By PAM HARBAUGH
A holiday show opens, two new ones loom, two more close on Sunday and yet another is nearly sold out. It’s the appeal of the big season and you really don’t want to miss out. In fact, why not kick start it with today’s tree lighting ceremony during First Friday running 6 to 10 p.m. in the Eau Gallie Arts District
Please be sure to click onto the ads of organizations supporting Brevard Culture. Thank you.
Theater:
ANNIE opens today and runs through Dec. 17 at the Henegar Center. This favorite seasonal musical has all the dancing and laughing and heart tugging warmness you need. Look for a story soon in Brevard Culture. Tickets are general, for seniors and military and for students. All tickets have a service fee. The Henegar is at 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne. Call 321-723-8698, visit Henegar.org or click on their ad.
“Annie” at the Henegar Center. Photo by Dana Niemeier Photography.
CHRISTMAS WITH DINO runs through Dec. 24 at Melbourne Civic Theatre and is very close to being sold out. The theater company always has a special holiday show, frequently calling upon the talents of Alfie Silva. A wonderful singer and all around great performer, this season, Alfie brings his Dean Martin homage back to life. The show is filled with a bevy of beauties, wonderful songs and sophisticated humor. Tickets start are $30 plus handling. MCT is at 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne. Call 321-723-6935, visit MyMCT.org or click on their ad.
SANTALAND DIARIES opens Thursday and runs through Dec. 10 at the Henegar Center’s 2nd floor Studio Theater. It stars BeeJay Aubertin and is directed by yours truly. It is an adults only holiday “palate cleanser” with a late night curtain. Look for a story soon in Brevard Culture. Tickets are $26 general, $23 for seniors and military and $16 for students (teenagers). All tickets have a $3 service fee. The Henegar is at 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne. Call 321-723-8698, visit Henegar.org or click on their ad.
BeeJay Aubertin Clinton is Crumpet the Elf in SANTALAND DIARIES at the Henegar Center. Photo by Pam Harbaugh
ORPHANS runs through Sunday at Theater on the Edge in Orlando. It stars Brevard actors Zack Roundy and Allan Whitehead and Orlando actor Adam Minossora. It is directed by Marco DiGeorge and the show has been getting some great, positive responses. Read Joan Taddie’s review by clicking here. Tickets start at $22. Click here.
THE MUSIC MAN runs through Dec. 3 at Titusville Playhouse. To read a story about a couple of its young stars, click here. Tickets start at $23. Click here.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL runs through Sunday at Cocoa Village Playhouse. Popular area actor Rick Roach reprises his role of Ebeneezer Scrooge who finds redemption courtesy of three spirits and Tiny Tim. Read a Brevard Culture story about the musical production by clicking here. Tickets are $16 to $24. Cocoa Village Playhouse is at 300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa. Call 321-636-5050, visit CocoaVillagePlayhouse.com or click on their ad.
Fur die Kinder:
THE LION KING EXPERIENCE — KIDS runs 7 p.m. tonight and 2 p.m. Saturday at Surfside Playhouse. It is presented by the Surfside Youth Players. Tickets are $10. Surfside Playhouse is at 301 Ramp Road (5th Street South), Cocoa Beach. Call 321-783-3127, visit SurfsidePlayers.com or click on their ad.
THE NUTCRACKER with the Space Coast Ballet take place 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 2 at the King Center. This artistic masterpiece is directed by first soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre and principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet, Artem Yachmennikov, and features internationally acclaimed principal dancers along with talented dancers from our community. Tickets start at $19.50 general and $16 children 12 years and younger. The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Call 321-242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com.
Nightlife & Concerts:
LONDON HANDEL PLAYERS will perform tonight only for the Melbourne Chamber Music Society. The program includes Handel, Trio Sonata Opus 2 No. 4, Telemann, Sonata for Violin & Harpsichord, Handel, Arias from Semele & Alcina, Handel, Harpsichord Suite in E Major and Telemann, Paris Quartet in E Minor. The London Handel Players perform Baroque chamber music and concertos worldwide and appear regularly at Wigmore Hall and at many of the world’s leading festivals. They made their New York debut at the Frick Collection in 2012 and later performed at Carnegie Hall in 2014. Tickets are $35 general and $10 students. Performance begins 7:30 p.m. today, Friday, Dec. 1, at St. Marks United Methodist Church, 2030 N. Hwy A1A, Indialantic, Florida. Call 321-213-5100, visit MelbourneChamberMusicSociety.org or click on their ad.
