Culture Worthy of Your Calendar: These Maids WILL NOT serve at the Food and Wine Fest …
By Josh Garrick

Give Your Maid the Day Off …
The always inventive – always adventurous Mad Cow Theatre will follow their audience-friendly production of Company by visiting the opposite side of the dramatic pendulum with the ‘classic’ French thriller – The Maids – opening on October 1.  With that uniquely French pre-occupation with society, power, and corruption, the play is loosely based on two real murders in which a pair of maids brutally murdered their employer (in 1933). Written by Jean Genet and first performed in 1947, the play introduces us to Solange and Claire, a pair of housemaids who conceive and “act out” sadistic rituals while their employer (Madame) is away.  Unfortunately for Madame, she is the main character in their role-playing as they take turns portraying ways in which Madame will be ‘killed.’ As the line between fantasy and reality disintegrates, their games turn to jealousy, sexual tension and murder!  The Maids will be performed from October 1 to October 24 at the Mad Cow Theatre in downtown Orlando, Call 407.297.8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com

Jean Genet

Delicious Discoveries at Disney
Forget those diet promises; the 15th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival opens October 1 for six weeks of culinary surprises.  And whether you’ve experienced this Epcot version of ‘sipping and nibbling’ or you’re a ‘newbie’ to this fun food experience, the Festival promises to combine the familiar with foods from countries yet unexplored. This year Belgium and South Korea join 27 ‘International Marketplaces,’ along with wine seminars (and tastings), cooking demonstrations, book signings, and celebrity musical entertainment. The Eat to the Beat Concert Series – included in Epcot admission – begins with Taylor Dane.  And there’s more – each evening the famous Disney fireworks offer IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth providing you and your family a sweet finish to your Festival day. 

Running from October 1 to November 14, complete information may be found at www.disneyworld.com/foodandwine.  For reservations for special dining experiences, call 407.939.3378

Giselle Opens Ballet Season
One of the not-to-be-missed performances of the new season is the Orlando Ballet production of Giselle on October 22, 23, and 24.  In addition to the fact that this is one of the great ballets of the world repertoire, our dancers recently had the unprecedented opportunity to be coached in the ballet by one of the greatest dancer-teachers in the world.  In his determination to make the Orlando Company into a world-class troupe, Artistic Director Robert Hill called upon his personal friendship with Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre Kevin McKenzie, inviting Mr. McKenzie to Orlando to work with our dancers.  American Ballet Theatre is arguably the finest ballet company in the world today, and Mr. McKenzie could spend his time with great companies around the globe, BUT he chose to come here – to Orlando – to work with our dancers.  A great way to THANK Robert Hill for once again exemplifying the strength of our performing arts and making this fantasy into a reality for Orlando is to buy a ticket to Giselle.  Call 407.426.1739

Kevin McKenzie, photo by Fabrizio Feri

Literature Inspires Art at Orlando Museum of Art
The Orlando Museum of Art was the first to come up with a special day for art, and now practically any day that ends in Y has some special attribution.  That means the OMA has been coming up with inventive ideas for their (now famous) First Thursday every month for some time.  The event set for THURSDAY, October 7 has great possibilities with the title From Words to Works – Works About the Written Word featuring artistic works inspired by plays, poems, novels, song lyrics, and children's books. The Kerouac Project and Orange County Public Library along with several performance groups will provide interactive experiences including poetry readings, ‘Roving Ravings,’ and gypsy jazz music along with tours of OMA's featured exhibit, Elegant Enigmas:  The Art of Edward Gorey. Handcrafted beers and food samplings complete the evening. Parking is free at Orlando Loch Haven Park. Call 407 896 4231 x260 or visit www.omart.org

Painting by  Tracey Tighe, “Wonderland” 

Guys, Dolls and the Philharmonic
After their (literally) soul-stirring opening performance of Mahler’s 2nd Symphony, the Orlando Philharmonic is switching gears and revisiting 1950’s Broadway with two performances of Guys and Dolls.  With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, this ‘classic’ Broadway musical is populated by a motley mix of gamblers, boozers, and Salvation Army ‘do-gooders.’  Originally described as a "fable of Broadway,”  the Orlando Philharmonic will again collaborate with Mad Cow Theatre in the concert staging of this oh-so-popular musical at the Carr Performing Arts Centre. This version of New York City presents ne’er do well gamblers in front of the Save-a-Soul Mission.  Soon gambler guy meets Salvation Army lass only to have these two very different worlds collide in romantic sport. Good girl falls in love with bad boy leading to feelings that are new to both.  The romance is further complicated by news that the Mission is in danger of closing. Broadway veteran Davis Gaines (who has performed the role of the Phantom of the Opera over 2000 times) will star as Sky Masterson. Will he fall in love?  Will he reform his gambling ways?  Will he save the mission?  All is made right in the world in this tune-filled Broadway musical.
For tickets call 407.770.0071 or visit orlandophil.org.

And Not to be Missed …

‘Toxic Audio’ in Winter Garden
One of Central Florida’s most joyful entertainment success stories – the ‘wild-and-crazy’ vocal group Toxic Audio will perform four shows at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden on October 1 and 2 at 7 pm and 9 pm.  Call 407-877-GRDN (4736) or visit gardentheatre.org

Florida Highwaymen at the History Center
“Against All Odds: The ART of the Highwaymen” brings together a group of 26 African-American artists who sold their paintings by the side of the road in the segregated South of the 1950s and ‘60s, collectively producing more than 200,000 paintings.  On exhibit through January 2. Call 407.836.8500 or visit www.thehistorycenter.org.

Shakespeare’s 39 Steps
Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps became Broadway's longest running comedy. Now, the Shakespeare Theater presents a cast of four (playing over 150 eccentric characters) in a truly hilarious evening of nonstop laughs. Call 407.447.1700 or visit www.orlandoshakes.org

Sondheim at Mad Cow
Stephen Sondheim’s masterpiece of 20th Century Musical Theater – Company – runs through October 17. The Mad Cow Theatre is at 105 S. Magnolia Ave in Downtown Orlando. Phone 407.297.8788 x1 or visit www.madcowtheatre.com
 
The Art of Edward Gorey
“Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey” shows off the sophisticated illustrator whose atmosphere of potential danger made ‘creepiness’ into fun – running through Halloween at the Orlando Museum of Art. Call 407 896 4231 or visit www.omart.org

Charles Turzak, Master of Modernism
American Modernist Charles Turzak epitomized the American Modern Art movement in the 1930s. His Art Deco woodcuts are on display at the Albin Polasek Museum running through November 14th.  Call 407-647-6294 or visit www.polasek.org

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators