If you've got time, they've got the shows

By BARBARA FREDRICKSEN
Published July 7, 2007

The calendar may read 7/7/07 today, but the Show Palace Dinner Theatre has already made plans for 5/31/09.

You read that right: The Show Palace has signed contracts for the shows it will produce through May 31, 2009. As in "two thousand nine."

And such a season it is: encores for two of the theater's most popular productions, a new version of a record-setting musical revue, three Broadway blockbusters that haven't been seen in the North Suncoast before and, of course, a new version of the beloved Christmas show.

From July 16 through Aug. 20, current season ticket holders can buy tickets for those shows and be assured of getting some of the best seats in the house.

Starting Aug. 21, everyone else can start buying, so you might want to start planning right now.

Here's the lineup:

June 6 to July 27, 2008: Forever Plaid. This is the third go-round for this charming little show about a 1950s singing foursome who come back from heaven to do one last show, singing the songs they knew back B.B. (as in Before the Beatles). Show Palace co-owner Nick Sessa says Plaid is one of the most requested shows, and since attendance was higher the second time it ran in 2001, it's likely it will go even higher the third.

Aug. 1 to Sept. 21, 2008: Smokey Joe's Cafe, another repeat of a show (2002) that patrons loved. It features the sweet sounds of composers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller (Fools Fall in Love; Poison Ivy; Kansas City; On Broadway).

Oct. 3 to Nov. 22, 2008: The Unsinkable Molly Brown, a newcomer to the Show Palace that is also new to the North Suncoast. It's based on the legend of a spunky survivor of the Titanic disaster.

Nov. 27 to Dec. 25, 2008: A Show Palace Christmas.

Jan. 2 to Feb. 22, 2009: Because this show is still on Broadway and a touring company version is still on the road, the Show Palace can only say that this "Tony Award-Winning Musical" will be on its stage in early 2009. Rumors are it's a terrific show that everyone will want to see - or see again. (The name can't be revealed until March 2008.)

Feb. 27 to April 19, 2009: Thoroughly Modern Millie, another first-timer for the Show Palace and this area. It is based on the 1967 Julie Andrews movie musical about a little country girl who goes to New York to marry for money instead of love, and gets into all kinds of precarious situations.

April 24 to May 31, 2009: Viva Vegas! - The Sequel. The original glitzy, high-energy show, conceived by artistic director Matthew McGee and composed by Joe Camper, set an attendance record for its late springtime slot in 2006. Instead of bringing back the original, the creative duo are going to put together a new and expanded version.

No surprise, ticket prices for all shows will go up on the day the new season goes on sale, but only by $1.50 each (that's $44 for dinner and show, $32.95 for show only; for ages 12 and younger, $26.45 and $21.45, all plus tax).

You can get any three shows for $113.25 or any four shows for $150. Even with tax added, that's still just $280 for all seven shows.

(To put it in perspective, I just paid $480.20 for seven shows at another large Tampa Bay area professional theater, which shall go unnamed, and I'd have to pay another $189.21 for buffet dinners to go with them, which works out to $669.41 for seven shows and buffets, or about two-and-a-half times the cost of a Show Palace season).

Call (727) 863-7949 or 1-888-655-7469 for tickets.

* * *

Early announcements about the cast of the Show Palace's Ain't Misbehavin' (Friday to Aug. 26) listed Broadway singer-dancer Nicole Lewis in the cast.

Last week, though, Ms. Lewis got a call asking her to come back to New York City immediately to be in the Broadway production of Rent.

The Show Palace crew regretted to see her go, but they're proud that still another SPDT performer will be in a big Broadway show.

Taking Ms. Lewis's slot will be Orlando singer-dancer Mareeko Finney, who played Nell in the University of Central Florida's production of Ain't Misbehavin' when she was a student there.

More recently, Ms. Finney has been in The Blues Brothers Revue at Universal Studios and The Festival of The Lion King at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

* * *

Area theater-goers were saddened to learn of the death of James C. Buchanan on June 9 in his home in Spring Hill. He was 41.

I can recall four outstanding performances by the young actor at Stage West Community Playhouse. He made his debut there in March 2001 as a pompous general in the comedy The Day They Kidnapped the Pope and, six months later, won the lead in the comedy Three Murders and It's Only Monday.

His biggest triumph came in 2003, when he won a HAMI Award (Stage West's version of the Academy Awards) for his portrayal of Randall P. McMurphy in the comedy-drama One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He was indeed terrific in that role.

His last Stage West show was in 2004's Don't Drink the Water, when he played a stern detective hounding some hapless tourists in the Woody Allen comedy.

A close friend said that Buchanan's big dream was to become a professional comedian.

It's comforting to know that he brought so many smiles and so much laughter during his all-too-brief stint on the stage.

[Last modified July 6, 2007, 22:36:18]