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An entertainment destination
By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN
© St. Petersburg Times, Professional publicist and theater lover Vince Vanni proposes a new name for west Pasco and Hernando counties: "The Sarasota of the North," a reference to the last few years' proliferation of theaters, restaurants and art galleries in the area. Vanni is working to bring what will be the largest of the bunch, the Nimmagadda Cultural Center -- a 1,000-seat concert hall, an art gallery and classrooms -- to a wooded, lakeside site a few miles north of the Pasco-Hernando county line near U.S. 19. Meanwhile, professional and amateur theater venues continue to blossom. First, there were the area's community theaters: Richey Suncoast Theatre in New Port Richey and Stage West Community Playhouse in Spring Hill. Then came professional performance series at Pasco-Hernando Community College and at the Center for the Arts at River Ridge as well as area clubhouses and churches. Five years ago, entrepreneur brothers Nick and Sal Sessa opened the area's first large dinner theater, the 450-seat Show Palace Dinner Theatre, and nine months later, they launched a regular series of Broadway musicals that doubled, then tripled attendance at the venue. Last week, former Show Palace artistic director, actor-singer Jimmy Ferraro announced that he'll open a 200-seat dinner theater in southern Pasco County, meaning that Pasco will have more genuine dinner theaters than any other county in Florida, that is to say, a grand total of two. (Orlando has several dinner shows, but only one real dinner theater, the Mark Two.) Combine this theater scene with the increasing number of chain and independent restaurants opening in the area, and Vanni has a point. West Pasco and Hernando are becoming an entertainment destination for tour groups and buses, as well as for local audiences. As competition for patrons increases, so does the quality of the shows. Here are the upcoming seasons of five major venues in this area. Other seasons will be published as they are announced. SHOW PALACE DINNER THEATRE16128 U.S. 19, Hudson. Dinner and show, $35.95; show only, $24.95. Ages 12 and younger, $19.95 and $14.95. Winter season shows are at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 3 p.m. Sunday. Doors open two hours before each show for buffet and full cash bar. Call (727) 863-7949 in west Pasco; toll free elsewhere at 1-888-655-7469. Oct. 5-Nov. 11: Guys and Dolls Nov. 16-Dec. 26: Here's Love (the Miracle on 34th Street musical) Jan. 11-Feb. 17: Crazy for You Feb. 22-March 30: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum April 5-May 12: Man of La Mancha May 17-June 22: Love, Sex and the I.R.S. July 12-Aug. 18: Bye, Bye, Birdie Aug. 23-Sept. 29: Some Enchanted Evening ANGEL CABARET DINNER THEATRE5201 U.S. 19 (Southgate Shopping Center), New Port Richey. Dinner and show, $32.50; show only $19.95, as available at show time. Ages 12 and younger, $19.95; $14.95. Winter season shows are at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 6 p.m. Sunday. Doors open two hours before each show for dinner buffet. Wine and beer available. Call (727) 847-0019 after Aug. 13. Oct. 19-Nov. 25: Nite Club Confidential Nov. 30-Dec. 25: Holly, Jolly Holiday Cabaret Jan. 11-Feb. 24: Pump Boys and Dinettes March 1-30: Me and Jezebel, a comedy April 5-May 19: Dames at Sea RICHEY SUNCOAST THEATRE6237 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. Musicals $12, plays $10. Season tickets, $60; plus optional Christmas Show, $70. Shows are Thursday-Sunday the first week of production, then Friday-Sunday for an additional two weeks. Curtain is at 8 p.m., except Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Call (727) 842-6777. Box office is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday one week before each show and during each show. Sept. 13-30: You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, musical Oct. 25-Nov. 11: Beau Jest, a comedy Nov. 30-Dec. 9: "Christmas Show" Jan. 17-Feb. 3: Mack and Mabel Feb. 28-March 17: Fear of Filing, musical spoof April 11-28: Nightwatch, mystery thriller May 16-June 2: The Sound of Music, musical STAGE WEST COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE8390 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. Musicals, $16; plays, $14. Season tickets, $65, available until 8 p.m. Sept. 6. Shows are 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Box office is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Call (352) 683-5113. Sept. 6-23: Three Murders and It's Only Monday, a comedy Nov. 1-18: How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, musical Jan. 10-27: The Mousetrap, mystery March 7-24: Carnival, musical May 9-26: Brighton Beach Memoirs, comedy/drama PASCO-HERNANDO COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION10230 Ridge Road, New Port Richey. Tickets for individual shows, $12, $14 and $16. Any five shows, $55-$64; any seven shows, $77-$90; all 10 shows, $110-$128. All shows are at 2 p.m. Box office is open 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Call (727) 847-2727, ext. 3241 or 847-5313. Nov. 4: The Mickey Finn Show Dec. 9: Silver Bells and Diamonds, a tribute to The Diamonds Jan. 6: Bobby Mercer Looks at 100 Years of American Music Jan. 19: The 42nd Street Orchestra's Big Band Salute Jan. 26: Gurl and Girl present "Let's Go to the Hop" Feb. 3: Dancing on the Common Ground, the influence of Irish dance Feb. 10: Stars of the Cotton Club Feb. 16: Mallku, a South American ethnic music group March 16: New Odyssey, a singing comedy trio March 31: The Executives, big band, rock 'n roll, country and western
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