Talking with performers outside the Humana Festival. Photo by Pam Harbaugh

By PAM HARBAUGH

Sluice all the political rhetoric from your brain this weekend by heading to Surfside Playhouse to see a fun show. Or, if you got tickets already, you’ll be bathing in some satire (which might or might not become politically charged) at Not Quite Right Players’ “Longform Show.” Or head over to Derek Gores Gallery tonight for some artsy fun as the gallery’s newest show, “Old & Improved 2” has its public opening (see more about that below).

Be sure to click onto the ads along the right side of this page to show your appreciation of those organizations supporting Brevard Culture.

Theater

NO, NO, A MILLION TIMES NO runs this weekend only at Surfside Playhouse. Written by Eskel Crawford and Bud Tompkins, this is directed by Bryan Bergeron, who excels at this olde timey melodrama. The audience, of course, is invited to boo, hiss and cheer as some of Brevard’s favorite community theater actors take stage as the villain, the heroine, her champion and more. Look below for a fun little video. The show runs 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Surfside Playhouse, 301 Ramp Road (at Fifth St.), Cocoa Beach. $15. Call 321-783-3127, visit SurfsidePlayers.com or click onto their ad.

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NQR LONGFORM SHOW performed by the Not Quite Right Players improv troupe will be held 8 p.m. Saturday. This show is all improvised. However, instead of one sketch, it is a long one-act, so to speak. And, it’s already SOLD OUT. But I’m putting out this post here so you can follow this group and get tickets quick like bunny next time. But for those who have their tickets, remember that the show begins 8 p.m. Saturday at the Derek Gores Gallery, 587 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Melbourne. Visit NQRComedy.com.

AVENUE Q has been held over until July 31 at Mad Cow Theatre in Orlando. As the theater’s web site describes the show as follows: “A gang of eclectic puppets burst onto the scene in 2003 creating the worldwide phenomenon known as Avenue Q. Taking on the lessons of life without the fluff, these colorful characters advise their new friend Princeton on everything from getting a job and finding an apartment to hangovers and internet porn.” Tickets start at $32. Mad Cow Theatre is at 54 West Church Street – Second Floor, Orlando. Call 407-297-8788 or visit MadCowTheatre.com.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST runs through Sunday at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre. Tickets are $14 to $18. Orlando Shakespeare Theatre is at 812 E. Rollins St., Orlando. Call 407-447-1700 or visit OrlandoShakes.org.

Nightclubs, et al

HOWL AT THE MOON is leaving audience breathless at Riverside Theatre. This new super charged series invites guests to sing, dance, and howl “as the most versatile and talented musicians perform your favorite songs on dueling pianos.” This weekend’s shows feature Ken Gustafson and Brian Wilk, both of whom have enough entertainment experience to fill the entire professional venue and then some. Curtain is 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday. Arrive an hour early and you can enjoy a free outdoor concert and purchase some great burgers and drinky poos from the full bar. Tickets start at $16. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, FL. Call 772-231-6990, visit RiversideTheatre.com or click on their ad.

VALERIE GILLESPIE will perform on saxophone and sing tonight at Heidi’s Jazz Club in Cocoa Beach. Ms. Gillespie has performed with a host of big names, including Chick Corea and Bobby McFerrin. Her sets tonight begin at 8:30 and end at midnight. Cover charge is $10. And remember, there’s a bar menu plus a full upscale menu from the adjacent Heidelberg Restaurant, a full bar, some of the best service you’ll ever have and a dance floor. We just love Heidi’s Jazz Club, can you tell? 7 N Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL. Call 321-783-4559 or visit HeidisJazzClub.com.

Exhibits

OLD & IMPROVED 2 opens tonight with a public reception beginning 7 p.m. tonight. The “fun art” has pit artists against old stuff which they updated to new interpretations. It’s a good fun, summer group show,” said Mr. gores. The show runs for about a month. Tonight’s opening has a cash bar by Edible Arts Catering from the Pizza Gallery. A bit of live music towards around 9 p.m. by Kong Lom. The show will probably run to about 10 p.m. Derek Gores Gallery is at 587 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Melbourne. Visit DerekGores.com.

RADICAL ELEMENTS and A VIEW WITHIN: The Collaboration of Two Fiber Artists runs through Aug. 27 at the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts. “Radical Elements” comes from the Studio Art Quilt Associates and is sponsored in the memory of Judy Roach. “A View Within” is a collaborative project by Paula Chung and Karen Rips, two artists fascinated by the human body. The Ruth Funk Center, is on the campus of Florida Tech, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne. Admission is free. Call 321-674-8313 or click here.

RAY TURNER: POPULATION exhibition is also sponsored in the memory of Judy Roach. It runs through Aug. 6 at the Foosaner Art Museum. Read more about it by clicking here. The Foosaner Art Museum is at 1463 Highland Ave., Melbourne. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Admission is free. Call 321-674-8916, visit FoosanerArtMuseum.org or click onto their ad.

EXPOSURE photographic exhibit runs through Aug. 8 at the Art Gallery of Viera, 2261 Towne Center Avenue, Suite 111. Call 321-504-4343 or visit ArtGalleryOfViera.com.

MONOTYPES IN RED exhibit runs through July at the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery is at 1470 Highland Avenue, Melbourne. Call 321-259-8261 or visit FifthAvenueArtGallery.com.