By PAM HARBAUGH
It’s so hot! So plunge into some cool goings-on at area theaters, galleries and more. Here’s a hint: NQR Comedy (see below).
Be sure to click on ads for the organizations supporting Brevard Culture. Thank you.
Theater:
THE ROYAL FAMILY runs through Oct. 15 at Mad Cow Theatre in Orlando. The show features Brevard actor Zack Roundy. Written by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber, the 1927 comedy centers on the eccentric Cavendish clan, the first family of the American stage. The fast-paced comedy has sword fights, swooning, constant hyperbole and more. Tickets are $20 to $42. The Mad Cow Theatre is at 54 W. Church Street, second floor. It offers discounted parking in the Central Garage at 53 West Central Blvd. The Suntrust Center Garage and 55 West Garage are attached to the theatre by covered walkway, and there is valet parking at Kres Chophouse, near Church Street and Orange Avenue, just a block from the theater. Call 407.297.8788 or visit MadCowTheatre.com.
DREAMING DREAMY DREAMS, a trio of original one act plays by members of the Playwrights’ Workshop will run today through Sunday at Surfside Playhouse. The plays are “Sky Club Compatibility” written by Kim Ruyle and co-directed by Nancy Matican Bock and David Hill; “In the Middle of the Night” written by Kathryn Flanagan and directed by Chris Tsocanos; and “A Dream of Freedom,” written by Augusta Williams and co-directed by Robert Matson and Nancy Matican-Bock. $10. Surfside Playhouse is at 301 Ramp Road (5th St. South), Cocoa Beach. Call 321-720-1227 or email geplaywright@gmail.com.
HAIR opens tonight and runs through Oct. 14 at Titusville Playhouse. BREVARD CULTURE’S new theater critic, Keenan Carver, loved this show. Read his review by clicking here. This iconic ’60s “Age of Aquarius” musical is about the leader of a hippie tribe getting drafted. Although that little plot line is barely visible through all the sunshine that the tribe lets in. It’s always a fun show with devotees both on stage and in the audience. It’s rated “R” because of adult content including ephemeral nudity. Tickets are $21 to $29. Titusville Playhouse is at 301 Julia St., Titusville, FL. Call 321-268-1125 or visit TitusvillePlayhouse.com.
THE LITTLE MERMAID runs to Oct. 7 at Cocoa Village Playhouse. That’s right, after playing at every other theater it seems in the area, this Disney musical spawned by the Hans Christian Anderson tail..er, tale…has found its way to CVP. Tickets range from $18 to $26. CVP is at 300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa. Call 321-636-5050, visit CocoaVillagePlayhouse.com or click on their ad.
IN THE HEIGHTS runs through Oct. 7 at Orlando Shakes. This uplifting musical was a break-out musical for Lin Manuel Miranda. It performs generally at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets begin at $20 for matinees and $34 evening performances. Orlando Shakes is at 812 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL. Call 407-447-1700 or visit OrlandoShakes.org.
Nightlife, Music and More:
NOT QUITE RIGHT has something very cool planned for this evening and also for Saturday. Beginning 7 p.m. tonight it’s a free open house with games, streaming video, random improv. Beginning 8 p.m. Saturday, NQR Comedy joins forces with edgy music group Oranga Tanga for what organizers are calling an “improv/musical collision.” Tickets to Saturday’s show are $20 plus fees and taxes. NQR Theater is at 587 West Eau Gallie Boulevard #101 in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne, FL. Visit here for more info.
HEIDI’S JAZZ LOUNGE has returned from vacation. It presents presents Steve Kirsner and Friends 5 – 8 p.m. today followed by the Ron Teixeira Trio. Hella performs Saturday night with the Ron Teixeira Trio. In addition to great entertainment, Heidi’s offers a wonderful bar and a super bar menu. This is definitely a favorite sophisticated night spots in Brevard. It’s warm and inviting and has a dance floor and impeccable service. Read more by clicking here. Heidi’s is at 7 N Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL. Call 321-783-4559 or visit HeidisJazzClub.com or click on their ad.
THE KING CENTER presents jazz artist Basia 8 p.m. tonight in its Studio Theatre. Tickets start at $55. The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Call 321-242-2219, visit KingCenter.com or click on their ad.
HOWL AT THE MOON this weekend at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach featuring dueling pianos by Ken Gustafson and Ron Volpe. This 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. Tickets start at $16. 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:
WANDERING SPIRIT: AFRICAN WAX PRINTS runs through Dec. 15 at Florida Institute of Technology’s Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts. It is a tribute to the century-old handmade designs and patterns on textiles that originated in Indonesia and were copied and industrialized by Europeans and exported to West Africa.
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.
TEACHER’S PET runs through the month at the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery. The exhibit features several of Brevard County’s private art instructors’ work displayed with a few of their students’ works in Teacher’s Pet. The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery is at 1470 Highland Avenue, Melbourne, FL. Call 321-259-8261 or visit FifthAvenueArtGallery.com.
Auditions:
For more complete info on upcoming auditions, click here.
Plan Ahead:
A BERNSTEIN CELEBRATION opens the Brevard Symphony Orchestra’s new season 8 p.m. Oct. 6 at the King Center.
IMPROV COMEDY will be held next Friday at Surfside Playhouse.
VERONICA’S ROOM opens Oct. 5 at Melbourne Civic Theatre. This is a very creepy, scary show. Director has done it before and my guess is it will have a perfect scare factor for the Halloween season.
THE WIZ opens Oct. 12 at the Henegar. Is this the first time this inner city adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” has been produced here?
THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW opens Oct. 19 at Titusville Playhouse.