Florida Culture for the Week of September 28, 2015 by Josh Garrick

NOW to Oct 25 – The Garden Theatre Presents ‘La Cage aux Folles’ 

The Garden Theatre has begun their season with Jerry Herman’s brilliant La Cage aux Folles – the first show ever to win the Tony Award for Best Musical three times. Considered ‘controversial’ when it first opened in New York City in 1983, this musical – in which some of the chorus girls are men – exemplifies family, community, acceptance, love, and a forward thinking Board of Directors. Sensitively directed by Rob Winn Anderson, the show features a glamorous ‘Star-Is-Born’ performance by Matthew Arter as Albin and the debonair charm and swoon-inducing Broadway singing voice of Brian Minyard as Georges. This show is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Call 407.877.4736 or visit gardentheatre.org

Photo: Steven Miller. The Cagelles take the stage at the Garden Theatre.

NOW to Oct 11 – Monty Python’s SPAMALOT at Orlando Shakespeare

With a book and lyrics by Eric Idle (YES, the Monty Python guy), Mr. Idle certainly “found his Grail” as his musical version travelled to Broadway where it WON 3 Tony Awards – including BEST MUSICAL!  Now Orlando Shakes has brought SPAMALOT to Orlando complete with Knights “who run away,” flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen and a bevy of musical numbers that elevate silliness to an art form. IF you’ve ever followed my recommendation, THIS is the “must-see” event of the season. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Call 407.447.1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org 

NOW to Jan 3 – Harold GARDE: Mid-Century to This Century 

Harold GARDE is a living legend. A brilliant ‘working’ Artist who still paints every day, Garde’s extraordinary career spans over 70 years. Graduating from Columbia University in 1951, Garde was immersed in the New York art world just as Abstract Expressionism brought the world’s attention to New York City. Garde’s paintings reflect his engagement with this movement as the spirit of creativity and discovery have remained central to Garde’s work. ‘Harold Garde: Mid-Century to this Century’ brings together 35 paintings that highlight the breadth of Garde’s career – at the Orlando Museum of Art. Call 407.896.4231 or visit omart.org

Oct 1 – UCF Arts Alumni Present Eclectic Knights VII at Orlando Museum of Art 

The Humanities Alumni Chapter of the University of Central Florida invites us all to Eclectic Knights VII at the Orlando Museum of Art. It’s a “Knight of Art” with 59 pieces of artwork created exclusively by UCF alumni, faculty and staff. Enjoy the art, live music, cash bars, and food from the Hammered Lamb (available for purchase). Admission of $10 includes access to the event and the Museum's featured exhibitions. Parking is free, and the first 250 attendees will receive free entry, thanks to a sponsorship by the UCF School of Visual Arts and Design. Visit omart.org

Oct 1 to 10 – Corey Volence’s Realms of the Untold at the Venue 

Realms of the Untold by Corey Volence will make its World Premiere at The Venue at 511 Virginia Drive in Orlando from October 1 to October 10. Realms of the Untold is an anthology of short plays by Corey Volence, 2013 Orlando Fringe award-winner. The six new plays are written in a style meant to evoke classic horror and science fiction shows such as The Twilight Zone and Outer Limits. Produced by Dark Side of Saturn, the plays are directed by Kent Vanderberg, Samantha Malloy, and Corey Volence. For tickets, visit sideofsaturn.com or call 209.479.9923. 

Oct 2 to 18 –‘Into the Woods’ with the New CFCArts Theater Group

Quality work at $10 a ticket has been the ‘gift’ of Central Florida Community Arts (CFCArts) to our community, and that ‘gift’ was recently acknowledged with a donation of over $20,000 to support CFCArts’ NEW Theatre program. The donation allows CFCArts to offer a season of five fully-staged productions beginning with Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods from October 2 to 18. A Broadway hit and recent movie, the witty Sondheim ‘do-over’ of Grimm’s Fairy Tales is a perfect opener as it appeals to audiences of all ages. Congratulations to Joshua Vickery and Donald Rupe of CFCArts for yet another ‘gift’ to Central Florida. Visit cfcarts.com or contact info[at]cfcommunityarts.com.

October 2 – Nephew Tommy’s “Got People Inside My Head” Tour

Thomas ‘Nephew Tommy’ Miles has built a career in radio, television, and film. As co-host of the Steve Harvey Morning Show, he reaches 8 million listeners daily, and Nephew Tommy plays a key role in the show. As a stand-up comedian, he’s been the featured act with Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, and Kanye West. In 2011 and 2013, Thomas traveled to military bases with the USO, sharing his humor with thousands of military men and women. His interaction with American soldiers inspired Thomas to establish ‘Miles of Giving,’ a foundation created to assist wounded veterans. Nephew Tommy will share that humor at the Dr. Phillips Center on October 2 at 8 pm.  Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Oct 2 to 6 --  International OrlandoiX Festival at Convention Center

OrlandoiX is a digital festival that promotes Orlando as a global leader in entertainment technologies, simulation, digital arts and interactive media.  OrlandoiX will offer a speaker series, gaming, start-up summit and digital expo for game developers, designers, animators, programmers, digital marketers, tech professionals, and enthusiasts at the Orange County Convention Center from Oct. 3 to 6.  Full Sail University is a Presenting Sponsor. Visit orlandoix.com and join the conversation on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook using #OrlandoiX15.

Oct 3 – Book Signing – Three Lovely Ladies and Food 

The Ancient Olive will host cookbook authors, Heather McPherson (Orlando Sentinel Food Critic), Pam Brandon (Edible Orlando Editor) and Katie Farmand (Food and Prop Stylist) for a book signing of their health-oriented and much-more-than-cook-books. Field to Feast and Good Catch will be available for purchase from 11 am to 3 pm on October 3. You can meet the ladies, and they will autograph your book with $5 from the purchase of each book donated to the 306 Foundation. Your purchase will assist women and children in need, helping them rebuild their lives. Call 321.972.1899 or visit theancientolive.com

Oct 3 – The GLBT Center’s 1920’s Fund-Raiser 

Up the glam with Spats, Flappers, Pinstripes, and Fedoras – and practice your Charleston, because the GLBT Center of Central Florida will present their big event of the year on October 3 with 100% of monies raised for the Center. The evening will include a four-course Dinner, Open Bar all night, Vegas-Style Casino, Live and Silent Auctions, Jazz Band Entertainment and Dancing. Help the Center grow and strengthen their counseling, medical and other services provided to the community by calling 407-228-8272 or visiting TheCenterorlando.org

Oct 3 to 25 – Corn maze and More in Elkton, Florida

With over 50 years of farming experience, Sykes and Cooper Farms continue to grow now offering 9 acres of ‘cornfusion and fun!’  Purveyors of ‘Agritainment,’ they combine a 9-acre corn maze full of twists and turns, live entertainment (including the loudest donkey around) and family fun including  a ‘Jack and The Cornstalk’ kiddie maze, new furry friends, corn cannons, duck races and more. General admission of $9 is cash only with ATM on site. Visit sycofarms.com

Oct 3 – Award-Winning Pianist in Concert in Benefit for Harbor House 

In tribute to Harbor House of Central Florida during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, pianist Ravé Mehta will offer a piano concert infused with inspirational insights for unlocking the secrets to human potential. On October 3 at 8 pm, guests will enjoy a musical experience that will “open their minds and inspire the very essence of their being.” Award-winning composer, pianist, speaker and bestselling author, Mehta has performed around the world, his music ranging from classical piano to full electronic dance productions. The performance will take place at the Dr. Phillips Center. Visit aspireshow.com

Oct 5 – Andrea Canny – What a Diff! – at The Abbey 

Andrea Canny KNOWS – What a Difference a Year Makes! and WE KNOW Ms. Andrea Canny is one of the great performers in our talented community. Andrea will bring her ‘Star Power’ to the Monday Night Cabaret Series at The Abbey on October 5 at 8 pm. In 1991 Andrea opened the Beauty and the Beast Live On Stage show in the role of Belle at Disney's MGM Studios, and over three decades of entertaining, she has performed with theatre greats Jerry Orbach, Davis Gaines, Betty White, Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson. Beginning October 5, Andrea will play a recurring role on Nickelodeon’s new WITS Academy. Visit TicketWeb.com or AbbeyOrlando.com

 
Oct 6 – Orlando Ballet’s ‘UNCorked’ Returns to The Abbey 

Orlando Ballet’s ‘UNCorked’ offers an ‘Insider’s Look’ at ballet, and this popular ‘intro’ will be back at The Abbey on October 6 at 7 pm with arabesques, chassés, pas de bourrées, (and some hip hop popping). The program brings audiences up close to see what goes into the creation of a ballet allowing for an intimate experience AND a question and answer session. Don’t tell anyone, but we may actually ‘learn’ something – drink in hand – in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Visit orlandoballet.org or call 407.426.1739

Oct 6 to 8 – The 2015 Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show 

In the restaurant and foodservice industry, professionals constantly look for new ideas, new products, and new trends. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Show at the Orange County Convention Center will offer educational programs, new food products, equipment and services from over 450 industry suppliers. Competitions, awards, and educational sessions on excellence, winning teams, maximizing profits, menu planning, marketing, social media and more will be offered by leaders in the field. The Show is sponsored by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (frla.org). To attend, visit flrestaurantandlodgingshow.com

Oct 9 to Oct 31 – Phantasmagoria VI – ‘The Darkness Returns’

Direct from performances in Atlanta, Phantasmagoria Orlando/DiDonna Productions will present Phantasmagoria VI ‘The Darkness Returns’ to celebrate the 2015 Halloween Season. Mysterious live performers will offer new stories of terror, ‘Phantastic’ dance, stage combat, large-scale puppetry, aerial performance, and horror as they relate literary tales of terror from around the world. This is theatrical story-telling of the highest order, created with power and magic at the Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park, and it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Call 407-328-9005 or visit OrlandoAtPlay.com

Oct 10 to Jan 4 – History-Making Art Exhibit Opens New Henao Art Gallery 

Two years ago I had the unprecedented honor of making history as the first non-Greek Artist in the World to exhibit in the National Archaeological Museum of Greece. The exhibit has returned from a two-year-tour of Europe to OPEN the new Henao Contemporary Center in Orlando on October 10 with the Opening Night a fund-raiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central Florida. The generous people who attend the Opening will be the first Americans to see the exhibit with the works for sale with a percentage of all sales benefiting Ronald McDonald House. Call 407.522.3906 or visit henaocenter.com

Oct 10 & 11 – Celebrating Florida Artists at the 42nd Annual Festival 

Each year on the 2nd weekend of October, Florida Artists are celebrated as the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce hosts the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival. The only juried art festival to feature Florida artists exclusively, this community-oriented sidewalk show presents visual art and live entertainment for the whole family in Winter Park’s historic Central Park. This year the festival will expand to feature 180 artists competing for prizes from a pool of 450 applicants. Open from 9 am to 5 pm on October 10 and 11, admission is FREE.

Oct 11 – Historic Capen-Showalter House To Open at the Polasek Museum

The public is invited to the Free ‘Celebrate the Capen Open House’ as this historic home opens at the Polasek Museum from 1 pm to 4 pm on October 11. Facing demolition in 2013, community supporters rescued the home by raising $450,000 to relocate it to the Polasek Museum. To move the 200-ton building, contractors floated the home across Lake Osceola in an event that attracted national news coverage and won an Award from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. An exhibit on the history of the home and its heroic ‘salvation’ will open on the same day at 633 Osceola Ave in Winter Park.  Call 407-647-6294 or visit polasek.org

Oct 11 – Pixar in Concert with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra

From the Toy Story trilogy to The Incredibles, Pixar has forever changed filmmaking while giving us some of the most beloved characters in cinema history. Now Pixar is coming to Orlando in concert with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in a multi-media family show featuring clips from every one of Pixar's 14 films. That includes Cars, WALL•E, Finding Nemo, and Monsters, Inc – all accompanied by the Orlando Philharmonic. These great movie scores have won 10 Grammys and 3 Academy Awards and have received 10 Oscar nominations. In performance on October 11 at 3 pm at the Dr. Phillips Center, call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Oct 13 – Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer Hosts 2nd Orlando Speaks

On October 13, Orlando Mayor Dyer, City Commissioners and Police Chief John Mina will join residents for the second Orlando Speaks workshop. Using communication to foster citizen engagement between Orlando residents, the City and the Orlando Police Department, Orlando Speaks was created to serve and celebrate the community’s diversity while bringing the community closer together by sharing personal stories and increase awareness and understanding of policing practices. Seating is limited, so participants are asked to register by October 2. Visit OrlandoSpeaks2015.eventbrite.com or call the City of Orlando at 407.246.2500 to reserve your space.

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators