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Entertainment

This week: Pasco

By Times Staff Writer
Published December 9, 2005

GREATER NEW PORT RICHEY MAIN STREET's "Main Street Holidays" starts at 5 p.m. today and continues through 5 p.m. Sunday. It features arts and crafts vendors, evening boat tours on the river, games, a carnival, hay rides, Florida-style ice skating, the Peace Hall Coffee House Art Scene, and food. Today's highlights are a play by students of Genesis School and a movie in the park. Saturday (8 a.m. to 11 p.m.) has the Cotee River Lions Club breakfast, a firetruck pull contest, a performance by Richey Suncoast Theatre, regional and local bands and Friends of Florida Folk, and the lighted night parade at 7 p.m., followed by another movie in the park. On Sunday (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) has more live music and breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 9 to 11 a.m. ($2 children, $3 adults).

VICTORIAN CANDLELIGHT TOURS of the 1883 Safford House museum will be given from 5:30 to 8 p.m. today through Sunday at the house, 23 Parkin Court, Tarpon Springs. There will be live music by Claudia Ann Sodaro and Bonnie Whitehurst and seasonal refreshments. Admission is $6. (To reach the house from Pasco County, go south on Alt. 19 to Tarpon Springs, turn west on North Springs Boulevard toward Spring Bayou, then north on Grand Boulevard. Turn west on Parkin Court.)

"CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK,' a musical comedy by Matthew McGee and Candler Budd, continues through Dec. 25 at Show Palace Dinner Theatre, 16128 U.S. 19, Hudson. Shows are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and some Wednesdays and Thursdays; 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and 3 p.m. Sundays. Doors open two hours before each show for full 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; toll-free elsewhere at 1-888-655-7469.

JOHN TIMPANELLI PLAYHOUSE will present "The Holiday Show" at 7 p.m. today and 4 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 18 at Colonial Hills Civic Hall, 3852 Prime Place, New Port Richey. The $12 admission fee includes dessert and coffee. Call (727) 849-3758.

BON JOVI TRIBUTE BAND "Slippery When Wet" will headline tonight at Bourbon Street Concert Club, 4431 U.S. 19, New Port Richey. Opening act is Nation. Tickets are $10. Doors open at 8:30; show starts at 9 p.m.

STORYTELLERS AND SINGERS will entertain at a Victorian holiday party for all ages at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hudson Regional Library, 8012 Library Road, Hudson. Those who attend may wear Victorian period costumes. There will be wassail, fruitcake and cookies, as well as Victorian craft-making for children.

CROONER CHASE VACCARO will headline at the Hernando County Fine Arts Council's Bandshell Bash from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Hernando Park, 204 E Fort Dade Ave., Brooksville (one block north of the historic courthouse). Open act is Absolutely Fabulous!, a four-member singing group made up of Carla Becker, Mikey "D", Susan Falcone and Louie Fortunato. There will also be a antique hot rod car show and food and beverage vendors. Those who attend are asked to donate unwrapped toys to be distributed in Hernando County.

THE TARPON SPRINGS BOAT PARADE will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday from the Landing at Tarpon Springs, down the Anclote River, to Spring Bayou. Entry in the parade is free; trophies will be awarded to the best decorated boats. The boat parade is sponsored by the City of Tarpon Springs Recreation Department. Call (727) 942-5628 for information.

THE MOVIE "POLAR EXPRESS' will be shown for free at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Craig Park Band Shell, 5 Beekman Way, Tarpon Springs. After the movie, Santa will disembark from his boat in the boat parade to greet the crowd. Refreshments and glow-in-the-dark necklaces will be for sale.

THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA'S CHAMBER SINGERS will give a concert of holiday and sacred music at 6 p.m. Saturday at Spring Hill Bible Church, 15449 Spring Hill Dr. (1 mile east of the Suncoast Parkway), Spring Hill. Admission is free; a donation for the chorus will be accepted.

"ANGELS ON HIGH,' an exhibit of more than 50 handmade, lighted angel cutout figures along a wooded path, will be held adjacent to the Spring Hill Civic Association's Lakehouse on Kenlake Avenue from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Saturday through Dec. 17. The event will feature nightly entertainment from 7-7:30 p.m. in the clubhouse, refreshments for purchase and visits with Santa. There will be a motorized cart for those who are unable to walk the trail. The event is free; however, donations are welcome. Call (352) 666-4746 for information. To reach the exhibit from Pasco County, drive north on U.S. 19 to a half mile past County Line Road to Applegate Drive (just north of Saint Sebastiaan Restaurant). Turn right, go half a mile. Kenlake Boulevard is on the right.

THE ANGELUS CHRISTMAS PAGEANT will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and on Dec. 17 and 18 at the center, 12413 Hudson Ave., Hudson (5 miles east of U.S. 19). The show is outdoors and will not be held in the event of rain or extreme cold. It is followed at 7 p.m. with refreshments in the activity center.

GILBERT & SULLIVAN'S "THE GRAND DUKE' will be presented by the Gilbert & Sullivan Players at 8 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 17 and at 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 18 at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, 324 E Pine St., Tarpon Springs. Mitch Levine will play the title role; Jamie Bierchen plays the clown Ludwig; Michelle Ledger is the Baroness von Krakenfeldt; Mary Anne Boone is the so-called "English" actor Julia; and Susan Carr plays Lisa. Sharing the role of the princess are Leah DeLorenzo and Faith Van Buskirk. Tickets are $16, with a $2 discount for center members and students. Call (727) 942-5605.

A DVD OF RIMSKY-KORSAKOV'S "LE COQ D'OR' will be shown at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, 600 Klosterman Road, Tarpon Springs. Admission is free.

