![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/John-Legend-300x159.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMarch comes in like a lion this year \u2026 and it\u2019ll go out like a lion as well. There\u2019s just no lamb involved.<\/p>\n
This is one busy month for onstage entertainment in the Tampa Bay area. It happens every March \u2013 perhaps the old folk saying should be amended to this: March comes in like a roaring auto race, and goes out like a major metropolitan area with a vibrant, top-to-bottom arts scene.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s pick out a few highlights:<\/p>\n
A rare appearance from folk music iconoclast Michelle Shocked March 6 at the Jack Kerouac House;<\/p>\n
British new wave pioneer Gary Numan March 8 at Jannus Live;<\/p>\n
Jobsite Theater\u2019s take on The Shark is Broken (March 11-April 4), Ian Shaw\u2019s behind-the-scenes play about the making of Jaws, at the Straz Center Shimberg Playhouse;<\/p>\n
An all-female adaptation of Shakespeare\u2019s Julius Caesar, by Roxanne Fay, March 12-22 at The Studio@620;<\/p>\n
At Vinoy Park March 12-15, the hot-as-a-pistol Reggae Rise-Up Festival;<\/p>\n
The return of British comedy legend Eddie Izzard with their acclaimed one-person show The Tragedy of Hamlet, March 13 and 14 at the Straz Center\u2019s Jaeb Theatre;<\/p>\n
March 13-15 is St. Patrick\u2019s Day weekend \u2013 St. Pete\u2019s Williams Park plays host to the Paddy Fest celebration, while Tampa dyes the Hillsborough River a becoming shade of green for the occasion (River o\u2019Green Festival);<\/p>\n
Country music mega-star Zach Bryan at Raymond James Stadium March 14;<\/p>\n
Singer, songwriter, pianist and producer John Legend, 13-time Grammy winner, at Ruth Eckerd Hall March 18;<\/p>\n
American Stage\u2019s 2026 \u201cpark\u201d production, Into the Woods, opens at Demens Landing and will run through April 26.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Concerts<\/p>\n
March 1 Alicia Witt at the Murray Theatre<\/p>\n
March 2 Al Jardine & the Pet Sounds Band at the Capitol Theatre<\/p>\n
March 3 Jake Shimabukuro at the Capitol Theatre<\/p>\n
March 4 Gregorian at the Capitol Theatre<\/p>\n
March 5 Billy Ocean at Ruth Eckerd Hall<\/p>\n
March 5 Justin Furstenfeld at the Capitol Theatre<\/p>\n
March 6 Pink Martini at the Mahaffey Theater<\/p>\n
March 6 Shovels & Rope at Skipper\u2019s Smokehouse<\/p>\n
March 6 Little River Band, Lords of 52nd St at the BayCare Sound<\/p>\n
March 6 Michelle Shocked at the Jack Kerouac House<\/p>\n
March 7 Taj Farrant at the Capitol Theatre<\/p>\n
March 7 Piano Stomp at the Palladium Theater<\/p>\n
March 7 Bret Michaels, Tesla at the BayCare Sound<\/p>\n
March 8 Gary Numan at Jannus Live<\/p>\n
March 9 (11 a.m.) Roger Day (free kids show) at the BayCare Sound<\/p>\n
March 9 Paul Anka at Ruth Eckerd Hall<\/p>\n
March 10 Ron Pope at the Capitol Theatre<\/p>\n
March 10 Simon Phillips Protocol at Central Park Performing Arts Center<\/p>\n
March 10 Passerine at the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art<\/p>\n
March 11 Wishbone Ash at Central Park Performing Arts Center<\/p>\n
March 11 Home Free at the Capitol Theatre<\/p>\n
March 11 Charley Crockett at Seminole Hard Rock Event Center<\/p>\n
March 11 Lari Basilio at Straz Center\/Jaeb Theatre<\/p>\n
March 12 Vernonica Swift at the Palladium Side Door Cabaret<\/p>\n
March 13 Matt Rife at Benchmark International Arena<\/p>\n
March 13 Ed Woltil & Kirk Adams at the Palladium Side Door Cabaret<\/p>\n
March 14 Gino Vanelli at the Capitol Theatre<\/p>\n
March 14 Zach Bryan at Raymond James Stadium<\/p>\n
March 14 Sean Chambers at the Palladium Side Door Cabaret<\/p>\n
March 15 Yonder Mountain String Band at Central Park Performing Arts Center<\/p>\n
March 15 Listening Room at the Palladium Theater<\/p>\n
March 16 Pat Metheny at the Capitol Theatre<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
John Legend: March 18 at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Photo: Live Nation.<\/p>\n
March 18 John Legend at Ruth Eckerd Hall<\/p>\n
March 18 Wayne Newton at Seminole Hard Rock Event Center<\/p>\n
March 19 Masters of Illusion (magic show) at Ruth Eckerd Hall<\/p>\n
March 19 98 Rock Fest at the Capitol Theatre<\/p>\n
March 20 Magic Rocks (magic show) at the Mahaffey Theater<\/p>\n
March 20 Smithereens with John Cowsill at Central Park Performing Arts Center<\/p>\n
March 21 Joe Bonamassa at the BayCare Sound<\/p>\n
March 21 Diana Ross at Ruth Eckerd Hall<\/p>\n
March 21 Suzy Bogguss at Central Park Performing Arts Center<\/p>\n
March 22 Beth Hart at Ruth Eckerd Hall<\/p>\n
March 22 Classic Albums Live \u201cPurple Rain\u201d at the Capitol Theatre<\/p>\n
March 22 Anne Wilson at Straz Center\/Morsani Hall<\/p>\n
March 23 Don McLean at the Capitol Theatre<\/p>\n
March 24 Peter Asher at the Palladium Theater<\/p>\n
March 24 Ruthie Foster at Safety Harbor Art & Music Center<\/p>\n
March 24 Temptations & Four Tops at Ruth Eckerd Hall<\/p>\n
March 25 Celtic Woman at Ruth Eckerd Hall<\/p>\n
March 26 Michael Kaeshammer at the Palladium Side Door Cabaret<\/p>\n
March 26 Beach Boys at Seminole Hard Rock Event Center<\/p>\n
March 27 Albert Castiglia at the Palladium Side Door Cabaret<\/p>\n
March 27 & 28 Dancing With the Stars Live at Ruth Eckerd Hall<\/p>\n
March 29 Alan Parsons Live Project at the BayCare Sound<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theater<\/p>\n
March 5-15 The Drawer Boy at The Off-Central, St. Petersburg<\/p>\n
March 6-22 My Name is Asher Lev at Stageworks Theatre, Tampa<\/p>\n
March 11-April 5 The Shark is Broken at Jobsite Theatre, Tampa<\/p>\n
March 12-22 Julius Caesar at The Studio@620, St. Petersburg<\/p>\n
March 19: Dawn Truax in Genius, Madness and Murder: Tales of the Scandalous Family of John Wilkes Booth at Stageworks Theatre, Tampa<\/p>\n
March 24-April 4 Alicia Keys\u2019 Hell\u2019s Kitchen, Broadway tour at the Straz Center\/Morsani Hall<\/p>\n
March 27 American Stage\u2019s outdoor production of Into the Woods opens at Demens Landing Park<\/p>\n
March 28 Actor Norbert Leo Butz\u2019 one man show at Central Park Performing Arts Center<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Classical music<\/p>\n
March 5: Classical Guitar with Ren\u00e9 Izquierdo at the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg<\/p>\n
March 11 The Florida Orchestra\u2019s Sing Out Tampa Bay at the Mahaffey Theater<\/p>\n
March 13 & 14 The Florida Orchestra Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 at Straz Center\/Morsani Hall<\/p>\n
March 17 Reflections Chamber Ensemble with Ghadeer Abaido at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center<\/p>\n
