By Kathy L. Collins
Hat Trick Theatre Productions, Inc., founded in Tampa in 2004, presents Herb Gardner’s A Thousand Clowns in the Shimberg Playhouse at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for The Performing Arts in Tampa from Friday, December 6 through Sunday, December 22.
Performances of A Thousand Clowns will take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings beginning at 8 p.m. On Sundays, it will present matinee performances at 4 p.m.
On Thursday, December 5 there will be a special preview opening with tickets costing just $14. There is a special “Industry and Pay-What-You-Can” performance on Monday, December 16 at 8 p.m. Regularly-priced tickets are $23. There are special ticket prices for students, seniors and members of the military for just $18. Tickets may be purchased by calling 229-STAR (7827). Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Straz Center Ticket Office or online at www.strazcenter.org.
A Thousand Clowns features Nicki and her Uncle Murray as an “unconventional” family. Murray Burns is an unemployed television writer and his 12-year-old niece is one of the brightest kids at her school. Their days are spent perfecting mobster impressions and visiting the Statue of Liberty. When Nicki writes a school essay about the benefits of unemployment insurance, the school sends a pair of social workers to evaluate her living situation. While Nicki’s world is rocked, Murray struggles to give up the song and dance for a suit and tie.
Anna Robinson of Hat Trick Theatre Productions said, “We are a professional theatre company. After several seasons in Hudson, the company returned to Tampa with its 2012-2013 season which included productions of And Then There Were None, Jeffery and Neville’s Island. The 2013-2014 season kicked off with William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead, its highest grossing production to date.
For more information, contact Anna Robinson at anna@hattricktheatre.com.
