By PAM HARBAUGH

A basket o’ kittens…Now that we have your attention, fill your cultural basket to the brim this weekend with fresh fare opening at area theaters and art galleries and more. You might still find tickets to some crowd pleasing shows and to a big symphonic concert.

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THEATER:

SYLVIA opens tonight and runs through Feb. 24 at Melbourne Civic Theatre. This show has a sweet little conceit to it which we’re not going to spoil for you. Just know that it is director Peg Girard at her best. Add to that performances by people who are inherently funny: the zany Shane Frampton, the droll Mark Blackledge and the madcap Jessica Foix. Act quick, tickets are already hard to find. Look for a review later in Brevard Culture. Tickets are $29 to $31. MCT is at 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne, FL. Call 321-723-6935, visit MyMCT.org or click on their ad.

From left: Shane Frampton, Mark Blackledge and Jessica Foix in SYLVIA at Melbourne Civic Theatre. Photo by Max Thornton.

BONNIE & CLYDE opens tonight and runs through Feb. 3 at the Henegar Center. This show, directed by Amanda Cheyenne Manis, has a wealth of music and features some wonderful talent, especially that of Cameron Elliott (Clyde), Olga Intriago (Bonnie), Kyle McDonald (Buck) and Mahalia Gronigan (Blanche). Look for a review soon in Brevard Culture. Tickets are $19 to $29. The Henegar is at 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne, FL. Call 321-723-8698 or visit Henegar.org.

Olga Intriago and Cameron Elliott in BONNIE & CLYDE at the Henegar Center. Photo by Dana Niemeier.

EVITA runs through Jan. 27 at Riverside Theatre. This is a sensational show. Read the review by clicking here. This is a professional production with shows throughout the week, including many matinees. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Drive, Vero Beach, FL. Curtain is 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 2 p.m. Wednesdays, select Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets begin at $35. Call 772-231-6990, visit RiversideTheatre.com or click on their ad.

Enrique Acevedo and Natalie Cortez in EVITA at Riverside Theatre.

THE CRUCIBLE runs through Jan. 27 at Surfside Players. I saw a dress rehearsal and was very impressed by the performances. Great scenes with Terrence Girard, Steven Wolf and Rhett Pennell. Anthony Mowad at his best as well. Artistic work by Bryan Bergeron. Look for a review in Brevard Culture next week. $25 general and $22 for seniors, military and students. A $1.75 service fee may be added to each ticket. Surfside Playhouse is at 301 Ramp Road (5th Street South), Cocoa Beach. Call 321-783-3127, visit SurfsidePlayers.com or click on their ad.

Rhett Pennell and Steven Wolf in “The Crucible” at Surfside Playhouse. Photo by Pam Harbaugh

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES runs through Feb. 3 at Titusville Playhouse. This is a fun show, through and through. It stars Steven Heron as drag queen Albin and Daniel McDonald as his lover, Georges. I saw a rehearsal of this show and the performances are wonderful. And Luke Atkison, the genius, dresses the stage with his scenic, lighting and choreography design…and he performs in the show as well. And with Titusville Playhouse receiving awards aplenty from Broadway World’s Regional Awards, the place is bound to be filled with great energy. Tickets $21 to $29. Titusville Playhouse is at 301 Julia St., Titusville. Call 321-268-1125 or visit TitusvillePlayhouse.com.

From LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at Titusville Playhouse. Photo by Niko Stamos.

HAMILTON opens Tuesday, Jan. 22 and runs through Feb. 10 at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando. Tickets start at $176.50. Some performances sold out. HOWEVER, you might win the opportunity to purchase a $10 lottery ticket. To find out about the Hamilton Lottery program, click here.

Joseph Morales and Company in HAMILTON National Tour. Photo by Joan Marcus.

NEXT TO NORMAL opens Tuesday, Jan. 22 at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach. This is a professional production of the Pulitzer Prize winning musical. Look for a Brevard Culture review of the show next week. Tickets are $75 adults and $37.50 ages 5 to 17. Riverside is at 3250 Riverside Drive, Vero Beach, FL. Call 772-231-6990, visit RiversideTheatre.com or click on their ad

MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE:

BREVARD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA has a concert Saturday at the King Center. The BSO will perform some of the classical canon’s best loved work, including that by Tchaikovsky, Strauss, Rimsky-Korsakov and Brahms. Also on the program is work by video game music composer Austin Wintory. Concert features pianist Ani Gogova. To read a Brevard Culture story about the concert, click here. The concert begins at 2 and 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19 at the King Center for the Performing Arts, 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Tickets begin at $29 for the matinee and at $36 for the evening performance. Handling fees may apply. Call 321-242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com or BrevardSymphony.com.

Maestro Christopher Confessore

ARLO GUTHRIE: ALICE’S RESTAURANT tour performs 8 p.m. tonight at the King Center. Tickets start at $59. The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Call 321-242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com.

HEIDI’S JAZZ LOUNGE presents Steve Kirsner and Friends on Friday and Hella on Saturday. And of course, with the incomparable Ron Teixeira Trio. Jam session Sunday. 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.

IMPROV DATE NIGHT with NQR Players 7 to 9 p.m. tonight, Friday, Jan. 18. Online pre-registration is $10 (plus fees)/$15 at-the-door. For more information and registration visit www.nqrcomedy.com. No refunds or exchanges. Space is limited. NQR Theatre is at 587 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Melbourne. Visit NQRComedy.com.

Exhibits:

OPENINGS TO THE WORLD members’ exhibit runs through Jan. 26 at the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery, 1470 Highland Ave., Melbourne. Visit FifthAvenueArtGallery.com.

“Timeless” by M. Bullock

FOOSANER ART MUSEUM presents DEREK GORES: LOCAL EDITION, a retrospective of work by Brevard’s popular, award winning and internationally acclaimed artist Derek Gores. It runs through March 23 at Florida Tech’s Foosaner Art Museum, 1463 Highland Avenue Melbourne, FL. Call 321-674-8916 or visit FoosanerArtMuseum.org.
(321) 674-8916

FRIENDS AND FAMILY exhibit The Members Show at Studios of Cocoa Beach. The annual show runs through January 21, 2019. The Studios of Cocoa Beach at 165 Minuteman Causeway in downtown Cocoa Beach. Hours are Monday and Tuesday 10:30am-3:30 pm, Wednesday through Saturday 10:30am to 8pm and Sunday 11 am to 4 pm. Call 321-613-3480 or visit studiosofcocoabeach.org.

NANCY DILLEN RETROSPECTIVE runs through March 15, 2019 in Leu Gardens in Orlando. Read a short story about the exhibition by clicking here.

Auditions:

Every Brevard community theater has auditions in January. For a complete list, click here.

Plan Ahead:

ANYTHING GOES opens Jan. 25 at Cocoa Village Playhouse.
PROPAGANDA KIMONOS exhibit opens Jan. 25 at the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts.
POPS SERIES: The Second City Guide to the Symphony with Colin Mochrie will be presented Feb. 2 at the Bob Carr in Orlando.

Colin Mochrie with Second City performs with the Orlando Philharmonic Feb. 2, 2019