It’s time for a good news shot. with me? Now let’s go.
After writing a review of Orlando Shakes’ “Cabaret,” I realized that there is a lot more to say about the great production. The limited space meant that I admired the orchestra, but not enough for my taste: Entre’act Medley was worth the price of admission (again, for music director Bert Rodriguez and his players).
He also detailed the design elements. The way Joss N. Banks’ outfits and Destiny Steel’s hair and makeup became more intense, as if they were corrupted with society as the show continued. It was also a powerful idea for Bart Scott’s dusty curtains, peeled wallpaper and scenic designs of discoloured mirrors. If the theatre is a reflection of life, its discoloration is taint because of the inhumanity we all show to each other.
The good news is that the theatres agreed with me with the strength of the production and showed up in large numbers. Let’s see its success through the numbers Orlando Shakes offers.
A total of 8,381 tickets were sold. To find a show that sold more tickets, you’ll need to go back to the 2019 preschool boom year. It is an Orlando Shakes production of “Evita” that sold 8,490 tickets that year. However, “Ebita” had a distinct advantage. It ran with 38 performances, but “Cabaret” ran with just 29.
“Cabaret,” which closed on March 2nd, is currently ranked as the second-highest growth production in Orlando Shakes history, with only 2018’s “In The Heights” at the top.
More active attendance and financial reports from the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera Orlando. Both recently held their annual fundraising glass.
Opera Orlando’s Mozart dinner brought in $375,000 after the fees were paid. The Philharmonic has surpassed the Rhapsody Fundraiser goal by winning more than $370,000.
“We’ve seen a lot of effort and we’ve seen you in a lot of ways,” said Christina Venturini, Opo’s Marketing and Sales Director.
The community has certainly proven to support the community arts in Central Florida. The new commitment comes after a bumpy financial patch for the organization as supporters gather around it.
In December, CFCARTS was awarded the Music Cities Awards “Best Initiative Using Music to Improve Health and Wellbeing” award. And the Autism Foundation for the Doug Fulty Junior Foundation has awarded the nonprofit its bright, $10,000 Autism Community Impact Grant! A theatre program that serves individuals at NeuroDivergent.
“Thanks to the incredible support, passion and creativity of our community, CFCARTS is focusing on how to make life more vibrant for those who call Central Florida home,” says Justin Muchoney, Arts and Executive Director. “In 2024, we have now laid the foundations where we can look more fully than ever before. We will continue to create amazing experiences and, more importantly, impact people.”
What about the impact?
CFCARTS promotes rehearsals, camps, classes and workshops for over 1,100 local performers
In addition to participating in over 30 community events, performance and service projects, it also produces over 20 productions for over 21,000 users per year.
Several new board members will help maintain that impact. They are: Katmai Government Services Tom Clements and Ouzinkie Native Corporation. Mark Morales, Florida State Attorney for the Department of Children and Family Services; Brijana Jenkins of Seminole State University. Jason Locker at Orange County Public Schools. Jeffrey Redding from the University of Central Florida.
The arts group is working on the state budget: “We are between rocks and difficult places.”
“Different expertise in areas such as finance, law, community engagement, and education provide each individual with a fresh and valuable perspective,” says Chad Faulkenberry, a new board chair at Journey Strategic Wealth. “Their knowledge and networks are aiming to thrive after 2025, so they will definitely bolster our efforts.”
The 2025 Bach Festival (the 90th such festival if you can believe it) is over and has won some impressive numbers. This year’s festival brought together 3,752 concert participants for 11 performances, according to Winter Park’s nonprofit. The 180-member choir and 55 orchestral musicians were joined by 20 guest artists (and 40).
I’m participating. 27 young members of the Heart Choir youth and 60 seniors.
Over 700 high school students participated in the Choir Honor Festival held at Rollins College, 665 students explored the choir songs in a workshop led by Bach Festival Youth Choa Director Rebecca Hammack, and over 600 students participated in fresh start school-based arts programming.
The Bach Festival Society launched a middle school choral clinic with young cigars from Hunter’s Creek and Howard Middle School. And at the first American national oratorio competition, eight finalists brought performances to Central Florida. winner? Mezzo-soprano Claire McCahan from Boulder, Colorado.
Also make a music splash: Orlando’s Renaissance Theatre Company. In a recent performance by Broadway’s Laura Bell Bundy, “certainly exceeds my expectations for sales,” says artistic director Donald Lupe. “We’re working on more bookings.”
So, don’t take your eyes off looking for more Broadway talent in Len. The next concert has already been announced, and it is by Natalie Weiss, whose musical theatre productions have been augmented by competing with “American Idol” on her popular YouTube channel. So she’s not a child, as we say, “big to the kids.” Weiss’ concert will be on April 7th at 8:15pm, with tickets available from $40-50 at rentheatre.com.
Speaking of Ren, you might have caught “Quoria” there. That’s a science fiction drama by Orlando playwright Ashley Anne Gardner. She and the cast recently travelled to New York City to introduce their jobs to industry investors. This is an important step forward for new works.
And speaking of New York, the new musical “Queen of Versailles” has a Broadway home. Her huge home in Southwest Orlando, which prompted Jackie Siegel’s Christine Chenoweth-led story and a documentary film of the same name, will be held at St. James Theatre in New York on November 10th (previews begin on October 8th). F. Murray Abraham redisplays his role as Jackie’s timeshare mogul husband, Chenoweth, in opposition to David.
I thought the show was doing a solid suburban tryout in Boston last summer. The musical reunites Chenowes (OG Glinda) with “evil” composer Stephen Schwartz.
But let’s put together some more local notes.
Open Scene, a multicultural, creativity promoter based in winter parks, and the Haitian Art Network donated “Antille Pearls,” a monumental acrylic on Patrick Nose canvas, to the Haitian consulate in Orlando.
Haiti is often referred to as “the pearl of Antilles,” and “the artwork captures its essence: with celebration and struggle, revolution and pride, vivid tapestry of movement and colour,” says Nose. “The painting reflects the rhythm of compa and lala, the warmth and perseverance of community gatherings.
Those who continue to shine despite adversity. ”
The painting, commissioned in 2024 through grants from Orange County and United Arts, can be seen in the consulate lobby at 1616 E. Colonial Drive, weekdays from 9:30am to 3:30pm.
The installation concluded a one-year partnership between the open scene and the Haitian arts organization. Orlando has a large Haitian community of about 40,000 people, with over half a million Haitians living across Florida, according to the US Census Bureau.
“In an age of division, art has the power to connect, heal and inspire,” says Tamara Bejarano, who is in the open scene. “This initiative is evidence of the transformative role of collaboration, cultural storytelling and public art in amplifying the voices of historically underserved communities.”
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