Florida Culture to Welcome in 2016 by Josh Garrick

NOW to Jan 23 -- EXTENDED – History-Making Art Exhibit at Henao Center Gallery
Two years ago I had the unprecedented honor of making history as the ‘first non-Greek Artist in the World’ to exhibit in the National Archaeological Museum of Greece – one of the ‘Top Ten’ Museums in the world. That exhibit has returned from a two-year-tour of Europe to open the beautiful new Henao Contemporary Center in Orlando, and has now been extended through January 23. Please consider this a personal invitation to visit the exhibit in its new home. Call 407.522.3906 or visit henaocenter.com

Jan 5 to 10 – The Sound of Music at the Dr. Phillips Center 
50 years after the film version of this musical made it one of the most beloved musicals of all time, a brand new production of The Sound of Music is coming to the Dr. Phillips Center. Directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien, the musical story of Maria and the Von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with its Tony, Grammy, and Academy Award winning score. Audiences in Central Florida will be among the first to see this all new production. Call 800.448.6322 or visit OrlandoBroadway.com 

Jan 5 to June 5 – Behind Closed Doors: The Collection Revisited
The Maitland Historical Society was founded in 1970 as a result of a Women’s Club initiative to preserve Maitland’s history. Early members of the Society collected stories and artifacts from local pioneer families and in 1977, the Maitland Historical Museum opened its doors. As the Society grew, it opened three additional museums to better serve its goal of bringing Florida history to life. See some of the rarely displayed pieces when the A&H’s Maitland Historical Museum opens an exhibit filled with historical treasures. Call 407.539.2181 or visit ArtandHistory.org 

Jan 6 to Feb 7 – ‘Dancing Lessons’ at Orlando Shakespeare
When a socially awkward professor is forced to attend an event with dancing, he seeks an injured Broadway performer for help. As their relationship grows, both loners are caught off guard by the discoveries they make about one another. Presented at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Mark St. Germain’s very contemporary odd couple tells a love story mixed with the reality of human disabilities. Note: Dancing Lessons contains strong adult language. Call 407.447.1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org 

Jan 6 to 10 – The Disney Marathon – 26.2 Magical Miles 
The Disney Marathon is the most magical 26.2 miles on Earth. The course takes runners through all four Disney World Theme Parks, starting at Epcot, continuing on to the Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and the Hollywood Studios before a thrilling finish with an all-new Mickey finisher medal. The weekend will also offer a variety of races and training sessions. Registration is open; visit rundisney.com/disneyworld-marathon

Jan 7 to Dec 31 – Zora Neale Hurston at 125: A Yearlong Celebration 
The most significant interpreter of Southern, African-American culture, Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) is the dominant female voice of the Harlem Renaissance era. In her works, she celebrates her hometown, Eatonville, as representative of the dignity and beauty of rural African-American life. A consummate folklorist and anthropologist, Hurston’s works educated the public about Eatonville’s cultural significance. “Zora Neale Hurston 125” is a special opportunity to remind a national audience of the impact of her writings. Call 407.647.3307 or visit zorafestival.org 

Jan 8 at 7 pm – The Toronto Symphony at Daytona Beach 
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canada’s foremost symphonic ensemble, celebrates its 94th season in 2016. Five million Canadians tune in to concert broadcasts on CBC Radio each year while the Orchestra’s international presence, built by a history of touring, is enhanced by programs such as the one to be presented at the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona. Peter Oundjian conducts and Jan Lisiecki is the piano soloist in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto, No. 4.  The program concludes with Rimsky-Korsakov’s brilliantly sensual Scheherazade. Call 386.671.3460 or visit PeabodyDaytona.com

Jan 9 at 8 pm – (Ballet) Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow
The jewel of Dance Galas returns for a spectacular evening featuring star dancers from the world’s best companies and the award-winning ‘wunderkinds’ from the Youth America Grand Prix, the world’s largest international student ballet competition. Included in this collection of exceptional ballet talent, see Orlando’s own Austen Acevedo – a true Star of Tomorrow as he shares the stage with a glittering array of Ballet Stars of Today. At the Straz Center in Tampa, Florida, call 813.229.7827 or visit strazcenter.org

Jan 9 at 8 pm – ‘Beatlemania Now’ at the Bob Carr Theater 
The Beatles changed the world in the 60’s and now we can ‘flashback’ to that historic time of space exploration, protests in the streets, the war in Vietnam, ‘Flower Power,’ and Peace and Love as ‘Beatlemania Now’ performs incredible note-for-note renditions of Beatles' classics from throughout their career. In performance at the Bob Carr Theatre on January 9, call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Jan 14 at 8 pm – Paul Anka
Born in 1941 into a tight-knit Canadian family, Paul Anka began his life in music in the church choir. By 13 he had his own vocal group, and soon won a trip to New York by collecting soup can labels. In 1956, he convinced his parents to let him travel to Los Angeles, and by 1957, he scored a meeting with Paramount Records. The enormous success of ‘Diana’ – his first number one hit – made him a star. “They are all autobiographical,” says Anka of his early hits. This legendary performer will appear LIVE at the Dr. Phillips Center on January 14. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Jan 14 to 18 – Circus ‘Legends’ at the Amway Center 
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey present ‘Legends’ – legendary circus artists from around the globe including Alexander Lacey with his lions and tigers; a dream team of acrobats attempting four consecutive triple somersaults; Cossack trick-riders on the backs of thoroughbred horses; and trainers showing off the treasured Ringling Bros. Asian Elephant’s skills and abilities. Free to all ticketholders, the All Access Pre-show starts an hour before the show. For more, visit Ringling.com. Purchase tickets at Ticketmaster.com or at amwaycenter.com or call 800.745.3000.

Jan 15 at 6 pm – Albert Paley Sculptures at Mennello Museum 
The Mennello Museum’s first exhibition of the new year: Albert Paley: Forged Works will open January 15 with a reception beginning at 6 pm. While many are familiar with the two large-scale Paley sculptures on the museum grounds, this exhibit brings other dimensions of this internationally acclaimed Artist's work to Orlando with this exhibition. Note: On March 13 Albert Paley will be at the Mennello Museum for an artist-led procession through the galleries and gardens. Call 407.246.4278 or visit mennellomuseum.com 

Jan 15 at 8 pm – Ani DiFranco at Plaza Live 
As a singer, songwriter, activist and independent producer, Ani DiFranco has grown beyond her acoustic roots to embrace jazz, soul, electronica and melodies reflecting her life in New Orleans. A strong belief in human rights runs through her work, reflecting how DiFranco stood ahead of the curve launching her own Righteous Babe Records. Some stellar New Orleans musicians contributed to ‘Allergic To Water,’ which will be featured at Plaza Live.  “I think that my one grain of wisdom in my life is that when I meet a great teacher, I follow them,” she says. “It’s made my life pretty great along the way.” Visit plazaliveorlando.com

Jan 16 at 7 pm – Rise, An Acrobatic Play 
Rise is a futuristic coming-of-age story about a group of high school students who dream of being world class entertainers by winning a paid understudy role in a famous traveling circus. Through dance and acrobatics we see a new theatrical experience that electrifies and inspires. Written and directed by four-time NCAA Gymnastics Champion Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons, the play includes a special appearance by 2007 World Gymnastics Champion Shayla Worley. At the Dr. Phillips Center, call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Jan 16 at 8 pm – Orlando Philharmonic: Brahms Symphony No. 2
Acclaimed by The New York Times as “one of the finest conductors of her generation,” JoAnn Falletta and her Buffalo Philharmonic concertmaster Michael Ludwig, will lead the Orlando Philharmonic on a voyage from impressionist France (Ibert’s ‘Ports of Call’), to soulful Russia (Glazunov’s Violin Concerto in A minor), to the culmination of German Romanticism (Brahms Symphony No. 2) as part of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra’s Classical Series at Bob Carr Theater. Call 407.770.0071 or visit orlandophil.org 

Jan 16 to April 3 – Art Legends of Orange County – Doris Leeper
This exhibit, part of the ‘Art Legends of Orange County initiative,’ brings together a group of paintings created in the 1960s and 1970s by Doris Leeper. Focusing on the ways in which Leeper's work presents crisp lines and strong geometric forms, Doris Leeper: Hard Edges allows the paintings to be seen within a national context and emphasizes how, despite living in relative isolation, Leeper produced work in keeping with major artistic movements of the time. Call 407.646.2526 or visit rollins.edu/cfam 

Doris Leeper (American, 1929–2000) Six Variations, 1984, Serigraph, 27 3/4 x 27 3/4 in

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators