Josh Garrick: Culture for your Calendar

Final week to Oct. 9 – ‘The Illusionists’ at Dr. Phillips Center

This mind-blowing spectacular showcases the talents of nine incredible illusionists. “The Illusionists – Live From Broadway” has shattered box office records around the globe while dazzling audiences with some of the most outrageous acts ever seen. Packed with sophisticated magic, this show truly must be seen to be believed. Call 844-513-2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Now to Oct. 9 – ‘West Side Story’ at Orlando Shakespeare

This contemporary “Romeo and Juliet” story finds idealistic young lovers Maria and Tony caught between rival street gangs with their struggle to love and survive in a world filled with hatred is as moving as Shakespeare’s original. With music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, many remaining performances are close to being sold out. You do not want to miss this. Visit orlandoshakes.org

Now to Oct. 9 – ‘All Hands on Deck’ brings (Bob) Hope to the Winter Park Playhouse

Bob Hope’s World War II USO tours for the troops made the man a legend in his own time. Now Mr. Hope is the inspiration for a new all-singing, all-dancing musical written, directed and choreographed by Jody Madaras at the Winter Park Playhouse. Join the happy audiences with timeless hits, vaudevillian antics and comedy for audiences of all ages. Call 407-645-0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org

Final week to Oct. 9 – Christopher Durang takes us ‘Beyond Therapy’

What does director Wade Hair, of Breakthrough Theater, have up his sleeve with Christopher Durang’s 1981 Off-Broadway comedy “Beyond Therapy?” While Durang’s smart-mouth humor is always fun, the “therapy” in the title is based on a gay man (with lover) wanting to date a woman. In 2016, the big therapy question would be “why?” as we celebrate Orlando’s “Come Out With Pride.” Call 407-920-4034 or visit breakthroughtheatre.com/tickets

Now to Oct. 9 – TheatreWorks Florida presents ‘Rock of Ages’ It’s the end of the 1980s in Hollywood, and the party goes on at the Sunset Strip’s last venue where Stacee Jaxx rules the stage. Aspiring rock star (and janitor) Drew longs to take that stage, but the rock and roll fairy-tale will end if developers turn the fabled “Strip” into a strip mall. Can Drew and the gang save the Strip before it’s too late? Duh – well – only the music of Styx, Journey, and Whitesnake holds the answer. Call 844-513-2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Now to Oct. 23 – ‘1776’ – the Founding Mothers at Mad Cow Theatre

Move over Founding Fathers. The mothers have arrived. Join John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and others as they hatch the “American Dream.” Mad Cow presents “1776,” a beloved Tony Award-winning musical celebrating the American Revolution this time with a revolutionary new voice: all female. Call 407-297-8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com

Now to Dec. 16 – ‘La Nouba’ discount for Florida’s first responders

More timely than ever, our resident Cirque du Soleil – “La Nouba” – is thanking those who keep Florida safe by offering first responders (Florida police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel) tickets at 39 percent savings for themselves and up to five guests per show. Florida first responders may book at cirquedusoleil.com/la-nouba (personnel ID is required) for shows running through Dec. 16.

Oct. 6, 7, 8 & 9 – Garth Brooks’ World Tour at the Amway Center

The big guy is back on a world tour. Y’all know Garth Brooks, and you each have your own reasons for wanting to be there, so here is the basic info on how to get the tickets that are left. (The first six hours of ticket sales for these four days was unreal). And he’s with Trisha Yearwood! Get tickets at ticketmaster.com or ticketmaster.com/garthbrooks or call Ticketmaster Express 1-866-448-7849 or 1-800-745-3000.

Oct. 8 – The Pulse community honored as marshals at 2016 Pride Parade

The 2016 Come Out With Pride Festival, presented by Orlando City Soccer Club, will be Orlando’s largest in history as a symbol of unity after the June 12 tragedy at Pulse. The Pulse community will be honored as Pride Marshals in this year’s parade along with Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and Commissioner Patty Sheehan. “This is a great opportunity for our entire community to come together to celebrate Orlando as a welcoming and inclusive city that embraces diversity,” said Mayor Dyer. “The event will send a message of solidarity that Orlando is more united than ever following the Pulse tragedy.” Post-parade, Mayor Dyer and Commissioner Sheehan will participate in a rally at the Disney amphitheater along with celebrity guests Michelle Clunie, Peter Paige, Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris, Matteo Lane, Sabrina Jalees, and Eli Lieb. The festival concludes with a fireworks display over Lake Eola. Visit comeoutwithpride.com

Oct. 8 – The Festival of Bacon at the Dr. Phillips Center

On Oct. 8 thousands of people will descend on Orlando to celebrate all things covered, wrapped, and smothered in bacon. The Dr. Phillips Center’s Great Lawn will be transformed into an 8-hour “Bacon Bonanza” from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. featuring top restaurants and food vendors creating bacon-inspired dishes as they compete to win the coveted "Best of Bacon" award. Festival leaders anticipate 5,000 pounds of bacon being cooked for more than 8,000 bacon lovers who travel far and wide to find a new bacon treat. Visit festivalofbacon.com

Oct. 8 – Bennett Harmon and the Orlando Big Band

A staged tribute to the big band greats of the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s, “Swingin’ with the Big Band” celebrates the generation that boogied to big band rhythms. Hear the music of Glenn Miller, Gene Krupa, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and Cab Calloway performed by a full 20-piece orchestra that perfectly recreates the ’40s sound with the Andrews Sisters, and swing dancers on-stage. This show is at the Bob Carr Theater at 7:30 p.m. Please allow extra time as there is road construction around the Theater. Call 844-513-2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Oct. 10 to Nov. 13 – ‘Rock the Presidents’ at Orlando Rep

Orlando Rep’s new show is a high-octane musical spanning the history of the American presidency – from George Washington to Barack Obama – and looking ahead to the future. The presidents are brought to life through original songs including rock, hip-hop, blues, pop, jazz, reggae and country in a way for audiences of all ages to learn something about our nation’s history. The book and lyrics are by Dwayne Hartford. Parental age-appropriate note: Lincoln’s legacy and Kennedy’s assassination are included with songs that contain the words “pistol” and “bullets.” Call 407-896-7365 or visit orlandorep.com

Oct. 12 – Two presentations at the Winter Park Garden Club

Oct. 12 is a busy day at the Winter Park Garden Club with Lisa Robinette of the Bromeliad Society of Central Florida presenting a talk about bromeliads at 10 a.m. (she will also bring some to sell). Then at 1 p.m., Cathy Bowers and Emily Bader will demonstrate how to create autumn arrangements using lanterns as vases. That talk is $25. Both presentations take Winter Park Garden Club at 1300 S. Denning Drive in Winter Park. Reserve for either or both at 407-644-5770.

Oct. 12 to Nov. 13 – ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ at Orlando Shakes

It’s more than coincidental that Orlando Shakes will present the “Jekyll/Hyde” story by Robert Louis Stevenson near All Hollow’s Eve. Frustrated by dull respectability in Victorian London, Dr. Jekyll creates a potion to unleash his inner bestial nature. The potion transforms Dr. Jekyll into the brutish Edward Hyde who lives the “high life” until Hyde's passions lead to murder. Fascinating and deviant, the play captivates audiences who experience the play’s moral lesson while watching the lead actor transform before them. For tickets, call 407-447-1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org

Oct. 13, 14 & 16 – Leonard Bernstein’s ‘Candide’ with the Orlando Philharmonic

In our mini-Bernstein festival (see Orlando Shakes’ “West Side Story”), Voltaire’s satire of innocence and optimism is joined with Leonard Bernstein’s Tony Award-winning score to create “Candide,” in which a young man sets off with friends to find the meaning of life. But – their journey includes war, kidnapping, murder and shipwreck. Fully costumed and staged, and sung in English, the Oct. 13 opening night performance will be followed by a Q&A with Maestro Eric Jacobsen. Call 407-770-0071 or visit orlandophil.org

Oct. 13 to 31 – ‘Phantasmagoria VII: The Cards They Are Dealt’

Be very afraid. Phantasmagoria’s troupe of “Steampunk Survivors” are more dangerous than gypsy fortune-tellers, and they are joined by dancers, soldiers, puppeteers, and fire-breathers as they embark on new journeys through the dark tales of Poe, Lovecraft, Wilde, and M.R. James. For your Halloween season, trick or treat yourself to the all new Phantasmagoria VII "The Cards They Are Dealt" at the Shakespeare Center. OMG – the Oct. 31 performance is the Troupe’s 100th main-stage show; not sure my heart could handle that one! And don’t say I didn’t warn you. For tickets, visit orlandoatplay.com

Oct. 14 & 15 – Chicago’s ‘Second City’ hits Orlando

Sponsored by Kathie and Bill Hohns, Chicago’s legendary improv comedy theater comes to the Dr. Phillips Center to celebrate 55 years of satire with a new show of comedy sketches, songs and improvs about Orlando, along with material from the Second City archives. This must-see night features Chicago’s brightest comedy stars finding laughs in everything from Orlando’s history to classic sketches created by Second City’s amazing alumni, including Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Gilda Radner and more. The show starts at 8 p.m. Call 844-513-2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org