St. Petersburg • Clearwater 2008 - (Page 46) permanent collection. Rather, it focuses on presenting blockbuster exhibitions – the treasures of the Russian tsars and artifacts from the Titanic have both lured in the crowds. Next up, from September to December, is a show spotlighting the armor of the Medieval world. On Fifth Street South, the Florida Holocaust Museum documents the murder of 6 million Jews through a standing and rotating collections of artifacts and photographs. View a 15-ton railroad car, one of the many used to transport Jewish people to the death camps. While you’re in St. Pete, two notfor-profit art galleries are well worth a look. Florida Craftsman mounts exhibits showing off the work of Sunshine State crafters. The Arts Center, meanwhile, displays work of contemporary artists. Visit Tarpon Springs and Largo for more museum tours featuring the works of 20th Century artists. In Tarpon Springs, the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art highlights the work of figurative expressionist Abraham Rattner, whose works employ apocalyptic themes. The Gulf Coast Museum of Art focuses on the work of American artists, with a special emphasis on Floridians. From late October through late January, Frida Kahlo fans may enjoy an unusual exhibit displaying photographs of the artist. The Reading Lesson by Berthe Morisot at the Museum of Fine Arts. » Theater - Indoors and Out For intelligent stage plays, begin with American Stage, the region’s oldest professional theater company. Its Mainstage season serves up sophisticated dramas and comedies every year. More broad-reaching, perhaps, is its American Stage in the Park series, held each spring at St. Petersburg’s Demens Landing, overlooking Tampa Bay. Musicals such as Little Shop of Horrors and Pirates of Penzance have proved popular draws. If you prefer the bright lights of Broadway, head over to the Mahaffey Theater, a short distance away. The touring troupes of Broadway shows perform here. Similar performances can be seen at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, which also hosts shows by classic rock musicians. All three theaters offer kids’ programs. A Streetcar Named Desire at American Stage. 46 : Th e c u l t u r e o f t h e p la c e
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