Florida Culture for the Week of Sept 23 by Josh Garrick

Now through October 27 – DISenchanted! The Musical

DISenchanted!, the musical featuring fairy-tale princesses who are none too happy with the exploitation they’ve suffered in today’s films and dolls, is gleefully “storming the castle” of one of Florida’s largest ‘employers’ at The Abbey through October 27. Before it hits Off-Broadway in New York City, this story of six bold women, who refuse to be damsels-in-distress, finds Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Hua Mulan, the Little Mermaid, and Pocahontas – brought to life and singing the truth about the “once-upon-a-time life.” Featuring personal favorites Michelle Knight and Andrea Canny, the show is directed by Fiely Matias with music, book and lyrics by Dennis Giacino. Visit TicketWeb.com or call 866-468-7630. 

Sept 25 – Taverna Opa Orlando to Host Journey & Savor: The Spirit Edition

With a portion of the dinners’ ticket sales going to Second Harvest Food Bank, a craft spirit and tasting dinner will be created by Taverna Opa, in partnership with Orlando Uncorked and Enlightened Grain Spirits on September 25 at 6:30 pm. The chefs will walk guests through each course, educating them on the history, pairing choice and ingredient portfolio of each dish and crafted drink. With limited seating at $45 (not including tax and gratuity), reservations can be made by emailing eatgreek[at]opaorlando.com. Taverna Opa is at 9101 International Drive in Orlando. Visit opaorlando.com or call 407.351.8660.  

Sep 27 to Oct 7 – Breakthrough Theatre Presents Songs For A New World

Breakthrough Theatre will present Songs For a New World, a show that is part musical and part song-cycle with a theme about facing moments of decision in which each character ‘transitions’ in a significant way. Composer Jason Robert Brown said of his show, “It's about one moment. It's about hitting the wall and having to make a choice, or take a stand, or turn around and go back.” Directed by the talented duo of Wade Hair and Justin Scarlat, call 407-920-4034 or visit breakthroughtheatre.com

Sep 27 – Mad Cow Opens Season with Other Desert Cities

In the drama Other Desert Cities – by Jon Robin Baitz – Brooke Wyeth returns to her family home to visit her parents after a six-year absence. A promising novelist, she announces the imminent publication of a memoir based on a tragic event in the family's history - a wound her parents do not want reopened. Not surprisingly, Brooke’s parents fall into old habits and plead with her to keep their story quiet. Opening Mad Cow Theatre’s 17th season on September 27, call 407.297.8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com

Sep 28 – Orlando Philharmonic’s Opening Night

The not-to-be-missed Opening Nights of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Christopher Wilkins, are always BIG nights – with each Opening Night including a HUGE symphonic masterwork. On September 28 at 8:30 pm, the Philharmonic’s program begins with Ron Nelson’s bold but lyrical Savannah River Holiday, followed by Mozart’s dramatic Piano Concerto No. 20 performed by the brilliant Jon Kimura Parker. Finally Strauss’s massive Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life) will employ a ‘Mahler-sized’ orchestra to explore the heroic themes inspired by Beethoven. For tickets, call 407.770.0071 or visit orlandophil.org

Sept 28 to Jan 5 – Sesame Street at the Orlando Science Center

The Orlando Science Center invites us to take a walk down one of the best-known streets in the world with their new exhibit Sesame Street Presents: The Body. Big Bird, Elmo, and the Sesame Street residents arrive on September 28 and will be ‘in residence’ through January 5, 2014. The Body is an interactive exhibit created in response to the childhood obesity crisis in the U.S. with ‘experiences’ that teach families to maintain healthy lifestyles. Set in the familiar and reassuring world of Sesame Street, each exhibit has multiple activities to provide age-appropriate learning experiences for all children. Sesame Street Presents The Body is included with admission to the Science Center. Call 407.514.2000 or visit osc.org

Oct 2, 11, 18, & 25 – Gallery Talks and Free Film Series at the Morse Museum

Beginning October 2, that jewel of Winter Park – the Morse Museum - will host gallery talks related to its new exhibition Lifelines—Forms and Themes of Art Nouveau. Docents will conduct the talks at 11 am Wednesdays, and Curator Donna Climenhage will give the talks at 2:30 pm on Wednesdays. Lifelines explores Art Nouveau with more than 100 objects organized by groups that illustrate themes, including nature, the female form, and exoticism. In addition, the Museum will present free screenings of the 3-part BBC film documentary Sex and Sensibility: The Allure of Art Nouveau including Paris on October 11; Britain on October 18; and Vienna on October 25. Call 407.645-5311 or visit morsemuseum.org

October 3 to 9 – Mamma Mia! – The Smash Hit Musical with Songs by ABBA

Seen by over 50 million people around the world, Mamma Mia is celebrating its 12th year on Broadway. Meanwhile, the feature film is the most successful movie musical of all time. The story – woven around beloved hit tunes by ABBA – is about a single mother who owns a small hotel on a Greek island. She is about to watch the daughter she’s raised alone get married, but the wedding guests provide their own version of love and romance in this celebration of mothers and daughters, friends and family. Visit OrlandoBroadway.com or call 1-800-982-2787 or 407-704-6116.

Oct 4, 5, and 6 – The Maitland Rotary Art Festival, “Art Under the Stars”

Surrounding beautiful Lake Lily in Maitland, the Maitland Rotary Art Festival, celebrating its 37th season, is a boutique art festival with 150 artists vying for $26,000 in awards. The only night-time fine art show in Florida, the evening hours create a magical experience for Artists and Patrons alike as Performing Arts of Maitland provides live entertainment, including the symphonic Orchestra on Saturday night, and the Stage Band on Friday night. The Festival takes place Friday, October 4, from 6 to 10 pm; Saturday, October 5, from 10 am to 10 pm; and Sunday, October 6, from 10 am to 5 pm.

And Looking Ahead …

Oct 11 to 31 (Halloween) – Phantasmagoria IV

Didonna Productions will present the 4th installment of what has become an annual Halloween Celebration – Phantasmagoria IV – Hell Hath Risen from October 11 to 31. PHAN IV will ‘storm’ into the Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park with new stories and all-new large-scale puppetry inter-acting with live actors, dance and ‘haunted’ storytelling – paying homage to Poe, Dickens and other literary masters who ‘dabbled in the Dark.’ Under the direction of John DiDonna; co-direction by Kevin G. Becker & Seth Kubersky; choreography by Mila Makarova & Dion Smith; fight direction by Bill Warriner; original music by Tod Kimbro & Les Caulfield; this new installment presents us with a Halloween treat bag of the finest talents in Central Florida. Call 407.328.9005 (cash at door) or credit card orders online at redchairproject.com.

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators