FRIDAY 7.30
Into the Wooded Wardrobe The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is a classic tale of wonder and adventure and this weekend, you can catch a live adaptation at the Carrollwood Playhouse. Director Skip Volkle has helped to create an extra special production, going above and beyond the regular budgetary constraints of the Players by providing extra funds for some really cool special effects. The play is based on the book by C.S. Lewis and follows four children as they go through an old wardrobe in their uncle's country house and mysteriously find themselves in the land of Narnia, where the evil White Witch reigns with terror and a never-ending winter. With the help of the lion king, Aslan, and a variety of forest creatures, the four children embark on a mission to free the land of its wretched queen. The cast features adults in addition to the Carrollwood Players' youth group, which consists of young folks ages 7-18 who learn about and are involved in all aspects of the theater, from acting to collecting props, helping with costumes, running lights and sound, and being "stage manager." Volkle is aided by Denise Miles (assistant director) and Shanna Connolly (junior assistant director). Tickets: $12 adults/$10 seniors and students. 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 3 p.m. Sun. Continues through Aug. 7. Carrollwood Playhouse, 4333 Gunn Highway, Tampa. 813-265-4000.

SATURDAY 7.31
Extra Helping Big Brothers Big Sisters presents its sixth annual Art of Helping Children fundraiser, at the Hyatt in downtown Tampa. This swanky charity event offers a night of fun, flair and philanthropy beginning with a smorgasbord of gourmet food accompanied by complimentary beer, wine and champagne throughout the evening. Guests are also invited to sample from a spread of scrumptious desserts and fine coffees while perusing a range of silent auction items, like sports memorabilia from the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the USF Bulls; vacation and spa packages; fine-dining certificates; hotel accommodations; electronics and much more. The live auction begins at 8 p.m. and features artwork from local artists as well as masters like Chagall, Picasso, Dali and Miro. Live entertainment is provided throughout the evening so guests can dance the night away. (The Hyatt offers discounted room rates to all attendees just in case the party gets really wild.) Not the usual stuffy art auction, this is a fun!-draiser and all proceeds go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, which has provided 100 years of high-quality, life-enriching mentoring relationships between volunteers and children. Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased in advance at www.bbbsfl.org. For more information, visit www.bbbsfl.org or call 813-287-2210. 7 p.m. Hyatt Regency, 211 N. Tampa St., Tampa.

Indigenous Ink Slinger Anytime you read about Florida authors, I can almost guarantee that you'll find some sort of shout-out to Carl Hiaasen. This afternoon, Inkwood Books hosts a reading and signing by the beloved native in honor of his latest novel, Skinny Dip, in the Blake High School Auditorium. A Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Miami Herald, Hiaasen is the author of nine novels, several books of essays and the children's book Hoot. He's probably most recognized for his book, Strip Tease, which was adapted into a movie starring Demi Moore as a stripper and Burt Reynolds as a congressman. (You know, the film that was essentially a showcase for Demi's nude body? The $12.5 million paycheck made up for her loss of self-respect.) Basically, Hiaasen writes crime stories that are really more like comic romps through Southern Florida, a world that specializes in producing true mutants in lawyers, strippers, fixers, congressmen, bouncers, sugar barons and cops. Skinny Dip offers a look at the folly and farce of Sunshine State politics and features a ruthless agribusiness tycoon illegally dumping fertilizer into the endangered Everglades, aided by a marine scientist who is willing to falsify data and even murder a wife for the cause. When the wife in question refuses to stay dead, things get very interesting. For further information about the signing, contact Inkwood Books at 813-253-2838, or inkwoodbks@aol.com. 3 p.m. Blake High School Auditorium, 1701 N. Boulevard, Tampa.

SUNDAY 8.1
Roxie Musical See the musical that inspired the movie, when the live theater production of Chicago comes to town for a limited time beginning this evening at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Originally opened in 1975, Chicago was revived on Broadway by Ann Reinking, who choreographed the production in the style of Bob Fosse. It went on to win six Tony awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, and continues to feature dazzling dancing, first-rate performances and Fosse-esque choreography. Based on a 1926 play by Chicago Tribune reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, Chicago tells the story of Roxie Hart, a chorus girl who murders her unfaithful husband, then manages not only to avoid prison, with the help of smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn, but to use the trial to propel herself to showbiz stardom. A dark allegory of American justice, Chicago is a risqué musical that includes several famous numbers, such as "All That Jazz," "Razzle Dazzle" and "Class." Tickets: $20-$66.50. Showtimes are 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Sun.; 7:30 p.m. Tue.-Thu.; 8 p.m. on Fri.; and 2 and 8 p.m. on Sat., Aug. 1-7. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. 813-229-7827.

WEDNESDAY 8.4
Tell It! Tell It! Women are given the opportunity to reach within to find their stories and share them with others in a set of powerful workshops offered this summer by Powerstories Theatre. The "Seek and Speak Your Story" workshops consist of five sessions during which women are encouraged to realize the most important stories of their lives and put them into words. Led by Fran Powers, life coach, author and founder of Powerstories Theatre, the workshops offer enlightenment for many women who, through the process, may discover new levels of healing, growth and empowerment. Over the course of the workshop, these budding storytellers are coached on everything from story development and presentation skills to gaining a deeper appreciation for listening to others' stories. At the final workshop in the series, participants take everything they've learned and tell theirstory before a live audience. The workshops are designed for women in all stages of life, from the young girl angsting her way through her teen years to the grandma who has decades of wisdom to share. Price: $50. The 10-hour workshop takes place during two-hour sessions (6-8 p.m.) on Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25, and Sep. 1. Aston Gardens Community Club House, 12951 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa.

This article appears in Jul 29 – Aug 4, 2004.