Florida Culture for the week of February 9, 2015 by Josh Garrick

Feb 11 -- DIANA ROSS

If ever there was a performer who deserved ‘one-name’ recognition, it should have been Diana – Ross that is. Now, for one night only, THE ORIGINAL DREAMGIRL -- Diana Ross brings her In The Name of Love Tour to the Dr. Phillips Center on February 11 beginning at 7:30 pm. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED?  You can bet the house. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org     

Feb 11 to 16 – Valencia College Theater Presents Original Docudrama

After conducting hundreds of hours of interviews, theater students from Valencia College created the docudrama Division: The Trayvon/Jordan Project. Exploring events surrounding the deaths of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fl, and Jordan Davis in Jacksonville, Division uses the words of lawyers, media personalities, political activists, professors, students and people involved in the two tragedies to become a play written by John DiDonna, Chair of Valencia’s theater department, in collaboration with his students. At the Valencia East Campus, call 407.582.2900 or visit valenciacollege.edu/arts   

Feb 13 – An Evening with Chris Botti

As a perfect prelude to Valentine’s Day, the Dr. Phillips Center presents an evening with the top-selling instrumentalist in the world Chris Botti. The platinum-selling jazz trumpeter began his rise to fame touring with Sting and has since performed with Barbra Streisand, Andrea Bocelli, and Josh Groban. Botti, who earned the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album, will present an evening of Billboard-topping hits on February 13 at 8 pm. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org     

Feb 13 & 14 – Robot Love in 3-D

In this year of 2015, the ‘independent’ Robots have come to realize they crave three (3) things only humans can produce – art, music, and love. The Robots have arranged a ‘party’ so that we (humans) may celebrate our ‘symbiosis of art, music, and love’ (with the robots). A factory is being constructed in Melbourne, Florida at the Foosaner Education Center at 1520 Highland Avenue where ART - MUSIC : LOVE ; } will be produced by the Derek Gores Gallery. To “Love in 3D,” visit robotlove3d.com/tickets

Feb 13 to 22 – Murray Schisgal’s Luv at the Shakespeare Center

Murray Schisgal’s Luv will open in a new production over Valentine’s weekend with this contemporary classic spoofing love and its absurdities in ways that show how marriages are made – and un-made.  As the misunderstandings mount, the troubles of the mis-matched three-some provide the audience with ‘painful’ laughter. Luv marked the Broadway debut of Murray Schisgal, for which he earned Tony Award nominations for Best Play and Best Author of a Play. Visit darksideofsaturn.com or call 209.479.9923

Feb 13 to May 17 – ‘Repurposed Art’ at Ringling Museum of Fine Art

Over 100 years after Marcel Duchamp changed the course of Western Art by joining together ordinary objects, contemporary artists regularly use materials considered garbage, trash, or rubbish to create complex works of art. Re:Purposed, at the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, will explore trends of creatvity and environment as potent reminders of our connection to the materials we use to facilitate our lives – and then discard. Call 941.359.5700 or visit ringling.org

Nick Cave, Soundsuit, 2008 Mixed media. Photo by James Prinz Photography

Feb 14 – Annual Orlando Folk Festival at the Mennello

It’s a ‘sweetheart’ of a Free event beginning at 2 pm on Valentine’s Day at The Mennello Museum at Loch Haven Park. ‘Updating’ the traditional Folk Festival with music, cuisine, cocktails, and art, the Festival will present Joseph & Jessy Martens, Paleface and Terri Binion along with a special Twilight Concert – all Free. Bring a picnic basket or indulge in ‘picnic cuisine’ from East End Market, available for sale, along with craft cocktails. Call 407.246.4278 or visit mennellomuseum.com

Feb 14 – Paws in the Park for the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando

The Pet Alliance’s largest pet walk – Paws in the Park – at Lake Eola in downtown Orlando, is an annual fundraiser for pets and their families. Along with food trucks, vendors, demonstrations, and agility contests, Animal Planet’s Victoria Stilwell will offer training demonstrations and insights into the brain of a dog. Registration begins at 8 am with the event running from 9 am to1 pm.

Feb 14 – Harry Connick Jr. at the Dr. Phillips Center

Forget the box of chocolates – Harry Connick Jr. is bringing his N’awlins love to the Dr. Phillips Center on Valentine’s Day. With more awards than he can count for his musical performances, and for his acting in movies, on TV, and Broadway, Harry Connick, Jr. is all about performing. The foundation of Connick's art is the music of his native New Orleans, where he’s been performing since the age of five. 29 albums, 3 Grammys and 2 Emmys later, reserve your tickets by calling 844.513.2014 or visiting drphillipscenter.org            

Feb 15 -- Jason Mraz’s ‘Yes’ Tour at Dr. Phillips Center

Jason Mraz says, “Everything in life boils down to people saying ‘yes.’ Yes inspires creativity; Yes is love; Yes is what gave us life.” ‘Yes’ has given this singer, song-writer, musician, filmmaker, and social activist a life that brings his folk-pop sound to audiences around the world. Along the way, he has earned platinum and multi-platinum certifications in 20 countries, sold 48 million singles, and racked up two Grammy Awards. He and the folk-rock band Raining Jane will be at the Dr. Phillips Center on February 15 at 8 pm. Say YES.

Feb 16 to 28 – Slava’s Snowshow                                   

The multi-award-winning international clown show Slava’s Snowshow has delighted audiences around the globe as the deeply imaginative Slava fuses vaudeville with child-like innocence in his dream-like journey. The performance finds a troupe of clowns ‘adrift’ in a spectacular snowstorm that becomes a memorable event for the whole family. Get ready for the snow – lots and lots of snow – at the Dr. Phillips Center, call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org       

Feb 16 – The Orlando Philharmonic Introduces Conductor Steven Jarvi

We’ve reached the 4th in the list of Conductor finalists as the “sounds-better-than-ever” Orlando Philharmonic searches for its new Music Director. Steven Jarvi is up next, conducting his first program – a collection of suites, including Debussy’s Petite Suite, Barber’s Knoxville Summer of 1915, Adam Schoenberg’s Finding Rothko and Ravel's Mother Goose Suite at Plaza Live in East Orlando on Feb 16 at 7 pm.  Call 407.770.0071 or visit orlandophil.org

Feb 18 to March 22 – Henry V Takes the Stage at OrlandoShakes

Under the direction of Artistic Director Jim Helsinger, Shakespeare’s most famous history play tells of the brash, young King Henry V of England as he works to unite his broken nation after a bloody civil war. From Henry's oft-quoted battle speeches to his courtship of the Princess of France, Shakespeare’s Henry V explores what makes a man a king... and a king a man. This new production features the brilliant John P. Keller, who portrayed the title roles in Nicholas Nickleby and Dracula.  HIGHLY recommended; call 407.447.1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org.

John P. Keller as Henry V & Stephen Paul Johnson  

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators