Showtime Australia’s acclaimed tribute concert The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston starring Belinda Davids is making its third tour of the U.S. this Winter, visiting central and eastern states from January through March 2020. The tour makes a stop at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater on Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m.Tickets range from $32.50 – $59.50 and can be purchased online at www.themahaffey.com, by phone at (727) 300-2000, or at the Mahaffey Theater Box Office from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday or at least 90 minutes prior to any ticketed event.The voice of South African singer Belinda Davids, who ‘went viral’ after performing a stunning rendition of “I Will Always Love You” on Fox’s “Showtime at the Apollo” in 2017, is again the main attraction, but she will be supported up by a hand-picked cast of international musicians, backing vocalists and dancers who also all perform live on stage.Many venues who hosted the show in 2018 have secured return performances in response to the overwhelming demand from those lucky enough to catch the show first time around. Producer and Director of the show, Johnny Van Grinsven, explained the feedback he garnered from that debut tour:“Actually the overwhelming reaction we got from people was ‘surprise’. So many people said they weren’t expecting that level of show, and people who haven’t seen Belinda before are always shocked to hear her voice in real life because it really is unique, she really is a very special talent. But now they’ve heard her firsthand they can’t get enough of it and that’s why we’re coming back to the U.S. so soon – pure demand.”The show is described as a full-scale concert production, boasting state-of-the-art sound, custom-designed lighting, LED walls, theatrical effects and an array of exquisite hand-crafted gowns and costumes.All of Houston’s most memorable songs are lined up for Davids’ heartfelt treatment, including Pop highlights “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” “How Will I Know” and “I’m Every Woman,” favorites from her movie career such as “Queen of the Night” and “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” and of course all her most iconic and timeless ballads including “I Have Nothing,” “Didn’t We Almost Have it All,” “Run to You,” “One Moment in Time” and “I Will Always Love You.”Says Davids,“U.S. audiences are amazing, they truly appreciate Whitney’s legacy and her music is very personal to them and you can feel that from the stage. To look out and see people feeling every note and nuance and emotion that you sing is so intimate. That’s what it’s all about. I can’t wait to go back.”“The show brings light and happiness into the whole audience in a truly uplifting and joyous experience.”   – Eddie Tansley, Upper Circle (2019)“If you have never had the pleasure of seeing Whitney Houston live, Belinda Davids in The Greatest Love of All is the closest you will ever get.”– Nina Reece, The Review Hub (2019)*This production is presented by Showtime Australia which is not affiliated with the Estate of Whitney Houston.
The Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater The Mahaffey Theater, under the management of Big3 Entertainment, is one of Tampa Bay’s top-rated performing arts venues. Home to The Florida Orchestra, the world class Mahaffey Theater hosts top-quality national and international artists and performances – pop, rock, comedy, theater, dance, classical and interactive engagements and exhibitions. Located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, the 2,031-seat cultural jewel boasts spectacular waterfront views and is located only minutes away from white sandy beaches and world-renowned museums. Additionally, the theater supports the highly successful Class Acts program, which enables school children to experience the performing arts through in-theater performances as well as in-school outreach and extension programs. Bill Edwards Foundation for the ArtsBill Edwards Foundation for the Arts supports performing arts programming at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater. We provide arts education programs for youth, community outreach programs, and performances as well as concerts for the entire community with emphasis on diverse programming for youth, underserved audiences and families. Each year more than 20,000 school children are provided a field trip experience to learn Florida State curriculum through a live theater performance. This Class Acts Educational Performance series is in its 27^thseason and serves students from six counties. Additionally, the Foundation ensures that funding is in place to continue providing diverse programming in the theater for the general public.