The Steel Guitar Forum

Thought my SW Florida steel guitar buddies -- or any seasonal visitors -- might be interested to know Venice Theater (140 Tampa Avenue West Venice, FL 34285 -- (941) 488-1115) is producing 'Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'. Tonight is opening night and it runs for 2 weeks with performances every night except Mondays at 8PM and a Sunday 2PM matinee. The final Saturday will include a 2PM matinee and regular evening performance. Anyone in the Sarasota / Bradenton, Venice, or North Port / Port Charlotte areas is within reasonable driving distance.

Venice Theater Box Office: Click Here

This is my 6th production and the quality is pretty good for a community theater production.

Y'all come on out and see them Aggies kick up their heels.

Let me know you're coming and I'll plan to visit as time allows. The band is NOT onstage for this production, but even though you might not see me (you WILL hear me though) I'd like to see you.

I'll be playing my old push-pull through one of Ken Fox's tube amps. It's a match made in heaven.

Break a leg. I had a blast doing that show up here in Melbourne FL a few years back.

Thanks Bo -- it is a fun show to play

Opening went without a hitch. Full house -- good time was had by all.

20 fans are turning...yeah turning
was a tough gig for me.
Nightmare for a not much at reading music guy.
Hell I couldn't turn the pages in the book fast enough..
Had my hands full and my rear was handed to me nightly. HA!
Good Show to go see!

Same here, Ken. I'm a horrible sight-reader, so I always make my own cryptic (to me and others) mini-charts for that type of gig. Plus I always try to get audio (like the Broadway cast LP) so it makes some sense. My ear is infinitely better than my eyes.

I seem to remember some fast and frantic Aggie locker-room song that was the worst for me. Plus, as with other community theater projects, it was one of the worst-paying gigs in my checkered career. But still fun...

Oh you mean the song that changes keys 18 times and jumps all over the place Ha!

Larry- is that a nicer venue to play than Brewski's?

Depends on your definition of 'nicer' Dave.

Nice to drive 20 minutes, set up and play 15 or more shows in a cool, smoke-free theater before tearing down.

I do love 4 hr bar gigs though. Keeps the chops up better than playing two 45min acts that are the same each night. The theater is a more civilized environment but the money isn't quite as good. Yep, WAAAAY better than Brewskis.

Larry, I'd love to hear you play for that show, but I'm in Pittsburgh for the summer, and it's a looooong drive!!!!!
Dean

Awwwww -- come on down Dean -- it's not that long a drive


We're in the home stretch . . . one show Fri, two Sat, and we close on Sun.

Thanks to everyone for EMails and phone calls.

Hi, Larry!

So - you're playing my favourite steel show!!! Great songs and lots of weight on the steel-player - I bet you're doing a fine job.

I think you know where I am currently - and I can't head south again until the last show of the 'run' on September 8th. Great to have a solid chunk of well-paid work, though!

My best wishes to Brenda too.