Florida Culture for the Week of April 18, 2016 by Josh Garrick

FINAL WEEK to April 23 – Winter Park Playhouse presents Jerry Herman’s Showtune!
Songs from the much-loved Broadway shows by Jerry Herman are currently on the Winter Park Playhouse stage in Showtune!, a popular musical revue of Herman’s music and lyrics. Recipient of the 2009 Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the theater, Jerry Herman wrote the musicals Hello Dolly!, Mame, La Cage aux Folles, and more. Now in its final weeks, call 407.645.0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org

FINAL WEEK  to April 23 – HELLO DOLLY! by Rollins Theatre and Music 
Rollins College Theatre and Music Departments are taking on one of the BIGGEST Broadway MUSICALS of all time. It’s the story of the beloved matchmaker Dolly Levi and her plan to marry Horace Vandergelder, the famous “half a millionaire.” The stage action is about HOW Dolly gets what she wants and, along the way, we hear classic songs including “Before the Parade Passes By,” “Put on Your Sunday Clothes,” and the unforgettable “Hello Dolly.”  Call the Box Office at 407.646.2145 or visit annieboxoffice[at]rollins.edu

NOW to April 19 – The Florida Federation of Garden Clubs Annual Flower Show
With a variety of exquisite floral designs, horticulture, vendors and educational exhibits, the much-honored Florida Federation of Garden Clubs proudly presents the 2016 Annual Advanced Standard State Flower Show ‘Seeds of Sunshine’ in conjunction with its 90th Annual Convention.  Held at Embassy Suites Hotel at 4955 Kyngs Heath Road in Kissimmee, the show is Free and open to the Public on April 17 from 4 to 7:30 pm, April 18 from 10 am to 5 pm, and April 19 from 10 am to 3 pm. Call 407-399-8230

April 20 – 6 pm to 9 pm – Adult Literacy Fundraiser with Author Elizabeth Berg 
New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Berg headlines the 9th annual “Reading Between the Wines” Adult Literacy League fundraiser at the Orlando Science Center on April 20. Author of “The Dream Lover,” chosen one of 10 books that made a lasting impression in 2015, Ms. Berg will speak and sign books. With food and wine offerings by Orlando’s top restaurants, the event offers three hours of sipping and sampling with proceeds supporting the Adult Literacy League’s tutoring and classes to more than 1,000 adults on a weekly basis, plus books for 600 pre-schoolers in low-income families. Call 407.422.1540 x111 or visit adultliteracyleague.org/rbtwtickets/

April 20 - 5 pm to 8 pm – Taste of Winter Park - The Ultimate Foodie Festival
‘Taste of Winter Park’ showcases more than 40 of Central Florida’s top chefs, bakers, caterers and confectioners making it THE ‘foodie’ event of the year. I’ll be there as a ‘Foodie Judge’ at the Winter Park Farmers’ Market where your all-inclusive ticket features unlimited samples of signature dishes, beverages, desserts, live entertainment, a silent auction and more. Tickets are $45 at the door / rain or shine. Must be 21 and up. Visit winterpark.org or call 407.644.8281.

April 20 – Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter 
Music icons Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter are performing only 3 shows in the U.S. this year, so Orlando is doubly honored to welcome these legendary performers to the Dr. Phillips Center. For five decades, with 14 Grammy Awards, few artists in the music industry have had more influence on acoustic and electronic jazz than Herbie Hancock. At age 82, ‘jazz pioneer’ Wayne Shorter still influences generations of musicians as a master saxophonist and as a composer with honored work throughout the pantheon of modern music. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org 

Photo courtesy of Robert Ascroft and Douglas Kirkland.

April 21 to 24 -- World of Nations Celebration – Jacksonville, Florida 
$5 in Jacksonville lets you travel through the World of Nations Celebration, experiencing cuisine, artistry and customs from countries around the globe. Grab your ‘event passport,’ check out field-trip offerings, while multi/culti friends showcase the diversity of our planet through sights, sounds, and tastes at Metropolitan Park. Call 904.630.3690 or visit makeascenedowntown.com 

April 22 to May 8 – Mad Cow’s 14th Annual Cabaret Festival
Yes, Virginia -- America’s definitely got talent. Over the course of 17 days, Mad Cow Theatre will host 32 performances, ranging from jazz to pop to Broadway to comedy and more. Headliners for the 14th annual Cabaret Festival include Broadway star Andrea McArdle, a leading lady since she played the very first Annie in the Broadway show of the same name; a cappella sensation the Edge Effect; Orlando's own Broadway powerhouse Michelle Knight; and up-and-coming cabaret star Jesse Luttrell.  The Festival runs through May 8 at the Mad Cow’s home at 54 West Church St. in Downtown Orlando.  Call 407.297. 8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com 

April 22, 23, & 24 – Opera Orlando Enjoys ‘Boisterous Rebirth’ 
It's a ‘celebration’ as OPERA returns to the Dr. Phillips Center with the newly-renamed Opera Orlando. Their “Boisterous Rebirth” is a double bill of a play-within-a-play featuring Mozart’s ‘Impresario’ (updated to modern-day-Orlando) and Poulenc's ‘Les Mamelles De Tiresias.’ With a cast including Julia Foster and Gabriel Preisser, the Stars are joined by the Opera Orlando Children's Chorus and members of the Orlando Philharmonic. An informative ‘Pre-Performance Presentation’ is offered Free one hour before each performance. Call 844-513-2014 or visit operaorlando.org      

April 23 at 11 am and 1 pm – TWICE the Fun at Shakespeare's 452nd Birthday Party!
Yay! Celebrate Shakespeare's 452nd Birthday with ‘Expert Party-Goers’ Elephant and Piggie! on April 23 at 11 am at the Main Branch of the Orlando Public Library for a special interactive story time with Orlando Shakespeare’s Elephant & Piggie. THEN, on April 23 at 1 pm – in the Darden Courtyard behind the Shakespeare Center – hard partying Elephant & Piggie will be there with games, prizes, and a Birthday Sing-A-Long for ANOTHER Party and Story time.’  BOTH PARTIES are FREE (no reservations required) Visit orlandoshakes.org 

April 23 at 3 pm – Steve Martin & Martin Short: ‘An Evening You Will Forget … for the Rest of Your Life’
In a show so popular that the 8 pm performance sold out within hours, super-comic friends Steve Martin and Martin Short agreed to add a 3 pm ‘performance’ of their ‘revealing’ friendship drawn from decades of lunacy shared on screen and stage. Expect stand-up, film clips, singing, countless laughs, and … banjo playing. Martin and Short will be joined on-stage by the Grammy-winning Steep Canyon Rangers, the band with which Martin frequently performs. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

April 23 at 5 pm – Orlando Gay Chorus Offers Free Concert 
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary, the Orlando Gay Chorus will take the Florida Blue Concert stage with a line-up of pop and Broadway favorites to celebrate the decades. The 100 male and female voices of the Orlando Gay Chorus are on a mission to offer music to help “change images and attitudes, build a stronger community, and make the world a better place.” The all-volunteer Chorus includes gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals, along with some ‘straight’ friends, all held to high performance standards. Bottom line – it’s Free and you’ll love it. No tickets required for this Free performance on the lawn at the Dr. Phillips Center.

April 24 at 12 noon – Music at the Casa presents Josh Wilson & Friends
I first met Josh Wilson when he played at my Opening at Henao Contemporary Center, and I can happily attest to his innate ability to bring the ‘right’ mood to any range of events. At Casa Feliz Joshua Glenn Wilson is joined by friends who share sounds ranging from opera to musical theatre and jazz standards. Josh is Associate Music Director and Bandleader at Trinity Lutheran and joins Casa Feliz to explore the ways our lives influence the music we make. Casa Feliz is at 656 Park Ave North in Winter Park. Call 407.628.8200 or visit casafeliz.us 

April 24 to 30 – The 8th Annual Winter Park Paint Out – Free All Week 
‘Plein Air’ is a French term meaning “in the open air,” and describes artworks painted outdoors with the subject in view. The Albin Polasek Museum will host its 8th Annual ‘Winter Park Paint Out’ with 25 professional ‘plein air’ artists working around Winter Park, capturing our favorite landscapes and landmarks with oils, watercolors and pastels. Whether you’re an art lover, patron, or simply curious to see Artists in action, stop by the Museum, which will be open FREE through the entire week, to see the latest from these artists. Completed paintings will hang in the ‘Wet Room’ where these one-of-a kind works may be purchased as soon as they are hung on the wall. Call 407.647.6294 or visit polasek.org for a complete schedule of events. 

April 27 at 5:30 pm & 8 pm – The ‘Daredevil’ String Quartet – Brooklyn Rider
Maestro Eric Jacobsen’s Best Buds, who make up the contemporary music sensation Brooklyn Rider, will join forces for a fundraiser celebrating Maestro’s first season as Orlando Philharmonic Music Director AND the first stage of renovations to The Plaza Live. Begin with cocktails at 5:30 pm followed by dinner WITH music by Eric Jacobsen and his brother Colin, all taking place in the renovated rehearsal hall. The ‘concert’ begins at 8 pm after which everyone is invited to a reception with desserts and the opportunity to explore the newly completed renovations. Dinner and concert packages are $250 per person; Concert ONLY tickets are $45, $75 and $95. For the dinner/concert package call 407.896.6700 x234 or visit orlandophil.org 

April 28, 29 & 30 – Into the Woods, Junior 
It was inevitable that the Broadway musical ‘Into the Woods,’ a musical fairy tale including the characters Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack (of Beanstalk fame), would be turned into a young people’s version. One featured performer in the up-coming 4 performances is Zak Zweifel, perhaps the youngest working magician in Florida. As Zak prepares for the role of Jack, he promises he will never abandon a certain retirement home where he performs for charity. “That was where I began,” he says. “I will always go back.” Visit hfcschool.com/genesian-players-drama-club Tickets: $7/each ($10/each at the door) at Holy Family Catholic Church at 5125 S Apopka-Vineland Road in Orlando

April 29 to May 1 – Orlando Ballet Presents Beauty and the Beast 
Orlando Ballet's Beauty & the Beast is a re-interpretation of this classic tale. From the Beast’s imposing castle to the enchanted forest, this ancient love story illustrates the power of love through inventive choreography and a mythic cast of characters. With original music – composed by Orlando’s own Arcadian Broad – the CFC Arts Symphony will join the Ballet for the performances. This partnership will result in a 35-piece orchestra of local musicians to perform music written by an Orlando composer to accompany the Orlando Ballet for the run of Beauty & the Beast. Call that “Orlando Proud,” and call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org for tickets

April 29 to May 29 – Singin’ in the Rain – A ‘Splashy Musical’ for the Whole Family 
Directed by the magically talented Rob Winn Anderson, the Garden Theatre’s BIG annual musical has become a MUST-SEE event. The LIVE staging of one of the great movie musicals of all time offers a Tinsel-town starlet, a handsome leading man and a love affair that could change lives while making (or breaking) careers. Taking us back to the time of silent movies, this classic is chock full of unforgettable songs and dancing that changed musicals for all time. At the beautiful Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, call 407.877.4736 or visit gardentheatre.org

April 30 at 2 pm & 7 pm – Ballet Fedotov presents The Snow Queen
Ballet Fans take note! Ballet Fedotov and the Russian Ballet Alafaya will present the World Premiere of ‘Snow Queen,’ a ballet adaptation of the tale by Hans Christian Anderson. The power of love triumphs over evil when young Kai is taken by the wicked Snow Queen. It takes faith and courage to find Kai, and love to rescue him. With original choreography by Vadim Fedotov, and an original score by David Goldstein, the production features stunning new costumes and sets. Performed by an integrated cast of professional dancers with the dancers of Russian Ballet Alafaya, the two performances will be presented at the Dr. Phillips Center. 

April 30 at 5 pm -- Corks, Caladiums, & Canvases in Gotha 
Nehrling Gardens, 1885 home of horticulturalist Henry Nehrling, is the garden property where he experimented with over 3,000 new plants for the Bureau of Plant Industry, now the USDA. Visited by thousands of tourists, including Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas Edison, this event invites us to step back in time and stroll through the Gardens at sunset. Sample a variety of food and wine from regions where the plants originated; view artists at work, with original art for purchase; listen to live music; and visit the gift shop. At 2267 Hempel Ave in Gotha, tickets are $55 advance, $65 at the door. Visit nehrlinggardens.org

April 30 & May 1 – The Annual St. Johns River Festival of the Arts 
On April 30 and May 1, historic downtown Sanford will be transformed into an artist mecca for the 4th annual St. John's River Festival of the Arts. It’s a great time of year to stroll those historic brick streets filled with arts and crafts from over 150 artists from across the country. See live demonstrations, create your own piece of artwork and enjoy gourmet food offerings while listening to live musicians. Chalk artists will add even more color to the streets as you seek out that perfect piece of original art to add to your collection. Visit stjohnsriverartfest.com

May 1 at 7:30 pm – 42nd STREET – THE Broadway Musical 
It’s one performance only, and it’s THE Broadway Musical – the BIGGEST and – the GREATEST.  Drawn from the 1930’s Busby Berkeley movie musicals that helped our ancestors forget the Depression for an hour or two, this show offers some of the greatest dancing and some of the greatest songs ever written including ‘We’re in the Money,’ ‘Dames,’ ‘I Only Have Eyes for You,’ AND the can’t-sit-still-in-your-seat ‘42nd Street.’  At the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach, visit PeabodyDaytona.com or call 800.982.ARTS. 

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators