The stage production of "The Wizard of Oz," which opens the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's 22nd season, is an excellent way to introduce children to musical theater. On opening night, children made up a good quarter or more of the audience, a testament to the movie's lasting appeal. But more than anything else, the stage production shows the enduring power of songs written by two gifted songwriters, Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. Just phrases such as "if I only had a brain" or "ding, dong, the witch is dead" put a tune immediately into your head. That's an amazing accomplishment for Arlen and Harburg. ...more

October 15, 2008

Singer Sam Moore, the tenor voice of the '60s hit singing duo Sam & Dave, told a sad, instructive story to Congress this summer, but lawmakers have been slow to respond. ...more

November 2, 2007