By PAM HARBAUGH

Smart people plan ahead….. The arts scene in Brevard continues its rise in popularity which has created many sold-out shows. This is great news for all. Please be sure to click onto the links and ads in these stories to show arts providers that you read Brevard Culture!

Area Theater:

LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL runs through Feb. 19 in the Henegar Center’s second floor Studio Theater. It stars a remarkable Kristen Warren and features the superb jazz artist Jarred Armstrong on piano. To read more about it, click here. At this point, the show is all sold out, but you can still try to get tickets. Who knows…someone may have to cancel. Tickets are $20 general, $18 for military and seniors and $15 for students. Be advised, this show has language galore and adult subject matter. The Henegar is at 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne. Call the Henegar at 321-723-8698, visit Henegar.org or click onto their ad.

CALENDAR GIRLS continues its 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.

ON THE TOWN has been held over until Feb. 18 at the 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.

Professional Theater:

PRIVATE LIVES runs through Feb. 19 at Riverside Theatre. The witty Noel Coward play is the soul of sophistication. Read the review by clicking here. Tickets are $35 to $80. Riveride Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Drive, Vero Beach. Call 772-231-6990, visit RiversideTheatre.com or click onto their ad.

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.

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER runs through Sunday at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Art in Orlando. The acclaimed Broadway musical tells the outrageous story of Monty Navarro who sets out to get the fortune left by a distant relative. Read the review by clicking here. It runs through Feb. 12. Tickets start at $33.75. Dr. Phillips is at 445 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL. Call 844-513-2014 or visit DrPhillipsCenter.org.

THE GREAT GATSBY opens tonight at Orlando Shakespeare Theater and runs through March 26. Playwright Simon Levy has adapted the play from the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. As the press release states: When Nick Carraway is befriended by his mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, he is drawn into a glitzy world of lavish parties and secret speakeasies. But as Gatsby’s elusive past is uncovered and his intentions revealed, Nick finds himself a pawn in a love triangle so scandalous, it threatens to destroy all those around him. This American classic is a poignant examination of prohibition America—exploring the notions of love, morality, identity, and the corruption of the American Dream.” Orlando Shakes performs at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 East Rollins Street, Orlando, FL. Tickets begin at $25. Performances held throughout the week. Call (407) 447-1700 or visit OrlandoShakes.org.

Concerts & Nightlife:

THE BERLIN PHILHARMONIC WIND QUINTET concert this evening is nearly sold out. It is part of a series presented by the Melbourne Chamber Music Society. If you have tickets, get there early so you can park and then find your favorite spot. Tonight’s concert features Reicha-Quintet for Winds in D Major, Op. 91, No. 9, Haas-Quintet, Op. 10 (1929), Ligeti- Six Bagatelles and the Nielsen-Quintet for Winds, Op. 43 The concert begins 7:30 p.m. tonight at St. Marks United Methodist Church, 2030 N. A1A, Indialantic, FL. Tickets are $35 general and $10 students. Call (321) 213-5100 or visit MelbourneChamberMusicSociety.org.

LET IT BE – A CELEBRATION OF THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES, a tribute concert 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the King Center. Read about it clicking here.

GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA AND TOMMY DORSEY ORCHESTRA IN Battle of the Big Bands begins 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the King Center. Tickets start at $48. The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Call 321-242-2219, visit KingCenter.com, or to go directly to the appropriate web page, click onto their ad.

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.

CHILD’S PLAY: A Journey into Imagination runs through Feb. 26 at the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery. On view will be recent work of Michigan artist Lisa Mistiuk. There will be a First Friday Opening Reception at the gallery 5:30 to 8:30 this evening (Feb. 3). A percentage of earnings from the show will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida.
The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery is at 1470 Highland Avenue, Melbourne. Call 321-259-8261 or visit FifthAvenueArtGallery.com.

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.