Florida Culture for the Week of February 23 by Josh Garrick

Feb 26 -- WILD Author Cheryl Strayed at Women’s Leadership Luncheon

In the midst of despair, Cheryl Strayed decided to change her life by hiking the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail – alone. That hike became a No. 1 best-selling book, and the book became a movie starring Reese Witherspoon. The Heart of Florida United Way hosts the 8th annual Women’s Leadership Luncheon featuring Cheryl Strayed as the keynote speaker on February 26 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. Call 407.835.0900 or visit HFUW.org

Feb 26 to Mar 8 – Kids, Animals, Rides at the Central Florida Fair

Founded over 100 years ago to celebrate Florida’s agricultural industry, the Central Florida Fair is the largest not-for-profit fair in the State. Adrenaline seekers enjoy thrill rides while the 11-day event awards nearly $200,000 in prize money to exhibitors in Creative Arts, Food Arts, Horticulture, and FFA and 4-H livestock competitions (featuring 2500 animals). Live Entertainment includes over 100 groups on three stages including R&B singer Ginuwine on March 5 at 7:30 pm and James Otto on March 6 at 7:30 pm – both shows Free with Fair Admission. Visit centralfloridafair.com

 
Feb 27 – The Florida Blue FREE Concert Series First Outdoor Concert

The Dr. Phillips Center launches a two-year partnership with Florida Blue Foundation with their first outdoor concert featuring Tiempo Libre on the Seneff Arts Plaza at 6 pm on February 27. Free and open to the public, this concert is part of the Center’s stated mission – ‘Arts for Every Life.’  Heirs to the musical traditions of their native Cuba, this Miami-based group explodes on the stage with irresistible, ‘gotta dance’ mixes of r&b, pop, jazz, and Cuban son. No reservations required – it’s FREE.

Feb 27 to March 1 – Mad Cow’s Science Play Festival

A unique theatrical experience will be presented by Mad Cow Theatre in an interactive festival that explores science through staged readings of ‘plays about science.’ With discussions following each reading, plays include Headstrong by Patrick Link (Feb 27 at 7:30 pm); God and Stephen Hawking, by Robin Hawdon (Feb 28 at 7:30 pm) and Copenhagen by Michael Frayn (March 1 at 7:30 pm) All tickets are an affordable $10. Call 407.297.8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com

Feb 27 to Mar 9 – Breakthrough Theatre Presents Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick...Boom!

Before RENT, there was Tick, Tick...Boom!, an autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer and TONY Award–winning composer of Rent. The story of a composer and sacrifices he makes to achieve his big break takes us with Mr. Larson from waiting tables to writing the great American musical. (I said it’s autobiographical.) Set in 1990, this rock musical features Rob Guest and Krystal Gillette with the show directed by Wade Hair and Musical Direction by Justin Scarlat. In performance from Feb 27 to March 9, make your reservations at 407.920.4034 or visit breakthroughtheatre.com

Feb 28 – Mayor Dyer’s 9th Annual Blues & BBQ

The World’s Best Mayor – Buddy Dyer invites residents and visitors to the FREE 9th Annual Blues BBQ in Downtown Orlando. The Free concert features performances by Grammy Award winning R&B singer Betty Wright, the Gerry Williams Band, and other acts, plus seriously tasty BBQ available for purchase from Mister BBQ, Serena’s BBQ, Smokey Jay’s BBQ, Blazin Bones BBQ, Bubbalou’s Bodacious BBQ and Johnny Henry’s BBQ. Held at the City Commons Plaza at 400 South Orange Ave from 4 pm to 10 pm, PLEASE help Pathlight Home end homelessness by recycling your unwanted cell phones, iPads, and iPods at the event.

Feb 28 from 6 to 9 pm – Orlando’s 2nd Annual Recycled Fashion Show

Keep Orlando Beautiful tickets are on sale for the Trash 2 Trends runway event, Orlando’s annual Recycled Fashion Show.  Bringing the fashion and art world together with the environmental community, the show features 30 local fashion designers who have created ‘wearable fashions’ from materials that would otherwise be headed to the landfill. Judges will choose winners in the categories: Top Design, Avante Garde, Most Wearable, Best Use of Materials and Audience Choice. Call 407.246.2752 or visit: cityoforlando.net/kob

Mar 1 at 7 pm – The Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park’s Sunday Cabaret

There are always a group of happy singers at the Breakthrough Theatre – especially on Sundays when the Theatre presents this month’s Crazy Little Thing Called Love on March 1 at 7 pm. Carla Davis, Joseph Adam Gonzalez, Grace Habegger, Wade Hair, Jon Jimenez. Marty Radner, Angela Romero, Justin J. Scarlat. Vanessa Toro, and Corina Witkowski will sing about relationships: the good, the bad, and the ugly at 419A W. Fairbanks in Winter Park. Tickets are $12. Call 407.920.4034 or visit breakthroughtheatre.com

Mar 2 to April 5 – Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly at Orlando Rep

Is Spider getting too big for his skin? Will Fly find her ‘super-hero-powers’ in time to save Aunt Rita? Will Worm learn to stand on his own feet (even though worms don’t have feet)?  The Orlando Rep invites your family to take a look at the world from a bug’s perspective – with the message that our lives may not be all that different. Call 407.896.7365 or visit orlandorep.com

Mar 6 to May 17 – Maitland Art Center opens Photography Exhibit by Clyde Butcher

Known as ‘the Ansel Adams of the Everglades,’ the photography of Clyde Butcher will be celebrated with an Opening at A&H’s Maitland Art Center on March 6 beginning at 6:30 pm. Mr. Butcher has been honored by the State of Florida with the Artist Hall of Fame Award; the exhibit will run through May 17. The Opening Night will also include art installations as guests enjoy live music, food from 4Rivers Smokehouse, films, literary readings and a print-making activity. Tickets are $5. Visit artandhistory.org or call 407-539-2181.

Mar 6, 7 & 8 – Orlando Ballet’s Battle of the Sexes: A New Fight

The Orlando Ballet has been ‘fighting’ the Battle of the Sexes for years, and this new version brings that artistic dance to the stage of the Dr. Phillips Center. Classical ballet movements are integrated with hip-hop and modern dance set to chart-topping hits and pop/rock anthems, ‘seducing audiences’ with new choreography and the world premieres of dances created by Robert Hill, Arcadian Broad, Telmo Moreira and Chiaki Yasukawa. Tickets start at $38. Visit orlandoballet.org or call 407.426.1739.

Battle of the Sexes, photo credit Michael Cairns

Mar 6 to 28 – A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine

This Tony Award-winning Broadway musical is actually two one-act plays in a LIVE double feature more hilarious than any from Hollywood's heyday. The first is a ‘Song & Dance Salute’ to the Golden Age of film musicals, and the second is a fun-filled Marx Brothers farce with LIVE comedy routines for our enjoyment.  At the Winter Park Playhouse, call 407.645.0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org

March 7 – Orlando Phil presents Rodgers & Hammerstein at the Movies

John Goberman, creator of Live from Lincoln Center, will bring us the magic of scenes from Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and more – projected on the big screen, with the scores performed live by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Our favorite Pops Conductor Andrew Lane will bring his own magic to the Bob Carr Theater for two performances on March 7 at 2 pm and 8 pm as we enjoy highlights from our favorite movie musicals. Call 407.770.0071 or visit orlandophil.org

March 7 -- The US Navy Band FREE at the Dr. Phillips Center

Making good on their promise of “Arts for Every Life,” the new Dr. Phillips Center will join with Florida Blue to present a FREE concert series in the outdoor Seneff Arts Plaza (which can accommodate 3,000 guests). “Florida Blue’s support helps us make the Seneff Arts Plaza an ideal gathering place for the community,” says Kathy Ramsberger, President of the Center. The Florida Blue Free Concert Series will present the US Navy Band on March 7 at 4 pm – FREE and open to the public. No reservations required, but a blanket or folding chairs would be a good idea.

March 7 – SKELETONS Coming to International Drive in Orlando

Oh – the HORROR! Flesh-Eating-Beetles are coming to Orlando … BUT FEAR NOT – the Dermestid Beetles are part of the experience at a new attraction coming to International Drive. Opening on March 7 – SKELETONS is a museum/attraction exhibiting over 300 (real) skeletons and skulls representing 300 different animal species (including humans). Part of the I-Drive 360 Complex, SKELETONS is located at 8441 International Drive in Orlando. Visit skeletonmuseum.com or call 407.766.5179.

Photo:  Dermestid Beetles cleaning a skull of flesh.

March 7 – Norbert Leo Butz – from Broadway to The Abbey

In his new show Girls, Girls, Girls, Tony-Award-winning Norbert Leo Butz performs music from Elvis Costello, Loretta Lynn, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, and others. This Broadway Star, who took home Tony Awards for performances in Catch Me If You Can and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, is bringing his show to The Abbey in Orlando on March 7 at 8 pm. Tickets $50 and $75 for VIP; visit TicketWeb.com or AbbeyOrlando.com
 

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators