Arts Connection for May 11-12, 2007
Friday, May 11, 2007
By: Rebecca Morgan

This week, a preview of "Shakespeare in American Life", a 3-part radio documentary that begins May 17 on 90.7, including an archival feature about black actors playing Shakespeare. Also, highlights from the week's cultural calendar, including a major opera house production of "Swan Lake" at Orlando Ballet and a career retrospective exhibit by rock music photographer Henry Diltz.

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 Click here to listen to Part 1

Shakespeare in American Life is a 3-part radio documentary that premieres Thursday, May 17 at 6:30pm on 90.7 WMFE.  This preview includes archival audio from the special, as well as a feature that first aired in April, 2006 on black actors playing Shakespeare.  We interviewed Johnny Lee Davenport, who was portraying the title role in the Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival's production of JULIUS CAESAR.
Listen for the special on Thursday, May 17, 24 and 31 at 6:30pm on 90.7.

 Click here to listen to Part 2

THIS WEEK IN THE ARTS -

A new musical by Dean Parker closes Saturday night at the Starlight Theatre - ELECTRIC YOUTH uses the songs of 1980's pop singer Deborah Gibson.  She was in the audience for the opening last weekend and is back for the final 2 performances (and will sign autographs following the show).  Showtime is 8pm Friday & Saturday, May 11-12.  Starlight is on Edgewater Drive in College Park; 407-843-6275.
Opening Sunday at the Starlight, for 1 week only, is RED HOT BROADWAY, an original musical revue of both classic and newer musicals.

THE ART OF MONEY - AFRICAN METALWORK AND CURRENCY opens Saturday at the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts.  At the Reception Saturday, from 6-8pm, guest curator Eric Robertson will speak; he's an expert in African art.  407-647-3307

Orlando Ballet stages a major opera house production of Tchakovsky's SWAN LAKE at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center.  It features live music by the Orlando Philharmonic and sets and costumes from the Royal Winnepeg Ballet.  407-426-1739

Neil Simon's Rumors opens this weekend at the Osceola Center for the Arts and runs through May 27; also at the center is the annual Juried Art Show.  Mixed-media artist Nathalie Torres won Best of Show at the Opening Reception last Tuesday.  407-846-6257

The Orlando Chorale gives a Mother's Day concert, Sunday at 3 at First United Methodist Church in downtown Orlando.  It features music by, for, and about women, from traditional Irish music, to works by Norman Dello Joio, Verdi and Franz Biebl's Ave Maria.  The Orlando Chorale Chamber Singers, a small, professional group, will perform Missa Romantica by James Mulholland.  407-786-8624

The classic Lerner & Lowe musical, CAMELOT, opens Tuesday at the Bob Carr, closing out the 2006-2007 Broadway Across America - Orlando season.  Ron Legler of Florida Theatrical Association, says this is not your father's Camelot!  It features actor Michael York.  800-448-6322

There are just 3 weeks left to see the major retrospective exhibit by rock music photographer, Henry Diltz.  KISS THE SKY - THE MUSIC AND CULTURE OF CALIFORNIA IN THE 1960'S is at the Southeast Museum of Photography through June 5 - there's also a Closing Reception at 6pm on that date.  It will be the last exhibit in the old facility at Daytona Beach Community College; their new facility on International Speedway Blvd is currently under construction and will open this fall.