By PAM HARBAUGH
The weather is warming up but there are still cool things to do. An exciting new art exhibition opens this weekend at the Foosaner Art Museum. A big new musical opens tonight at Cocoa Village Playhouse and a drama at Titusville Playhouse’s 2nd Stage. Lotsa musical entertainment at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach.
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Area
MARY POPPINS the Musical opens tonight and runs through May 21 at Cocoa Village Playhouse. Although this has been CVP’s fastest turnaround for producing a play — five weeks, considerably short for the more than 70 on stage — word is it’s a musical wonder with all of CVP’s usual beautiful trappings. It stars Ashley Willsey as Mary Poppins and Kyle McDonald as Bert. Ms. Willsey was last scene in this area as Fiona in CVP’s production of “Shrek, the Musical.” Brevard Culture will have a story on this show soon, so keep an eye out. In the meantime, get those tickets. They cost $16 to $24. Cocoa Village Playhouse is at 300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa. Call 321-636-5050, visit CocoaVillagePlayhouse.com or click on their ad.
THE GLASS MENAGERIE opens tonight and runs through May 7 at Titusville Playhouse 2nd Stage. This is one of Tennessee Williams classic dramas. Tickets are $15. TPI is at 301 Julia St., Titusville. Call 321-268-1125, visit TitusvillePlayhouse.com or click on their ad.
RUMORS runs through April 30 at Melbourne Civic Theatre. The show is completely sold out. MCT is at 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne. Call 321-723-6935, visit MyMCT.org or click on their ad.
THE RITZ runs through April 30 at Surfside Playhouse. Set in a gay bathhouse in 1970’s Manhattan, Terrence McNally’s Tony Award winning farce involves a straight Cleveland businessman (Chris Tsocanos) who hides out in the hotel to elude his gangster brother-in-law (Joel Shugars). There’s also a wannabe Bette Midler performer (Maria Alvey). Adults only. Tickets are $25, senior,military and student tickets are $22. The show performs 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Surfside Playhouse is at 301 Ramp Road (Fifth St. South), Cocoa Beach. Call 321-783-3127, visit SurfsidePlayers.com or click on their ad.
Professional Theater:
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER runs through April 30 at Riverside Theatre. Based on the 1977 film, the stage musical is awash with ’70s disco and follows Tony Manero, a talented street wise kid who dreams of life beyond Brooklyn. The musical features iconic Bee Gees music including “Stayin Alive,” “You Should Be Dancing” and “How Deep Is Your Love?” 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.
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA runs through April 30 at Orlando Shakes. The production stars Michael Dorn, a.k.a. Worf from STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. Read about it by clicking here. It performs at various times at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL. Tickets begin at $25. Many performances are already sold out. Call (407) 447-1700 ext. 1 or visit OrlandoShakes.org.
Nightlife:
EVERCLEAR performs 8 p.m. tonight at the King Center. The group will perform music from its popular album, “So Much For The Afterglow,” as well as other crowd favorites. Tickets begin at $47. The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Call 321-242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com or click on their ad.
HOWL AT THE MOON this weekend at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach featuring dualing pianos by Ken Gustafson and Brian Wilk. This fun-packed music-filled evening has shows at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The shows invite guests to come enjoy a picnic style dinner while listening to some great music, free. Tickets start at $16. 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.
HELLA performs this weekend at Heid’s Jazz Lounge in Cocoa Beach. She will be accompanied by the terrific Ron Teixeira Trio. The music runs 8:30 to midnight today and Saturday. Heidi’s Jazz Club is at 7 N Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL. Call 321-783-4559, visit HeidisJazzClub.com or click on their ad.
Exhibits:
PAN AMERICAN MODERNISM opens Saturday and runs through July 29 at the Foosaner Art Museum. Organized by the University of Miami’s wonderful Lowe Museum, the exhibition comprises work by artists from 13 countries in North, South and Central American plus those living in the Caribbean between 1919 and 1979. Look for a story about this later in BREVARD CULTURE. There will be a special lecture, “Curating Modern Art in the Americas” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 29, in the Foosaner’s Harris Auditorium. It will be led by Nathan Timpano, the show’s curator. He will discuss the making of the exhibition and its themes. Dr. Timpano is assistant professor of art history at the University of Miami and has also worked at the National Gallery of Art, the Kreeger Museum, and the Harvard Art Museums. 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. Call 321-674-8916, visit FoosanerArtMuseum.org or click on their ad.
INSPIRATION: FRANCE runs through April in the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery, 1470 Highland Avenue, Melbourne. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. Call 321-259-8261, visit FifthAvenueArtGallery.com or just click on their ad.
TRADITIONAL ART OF THE BEDOUIN runs through Saturday at Florida Tech’s Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts. Read about it by clicking here. 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.
Plan Ahead:
A FAMILY AFFAIR art exhibit with works by Marlis and James Newman, opens next week at the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery.
REQUIEM MASS IN D MINOR will be performed by the Brevard Community Chorus and select players from the Brevard Symphony Orchestra on May 6 at the King Center.
HANDS ON A HARDBODY the Musical opens May 5 and runs through May 21 at the Henegar Center.
MATILDA runs May 9 to 14 at Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando.