By PAM HARBAUGH
Our culture scene is stirring back to consciousness and the new season in the arts looks crazy promising. A new theater space run by the Not Quite Right Players will open up in what was the recent location for the Derek Gores Gallery. Shows new to Brevard stages are blossoming all around. A new Playread at MCT this Saturday. Open house at Orlando Shakes. The Brevard Symphony Orchestra is taking a bow this Sunday at Barnes & Noble. And, the folks with the Cultural Arts Showcase are getting ready to dazzle us with excitement over the coming season.
Be sure to click on ads for the organizations supporting Brevard Culture. Thank you.
Theater:
NEWSIES opens tonight and runs through September 9 at Titusville Playhouse. Based on the 1992 movie, this Disney musical is set in New York and concerns a group of “paper Mister?” rag tag newsboys dreaming of betters lives and fighting for what is right. Tickets are $21 to $29. Titusville Playhouse is at 301 Julia St., Titusville. Call 321-268-1125 or visit TitusvillePlayhouse.com.
NEWSIES at Titusville Playhouse. Photo by Niko Stamos.
PLAYREAD: THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY happens one time only — 2 p.m. Saturday — at Melbourne Civic Theatre. Written by Edward Albee, this is a mind bending dark comedy exploring, in part, life’s promises and disappointments. Tickets are $10. Not sure how many are left. MCT is at 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne. Call 321-723-6935, visit MyMCT.org or click on their ad.
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS runs through Sept. 9 at Melbourne Civic Theatre and already is getting close to selling out. This is a hysterical musical and is based on the 1988 movie with Steve Martin and Michael Caine. Set on the French Riviera, the story concerns two con men who swindle heiresses. While the Broadway show had big names connected to it (John Lithgow, Norbert Leo Butz and Joanna Gleason), Brevard’s show has its own big names — Terrence Girard, Dana Blanchard, Holly McFarland Karnes, Rob Kenna, Tracey Thompson and Mary Carson Meyer. Don’t wait to get those tickets, which cost $29 to $31. MCT is at 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne. Call 321-723-6935, visit MyMCT.org or click on their ad.
OPEN HOUSE AT ORLANDO SHAKES runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre. This is a friendly, low-impact way of getting to know this wonderful regional theater. The event includes: a sneak peek of the “In the Heights” rehearsal, hear snippets from upcoming shows, a backstage tour, participate in sound and lighting demos, kids corner, and one-time only ticket discounts. Free admission. OSF is at 812 E. Rollins St., Orlando, FL. Call
Nightlife and Music:
HEIDI’S JAZZ CLUB presents Steve Kirsner and Friends 5 – 8 p.m. today followed by the Ron Teixeira Trio. Hella performs Saturday night with the Ron Teixeira Trio. In addition to great entertainment, Heidi’s offers a wonderful bar and a super bar menu. This is definitely a favorite sophisticated night spots in Brevard. It’s warm and inviting and has a dance floor and impeccable service. Read more by clicking here. Heidi’s is at 7 N Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL. Call 321-783-4559 or visit HeidisJazzClub.com or click on their ad.
HOWL AT THE MOON show this weekend features dueling pianists Rob Volpe and Rhoda Johnson performing a special theme “Cheeseburgers in Paradise” with a Key West vibe, so get ready to request Jimmy Buffet and other beach tunes. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday night. Guests may purchase a picnic style dinner while listening to some great music, free. Tickets start at $12. 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.
HOT PINK THE MUSIC OF QUEEN runs through Sunday at Cocoa Village Playhouse. The concerts begin 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. $23. Cocoa Village Playhouse is at 300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa. Call 321-636-5050, visit CocoaVillagePlayhouse.com or click on their ad.
CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE recreates THE BEATLES: White Album will be performed 8 p.m. Saturday at the King Center. These are always big energy concerts with fans flocking to this fantastic cover band performances. Tickets start at $29.75. The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Call 321-242-2219, visit KingCenter.com or click on their ad.
SUNDAY WITH THE SYMPHONY takes place Sunday afternoon at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in West Melbourne. This family-friendly event features a special guest — author and Leonard Bernstein assistant Charlie Harmon. It also includes live music by members of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, children’s activities, discussions and ticket giveaways to BSO concerts. It also kicks off the BSO’s annual book fair which raises money for the Orchestra’s H.O.P.E. fund. Event is free to attend. It runs noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 1955 West New Haven Ave., West Melbourne, FL. For more info, visit BrevardSymphony.com.
Exhibits:
TREASURE TROVE runs through the month at the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery. The gallery has turned into a boutique with fine functional art of hand-crafted treasures created by artisans. The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery is at 1470 Highland Avenue, Melbourne, FL. Call 321-259-8261 or visit FifthAvenueArtGallery.com.
TREASURE TROVE: FINE FUNCTIONAL ART at Fifth Avenue Art Gallery
A LOOK BACK: FORTY YEARS OF THE FOOSANER COLLECTION exhibit runs through Nov. 3 at the Foosaner Art Museum. Selections come from the Foosaner’s wonderful 5,000-piece collection, which includes works by big name Pop artists Jim Dine, Robert Rauschenberg and John Chamberlain, celebrated photography of Clive Butcher, fabulous women artists Jennifer Bartlett and Viola Frey and award winning artists with a Brevard connection Larry Leach, Frits van Eeden and George Snyder. Also selected will be pieces from the Foosaner’s ancient American pottery and art deco objects collection. The Foosaner is at 1463 Highland Ave, Melbourne, FL. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is free. Call 321-674-8916 or visit FoosanerArtMuseum.org.
Auditions:
For more complete info on upcoming auditions, click here. But here are some quick looks:
THE WIZ will audition 6 p.m. Aug. 26 and 7 p.m. Aug. 28, with callbacks scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Henegar. It runs Oct. 12 – 28. The Henegar is at 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne. Call 321-723-8698.
Plan Ahead:
SPOKEN ART will feature artist Jeff Tressler, author/poet Beau Patrick 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Studios of Cocoa Beach, 165 Minutemen Causeway.
RICHIE COLE and the Cocoa Beach Alto Madness Orchestra will appear in big band fashion Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at Heidi’s Jazz Club in Cocoa Beach.
richie Cole
WANDERING SPIRIT: AFRICAN WAX PRINTS opens Sept. 1 at Florida Institute of Technology’s Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts. It is a tribute to the century-old handmade designs and patterns on textiles that originated in Indonesia and were copied and industrialized by Europeans and exported to West Africa.
IN THE HEIGHTS runs Sept. 5 to Oct. 7 at Orlando Shakes.
JERRY SEINFELD Sept. 13 at the King Center.
BLITHE SPIRIT runs Sept. 14 to 23 at Surfside Playhouse.
HAIR runs Sept. 21 to Oct. 14 at Titusville Playhouse.
THE LITTLE MERMAID runs Sept. 21 to Oct. 7 at Cocoa Village Playhouse.
6th ANNUAL CULTURAL ARTS SHOWCASE, noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 23 at the King Center.
