By PAM HARBAUGH
A nice evening for a stroll. First Friday tonight in the Eau Gallie Arts District. Galleries opened. Not Quite Right folks have an open house. The big deal for the weekend though is the Brevard Symphony Orchestra’s season opener…an all-Bernstein concert. Read below for more info.
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Theater:
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. 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 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.
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 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.
IN THE HEIGHTS runs through Sunday 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:
IMPROV COMEDY begins 8 p.m. tonight at Surfside Playhouse. $10. Surfside is at 301 Ramp Road (5th Street South), Cocoa Beach, FL. Call 321-783-3127, visit SurfsidePlayers.com or click on their ad.
THE KING CENTER presents the BREVARD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA in “A Bernstein Celebration” 8 p.m. Saturday. Led by Maestro Christopher Confessore, this concert will celebrate the 100th birthday of Mr. Bernstein and is going to be one amazing concert. This All-Bernstein concert focuses on his great theatrical works, with excerpts from “Candide,” “On the Town,” “West Side Story,” “Mass,” and “Fancy Free.” One of Bernstein’s former Personal Assistants and Librarians, Charlie Harmon, will join the BSO as a special guest, offering anecdotes about his time working for Bernstein and his experiences watching Bernstein prepare and perform many of the works on our program. His special arrangement of “On the Town” will receive its world premiere and performed by guest violin soloist Jennifer Frautschi. Disney vocal solists Jackie Stressman and E.J. Cardona will also perform. “This will be a spectacular way to open our season, and a fitting tribute to a great American musician!” Tickets start at $45. The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Call 321-242-2219, visit KingCenter.com or click on their ad.
HEIDI’S JAZZ LOUNGE 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.
NOT QUITE RIGHT improv troupe performs 8 p.m. Saturday in the NQR Theatre in the Eau Gallie Arts District. Tonight, they will present “My Weird Uncle,” its monologue-inspired hour-long improved show followed by fast-paced short form show. $15. 587 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., #101, Melbourne, FL. Click here.
COMEDY ZONE this weekend at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach featuring stand up comics Tim “The Dairy Farmer” and DC Murphy, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Enjoy a picnic style dinner while listening to some great music, free. Tickets are $12 to $18. 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.
Auditions:
For more complete info on upcoming auditions, click here.
Plan Ahead:
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.