Florida Culture for the Week of April 2 by Josh Garrick

April 7 – The Orlando Philharmonic’s staging of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel will be performed this Saturday, April 7 at 2 pm and 8 pm at the Bob Carr PAC, and both performances feature an all-star cast. I’ve become a big fan of these performances with the Orchestra on-stage and the performers in front of the Orchestra.  Named the best musical of the 20th Century by Time Magazine, Carousel will feature Michelle Knight, Todd S. Mummert, and Andrea Canny – just a few of the super-talented singing actors you will recognize in this production. Call 407.770. 0071 or visit orlandophil.org.

April 11 & 12 – The Kevin Kelly Kabaret

When the multi-talented Kevin Kelly performed his first cabaret act at the Winter Park Playhouse, it sold out immediately. Now that ‘Son of a Preacher Man’ whose ‘Life was Saved by Barry Manilow’ (go to the performance – you’ll understand) RETURNS with a new cabaret act – Songs in the Key of Me. You’ve seen Kevin in Ruthless, the Musical of Musicals, and most recently in the Andrews Brothers. Songs in the Key of Me will be performed on Wednesday, April 11 and Thursday, April 12 at 7:30 pm as part of the Winter Park Playhouse Spotlight Cabaret Series, and is highly recommended.  Call 407.645.0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org.

April 12 – Latin Super-Stars Sergio Mendes and Jon Secada come together on April 12 at the King Center in Melbourne, FL with an amazing list of ‘hits’ between them in over 50 albums! Mendes is the world’s musical ambassador from Brazil with his jazz-samba sound, and Secada, the celebrity judge on Latin American Idol, is also going jazz in his new work. Call 321.242.2219 or visit kingcenter.com

April 13, 14 and 15 – The Tampa Bay Blues Festival
Since 1995, the Tampa Bay Blues Festival has been staged at scenic Vinoy Waterfront Park in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. The Park is the perfect setting for one of the world’s great music festivals, with headliners including Los Lonely Boys, Tower of Power, Jimmie Vaughan, Charles Bradley, and Delbert McClinton. State of the art sound ensures the very best sound and entertainment while vendors offer arts and crafts, food trucks offer culinary treats, beer and wine. Gates open at noon and music runs through 10 pm each day. Vinoy Park is at 501 Fifth Avenue NE in St. Petersburg. Call 727.502.5000 or visit tampabaybluesfest.com

April 13 to May 27 – Josh Garrick at the Eustis Museum

Three monumental new photographic works will serve as the focal point of my exhibit at the Lake Eustis Museum of Art. The works are 3 feet by 5 feet each and will be ‘printed’ on aluminum. In addition, a grouping of 25 works – also on aluminum – will be presented along with traditional silver gelatin prints. My first MUSEUM show has arrived – and I am happy to INVITE ALL OF YOU to attend the Opening on Friday April 13 from 6 to 9 pm.  You’ve been following my artistic suggestions for years – come and see what my creations look like. The Museum is located at 200 B East Orange Avenue in Eustis, FL. Call 352. 483.2900 or 407.522.3906 or visit facebook.com/JoshGarrick

Three Blessings

April 13 to June 10 – A much-anticipated new exhibit called Treasures of the Chrysanthemum Throne opens at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach on April 13. The exhibit features Japanese bronzes, intricate ivories and paper-thin porcelains. Each artwork was created during the reign of Mutsuhito, the Meiji Emperor who ascended the Japanese throne in 1867 at the age of fifteen and ruled -- with the aid of Samurai advisors -- until his death in 1912. MOAS is located at 352 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach. Call 386.255.0285 or visit moas.org

April 15 – Chanticleer at Rollins

Chanticleer, coming to us from San Francisco, is known around the world as “an orchestra of voices” for the artful blend of twelve male voices ranging from countertenor to bass and their original interpretations from Renaissance to jazz and from gospel to contemporary music. Presented by the Bach Festival Society at Rollins College, ‘limited’ seating is available. Call 407.646.2182 or visit BachFestivalFlorida.org

Planning ahead …   When I find something truly extraordinary coming to our area, I try to let you know in advance, so you won’t miss the ‘greatness.’ The Daytona Beach Symphony Society has brought extraordinary classical music performances to Central Florida for over 60 years, and their just-announced season for 2012-2013 offers several great events, one of which is already on my calendar.  They open their season with the first-ever U.S. tour of the Cuban Philharmonic in a program that includes BOTH the Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue AND Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.  Their subscription package is available now. For all the season’s offerings call 386.253.2901 or visit dbss.org.

And Not to be Missed … through April 22 – RED at the Shakespeare Theater is a brilliant play, brilliantly directed by Patrick Flick, and brilliantly acted by the two-man cast of John Herrera as Painter Mark Rothko and Buddy Haardt as his assistant. This is as fine a production as you will see anywhere. Orlando Shakes proves – once again – we have great ART in Central Florida. Do NOT miss it. Call 407.447.1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators