“Josh Recommends” for the Week of August 24, 2018 By Josh Garrick 

‘A Celebration of America’ Featuring CFCArts Community Choir & Orchestra
August 24 at 7:30 pm
For One-Night-Only join over 150 members of CFCArts Community Choir and Symphony Orchestra as they present “We the People: A Celebration of America.” This intimate yet immersive one-night-only presentation will feature beloved songs such as “The Battle of the Hymn of the Republic” and “This Land is Your Land”. Celebrate the beauty of our majestic land as the mighty forces of CFCArts’ Choir and Orchestra pay tribute to the men and women who built our country and fought for our freedom. Tickets are $10, $15, $25 and $50 at CFCArts.com or by calling 407.937.1800 ext. 710 

Gypsy’s Mama Rose ‘Sings Out’ in Winter Garden
August 24 to September 16
One of the great American musicals – Gypsy – will open the Garden Theatre season in Winter Garden on August 24.  Featuring the world’s most overbearing stage mother ‘Rose,’ the musical tells the story of Rose’s struggle to find stardom for her daughters. Daughter June runs off to Hollywood leaving Louise to step into the act’s main role, eventually transforming into the glamorous Gypsy Rose Lee. The score includes the huge Broadway hits “Let Me Entertain You” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” and the production includes some of the greatest talent in Central Florida including direction and choreography by Tom Vazzana, Andrea Canny as Mama Rose, Andrea Stack as Louise, and Arcadian Broad as Tulsa. Call 407.877.4736 X 0 or visit gardentheatre.org. 

Star Wars in Concert continues with “Return of the Jedi”
August 25 at 7:30 pm
This extraordinary concert experience combines the iconic full-length film on the big screen with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra performing John Williams’s legendary score LIVE.
In this climactic episode of the Star Wars saga, Darth Vader readies the second Death Star to unleash a final blow to the Rebel Alliance while Luke Skywalker joins Princess Leia to free Han Solo, imprisoned by Jabba the Hutt. But the ultimate battle is between father and son, as Luke Skywalker faces Darth Vader one last time to determine the fate of the galaxy. At the Dr. Phillips Center, visit drphillipscenter.org or call 844.513.2014. 

“Summer Evenings with André” Presented by Art & History Museums-Maitland
August 25 at 7:30 pm
It seems that J. André Smith, founder of the Maitland Art Center, was not only an architect and artist, but also a playwright. This summer, the A&H is presenting three Saturday evenings of play readings (with adult themes) for ages 13 and up. The evening of August 25 includes “A Shadow Falls on Beaverbrook,” a murder-mystery unraveled through a series of water-colors by Frank Besedick; and “The Golden Tomb.” On a journey to a digging party in Egypt at the invitation of an Egyptian Prince, what could go wrong – especially when love is involved?  Tickets are $25 and $28 Call 407-539-2181 or visit artandhistory.org 

United Ballet Theatre (UBT) presents "The Athletes of Art"
August 26 at 3 pm
Finally we are offered a performance that ballet-lovers have known about forever – a ballet performance in which the dancers are presented as finely trained ATHLETES. And that is exactly what they are.  Renowned dancers – including Artistic Director Joseph Gatti -- will present master-works of choreography from Marcelo Gomes and George Balanchine, among others. UBT is dedicated to showcasing and preserving dance artists by focusing on the artists’ health through cross-training and alternating days of rehearsal intensity. Presented at the Dr. Phillips Center, for tickets visit unitedballettheatre.org 

FINAL WEEKEND -- “The Pirates of Penzance” Presented by CFCArts Theatre
NOW to August 26
Think of the very British Gilbert and Sullivan as the Rodgers and Hart of Victorian England and you have some idea of the wonderfully funny and wonderfully sung “Pirates” being presented by CFCArts in their Black Box Theatre in Orlando.  The crazy plot follows Frederic, a “pirate apprentice” released from his apprenticeship on his 21st birthday. He meets the young daughter of the ‘modern major general’ and its love at first sight, but his pirate gang won’t let him go. Filled with wacky characters, wonderful music, and amazing singing, this high-energy production is a delight for all ages. Directed by Donald Rupe and choreographed by Eric Yow, for tickets visit CFCArts.com or call 407.937.1800. 

FINAL WEEKEND -- The “Florida Festival of New Musicals” 
NOW to August 26
Presented by the Winter Park Playhouse, this exciting festival showcases SIX brand NEW musicals from around the world with the first act of each musical presented fully read and sung concert-style, by casts of professional actor/singers. The Festival has been created to advance the art form of musical theatre by fostering the development of new musicals and the artistic growth of writers and composers. Led by Playhouse Artistic Director Roy Alan, the Festival provides a unique insight into how a new musical comes to life. With a very affordable ticket price of $10 per show, call 407.645.0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org 

FINAL WEEKEND -- Theatre UCF:  Human Error – from the Pegasus PlayLab
NOW to August 26
Part of Theatre UCF’s Pegasus PlayLab, a new theatre festival dedicated to developing plays by emerging playwrights, this is an opportunity to be involved in new play development with playwrights from across the country. This fully staged ‘dramady’ was first seen at Playfest 2017 at our own Orlando Shakespeare Festival. In the new play by Eric Pfeffinger, a fertility clinic mistakenly implants Madelyn and Keenan’s embryo in someone else, only to find an unlikely relationship forged between the two couples … who come from very different backgrounds.  Visit theatre.ucf.edu/tickets.php or call 407.823.1500 

Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy are “MY BROTHER, MY BROTHER and ME”
August 31 at 7 pm
The McElroy Brothers get upwards of 300,000 unique downloads per episode and regularly chart on iTunes when they present another pod-cast of MY BROTHER, MY BROTHER AND ME.  Also launched as a Seeso series, and renewed for a second season, their tour dates sell out immediately. Their “Adventure Zone” is being adapted into a comic book and has already spawned a zine of fan art with Griffin McElroy tapped to write a piece of ‘Star Wars’ prose for an upcoming anthology. At the Dr. Phillips Center, visit drphillipscenter.org or call 844.513.2014 

Save the Date for “TASTE! CENTRAL FLORIDA”
Saturday, September 8, 2018
It’s a local event, featuring local chefs, wine purveyors, and beverage vendors, for a most necessary local cause. “Taste! Central Florida” is our annual celebration of Central Florida’s culinary excellence coming together to raise funds for childhood hunger relief. Offering an evening of tasting portions accompanied by fine wines, craft beers, and cocktails, an all-volunteer steering committee, more than 300 day-of event volunteers, in-kind support from local businesses, and the generous backing of Orlando World Center Marriott which donates the event space each year, “Taste! Central Florida” is one of the largest fundraisers of the year to combat children’s hunger. Now 100% of event proceeds remain in the community and are directed exclusively to Second Harvest Food Bank and Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida. For tickets, or to volunteer, visit tastecfl.org or visit www.facebook.com/tastecentralflorida 

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators