A sprawling, scrawling three-day fest in Hyde Park, Chalk Walk allows kids and adult artists to hit the pavement to create masterpieces under the direction of artist Julie Graden. The free event offers fun for grown-up non-artists, too, with local musical entertainment and drink specials from Blue Moon Beer and Barefoot Wine all weekend long. In addition, there’ll be vendors, a bounce house, caricature artists, face-painters and carnival-style games. On Saturday, the Animal Ambassadors from the Lowry Park Zoo visit 10 a.m.-2 p.m. followed by Busch Gardens stilt walkers 2-6 p.m. Get a hug from Elmo at 11:30 a.m. on Sundyay. Thirteen painters create live art in front of festgoers. Also on Saturday: the Quick Draw competition, 1-3 p.m.. March 17-19, Hyde Park Village, Tampa. tbbca.org.
Spring Awakening gave musical theater a dewy facelift when it premiered in 2006. Originally written by Frank Wedekind circa 1891, the story touches on the lives of teens in a repressive society. With play’s provocative content sparked controversy back in the day, but it managed to endure, and its musical revamp garnered several Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Duncan Sheik’s score — a soundtrack much less cheesy than your typical theater “rock” — offers tunes that with “soaring melodies and gentle rhythms,” according to The New York Times. The modernized redo abbreviates the complexities of the original, but the Broadway touring production is still something to text home about. 8 p.m. Sat., March 19, and 2 and 8 p.m. Sun., March 20, 1111 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater. $50-$70. rutheckerdhall.com.
This article appears in Mar 10-16, 2011.