Josh Garrick: Culture for Your Calendar

Final week – Now through May 17 – ’Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits’

“Forbidden Broadway” has been a hit musical revue — lovingly satirizing Broadway shows and stars — for decades. Now the singing actors of the Winter Park Playhouse are producing the laughs as they present ”Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits” — where Broadway’s music legends meet Broadway’s greatest satirists in a hilarious tribute to the “Great White Way.” Call 407-645-0145 or visit Winterparkplayhouse.org

Now through May 18 – ‘Ghost the Musical’ at the Bob Carr

For one week only, “Ghost the Musical” delivers a visual experience that allows us to relive the magical moments from the Oscar-winning movie in a Broadway musical. Using the latest theater technology, we’ll see holograms, back-screen projections and other amazing special effects accompanied by an original score from Grammy Award-winners Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard. Adapted from the hit film by its Academy Award-winning screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin, this eye-poppingly brilliant musical is at the Bob Carr from May 13-18. Visit orlandobroadway.com

Now through May 27 – The 23rd annual Orlando International Fringe Festival

The wacky, weird and always wonderful festival of plays called Fringe will present 100 performance groups in Fringe 2014. The oldest non-juried festival in the United States, the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival’s philosophy is to be 100 percent uncensored, 100 percent non-juried, and 100 percent accessible. This celebration of the arts takes place at Loch Haven Park in the last two weeks of May. It offers uncensored performances, an outdoor stage, Visual Fringe (fine art) and Kids Fringe! Note: You’ll want to check the schedule for plays that are adults-only and which ones are age-appropriate for kids. Visit orlandofringe.org for a complete schedule.

Opening tonight – May 15 to June 14 – Redefine Gallery presents ‘Dualities’

Redefine Gallery, located within the CityArts Factory at 29 S. Orange Ave. in Orlando, will present “Dualities,” a two-person show featuring paintings by artists Loaf Ninja and Chad Pollpeter. Both artists paint subjects of a surrealistic nature with works focusing on concepts of time, life and death, beginnings and endings, religion and science. The public is invited to an opening reception, set for May 15 and beginning at 6 p.m. Call 407-648-7060 or visit redefinegallery.com

Opening tonight – May 15 to June 13 – ‘Picturing Main Street’ at CityArts Factory

As part of Third Thursday’s May 15 events at the CityArts Factory in downtown Orlando, an opening reception will begin at 6 p.m. for “Picturing Main Street,” hosted by Lisa Cuatt, showcasing Orlando’s artists and the city’s eight Main Street districts: Audubon Park, Church Street, College Park, Downtown South, Ivanhoe Village, Mills 50, Semoran Boulevard and Thornton Park. Central Florida artists will create works depicting what is unique to each district. While you are having fun recognizing the street where you live, the surprise judge for the event will be Orlando’s Mayor Buddy Dyer. Call 407-648-7060.

May 16 – Cher comes to the Amway Center

The original one-name diva — Cher — comes to the Amway Center on May 16. ‘Nuff said. When I can write one syllable, and everyone in the world knows exactly whom I’m writing about, this is a celebrity who truly needs no introduction. So the simple fact is Cher will appear at the Amway Center in Orlando on May 16. Cher’s special guest is Cyndi Lauper who, in 2013, became the first solo woman to win the Tony Award for Best Original Score for “Kinky Boots,” itself a Tony Award-winner for Best New Musical. Visit Amwaycenter.com

May 16 to Aug. 29 – ‘Honoring, Gratitude and Guilt’ – The art of Linda Brant

Recent artwork by Linda Brant will be featured in an exhibit at the Winter Park Welcome Center with an opening on May 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. The exhibit, titled ”Honoring, Gratitude and Guilt,” showcases Brant’s multi-year investigation into the subject of “honoring” animals. Maps, diagrams, photographs and bone sculptures coalesce as Brant presents us with the contradictions and inconsistencies in our treatment of non-humans. The Winter Park Welcome Center is at 151 W. Lyman Ave. Visit cityofwinterpark.org

