Florida Culture for the Week of October 5, 2015 by Josh Garrick

NOW to Oct 11 – CANstruction Returns to Orlando Fashion Square

What happens when you combine a team of architects, engineers, and designers with 3,000 canned goods? The answer is CANstruction, an annual competition in which teams design and build sculptures made entirely from cans. The most unique food charity in the world, last year CANstruction events were held in 75 cities around the world, resulting in 2.2 million pounds of food donated to help fight hunger. Orlando Fashion Square will house the exhibit through October 11. At the close of the exhibit, all food products used in the designs will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Visit canstruction-orlando.org

NOW to Oct 18 –‘Into the Woods’ with the New CFCArts Theater Group

Quality work at $10 a ticket has been the ‘gift’ of Central Florida Community Arts (CFCArts) to our community, and that ‘gift’ was recently acknowledged with a donation of over $20,000 to support CFCArts’ NEW Theatre program. CFCArts will offer a season of five productions beginning with Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods through October 18. A Broadway hit and recent movie, this witty ‘do-over’ of Grimm’s Fairy Tales is a perfect opener as it appeals to audiences of all ages. Congratulations to Joshua Vickery and Donald Rupe of CFCArts for yet another ‘gift’ to Central Florida. Visit cfcarts.com or contact info[at]cfcommunityarts.com.

NOW to Oct 25 – You Can’t Take That Mad Cow With You 

Alice's family is – eccentric. Dad makes fireworks, Grandpa doesn’t pay taxes, Mom writes plays (because a typewriter was delivered to her by mistake), and her sister has ‘decided’ to become a ballerina. When Alice's ‘Wall Street’ boyfriend and his straight-laced family arrive for dinner on the WRONG night, the real fireworks begin. You Can’t Take It With You is a true classic of the American stage. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1938 and will be in performance at the Mad Cow Theatre through October 25. Call 407-297-8788 X1 or visit madcowtheatre.com 

Oct 6 – Orlando Ballet’s ‘UNCorked’ Returns to The Abbey 

Orlando Ballet’s ‘UNCorked’ offers an ‘Insider’s Look’ at ballet, and this popular ‘intro’ will be back at The Abbey on October 6 at 7 pm with arabesques, chassés, pas de bourrées, (and some hip hop popping). The program brings audiences up close to see what goes into the creation of a ballet allowing for an intimate experience AND a question and answer session. Don’t tell anyone, but we may actually ‘learn’ something – drink in hand – in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Visit orlandoballet.org or call 407.426.1739

Oct 9 to Oct 31 – Phantasmagoria VI – ‘The Darkness Returns’

Direct from performances in Atlanta, Phantasmagoria Orlando/DiDonna Productions will present Phantasmagoria VI ‘The Darkness Returns’ to celebrate the 2015 Halloween Season. Mysterious live performers offer new stories of terror, ‘Phantastic’ dance, stage combat, large-scale puppetry, aerial performance, and horror as they relate literary tales of terror from around the world. This is theatrical story-telling of the highest order, created with power and magic at the Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park, and it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Call 407-328-9005 or visit OrlandoAtPlay.com

Oct 9 to 11 – Breakthrough Theatre presents "TV's Greatest Hits: A Musical Revue"

For one weekend only – October 9 to 11 – Breakthrough Theatre will offer a nostalgic look (and listen) to the theme songs of over 40 favorite television shows. 20 entertainers will sing songs from the 1950’s to today while the audience laughs, claps, and (sometimes) sings along to their favorites. Breakthrough is at 419A W. Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park. Call 407.920.4034 or visit.breakthroughtheatre.com

Oct 10 to Jan 4 – History-Making Art Exhibit Opens New Henao Art Gallery 

Two years ago, I had the unprecedented honor of making history as the first non-Greek Artist in the World to exhibit in the National Archaeological Museum of Greece.  The exhibit has returned from a two-year-tour of Europe to OPEN the new Henao Contemporary Center in Orlando on October 10 with the Opening Night a fund-raiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central Florida. The generous people who attend the Opening will be the first Americans to see the exhibit with the works for sale with a percentage of all sales benefiting Ronald McDonald House. Call 407.522.3906 or visit henaocenter.com

Oct 10 & 11 – Celebrating Florida Artists at the 42nd Annual Festival 

Each year on the 2nd weekend of October, Florida Artists are celebrated as the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce hosts the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival. The only juried art festival to feature Florida artists exclusively, this community-oriented sidewalk show presents visual art and live entertainment for the whole family in Winter Park’s historic Central Park. This year the festival will expand to feature 180 artists competing for prizes from a pool of 450 applicants. Open from 9 am to 5 pm on October 10 and 11, admission is FREE.

Oct 11 – Historic Capen-Showalter House To Open at the Polasek Museum

The public is invited to the Free ‘Celebrate the Capen Open House’ as this historic home opens at the Polasek Museum from 1 pm to 4 pm on October 11. Facing demolition in 2013, community supporters rescued the home by raising $450,000 to relocate it to the Polasek Museum. To move the 200-ton building, contractors floated the home across Lake Osceola in an event that attracted national news coverage and won an Award from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. An exhibit on the history of the home and its heroic ‘salvation’ will open on the same day at 633 Osceola Ave in Winter Park.  Call 407-647-6294 or visit polasek.org

Oct 11 – Pixar in Concert with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra

From the Toy Story trilogy to The Incredibles, Pixar has given us some of the most beloved characters in cinema history. Now Pixar is coming to Orlando in concert with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in a multi-media family show featuring clips from every one of Pixar's 14 films. That includes Cars, WALL•E, Finding Nemo, and Monsters, Inc – accompanied by the Orlando Philharmonic. These great movie scores have won 10 Grammys, 3 Academy Awards and 10 Oscar nominations. In performance on October 11 at 3 pm at the Dr. Phillips Center, call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Oct 11 to 17 – Harriett’s Park Avenue Fashion Week 

Named for Harriett Lake, one of Central Florida’s great philanthropists, ‘HARRIETT’ is known for her wardrobe and her passion for philanthropy related to cancer research, the performing arts and fashion. Harriett’s Park Avenue Fashion Week offers a series of events concluding with the PAFW runway show – the biggest fashion event of the year. A 20,000 square foot tent is placed in Central Park’s West Meadow with a full runway for the show. Modeled after New York Fashion Week’s Bryant Park, PAFW welcomes Florida’s most influential socialites. For a complete list of events, visit parkavenuefashionweek.com

Oct 12 to Nov 8 – Orphie from Ancient Greece at Orlando Rep

Next up at Orlando Rep, spunky and curious Orphie, a young girl in Ancient Greece, sets out to save the famous storyteller Homer in this humorous adventure in which she encounters Zeus, the Sirens, Pegasus, and more. Will Orphie save Homer? As in the ‘Percy Jackson’ stories, this new musical is a clever take on Greek mythology with contemporary references appearing in the mythical world. With ‘Backstage Tours’ offered on October 24 and November 7, call 407.896.7365 or visit orlandorep.com

Oct 13 to 18 – Charles Ross IS the One Man Star Wars Trilogy

The mastermind behind the One Man Star Wars Trilogy, Charles Ross is a Canadian actor who first performed his one-man-show in Toronto in 2001. Consistently bringing audiences to their feet with his unique performances, word of his ‘one-of-a-kind talent’ has spread with appearances on The Today Show, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Whether performing a family matinee or at a Sci-Fi convention, Charles Ross entertains with high-energy and humor – from a galaxy far, far away.! Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Oct 14 to Nov 15 – Orlando Shakespeare Theater Presents Bakersfield Mist 

Following a run on London’s West End, the critically acclaimed new play Bakersfield Mist comes to Central Florida, produced by the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. Winner of the 2012 Norton Award for Best New Play, and inspired by a true story, this colorful comic-drama finds out-of-work Maude spending her last few dollars on a thrift store painting she’s convinced is worth millions. When ‘art expert’ Lionel Percy arrives to authenticate the painting, cultures collide as the audience is asked, “What makes ART truly authentic?”  Call 407.447.1700 x 1 or visit orlandoshakes.org.

Photo by Landon St. Gordon feature Anne Hering and Steve Brady.

Oct 15 – Free Kickstarter Film Fest Brings ‘Indie’ Films to Florida

A major expansion of the Annual Kickstarter Film Festival will bring a diverse slate of independent films to 32 theaters across the country on October 15. Tickets are free and may be reserved at kickstarter.com/filmfest. “Getting your film made is the goal, but getting it in front of an audience is the fun part,” said Kickstarter CEO Yancey Strickler. The two-act film festival will present screenings at 7 pm and at 9:20 pm and includes themes from vampires to clones to a team of Zambian ‘Afronauts’ racing to beat America to the moon.

Oct 15 to 26 -- Breakthrough Theatre presents, "Sleepy Hollow, A Musical Tale"

This not-too-scary new musical, based on Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, is a modern-day spin on the classic tale, with book, music, and lyrics by Janet Vogt & Mark Friedman. The musical begins in the present day and ‘moves to’ Sleepy Hollow as three modern-day children find themselves in the middle of all the ghosts and goblins of Sleepy Hollow. They even confront the infamous ‘Headless Horseman’ in their attempt to return home. For reservations, visit breakthroughtheatre.com or call 407-920-4034

Photo Credit: Valerie Sims; Pictured: Skylar Robertson 

Oct 15 to 31 – BatBoy: the Musical at the Abbey 

Flying into Orlando as an All Hollow’s Eve entertainment and based on a ‘true’ story in The Weekly World News, BatBoy: the Musical is a musical-comedy-horror show about a big-eyed, pointy-eared boy discovered in a West Virginia cave. Adopted by the town veterinarian, BatBoy acquires an education and “falls in love” with the vet’s daughter (while struggling to keep his blood thirst under control). In a show consistently praised for its intelligence and wit, this outlandish musical will be at The Abbey from October 15 to 31. Visit ticketweb.com 

Oct 16 -- The Fedotov Family Presents 15th Anniversary Ballet Gala 

Dancers from the National Ballet Companies of Ukraine, Cuba, and Brazil will perform awe-inspiring highlights from classic ballet masterpieces including Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Romeo & Juliet, Spartacus, and more as the Fedotov family presents a Ballet Gala to celebrate 15 years of dance education in Florida. Combining three dance schools, the Gala will offer Fedotov students the unique opportunity to perform alongside world renowned dancers. Tickets at http://calendar.northlandchurch.net

Oct 16 to Jan 3 – Mennello Museum Opens ‘Mary Whyte: A Portrait of Us’

The Mennello Museum will open ‘Mary Whyte: A Portrait of Us’ on October 16 from 6 to 8 pm with Mary Whyte as Honored Guest. Watercolor Artist Mary Whyte is a teacher and author whose paintings have earned national recognition as the Artist gains her inspiration from descendants of coastal Carolina slaves. In addition, on October 17 at 11 am, Ms. Whyte will lead tours through her exhibit. Ms. Whyte’s watercolors of weathered farmers and laborers tell a story of America that is candid, provocative and moving. Call 407.246.4278 or visit mennellomuseum.com

‘Graffiti,’ 2008, watercolor on paper

Mary Whyte by Jack Alterman

Oct 17 – John Cleese & Eric Idle: Together Again… For The Very First Time  

Comedy Legends John Cleese and Eric Idle will “score a free vacation” as they tour Florida in their Together Again At Last… For The Very First Time tour. As founding members of Monty Python, Cleese and Idle are among the godfathers of comedy performance, having pioneered the irreverent, absurdist sensibility emulated by comics to this very day. Blending scripted and improv storytelling, musical numbers, and exclusive footage, Cleese and Idle will be at the Dr. Phillips Center on October 17. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Oct 17 – Benefiting Hope & Help Center – the Headdress Ball 

A vital fundraiser for the Hope and Help Center, the 26th Annual Headdress Ball will be held at the Hilton Orlando on October 27.  This charity fundraiser is Florida’s “most outrageous black-tie event,” featuring a Vegas-style show, dinner, live and silent auction … and some mind-blowing bare skin.” This year’s theme is ‘Colors of the World.’ Call 407.645.2577 or visit headdressball.org 

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators