Florida Culture for the Week of May 19 By Josh Garrick

FINAL WEEK through May 25 – Freckleface Strawberry – The Musical

Closing out Orlando Rep’s season of theater for young audiences is Freckleface  Strawberry - The Musical. Based on a children’s picture book, Freckleface Strawberry  will do anything to get rid of her freckles – from scrubbing to wearing a ski mask to school. With the help of lovable schoolmates (and a kooky teacher), Freckleface learns that everyone is different – and that’s what makes everyone special.  Now in its final week, visit orlandorep.com or call 407.896.7365

NOW through May 27 – The 23rd Annual Orlando International Fringe Festival

The wacky, weird, and wonderful Festival of plays called Fringe will present 100 performance groups in Fringe 2014. The oldest, non-juried festival in the United States, the Orlando International Fringe Festival’s ‘philosophy’ is to be 100% uncensored, 100% non-juried, and 100% accessible. This celebration offers uncensored performances, an outdoor stage, Visual Fringe (fine Art) and Kids Fringe! Visit orlandofringe.org for a complete schedule.

Now to Sept 7 – Curious George ‘Live’ at the Orlando Science Center

The insatiable curiosity of Curious George – the little monkey who has captured the hearts of millions of children and adults for 65 years – is at the Orlando Science Center in the exhibit, Curious George: Let’s Get Curious! Leading young visitors on a fun and meaningful math, science and engineering-based adventure, the exhibit will be on display through September 7.  Through hands-on, interactive play, children design and construct buildings, join George on his rocket-ship, pose for pictures, and climb a fire escape like a fireman. Call 407.514.2000 or visit osc.org

May 22 – Winter Park Political Update Luncheon

The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce invites Central Floridians to a first-of-its-kind opportunity to hear from both the Florida Senate president-designate and the Florida House of Representatives speaker-designate in a conversation facilitated by Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell. Set for Thursday May 22, beginning at 11:30 am, the luncheon will be held at the Rachel D. Murrah Civic Center at 1050 W. Morse Boulevard in Winter Park. Call Ashley Ringler at 407-644-8281, or email aringler[at]winterpark.org

May 22 to June 2 – Breakthrough Theatre presents Children's Letters to God

Based on the international best-selling book by Stuart Hample and Eric Marshall, Children's Letters To God is a musical that follows the lives of young people as they voice beliefs, desires, and questions as expressed by children. The family-oriented musical will be presented by Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park from May 22 to June 2. Sixteen songs and scenes are based on actual letters that explore timeless issues. Not specifically religious in nature, the musical is about kids’ questions -- some funny, some serious, and some surprising. For reservations, call 407-920-4034.

May 23 to 25 – 62nd Annual Florida Folk Festival

Since 1953, folk artists have come together for one of the oldest state folk festivals in America.  The 62nd Annual Florida Folk Festival will feature performances by more than 150 groups celebrating Florida’s diverse cultural heritage. More than 300 performances by national recording artists and musicians of swing, folk, blues, gospel, country, Latin, jazz, bluegrass, Caribbean and zydeco music will take place at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park on Memorial Day Weekend in White Springs, on the banks of the Suwannee River. Gates open daily at 8 am. Call 877-569-7767 or visit FloridaFolkFestival.com

May 23 – CFCArts Presents A Gospel Celebration with The Pine Hills Singers

With selections from Brooklyn Tabernacle, Georgia Mass Choir, Israel Houghton and more, Central Florida Community Arts (CFCArts) will present A Gospel Celebration with The Pine Hills Singers. The celebration, presented jointly by CFCArts and the Pine Hills Performing Arts Center, will bring the message of joy, inspiration, and unity among all people through gospel and spiritual music. The Celebration will be presented at 7:30 pm on May 23 at Pine Hills Performing Arts Center, at 5600 W Colonial Drive in Orlando. Purchase tickets online at cfcarts.com

 Pine Hills Singers

May 29 to June 1 –Davis Gaines’ Double Standards – An Intimate Cabaret

Orlando’s home-grown Broadway Star Davis Gaines will take the stage at The Abbey to present his one-man cabaret called Double Standards. The new show offers fresh and unexpected takes on familiar standards from the Great American Songbook. Best known for his lead role on Broadway in The Phantom of the Opera, where he starred in more than 2,000 performances, Gaines will perform on May 29 at 8 pm; May 30 at 7 and 10 pm; and June 1 at 3 and 7 pm. Tickets are on sale at TicketWeb.com and at AbbeyOrlando.com

Beneficent Fund-Raiser Results:

United Way’s 22nd Annual Chef’s Gala

Twenty-three Top Chefs from Central Florida’s finest restaurants collaborated for the region’s premier food and wine pairing event on May 10 at Epcot World Showplace. 95 cents of every dollar raised benefits United Way partner agencies providing services to the 1 in 5 who are in need in the community. The Chef’s Gala raised $300,000 to benefit local nonprofit programs that support education, income, health and basic needs for thousands of Central Floridians. Visit hfuw.org or call 407-835-0900.

Central Florida’s Top Chefs worked their magic for Heart of Florida United Way to raise $300,000 at the 22nd Annual Chef’s Gala

The Foundation for Orange County Public Schools

Serving more than 187,000 students and 13,000 teachers in 184 schools throughout Orange County, the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools focuses community resources on the success of students and teachers in our community. The Foundation raised more than $40,000 as a result of its 3rd Orange County’s Top Talent Competition held on May 10 at the Orange County Convention Center. The county-wide talent show featured 18 acts including singers, dancers, and musicians by OCPS students and staff. The 1st place winner, Khamryn Elise Hammonds of Ocoee Middle School, sang Tattooed Heart. Visit foundationforocps.org or call 407-317-3261.

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators