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Do It Today: Romeo, Juliet and Doc Webb on stage in St. Pete

By David Warner on Thu, May 14, 2009 at 10:16 am

Charlie Murphy. Comedian Charlie Murphy makes a return trip to Tampa’s Improv with shows all weekend long. Murphy, the not-nearly-as-famous sibling of Eddie Murphy, gained mass pop-culture exposure through appearances on Comedy Central’s Chappelle Show, where he related “true Hollywood stories” about playing midnight basketball with a blouse-wearing Prince and beating down Rick James after a particularly disturbing run-in between James’ muddy boots and Eddie’s white couch. I guess Eddie didn’t get all the funny in that family after all. May 14-17, 8 p.m. Thurs., 8 and 10:30 p.m. Fri., 7:30 and 10 p.m. Sat., 7 p.m. Sun., The Tampa Improv, Ybor City, $29, 813-864-4000. (Joe Bardi)

Icons of Innocence. Carolina Cleere, winner of the Mayor’s Award at the 2009 Gasparilla Arts Festival and Best of Show Awards at the Gulf Coast Museum of Art’s ARTE 2007, presents surreal portraits created via a fusion of mixed media photo collage, traditional art techniques and contemporary digital technology. May 14-June 11, with an opening reception from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thurs., May 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri., HCC Performing Arts Building, Palm Avenue and 14th Street, Ybor City, 813-253-7674.

W.O.M.E.N.'s Wine Tasting This 13th annual event features a discussion with Dr. Charles Mahan, an avid women's right supporter, as well as door prizes and light refreshments. Proceeds benefit W.O.M.E.N., which provides financial assistance for reproductive health care for low-income women and girls. 6-8 p.m. Thurs., May 14, Vintage Wine Cellars, Tampa, $20, 813-879-2931.

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Romeo + Juliet. Bob Devin Jones, fearless leader of The [email protected], takes on William Shakespeare’s most famous love story with a multi-cultural, multi-talented cast. Among the familiar names on board are Julie Rowe as the nurse, Bonnie Agan and Jorge Acosta as Lord and Lady Capulet and Sharon Scott as the chorus, with T. Scott Wooten and Brandii (right) taking the title roles. Preview, Thurs. May 14, 7:30 p.m., $10. Opening night Friday May 15, 7:30 pm. Additional performances May 16, 22-23, 7:30 pm. Sunday Matinee May 24, 3:00 pm, $20 general admission/$15 students and seniors. The [email protected], 620 1st Avenue South, St. Petersburg, 727-895-6620, www.studio620.org.

Webb’s City. The popular musical about renowned St. Petersburg entrepreneur Doc Webb, commissioned for the millennial celebrations in 2000, returns to the stage in a special concert version at The Palladium. Local playwright Bill Leavengood and musician Lee Ahlin tell the story of the bigger-than-life businessman, following him as he creates an empire during the economic downturn of the Great Depression, only to see the booms and busts of the market parallel the ups and downs of his own tumultuous life. May 14-17, 7:30 p.m., Thurs.-Sat., 1 p.m., Sun., Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, $16.50-$26.50, 727-822-3590, mypalladium.org.