By PAM HARBAUGH
It’s okay, c’mon out….it’s only our theater scene’s warring themes: Primitive Man and Gentlemen, Bordellos and Castles, Mad Women and Fair Ladies.
Read below about those shows plus other weekend events by our vital arts community. And be sure to click on their ads, which helps Brevard Culture abide: COCOA VILLAGE PLAYHOUSE, HEIDI’S JAZZ CLUB, MELBOURNE CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY, MELBOURNE CIVIC THEATRE, RIVERSIDE THEATRE and SURFSIDE PLAYHOUSE. If your organization or supportive business wants to advertise, email BrevardCulture@gmail.com.
THEATER:
A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER opens tonight and runs through March 24 at the Cocoa Village Playhouse. Read this Brevard Culture story by clicking here. And, expect a review later. Cocoa Village Playhouse is at 300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa, FL. Call 321-636-5050, visit CocoaVillagePlayhouse.com or click on their ad.
From left: Caroline Brown, Angel Santiago, Cathy Moubray in Cocoa Village Playhouse production of A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER. Photo by Jonathan Goforth.
TARZAN opens tonight and runs through March 24 at the Henegar Center. Look for a story AND a review soon in Brevard Culture. In the meantime, know that this is a very entertaining show with some fresh touches, terrific music and great cast. Tickets are $19 to $29. The Henegar is at 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne, FL. Call 321-723-8698 or visit Henegar.org.
Corinne Marie and Joe Horton in The Henegar’s production of TARZAN The Musical. Photo by Niko Stamos.
BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS runs through March 17 at Surfside Playhouse. This is the oft-produced musical about a beloved house of ill repute butting up against politics and puritans. Tickets are $22 to $25 plus $1.75 handling fee. 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.
MAN OF LA MANCHA runs through March 17 at Titusville Playhouse. I saw the dress rehearsal of this powerful and aesthetically excellent production about dreaming the impossible dream. Read more about it by clicking here. Tickets are $21 to $29. Titusville Playhouse is at 301 Julia St., Titusville. Call 321-268-1125 or visit TitusvillePlayhouse.com.
Patrick Ryan Sullivan is Don Quixote/Cervantes in MAN OF LA MANCHA at Titusville Playhouse. Photo by Niko Stamos.
GLORIA runs through Sunday at Mad Cow Theatre in Orlando. Read a Brevard Culture review of it by clicking here. In the meantime, know that this unusual, hard hitting dark comedy about our contemporary world was written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, the MacArthur genius grant winner who gave us the mind blowing play “An Octoroon.” Oh, the Mad Cow show stars one of our faves, Zack Roundy. Tickets are $42 general and $32 students and military. Mad Cow is at 54 West Church St., second floor, Orlando. Call 407.297.8788 or visit MadCowTheatre.com.
From left: Jen Chia, John Hamilton-Rice and Patrick A. Jackson in GLORIA at Mad Cow Theatre. Photo by Tom Hurst.
MY FAIR LADY opens March 12 and runs through March 31 at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach. The show is being directed by one of my faves, James Brennan. Look for a Brevard Culture review next week. Tickets are $35 to $90. This show is quickly selling out ahead of time. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, FL. Call 772-231-6990, visit RiversideTheatre.com or click on their ad.
From left: James Ludwig, Kristen Beth Williams and Ed Dixon in Riverside Theatre’s production of MY FAIR LADY.
MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE:
Jesse Jones, Jr.
UP CLOSE AND CLASSICAL event with the Brevard Symphony Orchestra begins 5:45 p.m. next Thursday, March 14. The event begins in the King Center lobby with a casual dinner, special announcements including concert schedule for next season and a meet and greet with Maestro Christopher Confessore and BSO musicians. Guests will then be invited into the mainstage theater to attend a 7:30 p.m. rehearsal of the BSO’s next concert, which features music of Grainger, Dvorak and Beach. Tickets are $30 for BSO subscribers and $40 general public. The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Call 321-242-2024.
NQR COMEDY performs improv at NQR Theatre is at 587 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Melbourne. Visit NQRComedy.com.
CELTIC WOMAN Ancient Land performs 7:30 p.m. tonight at the King Center. Tickets start at $53. The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Call 321-242-2219 or visit Celtic Woman
Exhibits:
LISA SHEPPERD is the artists of the month at the Studios of Cocoa Beach. Sheppard has been making pots since high school classes in Miami. For several decades, she worked locally with a gas-soda kiln at Horse Creek Pottery, but is now altering her decoration techniques for electric firings. She continues to take every opportunity to study with talented potters near and far, including Mackenzie Smith, Jinsong Kim, Josh DeWeese, Lorna Meaden and Linda Arbuckle. Lisa says, “My work begins on the wheel, but I often alter the form with handbuilt additions. I create distinctive decorations by painting with clay slips, as well as carving into the surface. I want to make functional art that people can use every day; all my pottery is food safe, and may be put in the dishwasher and microwave.” One of Lisa’s “ Berry Bowls ” will be the prize in the Studios’ monthly giveaway. To enter this free drawing, visit the Studios any day in March. The Studios of Cocoa Beach is at 165 Minuteman Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL. Hours are Monday and Tuesday 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information about exhibits, artists and workshop schedules, call the Studios at 321-613-3480 or visit StudiosOfCocoaBeach.org.
Berry Bowl by Lisa Shepperd
PROPAGANDA KIMONOS runs to May 4 at the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts which is on the campus of Florida Tech, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne, FL. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays. Free admission. Call 321-674-8313 or visit their website by clicking here.
A textile fragment from Japan circa 1931-45. A gift from Erik Jacobsen, the piece is part of the permanent collection of the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts and featured in the new exhibition, “Designed to Mobilize: Propaganda Kimono 1920-1945.”
FOOSANER ART MUSEUM presents DEREK GORES: LOCAL EDITION, a retrospective of work by Brevard’s popular, award winning and internationally acclaimed artist Derek Gores. It runs through March 23 at Florida Tech’s Foosaner Art Museum. On Saturday, March 9, the Foosaner will present “Collage Couture” a special event combining fashion and art. The area designers involved are: Sabrina Servance, Kitty Drew, Maria Storman, Nadail Watson, Lear Bunda, Cassandra Wyzik, Virginia Rivera, Jessica Neal and Rosemary Heptig. They will show designs inspired by Derek Gores’ collage work. It begins 7 p.m. and costs $25 per person. Proceeds will benefit Florida Tech’s Renee Foosaner Education Center summer camps. The Foosaner Art Museum is at 1463 Highland Avenue Melbourne, FL. Call 321-674-8916 or visit FoosanerArtMuseum.org.
(321) 674-8916
NANCY DILLEN RETROSPECTIVE runs through March 15, 2019 in Leu Gardens in Orlando. Read a short story about the exhibition by clicking here.
“TOE KISS” by Nancy Dillen
DOUBLE VISION with works by photographer Mark Mittleman and painter Bill McCoy runs through the month at the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery. The exhibit explores how two artists see the same thing. The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery, 1470 Highland Ave., Melbourne. Call 321-259-8261 or visit FifthAvenueArtGallery.com.
Painter Bill McCoy and photographer Mark Mittleman have side by side works in DOUBLE VISION exhibit at the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery.
Auditions:
ACTORS: For information on the wealth of auditions happening around the area this month and next, click here.
WFIT 89.5 FM GARAGE BAND CONTEST is seeking entries. Winner will be announced 12:10 p.m. March 29 and will win a recording session at the radio station’s performance studio. The band will also be asked to perform at the 2019 Sonic Waves Music Festival on Saturday, April 13, at the Intracoastal Brewing Company in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne. To be eligible, bands must be from Brevard County and be unsigned. To enter, bands must film a new video of them performing an original song in a garage. The video, no longer than 5 minutes, should then be uploaded to YouTube. The link should be included on the contest entry form. The band must submit an entry form, available at www.wfit.org, by Friday, March 22. The band will also be asked to perform at the 2019 Sonic Waves Music Festival on Saturday, April 13, at the Intracoastal Brewing Company in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne. Find more information and entry forms at wfit.org.
Plan Ahead:
BREVARD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA performs in concert March 16.
THE MORGENSTERN PIANO TRIO will be presented by the Melbourne Chamber Music Society March 22.
THE COUNTRY HOUSE opens March 22 at Melbourne Civic Theatre.
GHOST WRITER opens March 26 at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach.
SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM opens March 30 at the Henegar Center.
