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'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' Flies Into Tampa

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TBO.com

Published: December 8, 2008

TAMPA - If ever there was a time to introduce kids to grown-up theater, it's now.

A fresh, new version of the classic musical "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" flies into Tampa on Dec. 9. The undisputed star of the show is Ms. Chitty herself, "our fine four-fendered friend." Her superhero powers include the ability to mesmerize the most fidgety kid with deft, onstage acrobatics, despite a less-than-girlish figure.

"Her glory days as the winner of the 1910 Grand Prix are well behind her when, at the top of the show, siblings Jeremy and Jemima Potts are found pretending to race Chitty from the trash heap on which she sits," explains production manager Mike Bauder.

She soon comes to life, thanks in part to the kids' inventor dad, Commander Caractacus Potts; and in part to technical design executed by the Rolling Stock Co. in Sarasota and some theatrical magic courtesy of New York's PRG/Scenic Technologies. Chitty's very unsedanlike abilities carry away the Potts family on one adventure after another. And through it all, they sing lots of very catchy tunes.

"Chitty has on-board features that allow her to fly, float, tilt and pivot all around the stage while carrying as many as four passengers," Bauder says. "She is 14 feet long and 5 feet wide with a red and yellow parachute silk wingspan of more than 20 feet."

When Chitty takes wing, he says, audiences gasp.

"At intermission, people are milling around, asking out loud, 'How did they do that?' The audience won't see a car hanging from wires."

With star power like that, Chitty even gets her own curtain call.

Get Your Tickets Here
• Performances are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9-11; 8 p.m. Dec. 12; 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 13; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at the arts center's Carol Morsani Hall, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, in downtown Tampa
• Prices are $38.50 to $67.50, or $85 for a season ticket, which includes "Chitty" and six other shows. Call (813) 229-7827 or go to tbpac.org to buy tickets and get seating information.
• Bring an unwrapped toy to the performing arts center ticket office no sooner than 6 p.m. Dec. 9 or 6 p.m. Dec. 11 to purchase $20 tickets for that evening's performance.
• Students 18 and younger, adults 65 and older and members of the military can receive 50 percent off remaining seats to any performance by visiting the ticket office no sooner than 90 minutes before showtime.
• On Broadway Family Night, Dec. 10, purchase an adult ticket and receive a free child's ticket for ages 12 and younger.

And Speaking Of Broadway Family Night
On Dec. 10, come early for free pre-show family-friendly activities and stay late for a post-show talk-back, where kids and parents will have the opportunity to ask questions of the cast and crew of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Pre-show activities include:
• DIY musical Instruments for the crafty
• Human Machine Game - Families invent a human machine.
• Master of Balance - math/science activity station
• Dress It Up - costume fun courtesy of La France vintage store

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