Girls will be girls ... Banned in Boston and London, despite its critical and commercial success on Broadway, Lillian Hellman’s 1934 drama The Children’s Hour predates social media and tells a universal and tragic tale shows how gossip and lies can go “viral.” The story follows a young girl seeking revenge on her teacher in a small boarding school in New England, run by longtime friends Karen and Martha. The Tampa Rep production, directed by Emilia Sargent, starring Emily Belvo and Katie Castonguay (pictured above); in the Smith Black Box Theatre at Tampa Preparatory School on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. $20. Thursdays-Sundays. Through Oct. 4. Tampa Preparatory School, 727 W. Cass St., Tampa. tamparep.org.
Bad ... ass! Miles Allen channels Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, Saul, Skyler, Hank, Mike, Gus and Walt Jr. in One Man Breaking Bad at the Straz Center Friday and Saturday night. The show, which condenses 60 BB episodes (six seasons) into just a single hour. CL recently chatted with Allen about how his love for Breaking Bad turned him into an overnight success. Click here to read Melanie Wiesen's interview.
Art parties on both sides of the bay: Take a break from the ordinary with works of surrealism, graffiti and paintings that reflect pop-culture at Tampa’s CASS Contemporary Gallery. Corrosively Bright spotlights artists from our back yard and far-flung parts of the world. Artists include Amandine Urruty, Andrea Wan, Bask, Ben Frost, Chris Buzelli (pictured, left), Denial, Frank Forte, Greg Mike, Indie 184, Rich Simmons, Sharktoof and Yoskay Yamamoto. Datz will cater Friday night’s opening reception and craft cocktails will be provided by The Epicurean’s EDGE. A 8 p.m., a live artist battle will be fought by Mike, Denial, Bask and Forte. The Secret Walls competition has been called the “Fight Club” of the art scene, and Tampa’s heat will be emceed by Plain White Ts frontman Tom Higgenson. casscontemporary.com.
At 9 p.m., in St. Pete, you can enjoy some futuristic fun with artists Derek Donnelly, Jon Suarez, Brandy Stark, Zulu Painter, Aurailieus Artist, Frank Strunk III and a slew of other artists; plus live music by Nerds Raging, Pedro El Poeta Jarquin, The Sharks and Hussar, and a virtual reality experience by HD Interactive. ARTofficial Intelligence: The Fourth Annual St. Pete Robot Exchange springs from the mythical backstory that In 1977, that Earth must take one day in September to hold an epic art show and dance party to honor the superior robot race.” Find out if their mission is successful and maybe inquire about what they’re all smoking in the Burg. Corrosively Bright takes place 7-11 p.m. at 2722 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa. The Fourth Annual St. Pete Robot Exchange costs $10 in advance online and $15 at the door and continues till 3 a.m. at 535 Dr. MLK Jr. St., St. Pete.
nova535.com.
Ink tank: Celebrate the subversive and oddly nostalgic subculture of people in the tattoo scene with reality show celeb artists, burlesque, sideshows and more at the annual Tampa Tattoo Arts Convention. Award-winning tattoo artists and special appearances galore. Shows include burlesque performers Kissa Von Adams, Maressa Fox and Franki Markstone; The Enigma (pictured, right); suspension by Ascension, and sideshow act Old City Sideshow. In addition, Philadelphia Eddie will be there to sign his new book. Awards for Best Back Piece, Most Original Tattoo and Tattoo of the Day are among those included in the daily tattoo contests. $20-$40. Fri., Sept. 18, 2 p.m.-midnight; Sat., Sept. 19, 11-midnight; Sun., Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa. 215-423-4780. villainarts.com.
Great live music: Thee Oh Sees bring their psychedelic tricks and exhilarating double drum attack to the Crowbar Friday night. Bluesy Selwyn Birchwood headlines the Palladium Friday night if you need something more straight-up. Read more in Leilani's Ear Buds.
Tampa Hey day: Local artists and Café Hey honor Tampa’s first suburb, Tampa Heights, with the new Highlands exhibit and event, named after Tampa’s first suburb — which now has buildings endangered by proposed toll lanes added to I-275. The suburb’s central location has a chance to return to its former glory as a hub of commerce and activity. In tribute, an impressive new mural of Tampa Heights will be unveiled on Café Hey’s south exterior wall, created by Michelle Sawyer and Tony Krol, and the artists along with others, including Cory Robinson, Krystal Ralph, Donavon Brutus, Mara Latorre, Melisa Taylor, Chad Cardoza, Greg Bryon and Rylan Wright, will display locally inspired works inside. Vendors will set up outside, forming a street market with performances by local musicians. Vendors include Commune + Co., Inez + Beryl and Belle Fleur. Info on the proposed TBX highway project will also be provided. Free. Saturday, 7 p.m. Café Hey, 1540 N. Franklin St., Tampa. Sam Allen contributed to this report. Click here for more info or to donate.
Steven Lolli at Carrollwood Cultural Center Lolli, a Gaither High School graduate who moved to Los Angeles to find comedic fortune, was dubbed the “Urban Jew” by his mentor, Katt Williams. The same biting wit and sharp stage presence that entertains crowds of all races in L.A. will be on display in Carrollwood. Showtime is Friday at 8 p.m. $17-$23. 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa. Info: carrollwoodcenter.org or 813-269-1310. (Text by Michael Murillo; read an interview with Lolli here.)
Andy Warhol Film Series Finale: Empire No, it's not the hip-hop soap starring a troubled superstar. In Warhol's film, the events from the night of July 25, 1964, flash back to when Warhol and a small group of artists headed up to a 41st floor office inside the Time-Life Building in Manhattan with a perfect view of what was then the world’s tallest building, the Empire State Building. Although lacking a traditional plot, Warhol’ influential and important film assumes a narrative about the passage of time. 16mm, b/w, silent, 8 hrs 5 mins. This is an all-day screening in the Saunders Gallery. Cash bar and snacks available. $5. Sun., Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tampa Museum of Art, 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa. 813-274-8130. tampamuseum.org.
SPF 15 picks: Downtown St. Petersburg events series continues with a big variety of happenings. Here are some of the highlights.
- FRIDAY
- Final Day of My Soul Looks Back — The Decades of Day Work Photographic at Woodson Museum. woodsonmuseum.org.
- St. Pete Art and Fashion Week: Art Inspired at Genius Central, 6 p.m. 2232 5th Ave. S., stpeteartfashionweek.com.
- Take Me Home by Scavinold (aka Kevin Hinckley), 7 p.m. at Studio@620, thestudioat620.org.
- SATURDAY
- SHINE Walking Mural Tours Meet at Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave. 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. floridacraftsmen.net Read more about the murals in cltampa.com's ArtBreaker.
- International Curry Festival, noon-10 p.m., Vinoy Park, internationalcurryfestival.com
- Roadside Paradise Bus Tour, 1 p.m., *New Departure Location,* Beach Drive Parking Lot, Pier Approach. stpetepreservation.org.
- St. Pete Oktoberfest Get your oompah on atthe Grand Central District at an all-day, family friendly party from 1 to 11 p.m. on the 2900 block of Central Avenue. Proceeds go to the Grand Central District Association. facebook.com/StPeteOktoberfest.
- SUNDAY
- Gallery Talk — Five Decades of Photography, 3 p.m. Museum of Fine Arts, fine-arts.org
- Intimate Apparel at American Stage, 3 p.m. americanstage.org.
