Best For Last

When I was in Tampa with Oz, a group of us went to this restaurant. I ordered an appetizer of garlic feta cheese dip. It was so delicious that I made a group of people go this time around just to have it. Mmm garlic feta cheese dip!

Tampa

Here are some extra pictures of things around Tampa:

The Tampa Theatre (one of these times I might get to go inside!)

Old City Hall

There were signs for Billy Elliot everywhere in Downtown Tampa. I couldn't find one for our show.

Little did I now what a problem taking a picture of this squirrel would cause. I had just taken pictures of the old Nebulous Records sign when the squirrel jumped up on that bench. Naturally I took a picture. Well of course there was an indigent woman also on the bench, and she raised a fuss about me taking a picture of her. Despite the fact that I showed her the picture was of the squirrel and not her, she would not back down. I had to threaten to get the police involved just to make her shut up. Sad (and irritating)!

Nobody cared that I took a picture of this bird.

Another Chip has come and gone

Having gone through our original Chips, we now said goodbye to our first replacement Chip. Dakota was a wee bit tall when they signed him on, and those in charge knew his time would be limited. Thankfully they let him stay through his hometown of Tampa. It was sad to loose Dakota and his mother Traci, but these things do happen.

Hazing Sebastian, the new Chip.

Straz Center

When I played Tampa with Wizard of Oz we played the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Now with Beauty and the Beast we are playing the David A. Straz, Jr. Center For The Performing Arts. Same building, new name. Now I normally don't have much problem with a theatre being renamed if an individual or a corporation gives a whopping amount of money to help restore or improve a theatre. The only difference I noticed was new signage. I am also not sure I particularly like the name either. I mean, "Hey let's go catch a show at the Straz" just does not do it for me. I guess it sounds too much like Spaz.

Extracirricular Playing in Tampa

Some of the musicians on tour like to seek out playing opportunities outside of the show. Not me. I get enough of that at work! Brett and Matt had been trying to get something setup to play, and it finally came together in Tampa. A friend of a friend arranged for them to play at a tea shop one night after the show, and it is a good thing. Tampa was Matt's last week with Beauty and the Beast. Talk about coming down to the wire!

Merritt likes to get himself involved too.

Sheffield above, Me with Julie (Sheffield's mother) below

The second playing opportunity was at a little party that the crew arranged. Laci, one of our wardrobe people, likes to paint and has been collecting her paintings for people to look at off stage. So the crew thought it would be fun to have a little art show for her. So they reserved the same rooftop bar that we had our Wizard of Oz opening party at and set up her work for everyone to see.

Mr. Pickles is Laci's mascot.

The crew was able to convince a larger group to play that night including Catherine our new bass player. Incidentally I had worked with Catherine at Gateway Playhouse the summer before and was excited to have her join the tour.

Merritt again!

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

Given Tampa's close proximity to Orlando, it was only natural that I would make the trip over to go to one of the theme parks. Well I would normally default to Walt Disney World, but this was the first time I had the opportunity to visit the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios. Since I had to drive back to Tampa to play the show at night, it worked out perfectly that I could spend the day in the Wizarding World, have dinner with cousin Cathy and Keith, and then make it back for the show. Of course since it was a day when I decided to go to an Orlando theme park, it threatened to rain all day. I am happy to say though that the rain held off until right when I was leaving to meet Cathy and Keith for dinner. In the end I think that worked in my favor because the park was not crowded, and I was able to ride the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey in the Hogwarts Castle 3 times!

As for the Wizarding World, I really enjoyed it. The Forbidden Journey ride is really fun. The Hogsmeade Village feels absolutely real, and all the shops are very tempting. My only real complaint is that if felt pretty small. One brand new ride and two re-themed rides do not amount to all that much. Hopefully the rumors of an expansion in the near future are true.

Mmm butterbeer!

Mmm frozen butterbeer!