Events – 15 Jan 19

The Firehouse Cultural Center/ Gasparilla International Film Festival partnership will kick off its fall series with an amazing film, Chu & Blossom. Joon Chu, a Korean exchange student, suffering from the loss of his brother, finds himself marooned in small-town USA, where he is irrevocably swept up into the brave new world and bizarre philosophies of Butch Blossom, a touchingly militant performance artist. In an attempt to balance family, love, friendship, responsibility and personal legacy, Joon and Butch must come together to face their own fears and learn how to embrace the world with a new found sense of courage and humor.

The Red Rose Parlour Theatre presents “La Divina” : This show breaks the silence between audience and performer with an interactive twist where the audience becomes part of the performance.

In partnership with Straz Center, Firehouse Cultural Center is excited to bring this Cuban-born but Miami-based ensemble. Their “addictive, rhythmic concoction” of horns, percussion, guitars and warm, chocolatey vocals emerges from a deep enthusiasm for music’s ability to free the spirit.

Victoria Hawkes plays multiple genres of music, this concert is good old fashioned Country-Americana! Victoria resides in the South Shore area and has played in multiple local locations, such as, earlier this year, right here at the Firehouse Cultural Center for our annual Blues & BBQ Fundraiser.

Multi-Cultural folktales & folksongs from the American experience are brought to life by Tall Tale heroes Mike Fink & Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett. Traditional songs & audience participation add to the fun.

Feature film starring Amy Smart. The story of a group of friends who reunite for their annual 4th of July weekend only to be confronted by Chad, a strange & beautiful nature photographer who begins to change their lives one by one.

Firehouse Cultural Center will mark the 76th anniversary of Mercury Theatre’s original radio broadcast of Howard Knoch’s adaptation of H.G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds.” To celebrate, MAS Community Theatre will perform a live staged recreation of the broadcast. Actors will portray the original 1938 broadcast of the “The War of the Worlds” in the style of period broadcasting, which is directed by James Rayfield.

Valerie has been fortunate enough to have played with many of the great entertainers of our time, including; Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Rosemary Clooney, George Burns, Ben Vereen, Joan Rivers, Ray Charles, Jon Faddis, Steve Allen, Anthony Newley. And, she has traveled extensively with the Xavier Cugat Orchestra in the U.S. and Japan. Locally, you may have seen Valerie playing with Dan McMillion, Theo Valentin, JoAnn Samson, Belinda Womack and many other very talented musicians from the Tampa Bay area.

The Hamilton Harris Project was formed in 2003. The band, an offshoot from the successful Swinging Johnson’s band, was assembled by the co-leaders of the Johnsons – Tom “TBone” Hamilton and guitarist Dan Harris. They added Michael Johnn Aloia on keyboard and B3, drummer standout Ken Loomer, and songstress Marilyn Freemon.