Florida Culture for the Week of January 19, 2015 by Josh Garrick

Jan 20 – Former US Ambassador Andrew Young at Rollins College

The Winter Park Institute brings renowned speakers to Rollins College offering talks that are free and open to the Public. The Institute will present Andrew Young – A Continuing Legacy on January 20 at 7:30 pm in the Knowles Memorial Chapel. Former Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. Young will share his personal Civil Rights legacy as part of a community series commemorating the Civil Rights Act’s 50th anniversary. Call 407.691.1995 or visit winterparkinstitute.org

Jan 20 -- 50 Shades! The Musical Parody Comes to Orlando

The New York Times said, “50 Shades! delivers the goods!" so don’t even try to restrain yourself – SUBMIT to 50 Shades! The Musical Parody at Plaza Live in Orlando on January 20 at 8 pm. The sexy send-up of the best-selling novel has audiences laughing and dancing in the aisles, and now it’s Orlando’s turn to experience the show that has audiences ‘begging for more.’ Call 877.435.9849 or visit plazaliveorlando.com.

Jan 21 – Stained Glass in Free Lecture at Morse Museum

We’re invited to learn more about the collection at the Morse Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of works by artist/designer Louis Comfort Tiffany, in a series of Free lectures by recognized scholars of late-19th and early-20th century decorative art. The first, on January 21 at 2:30 pm, will feature Donald Samick, President of J. & R. Lamb Studios in a talk entitled Stained Glass of the J. & R. Lamb Studios and Its Contemporaries of the 20th Century. A reception will follow. Call 407.645.5311 or visit morsemuseum.org

January 21 to Mar 8 – To Kill a Mockingbird at Orlando Shakes

In this drama, told through the eyes of the six-year-old daughter of small-town lawyer Atticus Finch, the family is caught up in a tug of war between justice and racism. Set in the Depression-era South, the play includes racism and rape, but the conclusion shows how hatred can be tempered with courage and compassion. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird continues to inspire. Presented at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater through March 8, call 407.447.1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org  

Jan 22 – The 2015 Ovations Awards Ceremony

Each year the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, Park Avenue Merchants Association and Winter Park/Maitland Observer celebrate exemplary local businesses and organizations through the Ovations Awards. Community members provide votes and input on the 'best of' dining, shopping, business services, arts, culture and health via an online poll. This year the awards will be presented on January 22 beginning at 5:30 pm at the Winter Park Welcome Center at 151 West Lyman Avenue in Winter Park. Call 407.644.8281 or visit winterpark.org

Jan 22 to Feb 2 – The Breakthrough Theatre Presents Best of Broadway Revue

It’s become an annual event for the Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park to present a Best of Broadway Revue, and this year the featured songs will come from Broadway of 1920 to 1974. That means the song selections will pay tribute to ALL of the great Broadway songwriters from the Gershwins (Show Boat and Porgy & Bess) to Sondheim (Company and Into the Woods). Performers will include Artistic Director Wade Hair and Music Director Justin Scarlat. Call 407.920.4034 or visit breakthroughtheatre.com

Jan 23 to 25 – Swan Lake by the Orlando Ballet

The Orlando Ballet launches its first season at the NEW Dr. Phillips Center with what many consider to be the greatest of all classical ballets – Swan Lake. Set to Tchaikovsky’s brilliant music, and based on the folk-tale of a young princess transformed into a swan by a vengeful sorcerer, this production will have two special additions to the company. Joseph Gatti and Adiarys Almeida will perform as guest artists for the January 23rd performance and the January 25th matinee. Gatti and Almeida will dance as the Prince and the Swan Queen. Call 407.426.1739 or visit orlandoballet.org

Jan 23 to Feb 22 – The Explorers Club at Mad Cow Theatre

Shocking! What IS this world coming to??? The place is Victorian London (1879), the home of all that is proper in this world, and the venerable Explorers Club faces a crisis. A WOMAN has applied for membership.  Harrumph and Humbug…. Membership extended to a WOMAN, indeed. Benjamin, bring me the Scotch. This silly business will ALL be dealt with at the curiously named Mad Cow Theatre from January 23 to February 22. Call 407.297.8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com

Explorers Club author Nell Benjamin

Jan 23 to June 7 – Dr. Dale Kennington to Exhibit at the Mennello Museum

The Mennello Museum will open its yearlong Storytellers of the South: Voices of Women series of exhibits with Real Lives by Dale Kennington. Kennington spent her life in Alabama, living through momentous periods of American history, embracing the canvas as her means of emotional expression. She grew in reputation as a children’s portrait painter, but suspended that business to focus on her studio work, and has been named a Master Artist by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism. Call 407.246.4278 or visit mennellomuseum.com

Pillars, oil on canvas, 2000

The Bride Chose Red and Whimsy, oil on canvas, 2000
 

Jan 24 & 25 – The Annual Manatee Festival

Along with the food and Manatee Viewing, the creators of the Manatee Festival at Blue Spring State Park are intent on offering ‘entertainment for the whole family.’ There will be over 100 Arts & Crafts booths; Face Painting; Children's Fingerprinting; SPCA’s Adopt-A-Pet; Central FL Zoo’s Animal Ambassadors; the Disconnected K9's Frisbee Dogs; Rock Wall Climbing; US Army Obstacle Course; and a Balloon Man Shooting Gallery. The Festival is a Fund-Raiser with proceeds benefitting Blue Spring State Park and educational scholarships. Admission: Adults - $8; Children Ages 4 to 10 - $2.  Visit themanateefestival.com

Jan 26 to Feb 22 – The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg

2015 is the 150th anniversary of the conclusion of the Civil War with organizations across the country offering works that recognize the War’s continuing impact. The REP will host a series of events anchored by the play The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg from January 26 to February 22. In the play, a 12-year-old boy becomes a hero by saving his older brother at the Battle of Gettysburg. Then he helps lead the Union to victory! It’s true (or mostly true), because Homer will tell any tale to save his brother. Call 407.896.7365 or visit orlandorep.com

Jan 27 to Feb 1 – Disney’s Newsies in the NEW Disney Theater at Dr. Phillips

They delivered the papers, until they made headlines… Direct from Broadway comes Newsies, the smash-hit Disney musical that won the 2012 Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Choreography. Based on true events, Newsies tells the story of a band of underdogs who become heroes by standing up to the most powerful men in New York in a tale about fighting for what’s right. Presented at the Dr. Phillips Center from January 27 to Feb 1, call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Jan 29 to Feb 8 – Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome – to CABARET at The Abbey

However you first experienced Cabaret – in a school production, on Broadway or in the 1972 film that made Liza a super-star, the ground-breaking music by Kander and Ebb reminds us of the darkness of 1931 Berlin as the Nazis began their rise to power. Based on the sexual abandon of the Kit Kat Klub and the ‘relationship’ between performer Sally Bowles and writer Cliff Bradshaw, this new production features Blue Star as Sally, Griffith Whitehurst as the Emcee, and Robert Stack as Cliff. Cabaret is produced by Aaron Safer with direction by Kenny Howard. Tickets are $40, but there are $70 tickets that include an “immersive pre-show prologue.” Visit AbbeyOrlando.com

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators