Florida Culture for the Week of March 19, 2017 By Josh Garrick 

March 20 at 6 pm – Chef’s Night at Second Harvest Food Bank
Where can we dine where the menu not only tastes good but also DOES good? The answer is Chef's Night at Second Harvest Food Bank where celebrated Chefs work with ‘students’ in 2nd Harvest’s Community Kitchen Training Program. That program helps men and women through training that leads to employment with 125 graduates and 100% job placement. On March 20, James Messinger, VP and Exec Chef of Seasons 52, will prepare a 5-course dinner including wine and two desserts. Call 407 514 1070 or visit feedhopenow.org.

March 24, 25 & 26 – Mozart’s Don Giovanni with Gabriel Preisser 
Opera Orlando presents Mozart's magnum opus ‘Don Giovanni’ set in a present-day college fraternity. The "big man on campus" metaphor works with Mozart's masterpiece, because the tale of too much power in the wrong hands is both timely and timeless. Orlando’s own Gabriel Preisser takes on the title role of ‘frat-brother-gone-wrong’ with players from the Orlando Philharmonic, dancers from the Orlando Ballet and members of the Opera Orlando Chorus all led by Conductor Elaine Rinaldi. Visit operaorlando.org 

March 24, 25 & 26 – The Orlando Ballet with Special Guests in “MasterWorks” 
The Orlando Ballet sets up its own challenge taking on one work each from what may be the three GREATEST CHOREOGRAPHERS of the 20th Century. Orlando Ballet Director Robert Hill, with deep ties to our nation’s two great ballet companies, has taught, trained, and challenged to bring the Orlando dancers to this point, and he even managed to get LIVE music for this ‘Olympic Ballet’ program. Having watched him build this team, if you have ever followed my advice PLEASE SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM. When the Orlando Ballet COMPANY takes the stage with this program, you’ll be seeing an Olympic laurel wreath, a SuperBowl trophy and the NBA finals playoff all rolled into one. ‘MasterWorks’ includes choreography by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Twyla Tharp. I predict greatness and urge you to be there to experience it. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org 

March 25 at 2 pm – Women in the Arts Awards 
Each year the Orlando Public Library hosts the annual ‘Celebrating the Genius of Women’ art exhibition, which features local finalists as well as national and international Artists. We are invited to join the ladies for this FREE event in the Library’s main lobby to meet the Artists for an interactive gallery walk followed by an awards ceremony which announces the ‘Patron's Choice Award’ and the Women in the Arts awards. This joyful FREE event is at 101 East Central Blvd in Orlando. Visit ocls.info 

March 25 at 8 pm – TANGO LOVERS at the Bob Carr Theater
With a cast of 20 extraordinary artists, March 25 brings to Orlando the dynamic, elegant and sensuous Tango in a 2-hour performance of elegant dance and music. Featuring an award-winning cast accompanied by a live orchestra, TANGO LOVERS transports the audience through breathtaking costumes, perfect choreography, and the power of skillful interpretation. This performance wants to persuade you, “Tango is the highest form of Dance.” At the Bob Carr Theater, call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org 

March 31 from 5 pm to 10 pm – The 2017 BACCHUS BASH!
It’s kind of a Mardi Gras celebration with food, drinks, live entertainment, and shopping – at its home at the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets. It’s also a fund-raiser for hospitality education through the CFHLA Foundation. (Last year’s Bash grossed over $123,000 for Hospitality Scholarships and Grants). There’s also a Raffle (lots of prizes), a Silent Auction (imagine the hotel room stays), and a Spin-To-Win Wheel. Entrance is Free. Visit bacchusbashorlando.com 

FINAL WEEK – NOW to March 24 – Orlando Shakes’ “Love’s Labour’s Lost” (LLL)
Almost every Shakespearean play has to do with whether the boy ‘gets the girl’ or if he misses tragically. In LLL, however, ‘self-denial’ serves Shake’s comic muse. At the court of Navarre, the young King and three courtiers swear an oath to put aside pleasure in favor of serious study. The Princess of France (and her maidens) however, show the men that “love conquers all” in this romantic comedy at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. Call 407.447.1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org. 

FINAL WEEK – NOW to March 26 – “The Great Gatsby” On-Stage
Taking on another work of the world’s great literature, our Shakespeare Theatre is performing “The Great Gatsby,” drawn from what is arguably America’s greatest novel. Played in movies by Robert Redford and Leonardo DiCaprio, this highly esteemed work explores love, morality, identity, and the (corruption of) the American Dream. The work is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Call 407.447.1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org 

NOW to March 27 – Breakthrough Theatre Presents Premiere of "Viewing Veronica"
Local playwright Larry Stallings is ‘living the dream’ of seeing his latest work, the comedic play, "Viewing Veronica,” given its World Premiere performances by the Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park. In brief, Veronica is witty, funny, sarcastic, and … dead. While friends and family attempt to deal with her death, Veronica does too. Call 407.920.4034 or visit breakthroughtheatre.com 

Pictured (left to right): Nikole Torres, Marcie Schwalm, Dylan Thompson, Kevin Hudson Photo Credit: Marty Wicks

NOW to April 9 – Destiny of Desire, a Satire in Winter Garden 
If you are a soap opera fan, this outrageous modern comedy is for you. With the music, drama and burning passions of a Mexican telenovella, one stormy night in Mexico, two baby girls are born – one into wealth; the other into poverty. When the babies are maliciously swapped, the stage is set for outrageous misfortune and/or remarkable destiny at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, call 407.877.4736 or visit gardentheatre.org 

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators