Florida Culture for the Week of June 3 by Josh Garrick

June 6 to June 16 – Valencia’s Fat Pig!

What better place than a college theater to balance social commentary with black humor and what better Director to oversee this funny and touching comedy than the always inventive John Didonna?  LOVE is in the air – between an average guy and a plus-sized librarian – and that love is ‘complicated’ by a world in which judgments based on one’s size are the norm. Neil LaBute’s caustic comedy Fat Pig!, which critiques our ideals of beauty, is presented at Valencia College East. Call 407.582.2900.

June 6 – 1st Thursday at Orlando Museum of Art

Collaboration in Art will be celebrated on June 6 at the Orlando Museum of Art as we follow Artists working from “conceptualization through varied processes to finished artwork,” artists working in partnership, and the challenges and strengths that can be achieved in the process. Including music, food, and interpretive readings, Orlando’s original ART party will attempt the World’s largest ‘Exquisite Corpse’ drawing – and you can help!  At the Orlando Museum of Art, call 407 896 4231 x260 or visit omart.org

June 6 – Swan Lake Broadcast LIVE at a Movie Theater near You

Bringing Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet masterpiece to U.S. movie theaters from Russia’s renowned ballet company, Swan Lake Mariinsky Live will be broadcast (live) on June 6 at 6:30 pm. The ballet will be performed at the the historic Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, the theatre which has provided the world with great dancers since 1740. This classic will be the first of its kind to use the Academy Award-winning technology created by the Cameron Pace Group for films such as Avatar. Tickets at participating theaters.

June 7 to July 7 – ‘Dreamgirls’ at Mad Cow

The highly-anticipated, Tony Award-winning musical that captures the spirit of hope in 1960s Motown is finally here. When a girl group (think the Supremes) gets their big break in the music business, their struggle for stardom is a time-lapse spectacle about the price of show-biz success. Sizzling with disco and R&B soul, Dreamgirls will run from June 7 to July 7. Call 407-297-8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com

June 8 – Adults Only at the Science Center!

Having served hundreds of thousands of school kids, the Orlando Science Center is reserved for adults at Science Night Live on June 8 from 8 to 11 pm with grown-up-inspired programming and hands-on challenges. Guests will enjoy ‘the science of harmony and music’ with UCF’s Dr. Scott Warfield; experience U2 3D, the first 3D movie featuring rock band U2; view stars through the giant telescope in the Observatory; conduct lab experiments in Dr. Dare’s Laboratory; while enjoying food, beer and wine. Admission includes all 4 floors of exhibits. Call 407.514.2000 or visit osc.org

June 11 to August 23 – Summer Movies at the Garden Theatre

Decades before its renovation as the anchor of downtown Winter Garden’s re-birth, the Garden Theatre was a movie house. The Theatre will return to its roots with two Summer Movie Series, from June to August, screening vintage and/or cult movies on Thursday and Friday evenings beginning at 7 pm. Tickets are $5. The 2nd Series, called the Milk Money Movies, is for children and will be shown Tuesdays at 10 am with tickets at $1. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis 2 hours prior to show times at the Box Office. Call 407.877.4736 or visit gardentheatre.org

June 13 and 14 – Mood Swings with Kevin Kelly

The world of cabaret often includes a laugh, a cry, and a drink – all in the same evening, and no one does it better than that “charming boy next door Kevin Kelly.” We can spend an evening with Kevin at the Winter Park Playhouse as he croons a little Gershwin, a little Manilow (and others) with the incomparable Christopher Leavy on the keys. June 13 and 14 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20 and include a drink from the bar. Visit winterparkplayhouse.org or call 407-645-0145.

June 13 – Winter Park’s Sip and Stroll

Winter Park’s Chamber of Commerce and the Park Avenue Merchants Association invite us to experience the charm of Park Avenue on a summer's eve as we stroll through shops, boutiques, and restaurants in this “uniquely-Winter Park wine walk.” Enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres at participating merchants from the Ancient Olive and Bay Hill Jewelers to the Doggie Door and Kilwin's Chocolates. Tickets will be emailed for registrations submitted through PayPal with check-in at the corner of Park and Morse on June 13 at 5 pm. (Attendees receive their ‘passport’ and wine glass at check-in and must be 21 or older.) Visit winterpark.org/content/winter-park-sip

And looking ahead ---

June 14 – Lauren Rowe with Sir Terrence Hummel
This year’s ‘fun-raiser’ for the Downtown Arts District features Artist and columnist Terry Hummel for its 4th annual In the Artist’s Studio. The event, to be held at the MEZZ on June 14, offers a unique experience to learn about the Artist and his career. Guests will experience a discussion by WKMG’s Lauren Rowe, an art exhibit, silent auction, entertainment, food and beverages. Hummel, born in Florida, earned a Master of Arts degree at Rollins, and also attended college in Bolivia, Chile, Israel, and Spain. He writes a weekly column for the Orlando Sentinel, is a Counselor at Howard Academy; and his volunteer efforts with families in crisis, and services to the Crown have earned him two knighthoods. Tickets are $35 with proceeds benefiting the Downtown Arts District. Call 407.648.7060 or visit artiststudio.eventbrite.com

June 15 – World Ballet Competition All Stars of Dance

The World Ballet Competition, held each June in Orlando, brings together an impressive array of international talent, all of which comes together on Saturday, June 15 for a not-to-be-missed Dance Gala called All Stars of Dance. Held at the Bob Carr PAC, the audience is treated to brilliant – often breath-taking – performances from visiting dance stars who share the spotlight with medal-winners from the week-long competition. The All Stars of Dance is a one-night only performance; call 407.849.4669 or visit worldballetcompetition.com for tickets.
 

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators