Florida Culture for the Week of April 16 by Josh Garrick

April 20 to May 12 – BABY at Winter Park Playhouse
"After seeing the original (Tony-nominated) Broadway production, BABY has been on my production wish-list for years,” says Roy Alan, Artistic Director for the Winter Park Playhouse. With lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and music by David Shire, BABY follows the stories of three couples in different stages of life as they experience the rewarding, agonizing and often poignant consequences of pregnancy and parenthood. This beautiful musical comedy features Central Florida’s finest singing actors including Heather Alexander, Natalie Cordone, Shawn Kilgore, Bryan Minyard, Kathryn Nash, Candace Neal, Timothy Pappas, Sage Starkey and Kate Zaloumes. With performances from April 20 to May 12, the Playhouse is located at 711 Orange Avenue in Winter Park. Call 407-645-0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org

Photo: (Clockwise from Top Left) Natalie Cordone, Shawn Kilgore, Kathryn Nash, Sage Starkey, Heather Alexander, Brian Minyard   Photo by Dean Ray

April 20 to May 27 – The Music Man
The Garden Theater (in Winter Garden) has already produced an impressive string of ‘self-produced musicals’ in which the community comes together to act in and create major musicals on-stage. Adding a ‘76-trombone salute’ to that theatrical history is The Music Man, running from April 20 to May 27. Led by Dustin Cunningham, as ‘Prof’ Harold Hill, a cast of over 60 performers and dozens of stage-crew volunteers ranging in age from 5 to 65 will bring this musical to life. Recommended for all ages, the Garden Theatre is at 160 West Plant Street. Call 407-877-GRDN (4736) or visit gardentheatre.org

April 21 – Orlando Phil in Hi Def
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra is building a name – and an audience – based on exciting new ways to present symphonic music, and their fund-raiser on April 21 may just ‘top them all.’  Presented in association with Full Sail University, the Philharmonic will present Symphony in HD: Live at Full Sail as a live orchestra performance with photography, animation and a virtual opera set created by Full Sail University faculty and students. Guests at the fund-raiser will enjoy a three-course meal and live auction with proceeds benefitting the Orlando Philharmonic. It all begins at 6 pm with drinks and a silent auction on Full Sail’s Hollywood-style Backlot. After dinner and the concert, an outdoor party will take place with Philharmonic musicians and Full Sail faculty. To purchase tickets, visit orlandophil.org/HD or call 407-896-6700 x236.

April 21 – Crealde Festival at Hannibal Square
Music and Art will be created during Crealdé School of Art’s 3rd Annual Hannibal Square Heritage Center Folk Art and Craft Festival to be held Saturday, April 21 from 10 am to 4 pm. The festival features artworks for sale by some of Florida’s great folk artists during this day-long celebration filled with live entertainment, free children’s activities, resource agencies and Southern-style bar-b-cue for sale. Dance to the sounds of Cajun Zydeco music by The Porch Dogs and the rhythms of Orisirisi African Folklore. Children will create their own Aztec Indian headband, Top shirt, and tambourine to wear and play at the Aztec Pre-Columbian Musical Circle parade. Storytellers, a Kid-Folk Art Workshop, a Children’s Musical Parade, and African Folklore are on the schedule. The Hannibal Square Heritage Center is at 642 New England Avenue in Winter Park.  Call 407.671.1886 or 407.539.2680 or visit crealde.org
Zebras, painting by Ra Ra Kuyu

April 21 to July 15 – Paintings of Florida
Drawn from the largest known private collection of Florida-based art, The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) continues its Made in Florida project celebrating Florida art and artists with Reflections: Paintings of Florida 1865 - 1965 from the Collection of Cici and Hyatt Brown. Opening April 21 and running through July 15, Reflections includes masterworks of significant artists who worked in Florida over a period of 100 years including Herman Herzog, George Inness, Thomas Hart Benton, and N.C. Wyeth. "The exhibition includes 70 paintings which depict the evolution of Florida's landscape while offering a new perspective of the works of these renowned artists,” says Marena Grant Morrisey, executive director for the OMA. The OMA is located in Orlando’s Loch Haven Park. Call 407 896 4231 or visit omart.org

April 27, 28, and 29 -- Multi-Artist Show: “100 4 $100”
For years, the Gallery on First in downtown Sanford has pioneered new ways to “show and sell Fine Art.”  With an Opening on Friday April 27 from 6 to 9 pm, the studio artists at Gallery on First will offer 100 pieces of art for $100 each OR LESS. Affordable Art always gets my art-collecting heart beating faster in anticipation of the 8 Artists who will present a show with everything from watercolors to mixed media and sculpture. In the past I’ve gotten some real treasures at this annual event, and I look forward to Artists Debe Abbott, KV Abbott, Kim Brown, David Buckley, Stewart Jones, Robert Mier, Cindy Sturla, and Stan Surman presenting their original work. The exhibit coincides with the ‘Art Walk’ in historic downtown Sanford. Gallery on First is at 211 E 1st Street. Call 407.323.2774 or visit galleryonfirst.com

April 27 to June 16 – Noah’s Ark Gets Collaged
Acclaimed collage artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson will present 50 family-friendly new works in her new solo exhibit entitled The Noah’s Ark Series. Presented at the Thrasher Horne Center for the Arts in Orange Park, Fl., an opening reception will be held on April 27 from 7 until 8:30 pm. Meticulously created from torn bits of paper placed atop painted birch panels, the Series boasts 25 sets of animal “twosies” inspired by a children’s song the Artist once sang with her brother, who was born with Down Syndrome. The collection offers coordinating pairs of playful, affectionate birds and animals. Call 904.276.6750 or visit THCenter.org.

And not to be missed … This week Disney’s The LION KING leaps onto the stage of the Bob Carr PAC in Orlando with all its stunning theatricality and beloved musical score. This perfect family musical is here through May 13. Visit OrlandoBroadway.com.