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May 17 - June 6, 2007
by Jaime Silveira
What’s New ...
Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival representatives announced the production of the festival’s first podcast, featuring one-on-one interviews with many artists in this year’s Fringe, which is taking place through May 28. Patrons can now learn about the shows and artists early, and find out which shows they want to see ahead of time. To listen to the podcast, visit www.myspace.com/07shows on the Web.
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C.L. West & The Touch of Class Band perform Thursday evenings at Dottie’s Comedy Theatre.
C.L. West & The Touch of Class Band, one of Orlando’s hottest big blues band, along with special guest, comedian Manny Mann, is performing at Dottie’s Comedy Theatre on International Drive. Showtime is Thursdays at 9:30 p.m., and tickets are $10. For more information, call (407) 226-3680 or visit www.dottiesorlando.com on the Web.
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Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson — stars of TV’s longest-running series, The Simpsons — will ride along with guests in a new mega-attraction opening at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood in 2008. Guests will be rocketed along with the Simpson family on a hysterical adventure. They will experience a side of Springfield previously unexplored, as they enjoy the new ride’s interpretation of thrill rides, dark rides and live shows that make up a new fantasy amusement park dreamed up by the show’s cantankerous Krusty the Clown.
Bits & Pieces ...
The Garden Theatre, located in downtown Winter Garden on Plant Street, was awarded the highest grant score ever given to an arts organization and $250,000 in funds by Orange County. The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation received 98.7 points out of a possible 100, beating its previous top score, which earned it $500,000 for the Garden Theatre Restoration Project in March 2006.
To date, the Garden Theatre Restoration Project has been granted the largest amount of funding awarded to any one organization by Orange County, with a total commitment of $750,000. The former single-screen theater is being transformed into a showplace for live theater, dance and music, cinema viewings, various community events and educational programs. The grand opening and dedication is scheduled for March 1, 2008.
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The Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival is presenting special events May 19, May 20, May 26 and May 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., including performances, workshops, activities and games, in an environment where children will be able to express themselves.
Kids Fringe takes place in the Orlando Repertory Theatre’s main lobby, as well as in and around Loch Haven Park. Bringing hands-on activities just for young people, Kids Fringe offers workshops in everything from playwriting to puppetry. These workshops let children explore a variety of fun and artistic activities that build theatrical skills and knowledge.
Kids Fringe is free for all to attend and requires no tickets or Fringe buttons, although a contribution to Tip the Fringe Donation is appreciated.
For more information, call (407) 648-0077 or visit www.orlandofringe.org on the Web.
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The Winter Park Playhouse presents its fourth annual benefit, Celebrate Broadway! on May 20 at 6:30 p.m. The event features selections from more than 50 years of Broadway musicals, and wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Tickets are $75, with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit organization. Reservations are required, and formal attire is requested. For more information, call (407) 645-0145.
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In order to help fulfill its mission of preserving Broadway productions and the performing arts, Florida Theatrical Association representatives planned an educational tour to New York City for the members of Broadway’s Class Act, a student performance troupe. Throughout the year, the troupe of Broadway hopefuls attend educational workshops taught by area professionals and cast members of touring Broadway productions. In addition to these opportunities, the troupe performs throughout Central Florida with the hopes of building awareness and interest in the productions touring with the Broadway Across America series.
In order to raise funds for the trip, the troupe is hosting the following events: Class Act’s Open Mic Night on May 20 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Studio Theatre, 398 W. Amelia St., Orlando; and Broadway Bound! on May 26 at 7:30 p.m. at CityArts Factory, 29 S. Orange Ave., Orlando.
For more information, call (407) 841-4675 or visit www.floridatheatrical.org on the Web.
Rising Stars ...
Performing in Foundation Academy High School’s production of The Enchantment of Beauty and the Beast are drama students (l. to r.) Phil Richards as the captain, Lilly Homan as a princess, Alex Delgado as the prince, Amy Reynolds as a princess, and Jamie O’Neill as Louise.
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Celebration Ministries Inc. members perform at The Holy Land Experience. The dancers are (front, l. to r.) Zoey Ecker, Brooke Dennis, Angel Collins, Michelle Meye, Grace Meyer, Brittany Dennis, Karen Heinkel, (back, l. to r.) Judee Oris, Bridget Higginbotham, Ellie Bonilla, Cathie Meyer, BreAnna Zimmerman, Cynthia Collins, Cindy Dennis, Nikki Allen, Tamara Allen and Lici Jimenez.
As part of the annual Praise Days Celebration at The Holy Land Experience, Celebration Ministries Inc. performers praised the Lord with dance in the Shofar Theatre. Directed by Cynthia Collins, the group consists of women and girls of all ages, denominations, backgrounds and cultures, all of whom have used dance as a form of worship to share their faith in Central Florida since 1995.
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The 170-member all-volunteer singing troupe Sing Live USA, performs its debut concert, Sing the Musicals for Sing Live USA, at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre.
Southwest Orlando residents Julee Hoover of Winter Garden and her mom, Edie; and Jessica Overberberger of Windermere and her parents, Jon and Millie Davidson, performed as part of Sing Live USA, a 170-member all-volunteer singing troupe, in Sing the Musicals for Sing Live USA at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre.
Julee has dealt with physical and mental impairments all her life, but they have never stopped her from singing.
Jessica was born with a congenital heart condition known as Long QT Syndrome. Throughout her life, her medical condition has posed a big challenge. Being a part of Sing Live USA was a dream come true for both girls.
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Dr. Phillips High School’s Visual & Performing Arts TV/Film magnet program students — (front, kneeling, l. to r.) Virginia Powell, Lizzie Beaulieu, Jessica Eastwood, Miles Miteff, Paula Ursu, Brittany Wheeler, Emily Furtak, Maria Shevtsova, (back, l. to r.) T.J. Tickner, Cecilia Wheeler, Andres Mendez, Zach Perry, Tom Cruz, Chase Sampson, Michael Millay, Alex Ferreira, Karli Anderson, Felicianna Taylor, Natalia Mele, Jennifer Radulovic, Veronica Mele, Josh Aronow, Elliot Schwartz and Christy Schoeller — perform at the program’s second annual film festival.
Dr. Phillips High School’s Visual & Performing Arts TV/Film magnet program’s second annual film festival, Let’s Go to the Movies, was a success. The show displayed a variety of talented films produced, edited and directed by students, as well as a full production of dance and musical numbers. Let’s Go to the Movies was a star-studded event, complete with a red-carpet entrance, star look-alikes and several esteemed judges from Central Florida’s TV and film industries.
The evening’s winners included freshmen Monica Molnar, Michael Patti and T.J. Tickner; sophomore Nick Nitkowski; and juniors Ben Gurrentz, Christy Schoeller and John Wilson.
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Windermere Union Church welcomed and celebrated the choral ministry of the gospel group Revelations last month. Composed of dedicated Olympia High School students, the group is directed by award-winning student director and vocalist Janese Edmond. The Rev. Barton Buchanon and church members who attended a concert at OHS earlier this year were impressed with the performance and immediately asked members of the group to sing in the church’s new sanctuary on Park Ridge-Gotha Road. Sunday morning services are at 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
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Alexandra Buckley, daughter of Charles Gregory Buckley and Milagros Montiel Buckley of Ridgemoore, joins the Russian Ballet of Orlando’s pre-professional troupe.
Ten-year-old Alexandra Buckley, daughter of Charles Gregory Buckley and Milagros Montiel Buckley of Ridgemoore, was invited to join the Russian Ballet of Orlando’s pre-professional troupe. The St. James Cathedral School fourth-grader, who performed in the company’s production of Cinderella last month, will perform next month in the Russian Academy of Ballet’s annual recital at Trinity Preparatory School.
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Dr. Phillips High School’s Thespian Troupe 4276 members— (front, l. to r.) Amber-Dawn Katulic, Brittany Cheek, Caroline Drage, Steven Cardona, Liz Magee, (middle, l. to r.) Derek Ellzey, Cat Lynch, (back, l. to r.) Alexander Oyen, Mikhail Thompson, Lily MacKenzie, Tim Zayas, Michael Dodge and Jake Gissy — celebrate winning the Critics’ Choice award for Large Group Musical at the State Thespian Festival. Not pictured: Hunter Ringsmith.
Dr. Phillips High School Troupe 4276 members returned from the 2007 State Thespian Festival with many awards, including 66 superior ribbons, the highest ranking awarded at the conference. Competing with more than 6,000 fellow actors and technicians from across the state, Troupe 4276 won straight superior rankings for its production of Book of Days, directed by Jeff Perino. The Large Group Musical entry, Comfort and Joy, from the musical Batboy, not only won superiors, but was honored with the Critics’ Choice award, affording the cast the opportunity to perform during the festival’s closing ceremony at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
Senior Breana Jarvis won one of only 10 Thespian scholarships awarded during the festival; and seniors Tim Zayas and Liz Magee received superior rankings in Duet Acting for their scene from Angels in America.
Juniors Adam Reilly, Melanie Neu and Kolyn Brown earned superiors for their ensemble acting piece from House of Blue Leaves.
Senior Valerie Walz received superiors for her student-directed scene from Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus.
Also awarded superiors for Large Group Musical were the 14 cast members of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Jarvis and Alex Oyen won superiors in Duet Musical for their performance from Sondheim’s Assassins.
Constance Lee won superiors for costume design, and Tracey Leffler earned superiors for publicity. Amber-Dawn Katulic received an excellent rating for her set design.
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Orlando resident Sarah Meahl earned the title role in The Natalee Holloway Story on Court TV’s Haunting Evidence show. The episode will be the season opener and should air in mid-June.
Meahl landed the lead role of Natalee Holloway, a high-school senior who disappeared during a class trip to Aruba. Departure Films held interviews with Natalee’s family and filmed the reenactment in the Florida Keys at select locations that were similar to Aruba.
During Meahl’s audition and research into the role, she discovered that she and Natalee share a passion for dance, are the same height and weight, and even have the same birthmark on their right forearms.
The 17-year-old attended acting classes at The Lisa Maile Image, Modeling & Acting School in Winter Park.
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Celebration resident Creagen Dow (center), who plays Jeremiah Trottman on Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101, is presented an Environmental Advocate Award at the 2007 Los Angeles Children’s Earth Day event for helping to bring focus to the worldwide environmental effort. He is pictured with Eddy Martin (left) and Raven Goodwin of Nickelodeon’s Just Jordan.
Onstage ...
• Windermere Union Church, United Church of Christ, 10710 Park Ridge-Gotha Road, Windermere, presents the third concert in its Sounds Sweets Signature Concert Series on May 20. Showtime is 7:30 p.m., and admission is free. For more information, call (407) 876-2112.
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• Jones High School, 801 S. Rio Grande Ave., Orlando, hosts People’s Theatre’s performances of Sacha on Broadway from June 1 through June 3. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m.; and ticket prices range from $20 to $25. For more information, call (407) 426-0545 or visit www.peoplestheatre.org on the Web.
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• As part of the Jazz Jams Uptown Concert Series, Cranes Roost Park at Uptown Altamonte, 274 Cranes Roost Blvd., Altamonte Springs, hosts Tropical Steel in concert June 9. Showtime is from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., and admission is free. For more information, call (407) 571-8863 or visit www.uptownaltamonte.com on the Web.
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• Hard Rock Live, 6050 Universal Blvd., Orlando, hosts Clay Aiken in concert Aug. 19. Showtime is 8 p.m., and ticket prices range from $58 to $75. For more information, call (407) 351-5483.
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• Hard Rock Live, 6050 Universal Blvd., Orlando, hosts Meat Loaf in concert Aug. 28. Showtime is 8 p.m., and ticket prices range from $65 to $75. For more information, call (407) 351-5483.
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• The Amway Arena, 600 W. Amelia St., Orlando, hosts Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour from Sept. 7 through Sept. 9. Showtimes are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.; and ticket prices range from $17.50 to $41. For more information, call (407) 839-3900.
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• Hard Rock Live, 6050 Universal Blvd., Orlando, hosts actor/comedian Sinbad on Oct. 14. Showtime is 8 p.m., and tickets are $35. For more information, call (407) 351-5483.
Auditions/Employment ...
• Universal Orlando Resort holds auditions for animated character performers June 12 and June 26 at 6 p.m. All heights and body types are needed. Special consideration will be given to performers with heights between 4 feet, 8 inches, and 5 feet, 3 inches. Auditions will consist of a “type out”/interview. Some candidates may be asked to learn a short movement combination. All candidates must be available to work a minimum of two full days per week. For locations and more information, call (407) 224-7622.
Although we try to ensure that all information presented above is the most current, correct and dependable available, we do rely on others for the source of our news. Therefore, the Southwest Orlando Bulletin cannot be held responsible for the validity of the information presented here, nor does mentioning it constitute an endorsement. Show Bizness information should be mailed to 7901 Kingspointe Parkway, Suite 28, Orlando, FL 32819-8386; or e-mailed to jaime@kearneypublishing.com.
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