By PAM HARBAUGH
By far, the coolest, grooviest thing happening this weekend will be “Peace in Space,” a planned happening (yes, that’s a bit of an oxymoron, but just go with me…) taking place Friday at the Foosaner. It is produced by the Boots on the Ground Theatre Company (psst, they’re opening Friday’s rehearsal of “Darkside” to the public). Read below in the “Nightlife and Music” listing. Also, parents will have an opportunity, once again, to bring their children to see “Madagascar, Jr.” No, you’re not seeing triple. This time it’s at Titusville. Two previous productions were held at Cocoa Village Playhouse and Riverside Theatre. Saturday is the big day for Cocoa Village Playhouse patrons and performers who have waited months to find out next season’s planned productions.
Be sure to click on ads for the organizations supporting Brevard Culture. Thank you.
Theater:
GIDION’S KNOT runs through Sunday at Theater on the Edge in Orlando. If need a drama fix, this is it. I am humbled to be directing the production at Theater on the Edge and thrilled to have worked with two powerful Meisner-trained actors — Kyrstal Glover and Natalie Bulajic. The setting is a fifth grade classroom and the action starts when a mother visits the teacher who suspended her son for something he wrote. A mystery quickly unfolds. The play is muscular enough to hold many themes, including censorship, responsibility, honesty, cowardice, bullying and more. Read the review by clicking here. Although set in a classroom, this play is intended for adults, so leave the children home. Tickets are $18 to $26. Theater on the Edge is at 5542 Hansel Avenue, Orlando, FL. Email info@theaterontheedge.org, visit TheaterOnTheEdge.org or click on their ad.
From left: Natalie Bulajic and Krystal Glover in GIDION’S KNOT at Theater on the Edge. Photo by Theater on the Edge.
Fur die Kinder:
MADAGASCAR, JR. runs Saturday at Titusville Playhouse. The production is performed by the theater’s Rising Stars program, which means the cast comprise drama students from 1st to 8th grade. The show is based on the DreamWorks animated movie and follows the adventures of Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and plotting penguins as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. The show begins 10 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 7. Tickets are $15. Titusville Playhouse is at 301 Julia St., Titusville, FL. Call 321-268-1125 or visit TitusvillePlayhouse.com.
Nightlife and Music:
FIRST FRIDAY takes place during the evening of July 6 in the Eau Gallie Arts District, which is in the area of the Foosaner Art Museum. Be sure to head to the Derek Gores Gallery to see a public rehearsal of “Darkside,” a show opening later this month by the Boots on the Ground Theatre Company. The play, “Darkside,” has a space travel theme to it, soooo…to that end…The group has also gathered local musicians, artists and creatives to perform and create in “Peace in Space,” running 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Foosaner Art Museum. There will be live music, live art installation with local groups and a community canvas. This sounds like just too much fun.
THE CAMBRIDGE IMPRONAUTS, a comedy troupe from Cambridge, England, perform 7 p.m. today, Friday July 6 at Surfside Playhouse. All proceeds raised tonight by this British improv group will be donated to charity. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Surfside Playhouse is at 301 Ramp Road (5th Street South), Cocoa Beach, FL. Call 321-783-3127, visit SurfsidePlayers.com or click on their ad.
COCOA VILLAGE PLAYHOUSE SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT PARTY takes place 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the King Center, 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne, FL. This is a very jubilant and LOUD event, ear plugs are advised, especially if you’re seated next to Buffy and her excited friends who scream really loudly. Tickets are $25. Call 321-242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com.
Hella performs at Heidi’s Jazz Club.
VEGAS NIGHTS this weekend at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach. Its “Howl at the Moon” show features entertainers Orin Sands and Katie Pinder Brown. Patrons can win prizes at the casino while helping raise funds for the theater’s children’s program. The fun-packed, music-filled evening has shows at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The shows invite guests to come enjoy a picnic style dinner while listening to some great music, free. The Vegas Style Casino will be open 6 to 10 p.m. in the lobby. Casino Dollars may be purchased onsite or with your comedy ticket – $10 USD for 20 Casino Dollars or $20 USD for 50 Casino Dollars. All proceeds fund the children’s discount tuition program at Riverside Theatre.Tickets start are $12 to $22. Special packages available $40 to $55. Shows sell out quickly, so purchase in advance. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, FL. Call 772-231-6990, visit RiversideTheatre.com or click on their ad.
Exhibits:
A LOOK BACK: FORTY YEARS OF THE FOOSANER COLLECTION exhibit runs through Nov. 3 at the Foosaner Art Museum. Selections come from the Foosaner’s wonderful 5,000-piece collection, which includes works by big name Pop artists Jim Dine, Robert Rauschenberg and John Chamberlain, celebrated photography of Clive Butcher, fabulous women artists Jennifer Bartlett and Viola Frey and award winning artists with a Brevard connection Larry Leach, Frits van Eeden and George Snyder. Also selected will be pieces from the Foosaner’s ancient American pottery and art deco objects collection. The Foosaner is at 1463 Highland Ave, Melbourne, FL. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is free. Call 321-674-8916 or visit FoosanerArtMuseum.org.
A detail from “Railroad Vines III,” a 1997 oil on canvas by Larry Leach that will be featured in the new exhibition, “A Look Back: Forty Years of the Foosaner Collection.”
MAGGY ROZYCKI HILTNER: NOT QUITE SEW and APRON STRINGS: TIES TO THE PAST exhibits run through Aug. 11 at the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts. Ms. Hiltner has exhibited in important museums around the country, has been featured in publications and is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts’ Artist’s Innovation Award for the state of Montana. The Ruth Funk is on the campus of Florida Tech, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Free admission. Call 321-674-8313.
Auditions:
HAIR, Titusville Playhouse will hold auditions 6:30 p.m. July 23 and 24 for the musical “Hair.” Only those 18 years and older. There will be nudity on stage. The show is scheduled to run Sept. 21 to Oct. 14. TPI is at 301 Julia St., Titusville. Call 321-268-1125 or, for more information, click here.
BLITHE SPIRIT, Surfside Players will hold auditions 7 p.m. July 29 and 30 for “Blithe Spirit.” The show is scheduled to run Sept. 14 to 23. Surfside Playhouse is at 301 Ramp Road (5th Street South), Cocoa Beach, FL. Call 321-783-3127, visit SurfsidePlayers.com or for more information, click here.
SLEUTH, Melbourne Civic Theatre will hold auditions for “Sleuth” 7 p.m. Aug. 5 and 6. The show is scheduled to run Oct. 5 to Nov. 11. MCT is at 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne. Call 321-723-6935 or, for more information, click here.
Plan Ahead:
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT performs July 13 to 15 at the King Center. This is the King Center’s joint summer musical theater program with Cocoa Village Playhouse.
DARKSIDE will be performed by the new Boots on the Ground Theatre Company July 19 to 29 at Derek Gores Gallery.
MARY POPPINS, JR. will be performed by the Feller Theatre Academy students July 20.
THE GROOM HAS COLD FEET, an audience participation murder mystery comedy, will be performed July 27 to Aug. 5 at Surfside Playhouse.
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS opens Aug. 3 at Melbourne Civic Theatre.
