By PAM HARBAUGH
Go on. Enjoy your green beer, your corned beef and potatoes…but leave room for some fun cultural treats. Theatrical productions are harvesting praise from critics and audiences alike, so do yourself a favor and make time to see these shows. There’s music and quirky-ness at the King Center. Artsy goings-on at area museums. And pssst…expect to see robots in love sometime soon. And if you need beer, see list of beer by clicking here.
Please click onto the ads of those organizations supporting BREVARD CULTURE.
Area Theater:
TAPE has been extended through March 26 at Theater on the Edge in Orlando. The long one-act drama is set in a seedy motel room in Lansing, Michigan, where three old friends confront each other with truths about a possible crime. For Joan Taddie’s review in Brevard Culture, click here. To read the review in Orlando Weekly, click here. The show runs through March 19. Tickets are $19 and $22. Theater on the Edge is at 5542 Hansel Avenue, Orlando (about 10 minutes from the airport). Email info@theaterontheedge.org.
From left, Joey Ginel and Zack Roundy in TAPE at Theater on the Edge, Orlando. Photo by Monica Mulder.
SOUTH PACIFIC runs through Sunday at Surfside Playhouse in Cocoa Beach. The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is based on James Michener’s novel Tales of the South Pacific. It is directed by Bryan Bergeron and music directed by John Kurowski. The starring performers include Jennifer Jesseman as nurse Nellie Forbush, who falls in love with Jack Maloney as the planter Emile de Becque. Anthony DeTrano portrays Lt. Joseph Cable, who gives his heart to the beautiful Tonkinese, Liat, played by Miranda Kane. Jody Hatcher is the wily and wise Bloody Mary. It performs 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $25 general, $22 Senior/Student/Military. Surfside Playhouse is at 301 Ramp Road (South Fifth Street). Call 321-783-3127, visit SurfsidePlayers.com.
Joe Horton as Captain Phoebus in the Henegar Center’s HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME the Musical runs through March 26 at the Henegar Center. Director Hank Rion brings more than 100 people to act, play in the pit orchestra, to help backstage or to sing in the choir…Latin. It stars Dillon Giles as Quasimodo, Amanda Cheyenne-Manis as Esmeralda, Damon Dennin as Frollo and Joe Horton as Captain Phoebus. Audiences are going crazy for this show. Here’s a commentary on it. It sounds like it will sell out, so click on their ad now for tickets. The Henegar is at 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne. Call 321-723-8698 or visit Henegar.org.
RAGTIME runs through Sunday at Titusville Playhouse. The musical is set during the turn of the century and explores the cultural and ethnic melting pot that is America. Tickets are $20 to $28. Titusville Playhouse is at 301 Julia St., Titusville. Call 321-268-1125 or visit TitusvillePlayhouse.com.
ELTON JOHN AND TIM RICE’S AIDA runs through March 26 at Cocoa Village Playhouse. This captivating musical features Nicole Ramos-Torres, Andrew LeJeune, Sarah Huff, David Morales, Brian Smith, Daniel Hill, Shatirah Rolle and Terry Clowney. This is a revival for CVP. Its first production was simply stunning and I expect no less the second time around. Tickets start at $27 with discounts for students, seniors and children. CVP is at 300 Brevard Avenue, Cocoa. Cal 321-636-5050, visit CocoaVillagePlayhouse.com or click on their ad.
Nicole Ramos-Torres in ELTON JOHN AND TIM RICE’S AIDA at Cocoa Village Playhouse. Photo by Goforth Photography.
Professional Theater:
MAME runs through March 26 at Riverside Theatre. This big musical stars Michele Ragusa as the sophisticated bohemian urging everyone to “Live, live, live!” To read the review, click here. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Drive, Vero Beach, FL. Tickets start at $35. Call 772-231-6990, visit RiversideTheatre.com or click on their ad.
MAME at Riverside Theatre
CONSTELLATIONS runs through Sunday at Mad Cow Theatre. “A love story with infinite possibilities. Marriane is a physicist. Roland keeps bees. Sparks ignite and they light out on the journey of relationship. Unless they don’t. Or do…but differently. Love has many shades and manifestations…as does this play and the quantum multiverse that lies at its heart.” Tickets begin at $40 with discounts for seniors, military and students. Mad Cow Theatre is on the second floor at 54 West Church Street, Orlando, FL. Call 407-297-8788 ext. 1 or visit MadCowTheatre.com.
THE GREAT GATSBY runs through March 26 at Orlando Shakespeare Theater. Playwright Simon Levy has adapted the play from the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. As the press release states: When Nick Carraway is befriended by his mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, he is drawn into a glitzy world of lavish parties and secret speakeasies. But as Gatsby’s elusive past is uncovered and his intentions revealed, Nick finds himself a pawn in a love triangle so scandalous, it threatens to destroy all those around him. This American classic is a poignant examination of prohibition America—exploring the notions of love, morality, identity, and the corruption of the American Dream.” Orlando Shakes performs at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 East Rollins Street, Orlando, FL. Tickets begin at $25. Performances held throughout the week. Call (407) 447-1700 or visit OrlandoShakes.org.
Concerts & Comedy:
DAVID BROMBERG performs with Johnny Duke 8 p.m. in the King Center’s Studio Theatre. He has performed with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jerry Garcia and many more. Tickets start at $59. The King Center, 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Call 321-242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com.
From left, Adam Savage and Michael Stevens in BRAIN CANDY
CHARLIE DANIELS BAND performs 7 p.m. at the King Center. Tickets begin at $47. The King Center, 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Call 321-242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com.
Exhibits:
TRADITIONAL ART OF THE BEDOUIN runs through April 29 at Florida Tech’s Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts. Read about it by clicking here. FRIENDS OF TEXTILES LECTURE presents a “Curator’s Gallery Tour” beginning 5:15 p.m. March 21. The tour will be led by Amber Clifford-Napoleone and costs $10 for general public and is free for Friends members and full time Florida Tech faculty, staff and students. The Ruth Funk Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. The Center is located next to Evans Library on the Florida Tech campus in Melbourne, Florida, 150 W. University Blvd. Admission is free. For more information, visit http://textiles.fit.edu or call 321-674-8313.
Traditional Arts of the Bedouin at Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts
MUSINGS IN COLOR features work by Witha Lacuesta and will be on view throughout March. The exhibit comprises two series: “Dancers and “Cypress Tree” series, inspired by the Blue Cypress Conservation area. As the artist states: “The beauty of these century old trees was deeply moving. Having withstood various weather extremes, they stand for persistence, resilience, and grace. They also inspire us to strive for the same attributes when facing adversity or solitude.” The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery is at 1470 Highland Avenue, Melbourne. Call 321-259-8261 or visit FifthAvenueArtGallery.com.
‘CYPRESS NO. 5’ by Witha Lacuesta is on view at the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery.
STEVEN SEINBERG exhibition of abstract paintings is on view in the Frits van Eeden Gallery at Florida Tech’s Renee Foosaner Education Center, 1520 Highland Ave., Melbourne. Mr. Seinberg, who lives in Indian Harbour Beach, was born in Brooklyn, NY and has shown around the country. His work is in the permanent collections of Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom’s and the North Hampton Country Club in Tokyo, Japan. The Frits van Eeden gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, as well as from 5:30-7:30 p.m. the first Friday of each month. Admission is free. Call 321-674-8923 or click here.
ART 31: BORROWED LIGHT runs through April 16 at the Art and History Museums in Maitland. Read more about it by clicking here. Regular museum hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission regular is $3 general, $2 for seniors (55+) and students, free for A&H Members and children age 3 and under. The Art & History Museums Maitland is at 231 W Packwood Ave, Maitland. For more information, visit www.art31.org, contact 407.539.2181 or click on their ad.
From BORROWED LIGHT — C.R. Barnett “Talking Room” at Art 31 in Maitland
THE RED THAT COLORED THE WORLD is on view through April 15 at Florida Tech’s Foosaner Art Museum. Read about it by clicking here. The Foosaner Art Museum is at 1463 Highland Ave. in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Free admission. Visit FoosanerMuseum.org, call 321-674-8916 or click on their ad.
Plan Ahead:
THE CHRISTIANS opens March 21 and runs through April 9 at Riverside Theatre.
RUMORS opens March 24 at Melbourne Civic Theatre.
DILETTANTE FILMHAUS will present the silent film “Metropolis” 7 p.m. March 25 at Derek Gores Gallery.
ROBOT LOVE runs March 31-April 1, 2017
