“Josh Recommends” for January 24, 2020 by Josh Garrick 

Orlando Native MICHAEL SCOTT back in his role as GENIE in ALADDIN
NOW to Feb 9 at Dr. Phillips Center 
“Aladdin,”is the hit musical based on the Academy Award-winning animated film that opened on Broadway in 2014 … AND has grossed over $1 billion since that Night!! I am very excited to report that Orlando native Michael James SCOTT, (who played the Genie on Broadway and in London), will “come home” to play the role in Orlando. A graduate of Dr. Phillips H.S, Scott has appeared in 8 Broadway productions. That gives an already “HIGHLY RECOMMENDED” show several more reasons to get your tickets NOW. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org 

“Living Color: The Art of the Highwaymen” Opening Reception
Jan 24 beginning at 6:30 pm at the Orlando Museum of Art 
The “Highwaymen” are a group of African-American Artists celebrated for their lush paintings of Florida’s natural environment. Beginning in the 1950s, these self-taught artists depicted the state’s scenic coastline and ‘back-country’ in dazzling colors and tones. Tropical sunsets, palm trees, herons, and sunlit lakes are iconic images of Florida thanks to these paintings. In postwar Florida these ‘affordable’ paintings found an enthusiastic clientele while being over-looked by the “establishment museums.” It was their practice of selling their paintings by the side of the road from which the name “Highwaymen” came to be. Call 407.896.4231 or visit omart.org 

Painting by James Gibson  
BEEHIVE -- The 60's Musical at the Winter Park Playhouse 
Jan 24 to Feb 22 -- Previews: January 23 & 24
Created by Larry Gallagher and told from the perspective of six women who came of age in the 1960s, this Off-Broadway musical recalls the days of miniskirts, transistor radios and flower power! Celebrating iconic female singers like Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Connie Francis and Lulu, the show features over 30 of the most memorable songs of the era including “My Boyfriend’s Back,” “Where the Boys Are,” “One Fine Day, and many more! For tickets call 407.645.0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org 

“Violet” at the Theater in Winter Garden 
Jan 24 to Feb 9 
This unique folk-musical, based on “The Ugliest Pilgrim” by Doris Betts, is about a young lady who once had a hatchet mark on her face! “Violet” spends a decade trying to find a doctor to heal her disfigurement, traveling cross-country with the hope of being healed. Along the way her real journey is to discover the meaning of true beauty. This folk musical contains mature themes. At the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, call 407.877.4736 or visit gardentheatre.org 

“Tchaikovsky’s Greatest Hits” by the Siberian State Symphony Orchestra
Jan 25 at 8 pm at the Bob Carr Theatre 
The Siberian State Symphony Orchestra will perform several of Tchaikovsky’s greatest “hits” beginning with the uber-romantic “Romeo and Juliet Overture. Orlando will then be the ONLY city on their tour in which the Orchestra performs TWO concerti -- the No. 1, with those meltingly thunderous opening chords, and Violin Concerto in D Major, one of the greatest violin concertos ever written. This once in a lifetime, SUPER-HIGHLY RECOMMENDED concert includes one of Russia’s great orchestras performing the “greatest hits” of Russia’s greatest composer. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

“Songs From a Whole New World” featuring the Cast of ALADDIN 
Jan 27 at 8 pm at the Mezz on S. Eola Drive 
Those wonderful singers and dancers from DISNEY’S ALADDIN have a night off on Monday, Jan 27, and they are using that night to offer up their amazing talents to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Performing their own original works, this unique cabaret experience allows the company to step out of their roles on stage, and showcase their creativity and talent in a whole new way while helping to fund needed services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses. BRAVO and HIGHLY RECOMMENED. Call 407.704.6268 visit broadwaycares.org

Anne of Green Gables at Orlando Repertory 
Jan 27 to Feb 23 
This beautiful story, based on the beloved novel of an orphaned girl who finds not only a home, but a family, is a faithful dramatization of the beloved classic. Marilla and her brother request an orphan boy to help work their farm, but they are mistakenly sent the high-spirited red-head named Anne Shirley. Trials and tribulations come and pass, but Marilla and Matthew admit Anne is the best thing that ever happened to them … AND Anne comes to understand she is a loved and a worthwhile person. Visit orlandrep.com or call 407.896.7365x1 

