Get Your Tickets Now To See “Into The Woods” At NTPAC!

By Nora Paine Producing Artistic Director New Tampa Players

On Mar. 28, the New Tampa Players (NTP) theatre troupe once again took the stage at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center. This time, NTP is presenting Stephen Sondheim’s beloved musical “Into The Woods,” which intertwines classic fairy tales with deeper themes of human desires and consequences, is taking center stage in a new production that is sure to enchant local audiences. Nominated for ten Tony Awards (winning three) in 1988, this Sondheim masterpiece has been praised for its complex characters, beautiful score, and profound narrative. 

Directed by Karissa Barber, the NTP production is showcasing the talents of local actors, a live orchestra led by musical director, G. Frank Meekins, and more than a dozen unseen costumers, designers, painters, builders and crew members, all working together to bring this timeless story to life. 

Set in a fantastical world where characters from different fairy tales — such as Cinderella, Jack (of Beanstalk fame), Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel — reside in the same village and cross paths in the mysterious forest, “Into the Woods” explores themes of wish fulfillment, moral choices and the unexpected consequences of pursuing one’s desires. The show’s rich score, which includes songs like “No One Is Alone” and “Children Will Listen,” is widely considered one of Sondheim’s greatest achievements. 

The production’s leads, Richard Brown and Hope Lelekacs, are taking on the roles of the Baker and the Baker’s Wife. These two characters are central to the story, embarking on a quest to find ingredients for a potion that will lift a curse placed upon their family. Their journey through the woods is filled with challenges, but it also brings them closer together as a couple and forces them to confront the deeper questions about their lives and wishes. 

“I see the Baker as someone who is stepping out of his comfort zone and putting all of his family’s burdens on his shoulders,” says Brown, who most recently was seen as Seymour in NTP’s fall production “Little Shop of Horrors.” “[The Baker] has no idea what he’s doing but he’s doing it anyway because he feels he has to. So, although he can be funny, I think the sincerity and vulnerability of someone who desperately wants a family should also be there.” 

Lelekacs, a recent graduate of the University of Tampa, is excited about playing the Baker’s Wife, a dream of hers since she saw Brianna Filippelli play her on the New Tampa Players’ stage in 2016. 

“The Baker’s Wife is complex and hopeful,” Lelekacs says. “The driving force in her relationship is balancing love and longing with a contagious belief that life holds more than just routine and work. I admire how she stays practical and grounded, yet isn’t afraid to take risks.” 

Theatergoers can expect a truly community-driven performance, with all of the cast members and production team hailing from Hillsborough County and surrounding areas. The show has been months in the making, with rehearsals beginning in early January and production design and staging evolving throughout February. 

If you’re looking for a magical evening filled with laughter, tears, and unforgettable music, “Into the Woods” promises to be the perfect outing. It’s a chance to experience the magic of theater while supporting local talent, and the cast and crew of your not-for-profit community theater, the New Tampa Players. 

“Into the Woods” will be performed Friday-Sunday, March 28-30, and April 4-6, at NTPAC (8550 Hunters Village Dr., New Tampa). For more info or to purchase tickets online, please visit NewTampaPlayers.org. 

Everbowl Craft Superfood Is Now Open Next To Publix In The New Tampa Center 

Photos by Charmaine George

Benjamin Burkhalter, the franchise owner of Everbowl Craft Superfood in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center plaza at 19036 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (at New Tampa Blvd.), may look a little young to be an entrepreneur, but he says he recognized a good product when he saw one. 

“I’ve been into eating healthy and working out since my teens,” Benjamin says. “But, when I visited my brother, who was stationed in San Diego (where Everbowl started), I met (founder and CEO) Jeff Fenster and sampled a lot of his healthy menu, so I decided to open a franchise here in Florida.” 

The only other Florida Everbowl of the chain’s 100+ open and coming-soon locations is near the University of Central Florida campus in Orlando and Benjamin says a lot of the existing locations are near or on college campuses — and he is looking to open others in his Tampa Bay-area territory. 

“I liked the look of the stores and the fact that everything is super-fresh and that we have so many different bases for our bowls and smoothies,” Benjamin says. “I just feel like if people try us, they’re going to love it!” 

Photographer Charmaine George (who took the photos on this page) and I sampled a few menu items on our first visit and we enjoyed everything.  

Charmaine absolutely loved her PB Everbowl, which included an açai base, with granola, fresh bananas, strawberries and blueberries with a peanut butter drizzle. We each also tasted a spoonful of other bases, including “Coco Love,” Blue and Mango Majic, Cacao Wow and vanilla. They reminded us of fresh fruit sorbets and frozen yogurts. 

I was in the mood for a post-workout smoothie, so I ordered the PB Cacao Dream, which uses the chocolatey Cacao Wow base, blended with bananas, cacao nibs, peanut butter and almond milk, and Benjamin added a scoop of protein powder. I finished the entire large-size smoothie while I interviewed him.  

