Culture worthy of your calendar

Shakespeare’s ‘39 Steps’

While Alfred Hitchcock is not remembered as a barrel of laughs, his early masterpiece — “The 39 Steps” — became Broadway’s longest-running comedy and won two Tony Awards in the process. As adapted by Patrick Barlow, the Shakespeare Theater will present a cast of four who will re-enact more than 150 eccentric characters from Hitchcock’s 1935 thriller using props, split-second costume changes and good ole’ theatrical ingenuity. From Sept. 15 — and running through Oct. 10 — this film-classic-from-a-spy-novel-turned-Broadway-comedy will be “knocking ‘em dead” at the Shakespeare Theater. In true Hitchcock tradition, the play presents an average man who meets a woman who says she’s a spy; when he takes her home, she is murdered. Artistic Director Jim Helsing brings Hitchcock’s unique blend of romance, espionage and comedy to the stage in a fast-paced production with a “death-defying” finale and an evening of nonstop laughs. The Orlando Shakespeare Theater is at 812 E. Rollins St. in Loch Haven Park in Orlando. For tickets, call 407-447-1700 or visit www.orlandoshakes.org

The GLBT History Museum

Each month there are new reasons to join the Third Thursday gallery hop, which signals the opening of new art exhibits all over downtown Orlando. The central hub of the excitement is the City Arts Factory at 29 S. Orange Ave. This month Third Thursday happens on Sept. 16, and one particularly interesting exhibit at City Arts will be an installation by the GLBT History Museum of Central Florida called “Pride and Protest.” The gay and lesbian history exhibit will be shown along with works of art by local GLBT artists Cake (he’s an artist, not a dessert), Josh Garrick (a familiar name), Terry Hummel, Dawn Rosendahl, Parker Sketch, Keith Theriot and Cheryl Turner. Ms. Rosendahl said, “The GLBT History Museum and local GLBT artists have come together to celebrate GLBT History Month, and the exhibit has been created to educate, entertain and expose greater Orlando to the many contributions the GLBT community has made in Central Florida.” The free exhibit will be on display at the City Arts Factory through Oct. 13. For information, visit the virtual museum at gayorlandohistory.com or contact Ms. Rosendahl at [email protected]

The Orlando Philharmonic with Casa de Mexico

To celebrate the Gala of the Bicentennial of Mexican Independence, Orlando’s Casa de Mexico will be joined by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra to perform with soprano Barbara Padilla, Mariachi Cobre and The Brass Band of Central Florida. The program offers “block-buster” classical music with works including the “Triumphal March from Aida”, Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture”, “Himno Nacional Mexicano”, “Huapangos de Rubén Fuentes” and more. Ms. Padilla, who was the first runner up of America’s Got Talent Season Four, will perform operatic arias and songs. As a non-profit organization, Casa de Mexico will use funds raised at the event to benefit Mexican Farm Workers and laborers in our community. “When the farm laborers are ill or have an accident, they come to Casa de Mexico for medical assistance,” explains Executive Director Blanquita Trabold. “That is why this concert is so very important.” The concert will take place on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre in downtown Orlando. For tickets, call 407-770-0071 or 407-420-6896.

Classical Pianist Santiago Rodriguez

One of today’s foremost interpreters of the music of Sergei Rachmaninov, Santiago Rodriguez has performed all of the composer’s major piano works in concert. Called “a phenomenal pianist” by The New York Times and “among the finest pianists in the world” by The Baltimore Sun, Santiago Rodriguez made his Carnegie Hall debut under the baton of Dennis Russell Davies. His international career was launched in 1981 when he won the Silver Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Rodriguez’ unique life and artistry were profiled on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kurault in 1993. Currently recording the entire catalog of Rachmaninov’s solo piano compositions, Mr. Rodriguez enjoys a distinguished reputation as a teacher and master-clinician. Later in the season, Rodriguez will be the chief judge at the Florida International Piano Competition, but first he will perform in concert on Sunday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Shakespeare Theater at 812 E. Rollins St. in Loch Haven Park in Orlando. Call 407-645-2525 or visit www.FloridaPiano.org for details.