March 19 Fulton Chamber Players at the Dali Museum<\/p>\n
March 21 & 22 The Florida Orchestra\u2019s \u00a0Mozart\u2019s Jupiter Symphony at the Mahaffey Theater<\/p>\n
March 25 Chamber Series at the Palladium Theater<\/p>\n
March 27 The Florida Orchestra Beethoven\u2019s Symphony No. 9 at Straz Center\/Morsani Hall<\/p>\n
March 28 & 29 The Florida Orchestra Beethoven\u2019s Symphony No. 9 at the Mahaffey Theater<\/p>\n
March 29 Celebrating World Piano Day with the Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Reggae-Rise-Up-300x181.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Reggae Rise-Up returns to Vinoy Park March 12-15. File photo.<\/p>\n
Festivals<\/p>\n
March 3-8 Gasparilla Film Festival (various locations, Tampa)<\/p>\n
March 5 St. Pete Community Festival at Azalea Park<\/p>\n
March 5-7 International Folk Fair at England Brothers Park<\/p>\n
March 12-15 Reggae Rise-Up at Vinoy Park<\/p>\n
March 13-15 Paddy Fest at Williams Park<\/p>\n
March 14 River o\u2019Green Fest, Curtis Hixon Park (Tampa)<\/p>\n
March 21 Country in the Park at England Brothers Park<\/p>\n
March 28 & 29 Mainsail Art Festival in Vinoy Park<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dance<\/p>\n
March 5 Sleeping Beauty at the Mahaffey Theater<\/p>\n
March 6 Beacon Dance at the Palladium Theater<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Comedy<\/p>\n
March 3-8 Batsu at the Straz Center\/Jaeb Theatre<\/p>\n
March 4 The Naked Magicians at the Straz Center\/Ferguson Hall<\/p>\n
March 7 Matteo Lane at the Mahaffey Theater<\/p>\n
March 13 Paula Poundstone at the Capitol Theatre<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IZZARD-225x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Eddie Izzard brings \u201cThe Tragedy of Hamlet\u201d to the Jaeb Theatre March 13 and 14. Publicity photo.<\/p>\n
March 13 & 14 Eddie Izzard\u2019s The Tragedy of Hamlet at Straz Center\/Jaeb Theatre<\/p>\n
March 14 Darci Lunn & Friends at the Straz Center\/Ferguson Hall<\/p>\n
March 15 Gary Gulman at the Capitol Theatre<\/p>\n
March 20 Dusty Slay at the Capitol Theatre<\/p>\n
March 20 Cristella Alonzo at Straz Center\/Jaeb Theatre<\/p>\n
March 22 Martin Lawrence at Seminole Hard Rock Event Center<\/p>\n
March 23 Whose Live is it Anyway at Ruth Eckerd Hall<\/p>\n
March 27 Katt Williams at Benchmark International Arena<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Websites<\/p>\n
American Stage<\/a><\/p>\n Benchmark Arena<\/a><\/p>\n Capitol Theatre<\/a><\/p>\n Central Park Performing Arts Center<\/a><\/p>\n Dali Museum<\/a><\/p>\n The Florida Orchestra<\/a><\/p>\n freeFall Theatre<\/a><\/p>\n James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art<\/a><\/p>\n Jannus Live<\/a><\/p>\n Jobsite Theater<\/a><\/p>\n Mahaffey Theater<\/a><\/p>\n Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg<\/a><\/p>\n New Tampa Performing Arts Center<\/a><\/p>\n Palladium Theater\/Side Door Cabaret<\/a><\/p>\n Raymond James Stadium<\/a><\/p>\n Ruth Eckerd Hall\/BayCareSound\/Murray Theatre<\/a><\/p>\n Safety Harbor Art & Music Center<\/a><\/p>\n Seminole Hard Rock Event Center<\/a><\/p>\n Skipper\u2019s Smokehouse<\/a><\/p>\n The Studio@620<\/a><\/p>\n Straz Center<\/a><\/p>\n Add us to your mailing list \u2013 send all press releases and event info to\u00a0bill@stpetecatalyst.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n