May 17 – The James Gamble Rogers II Colloquium on Historic Preservation

Nicole Curtis, star of HGTV’s “Rehab Addict,” will headline the eighth annual James Gamble Rogers Colloquium on Historic Preservation set for May 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by the Friends of Casa Feliz, the morning session will be held at Rollins College. Curtis will speak on the topic “Restore, Repurpose, Reuse!” After lunch, the program will resume with a tour of Winter Park’s loveliest remodeled historic homes. (Shuttle buses provided.) The cost is $50 per ticket, and registration information is available at casafeliz.squarespace.com

May 16, 17 and 18 – Breakthrough Theatre presents ‘Mimes, Freaks, and Actors’

An evening like “Mimes, Freaks, and Actors” — an evening of original pantomime scenes and comedy and dramatic sketches written by local playwrights — deserves our respect for the simple reason that it brings attention to local talent. Playwrights Coletyn Hentz, Eric Callovi and Justin Hughes offer a variety of topics — from the creation of a big-budget movie to a pantomime of a father watching his son join the Army. For three performances only — May 16, 17 and 18 — call 407-920-4034 for your reservation.

May 17 – The music of Chicago; Earth, Wind & Fire; and Blood Sweat & Tears

May 17 is the date for the always popular Orlando Philharmonic’s annual outdoor concert at The Springs at Woodbridge Road in Longwood. This year the concert features the Orlando Philharmonic rocking to popular hits like Chicago’s “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” and “25 or 6 to 4,” Blood Sweat & Tears’ “You’re the One” and “Spinning Wheel,” and Earth, Wind & Fire hits like “Boogie Wonderland” and “Let’s Groove.” Bring a picnic! Gates open at 5 p.m. and the concert begins at 8 p.m. Call 407-770-0071 or visit orlandophil.org

May 17 – The School of Rock turns up the volume in Orlando

Demonstrating its teaching concept that gets kids and adults rocking to the classics while performing live with their peers, the performance-based School of Rock will have young Orlando-area musicians rocking on stage at Will’s Pub at 1042 N. Mills Ave. on May 17 at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Forty students, ages 8 to 18, will perform live concerts featuring the music of Jimi Hendrix (3 p.m.) and Queen (4:30 p.m.). Visit oviedo.schoolofrock.com

May 17 and 18 – Orlando Gay Chorus presents ‘Pillow Talk’

Inspired by the classic romantic-comedy movies of the 1950s and 1960s — the naively “sexy” Doris Day-Rock Hudson comedies such as “Pillow Talk” — the Orlando Gay Chorus brings two performances of romance, sophistication, fun and intrigue to the stage of Plaza Live. Performances are May 17 at 7:30 p.m. and May 18 at 4:30 p.m. Plaza Live is at 425 N. Bumby Ave. in Orlando. Visit plazaliveorlando.com

May 17 – Winter Park Farmers Market’s 35th anniversary

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, the Winter Park Farmers Market will begin the celebration of its 35th anniversary. The fun will include door prizes, live music, vendor discounts, free market bags, and activities for the kids. A doggie fashion show will be held on the main stage at 9 a.m. The Farmers Market opened May 19, 1979, with eight vendors; 35 years later, the market hosts more than 80 vendors and more than 5,000 visitors shopping for kitchen and garden items. Located at 200 W. New England Ave. Call 407-599-3275 or visit cityofwinterpark.org

May 18 and June 1 – Josh Garrick book signing at Winter Park Public Library

Observer Arts Editor Josh Garrick recently returned from making art history as the first American in the 125-year history of the National Archaeological Museum of Greece, to be invited to exhibit in that world’s top-10 museum. On May 18 and June 1, Josh will sign his new book and share insights about the Parthenon at two free events at the Winter Park Public Library. On May 18 at 2 p.m. – “How the Parthenon came to be,” and June 1 at 2 p.m. – “The Parthenon – Over 2,400 years.” Both lectures are free. The library is at 460 E. New England Ave. Call 407-623-3300.