Josh Garrick: Culture for Your Calendar

Final weeks to April 23 – Winter Park Playhouse presents Jerry Herman’s ‘Showtune!’

Songs from the much-loved Broadway shows by Jerry Herman are currently on the Winter Park Playhouse stage in “Showtune!,” a popular musical revue of Herman’s music and lyrics. The recipient of the 2009 Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the theater, Jerry Herman wrote the musicals “Hello Dolly!,” “Mame,” “La Cage aux Folles,” and more. Now in its final weeks, call 407-645-0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org

April 15 to 23 – ‘Hello Dolly!’ by Rollins Theatre and Music

I can’t wait to see the Rollins College Theatre and Music Departments take on one of the biggest Broadway musicals of all time. We all hope for great things as we enjoy the story of the beloved matchmaker Dolly Levi hatch a plan to marry Horace Vandergelder, the famous “half a millionaire.” The stage action is about how Dolly gets what she wants and, along the way, we hear classic songs including “Before the Parade Passes By,” “Put on Your Sunday Clothes,” and the unforgettable “Hello Dolly.” Call the box office at 407-646-2145 or visit [email protected]

April 16 – Central Florida Ballet's ‘9/11 An American Moment’

As we approach the 15th anniversary of 9/11, the Central Florida Ballet Studio Company will present CFB’s original production “9/11 An American Moment.” Capturing the patriotism, resolve and pride in response to the World Trade Center attack, the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. has recognized the Central Florida Ballet as “the only company in the nation to have created a ballet based on this fateful day in American history.” Presented at the ME Theatre at 1300 La Quinta Drive in Orlando on April 16 at 2 p.m., purchase $10 advance tickets at 407-849-9948, ext. 10, or visit centralfloridaballet.com

April 16 and 17 – Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9

Universally considered the greatest musical work of all time, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 extols the concept of the brotherhood of man. Hear the music in the idyllic setting of the Knowles Chapel at Rollins College, performed by a community choir of dedicated singers celebrating the 25th season Music Director John Sinclair has led the group. Is it possible for this sublime performance to be enhanced? Yes – as the Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra also perform the world premiere of "Music, Awake!" from Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec. Note: There will be two performances only, one on April 16 at 7:30 p.m. and one on April 17 at 3 p.m. Call 407-646-2182 or visit bachfestivalflorida.org

April 16 and 17 – The annual Florida Blueberry Festival

The historic streets of Brooksville offer fresh Florida blueberries, blueberry pies, and all forms of festival treats during the 2016 Blueberry Festival. Watch for jugglers and stilt walkers – especially after your tasting of blueberry wine at the Island Grove Café. This year’s festival offers vendors, art exhibits and live entertainment by a variety of bands. Kids will love the “Blueberry Kid Zone” with inflatable rides, a skating rink, and the refreshing slide down the 1,000-foot urban slide. Tickets are $8 and $5. There’s even a “Blueberry Song” at floridablueberryfestival.org

April 17 – Ice cream social for Ronald McDonald House

Bring your favorite friends and family to a celebration full of ice cream and sweets to benefit the families served by Ronald McDonald House Charities. From 1 to 5 p.m. on April 17 guests of all ages will enjoy an assortment of ice cream creations along with live entertainment, face painting, a cake walk, games, prizes, a silent auction and more. All this sweetness helps provide a home-away-from-home for 1,700 families who stay at Ronald McDonald House to be close to their critically ill children. Tickets are on sale at both Ronald McDonald Houses in Orlando for $6 in advance or $8 at the door. Children under 3 are free. Call 407-677-1552

April 17 to 19 – The Florida Federation of Garden Clubs annual Flower Show

With a variety of exquisite floral designs, horticulture, vendors and educational exhibits, the much-honored Florida Federation of Garden Clubs proudly presents the 2016 annual Advanced Standard State Flower Show “Seeds of Sunshine” in conjunction with its 90th annual convention. Held at Embassy Suites Hotel at 4955 Kyngs Heath Road in Kissimmee, the show is free and open to the public on April 17 from 4 to 7:30 p.m., April 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and April 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 407-399-8230.

April 20 – Adult literacy fundraiser with author Elizabeth Berg

New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Berg will headline the ninth annual “Reading Between the Wines” Adult Literacy League fundraiser at the Orlando Science Center on April 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. Author of “The Dream Lover,” chosen as one of 10 books that made a lasting impression in 2015, Ms. Berg will speak and sign books. With generous food and wine offerings by Orlando’s top restaurants, the festive event offers three hours of sipping and tapas-sized sampling with all proceeds supporting the Adult Literacy League’s tutoring and classes to more than 1,000 adults on a weekly basis, plus books for 600 preschoolers in low-income families. Call 407-422-1540, ext. 111, or visit adultliteracyleague.org/rbtwtickets/

April 20 – Taste of Winter Park - The Ultimate Foodie Festival

Taste of Winter Park showcases more than 40 of Central Florida’s top chefs, bakers, caterers and confectioners making it the foodie event of the year. I’ll be there as a “foodie judge” at the Winter Park Farmers Market from 5 to 8 p.m. where your all-inclusive ticket features unlimited samples of signature dishes, beverages, desserts, live entertainment, a silent auction and more. Tickets are $45 at the door, and the event is rain or shine. Must be 21 and up. Visit winterpark.org or call 407-644-8281.

April 20 – Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter

Music icons Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter are performing only three shows in the U.S. this year, so Orlando is doubly honored to welcome these legendary performers to the Dr. Phillips Center. For five decades, with 14 Grammy Awards, few artists in the music industry have had more influence on acoustic and electronic jazz than Herbie Hancock. At age 82, jazz pioneer Wayne Shorter still influences generations of musicians as a master saxophonist and as a composer with honored work throughout the pantheon of modern music. Call 844-513-2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

April 22, 23, & 24 – Opera Orlando enjoys ‘Boisterous Rebirth’

It's a celebration as opera returns to the Dr. Phillips Center with the newly renamed Opera Orlando. Their “Boisterous Rebirth” is a double bill of a play-within-a-play featuring Mozart’s “Impresario” (updated to modern-day Orlando) and Poulenc's “Les Mamelles De Tiresias.” With a cast including Julia Foster and Gabriel Preisser, the stars are joined by the Opera Orlando Children's Chorus and members of the Orlando Philharmonic, led by Conductor Michael Sakir. The charming Eric Pinder serves as stage director and script adapter with an informative ‘pre-performance presentation’ offered free one hour before each performance. Call 844-513-2014 or visit operaorlando.org

April 23 – Twice the fun at Shakespeare's 452nd birthday party!

Yay! Celebrate Shakespeare's 452nd birthday with expert party-goers Elephant and Piggie on April 23 at 11 a.m. at the Main Branch of the Orlando Public Library for a special interactive story time with Orlando Shakespeare’s “Elephant & Piggie.” Then, on April 23 at 1 p.m. – in the Darden Courtyard behind the Shakespeare Center – hard partying Elephant and Piggie will be there with games, prizes, and a birthday sing-a-long for another party and story time. Both parties are free (no reservations required) Visit orlandoshakes.org

April 23 – Steve Martin & Martin Short: ‘An Evening You Will Forget … for the Rest of Your Life’

In a show so popular that the 8 p.m. performance sold out within hours, super-comic friends Steve Martin and Martin Short agreed to add a 3 p.m. performance of their revealing friendship drawn from decades of lunacy shared on screen and stage. Expect stand-up, film clips, singing, countless laughs, and … banjo playing. The Grammy-winning Steep Canyon Rangers, the band with which Martin frequently performs, will join Martin and Short on-stage. Call 844-513-2014 or visit drphillipscenter.org

April 23 – Orlando Gay Chorus offers free concert

Celebrating their 25th anniversary, the Orlando Gay Chorus will take the Florida Blue Concert stage with a line-up of pop and Broadway favorites to celebrate the decades. The 100 male and female voices of the Orlando Gay Chorus are on a mission to offer music to help “change images and attitudes, build a stronger community, and make the world a better place.” The all-volunteer Chorus includes gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals, along with some straight friends, all held to high performance standards. Bottom line – it’s free and you’ll love it. No tickets required for this free performance on the lawn at the Dr. Phillips Center at 5 p.m.

April 24 to 30 – The eighth Annual Winter Park Paint Out – free all week

Plein Air is a French term meaning “in the open air,” and describes artworks painted outdoors with the subject in view. The Albin Polasek Museum will host its eighth annual Winter Park Paint Out with 25 professional plein air artists working around Winter Park, capturing our favorite landscapes and landmarks with oils, watercolors and pastels. Whether you’re an art lover, patron, or simply curious to see artists in action, stop by the museum, which will be open free through the entire week, to see the latest from these artists. Completed paintings will hang in the Wet Room where these one-of-a kind works may be purchased as soon as they are hung on the wall. Call 407-647-6294 or visit polasek.org for a complete schedule of events.