Carrollwood Cultural Center: Upcoming Events

At the Carrollwood Cultural Center, magic is around every corner. Music fills the air, colors dress the walls, dancers float on stage and drama evokes emotion. The Center has been honored to host an array of local talents from visual artists, instrumentalists, singers, dancers and theatre groups. We look forward to introducing more area talent through future performances and concerts. Who knows? Perhaps our next headliner will be you!

Performances:
Friday, February 3 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 4 at 8 p.m.
Friday, February 10 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 11 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 12 at 2 p.m.

The plot follows the heirs of tyrannical billionaire Simon Starkweather, each with the means and the motive to do away with him. Starkweather gathers his family and employees to announce the contents of his will. His lawyer, Lois van Zandt, reveals that he has bequeathed vast fortunes to his befuddled niece, Fiona; her playboy son, Jordan; his great-niece, Paula (a Southern belle); and his grandson, Simon III, as well as to his many servants. Suddenly, van Zandt delivers a bombshell: within hours this will becomes invalid. Of course, the rejected heirs are not pleased, so it's not surprising when they roam the old mansion carrying such items as an ax, a gun and poison. Predictably, the lights go out, and Starkweather is found murdered.

Murder’s in the Heir is the second production by the Center’s MAS Community Theatre. All rights are reserved through Pioneer Drama Service.

Advanced Tickets:
$12 members / $16 non-members / $14 seniors (65+)

Day-of-Show:
$14 members / $18 non-members / $16 seniors (65+)

When: February 15 at 7 p.m.

Don't miss this opportunity to find out the Center's exciting plans for 2012, meet the Board and staff. Everyone in the community is welcome!

When: Friday, February 17 at 8 p.m.

The Extreme Guitar Duo is American Keith Knight & Canadian Don Alder. Their performance is more than just a co-bill--it's a musical journey where the audience is taken to the exteme edge of modern guitar fingerpicking. Fast-paced and upbeat, the EGD delivers a plethora of Americana, Canadian, & roots music like, blues, ragtime, Appalachian folk, modern fingerstyle guitar, pop and calypso, with an assortment of instruments on stage such as flat top guitars, 12 string guitars, resonators, dobros, harp guitars, and mandolin.

Treat yourself to a great evening of guitar playing, singing, storytelling with monster players Keith Knight and Don Alder. It promises to be an unforgettable event you will be talking about for years to come.

EXCITING UPDATE! On December 4, 2011, Canadian Don Alder beat out 12 other guitarists from around the world to win the 2011 Guitar Idol III Live! in London. See below to view a clip of his winning performance (check out the DUCT TAPE holding the guitar together!). Don is the only guitarist in the world to win all three major competitions - 2007 International Fingerstyle Championships, 2010 Guitar Superstar Competition and the Guitar Idol III contest.

Advanced Tickets:
$20 members / $23 non-members

Day-of-Show:
$22 members / $25 non-members

When: Saturday, February 18 at 7 p.m.

Pianist Franz Mantini returns to the Carrollwood Cultural Center with a program of classical and romantic masters offering a contrast of styles and moods.

The first half will feature Mozart's haunting Sonata No. 8 in A minor, K. 310, followed by Schubert's Impromptus No. 1 and No. 4, Opus 142, which display both the composer's incomparable song-like rich sonorities and virtuosic display of keyboard facility. The second half of the program will feature a collection of shorter works by Chopin and a selection of the exotic Spanish Dances by Granados.

Advanced Tickets
$14 members / $18 non-members / $16 seniors (65+)

Day-of-Show:
$16 members / $20 non-members / $18 seniors (65+)

When: Thursday, February 23 at 7pm

The Carrollwood Cultural Center and JRA Fine Arts proudly presents An Evening with C.S. Lewis, a dramatic production featuring British actor David Payne.

An Evening with C.S. Lewis is a drama production that has proved to be an enthralling theatrical experience for the many thousands who have attended its performances over the last 8 years. When it was aired on the Dish Network it drew an enormous response and currently a number of TV companies are in negotiations to air it during their 2012 season. Full of humor, it is a fascinating and enthralling insight into the life of a man who became a legend in his own lifetime and who journeyed from atheism to Christianity to become one of the great champions of the Christian faith. Few Christians have been able to appeal to both believers and non believers in the way Lewis has and his high profile, even more enhanced by the Narnia Chronicles movies, makes An Evening with C S Lewis an event that appeals to the whole community.

Synopsis
The year is 1963 and C S Lewis, the famous British author, is in the twilight years of his life. Following a request from his great friend, J.R.R. Tolkien, he has agreed to give an informal talk to a group of American writers who are visiting England. They have come to Lewis’ home, just outside of Oxford, and are eagerly anticipating hearing the man who has become a legend in his own lifetime. They are not disappointed. Despite his failing health, Lewis is in great form. His audience is spellbound as, with a display of oratory and humor that made him one of England’s most famous public speakers, he recounts the significant events and the people that shaped his life.

About David Payne
British actor, David Payne, has gained a considerable reputation for his portrayals of the famous author C.S. Lewis. He has played Lewis in a number of productions of Shadowlands, in his self-penned Weep for Joy and in numerous presentations of his much acclaimed one-man show An Evening with C.S. Lewis. The first Lewis book Payne read was the Screwtape Letters and it was this book that inspired him to pen his first musical, Target Practice. Set in the Academy of Fiends, this energetic show features a cantankerous professor (Payne) tutoring some junior fiends on the art of tripping up humans (Targets). His latest stage show based on Lewis is his self penned St Jack & The Dragon, a touching story about Lewis and his adopted mother. After completing the audio version of a new Bible translation, he was commissioned to write a play as part of its launch. He chose to focus on the Apostle Paul and wrote Prisoner of Passion which is fast becoming one of his most sought after productions. His DVD productions include An Evening with C.S. Lewis, Prisoner of Passion, Target Practice and Relative Surprise which was shot on location in England. Payne continues to tour throughout the US and UK and when he is not touring he is either writing or filming. He is married with two sons and three grand children.

Advanced Tickets:
$21 members / $23 non-members

Day-of-Show Tickets:
$23 members / $25 non-members

When: Friday, March 2 at 8pm

One-act plays written by Tampa Bay area high school students. Come enjoy the talent of the next generation of playwrights!

Advanced Tickets:
$6 members / $9 non-members / $6 students (18 and under)

Day-of-Show:
$8 members / $11 non-members / $8 students (18 and under)

When: Sunday, March 4 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: $6 members / $7 non-members / $24 Family Four Pack

When: Friday, March 16 at 8 p.m.

Surrealism, balloons and magic...in one show!

Mark Byne, The Balloon Guy, premiers his new show based on the art of Belgian surrealist, artist Rene Magritte. Mark uses magic and balloons to recreate scenes from Magritte's famous surreal paintings. Magritte and Me is a multi-media stage show that will delight young and old alike.

Advanced Tickets:
$19 members / $23 non-members / $21 seniors (65+)

Day-of-Show:
$21 members / $25 non-members / $23 seniors (65+)

When: Friday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Jazz with Jim is a monthly concert hosted by local musician and former Hillsborough Community College instructor and Director of Music, Jim Burge. The concert is best known for fusing personal stories by the musicians with popular jazz tunes suited for that month's theme. In addition to the personal stories, patrons can purchase home baked goods donated by the Center's volunteers, which help complete the intimate ambience.

Advanced Tickets:
$8 members / $12 non-members / $11 students

Day-of-Show:
$10 members / $14 non-members / $13 students

**********
Jim Burge and The Jazz Directions are looking for
Student Guest Musicians!
Are YOU a high school student who is interested in playing with the band at a future Jazz with Jim? If you meet the following criteria, please email Richard Haerther, artistic director, at richard@carrollwoodcenter.org.

1. Must be a high school student in good standing;
2. Have a written letter of recommendation from your music instructor;
3. Be well-versed in jazz genres;
4. Provide film clips (either YouTube, Facebook, DVD, etc.);
5. Have at least six jazz tunes ready to perform.

When:
Saturday, March 24 at 10am-5pm
Sunday, March 25 at 12-5pm

Arts in the Park is an artistic event celebrating the fourth anniversary of the Carrollwood Cultural Center!

The art show will take place in the beautiful oak-shaded park behind the Carrollwood Cultural Center. This lush green-space will be transformed into a vast outdoor gallery of original artwork and colorful artists.

Building on the success of previous art festivals, this fourth annual Arts in the Park will include 100+ artists, live entertainment, hands-on activities for children, food and beverages. The show will provide a mix of Bay area artists from first-time exhibitors to those with more experience and a wide range of mediums to appeal to a more eclectic visual palette. Included will be everything from watercolors, acrylic and oil painting to jewelry, sculpture, fiber (includes fine wearable, rugs, and basketry), photography, printmaking, mixed media, metal, wood, ceramics and more.

