Ever eye ridiculous memoirs by stars like Vanna White or Mr. T and be struck with that weird and uneasy curiosity one gets when passing an automobile wreck?
Well, you can satisfy your voyeuristic curiosities and get a good laugh tonight at Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words, where superstar memoirs are acted out live on stage by other famous people.
The first show employing the concept was staged in New York, won the 2009 Drama Desk Award in the category of Unique Theatrical Experience and has been one of the most critically acclaimed productions in the Off-Broadway scene. The passages for the upcoming Ruth Eckerd Hall show run the gamut from the poetry of Suzanne Somers to musings on love from Kenny Loggins. Readers at Ruth Eckerd include Bruce Vilanch, Michael McGlone (the Geico guy), The Sopranos’ Vincent Pastore (pictured) and Broadway veterans Annie Golden and Karen Ziemba. Tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 7 at 7 and 9:30 p.m., and Sat., Jan. 8 at 3, 7 and 9:30 p.m. In the Murray Studio Theater at Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater, $39.75, 727-791-7400, rutheckerdhall.com.
New World Brewery, as most of you already know, offers cozy charm and indoor-outdoor appeal for music shows, and from time to time will go outside the realm of rock to feature other styles of entertainment.
Say thanks to local promotional gurus Thx Mgmt, headed up by Joe D’Acunto, who presents a wonderfully offbeat stand-up comedy showcase at the Ybor venue, headlined by celebrity comic Tig Notaro.
Notaro, who plays Officer Tig on The Sarah Silverman Program and Joan Jett’s mom in the The Runaways, has an easygoing style and bone-dry wit that’s won over audiences on Jimmy Kimmel Live, season four of Last Comic Standing, Dog Bites Man and Comedy Central's Premium Blend. Notable locals Jim Choquette, Jennifer Hensleigh and Brent Savard support, and local comic Joe Riga emcees. 9 p.m. at New World Brewery, 1313 E Eighth Ave., Ybor City. 21 and older only, $10, 813-248-4969, thxmgmt.live.com.
This article appears in Dec 30, 2010 – Jan 5, 2011.
