By PAM HARBAUGH
Come home. All forgiven. Hoping that this photo of kittens and a puppy will melt your heart enough to forgive Brevard Culture’s hiatus. But we couldn’t wait until the New Year for our return because there are so many goodies right now for all you thirsty culture vultures out there. Let’s start with something not at all seasonal and end with a seasonal must-do:
Theater:
A BEER SWILLING SPACE ALIEN is the subject of “Intelligent Life,” an original one-hour play enjoying a raucous run with the South Beach Players. I love this group. It is run by a former lady wrestler (Mad Maxine) and her partner in art, Donna Roberts. The group attracts the residents of the communities around that yellow flashing light way south in Melbourne Beach. They perform in the second floor banquet hall in the grill at Sebastian Inlet State Park. I hope they do not take offense at this, but the group has that amazing charm and fun of an “absolute beginner.” I recommend it highly. Just please leave your sophisticated beret at home. “Intelligent Life” runs through Dec. 14, with a 7 p.m. curtain (you’ll be out around 8 p.m.) They perform at the Surfside Grill in Sebastian Inlet State Park, 9707 S. Highway A1A, South Melbourne Beach. Tickets cost $12, which includes park entry fee. They may be purchased in advance at Melbourne Beach Properties at 6680 A1A, Melbourne Beach. Any left over tickets will be available at the door. For more information, send a message to South Beach Players via its Facebook page.
“Intelligent Life” by Clark Semmes, running at the South Beach Players
MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT is the annual holiday show/fundraiser at Melbourne Civic Theatre. It opens tonight and runs through Dec. 24.The production is a variety show and stars one the area’s most charismatic stage performers, Alfie Silva. It brings on stage are performers who interact with Silva and the audience. There is music, dance, celebrity impersonations and plenty of fun both on and off stage. This year, director Peg Girard is staging the show so that a few VIP tables will be placed on stage. The tables cost $250 and seat four people. They include two beverages per person and bar snacks. “Making Spirits Bright” runs Dec. 6 to 24 at various times. Tickets are $30. MCT is at 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne, Florida. Call 321-723-6935 or visit MyMCT.org.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE comes back to the Henegar mainstage. However, this is a different version than the one a few years ago, so not sure it can officially be called a “revival.” It opens tonight and runs to Dec. 22. It’s the same show Titusville Playhouse did last year. “It’s a Wonderful Life” performs Dec. 6 to 22 at the Henegar Center, 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne, Florida. Tickets are $19 to $29. Call 321-723-8693 or visit Henegar.org.
A Wonderful Life running at the Henegar Center. Photo by Niko Stamos.
ELF the musical runs through Dec. 22 at Titusvile Playhouse. This is the musical version of the 2003 Will Ferrell movie. It has been adapted for the stage in 2010 and has scads of new music, including “Sparklejollytwinklejingley” which is a big, jolly number performed while Macy’s is being decorated. “Elf” performs through Dec. 22 at Titusville Playhouse, 301 Julia St., Titusville, Florida. Tickets are $25 to $34, with discounts available for students, military and seniors. Call 321-268-1125 or visit TitusvillePlayhouse.com.
Elf the Musical running at Titusville Playhouse. Photo by Niko Stamos.
WHITE CHRISTMAS is having a revival running through Sunday at Cocoa Village Playhouse. It has extended its run and now performs to Dec. 15 at Cocoa Village Playhouse, 300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa, Florida. Tickets are $18 to $26. Call 321-636-5050 or visit CocoaVillagePlayhouse.com.
Dance and Music:
THE NUTCRACKER with the Space Coast Ballet and the Brevard Symphony Orchestra. It has been too long since these fine organizations teamed up to present this sumptuous Christmas classic. This is a don’t miss. You’ll love the costumes, the scenery, the lights, the music, the dancing, the choreography…the MAGIC! The fully staged and fully orchestrated production performs 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the King Center, 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne, Florida. Tickets start at $25. Call 321-242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com.
“The Nutcracker” performed by the Space Coast Ballet and the Brevard Symphony Orchestra. Photo by Kevin Roberts.
Visual Art:
CROSSCURRENTS exhibition of Contemporary Cuban art runs through March 14 at the Foosaner Art Museum. “Crosscurrents: Contemporary Selections from the Rodríguez Collection of Cuban Artists.” comprises 56 works by 19 artists, all of whom were born in Cuba, studied in Havana and immigrated to the United States in the 1990s. Much like 1930s German expressionistic art which the Nazis labeled as “Degenerate Art” and eventually censored, all of the work by these young Cuban artists faced censorship. The Foosaner Art Museum is at 1463 Highland Ave., Melbourne, FL. It is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays. Admission is free. Call 321-674-8916 or visit FoosanerArtMuseum.org.
Detail of a work by Aldo Menendez on view at the Foosaner Museum
