Culture Worthy of Your Calendar
by Josh Garrick     

World Famous Photos at The History Center 

In a much anticipated exhibit to be presented by The Orange County History Center in Orlando, we are invited to view the work of Steve McCurry, one of the world’s most famous photographers.  We ALL know his work from one of the most celebrated National Geographic covers of all time -- the famous portrait of the green-eyed Afghan girl (Sharbat Gula), a photograph which has been compared to the Mona Lisa in terms of its impact and sense of mystery. 

Mixing bravery with his art, McCurry’s career began when he disguised himself as a native and crossed the Pakistan border into Afghanistan just before the Russian invasion of 1979.  When he emerged, he had rolls of film sewn into his clothes – film holding photographs that would be published around the world. McCurry will exhibit 42 of his poignant portraits of children, pilgrims, monks, and travelers he encountered on his journeys throughout Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Tibet, and Burma.  The exhibit promises to be a moving and insightful retrospective of the people in areas still capturing headlines today.

Opening August 21 and running through October 4, Mc Curry says, “I try to convey what it is like to be that person… caught in what you could call the human condition.”

A gallery guide for children accompanies the exhibition. Call The Orange County Regional History Center at 407-836-8500 or visit www.thehistorycenter.org.

Air Supply at the Plaza

It’s time to admit it. At some time in your life you’ve memorized the lyrics and felt a romantic twinge from a song from the soft rock duo who make up the (really famous in the  80’s) group called Air Supply.  British guitarist and vocalist Graham Russell and Australian lead vocalist Russell Hitchcock, who met while performing in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, are still touring.  Yes, the original performers (NOT a cover group) are performing here Saturday night – August 22 at the Plaza Theatre in Downtown Orlando.  

It was in 1979, that the band released the hit “Lost in Love,” written in 15 minutes by Graham Russell. The song caught the attention of music mogul Clive Davis, and the rest – as they say – is history.

    The 1980 album – Lost in Love – contained three Top Five singles, including the title track, “Every Woman in the World", and “All Out of Love.”  The album sold two million copies in the U.S. The following year they released "The One That You Love"; the title song was released as a single and immediately went number #1 on the Billboard 100.  Their third album (1982) added to the group's incredible popularity with the hit, “Even the Nights Are Better” and “Two Less Lonely People in the World.”  “Making Love Out of Nothing at All” was added to their Greatest Hits album (released in 1983). That song was their biggest hit ever, and the album sold 5 million copies.

Since then, they’ve toured, done music for movies, and watched their popularity  soar in Southeast Asia with a Greatest Hits CD that stayed at the top of the Taiwanese album charts for 16 weeks in 1995. In 2008, Air Supply was named the number 83 best musical act of all time in the Billboard Hot 100's 50-year-anniversary edition.

Saturday night is your chance to get “lost in love” again when they perform “up close and personal” in one of my favorite theaters – the Plaza Theater, 425 North Bumby Avenue in Downtown Orlando.  Call the Box Office at 407 228 1220.

Magical Dining Month

In a town admittedly obsessed with the word “Magic,” here is some great news for those whose favorite cultural experience is to “indulge their senses” at any of Orlando’s fantastic choice of restaurants.  Even in recession-era Orlando, we can all afford to taste the good life during “Orlando’s Magical Dining Month,” from September 1 to the 30th.  

Brainchild of the Orlando Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, this month-long dining extravaganza showcases Central Florida’s ever-expanding dining diversity with participating restaurants offering three-course dinners for $20 or $30.  And out of that, $1 of each meal is donated to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

As you would expect, Magical Dining Month restaurants offer a variety of environments and cuisines including Emeril’s Tchoup Shop, BICE Ristorante (at Portofino Bay Hotel), The Oceanaire Seafood Room, Vines Grille & Wine Bar, Tommy Bahama’s Café, Ming Court, Taverna Opa, and A Land Remembered among others. More information on Magical Dining Month and a list of all participating restaurants is available online at orlandomagicaldining.com or call 407 363 5872.

REAL Culture for the Kids

If you have a child going into the Third, Fourth, or Fifth grade, this is also the time to make sure that their school is on the list to visit The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra’s Young People's Concerts.  Those performances will begin September 22 and run through November 10 at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre. 

Knowing that, for many youngsters, this will be their first exposure to a LIVE concert, the performances have been created to bring together the disciplines of orchestra, opera, and ballet, showcasing all three art forms in one program.

Twenty performances are scheduled at the Bob Carr for Orange County School students with two additional concerts scheduled for home and private school students.  Those concerts will be held on Wednesday, September 23 and Wednesday, October 7 at 12 noon.  Tickets for the performances for home and private school children are $5 each and can be purchased by phone at 407-896-6700 x 236.  Last year alone, 56,000 students had the opportunity to attend these live orchestra concerts. 

            This year The Orlando Philharmonic invites students to take a musical journey that will travel from the Thames River in 18th century London, along a trail into the Grand Canyon, listen to the waltz of an elephant, and fly through space to the planet Jupiter. The concert finale will invite the young audience to join in singing the famous choral theme from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. 

The excitement generated by a live performance, which includes instruments, voice and dance, provides a truly unique experience.  Fortunately for all of our children, the Philharmonic has provided this valuable community service every year for 17 years.   Phone 407-896-6700 x 236 or visit www.orlandophil.org.  

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators