Celebrations of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will have a different feeling this year, with Tampa’s parade postponed till June and St. Pete’s being held virtually. (See details in this Tampa Bay Times roundup.) But there are still some notable related events to watch for this weekend, plus some exciting doings on the theater scene, a big game, big boats and lot more.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dance Showcase. Top St. Pete dance teams strut their stuff in this sure-to-be-uplifting celebration at the Campbell Park Sports Complex, 601 14th St. S., in St. Pete on Sun. Jan. 17 from 5-7 p.m. Mask-wearing will be strictly enforced. Questions? Call 727-321-7919, or go to the Facebook page of event sponsors Advantage Village Academy.
MLK Virtual Food Drive. In years past, One City Chorus and the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum have collected non-perishable foods on MLK Day. This year, because of the pandemic, they’ve decided to collect monetary contributions instead, to help out local food banks whose supplies are frequently depleted after the holidays. All funds will be divided among Daystar Life Center, Gulfport Senior Center and the St. Petersburg Free Clinic Food Pantry. To make a contribution, go to the MLK Virtual Food Drive GoFundMe page.
MLK/FBI at Green Light Cinema: The invaluable Green Light Cinema, St. Pete’s only “art house” movie theater, continues its string of smart programming with MLK/FBI, a new documentary (called “startling” by The Guardian) that looks at J. Edgar Hoover’s attempts to derail Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s campaign for civil rights. Because of COVID-19, audience sizes are limited and advance ticket purchase is required. Fri., 1/15, 7 & 9:15 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1/16-17, 4 & 7 p.m. Green Light Cinema, 221 Second Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 508-816-8968. To purchase tickets, go to ticketing.useast.veezi.com.
Doubt: A Parable at Jobsite Theater. Jobsite has assembled what feels like the perfect cast for John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer- and Tony-winning 2004 play. David Jenkins and Roxanne Fay (pictured above) play a parochial school priest and the head nun who suspects him of having improper relations with a male student, Emily Belvo is the young nun caught between them and Andresia Moseley plays the boy’s mother. “Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty,” the priest says in a sermon that opens the play; at a moment in our country’s history when doubt and certainty are in mortal combat, those words (and the play) feel more relevant than ever. Thurs.-Sat., 1/14-16 & 21-23, 8 p.m.; Sun., 1/17 & 24, 4 p.m. Jaeb Theater at the Straz, jobsitetheater.org.
21st Century Voices: New Play Festival & Letters to Kamala at American Stage. The theater company’s fifth annual new play festival goes virtual this year, and if its past successes in the Zoomasphere are any indication, the experience should be as thought-provoking as ever. The theme is timely, too — playwrights were asked to submit plays that explore the theme of mental health, wellness and resilience. In addition to the play readings, the festival will include post-show discussions with the playwrights and mental health clinicians, as well as panel discussions, wellness workshops, a community mental health conversation and more. Also this weekend, beginning Sun., Jan. 17: a limited-time replay of Letters to Kamala from the company’s Digital Theatre Series, an exploration of inspiring “female firsts.” 21st Century Voices: 1/15-17 and 1/22-24. Letters to Kamala: 1/17-23. Tickets at tickets.americanstage.org.
Writers in Paradise. Even paradise has gone virtual: Eckerd College’s much-anticipated writing conference, with its free public reading series, is online this year. But that may just mean more people will get to watch the stellar lineup of readings on the Writers in Paradise YouTube channel: Sun., 1/17, 6 p.m.: Ana Menéndez, Michael Koryta, Major Jackson and Sterling Watson. Mon., 1/18, 6 p.m.: Les Standiford, Ann Hood, Emily Bernard, Andre Dubus III and Laura Lippman.
St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show. As we reported back in our A to Z 2020 issue, the boat biz is bigger than ever these days as more and more people seek escape on open waters. If you too have dreams of sailing away from it all, mask up and head down to Albert Whitted Park on the St. Pete waterfront this weekend, where you can browse and/or buy boats on land and water and even get a free sailboat ride if you sign up in time. Thurs.-Fri. 1/14-15, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. 1/16, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun. 1/17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Albert Whitted Park, St. Petersburg. Purchase tickets at stpeteboatshow.com.
Snowbirds at Syd Entel Galleries/Susan Benjamin Glass Etc. No, it’s not a show about itinerant Canadians — it’s about actual birds. The venerable Safety Harbor gallery has assembled an eclectic array of avian artwork, including pieces by Tampa artist Susan Gott, Georgia naturalist Dan Goad, and even wildlife illustrator John James Audubon. Show opens Sat. 1/16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and continues through 2/13. Syd Entel Galleries / Susan Benjamin Glass Etc. 247 Main Street, Safety Harbor, sydentelgalleries.com.
Creative Families at the Morean Arts Center. The art is all relative in this group exhibition, featuring works by four families of artists: Paul, Peter and Jack Massing; the Whipple family; the Jaegers; and Julie and Ehren Gerhard. The Gerhards’ show closes Feb. 14; the others remain on view till Mar. 25. 719 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, moreanartscenter.org.
Brady vs. Brees, aka Bucs vs. Saints. Last weekend the Bucs managed to make it past that young whippersnapper quarterback and the Team With No Name. Now the playoff battles really get tough, as our Tom meets a quarterback almost as old as he is — and just as good, if not better. (Argue amongst yourselves.) Sun. 1/17, 6:40 p.m., on Fox.
