By PAM HARBAUGH
Fall is finally in the air. The cultural community’s spook-meisters are ready to thrill you. Now it’s up to you.
Be sure to click on ads for the organizations supporting Brevard Culture. Thank you.
Theater:
PHANTASMAGORIA IX “HOMECOMING” is designed to thrill. Gotta get in a car and drive a bit, but people love this experience. 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. For tickets and to get exact times, visit Phantasmagoriaorlando.com.
VERONICA’S ROOM 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 ROCKY HORROR SHOW runs through Sunday at Titusville Playhouse. This is the musical stage show upon which the 1975 movie was based. Buy prop bags at the theater and get involved! Tickets start at $25. Titusville Playhouse is at 301 Julia St., Titusville, FL. Call 321-268-1125 or visit TitusvillePlayhouse.com.
THE WIZ runs through Sunday 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 visitSMOKEY JOE’S CAFE runs through Nov. 11 at Riverside Theatre. For a story about one of its stars, click here. Review coming soon. Tickets start at $35. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Drive, Vero Beach. Call 772-231-6990 visit RiversideTheatre.com or click on their ad.
Nightlife, Music and More:
NOT QUITE RIGHT improv troupe will pit team against team in an “Improv Thrown Down” Saturday in its new theater in the Eau Gallie Arts District. Show starts at 8 p.m. Saturday in the NQR Theatre, 587 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., #101, Melbourne, FL. $15. Click here. Don’t forget, they hold auditions Sunday. See below under “auditions.”
HEIDI’S JAZZ LOUNGE presents Ronnie Leigh (shared stage with many greats including The Drifters and Etta James) 8:30 p.m. tonight. Tomorrow it’s Rev. Billy C. Wirtz at 8 p.m. Also on Saturday are Hella and 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.HOWL AT THE MOONentertainment this weekend at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach featuring pianists Brian Wilk and Ken Gustafson. This is a special weekend as it raises funds for the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.” All tickets are $25 for this special performance and include a door prize raffle ticket and $5 Donation to The American Cancer Society“Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” Awareness Campaign. 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 is busy this weekend in both its mainstage and studio theaters. It’s roster includes: ELTON DAN AND THE ROCKETS in an Elton John tribute show 7:30 p.m. tonight, tickets start at $42; STEVE OLIVER AND MARION MEADOWS perform 7:30 p.m. Saturday, tickets start at $60; TOTO – 40 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN performs 8 p.m. Saturday, tickets start at $48.50; and Lindsey Buckingham performs 7 p.m. Sunday, tickets start at 76.75. The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne, FL. Call 321-242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com.
Exhibits:
NANCY DILLEN RETROSPECTIVE runs through March 15, 2019 in Leu Gardens in Orlando. Read a short story about the exhibition by clicking here.
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:
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN opens Nov. 2 at Surfside Playhouse.
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH opens Nov. 2 at Titusville Playhouse.
FRIENDS OF TEXTILES LECTURE SERIES presents “A Brief History of Kanga Cloth, East Africa’s Printed Textile” by Dr. MacKenzie Moon Ryan, Rollins College on Nov. 6.
CROWNS opens Nov. 9 at the Henegar Center.
FORKS ‘N CORKS benefit for the Brevard Symphony Orchestra will be held Nov. 11 at Djon’s Steak & Lobster House.
DEREK GORES: LOCAL EDITION opens Nov. 17 in the Foosaner Art Museum.
ARTWORKS festival runs Nov. 17 and 18 in the Eau Gallie Arts District.
WILLY WONKA opens Nov. 30 at the Henegar Center.