Josh Garrick: Culture for Your Calendar

Now through April 19 – ‘The Philadelphia Story’ at Mad Cow

When mainline Philadelphia’s Tracy Lord decides to get married (again), her ex-husband and a tabloid reporter turn up just before the ceremony in this classic satire of “society meets tabloid journalism.” The romantic comedy was written in 1939 by Philip Barry only to become a film classic starring Cary Grant and Kathryn Hepburn in 1940 and is as timely today as when it was first written. Call 407-297-8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com

Now through April 26 – ‘James and the Giant Peach’

Based on the children’s classic by Roald Dahl, a young orphan named James runs away from his conniving aunts only to find himself in the center of a giant peach?! Surrounded by human-sized insects, James is joined by a wise Grasshopper and a pessimistic Earthworm on his wild adventure. Arrive early to join Shakes cast members for pre-show activities that help young audiences shake out the sillies. Call 407-447-1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org

April 3 and 4 – Easter Rod Run & Car Show

Hosted by the Early Irons Car Club, and held at the DoubleTree Orlando UCF at 11801 High Tech Ave., there will be a free cruise-in on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., and car show on Saturday, April 4, including awards, 50/50 drawing, games, music, vendors, NSRA safety inspections and more. It’s free to attend, but $15 to register a car and $20 for vendors. For more information, call Dave at 407-679-1686.

April 3 to 5 – Sundance Ranch Easter Surfing Festival

For over four decades surfers from around the world have come to the Easter Surfing Festival at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach Florida for trophies and cash prizes that come with winning the surfing competitions including the men’s pro short board and long board, women’s short board, the boys’ 14 and under short board, the girls’ 14 and under and more. Spectators learn surfing on site at the Ron Jon Surfing School. The Cocoa Beach Surf Museum hosts the Paddleboard Championship, and there are celebrity signings, an Easter egg hunt, Watch Dog Surfing, and a Sunrise Service at the beach site. Visit eastersurffest.com

April 3 to 20 – Breakthrough Theatre’s ‘Bad Girls of Broadway’

Being bad has never been so much fun as when the Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park presents a revival of their 2012 musical revue “Redlight: The Bad Girls of Broadway.” There really is an R-rating to this musical revue (based on nudity and sexual situations), but on the lighter side the songs come from shows including “Sweet Charity,” “Hair,” “Cabaret,” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” “Gypsy,” “Chicago,” and (wink-wink) some Disney musical parodies. Directed by Wade Hair and choreographed by Lori Babson Jessup, call 407-920-4034 or visit breakthroughtheatre.com for tickets.

April 4 – Pilobolus Dance Theatre

Founded in 1971, Pilobolus has built an international reputation by showing the expressiveness of the human body. Pilobolus exemplifies amazing physicality, shape-shifting, shadow-play and more while collaborating with the brightest minds the world over. These collaborations result in amazing choreography, and Pilobolus has been recognized for decades for its developments in dance and multimedia art. In one highly recommended performance at the Dr. Phillips Center, call 844-513-2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

April 7, 14, 21, 28 – Inside the Courts

Inside the Courts is a free four-week class that offers a behind-the-scenes look at our local court system. Providing an up-close experience of the workings of the judicial branch, the program addresses frequently asked questions related to imposing sentence, juveniles who break the law, eligibility for bail, and domestic violence injunctions. Taught by 9th Circuit judges, this informative program is held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Jury Assembly Room of the Orange County Courthouse on April 7, 14, 21 and 28. Participants may park in the city garage for $2 per evening. Visit ninthcircuit.org/about/programs/inside-the-courts to register.

April 7 to May 17 – ‘Shrek the Musical’ at Orlando Rep

Based on the Oscar winning DreamWorks film, “Shrek the Musical” brings the story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life on-stage. In a faraway kingdom, that should be the happiest place on earth, (wink-wink) the magic is turned upside down when an ogre rescues a feisty princess! Throw in a cast of fairy tale misfits and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a hero. Luckily, there’s a potential hero stomping around the Magic Forest, and his name is Shrek. Call 407-896-7365 or visit orlandorep.com

April 8 to 11 – A ‘Dolphin Tale’ at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium

International attention came to the Clearwater Aquarium when the story of Winter, a bottlenose dolphin rescued in 2005 – and fitted with a prosthetic tail – became a movie in 2011. The 2014 sequel features Winter and another rescued dolphin named Hope. Now the Aquarium is offering the Dolphin Tale Adventure with re-built scenes, movie images and props used in the films including a Dolphin Play area, Beach Rescue, Sawyer’s Bikes, Dr. McCarthy’s Lab and a hands-on live Touch Tank in the same tank used for the movies. In a special ‘Meet the Stars’ event, actor Nathan Gamble will be on-hand – April 8 to 11 – for a meet and greet included with the price of admission. Visit seewinter.com or call 727-441-1790.

