Go behind the scenes at Tampa Theatre: Enjoy theater from the vantage point of both audience member and director. At 3:3o p.m., you can attend a tour of Tampa Theatre, our area's most opulent and cherished cinema house. Presented by TBBCA's Cultural Encounters program, the tour takes you backstage and provides fascinating historical tidbits about the architecture and operation of the landmark. Future encounters include American Stage, Sept. 8, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Dali Museum, Oct. 14, 3-5 p.m.; Phoenix Glass Studio, Nov. 18, 5:30–7 p.m.; Lowry Park Zoo, Dec. 8 11:30 a.m.– 1 p.m. The cost for the program is $99 per person for all five or $25 per person for one encounter. Sign up on this form online.
A Couple of Blaguards: As part of its “After Hours”series, American Stage Theatre Company reprises Frank and Malachy McCourt’s comedy, starring Howard Platt and Jarlath Conroy. The nostalgia piece takes the audience through the McCourt brothers' boyhood adventures in Limerick, Ireland, and early adult years as immigrants in New York. Count on one of those coming-of-age dramas with just the right amount of pathos and hilarity. $24 in advance, “Pay-What-You-Can”night of show. Runs through Aug. 29 if you can't catch it tonight. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Tues.-Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. and 3 p.m. matinees Sat.-Sun. American Stage, 163 Third St. N, St. Petersburg. 727-823-7529.
This article appears in Aug 19-25, 2010.