“Josh Recommends” for the Week of March 10, 2019 By Josh Garrick 

Spring Forward TODAY with Daylight Savings Time
Optimists see an extra hour of DAYLIGHT, while Pessimists see one LESS hour of sleep as we set our clocks forward one hour on Sunday at 2 am – and double-check your ticket times, especially if you have tickets for TODAY, MARCH 10.

FINAL PERFORMANCE TODAY -- Fiddler on the Roof
March 10 at the Dr. Phillips Center

With a string of Broadway’s greatest hits including “Tradition”, “Sunrise, Sunset”, “If I Were a Rich Man,”and “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” Fiddler on the Roof is the heart-warming, story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life and love. Tony Award–winning director Bartlett Sher introduces a new generation to the uplifting celebration that sings “To love! To life! L’Chaim!” Call 844.513 2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org 

2019 Science Play Festival at Mad Cow Theatre
March 15 at 8 pm & March 16 at 3 pm and 8 pm

In 2014, Mad Cow Theatre's first Science Play Festival was received with standing-room-only performances, and this year's festival features three more staged readings exploring the influences between art and science – and vice versa. Each reading is followed by a “talkback” with the cast and science gurus. They include “A Number” by Caryl Churchill (3.15 at 8 pm). Set in the near future, human cloning is the subject of this hour-long psychological thriller; “Incognito” by Nick Payne (3.16 at 3). Four actors play a combined 21 characters who ask whether memory and identity are nothing but illusion; and “Ada and the Engine” by Lauren Gunderson (3.16 at 8 pm) -- At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, young Ada Lovelace sees the potential for a world where art and information converge in the "analytic engine" of her friend who has invented the first computer. Call 407.297.8788 or visit madcowtheare.com

1984 – The Play, based on the book by George Orwell
FINAL WEEK -- NOW thru March 17

After a successful Broadway run, this Central Florida Premiere of a new play presents the entire gruesome and claustrophobic terror of George Orwell’s horrific masterpiece in which a totalitarian government uses brainwashing, surveillance, and torture to control its citizens. Both casting and production values make the out-of-control state power feel horribly real with special mention going to Brian Zealand as the would-be revolutionary. Be forewarned. The violence and torture is presented with such ‘reality,’ it is almost too much to sit through. Call 407.877.4736 or visit gardentheatre.org 

Mozart’s Symphony 33 and More by the Orlando Philharmonic
March 18 at 7 pm

One of today’s most dynamic young conductors, Ruth Reinhardt served as the Assistant Conductor of the Dallas Symphony making her debut with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic in 2018. This season Ms. Reinhardt makes her debuts with the Grosses Orchester Graz and Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra; and the symphony orchestras of Fort Worth, Omaha, Orlando, Portland, Santa Fe, and Sarasota. She received her master’s degree in conducting from The Juilliard School. Ms. Reinhardt will be joined by our own Concert Master Rimma Bergeron-Langlois as the soloist in a program including JANÁČEK’s– Suite for String Orchestra; ZWILICH– Romance for Violin and Chamber Orchestra, MYSLIVEČEK– Overture No. 2 and MOZART’s luxurious Symphony No. 33.  This performance takes place at The Plaza Live at 425 North Bumby Avenue in Orlando. Call 407.896.6700 or visit orlandophil.org

Opera Orlando Pairs Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci and Igor Stravinsky’s Pulcinella
March 22 to 26

The always imaginative Opera Orlando is creating one evening in which two classics are paired in this premiere operatic union of Pagliacci/Pulcinella. Both works garner inspiration from Italy's commedia dell'arte tradition, and this production honors that tradition as seen in the vaudeville circuit of the 1930s. The production shows us the “circus troupe” from which the tragedy is drawn. Orlando’s own Phantasmagoria Troupe comes on-stage with Pagliacci as one of their performers. Brian Cheney is Canio and Suzanne Kantorski is Nedda in this mash-up of high comedy and intense tragedy in this emotionally charged “show within a show.” Performances at the Dr. Phillips Center, call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Gertrude and Claudius – and Hamlet
NOW thru March 24 at Orlando Shakes

We can always be proud of our Shakespeare Company – especially when Artistic Director Jim Helsinger steps in as an actor or director.  It seems that Mr. Helsinger has taken 17 years to turn the John Updike NOVEL (entitled Gertrude and Claudius) of 2001 into a PLAY which is a PREQUEL to Hamlet. NOW, not only are we being treated to the WORLD PREMIERE of G & C, but it is being presented in repertory with Mr. Shakespeare’s amazing play from 1600. (That would be HAMLET).  Much of the enjoyment of G & C is the cunning plotting that ANSWERs questions we all have about HAMLET.  Two more triumphs from our Shakespeare Theatre – including a World Premiere that makes us “Orlando Proud.” Call 407.447.1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org 

Florida Cowboy Heritage Day is FREE
March 24 from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Polasek Museum

Channel your “inner cowboy” on March 24 when the Museum offers FREE admission on Florida Cowboy Heritage Day. Several of the artists from the Museum’s current exhibit will be present, and there will be “pop-up” painters from the Central Florida Watercolor Society, a poetry reading by the Orlando Area Poets Association, and several historical re-enactments by the Museum of Seminole County History & the Osceola County Historical Societies. It all takes place at the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens at 633 Osceola Avenue in Winter Park. Visit Polasek.org or call 407.960.4719

“Once Upon a Mattress” Presented by CFCArts Theatre
March 29 to April 14

This wonderfully funny (and tuneful) musical, composed by Mary Rodgers, follows the tale of a mute king, an evil queen, and a prince who just wants to find a little love – Now is that so wrong? In our classic tale, the nasty Queen Mother – Queen Agravia – does not think anyone worthy of her son or her kingdom so she decides NO ONE will be allowed to marry until her son does. (Side-note: The people of the court are getting fed up). Enter Princess Winifred who turns the kingdom upside down, and ….  CFCArts excels at this kind of musical silliness, so we expect a load of laughter to accompany the music in this fun musical.  Visit CFCArts.com or call 407.937.1800

Peter & the Wolf Family Weekend with the Orlando Ballet
March 30 at 11 am & 7:30 pm and March 31 at 2 pm

The Orlando Ballet presents this classic fairy tale, “Peter and the Wolf” as seen through original choreography by Artistic Director, Robert Hill. Prokofiev’s score brings each animal to life for children of all ages, introducing them to the instruments of the orchestra, while the work is ‘sophisticated enough’ for adults to enjoy. With tickets starting at 4 for $60, the Orlando Ballet’s second annual Family Weekend not only introduces the young ones to the joys of symphonic music, but now presents the beloved tale with “live animals” and               live Music provided by Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras at the Dr. Phillips Center.

Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Beat Bugs – A Musical Adventure (Inspired by the Beatles !!!)
NOW through April 7 at the Orlando Rep

Inspired by music made famous by The Beatles, "Beat Bugs: A Musical Adventure" hits the stage with five insect pals who explore the world and pick up life lessons along the way. This new musical, based on the Netflix animated series, introduces Walter, Buzz, Jay, Crick, and Kumi on a mission to save Strawberry Fields from being taken over by a stink bug. Some of the iconic songs that appear in the show include “All You Need Is Love,” “Come Together,” “Yellow Submarine,” “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds,” “Strawberry Fields Forever,” and “With A Little Help From My Friends.” Call 407.896.7365 or visit orlandorep.com

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators