Florida Culture for the Week of November 11 by Josh Garrick

November 11, 12, 18, and 19 – New Sculptures in Orlando – The ‘City Beautiful’

In the next ten days the visual image of Orlando, already called ‘the City Beautiful,’ will be enhanced significantly as new public sculptures are ‘unveiled’ throughout the City. Our beneficent ‘ART-loving’ Mayor Buddy Dyer will be there to unveil most of them. They include:

November 11 at 10 am:  Dedication of Red Tails Monument/sculpture – honoring the Tuskegee Airmen – outside the Orlando Science Center.

November 12 at 6 pm – Illumination Ceremony for the upgraded Tower of Light at Orlando City Hall with new mosaics by Artist Terrence Hummel

November 18 at 5:30 pm – Unveiling party for EIGHT NEW SeeArt Orlando sculptures starting at Church & Orange with a Lymmo bus to, and entertainment and activities (and prizes), at each of the sculpture locations (including a great night for walking the route).

November 19 at 6 pm – Unveiling of the Urban Art Museum (outdoor art) at 932 N. Mills Ave

There are countless community-minded corporations and individuals who should be thanked for this unprecedented celebration of creativity – turning Orlando into a ‘Public Museum’ for ALL OF US to enjoy. For now, let’s celebrate the extraordinary new ART and the beautiful people who continue to inspire us by making the ‘City Beautiful’ ever more deserving of that distinctive title.

Nov 13 to 24 -- World Premiere of TRUE FANS

The World Premiere of True Fans, a cross-country, bicycle-riding, basketball-worshipping comedy will be presented at the Abbey in Orlando from November 13 to 24. In the new play by Bill Rosenfield, two brothers and their best friend ride from Venice, California to The Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass to show their devotion to The Game and Their Team, The Utah Jazz. On their nationwide journey, the 3 guys (who also play 31 characters they meet along the way) discover that something much stronger than basketball keeps them together. Tickets at ticketweb.com

Nov 14 to Dec 29 -- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Orlando Rep

That shiny red nose leads the way to the Orlando Repertory Theater for the holiday season as all the memorable characters and songs from the classic television special remind us that ‘being different’ can be a very good thing. Based on the animated television special – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – with the stage production directed and conceived by Jeff Frank, this holiday tradition speaks to the misfit in us all. With music and lyrics by Johnny Marks, visit orlandorep.com or call 407.896.7365

Nov 15 to 24 – Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees

All That Glitters is the theme of the 27th annual Festival of Trees, running from November 15 to 24. Each year the ladies of the Council of 101 transform the Orlando Museum of Art into a Holiday Wonderland as The Festival of Trees brings thousands of people to the Museum. Generous and talented Central Florida businesses, clubs, and designers sponsor trees, decorations and displays to be auctioned off, making this one of the Museum’s biggest fundraisers of the year. This year’s Festival also includes The Great Gatsby Gala on November 15, Senior's Day on November 19, and the Reindeer Romp on November 20. Call the Council of 101 Office at 407 896 4231 x254 or e-mail councilof101[at]aol.com

Nov 15 to Dec 1 – The Jester Theater presents THE BIG OZ

After 14 years (since its first appearance at the 1999 Fringe Festival) the Jester Theater will present The Big Oz, a hilarious film-noir parody of the Wizard of Oz. In Jester Theater's 90-minute version, it’s Oz in reverse. Going from Color to Black and White, ‘hero’ Francis Gum and his girlfriend Tootsie are thrown into a dark world of hit-men, pushers and pimps. With the Wicked Mitch of the West after Francis, he finds unexpected (but strangely familiar) help along the way as he rushes to find the head of the underworld himself - The Big Oz. The Big Oz runs from November 15 to December 1 at the Shakespeare Center. Call 407.447.1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org

Nov 15 to Dec 2 – Breakthrough Presents Musical A Year With Frog and Toad

Arnold Lobel's beloved characters ‘hop from the page to the stage’ in A Year With Frog and Toad, the Theatre for Young Audiences version of Robert and Willie Reale's Tony-nominated musical. This whimsical show follows two friends – cheerful Frog and grumpy Toad as they learn life lessons together. Part vaudeville and part make-believe, the jazzy, upbeat score makes this a wonderful musical for the whole family – especially with Frog and Toad played by the multi-talented Wade Hair and Justin Scarlat. Breakthrough Theatre is at 419A W. Fairbanks Ave in Winter Park. Call 407-920-4034 for reservations.

Nov 15 to Dec 14 – Crazy for Gershwin at the Winter Park Playhouse

When the ‘Creatives’ at the Winter Park Playhouse aren’t bringing Off-Broadway musicals to Winter Park, they ‘create’ a musical based on the work of some great composer or performer. Their newest effort is called Crazy for Gershwin – A Tribute to George & Ira Gershwin. Running from November 15 to December 14, this ‘Tribute’ to the Gershwins reminds us of the unbelievable number of songs created by this All-American duo including Embraceable You, I’ve Got a Crush on You, I Got Rhythm, Someone to Watch Over Me, and S’Wonderful! Who could ask for anything more? Call 407.645.0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org

Nov 16 – Mendelssohn, Shostakovich, and Beethoven

ALL fans of the Orlando Philharmonic perk up when we see Beethoven’s name on a program – and that goes double when the Orchestra is set to perform one of the Master’s greatest works. Such is the case when Joel Revzen conducts iconic works from each of three eras: Mendelssohn’s picture-perfect seascape, Shostakovich’s explosive Violin Concerto No. 1, and Beethoven’s exhilarating 7th Symphony. The Shostakovich Violin Concerto will feature Cho-Liang Lin on the violin at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre on November 16 at 8 pm.  Visit orlandophil.org or call 407.770.0071

Nov 16 – Come and Celebrate with Me at Jai Gallery

Many of you know I recently had the extraordinary honor to be the First American in the 124-year-history of the National Archaeological Museum of Greece to be invited to exhibit my art-work there. As that exhibit continues (in Athens), the beautiful Jai Gallery in downtown Orlando will celebrate my Art, including the unveiling of a never-before-seen work, on Saturday, November 16 from 6 to 9 pm. Please come by and ‘say hello’ at Jai Gallery at 47 E Robinson Street. The reception is FREE with an rsvp to Coralie[at]jaigallery.net or by calling 407-921-0693 or 321-216-1646

Nov 16 and 17 – Alexandre RENOIR to Exhibit in Jacksonville

An unprecedented exhibit of works by Alexandre Renoir, great-grandson of Pierre Auguste Renoir, will be presented in Jacksonville, Florida on November 16 and 17 as Avondale Artworks hosts Visions of Impressionism.  The exhibit will include Artist appearances and a children’s event. Alexandre Renoir is the great-grandson of French Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), grandson of Claude Renoir (1901-1969), and son of Paul Renoir (1925-2005). The events are complimentary and open to the public with an RSVP. Visit AvondaleArtworks.com or call 904.384.8797

Nov 16 to 18 – The 15th Annual Central Florida Jewish Film Festival

Co-Produced by Enzian and the Jewish Community Center, the Central Florida Jewish Film Festival will be presented from November 16 to 18. A cinematic celebration of Jewish culture and history, the Festival uses the power of film to inform, educate, and entertain with films ranging from history to comedy. Featuring 5 films, you can check the complete schedule by visiting Enzian.org or calling 407.629.1088.

Nov 17 at 3 pm – The Estonian National Symphony

The opening of the 62nd season of the Daytona Beach Symphony Society will present the Estonian National Symphony, which gave its first concert in 1926. During the 1950s, the orchestra became the first in the Soviet Union to perform works by modern composers such as Stravinsky, Schoenberg, and Orff. The Grammy-Award-winning Orchestra will perform Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B minor, with soloist Narek Hakhnazaryan, and Tchaikovsky’s glorious Symphony No. 5 at the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach. Call 386-253-2901 or visit dbss.org

Nov 17 – Taverna Opa’s Sweet Baklava Day

‘Sweetness rules’ as Taverna Opa Orlando partners with Wondermade and The Hyppo Orlando to host A Sweet Thanksgiving on Sunday, November 17 from 2 to 6 pm. Celebrating their customers AND National Baklava Day, the celebration is FREE and open to the public. With complimentary food-and-wine stations, a dessert bar, live entertainment, and games (including dunk-the-belly dancer), donations will be accepted at the door to assist the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Taverna Opa, known for its traditional Greek cuisine, is located at Pointe Orlando on International Drive. Call 407.351.8660 or visit opaorlando.com

November 22 – Beethoven Sonatas to be Performed by Leonidas Lipovetsky

Critically acclaimed since his debut recital at age 12, Leonidas Lipovetsky will perform the third in a series of eight performances of all 32 Beethoven Sonatas on November 22.  Presented by the Florida International Piano Competition, Lipovetsky has recorded for the BBC, Radio Moscow, and PBS; he was the first recipient of the Van Cliburn Scholarship and taught at Florida State University. Lipovetsky will perform Sonata #2; Sonata #7; Sonata #19; Sonata #20; and Sonata #23 (the Appassionata). At the Shakespeare Center in Orlando, call 407.770.1700 or visit floridapiano.org

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators