Florida Culture for the Week of April 16, 2017 By Josh Garrick 

April 16 & 17 – Chris ROCK - Total Blackout Tour 2017
Actor, director, producer, and comic genius Chris Rock is praised by peers and critics alike as one of our generation’s great comedic voices. In two performances at the Dr. Phillips Center, he will create more memorable moments – LIVE. Note: No cell-phones or recording devices allowed inside the theater; VIP PACKAGES are available. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org 

April 20 from 6 pm to 9 pm – “Theatrix! A Celebration of Art & Theatre”
Each year, independent Art Curator Brad Biggs comes up with a theme with which he tests the creativity of his friends and colleagues. This year’s theme, “Theatrix!” addresses theatre productions and dramatic moments from the Greek tragedies to contemporary Broadway. Opening night, at City Arts in Downtown Orlando, is April 20. A ‘second’ Opening will be held on April 27 when John DiDonna’s Phantasmagoria Theatre Troupe will perform with the Art as their backdrop. Both events are FREE. Call 407.450.2255

April 21 at 8 pm – BERNADETTE PETERS at the Dr. Phillips Center 
Bernadette PETERS, Broadway's brightest STAR, comes to Orlando with an evening of songs from her Broadway shows, Carnegie Hall, and from her Grammy Award-winning albums. Including standards from Rodgers & Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, and others, Ms. Peters will be joined by the Dr. Phillips Center Jazz Orchestra in their Disney Theater debut. Enjoy Broadway glamour and outrageous talent in one unforgettable performance by calling 844.513.2014 or visiting drphillipscenter.org 

April 22 beginning at 11 am – The Official Celebration of ALL Things BACON 
On April 22 the Plaza at the Dr. Phillips Center will be transformed into a ‘BACON Bonanza’ featuring more than 30 restaurants and food vendors creating bacon-inspired dishes. Live music, bacon ‘beverages,’ and 5000 pounds of bacon will be there to cheer on the restaurants competing to win the coveted "Best of Bacon" award. Ya gotta love it. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

April 22 from 2 to 6 pm – The Annual “Wine Women & Shoes” Event 
Second Harvest Food Bank’s 7th annual “Wine Women & Shoes” event takes place on April 22 at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. Attendees will experience fantastic food, Napa Valley wines, shopping and a fashion show by designer Diana Simaan. Tickets are $125 or $185 per person with 100% of the proceeds helping Second Harvest Food Bank eradicate hunger in our community. Experience how good shopping can feel when combined with charitable giving. Visit winewomenandshoes.com/orlando 

April 22 – Direct from Broadway – Alton Brown’s ‘Eat Your Science’ 
Alton Brown’s Foodie-Science Fans can expect new songs, multimedia, and (potentially) dangerous food demonstrations that bring together his talent for mixing science, music and food into entertainment. He promises “this time we’re going to play a game where you’ll see things I’ve never been allowed to do on TV.” Note for folks in the first few rows: ‘Bring your ‘protective gear.’ Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org 

April 22 at 8 pm – An Evening with Jake Shimabukuro
American ukulele virtuoso and composer Jake Shimabukuro is known for his fast, complex finger work in music that combines elements of jazz, blues, funk, rock, bluegrass, classical, and folk. Shimabukuro became internationally famous in 2006 when a video of him on YouTube became one of the first videos to go viral. His concerts, collaborations, media appearances, and music production have grown exponentially, bringing him to the Pugh Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center on April 22. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

April 23 from 1 to 5 pm – ‘Ice Cream Social’ Returns to Winter Park Civic Center 
It’s a celebration full of ice cream and sweets to benefit the families served by Ronald McDonald House Charities. Guests enjoy ice cream creations, live entertainment, games, prizes, a silent auction and more. All this sweetness provides a ‘home away from home’ for families who stay at Ronald McDonald Houses to be close to their critically ill children. Tickets on sale at Ronald McDonald Houses in Orlando: $7 advance / $10 at door / children under 3 FREE. Visit ronaldmcdonaldhouseorlando.org

April 29 at 8 pm – Sheryl Crow at the Dr. Phillips Center
Nine-time GRAMMY winner Sheryl Crow has sold more than 35 million albums and has been nominated for an additional 27 GRAMMYs. Her eight studio albums (seven charting Top 10, four of them platinum-plus), a quadruple-platinum greatest hits collection and a Christmas album join her most recent album, ‘Feels Like Home,’ in capturing the sound of a great Artist enjoying a great career. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

April 30 at 2 pm -- Dr. Phillips Center presents Pokémon: Symphonic 
Back by POPULAR demand!! Brought to life by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra performing new arrangements and visuals from new and classic Pokémon video games, ‘Pokémon: Symphonic’ is the ‘must-see’ video game concert. Offering fans and newcomers of all ages the chance to experience the evolution of Pokémon, the concert provides the perfect family-fun introduction to LIVE symphonic music for children. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

April 30 at 4 pm – MAYSfest 2017 – The Metropolitan Area Youth Symphony
The MAYSfest Youth Symphony began thirty years ago by the late musician Jonathan May known for an inclusive and nurturing educational approach that turns students into musicians. This event includes a very special guest performance by the renowned Conductor of the Orlando Philharmonic, Eric Jacobsen along with hundreds of young Florida musicians coming together to perform some of history’s greatest music. For tickets, visit drphillipscenter.org or visit MAYSymphony.org for details.

NOW to April 20 – DIS-enchanted! Princesses Tell Their Side of the Story 
THE Princesses have broken out of their “small, small world,” and led by Snow White, the ‘royal renegades’ bring this hilarious not-for-the-kiddies musical to you. DIS-enchanted! began with an award-winning run at Orlando’s Fringe Festival 2011 and has now been performed across the country. This adult parody of the Disney princesses will be performed at Plaza Live Orlando. Call 877.987.6487 or visit plazaliveorlando.org.

NOW to April 24 – Breakthrough Theatre presents "Schoolhouse Rock Live, Jr." 
The Emmy Award-winning educational cartoon series is now a fun-for-all-ages musical. Tom, a young schoolteacher, is nervous about his first day of teaching. While watching TV, various characters emerge from the TV and show Tom how to win his students with imagination and music. Call 407.920.4034 or visit breakthroughtheatre.com

NOW to April 30 – Orlando Shakes’ Antony and Cleopatra 
The victors of Rome’s civil war have divided the ancient world between themselves with Marc Antony traveling to Egypt to take up his rule. His impassioned affair with the irresistible Cleopatra ultimately pits Roman against Roman, thereby changing the face of the world forever. Featuring Michael Dorn, best known as Lt. Worf in ‘Star Trek,’ as Antony, call 407.447.1700 X1 or visit orlandoshakes.org 
Michael Dorn stars as Antony in Orlando Shakespeare Theater’s production of Antony and Cleopatra. Photo by Luke Evans 

NOW to April 30 – DINOSAURS Make a Home in Leu Gardens 
It’s ‘Jurassic Park’ meets Leu Gardens as we discover what life was like millions of years ago thanks to the artistry of Guy Darrough. Darrough creates dinosaur figures that look like the real ones did when they ruled the Earth and may be found throughout the 50-acre botanical gardens. A free, self-guided ‘DinoHunt Guide’ is available for paleontologists of all ages. Visit leugardens.org 

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators