If you haven’t already done so, you still have another weekend to catch the southeastern U.S. premiere of Tim Robbins’ Embedded, presented by Jobsite Theatre, the resident theater company of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

The play will close out Jobsite’s 2007-08 season, with the final performances scheduled Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 28 through 30, 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 31, 4 p.m., at TBPAC’s Shimberg Playhouse. Tickets are $24.50.

Set in the fictional “Gomorrah” where American forces are preparing to do battle with “the butcher of Babylon,” Embedded is a satirical drama about the start of the Iraq War.

Co-directed by David Jenkins and Shawn Paonessa, Embedded features the Office of Special Plans, populated by characters with names like Rum-Rum, Cove, Dick and Woof. In its quest for truth, the play incorporates actual journalistic reports from news sources such as John Simpson of the BBC and Alan Feuer of the New York Times.

The play is recommended for audiences age 16 and older due to adult situations and language.

From left, Steve Garland, Betty-Jane Parks and Christopher Rutherford star in Jobsite's Embedded.

Photo Credit: ©BRIAN SMALLHEER. Photo courtesy of JOBSITE THEATRE.

The Museum of Science and Industry will present The Dark Knight on the IMAX Dome Theatre's five-story dome-shaped screen beginning Friday, Aug. 29, for a special limited engagement.

The opening night event, running from 6 p.m. to midnight, will feature music, a cash bar, a special effects makeup artist, character appearances by H.A.V.O.C. and food specials in MOSI's Cafe from 6 to 9 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite Batman character.

Show times will be Friday through Sunday, Aug. 29 to 31, 3:50, 6:40, 9:30 p.m. and 12:20 a.m. Special engagement film pricing is as follows:

Nonmembers
• Adults, $10.95
• Seniors, $9.95
• Children, $8.95

MOSI Members
• Adults, $8.25
• Seniors, $7.50
• Children, $6.75

IMAX Members
• Adults, seniors and children, $5

The follow-up to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight stars Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. The film is rated PG-13. Rebecca Murray, About.com Guide to Hollywood Movies, wrote a review of The Dark Knight.

Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues will be presented Tuesday, Sept. 23 through Sunday, Oct. 12, at American Stage Theatre, 211 Third St. S.

The production will be the first in American Stage Theatre Company's new After Hours Series and a portion of the ticket sales will benefit the local YWCA's efforts to assist teenage mothers according to a press release.

Performances will be Wednesday through Saturday, 10:30 p.m. Matinees are Tuesday and Sunday, 7 p.m. Tickets are “pay-what-you-can,” and part of the proceeds will benefit the local YWCA.

American Stage is looking for local female celebrities willing to go on stage and read a role during each performance. Those interested should e-mail Todd Olson at candtolson@aol.com.

“We are excited about opening our After Hours Series with as remarkable a piece as 'The Vagina Monologues," Todd Olson said. Olson, American Stage’s producing artistic director, pointed to an "outpouring of support" for recent late night performances of "An Evening Wasted with the Music of Tom Lehrer" and believes that American Stage has discovered a niche in producing edgier shows after its Mainstage plays have finished for the night. "We wanted to fill the needs of our patrons who are craving after hours theater."

"The Vagina Monologues," an Obie Award-winning play, originally ran at the off-Broadway Westside Theatre and the HERE Arts Center in New York City. An episodic play, it is made up of various monologues read by a varying number of women and covering topics such as listing pet names for private parts, telling stories about discovering “down there” and sounding-off about orgasms.

Drinks and food will be allowed into the seating area. Special show themed alcoholic beverages will be offered for sale. Call 823-7529.

As of the 1 p.m. update on Tuesday, Aug. 19, the National Hurricane Center places the center of Tropical Storm Fay near Moore Haven, Fla., in Glades County, on the southwest shoreline of Lake Okeechobee. Fay is moving toward the north-northeast at about 8 mph and should move off Florida’s east coast on Wednesday.

Fay continues to be a strong tropical system though it did not reach hurricane strength prior to landfall. According to the National Hurricane Center, surface observations and radar indicate that maximum sustained winds are now near 65 mph with higher gusts. Rainfall amounts over southern and east-central Florida are expected to range from 5 to 10 inches, with local total amounts of as much as 15 inches.

Only the outer bands of Tropical Storm Fay have been affecting the Tampa Bay area which is experiencing sporadic rains and winds from 15 to 20 mph.

Following are updates from individual counties in the Tampa Bay area:

Sarasota

Pinellas

Manatee

Hillsborough

Image courtesy of NOAA.