By PAM HARBAUGH
Halloween seems to be encouraging theaters to bring out fantastical characters or to ratchet up the scare factor. That’s happening at the Henegar and MCT. So excited to see Felander Stevenson return to Brevard stages in “The Wiz.” This is your last weekend to see “Hair” at Titusville and the last days with evening performances of “The Little Mermaid” at Cocoa Village Playhouse. Singer Stephanie Nakasian performs this weekend at Heidi’s Jazz Lounge. An African drumming and dance workshop at the Ruth Funk Center will be held next week. For all this info and more, read below.
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Theater:
THE WIZ opens tonight and runs through Oct. 28 at the Henegar. It features Felander Stevenson as the scarecrow, Henegar.org.
Tickets are $19 to $29. Parking is difficult right now because of construction, so valet parking is available for $10. The Henegar is at 625 E. New Haven Ave. Call 321-723-8698 or visitPHANTASMAGORIA IX “HOMECOMING” opens tonight and runs through Monday at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Orlando. Next week, the troupe sets out on a mini tour to Eustis, Sanford, Ocala and Deland. For tickets and to get exact times, visit Phantasmagoriaorlando.com. This is the steampunk storytelling creation of John DiDonna, a strong force in the Orlando theater scene. It includes choreography of Mila Makarova, fight direction by Bill Warriner, music and soundscapes by Lee Caulfield and Tod Kimbro and has creative input from many more well known Central Florida theatrical artists. Tickets start at $25 general and $15 students, seniors and military.
HAIR runs through Sunday 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 through Oct. 20 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. Read Brevard Culture’s review of the show by clicking here. 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.
VERONICA’S ROOM opens today and runs through Nov. 11 at Melbourne Civic Theatre. Get your Halloween on with this is a very creepy, scary show. Director Peg Girard has done it before and my guess is it will have a perfect scare factor. To read a story about it, click here. Tickets are $29 and $31. MCT is at 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne, FL. Call 321-723-6935, visit MyMCT.org or click on their ad.
THE ROYAL FAMILY runs through Sunday 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.
Nightlife, Music and More:
HEIDI’S JAZZ LOUNGE presents Steve Kirsner and Friends 5 – 8 p.m. today. Stephanie Nakasian performs with the Ron Teixeira Trio later tonight and Saturday. 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.
NOT QUITE RIGHT improv troupe performs 8 p.m. Saturday in the NQR Theatre in the Eau Gallie Arts District. $15. 587 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., #101, Melbourne, FL. Click here.
HOWL AT THE MOON entertainment this weekend at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach featuring pianists Amy Keith and Ken Gustafson. The fun filled shows are 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Enjoy a picnic style dinner while listening to some great music, free. Tickets begin at $12. 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.
KING CENTER presents Classic Albums Live recreating “The Eagles: Greatest Hits.” The show begins 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $29.75. The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne, FL. Call 321-242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com.
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. The museum will also hold an African Drumming and Dance Workshop 7 p.m. Oct. 19. $15 for the general public and $10 for Friends of Textiles members and Florida Tech students, faculty and staff with Florida Tech ID. Class size limited. To reserve your spot, click here. Next month, the Friends of Textiles Lecture Series will present a history of “kanga” cloth on Nov. 6. The Funk Center is on the campus of Florida Tech, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne, FL. Call 321-674-6129 or visit textiles.fit.edu.
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.
Auditions:
For complete info on upcoming auditions, click here.
Plan Ahead:
THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW opens Oct. 19 at Titusville Playhouse.
STUPID F*@#ING BIRD playread 2 p.m. Oct. 20 at Melbourne Civic Theatre.
ARTWORKS festival runs Nov. 17 and 18 in the Eau Gallie Arts District.