Culture worthy of your calendar

'Children of Eden'

Take the writer and composer from "Wicked" (Stephen Schwartz) and "Les Miserables" (John Caird) and allow them to treat the first book of the Bible as a family soap opera and you get a musical that celebrates the old (really old) story of the conflicts between parents and children (and children and children). Adam, Eve, Noah, Cain and Abel all show up in this 'family' musical. Mix in some humor and watch these 'Biblical dads' deal with the actions of the children they create. And you thought your teenager was moody! Millennia of unresolved family business tells us once again that "the hardest part of love is letting go." Join Director Wade Hair as he creates his own miracle by placing all this musical 'drama' on the small stage at Breakthrough Theatre, 419A W. Fairbanks Ave. in Winter Park. "Children of Eden" runs Aug. 6-22. Reservations may be made at 407-920-4034 or visit www.breakthroughtheatre.com.

'Celery Soup' begins to boil

Creative Sanford Inc. is creative indeed. The group's play — "Celery Soup" — has been written from the stories of Sanford residents. Jeanine Taylor, artistic wunderkind of Sanford and founder of the project says, "Community members have entrusted us with their memories and stories. Now it is time for them to give their feedback on the script we will perform this October." The script was written by Jules Corriere, a playwright whose productions have premiered at the Kennedy Center, received Chicago Critic's Choice Awards, won the Presidential Points of Light Award, and toured London. Corriere and Director Richard Owen Geer partner with communities all over the world to collect stories and shape performances. "Celery Soup" will be performed by 60 to 80 volunteers from Sanford with parts that range from beginners to skilled actors. "This is a performance of, for and by the people of Sanford and Seminole County," said Corriere. Performances will take place from Oct. 21-Nov. 13, but everyone is invited to the first reading of the script on Thursday, Aug. 12 at 6 p.m. at the J.D. Thomas Cultural Center at 519 S. Palmetto Ave. in Sanford — of course!

Three-character 'Macbeth'

How to take one of Shakespeare's bloodiest and most 'populated' plays and perform it with three characters is the challenge Mad Cow Theatre's departing Artistic Director Alan Bruun has set for himself as the theater celebrates its 100th production. Utilizing their small performance space, and with a cast of only three actors, "Chamber Macbeth" brings Shakespeare's dark tale of unbridled lust for power into sharp focus. Admitting the task is "quite an experiment," Bruun says, "I started wondering 'What if the Three Witches were to conjure the entire play, playing all the roles themselves?'" Sophia Wise, Bobbie Bell, and Michael Sapp play every role in the 'Scottish play,' while sharing the title role throughout. "Chamber Macbeth" runs from Aug. 6-29 at Mad Cow Theatre, 105 S. Magnolia Ave. in downtown Orlando. For tickets call 407-297-8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com.

The Watercolor Society in Daytona Beach

Central Florida is blessed with a number of artists who work in the challenging medium of watercolor, and those artists — all members of the Central Florida Watercolor Society (CFWCS) — will be honored with an exhibit at the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach from Aug. 6-Sept. 2. Award winning artists Margarita Chapman, Bob Hague, Stewart Jones, Nancy Larkin, Chauncey Nelson and Faye Tambrino will exhibit. At a special event on Aug. 19 from 2-4 p.m., the artists will be on-hand to discuss their work and answer questions from the audience. The exhibit is also coordinated to be present during the first annual "Arts on Stage at the Peabody" event, which will feature 50 visual artists, music and a children's art table. Admission is free. "Arts on Stage at the Peabody" will be held on Saturday, Aug. 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 15 from noon to 4 p.m. Visit www.peabodyauditorium.org for details.