From the MC Film Mail Bag 6-06-2012

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Iconic Actress/ Singer Judy Garland 90th Birthday 
    A child performer and singer who turned Hollywood’s loving starlet, icon actress, singer and crusader, Judy Garland’s 90th Birthday. Born June 10,1922 in Minnesota and was named after  both parents, Frances Ethel Gumm. She was a part of the family vaudeville act, The Gumm Sisters in the late 1920’s. Suggesting the act change its name to Garland Sisters in 1934 World’s Fair. Frances Ethel adopted the name Judy. Thus now she will be and forever known as Judy Garland! The family relocated to California 1929.
    Of course she auditioned for many movies at MGM Studios. It was “The Wizard of Oz” in 1939 where she became America’s sweetheart and played Kansas country girl, Dorothy Gale who left the real world to a world of make believe.  Of course the Oscar winning song that everyone sings along to, “Over the Rainbow” became synonymous with Judy Garland. Many other acclaimed Judy Garland films included, “The Harvey Girls”, “Easter Parade” and “A Star is Born.”
    Judy did live radio, live theater,numerous movies and had her own 1963 TV show for 2 years on CBS, “The Judy Garland Show.”  The big secret of her life was the demons that seem to run and ruin her life. Pain pills, alcohol, finances, health issues and her many failed marriages.
     One thing people loved about the persistent spitfire singing entertainer was her beautiful voice, personal charm and cheerfulness.
    Judy didn’t know it but her death was a major reason for the Gay Stonewall Riots in New York City in 1969!
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Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project

Phone:  941-758-6399

Contact:  Garry Allan Breul

garallan@msn.com

 

For Immediate Release, Please

 

Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project

Presents:

 

PRELUDE TO PRIDE:  A WIZARD OF OZ

 

Starring MATT MCGEE, JOEY PANEK, BETTY JANE PARKS, DREW DECARO and more!

Special Guest: Musical Accompanist MICHAEL RABBE

Script adaptation by T.SCOTT WOOTEN

 

Benefitting Metro Charities and ASAP HIV/AIDS programs

 

Monday, June 25, 7:30pm & Monday, July 2, 7:30pm

 

American Stage Theatre, 163 3rd St. North, downtown St. Petersburg

 

Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project is celebrating its 10-Year Anniversary!  Their annual “Prelude to Pride” salute will be an original production of the time honored classic, “A WIZARD OF OZ”.  Adapted by T. Scott Wooten, this hilarious and madcap send-up of the fabled classic by Frank L. Baum is just in time for St. Petersburg Pride Celebration.  Come join in the fun as Dorothy and her Friends follow the yellow brick road to an Emerald City we’ve never seen before!

 

PRELUDE TO PRIDE: A WIZARD OF OZ stars Matt McGee, as The WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST; Joey Panek as TIN MAN; Betty Jane Parks as DOROTHY; Drew Decaro as COWARDLY LION; Joel Gennari as Scarecrow; Sara DelBeato as GLINDA THE GOOD WITCH; Joe Parra as the WIZARD; Meliss Kenworthy as AUNTIE EM; Katie Castonquay as THE MUNCHKINS; and Scott Daniel as UNCLE HENRY.  Michael Raabe will be making a special appearance at the keyboard.

 

These two performances will benefit PWA (People with AIDS) programs at Metropolitan Charities of Pinellas and AIDS Service Association of Pinellas, Inc.  Admission is Pay-What-You-Will and all performers are donating their time and talents.

 

Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization whose mission is to raise awareness, provide assistance, and perpetuate a life of dignity for those affected and infected by HIV and AIDS.

 

PRELUDE TO PRIDE: A WIZARD OF OZ will perform: Monday, June 25th and Monday, July 2nd, 2012 at American Stage Theatre, 163 3rd St. N. St. Petersburg.  Doors open at 7:00pm, curtain time is 7:30pm.  Cash bar will be available.  For further information contact American Stage at 727-823-PLAY or www.americanstage.org. 

 

To learn more about The Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project contact Garry Allan Breul, Artistic Director at 941/758-6399 or garallan@msn.com.

 

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Press Release Metro Wellness & Community Centers

June 4, 2012

The Board of Directors of Metro Wellness & Community Centers, chaired by Dr. Scott Strader, recently announced a restructuring of the organization’s executive management.

Metro Wellness & Community Centers began providing services in St. Petersburg 19 years ago, with 30 clients and a budget of $42,000. Today, with over $5.8 million annually in Federal, State, County and private funding, it serves over 8,000 clients within 20 programs in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties. MWCC also provides social activities, education and health and wellness services for the Tampa Bay LGBT Community and their allies.

Metro Wellness & Community Centers is pleased and proud to announce that Ms. Lorraine Langlois, the organization’s founding director, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Tonicia Freeman, who leads Metro’s Prevention programs, has been appointed Vice President of Health Prevention Programs, and Ms. Priya Rajkumar, heading Metro’s case management and minority AIDS initiatives, has been appointed Vice President of Client Health Services. Mr. Alberto Vazquez leads Metro’s financial operations in his new appointment to Vice President of Finance & Administration.

Other programs are led by current Directors and executive staff. “This new structure better reflects the growth and managerial expertise within our culture,” said Ms. Langlois. “It also places us in a better strategic position as an organization, following the current trend of non-profit agencies moving to a more accountable corporate structure.”

Questions and comments may be directed to Ms. Langlois at 727-321-3854 or info@metrotampabay.org.

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Ybor Residents Protest Plan for Power Poles
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MEDIA ALERT: DINE TAMPA BAY TEMPTS TASTE BUDS WITH LOCAL OPTIONS

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Tampa Bay & Company l  401 E. Jackson Street, Suite 2100 l  Tampa, FL 33602

(813) 223-1111 l   (813) 229-6616 l  VisitTampaBay.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            MEDIA CONTACT:

May 31, 2012                                                                        Travis Claytor at 813-342-4052

 

TAMPA, FL – The third annual Dine Tampa Bay Restaurant week is just over two months away, and the excitement is already building for what’s expected to be the best restaurant week yet. 

 

Tampa Bay & Company and Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater, as well as the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, have teamed up to present the third annual event, which will take place Aug. 3-17, 2012.  Food lovers have a chance to experience some of the area’s finest restaurants during the two-week period.  Each restaurant will provide a special Restaurant Week menu in addition to their standard menu, which will suggest three options for each course. 

 

Participating locations will showcase their dinner options by offering $25, $35, or $45 prix-fixe, three-course menus, which includes an appetizer, entrée and dessert (prices are per person and exclude beverages, tax and gratuities).

 

Nearly 40 restaurants have already signed up to participate, with many others expected to join before it kicks off in August.  Current participating restaurants include:

 

400 Beach Seafood & Tap House

Aqua

Beachwood BBQ

Bella’s Italian Café

Besa Grill

Boizao Brazilian Steakhouse

Bon Appétit Restaurant

Café Largo

Capital Grille, The

Cassis American Brasserie

Centre Club

Datz

Dempsey’s Steakhouse

Dempsey’s Too

FlameStone American Grill

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

GrillSmith -Brandon

GrillSmith-Carrollwood

GrillSmith-Countryside

GrillSmith-Lakeland

GrillSmith-New Tampa

GrillSmith-South Tampa

Hangar Restaurant & Flight Lounge, The

Kona Grill

Lauro Ristorante

Marchand’s Bar & Grill

Melting Pot, The-St.Petersburg

Melting Pot, The-Tampa

Ocean Prime

Parkshore Grill

Pelagia Trattoria

Roy’s Restaurant

Seasons 52

Shula’s

SideBern’s

Tinatapas

Villaggio Ristorante

 

For more information about DINE Tampa Bay Restaurant Week, for sponsorship opportunities or to participate, log on to DineTampaBay.com or email Info@DineTampaBay.com.

 

Media contact is Travis Claytor, communications manager for Tampa Bay & Company, at 813-342-4052 or TClaytor@VisitTampaBay.com. 

 

Tampa Bay & Company is an independent, non-profit membership organization created to attract and serve visitors to Tampa Bay in an effort to create “Economic Development Through Tourism.”  Tampa Bay & Company is funded, in part, by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners/Tourist Development Council.

 

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