Don’t miss…
Spies Traitors and Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America. Snoop on the history of domestic terrorism and espionage from 1776 to 9/11. On loan from International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., the traveling exhibition makes its only Florida stop at Tampa Bay History Center, with more than 140 historic photographs and documents on display. Items include fragments of the planes that hit the World Trade Center, an ID card carried by operatives of the American Protective League in 1916 — citizens who spied on fellow Americans during World War I — and a skin-curdling Ritual Klan Red Robe from 1965. As Spies, Traitors and Saboteurs explores the challenges of national security while maintaining civil liberties, you can offer your own input by responding to questions in a mock Gallup poll. Feb. 4-June 24, Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Old Water St., Tampa, tampabayhistorycenter.org.
Ghetto Klown. For the past two decades Colombian-American actor and writer John Leguizamo has tested the limits of TMI with his ballsy-funny and brutally honest bio plays. Academy Award winner Fisher Stevens, a documentary filmmaker and actor known to most for his stint in Short Circuit, directs Leguizamo’s latest Broadway production, which makes a tour stop at the Straz. Last seen in The Lincoln Lawyer, Leguizamo has co-starred in William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet and a slew of other movies. Ghetto Klown is his fifth one-man show. Leguizamo explains on his play’s official website: “It’s like Wikileaks but with no international manhunt. Yet.” 7:30 p.m., Thurs., March 8. Straz Center, downtown Tampa, strazcenter.org. ghettoklownonbroadway.com.
Jon Stewart. Once upon a time Jon Stewart was the host of a vaguely memorable talk show on MTV. Though he threatened to remain as nondescript as Carson Daly, Stewart’s profile ratcheted up when he replaced The Daily Show’s smarmy ginger host, Craig Kilborn, morphing from low-key caterpillar to camera-mugging butterfly in no time, and investing the mock news broadcast with incisive wit, vindicating rants and legit analyses of the body politic. Stewart’s live show has toured to Tampa Bay before, but it gets an extra nudge this time: it’s taking place in the thick of an election year, and in the midst of local preparations for the Republican National Convention. 7 and 9:30 p.m., Sat., April 21, at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, rutheckerdhall.com.
Also on the radar…
A History of Tampa Jazz. Cigar City Magazine presents films that explore local history; one features Poet Laureate James Tokley. 7 p.m., Thurs., Feb. 2, The Buzz, 710 Harbour Post Drive, Tampa. CatchTheBuzzTampa.com.
They Dared to Fly: The Tuskegee Airmen. Captured recently in the George Lucas action-adventure Red Tails, several of the nation’s first African-American military aviators share stories and sign autographs in honor of Black History Month. Feb. 9-11, Fantasy of Flight Museum, Polk City. fantasyofflight.com.
Penn and Teller Live.. The tall opinionated fellow and his quasi-mute partner bring their twisted sleights of hand and humor to the Mahaffey. Side note: Penn Jillette will be appearing in the next season of Celebrity Apprentice. 8 p.m., Fri., Feb. 10, 400 First St. S, St. Petersburg, mahaffeytheater.com.
Takin’ It to The Streets: A Tribute To Yacht Rock. Ten bands play three smooth classics each, including Thunder (Nessie), Doll Parts, The Peabodies, Pretty Voices, Supercruiser, Thee Knight Sweats, Vodkanauts, Weapons of Ass Destruction and others. 8 p.m., Sat., Feb. 25, at the Local 662, 662 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, Facebook.com/thelocal662.
CANCELED: American Pickers. 8 p.m., Sat., Feb. 25, Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg, mahaffeytheater.com.
Itzhak Perlman. The Grammy- and Emmy-winning violinist whose strums graced the breathtaking Schindler’s List score performs with pianist Rohan De Silva. 7 p.m., Sun., March 4, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, rutheckerdhall.com.
Henry Rollins: The Long March Tour. The punk rock icon, the tough-talking Renaissance man and Black Flag beefcake touches on the people and places he encountered while globetrotting for his photo travel book Occupants. 8 p.m., Sat., March 10, Capitol Theater, downtown Clearwater, atthecap.com.
Chaz Bono. The male formerly known as the female named Chastity Bono, child of Cher and Sonny Bono, talks about his journey to manhood and a fully realized identity. 8 p.m., Tues., April 17, MSC Ballroom, USF, Tampa. uls.usf.edu.
David Sedaris. The impish department store elf set a new standard for the biographical essay and has won over millions of fans with his clever but self-effacing charms. No new book, but we hear he’s reading some new selections. 7:30 p.m., Wed., April 19, Tampa Theatre, tampatheatre.org.
