Florida Culture for the Week of October 10 by Josh Garrick

The Verdi Requiem
It is one of the most powerful pieces of choral music ever written.  Famous for its thunderously gripping Dies Irae, the operatic Verdi Requiem offers intensity in a work portraying every human emotion. On October 22 and 23, the Bach Festival Society will open its 77th season with this landmark work of musical renown. Located in Winter Park, Florida, the Bach Festival is one of the longest continuously operating Bach Festivals in the country and among America’s great oratorio societies. Performances are at the Knowles Memorial Chapel on the campus of Rollins College. Call 407.646.2182 or visit BachFestivalFlorida.org

Be Afraid … Be VERY Afraid
“Something evil this way comes” in Phantasmagoria II as the theatrical genius of John DiDonna concocts a second version of his nightmarish take on Puppetry, Dance, and Storytelling. DiDonna has a remarkable talent for mixing hi-brow ideas with low-brow comedy. Add his special fascination with Halloween, puppets that speak lines from Edgar Allen Poe, and a theater that sports a ‘splash zone’ for blood, and you begin to understand the DiDonna mix of sophistication, sex, and lowbrow humor. With performances from October 14 to October 30 at the Shakespeare Center in Orlando, call 407.328.9005 or visit redchairproject.com

God of Carnage – A Comedy
First produced in France, Yasmina Reza's play God of Carnage saw its first English production in London (2008), where it won the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.  It went on to win the Tony for Best Play on Broadway (2009) and is currently being filmed with Jodie Foster in the lead.  It’s a comedy about a fight. The Raleighs, an outwardly ‘nice’ couple, visit the apartment of Michael and Veronica Novak for what they believe will be a civilized discussion about a playground fight between their two sons. The meeting degenerates … badly … into what the New Yorker called "ninety minutes of sustained mayhem."  The two couples ‘duke it out’ from October 12 to November 13 at the Shakespeare Center at 812 East Rollins Street at Loch Haven Park in Orlando. Call 407.447.1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org

A Play Within A Play
The Mad Cow Theatre loves the play-within-a-play plot line, and one of the best is The Drowsy Chaperone, with book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison. This time the show-within-a-show ‘begins’ when a die-hard fan of musicals plays his favorite cast album – a 1928 hit called “The Drowsy Chaperone,” at which point the musical comes magically to life! Audiences are instantly immersed in a glamorous 20’s musical about a celebrity bride and her wedding day – complete with surprises. The Drowsy Chaperone runs October 14 to November 20 at the Mad Cow Theatre in Downtown Orlando.  Visit madcowtheatre.com or call 407.297.8788.

Silver Alert …
Miss Nelson's boisterous students are misbehaving AGAIN! But the students are in for a surprise when Miss Nelson is replaced by Viola Swamp, the “scariest substitute teacher ever.” Where did Miss Nelson go?  Will she ever return?  Kids love this witty musical while teachers and parents appreciate the play’s message of respect and generosity. The Orlando Shakespeare Theater continues its Theater for Young Audiences Series with the good-at-being-bad kids of Room 207.  Head back to school with Miss Nelson is Missing in performance from October 20 through November 19.  The Shakespeare Theater is at 812 East Rollins Street in Orlando’s Loch Haven Cultural Park.  Call 407.447.1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org

Star Tours at the Amway Center
Part of the instant success of the new Amway Center has been its ability to attract the biggest STARS as they tour the country, and October has three of the biggest. 
October 20 – They’re so popular, and they’ve ‘crossed over’ so many musical genres their legions of fans often forget they’re just good ole’ Country singers!  SUGARLAND, and their cross-cultural fans, come to the Amway Center October 20 at 7:30 pm

October 21 – He’s a ‘dirty dancer’ and a ‘heartbreaker’ who wants to ‘be with you’ ‘tonight,’ AND he’s been voted sexiest man in the World!  ENRIQUE IGLESIAS comes to the Amway Center October 21 at 8 pm

October 29 – With the voice of perfection, JOSH GROBAN crosses all boundaries. In his concerts, folk meets classical and arenas feel intimate.  His artistry, personality, and his personal touch will be at the Amway Center on October 29.   Visit amwaycenter.com or call 800.745.3000

Fashionistas Rejoice! 
This week Harriett’s Park Avenue Fashion Week, Central Florida’s biggest annual fashion event, brings high fashion to Downtown Winter Park from October 9 to 15.  The West Meadow features a 20,000-square-foot, air-conditioned tent with a full runway and VIP area designed by New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week venue designers. Named for Harriett Lake, one of the event’s most enthusiastic supporters, it is 7 days packed with trunk shows, designer meet-and-greets, VIP parties and more.  The week culminates on Saturday, October 15 with a spectacular runway show from 7 to 10 pm.  Visit parkavenuefashionweek.com or call 407.644.8281 for the full schedule.

TARGETed on Reading
Community-minded Target stores recently showed that they are ‘Super’ in more ways than one as they contributed 28,000 new books to 15 Orlando, Miami, and Tampa elementary schools. Helping students celebrate reading, Rock Lake Elementary received books along with a $1,500 grant to purchase books for its school library. In addition, every student received three books to take home in a Target book bag. The book donation and grants are part of Target’s continuing commitment to help children reach the critical milestone of reading proficiently by the end of third grade. Since beginning programs like this, Target is on track to reach a total of $1 billion in giving to education by the end of 2015. For more, visit Target.com

Hoooowl for the Arts in Sanford
The Seminole Cultural Arts Council (SCAC) is ‘hoooowling’ with delight as it announces the 5th Annual Hoooowl for the Arts fund-raiser to take place Saturday, October 22 at Seminole Harley Davidson in Sanford. As VIP guests mingle with artists and community leaders, they’ll be treated to a gourmet dinner catered by the Willow Tree restaurant, live entertainment by news anchor Bob Frier and his band Simulcast, and an auction of original masks and art created by local artists, celebrities and elected officials. Last year's event raised over $10,000 for the Arts in Seminole County. The $25 Ticket includes dinner and free parking. Email info[at]seminoleculturalarts.org or visit seminoleculturalarts.org

Motorcycles by the Thousands
Watch for thousands of motorcycles up and down the I-4 corridor as Daytona’s annual Biketoberfest runs from October 13 to 16. This unique motorcycle festival offers over 100,000 bikers an extended weekend of beaches, bikes and fun. Activities include motorcycle shows, rallies, demonstration rides, food, live music and plenty of people-watching. On October 14, bikers get the chance to ride the track of the Daytona International Speedway in the annual Monster Dash. For tickets call 1-800-PITSHOP. FREE events include Demo rides at the Speedway, entrance to Biketoberfest hot spots for live music, and the free Biketoberfest Guide and poster at Daytona Beach Welcome Centers. Visit biketoberfest.org

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators