2014 Tampa Fall Theater Preview

The Daily Meal Staff|Sept. 1, 2014 7:00 am EST

Heartfelt music, dazzling costumes, bright lights, romance and adventure — it's no wonder why it's so easy to fall in love with theater. The theater community in Tampa Bay thrives, showcasing plays, comedies, musicals and dance. Fans of this timeless performing art will love what the upcoming season has to offer. Read on to discover some of the magnificent shows you have to look forward to this fall.

C.S. Lewis' "The Great Divorce"
Straz Center for the Performing Arts
1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 229-7827
www.strazcenter.org/The_Great_Divorce.aspx

Date: Sept. 26-27, 2014

From the producers of The Screwtape Letters comes another theatrical adaptation of a C.S. Lewis classic. Performed in Ferguson Hall, this journey from Hell to Heaven includes some funny characters and fascinating dialogue. This performance is recommended for guests ages 13 and older. There will be three shows: Friday, September 26 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, September 27 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker
The Mahaffey Theater
400 1st St. S.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 892-5767
www.themahaffey.com

Date: Dec. 28, 2014

This family-friendly ballet has been a holiday tradition for years. The Moscow Ballet, composed of 40 world-class dancers, brings Tchaikovsky's masterpiece to life with life-sized dolls, massive puppets and Christmas trees that magically grow right on stage. Experience the sights, sounds and magic that only "The Nutcracker" can bring. There will be one show on Sunday, December 28 at 4 p.m.

"Rhinoceros"
School of Theater & Dance, University of South Florida Theater 2
4202 E. Fowler Ave.
Tampa, FL 33620
(813) 974-3867
www.theatreanddance.arts.usf.edu

Date: Oct. 2-11, 2014

What would you do if your friends and neighbors started coming down with a mysterious illness? This play opens with two friends in a coffee shop whose chat is abruptly interrupted by a rhinoceros charging through the square. This is no zoo escape incident. The next day, a woman complains that her husband, along with most of the town, has transformed into a rhinoceros and that rhinos are wandering the streets. One by one, almost everyone in the town comes down with "rhinoceritis." This funny and absurd show will be playing on select dates in October.

"Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody"
Straz Center for the Performing Arts
1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 229-7827
www.strazcenter.org

Date: Nov. 5, 2014

Hire a sitter and plan a girls' night out for this hilarious parody on the best-selling book, "Fifty Shades of Grey." Musical numbers, comedic dialogue and sexy striptease performances will have you laughing, applauding and tapping your feet all night long. There will only be one performance of this hysterical show, so get your tickets now. Clear your calendar for Wednesday, November 5 at 8 p.m. and "get spanked!"

"Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella"
Straz Center for the Performing Arts
1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 229-7827
www.strazcenter.org

Date: Oct. 21-26, 2014

This Tony Award-winning musical was produced by the same brilliant minds that brought us "The Sound of Music" and "South Pacific." A contemporary take on a classic tale, the show features a full orchestra and classic scenes like the masked ball, the pumpkin coach and glass slipper, as well as the classic songs "In My Own Little Corner," "Impossible/It's Possible" and "Ten Minutes Ago." The show is presented in Carol Morsani Hall from October 21 to 26.

Amanda Mole has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil and cooking since she was tall enough to reach the stove. She believes that food provides more than just vital nutrients: it is an irreplaceable part of countless cultural and social activities. As a Tampa Bay resident for the past 21 years, she is well acquainted with the incredibly diverse range of restaurants, bars, and food festivals that the area has to offer. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.