Culture worthy of your calendar

The sound of music … at the Science Center

Music boxes may use levers, forks, gears, weights, springs and bellows to produce music — and they have fascinated us for centuries. Now, in a wonderfully original exhibit, guests of the Orlando Science Center may explore the fine art of mechanical music through displays of antique music boxes, while experiencing principles of physical science at work within each piece. Guests may even compose their own original music by “punching” notes into player strips and then listening to the final product. The “World of Mechanical Music” is at the Science Center now through Jan. 9. While many of the music boxes have been untouched for 200 years, displays will examine mechanical music as home entertainment so guests may understand how music boxes were the precursor to the iPods of today. The Orlando Science Center is at 777 E. Princeton St. at Loch Haven Park in Orlando. Call 407-514-2000 or visit OSC.org

She came, she saw, she conquered!

Mad Cow Theatre prides itself on taking on all kinds of theater. This month they step back several centuries to present the most famous of the Restoration comedies – “She Stoops to Conquer” by Oliver Goldsmith. Written in 1773, it is a comedy of manners, meaning it comments on (ridicules) the pretensions, manners and social customs of 18th century Englishmen. The comedy has delighted audiences for over two centuries with its use of language, elegant costumes and farcical situations arising from mistaken identities. Londoner Charles Marlow arrives at a country estate to court Kate Hardcastle, only to take her father for an innkeeper and his ‘intended’ for a barmaid! Practical jokes and pretensions abound in this piece of theatricality that pits town against country and parent against child. Celebrated for reinventing the comic theater of its day, “She Stoops to Conquer” runs from Nov. 19 to Dec. 19. The Mad Cow Theatre is at 105 S. Magnolia Ave. in downtown Orlando. Call 407-297-8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com

Highwaymen weekend — Nov. 20-21

As part of their very popular exhibit “Against All Odds: The Art of the Highwaymen”, the History Center will present the first ever Highwaymen Weekend on Saturday, Nov. 20 and Sunday, Nov. 21. The Highwaymen were a group of African-American artists who sold their paintings — often by the side of the road — in the segregated south of the 1950s and ’60s. Collectively, they produced more than 200,000 paintings over a 30-year period. On this weekend, guests will meet some of the original Highwaymen artists, have the opportunity to purchase their unique paintings, and visit the exhibit. Artists will be on hand each day to display their work and talk about their experiences. Regular museum admission applies. The History Center is located in the magnificently restored 1927 courthouse at 65 E. Central Blvd. in downtown Orlando. Call 407-836-8500 or visit thehistorycenter.org

High brow — low brow — new brow

We have to hand it to a bunch of artists who literally name their own art movement. With a new touring exhibit called “More Than Sunshine”, their tour begins in Orlando at Twelve21Gallery with an opening on Friday, Nov. 19. Showcasing the “New Brow Art Movement”, this wildly talented group of young artists synthesizes the world of pop culture with surrealism, low brow, comic books, punk rock, street culture, graffiti and underground art. Having achieved that, they then tell us, “Think Florida — the subject and how you voice the message is up to you.” And it’s all so new that we get to see it before the other touring cities. Check it out at 1221-C N. Orange Ave. in Orlando. Call 407-982-4357 or visit www.twelve21gallery.com