Florida Culture for the Week of May 5 By Josh Garrick

Now through Sept 14 – at the Mennello Museum

Continuing their tribute to Art of the American Southwest, the Mennello Museum recently opened a 3-part exhibit that includes … Images From "The North American Indian,” a selection of 40 original photogravures by ethnologist and photographer Edward S. Curtis; Historic Southwest Pottery – from all of the major pueblos; and Native American Art and Artifacts From the Collection of I.S.K. and Sara W. Reeves – including historic headdresses, beadwork, masks and silver jewelry. The Mennello Museum of American Art is at 900 East Princeton Street in Loch Haven Park in Orlando. Call 407.246.4278 or visit Mennellomuscum.com

May 6 – Show Them What the DICKENS You KNOW!

This whole year is being given over to a celebration of author Charles DICKENS, and on the first Tuesday of every month (including May 6), it’s Dickens Trivia Night, hosted by Orange County's Director of Arts & Cultural Affairs – Terry Olson. Now Terry is a walking library on Dickens and the perfect host for Trivia Night, which begins at 7 pm at Stardust Video and Coffee House at 1842 E Winter Park Road in Orlando.

The cost is $10 per team for a table up to 4 persons, and since YOU are one of my readers, here’s one you can look up before you arrive:  “Which of his characters did Charles Dickens base on his father?”
 

May 9 and 11 – The Orlando Philharmonic Presents Verdi’s La Traviata

The Orlando Philharmonic has created a series of brilliantly produced operas – with the unique idea of placing the Orchestra on-stage with the singers performing in front of the Orchestra. On May 9 at 8 pm and May 11 at 2 pm, the Philharmonic will present Giuseppe Verdi’s most melodious and popular work – La Traviata. Sung in Italian with English subtitles, Elizabeth Caballero and Brian Jadge will perform the lead roles. “Verdi's score contains some of the most beautiful music ever written,” says Conductor Christopher Wilkins. Call 407.770.0071 or visit orlandophil.org

May 9 and 10 – CFCArts Presents Show Me Some Glee!

Performed by young artists of the CFCArts’ Children and Youth Arts programs, songs from the beloved hit TV show GLEE will be presented live on stage as these talented young performers hit the stage – singing and dancing from the ‘top of the charts.’ Show Me Some Glee! will be presented at Cornerstone Academy at 5903 Randolph Ave in Orlando at 7 pm on May 9 and 10. Tickets are $10 each with children age 12 and under admitted FREE. Tickets are on sale at cfcarts.com/show-me-some-glee/.

May 9 to 31 – Gallery to Present Art from Tavares and Umatilla High Schools 

With an opening reception set to coincide with Mount Dora's 2nd Friday Art Stroll (on May 9 from 6 to 8 pm), Art from Tavares and Umatilla High Schools will be presented at the Artisans on Fifth Artists’ Co-op at 134 E. Fifth Avenue in Mount Dora. The Tavares High School Art program has been under the leadership of Mrs. Esty Mickens for four years – leading her students to the highest AP scores in Lake County. Gary Hopcraft has led the Umatilla High School Art program for the over 26 years, providing students with a renaissance approach to art and a commitment to the community. Visit artisansonfifth.com or call 407.666.0936

May 10 – The School of Rock at BB King’s Blues Club

Demonstrating its ‘concept’ that gets kids and adults rocking to the classics while performing ‘live’ with their peers, the performance-based School of Rock will have young Orlando-area musicians rocking on-stage at BB King’s Blues Club on May 10 at 1 pm and 2:30 pm. The Oviedo School of Rock will give its students the opportunity to show fans what rock n' roll is all about as forty students, ages 8 to 18, perform live concerts featuring the music of Queen (1 pm) and Jimi Hendrix (2:30 pm).  BB King’s Blues Club is at Pointe Orlando at 9101 International Drive in Orlando. Visit oviedo.schoolofrock.com

May 10 – The Science of WINE at the Orlando Science Center

I’m a big fan of Galas where you ‘learn’ something … and that’s only one of the more than 100 reasons why I LOVE The Science of WINE at the Orlando Science Center. On May 10 at 7 pm, we get to DRINK WINE and learn about it too! This ‘oenological odyssey,’ with presentations on wine growing and tasting, offers us the opportunity to sample 100 fine wines from around the world. Presented by Akerman and Southern Wine & Spirits, and featuring renowned wine educator Luis Torres, gourmet foods will be offered to accompany the wine selections. Call 407.514.2000 or visit osc.org/wine

Orlando Science Center President JoAnn Newman and Science Center Trustee Dennis Lind.  

May 10 – The Chef’s Gala for United Way

An alarming one in five families in Central Florida need help with basic necessities, and the most ‘tasteful’ way to help United Way help all those thousands of Central Floridians is by purchasing a ticket to the annual Chef’s Gala – United Way’s signature Gala. ‘Foodies’ and Philanthropists come together to sample the creations of our region’s top chefs, and  thanks to the generosity of host Walt Disney World, 95% of all funds raised go directly to help those in need. Call 407.429.2129.

May 11 – The Fab Four – The Ultimate Beatles Tribute 

With note-for-note renditions of Beatles' songs, the Fab Four will make you think you’re watching the real thing in an incredible stage show that includes three costume changes representing each era of the Beatles ever-changing career. This loving tribute to the Beatles amazes audiences with record-perfect, live performances of such classics as Can't Buy Me Love, Yesterday, Penny Lane, and Hey Jude. Set for May 11 at 8 pm at Plaza Live in Orlando, call 407.228.1220 or visit plazaliveorlando.com

May 12 – Il Divo at Hard Rock Live

Let the swooning begin – Il Divo is headed to Hard Rock Live on May 12 to perform songs from Broadway drawn from their latest album, A Musical Affair. The multinational operatic vocal group includes French pop singer Sébastien Izambard, Spanish baritone Carlos Marín, American tenor David Miller, and Swiss tenor Urs Bühler. Having sold more than 26 million albums worldwide, Il Divo toured with Barbra Streisand and released A Musical Affair in 2013, giving that name to their current tour. Visit hardrocklive.com or call 407.351.5483.

May 13 to 18 – GHOST the Musical at the Bob Carr

For one week only, Ghost the Musical delivers a ‘visual experience’ that allows us to relive the magical moments from the Oscar-winning movie in a Broadway musical. In this ‘adventure with the afterlife,’ we’ll see holograms and back-screen projections, inanimate objects that move, and other amazing special effects accompanied by an original pop score from Grammy Award-winners Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard. Adapted from the hit film by its Academy Award-winning screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin, this “eye-poppingly brilliant” musical is at the Bob Carr from May 13 to 18.  
Visit orlandobroadway.com

May 14 to 27 – The 23rd Annual Orlando International Fringe Festival

The wacky, weird, and always-wonderful Festival of plays called Fringe will present 100 performance groups in Fringe 2014. The oldest, non-juried festival in the United States, the Orlando International Fringe Festival’s ‘philosophy’ is to be 100% uncensored, 100% non-juried, and 100% accessible. This celebration of the performing arts takes place at Loch Haven Park in the last two weeks of May offering uncensored performances, an outdoor stage, Visual Fringe (fine Art) and Kids Fringe! Note: You’ll want to check the schedule for plays that are adults only and which ones are (age-appropriate) Kids Fringe! Visit orlandofringe.org for a complete schedule.

May 15 to June 14 – Redefine Gallery Presents Dualities

Redefine Gallery, located within the CityArts Factory at 29 South Orange Ave in Orlando, will present Dualities, a two-person show featuring paintings by artists Loaf Ninja and Chad Pollpeter. Both Artists paint subjects of a surrealistic nature with works focusing on concepts of time, life and death, beginnings and endings, religion and science. The Public is invited to an Opening Reception set for May 15 beginning at 6 pm. Call 407.648.7060 or visit redefinegallery.com

Exploration of Inner and Outer Space by Chad Pollpeter

Current – Zachary Loeb Wins Orlando Science Center Competition

Zachary Loeb, a senior from Brevard County’s Viera High School, took home the top prize in the Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition, an annual event hosted by Orlando Science Center. Loeb won a $5,000 scholarship plus $1,000 awards for his science teacher and his school. This was Loeb’s 3rd year competing in the contest and his 1st time taking the grand prize. Since 1999, philanthropist and scientist Dr. Nelson Ying has worked with Orlando Science Center to encourage the scientific accomplishments of our community’s teens with the requirement that projects submitted have the goal of benefiting humanity. Loeb’s winning research focused on contaminants in the water supply that cause reproductive problems for alligators, fish, and people. Loeb developed a way to remove hormones from the water supply 25 times more effectively than chlorine – and much cheaper. His new process can do what a water treatment plant does in one step. Visit osc.org/yingprize

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators