By PAM HARBAUGH

I’m exhausted just writing up this list. Shows are closing, shows are opening. Great stuff on Brevard stages and on professional stages in Vero Beach and Orlando. New exhibits in area museums and a big one closing this weekend at a venerated gallery. Big names in music. Whew…

Community Theater:

ON THE TOWN opens tonight at Cocoa Village Playhouse. Set in 1940s New York City, the musical revolves around three sailors on a 24-hour leave. It’s based on the 1949 film starring Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelley. Music is by Leonard Bernstein with book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. They based the musical on Jerome Robbins’ ballet “Fancy Free.” The show runs through Feb. 12. Tickets are $27 general, $25 students and seniors and $19 for children 12 years and younger. Cocoa Village Playhouse is at 300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa. Call 321-636-5050, visit CocoaVillagePlayhouse.com or click onto their ad.

IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU closes Sunday at the Henegar. This musical comedy packs laughs galore into its one-act format. Read about it here. The Henegar Center is at 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne. Tickets are $16 to $26. Call 321-723-8698, visit Henegar.org or click onto their ad.

THE RAINMAKER closes Sunday at Surfside Playhouse. This classic American drama is set during a drought, which is both literal and figurative for it also concerns a plain daughter with no prospects of love…when in walks a “rainmaker” loaded with promises. Surfside’s production is directed by Bryan Bergeron and stars Sarah Roberts as the girl an Matthew Hall as the rainmaker, plus Scott Sutherland, Dusty Ray and David Bondy. Tickets are $22 to $25. Surfside Playhouse is at 301 Ramp Road (5th Street South), Cocoa Beach. Call 321-783-3127, visit SurfsidePlayers.com or click onto their ad.

CALENDAR GIRLS continues its close to sold-out run at Melbourne Civic Theatre. Read Kraz’ review by clicking here. MCT keeps trying to make its patrons happy by adding more shows (most recently Thursday Feb 23 @ 8pm), so keep an eye out on their Facebook page. “Calendar Girls” runs through Feb. 26. Tickets are $31 general $29 seniors. Call 321-723-6935, visit MyMCT.org or click onto their ad.

ROCK OF AGES runs through Feb. 5 at Titusville Playhouse. The musical packed ’em in for more than five years on Broadway. It tells the rock ‘n roll fairy tale of a 1980s hard rock singer who tries to be “the next big thing” at a time of change. The musical features songs by hit bands Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and more. Tickets are $22 to $28. TPI is at 301 Julia St., Titusville. Call 321-268-1125, visit TitusvillePlayhouse.com or click onto their ad.

Professional Theater:

AN EMPTY PLATE IN THE CAFE DU GRAND BOEUF is nearly sold out at Riverside Theatre where it is running through Feb. 5 on its Waxlax Stage. This is heady, witty stuff. Read the review by clicking here. It performs in about one hour 45 minutes without intermission. Tickets are $45. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Drive, Vero Beach. Call 772-231-6990, visit RiversideTheatre.com or click onto their ad.

BLACKBERRY WINTER is a stunning new work on stage now at Orlando Shakes. It is a must-see for actors at the very least. With what is basically a one-woman show, Suzanne O’Donnell shows how it’s done. Read the review by clicking here. The play runs through Feb. 5 at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL. Tickets are $40 to $50. It performs at various times and is a professional production. Call 407-447-1700 or visit OrlandoShakes.org.

WICKED runs through Sunday in Orlando at the Dr. Phillips Center. Read both the review and how you can get $25 orchestra seats by clicking here. The show runs through Jan. 29. Tickets start at $42.75 and may be purchased online at DrPhillipsCenter.org, by calling 844-513-2014 or by visiting the Dr. Phillips Center Box Office at 445 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.Monday through Friday, or 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. Online and phone ticket purchases are subject to handling fees.

PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE runs through Feb. 19 at Mad Cow Theatre in Orlando. Talkbacks take place after each Thursday and Sunday performance. Talkbacks are free to audience members, and the public may attend at no extra cost. Written by Steve Martin, this quirky play concerns the heady comic notion that “Einstein and Picasso walk into a bar…” Tickets begin at $26. Discounts available. Mad Cow Theatre is one the second floor at 54 West Church Street, Orlando, FL. Call 407-297-8788 ext. 1 or visit MadCowTheatre.com.

Concerts:

SAXAPHONIST DENNIS BRAM performs 8:30 to midnight this evening with the Ron Teixiera Trio at Heidi’s Jazz Club. Mr. Bram once headed up the Dennis Bram Quintet in New York City. You should know by now that Heidi’s Jazz Club is one of my favorite haunts. Make it yours, too. You’ll be glad you did. Great music, exciting lounge atmosphere, dancing, top notch dining…what’s not to love? Heidi’s Jazz Lounge is at 7 N Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL. Call 321-783-4559 or visit HeidisJazzClub.com.

GLADYS KNIGHT comes to the King Center stage 7 p.m. Sunday. This iconic super star has won seven Grammys and has had big hits in a wide range of musical genres, including pop, gospel, R&B and adult contemporary. She’s the one who lead Gladys Knight and The Pips in memorable tunes such as “Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Tickets start at $47.50. The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Call 321-242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com.

Exhibits:

THE RED THAT COLORED THE WORLD is on view now at Florida Tech’s Foosaner Art Museum. Read about it by clicking here. The Foosaner Art Museum is at 1463 Highland Ave. in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Free admission. Visit FoosanerMuseum.org, call 321-674-8916 or click on their ad.

TRADITIONAL ART OF THE BEDOUIN opens Saturday at Florida Tech’s Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts. Read about it by clicking here. The Ruth Funk Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. The Center is located next to Evans Library on the Florida Tech campus in Melbourne, Florida, 150 W. University Blvd. Admission is free. For more information, visit http://textiles.fit.edu or call 321-674-8313.

REDISCOVERING KLIMT closes Sunday at the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery. The group show was inspired by Klimt’s use of gold and gold leaf. Gallery artists were challenged to do the same with their works in this exhibit. The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery is at 1470 Highland Avenue, Melbourne. Call 321-259-8261 or visit FifthAvenueArtGallery.com.