Florida Culture for the Week of September 18, 2016 by Josh Garrick

NOW to Oct 9 – ‘West Side Story’ Thrills to Sold Out Opening Weekend at Orlando Shakes 
This contemporary Romeo and Juliet story finds idealistic young lovers Maria and Tony caught between rival street gangs. Their struggle to love and survive in a world filled with hatred and violence is one of the most heart-wrenching musical dramas of all time. With music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story enjoyed a SOLD-OUT Opening Weekend at Orlando Shakespeare. Even with an added performance, tickets are going fast. Please order yours today by visiting orlandoshakes.org

NOW to Oct 9 – ‘All Hands on Deck’ Brings (Bob) Hope to the Winter Park Playhouse 
Bob Hope’s World War II USO tours for the troops made the man a legend in his own time. Now Mr. Hope is the inspiration for a new all singing, all dancing musical written, directed and choreographed by Jody Madaras at the Winter Park Playhouse. In an evening of classic songs, dances and laughs, join those happy audiences with timeless hits, vaudevillian antics and rousing comedy for audiences of all ages. Call 407.645.0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org 

NOW to January 1 – Highlights from the James Cottrell and Joseph Lovett Collection
The Orlando Museum of Art continues its relationship with James Cottrell and Joseph Lovett, who have built an exceptional collection of contemporary art from prominent artists, including discovering new talent before it is critically proven and collecting an artist’s work in depth. Cottrell and Lovett began collecting in the late 1970s with acquisitions including works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, David Hockney, and Robert Mapplethorpe. Call 407.896.4231 or visit omart.org 

Sept 21 to 25 – Cirque du Soleil presents OVO Cirque du Soleil presents its newest touring show, OVO, never before performed in Florida. Thrilling more than 4.5 million people worldwide since the show premiered in 2009, OVO (‘egg’ in Portuguese), offers up a colorful ecosystem where insects work, eat, crawl, play, fight and look for love in non-stop energy and movement. The cast of OVO is comprised of 50 performing artists, from 12 countries, specializing in a variety of acrobatic acts. Visit cirquedusoleil.com; cirqueclub.com; AmwayCenter.com, or charge-by-phone at 800.745.3000. 

Sept 23 to Oct 1 – Contemporary Farce – The Foreigner – at Rollins College 
‘The Foreigner’ is a modern-day farce in which an Englishman, Charlie, arrives as a mysterious stranger at a bed and breakfast in rural Georgia. When Charlie pretends to only speak a foreign tongue, he overhears far too much—from the pregnancy of the minister’s fiancée to the sinister plans of a hillbilly. Winner of two Obie Awards, this staple of the American stage is a playful look at the fascination, fear, and falsehoods that separate us from each other. Written by Larry Shue, call 407.646.2145 or visit rollins.edu/annie 

Sept 23 to Oct. 23 – 1776 – the Founding ‘Mothers’ !!! at Mad Cow Theatre 
Move over Founding Fathers. The MOTHERS have arrived. Join John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and others as they hatch the ‘American Dream.’ Mad Cow presents 1776, a beloved Tony Award-winning musical celebrating the American Revolution… this time with a revolutionary new voice: ALL FEMALE. Call 407.297.8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com 

Sept 23 – The Bach Festival & The Rep Join Forces 
One of the region’s leading classical music organizations, comprised of a 100-plus voice, volunteer choir, joins forces with The REP to present an evening of music for the whole family. Members of the Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra offer a unique opportunity to introduce classical music to our children to help nurture a lifelong love of music and concert-going. Tickets for this Bach Festival concert are $20, $18, & $14. Call 407.896.7365 or visit orlandorep.com 

Sept 24 at 1 pm – Three-Dimensional Art Demonstration 
Artist Tom Abbott looks at ordinary (and not so ordinary) objects such as PVC pipe, string, paper, plexiglas, and styrofoam, and he gives these objects new life in the form of artistic creativity. Abbott will give a demonstration on creating 3-D art using recycled items at the Seminole County Library at 150 N. Palmetto Ave in Sanford. Admission is free and open to the public. Visit SanfordSeminoleArt.com or call 407.951.5607. 

Abstract, three-dimensional artwork by Tom Abbott

Sept 24 beginning at 7 pm – Winter Park Library’s Bash for Books 
Recognized as one of Florida's top libraries, the Winter Park Public Library provides a portal to the lives of characters created by our favorite authors from William Shakespeare to J.K. Rowling. This season’s annual fundraiser pays tribute to British Authors and will be held at the Murrah Civic Center. Attire is black tie optional with guests encouraged to add to the spirit of the evening with character-inspired costumes. Tickets at $125 include admission, food, craft beer, and cocktails to support the programs of the Library. Call 407.623.3300 or visit wppl.org/bash

Sept 24 at 8 pm – Grammy Winning Peter Cetera in Concert at Dr. Phillips Center
Peter Cetera, Grammy-winning singer/songwriter, has had TWO musical careers. From 1968 thru 1986 Peter was the singer, songwriter, and bass player for the legendary rock group Chicago, recording 18 of the most memorable albums of a generation. In 2016 Peter, with Chicago, was inducted into the Rock 'n’ Roll Hall of Fame. A solo artist since 1986, Peter has recorded 10 CDs, including his Academy Award nominated “The Glory of Love” from The Karate Kid II. Peter still enjoys performing his timeless hits, and touching the lives of people worldwide. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Sept 25 beginning at 10 am – Second Harvest Food Bank’s “Sunday Funday” Brunch 
With proceeds benefitting one of the best charitable ideas ever, funds raised at Second Harvest Food Bank’s “Sunday Funday” Brunch support the Culinary Training Program,’ which provides the unemployed with skills to obtain a position in the food service industry. Guests enjoy an all-you-can-eat brunch – with mimosas or Bloody Marys – as Olive Garden chefs, including Executive Chef Jim Nuetzi, present pastas and salads, a carving station, and traditional brunch fare. The event also benefits the Orlando Gay Chorus with a piano bar in the atrium and culminating in a‘main-stage’ show during the Brunch. The cost is $39.95 per person. Call 407.514.1070 or visit SundayFundayBrunch.org

Sept 25 to October 1 – ‘Banned Books Week’ at the Library 
An annual event celebrating the freedom to read, ‘Banned Books Week’ brings our attention to our freedom of access to information. BBW brings together the entire book community; writers, librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types, in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas … even those considered unpopular. ‘Kickoff’ - Sept 25 at 2 pm at Orlando Public Library; BBW Film Fest daily at 11 am in Public Library Albertson Room. Visit www.ocls.info for complete schedule.

Sept 27 at 6 pm -- Speaker Series Event – ‘Segregated Settlements & Model Towns’
Dr. Scot French, Assoc. Professor of History at UCF, will speak about “The Politics of Race and Class in the Founding of Maitland, Eatonville, and Winter Park 1875-1893” at the Winter Park Community Center at 721 W. New England Ave. Dr. French will focus on the role of white capitalist-philanthropists Lewis Lawrence and Loring Chase in developing plans for segregated settlements in Eatonville and Hannibal Square. A reception, free and open to the public, will follow the program at the Heritage Center across the street. No reservations necessary. 

October 1 at 7 pm – “An Art Exhibit that Began in Athens in 480 BC” 
Your Arts Writer – Josh Garrick – returns to the Henao Center with a Free and open to the Public Opening on October 1. The emphasis continues on Classical Greece, but this year is dedicated to the esteemed European Curator – Iris Kritikou – who curated my exhibit at the Natl Archaeological Museum of Greece, that ‘opened’ the Museum to foreign and/or contemporary Artists. The exhibit will also show the work of 12 sculptors whose work ‘speaks’ to the Classical era, and I will include a section in which my work exemplifies how our Founding Fathers chose to model Washington DC on Ancient Athens. Running through November 20, the Henao Center is at 5601 N. Edgewater Drive in Orlando. Call 407.272.0317 or visit Henaocenter.com. 

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators