Host Stephen Riordan sits down with powerhouse couple Paige and Michael Sporck to talk all things Crazy for You—the high-energy Gershwin musical now lighting up the stage at Eight O’Clock Theatre.

From tap-dancing showgirls to mistaken identities and cowboy chaos, this episode dives into the magic behind the production, the heart of community theatre, and the real-life love story that brought these two performers together.

🎶 Featured Songs from Crazy for You

Enjoy some of the most iconic numbers from the Gershwin score:

• “I Got Rhythm”
• “Someone to Watch Over Me”
• “Embraceable You”
• “They Can’t Take That Away from Me”

Music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin

🎭 About the Show

Crazy for You follows Bobby Child, a New York banker sent to Deadrock, Nevada, where he falls head over heels for Polly Baker—who wants nothing to do with him. Determined to win her heart and save a struggling theater, Bobby brings Broadway to the Wild West in a whirlwind of romance, comedy, and dazzling dance.

⭐ Meet the Guests

• Paige Sporck as Irene Roth – a glamorous New York socialite with killer style and sharp wit
• Michael Sporck as Lank Hawkins – a determined (and hilariously frustrated) saloon owner with big ambitions

Together, they share their journey through theatre, their creative partnership, and how the stage brought them together in real life.

🎟️ Tickets & Show Info

Catch Crazy for You live at the Central Park Performing Arts Center in Largo, FL.

• 🎫 Tickets & Showtimes:
  👉 https://www.eightoclocktheatre.com
• 🎭 Venue Info:
  👉 https://www.largoarts.com

(Perfect for a Mother’s Day outing—fun, family-friendly, and full of classic Broadway charm.)

💌 Want to Be on the Show?

Reach out: BigBroadwayEnergy@gmail.com

🎧 Tagline: Be kind. Be curious. And keep creating.

ABOUT STEPHEN RIORDAN Stephen Riordan is an arts professional with over 25 years of experience as an actor, director, producer, writer, host, and casting director. He has worked on both Broadway and off-Broadway productions in New York, as well as extensively throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Recently, Stephen co-founded the Dead Canary Theatre Company with two fellow artists in St. Petersburg, and DCT is now the resident company at The Studio @ 620 in Downtown St. Petersburg. Every Sunday at 5 p.m., Stephen shares his thoughts on his favorite Broadway shows, songs, and stars on "Big Broadway Energy." His podcast of the same name features theater professionals and educators who are committed to keeping the arts at the forefront of the Tampa Bay community.

In this episode of Arts Alive!, host Bill DeYoung welcomes Paul Wilborn into studio to talk about his new novel, The Everlasting Life of Charlie Wall, published by St. Petersburg Press. The Palladium theater’s executive director has for years been something of a triple threat – he’s also a singer and a piano player, and a former journalist who enjoys the challenge of writing fiction.

In the case of The Everlasting Life of Charlie Wall, it’s fiction (in that it’s a made-up story) about a real-life historical figure (notorious Tampa mobster Wall ran a cornucopia of illegal rackets in untamed Ybor City in the 1930s and ‘40s). Wilborn's second novel (following 2022’s Florida Hustle) is lighthearted and comedic. Until it gets serious.

“People forget that Tampa had open gambling and open houses of prostitution, on Franklin Street in downtown,” Wilborn says. “In Ybor City, you could just walk in and all that stuff was there – and the cops looked the other way.”

Although his process involved deep research into the area’s lawless past, Wilborn fabricated a narrative set in 1985, in which the octogenarian ex-outlaw desperately wants to believe the world hasn’t forgotten about him or his long-ago exploits. He re-creates the atmosphere of the mid-century era, from the working stiffs to the upper class and the men (like Charlie Wall and the Trafficante crime family) who preyed upon them all.

In Wilborn’s book, Wall (who was actually murdered in 1955) is an eccentric, intelligent old crook whose heart, while definitely not made of gold, is not as black as history has painted.

#paulwilborn #novel #author #billdeyoung #stpetecatalyst #artsalive #stpetepress
#stpete #stpetefl #tampabay #radio #radiostpete #cityofstpete #dtsp #downtownstpete

(Airs 5/1/2026) The Sunscreen Film Festival opens today in downtown St. Pete, at the AMC Theaters with events at Green Light Cinema, Lounge & Kitchen as well as Imagine Museum. In our ongoing series of interviews, host Nanette Wiser talks to documentary filmmaker Matthew Wiatt and producer/wife Katie who co-wrote the film, Saber. Saber is a feature-length documentary that follows a passionate group of LED saber combat athletes as they train for the Saber Legion World Championships in Las Vegas. But this isn't just a story about competition or fandoms, it's about the power of shared passions to bring people together. At its heart, Saber is a film about connection. It's about a group of people who might never have crossed paths, finding friendship, support, and a sense of belonging through the iconic lightsaber. In a world that often feels divided, Saber is a reminder that community can be found in the most unexpected places and that sometimes, the family you choose is the one that saves you.

The Sunscreen Film Festival, held in St. Petersburg, Florida, has significantly marked its presence as a pivotal celebration of independent cinema within the Tampa Bay area since its inception in 2005. Founders Tony Armer and Derek Miner initiated this festival with the vision of creating a platform that not only showcases independent films but also supports the burgeoning talents of local and regional filmmakers. Over the years, this vision has not only materialized but flourished, with the festival evolving into a much-anticipated annual event.

#sunscreenfilmfestial #matthewwiatt #katiewiatt #indieatlanticfilms #documentary #saberfighting #powerofconnection #nanettewiser #stpete #stpetefl #tampabay #radio #radiostpete #cityofstpete #dtsp #downtownstpete

(05/07/2026) Welcome to Episode 16 of THE CLASSICAL SCENE with Dr. Victor Minke Huls, Associate Principal Cellist of The Florida Orchestra. This episode features the superstar cellist Luka Šulić!
🎼After rising to fame through 2Cellos with Hauser, international cello virtuoso and composer Luka Šulić stepped back from the intense touring schedule of 2Cellos to make space for creativity and to focus on family life – he has recently welcomed his fourth child. For the new album LIFE, released on Platoon on March 22, Luka returned to his compositional roots to create music with an evocative sound world, enriched with luscious harmonies, soaring strings, and a cello line of transcendent beauty.
🎼In this episode, Luka and Victor talk about his musical heritage and training, and what you can hear at The Mahaffey Theater on May 13th, 2026 at 7:30pm! The episode also features excerpts from three of the tracks on Luka’s album LIFE.
More information and tickets: https://themahaffey.com/show/luka-sulic/

Please listen, share, and enjoy the art of classical music wherever you are :)

#victorminkehuls #lukasulic #mahaffeytheater #classicalmusic #theclassicalscene #thefloridaorchestra #stpete #stpetefl #tampabay #radio #radiostpete #cityofstpete #dtsp #downtownstpete