Assistant manager Abby Roneker (at right in photo, right) also made us my surprise favorite menu item, the Bruschetta Avocado Toast, which is a thick slice of tasty toasted rustic artisan bread topped with house-made (and truly fresh) avocado spread, marinated tomatoes, basil and a zesty balsamic drizzle. I’m not as big an avocado fan as Charmaine is, but we both loved it! 


Everbowl also offers a variety of lemonades and fruit teas with unique flavors like dragon fruit, strawberry basil and more. For more info or to order online, visit Everbowl.com and please tell Benjamin and Abby I sent you! — GN 

The Latest On Rock & Brews and Portillo’s

Just before we went to press with our March 18 Wesley Chapel issue, we received the following statement from the management at Rock & Brews:

There has been a lot of confusion regarding the future of Rock & Brews on S.R. 56 and the likelihood of Portillo’s replacing it in front of the Tampa Premium Outlets.

To clarify the situation, Rock & Brews President of Operations Kris Maronpot recently provided us with this accurate information.

What’s Happening?

The Rock & Brews on S.R. 56 will be closing on Monday, March 24, 2025.

Rock & Brews encourages their rock star fans to dine with them by or before their final day of service on Sunday, March 23. 

“It has been a great honor and experience to serve the Wesley Chapel and Tampa community,” Maronpot says. “We are thankful for everyone’s continued support. We look forward to serving those who rock in the future at our other Florida locations — Orlando, Oviedo, and Kissimmee — soon.”

Visit Facebook.com/RockandBrewsWesleyChapel or RockandBrews.com, or call (813) 800-7625 for updates on events & promotions. 

University Boba Tea House Is Open In The Palms Connection! 

If you’re looking for a great new place for boba tea that also offers a variety of different-each-day, fun activities, look no further than the new University Boba Tea House, located at 2828 E. Bearss Ave., in the Palms Connection plaza, just west of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. 

Although the place wasn’t quite open at our press time — so I can’t show you any pictures of the food or beverages on these pages, University Boba Tea House co-owners (and emergency room physicians) Dr. Michael LoGuidice (aka “Dr. Mike”) and Dr. Steve Tersheshee told us that by the time this issue reaches your mailbox (on or before Tuesday, March 4), the new location will definitely be open. 

If the name sounds familiar to you, Dr. Steve’s International Boba Tea House (which changed names to “University” when he partnered with Dr. Mike) was open for 15 years off E. Fowler Ave., in a plaza next to University Mall. The new location will make the place more accessible to New Tampa residents, but will have many of the same features as the previous location — especially a huge variety of different and unique boba tea flavors, with both bursting (or popping) and jelly-style bobas. 

When I say unique, I mean it! While you can get boba tea flavors like mango, peach, strawberry, etc., almost anywhere, University Boba Tea House also boasts flavors like “Tiramisu” (taro, mocha & cappuccino), “Pikachu” (mango, peach, pineapple & banana), “Purple Rain” (lavender, blueberry, almond and taro) and more than three dozen more. 

Also available are 16 varieties of Latte Tea (iced, fresh-brewed black tea with non-dairy creamer and sweetener), from favorites like Chai Tea Latte to Lavender and Lychee Latte. There’s also fresh-brewed loose leaf black, Thai and jasmine green tea. 

Dr. Mike also promises to have a variety of fresh muffins — including cinnamon crunch, double chocolate and more — and other pastries, plus ramen noodles. There’s also a conversation-starting “Pucker Powder Candy Art” vending machine (right photo) which dispenses tubes of powdered candy in a variety of flavors that are supposedly lower in sugar than many other candy items. 

But, the place also features a USF student art gallery and a nice-sized stage for live bands, Open Mic and Karaoke nights. In fact, it is open noon-midnight seven days a week and there are different events scheduled for every night of the week except Sunday. All of these weekly events are shown in the ad at the bottom of this page. 

“We’ve got something for everyone,” Dr. Mike says, “from an internet cafĂ© for students to relaxed, private booths and fun events for older adults.” 

For more info, call (813) 304-0021, visit UniversityBobaTeaHouse.com, find it on social media or see the ad below — and please tell them I sent you! — GN

Paris Baguette To Open Tomorrow In New Tampa!

Photos by Charmaine George

Paris Baguette, the upscale, French-inspired, Korean-owned bakery chain, will open tomorrow – Saturday, March 8 – at 6 a.m., at 17515 Preserve Walk Ln. (off Bruce B. Downs Blvd., next to Coldstone Creamery) in the Highwoods Preserve area of New Tampa.

If you love authentic French pastries, both sweet and savory, this is the place for you!

Paris Baguette is elegant but casual & all of the items we sampled were delicately baked & delicious. And, we haven’t even sampled the gorgeous cakes yet! Also serving top-quality Lavazza Italian coffee & coffee drinks, plus a large variety of hot & iced teas, too!

For the full story about Paris Baguette, see the March 18 Wesley Chapel & April 1 New Tampa editions of Neighborhood News! Or visit ParisBaguette.com.