Culture worthy of your calendar

The courageous Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park regularly schedules at least one new play or musical each month — an incredible feat for a company of any size. On Friday, Nov. 5, they open a Tony Award-winning musical, which should be perfect for their space. The “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” pits 10 contestants (six actors and four audience members) against each other in a battle for the championship of the local spelling competition. The musical is a hilarious take on pubescent angst and became the unlikeliest hit musical about the unlikeliest of heroes — a group of outsiders who can excel and fit in while sharing their one common “talent”. The musical earned six Tony Award nominations including Best Musical and will run through Nov. 21. Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park is located at 419A W. Fairbanks Ave. Call 407-920-4034 or visit breakthroughtheatre.com.

Museum as aquarium

If you’ve ever walked into a public space and come upon a “growth” of paper mushrooms, those ‘shrooms are the work of installation artist Doug Rhodehamel (and his disciples), who has covered the planet with thousands of paper bag mushrooms in what he calls his “Spore Project”. That work — begun right here in Central Florida — has reached six continents. Beginning on Friday, Nov. 5, Rhodehamel will debut his “Sea of Green”, which promises to transform the Lake Eustis Museum of Art into a giant undersea world. Light, shadow, movement and hundreds of Rhodehamel’s hand-cut paper fish will turn the Museum into a walk-through aquarium. The museum is open six days a week, but through Dec. 5, Rhodehamel’s ‘lighted aquarium’ may be viewed around-the-clock from the street at 200 E. Orange Ave. in Eustis. Thanks to the Internet, Rhodehamel has achieved international cult status with his public installations of spores, herds of tiny clay animals and more, on view at www.dougrhodehamel.com. Visit LakeEustisMuseumofArt.org or call 352-483-2900.

Bok Tower alive with the ‘Sound of Music’

From “Harry Potter” to the “Sound of Music”, “Chicago”, “Fiddler on the Roof” and the “Rocky Horror Picture Show”, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will perform “Masterpieces from Stage & Screen” as this year’s theme for Bok Tower Gardens’ Ninth Annual Sunset and Symphony Concert at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6. The event draws thousands of picnickers who enjoy a musical evening as the sun sets atop Iron Mountain. Guest soprano Susana Diaz will join the orchestra to perform show tunes, light classics and patriotic favorites. Carillonneur William De Turk will perform the film music of Nino Rota (who composed original music for the “Singing Tower”) on the Tower’s famous carillon, and children’s activities will include an instrument petting zoo at 4:30 p.m. where children can try their hand at a variety of instruments. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets, insect repellent and flashlights. Call the gardens at 863-734-1222 or the Philharmonic at 407-770-0071 or visit www.OrlandoPhil.org.

The Festival of (holiday) Trees

Central Florida’s Holiday Season truly begins when the Orlando Museum of Art hosts its annual season of joy called the Festival of Trees. Along with the most beautifully decorated trees imaginable, this year’s theme — Red Hot for the Holidays! — will showcase designer-decorated wreaths, gingerbread creations, holiday vignettes, a gift boutique, a toy land town activity area, holiday garden and daily entertainment. Running from Nov. 13-21, this year’s special events include the Red Hot Gala, a black tie affair with food and entertainment on Nov. 12 from 7 to 11 p.m. (Tickets are $125), The Red Nose Reindeer Romp, a family-friendly evening of food, crafts, entertainment and @@Santa@@ set for Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. (Tickets are $12); and the Red Hot and Cool Holiday Stroll, a party offering food and entertainment in a club-like setting for adults on Nov. 19 from 7-10 p.m. (Tickets are $40). The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit omart.org or call 407-896-4231 extension 254.

Downtown Arts District elects Donna Dowless

She’s known as the Heart Artist and Mayor Dyer’s official Ambassador of Love. Now Donna Dowless, the lady who lovingly spreads good vibrations to one and all, has been elected as the new chairwoman of The Downtown Arts District Inc. Dowless, president of XOXO Media Group, is an award-winning artist, universally admired for her passionate support for art and artists. “Passion, intelligence and dedication” were a few of the words used by Executive Director Shanon Larimer to describe this art star. We all send her our best wishes and support as she works to “fortify the Arts District and make a difference in our community.” The Arts District is the producer of the monthly Third Thursday Gallery Hop and is the parent company to CityArts Factory — downtown’s collective of art galleries, a photo studio, art house café and SAK Comedy Lab. Visit www.orlandoslice.com or call 407-648-7060.