Arts Connection for June 8-9, 2007
Friday, June 8, 2007
By: Rebecca Morgan

Findings from the first-ever economic impact study for Central Florida's arts community. Also, summer offerings from Seaside Music Theatre, Mad Cow Theatre and others, Zelda & F. Scott Fitzgerald in Florida and a music by jazz great Larry Coryell.

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 Click here to listen to Part 1

The special session on property tax reform begins next Tuesday in Tallahassee, and arts groups are bracing themselves for deep cuts.  Many groups are already affected by a 60% cut in the grants from the Division of Cultural Affairs, including all of the Cultural Facility and Endowment grants.  Sherron Long from the Florida Cultural Alliance outlines the state cuts.

Wtih the possibility of drastic cuts because of proper tax reform, Florida arts groups will be turning more to the business sector.  A report released Friday contains good news on the economic impact of the arts in Central Florida.  Arts & Economic Prosperity III was released by the Americans for the Arts, a national advocacy group, and seven counties in Central Florida participated, along with 155 other communites across the country.  Over 80 arts groups in this area participated in the study, which was made possible locally by United Arts of Central Florida and MyRegion.org.

Listen to our complete interview with Americans for the Arts President, Bob Lynch - click on each topic/question to hear the answer:
1---Differences between the 1992, 2000 & 2006 studies;  2---Concerns about bias?  3---The methodology;  4---Study implications for Central Florida;  5---Explain the revenue that goes back to local & state government; 6---Difference between direct & indirect impact; 7---What was surprising? 8---How are the arts different than other industries?  9---What can communities who didn't participate take away from the study?

 Click here to listen to Part 2

Seaside Music Theatre opens their 31st season with its typically ambitious schedule of 6 musicals staged in 11 weeks.  South Pacific opens this weekend, and runs through June 24 at the News Journal Center.  Their Fundraising Gala is also this Saturday evening.  Then, opening with a preview on Thursday, June 14, is a brand new musical revue, Silver Screen Serenade; it runs through July 8.  SMT's annual children's musical is Go Dog Go, which runs most Friday & Saturday mornings at 10:00 am through August 17.  Upcoming musicals includine Nine and  Peter Pan.  For information, call 386-252-6200.

Mad Cow Theatre also offers productions throughout the summer.  Now playing is David Mamet's Pulitzer-prize winning dark comedy, Glengarry Glen Ross, co-directed by Alan Bruun and Robin Olson.  It runs through July 1st on Stage Left.  Then, opening this weekend on Stage Right, is American Voices, a set of 1-act plays by Tennessee Williams, Thornton Wilder and William Inge.  It runs through July 8.  For information, call 407-297-8788.

 
Finally, the Pulitzer-prize winning play, PROOF, is being staged by 2 theatre companies beginning this weekend - at Valencia Community College's East campus and at Titusville Playhouse.

 Click here to listen to Part 3

Florida Humanities reporter Bill Dudley looks at the Florida ties to celebrated writers Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald.  Commentators include Gail Sinclair of Rollins College; the college and the Polasek Museum presented a Symposium on the Fitzgeralds last fall.

Jazz guitarist Larry Coryell has performed with legendary jazz & rock musicians, and his autobiography just came out.  Coryell lives in Orlando, and he will sign his new book, Improvising: My Life in Music, next Thursday, June 14 from 6-8pm at the Barnes & Noble at 7900 W. Sand Lake Road.  He will also give a solo performance at the bookstore.  For information, call 407-345-0900.