4-5 p.m.: Alaska's Fiddling Poet Ken Waldman
http://www.kenwaldman.com/
THIS ACTIVITY IS FUNDED, IN PART, BY A GRANT FROM SOUTH ARTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AND THE CARROLLWOOD CULTURAL CENTER.

When: Friday, March 30 at 8 p.m

Sarasota Slim's new CD, Get Up, Get Down, is a commingling of blues, funk, boogie, slide guitar and heaps of warm Southern charm. Gene Hardage, who grew up in Sarasota, is as authentic and talented as they come, having worked and toured with Lucky Peterson and earning his "Sarasota Slim" nickname from Rock Bottom. Internationally acclaimed, Hardage released four albums on Italian label Appaloosa and toured Europe.

Nitro Bozeman began playing harmonica in front of audiences at the tender age of seven and 60 years later, he still blows audiences away with his skilled harmonica playing. He was known as "Lil Red" in Chicago before moving to Florida and became the heart of Chicago Blues in Florida.

Advanced Tickets:
$9 members / $11 non-members

Day-of-Show:
$11 members / $13 non-members

When: Saturday, March 31 at 7 p.m.

Principal Florida Orchestra Members violinist Sarah Shellman and 'cellist James Connors will be joined by pianist Franz Mantini in a classical variety program.

Ms. Shellman and Mr. Mantini will open the program with Beethoven's spirited Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in E flat major. Mr. Connors and Mr. Mantini will then perform the demonic and intriguing Bartok Rhapsody No. 1 for Cello and Piano. The second half of the program will bring all three musicians together for Brahm's Trio #1 in B flat major.

Advanced Tickets
$14 members / $18 non-members / $16 seniors (65+)

Day-of-Show:
$16 members / $20 non-members / $18 seniors (65+)

When: Sunday, April 1 at 2 p.m.

The world "Famouse" singing duo, City Mouse & Country Mouse, tell the story of their journey for treasure. With seven original songs, this updated musical version of Aesop's Fable teaches that friendship, even with someone different than you, is a true treasure.

Tickets:
$6 members / $7 non-members / $24 Family Four Pack

When: Friday, April 20 at 8 p.m.

Alaskan born singer/songwriter and guitarist, href="http://rebekahpulley.com/">Rebekah Pulley, broke into the Tampa Bay music scene in 2000. She has since garnered numerous songwriting awards for her rootsy blend of soulful, southern, folk-rock.

Rebekah's ethereal vocals and poetic lyrics made her a favorite among fans and critics alike. Her latest release Back to Boogaloo landed on numerous best of 2008 lists across the country. John Conquest of 3rd Coast Music, declared Back To Boogaloo, "an outstanding album, immensely enjoyable and a master class in DIY" in his 4 star review of the new CD. Tampa Bay's Creative Loafing says that Back to Boogaloo is a "beauty and a brilliant folk-rock affair, 4 stars."

Rebekah has earned five Best of the Bay awards from the readers and editors of Creative Loafing. That publication has described her live singing as "both technically spot-on and emotionally devastating. It can drop your jaw and break your heart".

Rebekah has enjoyed the last 12 years performing at venues ranging from intimate coffee houses to large festivals. Her natural home is now on stage both solo and with her backing band, The Reluctant Prophets. During this time, she has recorded 4 full-length CD's that have permeated American and European airwaves. Each CD contains its own distinctive blend of tough but tender songs reflecting heartache, love, self-discovery and worldly chaos. Her unique combination of skilled songwriting and powerful stage presence has earned Ms. Pulley a place in the hearts and CD players of fans and critics across the nation. (rebekahpulley.com)

Advanced Tickets:
$12 members / $16 non-members

Day-of-Show:
$14 members / $18 non-members

When: Friday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Advanced Tickets:
$8 members / $12 non-members / $11 students

Day-of-Show:
$10 members / $14 non-members / $13 students

When:Saturday, April 28 at 8pm

You are cordinally invited to enjoy favorite Broadway songs and Opera arias sung by acclaimed international opera stars Kyoung Cho, soprano, and Won Cho, noted bass-baritone at the Carrollwood Cultural Center. Their performance will include beloved arias from famous operas and musicals such as Showboat, South Pacific, The Barber of Seville, Madama Butterfly and Gianni Schichi to name a few.

Advanced Tickets
$14 members / $18 non-members / $16 seniors (65+)

Day-of-Show:
$16 members / $20 non-members / $18 seniors (65+)

Click here for information about the Classical Music Series Ticket Package.

When: Friday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m.

Advanced Tickets:
$8 members / $12 non-members / $11 students

Day-of-Show:
$10 members / $14 non-members / $13 students