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By JOHN FLEMING
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 19, 2001
TARPON SPRINGS -- There's not a superstar to be found in the 2001-02 lineup at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts and Cultural Centers, but fame is not the point. Instead, a well-chosen, affordable mix of classical, folk and ethnic artists make up Tampa Bay's most eclectic performing arts series.
Nowhere else does the programming range so widely, from chamber music by a string quartet to ice skaters singing Broadway show tunes (on an artificial rink onstage), from A Comedy of Errors to an Appalachian folk duo called Zoe Speaks, from a flamenco troupe to an Okinawan percussionist to a Japanese storyteller.
"We try to present what works best in our size hall and what fills a need in the area," said Kathleen Monahan, cultural and civic services director for Tarpon Springs. The series is presented in the 400-seat auditorium of a historic brick school building that now doubles as City Hall and the Performing Arts Center.
Going into its eighth full year, the Tarpon Springs series has built up a loyal following, with about 700 people paying membership fees that give them ticket discounts and other benefits. Last season, there were half a dozen sold-out performances, including the Tamburitzans of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Those perennial favorites return in January. The season's top ticket is $20 for Broadway on Ice in February.
"Classical music is always the most difficult, but even there we're building a reputation for good chamber music, and attendance is growing," Monahan said. "No longer do we have those embarrassing nights when only 30 people show up."
Topped by the outstanding Miami String Quartet, highlights among the classical music offerings include young musicians from the Ravinia Festival under the direction of violinist Miriam Fried, a program of women's music by the vocal trio Zorgina, harpist Catrin Finch and the early music ensemble Hesperus. Singers from the University of South Florida will perform Aaron Copland's only full-length opera, The Tender Land.
Given the deep Greek roots of Tarpon Springs, ethnic song and dance has been a trademark of the series. This season, the lineup includes Chinese acrobats, Russian and Mexican dancers, Welsh Christmas music and several Irish ensembles. From Greece come musicians and dancers of the Lyceum of Kalymnos.
A quirky, refreshing individuality characterizes the calendar, which boasts one-of-a-kind artists such as Dean Shostak, among the few glass armonica players in the world. Actor Ian Frost returns to perform another of his Byronic monologues. Monahan's pianist husband and tenor son, Theodore Grame and Constantine Grame, perform Irish and Scottish songs.
Tarpon Springs even goes where other venues wouldn't dare to go by having a concert on Jan. 27 -- Super Bowl Sunday -- by the River City Brass Band from Pittsburgh. "We think there are lots of people looking for something else to do that day," said Monahan.
What follows is the Tarpon Springs schedule for 2001-02. All performances are at the Performing Arts Center except for several at the smaller Cultural Center (CC). A brochure will be out in September. Tickets are on sale now. Memberships, which start at $22, include ticket discounts. Purchase of tickets to six performances or more receives a 15 percent discount. Call (727) 942-5605.
SEPTEMBER: Lowry Olafson, singer/songwriter, Sept. 15 (CC); 24th Street Klezmer Band, Sept. 29; Carol Alexander, piano, Patricia Rohr Dominowski, flute, Sept. 30.
OCTOBER: Bobby Darin tribute with Jerry Adler, harmonica, Oct. 6; Eugenia Pilyavina, piano, Oct. 7; Kuniko Yamamoto, storyteller, Oct. 12 (CC); USF Faculty Woodwind Ensemble and Brass Quartet, Oct. 14; Hesperus, Oct. 19; Jess Trio, Oct. 21; Shenandoah Shakespeare Express, A Comedy of Errors, Oct. 26; Viviane Hagner, violin, Oct. 28.
NOVEMBER: Mickey Finn Show, Nov. 1; Zoe Speaks, Nov. 2; Joseph Schwartz, piano, Nov. 4; Danzig and Woolley, folk, Nov. 9 (CC); Constantine Grame, tenor, Theodore Grame, piano, Nov. 10 (CC); Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival, Nov. 16; Ballet Gran Folklorico de Mexico, Nov. 17.
DECEMBER: Harmony Harbor Chorus, Dec. 1; Shepard Chorale, Dec. 2; Inman Piano Trio, Dec. 6; Florida Lyric Opera and John and Mary K. Wilson, Amahl & the Night Visitors, Dec. 8; Robin Huw Bowen & Sue Jones-Davies, A Welsh Christmas, Dec. 13; Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats, Dec. 15; Maria Zouves, soprano, Dec. 22.
JANUARY: Duquesne University Tamburitzans, Jan. 2; Lyceum of Kalymnos, Greek music and dance, Jan. 5; Ian Frost, Byron's Beppo, Jan. 11; Miami String Quartet, Jan. 12; Constantine Grame and Theodore Grame, The Scottish Muse Conquers Europe, Jan. 19 (CC); Valentin Surif, piano, Jan. 20; Dean Shostak, glass armonica, violin, hurdy-gurdy, Jan. 24; Ballet Flamenco la Rosa, Jan. 26; River City Brass Band, Jan. 27.
FEBRUARY: Kevin Sharp, piano, Feb. 1; Das Puppenspiel Puppet Theatre, The Snow Queen, Feb. 3; Theodore DeCorso, clarinet, Eduard Zilberkant, piano, Feb. 7; Grey Larsen and Paddy League, Irish folk, Feb. 8; Music From Ravinia, Feb. 14; Broadway on Ice, Feb. 16; Three on a String, folk, Feb. 22.
MARCH: Footworks, March 9; Zorgina, vocal ensemble, March 10; Cucanandy, Irish folk, March 15; Catrin Finch, harp, March 21; Constantine Grame and Theodore Grame, Ireland's Greatest Hits, March 23 (CC).
APRIL: Lisa Donovan, Judy, Judy, Judy, April 4; Tom Toyama, percussion, April 12; USF Opera, The Tender Land, April 20; St. Petersburg College Opera, scenes, April 27.
MAY: Stars of the Cotton Club, May 3; Michael Smith, folk, May 11; Fiona Davidson, Scottish traditional music, storytelling, May 18.