"A MUSICAL HOLIDAY,' the eighth annual roller skating show by the Florida Skating Academy, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at SpinNations Skating Center, 8345 Congress St., Port Richey. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door (if available). Call Angie at (727) 863-1299 or (727) 207-4071 for information.

LIBERACE IMPERSONATOR MARTIN PRESTON will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Pasco-Hernando Community College Performing Arts Center, 10230 Ridge Road, New Port Richey. Tickets are $16, $18 and $20 and will be for sale at the center box office an hour before the show. Call (727) 816-3707 for credit card orders.

A FREE VEGAN FEAST for nonvegetarians, vegans, vegetarians, raw foodists and "anyone who would like to learn to eat healthier" will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at Hudson Regional Library, 8012 Library Road off Fivay Road, Hudson. Please RSVP to Michelle LaFleur or Roger at (813) 365-0317 or to vegangirl@tampabay.rr.com or Pascovegetariansociety.com.

JOHN LEGGIO'S CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS will present "The Center Christmas Celebration!" at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Eleanor Dempsey Performing Arts Center at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, 13651 Hays Road, Hudson (north of State Road 52, 1 mile west of the Suncoast Parkway). The show has a cast of more than 170. Guest performers are Matthew McGee, Susan Falcone and Leggio. Live music will be by Stan Collins. Set and lighting are by Tom Hansen of the Show Palace Dinner Theatre. Tickets are $12, all seats reserved. Call (352) 683-8395.

ROCK 'N ROLL LEGEND CHUBBY CHECKER will do The Twist and other songs with his band, the Wildcats, on Tuesday at the Show Palace Dinner Theatre, 16128 U.S. 19, Hudson. Shows are at 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Doors open two hours earlier for buffet and cash bar. 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; toll free elsewhere at 1-888-655-7469.

FRANK PARSONS AND HIS 16-PIECE SWING BAND will perform at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Richey Suncoast Theatre, 6237 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. Featured performers are singers Liz Antony and Johnnie Russell. The program includes holiday songs and big band classics made famous by Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Gene Krupa, Frank Sinatra and others. Admission is $5. Call (727) 842-6777.

THE LONGLEAF FINE ARTS ON THE VILLAGE GREEN show and sale will be from 6 to 10 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Longleaf, off State Road 54, 6 miles east of U.S. 19 or 6 miles west of the Suncoast Parkway. Today's entertainment is by guitarist Dave Eichenberger and the jazz group Allon Sams and Friends. Saturday's entertainment in Downtown Longleaf includes Mitchell High School drama (10 a.m.), Renaissance Academy ballet (11 a.m.), Santa's visit (12:30-3 p.m.), accompanied by songwriters' medley, and the YMCA Dance Team (3 p.m.). On the Town Hall steps, seven different young people's groups will sing. The art show features 45 artists. There will also be horse and carriage rides from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

PROGRESS ENERGY ART GALLERY continues its All-Member Show at the gallery, 6231 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. Paintings by nine gallery members will be on exhibit and for sale through the end of December. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

"HOLIDAY HOUSE' AND ART QUILTS by Teddy Pruett continue through Dec. 23 at Pasco Arts Council's art center, 5744 Moog Road, Holiday. Holiday House has tree ornaments and one-of-a-kind pottery, paintings, quilts, jewelry and other handmade items for show and sale. The Upstairs Gallery is featuring painter Jana Withers' "Coastal Celebrations," an exhibit of original oils, graphite, colored pencils, watercolors, acrylics and mixed media, as well as affordable prints, giclees and framed, matted prints. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

A HOLIDAY ORNAMENT PAINTING DEMONSTRATION will be given by artist Leonard Lewis from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Pasco Arts Council art center, 5744 Moog Road, Holiday.

GREEK ORTHODOX ICON PAINTINGS by Nikos Kypraios remain on exhibit through Jan. 8 at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, 600 Klosterman Road, Tarpon Springs (a half mile west of U.S. 19). Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $5 adults, $4 seniors and free to children and students with ID. Sunday is free to everyone.

AUDITIONS AND WORKSHOPS

TARPON SPRINGS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER will hold auditions for the J.M. Barrie satire, The Admirable Crichton, at 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday at the center, 324 Pine St., Tarpon Springs. Roles are for seven male and six female principals and several supporting roles. "Oxbridge" accents are an asset, but not required. Performance dates are Feb. 10-20. Director is Abbott Morgan at 727 942-6085 or on the web at Thespians@aol.com

PASCO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS are invited to audition for the "Ticket to Broadway" talent show at 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday at Richey Suncoast Theatre, 6237 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. The show itself will be Feb. 3, 4 and 5. The proceeds will fund scholarships for students who plan a college major in the performing arts. Those who audition should do the act they plan to do in the show. The event is co-sponsored by the theater and the Pasco Education Foundation Inc. Director is Marie Skelton; emcee is Chip Wichmanowski. Musicians, singers, dancers, bands, comedians, tumblers and all performers are eligible to audition. Call the theater at (727) 842-6777 or Wichmanowski at (813) 794-2705, (727) 774-2705 OR (352) 524-2705.

THE WILL MCLEAN BEST NEW FLORIDA SONG CONTEST will accept entries until Dec. 31. The lyrics must be about some aspect of Florida - its history, heritage, land, sky, water, critters including human. They can be serious, romantic, comical or inspirational and in any music style. Each writer can submit up to three songs. Winners will perform at the Will McLean Music Festival in March at the Sertoma Ranch near Brooksville. For entry forms and information, see www.willmclean.com or call (352) 465-7208.

[Last modified December 9, 2005, 01:19:17]