Florida Culture for the Week of July 6, 2015 by Josh Garrick

July 6 -- The Girls’ Club from the Orlando Philharmonic 

Back by popular demand, an All-Woman team of Orlando Philharmonic musicians will present a concert of works composed by and performed by women, including Fanny Mendelssohn, Amy Beach, Libby Larson, and Billie Holiday. The concert is scheduled for TODAY, July 6 at 7 pm at the Plaza Live Theatre in East Orlando, currently under-going renovations as the new home of the Philharmonic. Call 407.770.0071 or visit orlandophil.org 

July 7 to July 31 -- Free Summer Family Programs at the Morse Museum 

Families are invited to a series of Free programs for elementary-school-age children at the Morse Museum in Winter Park. Home to the world’s largest collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, the Museum will offer child-friendly tours on Tuesdays and a film series on Fridays: On Tuesday’s Tours – July 7, 14, 21, and 28, the program includes ‘supplies needed for an art project inspired by collecting.’ Fridays will include a short film, gallery tour, and art activity on July 10, 17, 24, and 31. Call 407.645.5311 x136 to reserve a place for you and your child.

July 9 to 12 – Mel Fisher Charity Days in Key West 

Each year a celebration is held to commemorate Mel Fisher’s famous 16- year search for the Spanish galleon Atocha which led to the famous $450 million dollar treasure discovered in the waters off Key West. Events including a Pirate’s Ball, treasure hunts, parties and bar-crawls are scheduled from July 9 to 12 with 100% of net proceeds benefitting Wesley House Family Services. Wesley House provides services including foster and adoptive care, life skills training, intervention services, and health care to children and families throughout the Florida Keys. Visit melfisherdays.com 

July 10 – CFCArts at Good Morning Winter Park

This Free – and popular – breakfast gathering will enjoy a rare treat on Friday, July 10 beginning at 7:45 am when the uber-talented Joshua Vickery, Founder and Executive Director of one of Orlando’s largest non-profit arts organizations, Central Florida Community Arts, talks about how the hundreds of CFCArts volunteers bring the Arts to Central Florida and beyond. A special performance by CFCArts’ professional vocal ensemble, Legacy, will be an added highlight. This Free event will be held at 151 West Lyman Avenue in Winter Park. Visit winterpark.org/calendar or call 407.644.8281

July 10 to 20 – Breakthrough Theatre presents The Great God Pan

The Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park will revive the Amy Herzog play, The Great God Pan from July 10 to 20 with Jake Howard as Jamie. Jamie's life in Brooklyn seems fine until a childhood trauma comes to light. Directed by Nathan Jones, this unsettling and deeply compassionate play tells of what is lost – and won – when a hidden truth is released into the world. Breakthrough Theatre is at 419 W. Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park. Call 407-920-4034. 

Jake Howard and BeeJay Aubertin Clinton

July 11 – A Gift for Music FREE Camp Concert

We are all invited to join A Gift for Music’s sensationally talented students and faculty as they wrap up a week of ‘Summer Camp’ music-making. Featuring students AND faculty from all of their orchestras, this concert will present the premieres of music written by the students as “short film scores.”  Set for July 11 at 1 pm at the UCF Center for Emerging Media (across from the Bob Carr) at 500 West Livingston Street in Downtown Orlando, the concert is Free with donations accepted. No tickets necessary.  Visit AGiftforMusic.org 

July 13 -- Celebrate the 4th AGAIN on the 13th!

As we recently celebrated the birth of our nation, the Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs office invites us to think about how Art and our Presidents have shaped our society. To aid in that thought process, we are invited to a fun exhibit that honors both. Artist Damon DeWitt has painted portraits of all 43 presidents - each in a different artistic style, and we are invited to see which Presidents we can name and the artistic style that inspired the portrait. ‘Dads of Democracy’ will open with a Free reception on Monday, July 13 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the Orange County Administration Center at 201 S Rosalind Ave in Orlando. 

July 13 & 14 -- An Historic Literary Event from Harper Lee 

July 14 is the publication date of a newly discovered novel, the earliest known work from Harper Lee, the bestselling author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, To Kill a Mockingbird. Written in the 1950s, Go Set a Watchman was the novel Ms. Lee first submitted to her publishers. Assumed lost, the manuscript was re-discovered in 2014 and features many of the characters from Mockingbird – 20 years later – exploring how those characters adjust to the events of mid-1950s America. On July 13, all Barnes & Nobles stores nationwide will read To Kill a Mockingbird from start to finish with the read-a-thon featuring the Orlando Rep, guest readers and local celebrities. On July 14, Go Set a Watchman will go on sale. Visit barnesandnoble.com

July 15 & 16 -- Encore! Performing Arts presents Elton John's Aida in Concert

Created in 2002 by a handful of Disney Cast Members, Encore! Cast Performing Arts has a history of presenting concerts that benefit local charities and has raised over $225,000 for local charities. Based on the iconic opera, Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida is a timeless love story with an award-winning pop/rock score that brings the ill-fated lovers into a new era. Aida will be performed in concert version on July 15 and 16 at 7:30 pm at the Dr. Phillips Center. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org.

NOW to July 26 – The Frog and the Princess at Orlando Shakespeare

Based – loosely – on the story by the Brothers Grimm, and adapted by Orlando’s own very clever Brandon Roberts, Prince Gerwyn wants to marry the beautiful Princess – BUT her evil stepmother casts a spell that turns Gerwyn into a frog forever. Is THIS happily ever after? Children will love this ‘interactive’ fairy tale packed with magic (and slime) and a ‘character meet and greet’ after each performance.  Visit orlandoshakes.org or call 407.447.1700

NOW to Sept 6 – Orlando Museum of Art Florida Prize 2015

In the Orlando Museum of Art’s second Florida Prize in Contemporary Art, the exhibit features 10 of the “most progressive and exciting artists working in the State today.” The Artists include painters, photographers, sculptors and film makers, many of whom combine media in innovative ways including five who have created new, large-scale installations for this exhibit. The exhibit recognizes both the achievement and potential of these Florida Artists, thereby encouraging their continued innovation, while celebrating the cultural life of our beautiful State. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED  Visit omart.org or call 407.896.4231

NOW – Blockbuster Mummies Exhibit at Orlando Science Center

The Blockbuster Exhibit of the Summer is now open at the Orlando Science Center. Mummies of the World is the largest exhibit of mummies (and related artifacts) ever assembled, showing how state-of-the-art science can shed light on history, medicine and world cultures. Real human and animal mummies from South America, Europe and Egypt demonstrate that mummification – through natural and intentional processes – has taken place around the globe. Presented with solemn dignity, the exhibit provides a window into the lives of our ancestors and is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Visit osc.org or call 407.514.2000

NOW – A Driverless Vehicle, Drones, and Robots at MOSI in Tampa  

The Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Tampa offers guests the unique chance to ride in a driverless vehicle. Entering the lobby, visitors are greeted by a Meridian Shuttle, an intelligent vehicle that is 100% driverless and electric – the FIRST such experience in the nation in which guests are able to ride. In addition, Idea Zone, MOSI’s inventor’s studio, offers guests the chance to ‘code’ a variety of robots with a variety of abilities, including artificial intelligence, assistance technology, and autonomous functionality. The exhibit showcases the latest discoveries that explore the way we live, work, and play, now and in the future. Visit mosi.org

Current – It’s a Bouncing Baby WartHog at the Zoo 

A healthy 1 lb. 8 oz. female baby warthog was born to Joy and Chop, Central Florida Zoo’s resident warthogs on April 17th.  Now weighing over five pounds, the baby is big enough to receive visitors. "She is spunky, adventurous and has taken on a personality that is a bit like her dad. She squeals, squeaks and kicks when she is hungry," according to Phil Flynn, Central Florida Zoo's CEO. Until July 15, you can help name the baby. Visit the Central Florida Zoo's Facebook page, and locate the naming contest for details, or visit centralfloridazoo.org

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators