St. Petersburg, Fla. (May 30, 2017) – The Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater in downtown St. Pete announces three new performances for Fall/Winter offering unique musical and dance options. Tickets for all three new shows go on sale to the public Friday, June 2 at 10 a.m. Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts members can purchase tickets starting at noon today. Tickets may be purchased online at themahaffey.com, charge by phone at 727.893.7832 or in person at The Mahaffey Theater Box Office.
BUMPER JACKSONS: Mahaffey on the Move performance
We musically salute our American roots on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. with the Bumper Jacksons at the Palladium Theater. They pay homage to traditional songs with their own unique style combining fiddles, horns and guitars. Called a combo of blues, folk and jazz in a performance called both hot and sweet, they paint America’s story from New Orleans and the Appalachian mountains to their vibrant cities of Baltimore and Washington, DC.
Honored as the region’s 2015 “Artist of the Year” and “Best Folk Band” from 2013-2015 at the Washington Area Music Awards, the Bumper Jacksons are playfully creative with their originals and re-imagining roots music with both power and tenderness. Jess Eliot Myhre combines clarinet, vocals and the washboard and honors our traditional American roots music found from swing dances, contra dances and square dances to the streets of our cities. She’s a two-time winner of the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest in the jazz and vocal categories. Six more musicians join in to blend their unique talents and instruments including clarinet, washboard, guitars, banjo, bass and trombone.
THE STATE BALLET THEATRE OF RUSSIA PRESENTS SLEEPING BEAUTY
Enjoy a classic ballet brought to you by The State Ballet Theatre of Russia Presents Sleeping Beautyand performed by dancers respected around the globe on Friday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. Founded by legendary dancer and former Prima Ballerina of The Bolshoi Theatre Ballet, Maya Plissetskaya, The State Ballet Theatre of Russia, now under the direction of award-winning dancer and Moiseyev dance company soloist Nikolay Anokhin, presents one of the greatest classical ballets of all time. This timeless fairy tale of a princess cursed to sleep for 100 years, is considered one of Tchaikovsky’s greatest jewels. The State Ballet Theatre of Russia presents 50 of Russia’s brightest ballet stars to bring this romantic tale of true love to glorious life! Critics rave calling the performance an “effortless precision” by the Palm Beach Daily Newsand “Full of enchantment!” by The New York Times.
THE DRIFTERS, CORNELL GUNTER’S COASTERS AND THE PLATTERS
In 2018 we’ll sing along to classic smash hits spanning five decades of music brought to you by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s The Drifters, Cornell Gunter’s Coasters, and The Platters stopping in St. Pete on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m. Spend a nostalgic evening saluting three of the world’s most beloved musical groups, instrumental in creating the Rock & Roll Doo Wop sound.
The Drifters remind us love transcends all ages with hits from “Save the Last Dance For Me,” and “Up on the Roof,” plus the timeless “Stand By Me.” Rolling Stone magazine said the iconic classic American musicians were the top “500 Greatest Rock and Roll Performers.” No wonder they were the first group to be inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The beautiful “There Goes My Baby” enchants but it’s the classic “Under the Boardwalk” that is the most played R&B disc of all time. They were part of the longest running sold out concert show in Las Vegas history.
The Platters are all veterans of film and stage from Broadway to Hollywood and offers fans a chance to hear their debut single “Only You (And You Alone)” which launched this first African-American vocal group worldwide and their number one hit “The Great Pretender” as “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” topped off by “With this Ring.”
This year is the 35th anniversary of the formation of Cornell Gunter’s Coasters. The revival of hits from the 50s lives on with the iconic doo-wop sounds of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Classics like “Posin Ivy”, “Yakety Yak”, “Love Potion Number Nine”, “Searchin'”, “Sweet Georgia Brown”, “Down In Mexico”, “Young Blood”, “The Shadow Knows”, “Charlie Brown” are sure to please.
The Mahaffey Theater, under the management of Big3 Entertainment, is one of Tampa Bay’s top-rated performing arts venues. Home to the Florida Orchestra, The Mahaffey hosts top-quality national and international artists and performances – Broadway, pop, rock, comedy, dance, classical and interactive engagements and exhibitions.
Located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, the 2,031-seat cultural jewel boasts spectacular waterfront views and is located only minutes away from white sandy beaches and world-renowned museums. Additionally, the theater supports the highly successful Class Acts program, which enables school children to experience the performing arts through in-theater performances as well as in-school outreach and extension programs.
Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts
Founded as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2009, the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts is dedicated to the success and future of The Mahaffey Theater and to the notion that through diverse programing and patron membership support, performing arts should be enjoyed by all of St. Petersburg’s citizens. It’s your theater!
The Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts is committed to supporting and presenting all genres of the performing arts at The Mahaffey Theater, funding arts education for school children through the Class Acts performance series and providing its member patrons with unequaled services, entertainment and cultural experiences.