Florida Culture for the Week of April 21 By Josh Garrick

Now through April 27 – The JERSEY BOYS are Back in Orlando!
The blockbuster musical JERSEY BOYS is the Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award-winning Best Musical about Rock-and-Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons.  Led by the unique voice of Frankie Valli, these four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. Their story, thrillingly told through music that is now a part of American history, is at the Bob Carr PAC through April 27. Visit OrlandoBroadway.com or call 1-800-982-2787

Now through April 26 – Paint Out Winter Park

A benefit for the Albin Polasek Museum and Gardens, the 2014 Paint Out Winter Park finds 25 plein air artists painting at scenic spots throughout Winter Park. Stop by the Polasek Museum to see these Artists-in-action as the museum, sculpture gardens and gallery are open FREE during this week-long event. Demonstrations, tours, art for purchase, and tickets to the ‘Garden Party’ are available. Visit polasek.org.

Now through May 3 – Edward Albee’s Tony Award Winning The Goat

DiDonna Productions presents Edward Albee’s black comedy/tragedy The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? This 2002 winner of the Tony Award for Best Play explores a marriage rocked by an impossible-to-understand-love as this tragic, and sometimes funny, play questions our own definitions of love and tolerance. With parental guidance suggested, Goat is at the Shakespeare Center through May 3.  Reserve tickets at 407.328.9005 or visit redchairproject.com for charge card orders.

Now through May 25 – Freckleface Strawberry – The Musical at Orlando Rep

Closing out Orlando Rep’s season of theater for young audiences is Freckleface Strawberry - The Musical. Based on a picture book, Freckleface Strawberry will do anything to get rid of her freckles – from scrubbing them with soap to wearing a ski mask to school. With the help of her lovable schoolmates (and a kooky teacher), Freckleface learns that everyone is different – and that’s what makes everyone special.  Visit orlandorep.com or call 407.896.7365.

April 24 through May 11 – The 12th Annual Orlando Cabaret Festival at Mad Cow

Mad Cow kicks off the 12th annual Orlando Cabaret Festival, featuring Broadway star Christiane Noll, on April 24. The Opening Night will also honor a local hero for outstanding achievement in the arts with a catered cocktail hour and silent auction, followed by a night of cabaret. For the next 18 days, we may ‘celebrate’ cabaret with some of the world's great singing artists including award-winning actor and vocalist, Nicholas Rodriguez, Tony Award-winning Broadway and TV star Laura Benanti, and a dozen other wonderful performers. Visit orlandocabaret.com for a complete list of performances.

April 25 – Young David Copperfield – a reading

Of all Dickens’ novels, David Copperfield is the most autobiographical, and the one he loved best. Dickens said, “Like many fond parents, I have in my heart-of-hearts a favorite child, and his name is David Copperfield.”  Performed by members of the REP’s Student Board, the REP Power chords, and the Youth Academy, a production of Young David Copperfield will be presented April 25 at 7 pm at the Orlando Repertory Theatre in Loch Haven Park. Tickets are FREE, and seating is first come, first served. Call 407-896-7365.

April 25 to May 17 – Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits

Forbidden Broadway has been a hit musical revue – lovingly satirizing Broadway shows and stars since before some of us were born! Now those fun-loving singing-actors of the Winter Park Playhouse invite us to join the laughter as they present Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits. You will laugh out loud as Broadway's music legends meet Broadway's greatest satirists in this hilarious tribute to the “Great White Way.” Opening April 25, call 407.645.0145 or visit Winterparkplayhouse.org.

April 25 to 27 – American Pie Council National Pie Championships Weekend

This national competition brings together serious PIE LOVERS as amateur, professional and commercial pie bakers come together to have their PIE deemed the nation's best. And once the judging is done, the town of Celebration, Florida becomes the ‘PIE capital of the world’ for the Great American Pie Festival. Celebrate with the ‘all-you-can-eat’ Never-Ending Pie Buffet, pie eating contests, baking activities, PieCasso art, and live music. The Pie Buffet is $10/adults and $5/seniors and children. Visit piecouncil.com or call 407-566-2200.

April 25 to 27 – Goodguys National Hot Rod and Custom Car Show

The Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee will be filled with 1,500 show-cars this weekend, as The Goodguys All American Nationals brings its hi-performance car event to Kissimmee. Fans will see everything from Lil’ Deuce Coupes (’32 Ford hot rods) to 70’s era Muscle Cars to new generation Chevy Camaros. There will be racing on the Goodguys AutoCross track, vendor exhibits, a model car show, swap meet, and live music throughout the weekend. Call 925.838.9876 or visit good-guys.com

April 26 – Orlando Shakespeare Theater Presents FREE Movie in the Park

To celebrate the Bard’s 450th birthday, the Orlando Shakespeare Theater will present a FREE, big-screen showing of Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing on April 26 at 8 pm. A modern re-telling of Shakespeare's comedy about two pairs of lovers with very different takes on romance, Whedon’s Much Ado is a Winner of the National Board of Review’s Top Ten Independent Films Award. The outdoor event takes place on the lawn of Loch Haven Park. Call 407.447.1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org

And looking ahead …

May 10 – The Chef’s Gala for United Way

An alarming one in five families in Central Florida need help with basic necessities, and the most “tasteful” way to help United Way help all those thousands of Central Floridians is by purchasing a ticket to the annual Chef’s Gala – United Way’s signature Gala. Foodies and Philanthropists come together to sample the creations of our region’s top chefs, and  thanks to the generosity of host Walt Disney World, 95% of all proceeds go directly to help those in need. From Cask & Larder to Victoria & Albert’s, great chefs from our greatest restaurants help those in need. E-mail ChefsGala[at]hfuw.org or call 407.429.2129.

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators