Florida Culture for the Week of April 28 By Josh Garrick

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

For 18 days, Central Florida gets to ‘celebrate’ cabaret with some of the world's great singing artists, including award-winning actor and vocalist Nicholas Rodriguez (May 1, 2, and 3), Tony Award-winning Broadway and TV star Laura Benanti (May 9 and 10), and a dozen other wonderful performers. Call 407.297.8788 or visit orlandocabaret.com for a complete list of performances.

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 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.

April 30 – Adult Literacy League Call for Tutors

It’s painful to report that one in every five Central Florida adults reads at or below the 5th grade level, which means 20% of Central Floridians are unable to read the article YOU are reading right now. That’s where we come in. The Adult Literacy League has scheduled a training session for volunteer tutors on Wednesday April 30. Volunteer tutors work one-on-one with students teaching reading and basic literacy skills throughout Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties. To become a tutor – and change a life – please call 407.422.1540 or visit adultliteracyleague.org

May 2 – The Scribes of Central Florida with Timothy Botts

Celebrating their 30th Anniversary, The Scribes of Central Florida, the talented folk who visually express the meaning of words through calligraphy, will present A Living Gallery of Calligraphers on May 2 from 1 to 4 pm. Joined by renowned calligrapher Timothy Botts, the group will create their artwork at the First Presbyterian Church of Orlando at 106 East Church Street. Visitors – invited FREE – may move among the calligraphers observing the work, asking questions, and enjoying Mr. Botts’ demonstration of historical lettering. For free parking, visit fpco.org. For information, call 407.339.7383 or visit scribesofcentralflorida.com

May 3 and 4 – CFCArts to Present the Romantic Composers

In a program entitled Exploring the World of Romance, the 75-voice CFCArts Classical Choir will be joined by a chamber orchestra as they sing selections from Mozart, Rossini, and Schubert. The audience will also experience works by Neo-Romantic composers Randall Thompson and Jean Belmont in a concert to be held May 3 at 7:30 pm and May 4 at 2:30 pm at St. John’s Lutheran Church at 1600 S. Orlando Avenue in Winter Park. Tickets are an affordable $10, with children age 12 and under admitted free. Visit cfcarts.com

May 3 to June 1 – Keepin’ it Fresh in Sanford

Jeanine Taylor, known for bringing attention and respect to Folk Art, will present a multi-artist show entitled Keepin’ It Fresh with a Free opening reception on Saturday, May 3 from 10 am to 4 pm. Coinciding with the St. Johns River Festival of the Arts, Taylor “wanted to assemble these artists to demonstrate how well different folk art works together.” The four artists are Cecel Allee (Georgia), David Hammock (Alabama), and Phyllis Trager Hyman and Jane Theis (Florida). The Gallery is at 211 East 1st Street in Sanford. Call 407-323-2774 or visit jtfolkart.com

May 3 – MAYSfest 2014 – A Large Student Orchestra

Over 250 MAYS students will come together to conclude the 4th season of the MAYS Student Orchestras, which includes eight orchestras and three in-school strings programs. The Jonathan May Foundation was granted nonprofit status this season with a unique structure that ensures the MAYS Orchestras will always be directed by musicians and educators. The concert will be held on May 3 beginning at 4 pm at the Bob Carr PAC in Orlando. Call 1-800-978-0407 or visit MAYSymphony.org

May 3 – The Addams Family at the Peabody

The comically ghoulish Addams Family brings their award-winning Broadway show to the stage of the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach. Wednesday Addams, ‘princess of darkness,’ has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet young man from a respectable family. As the Addams family hosts a dinner for Wednesday's "normal" boyfriend and his parents, laughs are inevitable for the audience. For tickets to this not-so-scary musical, call 386.671.3462 or visit peabodyauditorium.org

May 3, 4, and 5 – Cinco de Mayo via COCINA 214

When you have a Holiday like Cinco de Mayo (5th of May in Spanish), I strongly support the good folks at my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant – COCINA 214 – in their decision to turn one day into a 3-day Festival. Historically, May 5 marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla, but here in Winter Park, it allows COCINA 214 to have ‘ambassadors’ from Jose Cuervo and Corona serve up drinks. On Sunday, locals can enter their dogs in the Annual Running of the Chihuahuas. The party continues on May 5 as the restaurant celebrates with a Patron Ice Luge at 5 pm followed by Corona giveaways and Don Julio tequila samples. For details, visit cocina214.com

May 4 – The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra in Concert

The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra (FSYO) will conclude its 57th Season on May 4 at the Bob Carr PAC with all four of the organization’s award-winning youth orchestras performing. Violist Tyler Pacheco (17), a senior at Lake Highland Prep, is in his 4th year as a member of FSYO, this year holding the principal violist position. Mr. Pacheco will perform the 1st Movement of the Walton Viola Concerto. In addition, 40 graduating seniors will be recognized for their dedication to classical music. The concert will begin at 4 pm. For tickets and details, visit fsyo.org.

May 4 – ONE NIGHT – the Fundraiser – Saves Lives

The moment tragedy strikes, the Orlando Regional Medical Center’s Level One Trauma Center stands ready to serve. ONE NIGHT is the annual fund-raiser that celebrates their commitment to serving Central Florida “when it matters most” through a presentation that brings true trauma care stories to life. ONE NIGHT supports this life-saving resource – Central Florida’s only Level One Trauma Center.  The event includes a champagne reception, a silent auction, dinner, and multimedia program with personal testimonies from trauma survivors. To purchase tickets, visit OneNightSavesLives.com

May 8 – Winter Park History Museum’s Opening Night

It’s probably no co-incidence that the Winter Park History Museum – located so close to the train tracks in Winter Park – has announced its next exhibit called Whistle in the Distance: The Trains of Winter Park. The whole family is invited to the Opening on May 8, beginning at 5 pm. Call 407.647.2330 or visit wphistory.org

May 9 and 11 – The Orlando Philharmonic Presents Verdi’s La Traviata

The Orlando Philharmonic has created a series of brilliantly produced operas – with the unique idea of placing the Orchestra on-stage with the singers performing in front of the Orchestra. On May 9 at 8 pm and May 11 at 2 pm, the Philharmonic will present Giuseppe Verdi’s most melodious and popular work – La Traviata. Sung in Italian with English subtitles, Elizabeth Caballero will perform the role of Violetta, and Brian Jadge will perform as her lover, Alfredo. “Verdi's score contains some of the most beautiful music ever written,” says Conductor Christopher Wilkins. Call 407.770.0071 or visit orlandophil.org

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 funds raised go directly to help those in need. Join Central Florida’s greatest chefs to help those in need. E-mail [email protected] or call 407.429.2129.

May 11 – A Friendly Reminder

This year Mother's Day falls on Sunday, May 11. 

Current – Dr. Phillips Center Launches Annual Membership Campaign

This week, the NEW Dr. Phillips Center announced its annual membership campaign. As part of the Center’s commitment to engage the community in Arts for Every Life, seven giving levels, with memberships starting at $75 and ranging up to $10,000, offer benefits from invitations to special center events to artist ‘meet and greets.’ Every ‘member’ will have the ability to purchase tickets for shows presented by the Center before they are offered to the general public. In addition, inaugural season memberships purchased by November 1 will be extended through Nov. 1, 2015. Membership registration and benefits are available at drphillipscenter.org/membership.

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators