Culture worthy of your calendar

Festival “free and on Target”

The Orlando Repertory Theatre — with the support of Target — invites families to a series of free theatre performances. With a mission to build family audiences while training young artists, the Fourth Annual Target Family Theatre Festival will be held from July 16-25, and most performances are free! Presenting a variety of performances for young people by Milkshake, Airborne Comedians, Hobey Ford, Miss Lori and Debi Derryberry, the Festival will also present its own Youth Academy production of the musical “42nd Street”. The Opening Day Celebration (July 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) offers entertainment and activities for the kids along with free performances on the outdoor stage. The Orlando Repertory Theatre is at 1001 E. Princeton St. in Loch Haven Park. Visit orlandorep.com or call 407-896-7365 for a complete schedule.

Ballet’s stars of tomorrow … today

There is an amazing amount of talent that comes from Florida. To exemplify this fact, the award-winning Orlando Ballet School will present a special performance on Sunday, July 18 at 5 p.m. to showcase its top current and former students. With ballet highlights that mirror a ballet gala, these advanced ‘students’ will perform excerpts from “Paquita”, “Raymonda”, “Swan Lake” and new works. The evening will also feature former OBS students who have gone on to ballet fame including Jeffrey Cirio, who has won ballet competitions in New York, Seoul and Helsinki, in addition to the Princess Grace Award (the ballet world’s equivalent of a Tony Award); Skyler Martin, scholarship winner at England’s Royal Ballet School; and Erin Pritchard, of the Tulsa Ballet. This one-night-only performance gives Central Florida the opportunity to see the next generation of ballet ‘stars’ who trained here in Orlando. The event will be held at the beautifully renovated Garden Theatre at 160 W. Plant St. in Winter Garden. Call 407-877-4736 ext.10 for tickets.

Herman's Hermits brings back ’60s pop

Moving from exceptional student performers to a performer who literally made history,

Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone is the multi-talented ‘Herman’ of the 1960s rock band Herman’s Hermits. Performing on Friday, July 23 at 8 p.m., this is no tribute band; this is the man who created the classic hits “Mrs. Brown”, “You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter”, “I’m Henry the 8th I Am”, “Silhouettes”, “There’s a Kind of Hush”, “Listen People”, and “The End of the World” among many others. Born in Manchester, England, Noone was a child actor in British soaps until, at the age of 15, he achieved international fame as ‘Herman.’ The band sold more than 60 million recordings with 14 singles and 7 albums going “gold.” Noone eventually starred in three movies for MGM. The ’80s found Peter on Broadway and London stages, eventually appearing on U.S. TV shows and as the host of VH1’s “My Generation”. His ever-faithful fans (called “Noonatics”) are still screaming today just like their mothers did back in the ’60s. Peter Noone will perform for his fans of all ages at The Plaza Theatre, 425 N. Bumby Ave., Orlando. Call 407-228-1220 for more details.

Mark Twain to visit the Winter Park Playhouse

That outspoken icon of American wit and wisdom Mark Twain will be brought to life by veteran local actor Michael Edwards in his original, one-man show “Man Is the Only Animal Who Blushes… Or Needs To!” from July 23 to Aug. 1 at the Winter Park Playhouse. Edwards has acted professionally for more than 40 years alongside such luminaries as Cherry Jones, Brian Dennehy, Pat Hingle and the late Nancy Walker. “Michael Edwards’ ability to portray Mark Twain is uncanny,” says Roy Alan of The Winter Park Playhouse. “Michael has spent a lifetime studying every nuance of Mark Twain’s speech, movement and appearance, making his performance among the most authentic characterizations I have ever seen.” This evening of wit, song and homespun humor is to be found at The Winter Park Playhouse, 711-C Orange Ave. in Winter Park. Visit winterparkplayhouse.org or call 407-645-0145 for more information.