“The Lion in Winter” at CFCArts Theater 
NOW to Feb 2
The Christmas gathering in the play “The Lion in Winter” by James Goldman is dysfunctional to the extreme. Forget all the good feelings you may have from two weeks ago. The Christmas of 1183, in Chinon, France, has more than your typical family squabbles, especially with the King’s three sons all vying for the throne. For an Xmas Holiday full of lies and treachery, this is the play for you. Add a cast of local “stars,” and visit CFCArts.com or call 407.937.1800 

“Men on Boats” at Mad Cow Theatre 
NOW to Feb 9
Ten explorers. Four boats. One GRAND Canyon. 150 years ago. “Men on Boats” is a semi-historical re-telling of the 1869 Powell expedition when one-armed Captain John Wesley Powell and a crew of amazingly loyal volunteers charted the course of the Colorado River. Jaclyn Backhaus's celebrated play questions the multi-layered myths of manifest destiny through gender-swapped colonial adventuring. Call 407-297-8788 ext 1 or visit madcowtheatre.com 

“Relics, Reliquaries & Objects of Desire”
Final Week -- NOW to Jan 28
The exhibit currently showing at the South Florida State College Museum of Florida Art at 600 West College Drive in Avon Park, Florida includes the work of nine Florida Artists who are exploring the “function, symbolism and power” of relics. I’m happy to be ONE of those artists – in this case showing 9 of my LARGEST works in a beautiful college Gallery setting. Call 863.784.7240 or visit mofac.org 

“Nature of the Game” at Leu Gardens 
Now to April 5
Wanna play a game? Grab the kids and head over to the new interactive exhibit at Leu gardens --“Nature of the Game.” This exhibit, created by Iowa State University’s Reinaldo Correa, uses childhood games to “discover the wonders of nature.” Play with giant chess pieces, challenge a friend to a life-size Connect4 with a twist. There are scavenger hunts inspired by I-Spy, a new form of Kerplunk and games for all ages. Admission included with garden ticket: $10 adult & $5 child. Visit LeuGardens.com 

The Three MUSKETEERS, from the novel by Alexandre Dumas
February 5 - March 22
Adapted from the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas, this witty and action-packed swashbuckler follows young d’Artagnan and his band of Musketeers as they fight to protect the ones they love from the evil Cardinal Richelieu. A story of double crossings, kidnappings, and carefully guarded secrets, complete with lavish sword fights and sweeping romance, set in a time when love and honor ruled the world. Visit orlandoshakes.org or call 407.447.1700 x1

FAVO’s 100th Art Show !!!!!
Feb 7 from 5 pm to 9 pm 
Showing that “doing GOOD leads to a Karmic return of GOOD,” I’m excited to report that the First Friday Show of Feb 7 will celebrate FAVO’s 100th art show. It was a brilliant idea – for a CHURCH – to turn an abandoned motel into a bee-hive of artist studios, and I send CONGRATULATIONS from ALL of Central Florida’s Artist Community to Will Benton who has made this adventure … work. With LIVE Music by Stevie Hedrick, food trucks, a ‘kids creative table,’ and several of our favorite Artists including Crystal Dombrosky, Monte Olinger, Denisse Berlingeri, Cheri Riechers, Mimi Hwang, Ken Austin and so many more, this FREE event is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 

GIRL of the GOLDEN WEST with Opera/Orlando 
Feb 7 at 7:30 pm and Feb 9 at 2 pm 
Sung in English and presented in the Wild West atmosphere of the Cheyenne Saloon and Ceviche Ballroom. I LOVE the way our “new” Opera Company continues to re-invent itself AND the way in which Opera is presented. Just think – an original “Golden West” atmosphere – with great singers. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org 

CINDERELLA by the Orlando Ballet 
Feb 14 to 16 
The whole Orlando Ballet Company is feeling like Cinderella these days having opened their “dream facility” just one week ago. How fitting to celebrate the idea that “DREAMS really do come true” than with CINDERELLA, presented by the Orlando Ballet. You’ll have a Ball (wink) with the notorious Stepsisters and the charming Fairy Godmother, (as a pumpkin turns into a carriage right before your eyes!) With choreography by Victoria Morgan, Prokofiev’s haunting score, and LIVE music provided by the Orlando Philharmonic, this production is supported by the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation. Visit orlandoballet.org or call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org 

Dancer: Kate-Lynn Robichaux; Photography by Michael Cairns
 

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators