The Palladium’s Steinway Concert Grand has been visited by some of the world’s best pianists – jazzmen like Dick Hyman and Chick Corea; classical music’s Jeffrey Siegel; and New Orleans keyboard legend Dr. John.
Since we’re an 850-seat theater, we never thought our piano would get a visit from the Piano Man himself. But on March 19, Billy Joel will spend some quality time with our Steinway, and with a sold-out crowd of St. Petersburg College students, staff and faculty.
The show is billed as: “Questions, Answers and A Little Music” and it’s a show Billy Joel has done at other colleges and universities. Our Steinway will share the stage with an electric piano and Billy Joel. That’s it. Students will get a chance to ask questions.
The SPC appearance is produced by Ruth Eckerd Hall’s Friends of Music Education Outreach.
Tickets were available only to SPC folks and they had to buy in person. The tickets went on sale at 9 a.m. on a recent Saturday and sold out in 2 ½ hours. Some folks were on the doorstep by 2 a.m. and at its peak, the line wrapped around the back of the Palladium and down the alley.
It was a beautiful day and despite the long lines people were jovial and patient. When they came out with their tickets students cheered and flashed victory signs. It looked like young American Idol hopefuls getting their golden ticket to Hollywood.
And it was a bit of musical magic that we ran out of tickets just as we ran out of ticket buyers. Nobody was turned away!
The show is completely sold out and tickets are non-transferable, so please don’t call me or show up hoping for some scalpers.
Billy Joel at the Palladium at St. Petersburg College – it’s a great gift to everyone in our college family. We’re all excited and so is our Steinway.
We can’t get you into Billy Joel, but next month we’re bringing in the great Jim Witter, who is touring the U.S. with his Billy Joel and Elton John show called “The Piano Men.”
Go to www.mypalladium.org for details on all our shows.
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