London Handel Players
HEIDI’S JAZZ CLUB offers great entertainment, a wonderful bar and a super bar menu. Heidi’s is at 7 N Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL. Call 321-783-4559 or visit HeidisJazzClub.com or click on their ad.
COMEDY ZONE features stand up comics Ron Feingold and Paul Jensen Friday and Saturday evenings at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach. Shows begin at 7:30 and 9:30 tonight and Saturday. Patrons to the Comedy Zone can also enjoy free music before the shows and casino games in the lobby. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Drive, Vero Beach. Get there early and buy a burger and a beer if you like. Tickets begin at $16. Call 772-231-6990, visit RiversideTheatre.com or click onto their ad.
IMPROV 8 p.m. Saturday at Surfside Playhouse features more than 20 improv students determined to make you laugh. Tickets are $10. Surfside Playhouse is at 301 Ramp Road (5th Street South), Cocoa Beach. Call 321-783-3127, visit SurfsidePlayers.com or click on their ad.
Family Events:
ANTI-GRAVITY PROJECT mural painting throughout the Eau Gallie Arts District features artists from around the world. Closing Ceremonies on Saturday, December 2, at Fusion Anti-Block Party. For more information, click here.
A mural painted by Christopher Maslow on the wall of the Eau Gallie Florist
MICHAEL CARBONARO LIVE! brings to the King Center stage the “Magician of the Year” and star of TruTV’s “The Carbonaro Effect.” His work has been described as “comically perplexing and improbable feats of magic.” The show begins 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5 at the King Center. Tickets start at $29, with meet and greet tickets available. The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Call 321-242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com.
Michael Carbonaro
Exhibits:
CLOTH AS COMMUNITY: HMONG TEXTILES IN AMERICA runs through Dec. 16 at Florida Institute of Technology’s Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts. The Ruth Funk Center is on the campus of Florida Tech, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Free admission. Call 321-674-8313, visit their website or Click on their ad.
THE MAGICAL WORKS OF NANCY DILLEN exhibition is on view through Jan. 26, 2018 in the Frits van Eeden Gallery at the Renee Foosaner Education Center. The Frits Van Eeden gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Admission is free. The Renee Foosaner Education Center is located at 1520 Highland Ave. in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne. Call 321-674-8923 or visit FoosanerArtMuseum.org.
THE HISTORY OF SPACE PHOTOGRAPHY and GUARDIANS OF THE COSMOS: PAINTINGS BY RAIMUNDO MARTIN run through Jan. 6, 2018 at the Foosaner Art Museum, at 1463 Highland Avenue. It is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Call 321-674-8916, visit FoosanerArtMuseum.org or click on their ad.
FIFTH AVENUE ART GALLERY 35th Annual Holiday Craft Show runs through Jan. 6, 2018. You can meet some of the artisans at tonight’s First Friday Opening Reception 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery is at 1470 Highland Ave., Melbourne. Call 321-259-8261 or visit FifthAvenueArtGallery.com.
Auditions and Calls for Art:
Riverside Theatre is holding auditions for young newsboys to appear in its professional production of GYPSY 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4. Needed are three young male actors under 12 years of age. Tap dancing experience is a plus, but the young actors must be able to sing and dance/move. Just show up for the audition, head to the Orchid Lobby and sign in. Parents are welcome to stay in the lobby area. Bring a headshot and resume and wear clothes you can move/dance in. Prepare a short section of a song from musical theater. An accompanist will be provided. All auditions will be recorded. The show is scheduled to run March 6 to 26. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Drive, Vero Beach, FL. For more information, email Kyle Atkins, Associate Produce, at kylea@riversidetheatre.com.
Upcoming auditions in December include those for: I AND YOU 5 p.m. Dec. 10 and 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Henegar Center; PROOF 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Titusville Playhouse, GYPSY 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10 & 11 and 5:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Titusville Playhouse;
Plan Ahead:
A TUNA CHRISTMAS runs Dec. 8 to 17 at Titusville Playhouse.
A CHRISTMAS STORY THE MUSICAL Dec. 8 to 16 with Riverside Theatre Students.
BREVARD COMMUNITY CHORUS 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the King Center.
A GARFIELD CHRISTMAS 2 p.m. Dec. 10 at the King Center.
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY SHOWCASE Dec. 11 & 12 at Cocoa Village Playhouse.
THE HOLIDAYS RE-GIFTED with Michael Law Dec. 19 at the Cocoa Village Playhouse.
