Florida Culture for the Week of September 29 By Josh Garrick

Oct 3 to Nov 2 – The Who’s Tommy at Mad Cow Theatre

See it...Feel it... You know the music. Pete Townshend's groundbreaking rock opera Tommy, 1993 Tony Award and Drama Desk Winner, will open the season at the Mad Cow Theatre in Downtown Orlando on October 3. Join the Amazing Journey for this mind-expanding tale of the world's first Pinball Wizard-turned-Messiah. Call 407.297.8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com

Oct 3, 4 and 5 – Art Under the Stars – the 38th Maitland Rotary Art Festival

The only night-time Art Festival in Florida, the 38th Maitland Rotary’s Art Under the Stars is a magical experience for artists and patrons alike. With continuous live entertainment on two stages sponsored by Performing Arts Maitland, the art show and sale will take place from 6 pm to 10 pm on October 3, noon to 10 pm on October 4 and 10 am to 4 pm on October 5, surrounding Lake Lily in Maitland. And it’s all Free! Call 321-303-1404

Oct 3 to Jan 4 – Art of the American WEST at the Mennello Museum

The Mennello Museum celebrates its 15th Anniversary with dual exhibits: George Catlin’s American Buffalo and The Taos Society of Artists curated by Director Frank Holt. Inspired by the natural beauty, the Taos Society was the first to establish an art colony in the American West. In the new exhibit, opening October 3 (Opening Reception Oct 10), Frank Holt presents 12 Artists, working from 1915 to 1927, who were fascinated by the landscape, the light and the Pueblo lifestyle. George Catlin (1796–1872) journeyed to the Great Plains, painting more than 140 American Indian tribes. 40 original Catlin paintings from the Smithsonian Museum will show the role of the buffalo in Plains Indian culture. Call 407.246.4278 or visit mennellomuseum.com

Oct 4 – What the Dickens Are You Wearing?

The What the Dickens folks, who celebrate the 202nd anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, invite us to a showcase of Victorian fashion from the time of Dickens’ life and works. Set for October 4 beginning at 10:30 am at the Orlando Public Library, the fashions will be presented by the Central Florida Costumers Guild. We’ll see how Charles Dickens (and his characters) would have dressed in styles from 19th century London. Visit WhatTheDickensOrlando.com

Oct 4 – GLBT Community Center’s Black & White Gala

The GLBT Community Center will host their annual Black & White Gala on October 4 at the Orlando Museum of Art. The Museum is going through a ‘facelift’ and will have two new exhibits open, plus the soon to open J. Hyde Crawford and Anthony Tortora Gallery. The new Gallery not only comes with $8.3 million dollars of art (the largest bequest the Museum has ever received), but it is appropriate that the gallery is named for men who were in a loving relationship. The Gala features VIP Cocktails, a string quartet, Food by John Michaels Events, live and silent auctions, dessert stations, entertainment and a preview of the Museum’s new exhibits. Call 407.394.8741 or visit thecenterorlando.org/BW for tickets.

Oct 4 – Grammy Award-Winning CHICAGO to ‘Rock’ Daytona Beach

Hailed by former President Bill Clinton as one of the "most important bands in music since the dawn of rock and roll,” the legendary band Chicago is the first American rock band to chart Top 40 albums in six decades. In 2013, Chicago’s multi-platinum bestseller, The Very Best Of Chicago - Only The Beginning charted at #1 on Billboard and on Billboard Magazine's list of Top 100 artists of all time, Chicago came in at #13. Chicago will perform at the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona on October 4 at 8 pm.  Tickets available at Peabody Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, call 800-745-3000 or at PeabodyDaytona.com

Oct 6 & 7 – Ladies of Eola Heights – A Come-Out-With-Pride Event

Fresh from their summer run at The Abbey, The Ladies of Eola Heights will partner with Come-Out-With-Pride to return for two performances only on October 6 and 7. Michael Wanzie’s wildly successful story of the estranged Locksdale sisters, who are re-united at their family home in the Eola Heights neighborhood of Orlando to plan their daddy’s funeral, is as funny as it is touching. Visit AbbeyOrlando.com

Oct 6 to Nov 9 – Click, Clack, BOO! at Orlando Rep

It’s Halloween, and Duck, Pig, Cow, and Hen cannot wait to throw a party, complete with apple-bobbing, candy bowls, and a spook-tacular costume contest – against Farmer Brown’s wishes! Based on the book by Doreen Cronin and Betsey Lewink, Farmer Brown is afraid of Halloween, but the barnyard crew save the day as they show Farmer Brown that “a little scare can be big fun” in this new musical. Call 407.896.7365 or visit orlandorep.com

Oct 7 & 8 – Sesame Street LIVE at CFE Arena

“Everyone is special” is the message of the all-new Sesame Street Live Make a New Friend show visiting the CFE Arena on October 7 and 8. Elmo, Grover, Abby Cadabby, and their Sesame Street friends welcome Chamki, Grover’s friend from India, to Sesame Street. Together, they explore the fun of friendship while singing, dancing, and sharing cookies! Tickets at the CFE Arena Box Office, by phone at 800-745-3000, and online at ticketmaster.com.

Oct 10 to 31 – PHANTASMAGORIA V – the 5th All-Original Halloween Celebration

The 5th anniversary of what has become an annual Halloween Celebration – this year titled Phantasmagoria V – Death Comes for ALL, will haunt the Shakespeare Center at Loch Haven Park from Oct 10 to 31. With new stories, LARGE-scale puppets interacting with live actors, dance, music, explosive stage combat and haunting storytelling, I dare you to join this fearsome troupe of storytellers and dancers as they present tales of terror from literary giants such as Poe, Carroll, Dickens, and others. Under the inspired direction of John DiDonna, Kevin Becker, & Seth Kubersky, with choreography by Mila Makarova & Dion Leonhard, call 407.328.9005 or order online at OrlandoAtPlay.com

Oct 11 – The Orlando Philharmonic presents Cirque de la Symphonie

The Orlando Philharmonic’s top-selling show returns to the Bob Carr PAC on October 11 at 2 pm and 8 pm. Cirque meets Symphony in this all-new show featuring classical music brought to life as world-class acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, and strongmen perform amazing feats of strength and daring. Aerialists soar overhead as the orchestra below accompanies with musical suspense. Selections include works by Strauss, Rimsky-Korsakov and Kabalevsky as well as Leonard Bernstein and John Williams. Call 407.770.0071 or visit orlandophil.org

Current – Body Art Painter Shannon Holt Finalist on TV’s Skin Wars

Congratulations to Deland Artist Shannon Holt who was a contestant on the reality TV show Skin Wars – a body painting competition. From 10 of the best body painters in the country, Shannon made it all the way to the final episode. Shannon is the 1st Runner Up, and while she did not get the big $, she DID GET an incredible boost to her career. She has appeared on the Daily Buzz and the Queen Latifah Show, she’s had paintings appear in the New York Post and on billboards in NYC and LA, and Star Magazine did a special ‘Shannon issue’ with our diva-artist on the cover!  Congratulate her at ShannonHoltArt.com and check out her clip.

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators