Thursday 11.29
The Movie Guy A lifelong movie fan, comedian Harry Basil relives famous scenes — such as Tom Cruise's tighty-whities scene from Risky Business — in a whirlwind of impersonations and comic acting. Basil has several film credits to his name, including a small role in Peggy Sue Got Married, but that hasn't kept him from lampooning the movie industry. Basil performs at the Improv through Dec. 2, with show times at 8 p.m. Thursday, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, 7, 9:30 and 11 p.m. Saturday, and 8 p.m. Sunday. Advance tickets range from $12 to $16, depending on the night. The Improv is at Centro Ybor, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City (813-864-4000).
Christmas at Walt's Place 'Twas a month before Christmas, and all through the Kingdom, a creature was stirring: Mickey Mouse. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, the Magic Kingdom's popular holiday celebration, features marching toy soldiers, dancing snowflakes, holiday shows and sweet treats, plus Santa and his reindeer. And of course the park is dressed for the holidays. The party, complete with snow flurries, begins at 7 p.m. (after regular park hours) and continues till midnight. Advance tickets cost $33. The party takes place Dec. 2, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16 and 18. Disney's Magic Kingdom is at 1000 Buena Vista Blvd., Lake Buena Vista (407-W-DISNEY).
Friday 11.30
Froth, Frivolity and Fun Brimming with lilting waltzes and outrageous comedy, Die Fledermaus (The Bat) by Johann Strauss II, is the most famous operetta ever written. In Old Vienna, Dr. Falke plans good-natured revenge on friend Baron von Eisenstein for leaving him asleep on a park bench dressed as a bat following a costume ball. Together they go to a party, where The Bat's Revenge is set in motion. Anton Coppola conducts and James Lucas directs Opera Tampa's sumptuous production of Die Fledermaus, which will be sung in English (with English supertitles projected above the stage for the audience's complete enjoyment and understanding). Performances take place through Dec. 2, with show times at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Carol Morsani Hall. Tickets cost $19.50-$56.50. TBPAC is at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-229-7827).
Of Merit Merrick Gallery's latest exhibit features glass by Florida glass blower Duncan McClellan and new works by Antonio Caparello, who worked for pop art master James Rosenquist as a painter and studio assistant for 10 years. McClellan has created new pieces with his graal-and-overlay technique. Caparello, a billboard artist for many years, has focused of late on smaller works in oil on canvas. The exhibit opens with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 30, and runs through Dec. 31. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Merrick Gallery is at 330 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg (727-896-2787).
Saturday 12.1
The Boys Are Back Established in 1976, Irish rock band U2 has had an unprecedented run, emerging from the days of new wave to play atmospheric anthems and polished think-pieces produced by synth gurus like Flood. They've also remained popular enough to launch some of the largest tours to date, including ZooTV and Popmart. Now U2 bring their wealth of hits and elaborate use of hi-tech props to the Ice Palace for their current endeavor, Elevation. Electronica rockers Garbage open at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets cost $45 and $85. The Ice Palace is at 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa (813-301-2500).
Santa's New Bag The emphasis at You'll Shoot Your Eye Out: The Sequel is on rocking out to holiday tunes. The Gita offers I Won't Be Home for Christmas and Santa Claus (a parody of the Beastie Boys' Sabotage). Ashes of Grisum's set list includes Tom Waits' Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis and Frank Sinatra's I'll Be Home for Christmas. The lineup also boasts Hazard Factor, Sparky's Nightmare and others, along with Christmas sketches by The Caffeine Kids improv troupe. The show starts at 9 p.m. at State Theater. Doors open at 7 p.m. with Santa in the lobby, milk and cookies at the bar, and door prizes. Tickets cost $7. State Theatre is at 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-895-3045).
Sunday 12.2
Political Appetite Former Tampa Mayor and accomplished cook Sandy Freedman discusses and signs her cookbook, Specialties of the House: Recipes for People on the Go, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Inkwood Books. Freedman's book shares 115 of her most cherished and requested recipes. Freedman, who became the first woman mayor of a large Florida city in 1986, has plenty of political cred, but her skill as a cook is not well documented. If you have any doubts about her cooking abilities, be sure to grill her. Inkwood is at 216 Armenia Ave. S., Tampa (813-253-2638).
Monday 12.3
High ArtA jurored exhibit of art by regional students, High School opens at the University of South Florida's Centre Gallery. The Centre Gallery is a student-run exhibition space for USF students, faculty and alumni, but they've gladly cleared their walls for this show, which provides a great opportunity to enjoy the product of some of the area's best young artists. The exhibit runs through Dec. 14, when it ends with a reception from 7-9 p.m. Hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Centre Gallery is located in USF's Phyllis P. Marshall Center, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-974-5464).
Tuesday 12.4
There's No Taming Kate Winner of five 2000 Tony Awards, Kiss Me, Kate is a classic battle of the sexes that follows the amusing backstage squabbles of a divorced couple who are reunited for a Broadway-bound musical version of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Starring Rex Smith as actor-producer Fred Graham and Rachel York as his ex-wife Lili Vanessi, this musical comedy features knockout music, including some of Cole Porter's greatest hits: Another Op'nin, Another Show, Wunderbar and Too Darn Hot. Kate comes to TBPAC's Carol Morsani Hall through Dec. 9, with show times at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $23.50-$60.50. TBPAC is at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-229-7827).
Wednesday 12.5
A Snazzy Ensemble The USF Jazztet, the school's premier small group, is frequently featured in concerts on campus, recordings and tours. The group has played with Paquito D'Rivera at the Clearwater Jazz Festival, performed at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy, and toured South Africa. The USF Jazztet plays at 8 p.m. in Theatre II at the Music School. Admissions costs $4. USF is located at 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-974-2323).
This article appears in Nov 29 – Dec 5, 2001.