Broadway Comes To Tampa To Be Held At Downtown Tampa Hilton

Broadway shows don’t often make it to New Tampa or Wesley Chapel. Not at all, actually. But, the 16th annual “Broadway Comes To Tampa” (BCTT), an event presented by the New Tampa Players (NTP) acting troupe, again is bringing the stars of Broadway to the Tampa Bay area to sing the hits of the stage in an intimate elegant dinner environment, and a new venue will make the night even more special.

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For the past several years, BCTT has been held at Saddlebrook Resort & Spa. However, this year’s event will be held on Saturday, May 9, at the Hilton Downtown Tampa, located on N. Tampa St., just blocks away from where traveling Broadway shows are performed at the David A. Straz Center.

“After eight glorious years at Saddlebrook, we’ve looked at requests from our sponsors to bring the event back downtown (where it was held before Saddlebrook),” says NTP president Doug Wall. “The downtown location can better serve guests who come from around Tampa Bay. We’re going to see how this year goes, before determining whether to keep it downtown or bring it back to Wesley Chapel next year.”

In addition to a new venue, Wall says that this year’s BCTT also will feature some new talent, including Mandy Gonzalez and Richard Todd Adams.

Gonzalez last appeared on Broadway as Elphaba (the young Wicked Witch) in the “Wizard of Oz” prequel/spin-off/adaptation of “Wicked,” and film credits including appearances in the thriller “Man On A Ledge” and the Beatles musical “Across The Universe.”

Adams has made stage appearances on the traveling production of “The Phantom of the Opera” as the Phantom, as well as in the role of Javert in the Chicago production of “Les Misérables.”

This year’s BCTT will welcome back Danny Zolli, who’s best known for his number of performances starring as Jesus & Judas in more than 23 productions (including Broadway and six National/International Tours) of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

Jeannette Bayardelle is another returning BCTT veteran, who has starred in Broadway revivals of “Hair,” as well as “The Color Purple.” She also has released two solo albums and appeared on “Oprah” and “Live With Regis & Kelly.”

This year’s show also will bring back Rita Harvey, who has starred in the Broadway revival of “Fiddler On The Roof,” after beginning her career in “Phantom Of The Opera” as Christine Daaé. Harvey’s husband (and Wall’s cousin) Neil Berg also will be returning as the host and pianist for the event. Berg is the composer of “Grumpy Old Men” on Broadway.

BCTT veteran Greg Wall, Doug’s brother, will once again be bringing his saxophone skills to the stage, which he also has lent to numerous film scores. 

Tickets to “Broadway Comes to Tampa” at the Hilton Downtown Tampa (211 N. Tampa St.) on Saturday, May 9, cost $200 per person or $2,000 for a table of 10. To purchase tickets or for more info, please visit BroadwayComesToTampa.com.