Josh Garrick: Culture Worthy of Your Calendar

Now through Nov. 24 – World premiere of ‘True Fans’

The world premiere of “True Fans,” a cross-country, bicycle-riding, basketball-worshipping comedy is currently at The Abbey through Nov. 24. In the new play by Bill Rosenfield, two brothers and their best friend ride from California to the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., to show their devotion to the game and their team. On their nationwide journey, the three guys (who also play all 31 characters they meet along the way) discover something much stronger than basketball keeps them together. Tickets are available online at ticketweb.com

Now through Dec. 29 – ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ at Orlando Rep

That shiny red nose leads the way to the Orlando Repertory Theater for the holiday season as the characters and songs from the classic television special remind us that being different can be a very good thing. Based on the animated TV special – “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” – this holiday tradition speaks to the misfit in us all. Visit orlandorep.com or call 407-896-7365.

Nov. 15 to 24 – Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees

“All That Glitters” is the theme of the 27th annual Festival of Trees, running through Nov. 24. Each year the ladies of the Council of 101 transform the Orlando Museum of Art into a Holiday Wonderland as generous Central Florida businesses, clubs, and designers sponsor trees, decorations and displays to be auctioned off – making this one of the Museum’s biggest fundraisers each year. The Festival includes The Great Gatsby Gala on Nov. 15, Senior’s Day on Nov. 19, and the Reindeer Romp on Nov. 20. Call 407-896-4231, ext. 254, or email [email protected]

Nov. 15 to Dec. 1 – The Jester Theater presents ‘The Big Oz’

After 14 years (since its first appearance at the 1999 Fringe Festival), the Jester Theater will present “The Big Oz,” a film-noir parody of the “Wizard of Oz.” It’s Oz in reverse, taking us from color to black-and-white, as ‘hero’ Francis Gum and his girlfriend Tootsie are thrown into a world of hit-men and pimps. With the ‘Wicked Mitch of the West’ after Francis, he finds unexpected (but strangely familiar) help along the way as he rushes to find the head of the underworld - The Big Oz. “The Big Oz” runs through Dec. 1 at the Shakespeare Center. Call 407-447-1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org

Nov. 15 to Dec. 2 – Breakthrough presents ‘A Year With Frog and Toad, the Musical’

Arnold Lobel’s beloved characters hop from the page to the stage in “A Year With Frog and Toad,” the Theatre for Young Audiences’ Tony-nominated musical. This whimsical show follows two friends – cheerful Frog and grumpy Toad – as they learn life lessons together. Part vaudeville and part make-believe, the jazzy, upbeat score makes this a wonderful musical for the whole family – especially with Frog and Toad played by the multi-talented Wade Hair and Justin Scarlat. Call 407-920-4034 for reservations.

Nov. 15 to Dec. 14 – ‘Crazy for Gershwin’ at the Winter Park Playhouse

The creatives at the Winter Park Playhouse have created several new musicals based on the works of a great composer or performer, and their newest effort is called “Crazy for Gershwin – A Tribute to George & Ira Gerswhin.” Running through Dec. 14, this tribute to the Gershwin brothers reminds us of the unbelievable number of songs created by this all-American duo, including “Embraceable You,” “I’ve Got a Crush on You,” “I Got Rhythm,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” and “S’Wonderful!” Who could ask for anything more? Call 407-645-0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org

Nov. 16 – Mendelssohn, Shostakovich and Beethoven

All fans of the Orlando Philharmonic perk up when we see Beethoven’s name on a program – and that goes double when the Orchestra is set to perform one of the Master’s greatest works. Such is the case when Joel Revzen conducts iconic works from each of three eras: Mendelssohn’s picture-perfect seascape, Shostakovich’s explosive Violin Concerto No. 1, and Beethoven’s exhilarating 7th Symphony. The Shostakovich will feature Cho-Liang Lin on the violin at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre on Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. Visit orlandophil.org or call 407-770-0071.

