Josh Garrick: Culture for Your Calendar

Now through Oct. 18 –‘Into the Woods’ with the new CFCArts theater group

Quality work at $10 a ticket has been the gift of Central Florida Community Arts (CFCArts) to our community, and that gift was recently acknowledged with a donation of over $20,000 to support CFCArts’ new theatre program. CFCArts will offer a season of five productions beginning with Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” through Oct. 18. A Broadway hit and recent movie, this witty do-over of Grimm’s Fairy Tales is a perfect opener as it appeals to audiences of all ages. Congratulations to Joshua Vickery and Donald Rupe of CFCArts for yet another gift to Central Florida. Visit cfcarts.com or contact [email protected].

Now through Oct. 25 – ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ at Mad Cow

Alice's family is eccentric. Dad makes fireworks, Grandpa doesn’t pay taxes, Mom writes plays (because a typewriter was delivered to her by mistake), and her sister has decided to become a ballerina. When Alice's ‘Wall Street’ boyfriend and his straight-laced family arrive for dinner on the wrong night, the real fireworks begin. “You Can’t Take It With You” is a true classic of the American stage. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1938 and will be in performance at the Mad Cow Theatre through Oct. 25. Call 407-297-8788, ext. 1, or visit madcowtheatre.com

Oct. 9 to Oct. 31 – Phantasmagoria VI – ‘The Darkness Returns’

Direct from performances in Atlanta, Phantasmagoria Orlando/DiDonna Productions will present Phantasmagoria VI “The Darkness Returns” to celebrate the 2015 Halloween season. Mysterious live performers offer new stories of terror, ‘Phantastic’ dance, stage combat, large-scale puppetry, aerial performance, and horror as they relate literary tales of terror from around the world. This is theatrical storytelling of the highest order, created with power and magic at the Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park, and it is highly recommended. Call 407-328-9005 or visit OrlandoAtPlay.com

Oct. 9 to 11 – Breakthrough Theatre presents ‘TV's Greatest Hits: A Musical Revue’

For one weekend only – Oct. 9 to 11 – Breakthrough Theatre will offer a nostalgic look (and listen) to the theme songs of over 40 favorite television shows. 20 entertainers will sing songs from the 1950s to today while the audience laughs, claps, and (sometimes) sings along to their favorites. Breakthrough is at 419A W. Fairbanks Ave. in Winter Park. Call 407-920-4034 or visit breakthroughtheatre.com

Oct. 10 to Jan. 4 – History-making art exhibit opens new Henao Art Gallery

Two years ago I had the unprecedented honor of making history as the first non-Greek artist in the world to exhibit in the National Archaeological Museum of Greece. The exhibit has returned from a two-year-tour of Europe to open the new Henao Contemporary Center in Orlando on Oct. 10 with the opening night a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida. The generous people who attend the opening will be the first Americans to see the exhibit with the works for sale with a percentage of all sales benefiting Ronald McDonald House. Call 407-522-3906 or visit henaocenter.com

Oct. 10 and 11 – Celebrating Florida artists at the 42nd annual festival

Each year on the second weekend of October, Florida artists are celebrated as the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce hosts the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival. The only juried art festival to feature Florida artists exclusively, this community-oriented sidewalk show presents visual art and live entertainment for the whole family in Winter Park’s historic Central Park. This year the festival will expand to feature 180 artists competing for prizes from a pool of 450 applicants. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 10 and 11, admission is free.

Oct. 11 – Historic Capen-Showalter House to open at the Polasek Museum

The public is invited to the free Celebrate the Capen Open House as this historic home opens at the Polasek Museum from 1 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 11. Facing demolition in 2013, community supporters rescued the home by raising $450,000 to relocate it to the Polasek Museum. To move the 200-ton building, the home was floated across Lake Osceola attracting national news coverage and winning an award from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. An exhibit on the history of the home and its salvation will open on the same day at 633 Osceola Ave. in Winter Park. Call 407-647-6294 or visit polasek.org

Oct. 11 – Pixar in Concert with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra

From the “Toy Story” trilogy to “The Incredibles,” Pixar has given us some of the most beloved characters in cinema history. Now Pixar is coming to Orlando in concert with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in a multi-media family show featuring clips from every one of Pixar's 14 films. That includes “Cars,” “WALL•E,” “Finding Nemo,” and “Monsters, Inc” – accompanied by the Orlando Philharmonic. These great movie scores have won 10 Grammys, three Academy Awards and 10 Oscar nominations. In performance on Oct. 11 at 3 p.m. at the Dr. Phillips Center, call 844-513-2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Oct. 11 to 17 – Harriett’s Park Avenue Fashion Week

Named for Harriett Lake, one of Central Florida’s great philanthropists, Harriett is known for her wardrobe and her passion for philanthropy related to cancer research, the performing arts and fashion. Harriett’s Park Avenue Fashion Week offers a series of events concluding with the PAFW runway show – the biggest fashion event of the year. A 20,000-square-foot tent is placed in Central Park’s West Meadow with a full runway for the show. Modeled after New York Fashion Week’s Bryant Park, PAFW welcomes Florida’s most influential socialites. For a complete list of events, visit parkavenuefashionweek.com

Oct. 12 to Nov. 8 – ‘Orphie’ from Ancient Greece at Orlando Rep

Next up at Orlando Rep, spunky and curious “Orphie,” a young girl in Ancient Greece, sets out to save the famous storyteller Homer in this humorous adventure in which she encounters Zeus, the Sirens, Pegasus, and more. Will Orphie save Homer? As in the “Percy Jackson” stories, this new musical is a clever take on Greek mythology with contemporary references appearing in the mythical world. With ‘backstage tours’ offered on Oct. 24 and Nov. 7, call 407-896-7365 or visit orlandorep.com

Oct. 13 to 18 – Charles Ross is the ‘One Man Star Wars Trilogy’

The mastermind behind the “One Man Star Wars Trilogy,” Charles Ross is a Canadian actor who first performed his one-man-show in Toronto in 2001. Consistently bringing audiences to their feet with his unique performances, word of his one-of-a-kind talent has spread with appearances on “The Today Show,” and “Late Night with Conan O'Brien.” Whether performing a family matinee or at a sci-fi convention, Charles Ross entertains with high-energy and humor – from a galaxy far, far away! Call 844-513-2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Oct. 14 to Nov. 15 – Orlando Shakespeare Theater presents ‘Bakersfield Mist’

Following a run on London’s West End, the critically acclaimed new play “Bakersfield Mist” comes to Central Florida, produced by the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. Winner of the 2012 Norton Award for Best New Play, and inspired by a true story, this comic-drama finds out-of-work Maude spending her last few dollars on a thrift shop painting she’s convinced is worth millions. When art expert Lionel Percy arrives to authenticate the painting, cultures collide as the audience is asked, “What makes ART truly authentic?” Call 407-447-1700, ext. 1, or visit orlandoshakes.org.

Oct. 15 – Free Kickstarter Film Fest brings ‘indie’ films to Florida

A major expansion of the annual Kickstarter Film Festival will bring a diverse slate of independent films to 32 theaters across the country on Oct. 15. Tickets are free and may be reserved at kickstarter.com/filmfest. “Getting your film made is the goal, but getting it in front of an audience is the fun part,” said Kickstarter CEO Yancey Strickler. The two-act film festival will present screenings at 7 p.m. and at 9:20 p.m. and includes themes from vampires to clones to a team of Zambian ‘Afronauts’ racing to beat America to the moon.

Oct. 15 to 26 – Breakthrough Theatre presents "Sleepy Hollow, A Musical Tale"

This not-too-scary new musical, based on Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” is a modern-day spin on the classic tale, with book, music, and lyrics by Janet Vogt and Mark Friedman. The musical begins in the present day and moves to Sleepy Hollow as three modern-day children find themselves in the middle of all the ghosts and goblins of Sleepy Hollow. They even confront the infamous headless horseman in their attempt to return home. For reservations, visit breakthroughtheatre.com or call 407-920-4034.

Oct. 15 to 31 – ‘BatBoy: the Musical’ at the Abbey

Flying into Orlando as an All Hollow’s Eve entertainment and based on a ‘true’ story in The Weekly World News, “BatBoy: the Musical” is a musical-comedy-horror show about a big-eyed, pointy-eared boy discovered in a West Virginia cave. Adopted by the town veterinarian, BatBoy acquires an education and falls in love with the vet’s daughter (while struggling to keep his blood thirst under control). In a show consistently praised for its intelligence and wit, this outlandish musical will be at The Abbey from Oct. 15 to 31. Visit ticketweb.com

Oct. 16 – The Fedotov Family presents 15th anniversary Ballet Gala

Dancers from the National Ballet Companies of Ukraine, Cuba and Brazil will perform awe-inspiring highlights from classic ballet masterpieces including “Swan Lake,” “Don Quixote,” “Romeo & Juliet,” “Spartacus” and more as the Fedotov family presents a Ballet Gala to celebrate 15 years of dance education in Florida. Combining three dance schools, the Gala will offer Fedotov students the unique opportunity to perform alongside world-renowned dancers. Tickets at http://calendar.northlandchurch.net

Oct. 16 to Jan. 3 – Mennello Museum opens ‘Mary Whyte: A Portrait of Us’

The Mennello Museum will open “Mary Whyte: A Portrait of Us” on Oct. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. with Mary Whyte as an honored guest. Watercolor artist Mary Whyte is a teacher and author whose paintings have earned national recognition as the artist gains her inspiration from descendants of coastal Carolina slaves. In addition, on Oct. 17 at 11 a.m., Ms. Whyte will lead tours through her exhibit. Ms. Whyte’s watercolors of weathered farmers and laborers tell a story of America that is candid, provocative and moving. Call 407-246-4278 or visit mennellomuseum.com

Oct. 17 – John Cleese & Eric Idle: Together Again… For The Very First Time

Comedy Legends John Cleese and Eric Idle will “score a free vacation” as they tour Florida in their Together Again At Last… For The Very First Time tour. As founding members of Monty Python, Cleese and Idle are among the godfathers of comedy performance, having pioneered the irreverent, absurdist sensibility emulated by comics to this very day. Blending scripted and improv storytelling, musical numbers, and exclusive footage, Cleese and Idle will be at the Dr. Phillips Center on Oct. 17. Call 844-513-2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

Oct. 17 – Benefiting Hope & Help Center – the Headdress Ball

A vital fundraiser for the Hope and Help Center, the 26th annual Headdress Ball will be held at the Hilton Orlando on Oct. 27. This charity fundraiser is Florida’s most outrageous black-tie event, featuring a Vegas-style show, dinner, live and silent auction … and some mind-blowing bare skin. This year’s theme is “Colors of the World.” Call 407-645-2577 or visit headdressball.org