Two shows at the Straz are taking child's play to an adult arena. Becoming A Man in 127 Easy Steps (pictured, photo by Abby Gaskins) is a very grown-up version of kid's diversion that uses audience participation to hilarious effect — it's a choose-your-own adventure for "mature audiences," where you pick the path of the play for a young boy who was born a girl. Crossword geeks, Scrabble nerds and wordsmiths of every ilk unite for M.A.D. Theatre's 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the Tony-winning musical comedy where six awkward “adolescents” take to the stage for the ultimate spelldown. If you're in the audience, though, prepare to be part of the spell-off: a few lucky folks join the word nerds to test their spelling skills. Go against the overachieving wunderkind in front of a panel of judges that includes a nostalgic former Bee champ, a vice principal who's a little loony, and the Official Comfort Counselor, completing his community service to the state of New York. Becoming A Man in 127 Easy Steps, 8 p.m. Thurs., April 22, 8 p.m. Sat., April 24 and 4 p.m. Sun., April 25, TECO Theater, $17.50-$24.50; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, through April 25, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., Shimberg Playhouse, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa, $20. —Franki Weddington
If you're blue because you don't know what to do for Earth Day weekend, get green with a weekend's worth of eco-friendly events: Green thumbs rejoice! St. Pete's Green Thumb Festival is the place to be for amateur greenies and gardening gurus alike, with horticultural and environmental exhibits, seminars on how to landscape effectively, conserve natural resources, recycle, and improve the environment. A children's plant fair and more than 150 vendors round out the offerings. The green festivities continue with the Growing Green Earth Day Celebration, a free, family-friendly fest featuring going-green exhibits, hands-on learning about micro-irrigation, rain barrels, composting and more, and a Florida-friendly landscaping class. If you also need to "grow" a new spring wardrobe, don't buy new clothes — instead take the green route and swap them out for others' gently used duds at Buffalo Gal Vintage's Clothing Swap. Admission and leftover clothes are donated to CASA. Green Thumb Festival, April 24-25, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun., Walter Fuller Park, 7891 26th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, free, stpete.org/greenthumb; Growing Green, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., April 24, Hillsborough Community College, Plant City Campus, 1200 North Park Road, Plant City, free event, landscaping course is $10, growinggreen2010.eventbrite.com; Clothing Swap, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., April 24, Buffalo Gal Vintage, 1219 Ninth St. N., St. Petersburg, $5, buffalogalvintage.com. —Katie Machol
This article appears in Apr 21-27, 2010.