231 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. Admission is free
BIRD LOVER JERRI SOLICITO will exhibit the artworks she has created from bird feathers arranged on canvas through Aug. 31 in the Upstairs Gallery at Pasco Arts Council's art center, 5744 Moog Road, Holiday. Also in the exhibit are watercolors, oils and charcoals done by Leonard Solicito. Most of the works are for sale. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
BOOKS-A-MILLION will hold a party today from 9 p.m. to midnight to celebrate the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. There will be face painting, trivia contests, Harry Potter crafts, Harry Potter-style costume contests and prizes. The book will be released at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Those who wish to purchase the book can buy an Express Lane voucher (40 percent off the retail price) before the release time and exchange the voucher for a book at 12:01 a.m.. (Potter books available at 12:01 a.m. only by voucher.) A second Harry Potter party will be at 9 a.m. Saturday. The Joe Muggs coffee shop will be open during the parties.
A WORKSHOP IN EGG TEMPERA PAINTING will be led by Gainor Roberts from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 20 and 21 at Pasco Arts Council's art center, 5744 Moog Road, Holiday. The fee, including materials, is $160; enrollment is limited. Call 845-7322. Ms. Roberts will give free demonstrations of egg tempera painting from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. June 25.
CURTAIN CALLS
STAGE WEST COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE's youth theater wing will hold auditions for the musical Bugsy Malone, Jr., at 7 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. July 30 at the theater, 8390 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. Roles are available for those between ages 6 and 17. Those who audition should prepare a song and bring sheet music. An accompanist will be provided. Director-choreographer Wahnita Dow will teach those who audition a short dance. Production dates are Oct. 13-16 and 21-23 in the Forum.
LOOK AHEAD
"ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, JR.' will be performed at 6 p.m. July 23 at the Eleanor Dempsey Performing Arts Center at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, 13652 Hays Road, Hudson. The performers are participants in the "Broadway Theater Experience" workshop at John Leggio's Center for the Performing Arts and made the costumes, sets and props. The musical is a shortened version of the Broadway fable about a young girl's love for a plantation owner's son. Admission is $10. Call (352) 683-8395.
[Last modified July 15, 2005, 00:39:05]
