Culture Worthy of your Calendar

The 24-member Orlando Ballet Company invites us to the “Vampire's Ball,” an evening of “humorously convoluted, serious exploitation” of vampires, ghouls and sexy dancing with sly references to existing classical ballets and old-time vampire movies. Just in time for Halloween, and with a musical score ranging from Bach to Adele, creatures of the night come to life Oct 21-23. The haunting performance promises a new full-length ballet with choreography by artistic director Robert Hill. The ballet finds an innocent couple in a power-struggle between a mad scientist and an evil vampiress. Will anyone come out alive at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center? Visit OrlandoBallet.org.

Silver alert …

Miss Nelson's boisterous students are misbehaving again! But the students are in for a surprise when Miss Nelson is replaced by Viola Swamp, the scariest substitute teacher ever. Where did Miss Nelson go? Will she ever return? Kids love this witty musical while teachers and parents appreciate the values of respect and generosity it teaches. The Orlando Shakespeare Theater continues its Young Audiences Series with the good-at-being-bad kids of Room 207. Head back to school with “Miss Nelson is Missing” in performance through Nov. 19. The Shakespeare Theater is at 812 E. Rollins St. in Orlando’s Loch Haven Cultural Park. Call 407-447-1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org.

Addams Family national tour

Now in its second year on Broadway, “The Addams Family” makes its Orlando debut from Nov. 1-6. Based on the quirky characters created by illustrator/cartoonist Charles Addams, Gomez, Morticia and their family combine the twisted and macabre with charm and wit. The musical features an original story – The Addams’ young princess of darkness, Wednesday, has fallen in love with a sweet young man from a respectable family. Everything changes on the fateful night the Addams Family hosts a dinner for Wednesday's normal boyfriend and his parents. Called a “classic, full-tilt, fast paced, old-fashioned musical comedy!” by the Chicago Tribune, we can join the Addams Family in their “glitzy-gloomy” new musical at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center. Visit OrlandoBroaway.com or call 1-800-982-2787.

Feminists at Rollins College

It’s been 45 years since the founding of the National Organization for Women, and the Winter Park Institute at Rollins College will celebrate that anniversary with a series of free events on Friday, Oct. 28, and Saturday, Oct. 29. Open to the public, the events feature author Gloria Steinem, former U.S. Rep. Patricia Schroeder and Rollins College alumna and co-founder of NOW Muriel Fox. Events include:

•”Women Today: An Evening with Gloria Steinem,” Friday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at Rollins College, Alfond Sports Center

•Still Moving That Mountain: Feminism, Past and Future, Saturday, Oct. 29, at 8:30 a.m. at Rollins College, Tiedtke Concert Hall. A conversation between Gloria Steinem and Patricia Schroeder, and panel discussions including veteran feminists and student-led oral history projects.

•Gloria Steinem and Patricia Schroeder — “Our Journey to Equality,” Saturday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m. at Rollins College, Tiedtke Concert Hall

•Guerilla Girls on Tour — “Feminists are Funny”, Saturday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m. at Rollins College, Tiedtke Concert Hall — a collection of skits, songs and parodies addressing women’s issues.

Visit www.rollins.edu/wpi or call (407) 691-1995.

Rising star

“The lovely and talented” may be an overused expression, but it’s the perfect description of singer/actress Natalie Cordone, who returns to the Winter Park Playhouse in a solo cabaret act on Oct. 26 and 27. And she’s witty (which is pretty much a requirement for a cabaret act), but we can tell how witty by the title of her show: “I’m Not Here to Take Naps (Tales of a Preschool Perfectionist).” Natalie’s success story includes an MFA from UCF followed by coast-to-coast work as an actress, singer and spokeswoman. Sharing time with Off-Broadway work in New York City and here in Winter Park, audiences have been fortunate to see Natalie featured in several musicals at the Playhouse. Call 407-645-0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org. The Playhouse is located at 711 Orange Ave. in Winter Park.