Local theater, opera and the orchestra continue to find creative ways to come back amid the pandemic. Here is a roundup of upcoming events.The orchestra is entering phase two of its return to live concerts. All performances take place at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg with reduced capacity, social distancing measures and mask requirements. Here’s the schedule:Jan. 9-10: Masterworks series: Mendelssohn’s Reformation Symphony (free livestream available at floridaorchestra.org )Jan. 9-10: Soundwaves series: A Noble Pairing, featuring works by Jean Baptiste Lully and Richard StraussJan. 14-16: Pops: New Year’s in ViennaJan. 23-24: Masterworks: Rachmaninoff on Paganini (free livestream available)Jan. 30-31: Masterworks: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 (free livestream available)Jan. 30-31: Soundwaves: The Intimate Mahler: Symphony No. 4Tickets are $18-$48. 400 First St. S, St. Petersburg. 727-892-3337. floridaorchestra.org .The resident theater company of the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts made a partial comeback in the fall, performing on the Riverwalk Stage and with one-person shows in the socially distanced Jaeb Theater. On Jan. 15, they’ll open Doubt: A Parable , originally planned for last March. The Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning drama is set in the Bronx in 1969 in a Catholic school. A nun suspects a popular priest of an inappropriate relationship with the school’s first Black student. The production happens in the Jaeb Theater, a much larger venue than the Shimberg Playhouse, where Jobsite normally performs. The theater has been reduced in capacity with tables spaced 11 feet apart. Masks are required and health screenings and temperature checks are mandatory before entering. Runs through Jan. 31. A digital stream of the production will be available for a week in February. $19.50-$99.50. 1010 N MacInnes Place, Tampa. 813-229-7827. jobsitetheater.org .The theater company is presenting Something Rotten , opening Jan. 14. Set in the 16th century, it follows brothers and aspiring playwrights Nick and Nigel Bottom, who want to write a hit play but are overshadowed by Shakespeare. They set out to create the world’s first musical. Capacity has been reduced at the theater and safety guidelines are being followed. Runs through Jan. 24. $20-$25. 8390 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. 352-683-5113. stagewestflorida.com .The St. Petersburg theater company built an outdoor stage and uses the parking lot to create a drive-in experience. Freefall started producing concert-based shows in October. On Jan. 22, they’ll open Scott and Patti: Get a Real Job! It stars Matthew McGee and Scott Daniel, of the Scott and Patti Show, a local “mother and son nightclub act.” The show combines live music, storytelling and a multimedia element. The audio is broadcast to vehicles via FM radio. Admission is by vehicle (up to four occupants). Vehicles will be parked in the best available spot in the chosen section, based on the size of vehicle, in the order of ticket purchase. Patrons must stay in their vehicles through the duration of the performance. Runs through Feb. 14. $75-$99. 6099 Central Ave. 727-498-5205. freefalltheatre.com .St. Petersburg Opera has found a way to perform by creating mobile popup shows. Popera: Opera’s Greatest Hits includes several famous arias and five staged scenes from the opera La Boheme by Puccini. The program will conclude with a concert version of the 18-minute Act 1 Finale of Mozart’s Don Giovanni . The performance happens at the socially distanced Opera Central (2145 First Ave. S) on Jan. 29, at Cage Brewing (2001 First Ave. S) on Jan. 30 and outdoors on the north lawn of the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg (255 Beach Drive NE) on Jan. 31 with pay-what-you-can admission. Tickets range from $15 to $200 for the first two performances. 727-823-2040. stpeteopera.org .
![Maggie Duffy - Bright Spot and Arts Reporter](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 50 50"/%3E "Maggie Duffy - Bright Spot and Arts Reporter")