Nov. 16 – Come and celebrate with me at Jai Gallery

Many of you know I recently had the extraordinary honor to be the first American in the 124-year-history of the National Archaeological Museum of Greece to be invited to exhibit my artwork there. As that exhibit continues (in Athens), the beautiful Jai Gallery in downtown Orlando will celebrate my art, including the unveiling of a never-before-seen work, on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. Please come by and say hello at Jai Gallery at 47 E. Robinson St. The reception is free with an rsvp to [email protected] or by calling 407-921-0693 or 321-216-1646.

Nov. 16 to 18 – The 15th annual Central Florida Jewish Film Festival

Co-Produced by Enzian and the Jewish Community Center, the Central Florida Jewish Film Festival will be presented from Nov. 16 to 18. A cinematic celebration of Jewish culture and history, the Festival uses the power of film to inform, educate, and entertain with films ranging from history to comedy. Featuring five films, check the complete schedule by visiting Enzian.org or calling 407-629-1088.

Nov. 17 – The Estonian National Symphony

The opening of the 62nd season of the Daytona Beach Symphony Society will present the Estonian National Symphony, which gave its first concert in 1926. During the 1950s, the orchestra was the first in the Soviet Union to perform works by modern composers such as Stravinsky and Orff. The Grammy Award-winning Orchestra will perform Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B minor and Tchaikovsky’s glorious Symphony No. 5 at the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach on Nov. 17 at 3 pm. Call 386-253-2901 or visit dbss.org

Nov. 17 – Taverna Opa’s Sweet Baklava Day

Sweetness rules as Taverna Opa Orlando hosts A Sweet Thanksgiving on Sunday, Nov. 17, from 2 to 6 p.m. Celebrating National Baklava Day, the celebration is free and open to the public. With complimentary food-and-wine stations, a dessert bar, live entertainment, and games (including dunk-the-belly dancer), donations will be accepted at the door to assist the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Taverna Opa, known for its traditional Greek cuisine, is located at Pointe Orlando on International Drive. Call 407-351-8660 or visit opaorlando.com

Nov. 18 and 19 – New sculptures in Orlando – The ‘City Beautiful’

The visual image of Orlando, already called ‘the City Beautiful,’ is being enhanced significantly as new public sculptures are unveiled throughout the city, and our art-loving Mayor Buddy Dyer is there to unveil most of them. This week has already seen the dedication of the Red Tails Monument/sculpture – honoring the Tuskegee Airmen – outside the Orlando Science Center and the illumination ceremony for the Tower of Light at Orlando City Hall (with new mosaics by artist Terrence Hummel). Coming up is the biggest evening of all – Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m. – the unveiling party for eight new SeeArt Orlando sculptures starting at Church Street and Orange Avenue with a Lymmo bus taking you to entertainment and activities (and prizes) at each of the sculpture locations (including a great night for walking the route). Then on Nov. 19 at 6 p.m., the unveiling of the Urban Art Museum (outdoor art) will take place at 932 N. Mills Ave. There are countless community-minded corporations and individuals who should be thanked for this unprecedented celebration of creativity – turning Orlando into a ‘public museum’ for all of us to enjoy. For now, let’s celebrate the extraordinary new art and the beautiful people who continue to inspire us by making the ‘City Beautiful’ ever more deserving of that distinctive title.

No. 22 – Beethoven sonatas to be performed by Leonidas Lipovetsky

Critically acclaimed since his debut recital at age 12, Leonidas Lipovetsky will perform the third in a series of eight performances of all 32 Beethoven sonatas on Nov. 22. Presented by the Florida International Piano Competition, Lipovetsky has recorded for the BBC, Radio Moscow, and PBS; he was the first recipient of the Van Cliburn Scholarship; and he taught at Florida State University. Lipovetsky will perform Sonata No. 2; Sonata No. 7; Sonata No. 19; Sonata No. 20; and Sonata No. 23 (“the Appassionata”). At the Shakespeare Center in Orlando, call 407-770-1700 or visit floridapiano.org