Ben Schwartz & Friends comes to the Straz Center in Tampa, Florida on July 11, 2025. Credit: rejectedjokes.com
Perhaps best known to those old enough to drink as Jean-Ralphio from “Parks and Recreation,” and to their kids as the voice of the rebooted Sonic the Hedgehog, Ben Schwartz is coming to Tampa this weekend. And he won’t be the only one making the Straz Center crowd laugh.
His show, “Ben Schwartz & Friends” includes a few surprise guests also familiar from the silver screen. In classic improv style, they’ll take cues from the audience to make up hilarious scenes.
Recent improvisers have included Schwartz’ “Earliest Show” co-star Lauren Lapkus, Gil Ozeri, Colton Dunn, Drew Tarver, Eugene Cordero and Jessica McKenna.
Selene San Felice is managing editor of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Prior to joining CL in 2025, she started the Axios Tampa Bay newsletter and worked for her hometown paper, The Capital in Annapolis,...
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