PHOTO COURTESY OF RUTH ECKERD HALL
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 31
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Rob Thomas will be joined by singersongwriter
Rachel Platten and newcomer
Jamie Lawson in this annual holiday
concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater,
(727) 791-7400.
14-Ballroom with a TWIST-mas
This holiday show featuring stars from
television’s top reality dance shows, along
with a live band, will be at the Capitol
Theatre in Clearwater, (727) 791-7400.
16-Holiday Cocktail Party The Sterling
Society’s buffet dinner/dance benefit for
the Dunedin Art Center will be at the
Center in Dunedin, (727) 798-3322.
16-A John Waters Christmas This
comedian, with adult-appropriate humor,
will offer a night of holiday mischief at the
Capitol Theatre in Clearwater,
(727) 791-7400.
16-Celtic Woman: Home for Christmas
- The Symphony Tour Featuring music
from this all-female music ensemble’s
second Christmas album, this Irish singing
sensation will perform at The Mahaffey
Theater in St. Petersburg, (727) 893-7832.
17-Rockapella Christmas Enjoy
this five-man contemporary pop
vocal ensemble in a light-hearted and
unforgettable holiday experience at the
Capitol Theatre in Clearwater,
(727) 791-7400.
17th-Red Cross Gingerbread House
Event This 20th annual champagne brunch,
auction and competitive decorating benefit
will be at the Don CeSar on St. Pete Beach,
(727) 515-5958.
17-Festival of Light: An Intimate
Evening with Matisyahu
A philosopher and poet, this artist who
blends beatboxing with Jewish themes in
reggae and hip hop rhythms will perform at
the Straz Center in Tampa, (813) 229-STAR
(7827).
17-Nate Najar’s Jazz Holiday Najar will
be bringing 15 of his closest internationally
acclaimed jazz friends to join him in this
show at The Palladium in St. Petersburg,
(727) 822-3590.
18-The Outlaws & Henry Paul Band
These two legendary Southern rock bands
will be at the Capitol Theatre in Clearwater,
(727) 791-7400.
18-19-Annual Safford House Victorian
Christmas Tour the beautifully decorated
Safford House with musical entertainment,
refreshments and a festive holiday gift shop
at the Safford House Museum in Tarpon
Springs,
19-20-Next Generation Ballet’s
Nutcracker Internationally renowned
guest artists will perform with the awardwinning
dancers of Next Generation Ballet
in this production of the holiday classic at
the Straz Center in Tampa, (813) 229-STAR
(7827).
19 thru 27-It’s a Wonderful Life
This live radio play will be at American
Stage in St. Petersburg, (727) 823-7529.
20-A Christmas Carol The beloved
Dickens’ classic Christmas tale of Ebenezer
Scrooge’s journey of redemption will be at
Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater,
(727) 791-7400.
20-Amahl and the Night Visitors The
Florida Lyric Opera will present this holiday
classic at the Heritage Museum in Tarpon
Springs, (727) 937-0686.
20-Michael McDonald Christmas
Formerly with the Doobie Brothers and
Steely Dan, McDonald will sing some of his
hits, along with Christmas favorites, at the
Capitol Theatre in Clearwater,
(727) 791-7400.
21-Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Christmas
Based on the music and comedy of the “Rat
Pack,” this show will include classic songs,
as well as voiceovers by the late comedian
Buddy Hackett, at Ruth Eckerd Hall in
Clearwater, (727) 791-7400.
22-27-The Sound of Music This
brand new production of Rodgers &
Hammerstein’s famous musical story of
Maria and the Von Trapp Family will be at
the Straz Center in Tampa,
(813) 229-STAR (7827).
23-The Nutcracker In its debut as the
in-house ballet company of Ruth Eckerd
Hall, Tampa Ballet Theatre will present
Tchaikovsky’s holiday story, performed by
professional dancers alongside the students
of the Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts,
at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater,
(727) 791-7400.
26-Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian
Nutcracker Experience the artistry of
world-class Russian dancers, sets and
costumes in this traditional holiday ballet
at The Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg,
(727) 893-7832.
29-The Producers Based on Mel Brooks’
classic cult comedy, this award-winning
Broadway musical will be at Ruth Eckerd
Hall in Clearwater, (727) 791-7400.
30-The Ten Tenors Celebrate the holiday
season with these Australian singing
sensations as they perform at the Capitol
Theatre in Clearwater, (727) 791-7400.
31-Salute to Vienna The Strauss
Symphony of America, along with
beautiful costumed ballet and ballroom
dancers, will present romantic vignettes in
this traditional New Year’s Eve concert at
Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater,
(727) 791-7400.
31-Midnight in the Garden The
DeBartolo Family Foundation’s New Year’s
Eve Gala benefit will be 9 p.m.-2 a.m. on
the top of the Fort Brooke Parking Garage
in Tampa, (813) 964-8302.
JANUARY
2-State Ballet Theatre of Russia: Romeo
& Juliet Based on William Shakespeare’s
tragic love story, this full-scale production
will be at The Mahaffey Theater in
St. Petersburg, (727) 893-7832.
8-Who’s Bad -
The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute
This music and dance-driven homage to
the late Michael Jackson will be at The
Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg,
(727) 893-7832.
8-10-New Year’s Waltz Michael Francis
will conduct The Florida Orchestra in
this concert with selections by Ravel,
Tchaikovsky, J. Strauss, Jr., H.K. Gruber
and R. Strauss, featuring guest cellist
Maximilian Hornung, (727) 892-3337 or
(800) 662-7286.
9-Ragtime The Musical
Set in turn-of-the-century New York, this
compelling story with a Tony Awardwinning
score will be at Ruth Eckerd Hall
in Clearwater, (727) 791-7400.
9-Winter’s Eve Monte Carlo Night The
Dunedin Fine Art Center’s cool benefit of
heavy hors d’oeuvres and winning big will
be at the Center in Dunedin, (727) 298-3322.
10-Elvis Birthday Bash Starring Scot
Bruce as the “young Elvis” and Mike
Albert as the “Las Vegas Elvis,” these two
entertainers will offer a rockin’ birthday
party at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater,
(727) 791-7400.
12-13-Shen Yun Enjoy the energy, culture
and beautiful music of classical Chinese
dance at The Mahaffey Theater in
St. Petersburg, (727) 893-7832.
13-Palladium Chamber Players
Led by Florida Orchestra Concertmaster
Jeffrey Multer, the players will include
Violinist Danielle Farina, Cellist Edward
Arron and Pianist Jeewon Park in this
concert at The Palladium in St. Petersburg,
(727) 822-3590.
14 thru 24-They’re Playing Our Song
Based on the book by Neil Simon, the music
by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Carole
Bayre Sager, this intimate musical will be
at Francis Wilson Playhouse in Clearwater,
(727) 446-1360.
15-Scott Stapp Former frontman for
Creed, Stapp will bring his Proof of Life tour
to the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg,
(727) 893-7832.
15-17-The Fabulous Forties Jeff Tyzik
will conduct The Florida Orchestra, along
with award-winning swing dancers, with
music from the big-band era, (727) 892-3337
or (800) 662-7286.
The legendary saxophonist Kenny G will perform
many career hits, as well as holiday favorites, at
Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on December 1st.