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By CHRIS BLANK and JOHN FLEMING
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 5, 2000
Broadway blues
From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray, blues music has always come from the deepest parts of the human soul.
But when you mix blues with old-fashioned Broadway sizzle, even a sultry Billie Holiday tune can raise the roof. It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues is a rousing tribute to the music that inspired rock 'n' roll -- part history lesson, part get down and boogie.
The show, which received four Tony awards, comes to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater at 8 p.m. Tuesday, bringing with it the original Broadway set and about 50 musical numbers. Tickets are $22.75, $25.75 and $29.75. Call (727) 791-7400.
- CHRIS BLANK, Times correspondent
Sarah Brightman brings her La Luna tour to Tampa Bay, supporting her new album of classical, pop and folk tunes. It's crossover with a vengeance, with selections ranging from Beethoven's Figlio Perduto to Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale.
Brightman, ex-wife of Andrew Lloyd Webber and the original Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, takes on a futuristic persona in her stage show, singing several songs while suspended from wires. With a strong following from PBS specials, she sold out concerts at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and Ruth Eckerd Hall. This time around, her ethereal soprano will be wafted out into the cavernous Ice Palace.
The concert is at 8 tonight. Tickets: $35.75-$75.75. Call (813) 301-2500 or see http://www.icepalace.com.
- JOHN FLEMING, Times performing arts critic