April 9 – Jane Pauley reminds us: ‘Your Life is Calling’

Award-winning broadcast journalist Jane Pauley has spent her life in the public arena, most recently as an advocate for aging baby boomers entering life’s second chapter. In conversation with Billy Collins, she will discuss her latest book, “Your Life Calling: Reimagining the Rest of Your Life” as part of the Winter Park Institute Speakers Series on April 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Rollins College. The event is free and open to the public. Visit WinterParkInstitute.org or call 407-691-1995.

April 10, 11 and 12 – MegaCon returns to the Orange County Convention Center

True to its mega name, MegaCon is one of the largest comic book/sci-fi conventions in the nation. With something for all ages, MegaCon invites attendees to meet and visit with their favorite comic book artists and TV/film stars, buy collectibles, enjoy gaming events, and participate in activities from the Heroes MegaWalk to the Cosmos Party. This year’s media stars include Stan Lee, Norman Reedus, Ron Perlman and Cary Elwes at the Orange County Convention Center. Visit MegaConvention.com

April 10 – Bacchus Bash to benefit CFHLA Foundation

This charitable event really is a ‘BASH’ having grown to become Orlando's biggest street party, featuring more than 70 food and beverage booths and hosting 25,000-plus attendees annually. All the eating, drinking, and entertainment benefit education with the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation having awarded $1 million to hospitality students of Central Florida over the years. Beginning at 5 p.m. on April 10, Bash vendors are all over the Orlando Premium Outlets (most of which stay open with special sales), and this crowd knows how to party! Admission is free. Register at bacchusbash.eventbrite.com

April 10 – Public sing-along of Handel's ‘Messiah’

If you’ve never sung along to Handel’s majestic “Messiah” – but wanted to – the Messiah Choral Society invites you to join them for a free public sing-along on April 10 at 7:30 p.m. Presented at the First Congregational Church in Winter Park, chorus master Karen Lecky-Springer will lead all assembled through selections from the famous oratorio. (The words to the Hallelujah Chorus are easy to remember!) No ticket is required. Visit messiahchoralsociety.org or call 321-285-6382 for more information.

April 10 – ‘Icarus at the Edge of Time’ from UCF School of Performing Arts

Presented by UCF School of Performing Arts, “Icarus at the Edge of Time” is a musical in which music, science and film come together in a collaboration by Philip Glass, Brian Greene, David Henry Hwang, and Al+Al. Set in outer space, a boy challenges the might of a black hole in this re-imagining of the classic myth. Featuring an original score by Philip Glass, “Icarus” will be narrated by Kate Mulgrew with the score performed by the UCF Symphony Orchestra. At the Dr. Phillips Center, a free ticket is required. Call 407-823-1500 for more information.

April 11 and 12 – Orlando Rep and UCF Choirs present ‘Civil War Voices’

Presented by UCF and the Orlando Repertory Company, “Civil War Voices” tells the passionate and often heart-breaking true stories of those who lived through the Civil War conflict, using actual words from diaries, letters, and other writings. Featuring songs of the period, including “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Amazing Grace,” singer and actors bring the characters to life as they join with a choir to deliver a powerful evening of story and song that also serves as the culmination of the Civil War sesquicentennial. At the Dr. Phillips Center on April 11 at 12:30 p.m. and April 12 at 10:30 a.m., a free ticket is required. Call 407-823-1500.

And looking ahead …

May 27 – The Chef’s Night Series at Second Harvest Food Bank

As if providing an extraordinary 70,000 meals each day is not enough, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida recently kicked off its Chef’s Night Series with a fundraising dinner created by Chef John Rivers. Chef’s Night brings renowned chefs into Second Harvest’s Kitchen to celebrate great food and raise money for the Culinary Training Program, which has a record 100 percent placement rate of putting the formerly unemployed and/or homeless to work as culinary professionals. The 14-week program provides free cooking and kitchen training while also providing students with employability skills. You can help. The next Chef’s Night will feature Chef Kevin Fonzo on May 27. Purchasing a table – or even one seat – can make a very real difference in the lives of those who need it most. Make your reservations by calling Lanette Jarvis at 407-514-1048.