Florida Culture for the Week of November 24 By Josh Garrick

Now through Dec 28 – A Christmas Story at Orlando Rep

A Christmas Story, The Musical is the classic account of Ralphie Parker’s hilarious quest to ensure that the most perfect gift ends up under his Christmas tree – a Red Ryder Carbine-Action BB Gun! All the cherished moments are here – the Old Man’s leg lamp, the tongue-on-a-frozen-flagpole, the bunny suit, and the Santa slide for us to enjoy in this Tony-nominated Best Musical. Presented through December 28 at Orlando Rep, call 407.896.7365 or visit orlandorep.com.

Nov 25 to April 12 – Large Birds of Florida: The Art of John Costin

In the Polasek Museum’s new exhibit, The Art of John Costin exhibits his intricate artwork – a Master’s combination of copperplate etching, printmaking, and hand-painting. Like Audubon before him, this resident of Florida visually captures the majestic beauty of the diverse species of birds native to Florida. The exhibit includes Costin’s large-scale prints as well as his personal collection of Audubon prints from the late 19th Century. The Polasek Museum is at 633 Osceola Avenue in Winter Park. Call 407.647.6294 or visit Polasek.org

Nov 29 – Home for the Holidays with the Orlando Philharmonic

The Orlando Philharmonic continues a beloved holiday tradition with Maestro Albert George Schram – and special guests – in a program of carols and Holiday favorites. Featuring the Holiday Singers and children of the Florida Opera Theatre Youth Program, the filled-with-cheer Home for the Holidays is the perfect orchestral program to begin your family’s Holiday Season. Presented November 29 at 2 pm & 8 pm at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, visit Orlandophil.org or call 407.770.0071

Nov 29 – Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker

In this adaptation of the popular classical ballet, Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker features musical scores by Tchaikovsky AND Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn and Donald Byrd. The pageantry of The Nutcracker is there with dazzling costumes and dance performed in ballet, stepping, jazz, modern, swing, gospel and hip hop. The whole family will ‘travel with’ Clare and her friends the Chocolate Nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy to the Kingdom of Sweets.  Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Nov 30 – Free Performance of Handel’s Messiah by The Messiah Choral Society

The 42nd annual performance of Handel’s Messiah will usher in the Holiday Season on Sunday, November 30 at 3 pm at the Bob Carr PAC in a FREE performance as a gift to the Central Florida community. Conducted by Dr. John Sinclair, the concert features ALL the familiar ‘master-moments’ including the ever-popular Hallelujah Chorus performed by a 120 member choir, professional soloists and orchestra. The Society will continue its support of the Second Harvest Food Bank by requesting concert attendees bring donations of food items to the performance. Visit messiahchoralsociety.org or call 321-285-6382

Nov 30 at 4 pm – FREE Holiday Pops with the Orlando Philharmonic

The City of Winter Park invites us to celebrate the holiday season as the Orlando Philharmonic presents its annual Holiday Pops Concert in Winter Park’s Central Park. The Philharmonic will present a FREE program of holiday favorites for all ages with audience members encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to re-stock the pantries at Second Harvest Food Bank. Bring a blanket and a picnic and enjoy a program of holiday favorites that will be sure to put everyone in the spirit of the season. Visit orlandophil.org

Dec 2 -- Celebrate the Holidays at Casa Feliz

The 6th annual Holiday Open House – Christmas at the Casa – will take place December 2 beginning at 6 pm. Sponsored by a grant from Commerce National Bank in Winter Park, guests may have photos taken with Santa, enjoy hot cocoa and cookies, admire the Christmas decorations at Casa Feliz, and enjoy a quartet of Dickensian Carolers. There is no charge to attend Christmas at the Casa, but a donation of $2 per person is suggested. Professional Santa portraits are available for $10. Call 407.628.8196, or visit casafeliz.us

Dec 2 to 7 – Art Miami, CONTEXT, and Aqua Art Miami

As the international art world descends upon Miami, the ‘state of the art market’ may be gauged by Art Miami, CONTEXT, and the Aqua Art Fairs.  Art Miami, in its 25th year, is the city’s original contemporary art fair, this year showcasing 130 art galleries from 16 countries. CONTEXT is dedicated to the development of emerging and mid-career artists, showing 80 international galleries this year, and Aqua Art Miami, in its 10th year, is recognized for its international exhibitors set in a classic Art Deco hotel. Aqua will feature 46 international exhibitors. Visit art-miami.com

Dec 3 – Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer’s State of Downtown Address

After a life-changing-year for all Central Floridians, Mayor Buddy Dyer will share the visioning process for the continued re-vitalization of Orlando in his Address set for December 3 at 3 pm at the Church Street Exchange Building. The Speech is the annual fund-raiser for the Downtown Orlando Partnership (DOP). The cost is $40 or $50. Register online at doporlando.com and/or visit cityoforlando.net

Dec 3 to 28 – Get Your “Bah Humbug” at Orlando Shakes

Considering the phenomenal success of their full-length Nicholas Nickleby (last season), expectations for Orlando Shakes’ new production of A Christmas Carol are – magical. Written by Artistic Director Jim Helsinger, nine actors will bring Charles Dickens’ classic to life in a new production featuring the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Call 407.447.1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org

Dec 4 – The 36th Magical Christmas in the Park

All the Holiday Season is packed into two hours beginning on December 4 at 6:15 pm in Winter Park’s Central Park. This highly-anticipated Free event, presented this year by the Morse Museum and the City of Winter Park, includes love, family, sharing, good cheer, Christmas music by the Bach Festival Choir, and the magical experience of lighting nine of the priceless Tiffany windows for which the Museum is renowned. This highly recommended event retains its home-town feeling as offered by the late Hugh and Jeannette McKean who first shared Christmas in the Park in 1979. Visit morsemuseum.org

The Bach Festival Choir, flanked by two Tiffany windows from the Morse Museum’s collection, performing Christmas in the Park

Dec 4 – AFFORDABLE ART at Orlando Museum of Art’s First Thursday

The Orlando Museum of Art’s First Thursdays are always fun, but my personal favorite is OMART’s December exhibit with the annual theme of AFFORDABLE ART.  It’s a much appreciated art-exhibit-and-party-as-promo to get us to consider GIVING original Art as a gift this Holiday Season.  On December 4 each piece of original Art, created by Central Florida Artists, is offered under $200. Join us as we support our local Artists (and find some serious Art bargains). Visit omart.org or call 407 896 4231 x260

Dec 4 to 15 – The Phantom ‘Haunts’ our NEW Perf Arts Center

Even without his usual “notes of a most amiable nature,” The Phantom of the Opera couldn’t wait to ‘haunt’ our NEW Performing Arts Center. Taking over the Center from December 4 to 15, the Phantom is up to his old tricks – threatening our chandeliers – in the touring production that Andrew Lloyd Weber called the best version yet. Read that as ‘spookiest ever’ as this most successful Musical in history arrives with new special effects that didn’t even exist when the Musical first opened in 1986. Visit Orlando.broadway.com/tickets or call 800.448.6322

Dec 5 to Jan 4 – James Joyce's The Dead at Mad Cow

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a ghost story, so why not ‘celebrate’ the Holiday Season with James Joyce’s The Dead at Mad Cow Theatre from December 5 to January 4.  Joyce's story is about a set of sisters gathered with family and friends at a Christmas party in turn-of-the-century Ireland. The Tony-Award nominated score, dances and festivities are pure Irish, but the themes, of love, loss, joy, and fear are universal. Call 407.297.8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com

Dec 5 to 7 – Marvel Super-Heroes Save the Amway Arena

OK, LISTEN UP -- The fate of the universe depends on Marvel fans coming together from December 5 to 7 at the Amway Arena for Marvel Universe LIVE!  In this brand-new live show Marvel Super Heroes Spider-Man, the Avengers, Iron Man, Hulk and more, fight off the universe’s most dastardly villains. Hailed as the most technically advanced live show ever, the special effects, pyrotechnics, aerial stunts, martial arts, and motorcycles offer Marvel fans of all ages a ‘monumental’ performance. Visit MarvelUniverseLive.com

Dec 5 to 21 – Christmas by Committee – A Musical in Winter Garden

Christmas by Committee is an original, World-Premiere musical written and directed by Rob Winn Anderson for the Garden Theater in Winter Garden. With old-fashioned “Let’s put on a show” energy, Amy plans to pull the annual Village Christmas show out of its slump. With spunk and holiday cheer, Amy must convince the town’s surly ‘Christmas Committee’ that the show is about more than personal agendas. Filled with song, dance and laughs, our Holiday Heroine comes to the rescue. Call 407.877.4736 or visit gardentheatre.org

Dec 6 -- MAKULU: A Contemporary African Ballet

In a fusion of traditional African dance with contemporary ballet and modern dance, the Center for Contemporary Dance presents MAKULU on December 6 at 7 pm. The story of a mother wildebeest’s journey to reunite with her herd, MAKULU celebrates the magic of love and family. This spirited performance for the entire family offers the joy and exuberance of African dance in performance at Trinity Prep in Winter Park. Call 407.695.8366 or visit thecenterfordance.org

Dec 6 – Chris Lane at House of Blues

Hot country newcomer Chris Lane opens for Jerrod Niemann on the Get Your Buzz Back Tour at the House of Blues on December 6 at 7 pm. Lane’s energy-packed set “delivers a dirt-road anthem with panache” (Music Row).  Lane says, “I want to make sure they have the time of their life, ‘cause I’m up there having mine.” Already a teen ‘heart-throb,’ Lane has been selling out club dates across North Carolina. The House of Blues is at Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista. Visit IAmChrisLane.com or houseofblues.com/Orlando
 

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators