“Josh Recommends” for the Week of October 18, 2019 By Josh Garrick
“Josh Recommends” for the Week of October 18, 2019 By Josh Garrick
“DeathTrap” in Winter Garden
NOW to Oct 27
Sidney Bruhl will do anything to publish the next great play. (He might even kill for it). Ira Levin’s famous dark-comedy-thriller has audiences laughing one moment and screaming in terror the next as Sidney discovers he is not the only potential murderer in the room. The all-important “timing” is deftly handled by a wonderful cast to surprise – and thrill – the audience. Call 407.877.4736 or visit gardentheatre.org
The CFCArts Theatre presents
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
NOW to Nov 3
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler
This thrilling and dark musical set in Victorian-era London tells the tale of barber Sweeney Todd as he returns to London after fifteen years of exile. Writer Stephen Sondheim captures the pain and evil of Sweeney’s life, as this murderous barber sets his sights on revenge against the corrupt Judge who ruined his life. This production contains the use of suggestive material and may not be suitable for all audiences. Parental discretion is advised. Visit CFCArts.com
“How I Became a Pirate”
NOW to Nov 10 at Orlando Rep
Orlando’s special theater for young people offers us a treasure-sized, swashbuckling adventure with How I Became a Pirate, a musical written by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman and based on the beloved book by Melinda Long and David Shannon. Sail off on a fantastic adventure with a band of comical pirates looking for an ‘expert digger’ to join their crew. Braid Beard and his mates enlist young Jeremy Jacob, as they try to find the perfect spot to bury their treasure. Call 407.896.7365 or visit orlandorep.com
“MACBETH, the Scottish Play” at the Shakespeare Festival
NOW to Nov 24
For this trip into Halloween evil, Orlando Shakes will make sure that -- “Something wicked this way comes.” Experience a visually striking production of Shakespeare’s Scottish play in an intimate setting. Blind ambition and twisted prophesy lead Macbeth to murder the Scottish king and seize the throne. An impulse for destruction and a loose grip on sanity define Lord and Lady Macbeth’s foothold on power that can only end in tragedy.
Call 407.447.1700 or visit OrlandoShakes.org
PHANTASMAGORIA X: “The Reckoning”
NOW to Nov 3 at venues listed below
Celebrating their 10th YEAR of Hauntingly successful acting/story-telling, “Phantasmagoria X: the Reckoning” thunders onto the stage in Central Florida with an ALL NEW SHOW - bringing a chill to your spine as it weaves a tapestry of stories from folklore, legend and literature! Click here for tickets to ALL locations (including the ‘Ghost Train.’) https://bit.ly/2lzNmvX
TAVARES – Royal Palm Ghost Train
Sundays – NOW to Nov 3 at 3:45 pm and 6:15 pm; Tavares Union Station Price: $38.00
Called “One of the most unique theater troupes in the country,” Phantasmagoria will share their haunting tales in a custom performance for a real moving train! The 80 minute train ride includes hauntings from Charles Dickens and Edgar Allan Poe – culminating in “The Legend of the Ghost of the Royal Palm Railway”
ORLANDO – October 18, 19, 20, 21
Shakespeare Center, Loch Haven Park, phantasmagoriaorlando.com or (407) 476-5121
DELAND – October 25
Athens Theatre, 124 N Florida Ave athensdeland.com / (386) 736-1500
TAMPA – October 26th
Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St. tampatheatre.org/live/phantasmagoria
EUSTIS – October 31st -- HALLOWEEN NIGHT !!
Historic State Theater, 109 North Bay Street baystreetplayers.org / (352) 357-7777
SANFORD – November 1st
Wayne Densch Perf Arts Center, 201 S. Magnolia Ave wdpac.com / (407) 321-8111
OCALA – November 2nd
Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St reillyartscenter.com / (352) 351-1606
NOW to Nov 14 – Dia de los Muertos & Monster Party Art Gallery Exhibit
Now in its 10th year this unique art exhibit has grown like the “Halloween Monster that ate Orlando!!” With over 150 pieces of “horror-themed” Art and participating Artists from across the country – THIS is the most fun you’ll have all year while experiencing “culture” at the same time. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for FUN at the City Arts Building in Downtown Orlando. Call 407.648.7060
Tim Burton's “The Nightmare Before Christmas” WITH Symphony Orchestra
Oct 18 at the Dr. Phillips Center
If you’ve noticed, we already have Christmas trees in stores of all sizes, so we can tip our Elve’s Ears to Tim Burton for the forward-thinking idea of mixing Halloween with Christmas. The cult classic with Danny Elfman’s score will be performed LIVE by a symphony orchestra at the Dr. Phillips Center giving Jack Skellington, Halloweentown’s Pumpkin King, one more chance to bring Christmas under his control. But even a Pumpkin King soon discovers the best-laid plans of skeletons and jolly old men should be kept separate. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org
The Worlds of ‘Corkcicle’ Return
IMMERSE 2019
Oct 18 to 27 in Downtown Orlando
Last year thousands of people watched, viewed, participated in and IMMERSED themselves in the widest variety of artistic events ever assembled on the streets and venues of Orlando. For example, the 12 immersive photo environments that were part of The ‘Worlds of Corkcicle’ will, this year be built out in 8 shipping containers. You can explore these never-before-seen worlds at Seneff Plaza at the Dr. Phillips Center among many other venues.
Alison Krauss at the Dr. Phillips Center
Oct 19 at 8 pm
Having sold 12 million records to date – and honored with 27 Grammys – Alison Krauss became a member of the Grand Ole Opry at age 21. See this penultimate country singer LIVE at the Dr. Phillips Center on October 19. Call 844.513,2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org
The Tony Award Winning Musical Phenomenon, “Les Miserables”
October 22 to 27, 2019
Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune called “Les Miz” one of the greatest musicals ever created,” and I completely agree. It’s a classic – in so many ways. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, tickets are now on sale at the Dr. Phillips Center. Visit drphillipscenter.org or call 844.513.2014
“A Hero’s Journey” Presented by CFCArts Symphony Orchestra
October 25 and October 26 at Calvary Orlando
Presented by the newly enlarged CFCArts Symphony Orchestra, their fall concert is called “A Hero’s Journey.” By definition, a hero goes on an adventure, is victorious in a crisis, and comes home changed or transformed. With its sweeping scores and “story-book” background music, this is the perfect one-of-a-kind concert that is perfect for your entire family – and a great way to introduce young ones to the appreciation of the power of great music. Call 407.937.1800 or visit cfcarts.com
“Night of Fright: Scary Ghost Stories” with Joe Rosier
Oct 25 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm
Master story-teller "Country Joe" Rosier steps away from portraying Presidents and Generals to invite us to his somewhat sinister country-house gazebo for an evening of ghost stories told under a (guaranteed) starlit night. Mr. Rosier is a master of voice, inflection and gesture and for this one spooky performance is hosted by the Buehler Planetarium at Seminole State College at 100 Weldon Blvd in Sanford. The show is a live theatrical performance and includes both visual and sound effects. Admission is $6 or $4 and tickets may be purchased at the door.
“VAMPIRE’S BALL 2019” Danced by the Spirits of the Orlando Ballet
Oct 31, Nov 1 & 2 at 7:30 pm and Nov 3 at 3 pm
Truly wonderful ballet dancing (and hauntingly good fun) awaits us at the “back-by-popular-demand-return” of the newly ‘revamped’ VAMPIRE’S BALL opening on Halloween night 2019. This fan favorite thrills and surprises with the riotous tale of two ‘competitive’ vampires (and the obligatory “mad scientist”) told through dance as only Orlando Ballet can. With splendid sets and costumes, please join in the fun in your own “haunting best” … if you dare. Dancer: Daniel Benavides in Photography by Michael Cairns 2019. Visit drphillipscenter.org or call 844.513.2014
“The Seven Deadly Sins” via Wm. S. Burroughs
Nov 1 to Nov 29
That “Hotbed” of curatorial interest – the Mills Gallery -- will present the deliciously decadent, “unsung visual works” from one of America's great artists – “The Seven Deadly Sins” As presented through the imagination of William S. Burroughs, the exhibit is curated and organized by Kyle Eagle, Enrique Wiedemann, Daniel Fuller, and The Modern Music Movement at the Mills Gallery.
Opera Orlando presents Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro”
November 1, 2, 3, and 5
Sung in Italian with English sub-titles in the charmingly intimate Pugh Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org
Introducing NEW Theater Works at PLAYFEST 2019
Nov 1 to 3 and 8 & 9
Since its inception in 2003, PlayFest has helped develop over 100 new plays. Here in Central Florida, at Orlando Shakes in Loch Haven Park, the annual play fest will feature seven new works that reflect the breadth of the human experience. At the two-weekend festival patrons participate in the creative process by viewing new works by Tammy Ryan, Michael Hollinger, Richard Henry & Eric Hissom, Jan Neuberger, David Valdes, Kara Lee Corthron, and Emily Denginger. Visit orlandoshakes.org or call 407.447.1700 ext. 1
Lillian Verkins’ “Over the Moon” Art Exhibit
Nov 1 to Jan 6, 2020 at Orlando Science Center
One of Florida’s most celebrated Artists will combine her “Spacescapes” and “Dreamscapes” series of paintings to be displayed at the STEAM Fusion Gallery at the Orlando Science Center. Lillian Verkins has received 26 juried awards including four “Best of Show” and five “1st Place” awards. She was the First Place winner in the “Celebrating the Genius of Women” exhibit of 2016. The OSC exhibit will include over 30 paintings, most of which will be quite large. The Gallery is on the Science Center’s 3rd floor, and the Gallery visit is included with regular admission. Visit OSC.org
“Leading Ladies: Encores” presented by the CFCArts Community Choir
November 8 at 6:30 pm and 8:15 pm at Calvary Orlando
This fall, the CFCArts Women’s Chorale returns with another night of music featuring iconic songs from stage, screen, and TV. With Broadway’s greatest songs -- from “Memory” (Cats) to “Defying Gravity” (Wicked) – ( and more than a few surprises along the way) this concert is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED even before I see the full list of songs. Call 407.937.1800 or visit cfcarts.com
Orlando Native MICHAEL SCOTT reprises his role as GENIE in ALADDIN
Jan 22 to Feb 9 at Dr. Phillips Center
“Aladdin,”is the hit musical based on the Academy Award-winning animated film that opened on Broadway in 2014 … AND has grossed over $1 billion since that Opening Night!! I am incredibly excited to report that Orlando native Michael James SCOTT, who played the Genie on Broadway and in London, will “come home” to play the iconic role in Orlando. A graduate of Dr. Phillips H.S, Scott has appeared in 8 Broadway productions. “The pride, joy and excitement of having the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring this iconic role back to the city where it all started for me feels like the biggest Disney dream come true,” said Scott. We’re thrilled to have you “come home” Mr. Scott, AND that gives an already “HIGHLY RECOMMENDED” show several more reasons to get your tickets early. Call 844.513.2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org
Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators
- Log in to post comments