THURSDAY 11.11
Piano Seed Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe kicks off its 2004-05 season with August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama The Piano Lesson. The play is set in the 1930s and opens with the arrival of Boy Willie at his sister Berniece's house. Willie dreams of buying the same Mississippi land that his ancestors once worked as slaves. However, in order to raise funds, he must convince his sister to sell a beloved family heirloom — a piano carved with images of their African ancestors and crafted by their enslaved grandfather. This conflict between the past and future raises a couple of important questions: What do you do with your legacy, and how do you best put it to use? Directed by Nate Jacobs. Tickets: $23. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thu. and Fri., 3 and 7:30 p.m. Sat., and 3 p.m. Sun., Nov. 11-20. To purchase tickets, call 941-954-4651. Gompertz Theatre, 1247 First St., Sarasota.
FRIDAY 11.12
Come Away With Her Norah Jones has become the Britney Spears of the jazz world. Her debut album, Come Away With Me, has sold over 18 million copies, won eight Grammys, and is now featured as the soundtrack for virtually every Starbucks in America. However, unlike Spears, Jones gained recognition because of her talents as a musician. Rather than drawing from a readily available pre-pubescent fanbase via run-of-the-mill dance numbers and oh-so-cute schoolgirl outfits, Jones' silky, sultry vocals, a Wurlitzer piano and skillfully adept fingers were all that was necessary to win over the masses. This evening, you can enjoy her artistic stylings at the Ford Amphitheater in Tampa, where she performs with the Handsome Band. Tickets: $29.50-$58. 7:30 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.fordamp.com or call 800-936-5064. Ford Amphitheatre, 4802 U.S. 301 N., Tampa.
SATURDAY 11.13
A Didg Wind Gonna Blow Each month, Moccasin Lake Nature Park brings local music to a mini amphitheater under the stars during its Fireside Concerts Series. This evening, the park presents the sounds of Didg Revolution, a three-man group whose blend of didgeridoos, worldly percussion and various animal noises is combined with dancing, prancing and interactive family fun. For those out of the know, a didgeridoo is a traditional Australian Aboriginal wind instrument created from a hollowed-out tree branch. It has a deep, exotic, almost primal resonance, and some say that if the earth had a voice, it would sound like a didgeridoo. For more information about the show, call 727-462-6024 or 813-833-8856. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children 4 to 12, and $1 for children under 4; this entry fee includes toasted marshmallows, yummy s'mores and ice cold "bug juice" punch. 7-9 p.m. at Moccasin Lake Nature Park, 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater.
Fantastic Four This weekend, the community is invited to the opening of four powerful new exhibits at The Arts Center. Celebrations: Annual Holiday Exhibition features holiday-themed works by center members, and visitors can peruse a collection of ornaments, jewelry, pottery, paintings, holiday cards, handblown glass and much, much more. Fixed in Time showcases the large-scale photography of Tampa artists Rebecca Sexton-Larson and Matt Larson, who communicate their visions via non-traditional methods, including pinhole and toy cameras and image transfers. The Star Spangled Banner: Word and Image Elementary School Exhibition presents the skill and creativity of Pinellas County elementary school students who submitted works based upon their ideas of patriotism and the words of the famous anthem. Finally, there's Jodi Bove's Class Inspired Glass, a collaborative exhibit she created by carving student drawings onto handblown glass vessels. The Arts Center hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. and noon to 5 p.m. on Sun. These exhibits are on display through Dec. 31. The Arts Center, 719 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-822-7872.
SUNDAY 11.14
A Bright Idea Brighter Seasons for Children is a program of Hospice's AIDS Service Association of Pinellas (ASAP) set up to make the seasons a little easier for families affected by AIDS. In December, a holiday gift drive is held to match children's wishes with willing donors, providing these youngsters with gifts they may not otherwise receive for the holidays. To facilitate the effort, Hospice has organized a fundraiser that takes place today from 2 to 5 p.m. at Java Junction. Here, guests can enjoy live music, barbeque treats, an array of coffees and teas, and drawings for gift baskets and other prizes. A cash bar with beer, wine and specialty drinks is also available. Admission is $25 per person — and even if you're unable to attend the fundraiser, you can still sponsor a child or family. Contributions can be made through Dec. 15 at either of ASAP's offices (410-A N. Ft. Harrison St., Clearwater, or 300 E. 31st St. N., St. Petersburg). For more information or to participate, please call 727-449-2437. Java Junction, 705 Franklin St., Clearwater.
TUESDAY 11.16
La Boheme's New Lease Ruth Eckerd Hall continues its Broadway Series with Johnathan Larson's rock opera Rent. Based on Puccini's classic La Boheme, the socially relevant story takes place in modern day New York City and depicts a handful of young artists struggling to celebrate life while dealing with the harsh realities of drugs, poverty and AIDS. Set against a score that blends pop, salsa, R&B, gospel and rock, Rent captures the heart and spirit of a generation, reflected onstage through the emotions of its stirring words and music. Tickets to the show range from $36 to $48. For an additional $25, guests can enjoy a pre-show dinner buffet of carved roast beef or turkey breast, chicken and seafood, a selection of veggies and sides, assorted rolls, tossed house salad and a Viennese-style dessert station. Interested parties should call the theater to make reservations. The show starts at 8 p.m. on Tue. and Wed., Nov. 16-17. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 N. McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. 727-791-7400.
WEDNESDAY 11.17
Food Networking Since joining the test kitchen at Food Network in 2002, Suki Hertz has developed numerous recipes for Food Network cookbooks and consulted on a variety of nutrition topics for its various shows. Licensed as a registered dietician, Hertz has written, taught and consulted on healthy cooking methods, and you can meet her tonight at Mise en Place Restaurant. Inkwood Books serves as host to this special culinary/literary event, at which Hertz discusses and signs copies of The Food Network Kitchen's Making It Easy, in addition to presenting a special cooking demo with tasty samplings for attendees. If you like cooking shows or if you're looking for "behind the scenes" details about your favorite TV chefs, this event is right up your alley. 6:30 p.m. at Mise en Place Restaurant, 442 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. 813-254-5373.
This article appears in Nov 10-16, 2004.