Josh Garrick: Culture Worthy of Your Calendar

Current news – Mad Cow Theatre receives major grant

The economic impact of the arts in our community was brought home to us as Orlando’s Mad Cow Theatre happily announced the news of a $250,000 grant from Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs. Mad Cow already has an economic impact of $1.2 million each year, and the increased capacity of their new facility fosters an ever-greater impact. “Dreamgirls” will open at Mad Cow on June 7. (See June 7 below) and visit madcowtheatre.com

Now open – Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin at SeaWorld

Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin is fun, zestfully new, family-oriented and (sshh) educational. Transporting guests into the icy world of the South Pole, the experience is a first-of-its-kind family ride that eases you into the 30-degree world of a huge penguin colony. Gone are the thick glass walls. This is a super-cool, up-close-and personal visit. The opening of a major new exhibit such as this includes an army of talent – from designers to chefs – for the penguins and for us, as the new ride also introduces a splendid new restaurant called Expedition Café. Congratulations SeaWorld – it’s a winner! Visit seaworldparks.com

May 28 – Kick off Gay Days – Macy’s style!

Macy’s, known for epic events such as Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks and the Thanksgiving Day Parade, will build on that 150-year tradition by hosting a Red Carpet Party including music, food and shopping discounts to celebrate Gay Days in Orlando. Hosted by Steve Erics with performances by Maya Andrews, Sasha Colby and Lineysha Sparx, the party is at Macy’s at the Mall at Millenia on May 28. Visit gaydays.com

May 31 – Orlando Philharmonic in high definition at Full Sail

The Orlando Philharmonic is building its audience based on exciting new ways to present symphonic music, and their fundraiser on May 31 may top them all. Presented in association with Full Sail University, the Philharmonic will present Symphony in HD: Music of the Night as a live orchestra performance with visual elements created by Full Sail University and a guest appearance by former Broadway ‘Phantom,’ Davis Gaines. Guests will enjoy a three-course meal and live auction with proceeds benefitting the Orlando Philharmonic. Visit orlandophil.org or call 407-896-6700, ext. 236.

May 31 – Exhibits open at the Art & History Museums – Maitland

An opening reception will be held May 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Art & History Museums – Maitland (A&H) as it presents three exhibits highlighting works of André Smith, artist, architect and founder of A&H’s Maitland Art Center. The exhibits highlight the prints, paintings, and drawings created by Smith from the 1920s through 1940s. A “Recent Acquisitions” exhibit celebrates the ongoing addition of works of art to the A&H collection. It includes one of my largest works – a photograph printed on aluminum called “Three Blessings,” which was presented to the Museum by the Kassianides family last November. Call 407-539-2181 or visit ArtandHistory.org

June 2 – The Maitland Symphony Orchestra

The Maitland Symphony Orchestra will present its free spring concert on June 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Maitland Presbyterian Church at 341 N. Orlando Ave. Reflecting the concert’s title “A Musical Kaleidoscope,” it’s an evening of entertainment including Saint-Saen’s “Organ” Symphony No. 3 featuring the Church’s powerful Wicks organ. A percussion ensemble will present an interpretation of “Clair de Lune”; guest soloist Rob Ross will sing “Bring Him Home” from “Les Miserables”; and the orchestra will delight with a medley of Beatles’ songs and music from Broadway and the cinema. This free concert is sponsored by Performing Arts of Maitland, and is appropriate for all ages. Visit pamaitland.org/orchestra

June 6 to 16 – Valencia’s ‘Fat Pig!’

What better place than a college theater to balance social commentary with dark humor, and what better director to oversee this modern, funny and touching comedy than the always inventive John DiDonna? Love is in the air – between an average guy and a plus-sized librarian – and that love is complicated by a world in which superficial judgments based on one’s size and shape are the norm. Neil LaBute’s caustic comedy “Fat Pig!” critiques our Hollywood ideals of beauty while questioning our ability to change what we dislike about ourselves. Presented at Valencia College East, call 407-582-2900 for tickets. A talkback with the cast and director is set for after the June 14 performance.

June 6 – ‘Swan Lake’ broadcast live at a movie theater near you

Bringing Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet masterpiece to U.S. movie theaters in a re-interpretation from Russia’s renowned ballet company, ”Swan Lake Mariinsky Live” will be broadcasted (live) in both 2D and 3D on June 6 at 6:30 p.m. The ballet will be captured at the the historic Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, a theatre which has provided the world with great dancers since 1740. Led by award-winning Artistic Director Valery Gergiev, this classic ballet will be the first of its kind to use the Academy Award-winning technology created for films such as Avatar. Tickets are available at participating theaters and online at FathomEvents.com

June 7 to July 7 – ‘Dreamgirls’ at Mad Cow

Tickets are selling fast for this highly anticipated, Tony Award-winning musical that captures the spirit of hope in 1960s Motown when a girl group gets their big break in the music business. Their struggle for stardom is a time-lapse spectacle about the price of show-biz success. Sizzling with disco and R&B soul, “Dreamgirls” features an ensemble of singing actors in their Mad Cow debuts. The show will run from June 7 to July 7. Call 407-297-8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com

June 7 – The Front Bottoms – First tour as headliners

They gave up their apartments, bought a van, and slept on couches to dedicate their lives to being The Front Bottoms. It worked, and now The Front Bottoms – Brian Sella (vocals/guitar), Matt Uychich (drums), Tom Warren (bass) and Ciaran O’Donnell (keys/trumpet/guitar) have debuted the album “Talon of the Hawk” leading to their first tour as headliners. They’ll perform at Will’s Pub on June 7, sharing their clever word play delivered through quirky vocals that NPR described as ”power punk and a healthy dose of humor.” Visit willspub.org

Josh Garrick is a writer, photographer, educator, and fine art curator. He is a member of the Curatorial Council for the Museum of Florida Art. Garrick can be reached at [email protected] or 407-522- 3906.