‘Broadway Comes (Back) To Tampa’ — At Saddlebrook Resort!

By Matt Wiley

“Broadway Comes to Tampa” is turning lucky number 13 this year, as several top Broadway stars will once again be coming to Saddlebrook Resort & Spa Tampa in Wesley Chapel for the New Tampa Players’ annual event on Saturday, May 12, 6 p.m.

“Expect many new faces,” says Doug Wall, president of the New Tampa Players (NTP).

Only one of this year’s confirmed Broadway guests, Natalie Toro (“Les Miserables” and “Cats”) has attended the event in the past, so attendees will be treated to several different artists that they likely never have had a chance to see perform in person.

“I try to bring new faces each year,” Wall says. “I definitely like to keep it fresh.”

He says that about 60 percent of past attendees have such a good time that they end up attending again the following year, many from out-of-state and from all over the Tampa Bay area.

Wall says he is expecting a big crowd this year, since the event is being held over Mother’s Day weekend. He says he expects that many who plan to attend will make a weekend out of it at Saddlebrook, treating Mom to a spa getaway and a Broadway concert to top it all off. Hopefully, this year’s attendees will be surprised by the variety of artists performing and the musicals for which they are known.

This year’s “Broadway” event will be the fourth year at Saddlebrook and, in addition to Toro, will feature the talents of Sandra Joseph (“Phantom of the Opera”), Luba Mason (“Jekyll & Hyde” and “Chicago”), Lawrence Clayton (“It Ain’t Nothin but the Blues” and “Dreamgirls”) and Chuck Wagner of “Les MisĂ©rables” and “Into the Woods” fame. The group will be putting on a concert in which they sing many of the Broadway songs that made them stars, as well as others of their own choosing.

Wall is also pleased to announce the appearance of special guest star Michael Lanning, who has lent his voice to several national brands ( including Chevrolet), spent six years with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and starred in the Tony-Award-winning production of “Frank Wildhorn’s The Civil War.”

In previous years, Wall’s cousin and Broadway composer Neil Berg has provided the musical accompaniment for the show, but he will be absent from this year’s performance so he can to receive a prestigious humanitarian award from the Ellis Island Society in New York City on the same night. Berg’s wife and Broadway star of “Phantom of the Opera” fame Rita Harvey will be by his side to receive the award. Luckily, says Wall, he has Sandra Joseph to fill Harvey’s spot. Wall’s saxophonist brother Greg, however, will be performing again this year.

“The entertainment value is second to none,” says Wall of the annual event. “We take the stars out of New York and put everyone in an intimate setting. Everyone gets to have an amazing evening and hear some major stars sing their most popular songs.”

Proceeds from the event will go to help raise funds for a community theater, which has been in the works for some time (see page 10). To help raise funds, the event also will feature a silent auction and a raffle, with the Grand Prize winner receiving an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to see two Broadway shows.

Broadway Comes to Tampa is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Saddlebrook Resort & Spa in Wesley Chapel. Tickets cost $175, or $1,750 for a table of ten and are available by calling 386-9333 or online at BroadwayComesToTampa. com. For tickets and questions, including sponsorship opportunities, please contact Doug Wall at 781-1171.

Relays For Life Still Drawing Crowds

“Cancer has touched most, if not all of us,” said one of the organizers and top fund raisers of this year’s 18-hour Wesley Chapel Relay for Life, which began at 6 p.m. on April 27 at the track at Wesley Chapel High. “Until we have a cure, we have Relay.”

The more than 340 participants on 29 teams at the Wesley Chapel Relay had raised more than $33,000 as the event began, which was literally just a few hours before we went to press with this issue.

We won’t know the total amount raised at the Wesley Chapel Relay until sometime closer to our next issue, but there’s no doubt that the organizers, survivors, caregivers, family members and spectators were treated to a warm, wonderful overnight “stroll” while enjoying great games, prize drawings, food and lots of fun.

Cancer survivor Karen Reinhold sang a stirring rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Like a Bridge Over Troubled Waters” and a local Boy Scout troop provided the color guard sendoff for this year’s Wesley Chapel Relay “survivor lap.” We will provide a more complete update on this outstanding event in our next issue.

Wiregrass Ranch Relay May 11!

Wesley Chapel residents who want to help in the fight against cancer can still get involved with the upcoming Wiregrass Ranch Relay for Life, which will begin on Friday, May 11, 6 p.m., around the running track at Wiregrass Ranch High. The Relay will continue through the night until noon on Saturday, May 12.

At our press time, the 199 participants on 28 Wiregrass Ranch Relay teams had raised nearly $11,000.

For more information about these and other Relay events, visit RelayforLife.org. — GN

School Board Holds Off On Facebook Change

We’ve all snapped a picture with our camera phones to post on our Facebook pages or blog sites, but what about the people in those pictures? A proposed change to the Pasco County School District student code of conduct would have required students to get the consent of any other student or faculty member before taking their picture, and especially before posting it to a social networking site or anywhere on the web. However, at its meeting on April 17, the School Board chose to hold off on any such change for now.

Technology is rapidly finding its way into every facet of life, including our school systems. “Students take photos of the white board (in class) as a form of notes, how are we supposed to stop that picture from having another student in it?,” asks District spokesperson Summer Romagnoli. Even though no vote was taken on the 17th the change to the code of conduct is up for a “second reading” next month. “The problem is how to determine consent,” she adds. “Can a minor give consent? Things like that. The goal is to bring our regulations in line with others around the country.”

Principal Raymond Bonti of Wiregrass Ranch High said he could not make a comment on the issue until he knows more about the rule change and how it could affect his school.

However, principal Scott Mitchell of Watergrass Elementary says that the change would have been a non-issue at his school. “We already have rules in place to prevent unwanted photos,” says Mitchell, adding that it would more likely affect middle and high school students.

The issue is not dead, however; the School Board is looking into other ways of addressing unwelcomed photography (and the displaying of photos) in its policy manual. There have been revisions made to protect students in areas where privacy or confidentiality could be compromised. This revision prohibits the use of cameras and other electronics in all locker rooms, restrooms and school clinics.

With more and more schools embracing technology for educational purposes, the use of electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.), which was once prohibited, is becoming more frequent and is even encouraged in some cases. While texting in class, answering a phone call during school hours, etc., are still frowned upon, students are still able to utilize their devices now more than ever before. – JM