Arts & Entertainment – week of 032812
‘Legally Blonde
the Musical’
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre is like totally going blonde with “Legally Blonde the Musical” playing April 5 through May 13. This new smash hit musical is based on the novel Legally Blonde and hilarious 2001 movie of the same title that starred Reese Witherspoon.
Elle Woods is a popular sorority girl whose favorite past times are shopping, planning mixers and her adorable dog, Bruiser. This underestimated blonde doesn’t take no for an answer, so when her boyfriend dumps her for someone more “serious,” Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle teaches the snobs a thing or two and proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.
Legally Blonde is directed by Seth Reines. You may have seen Seth’s work in numerous productions for Broadway Palm including the recent hit Brigadoon. Choreography is by resident choreographer, Amy Marie McCleary, whose work you may have seen in Hairspray!, Holly Jolly Christmas and Annie, just to name a few. The cast includes numerous Broadway Palm alumni and a furry friend making her acting debut, Roxy Vogt, who will be playing Bruiser.
Performances are Tuesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees. Starting in May, performances are Wednesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees. Ticket prices range from $27 to $51 with group discounts available for parties of 20 or more. Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting www.BroadwayPalm.com or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.
Casting call
The organizers for Latin Dance Live, Inc., a major three-day dance event, scheduled for April 20-22 in downtown Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach, are hosting a Casting call for Latin music performers; singers, dancers and Latin bands, to perform at Latin Dance Live.
The casting call for auditions is scheduled for Sunday, April 1, from 1 – 4 p.m. at Harborside Event Center, 1375 Monroe Street Fort Myers.
Performers are requested to perform Latin music. The music genre preferred is Salsa, Merengue, Latin Pop, Latin Jazz, Bachata, and Mambo.
All performers will be scheduled to perform either during the Latin Music Walk evening on Friday, April 20, and/or at the Latin Dance Live Festival, scheduled for Saturday, April 21.
The auditions are for a non-paying gig, but offer a great opportunity to get incredible exposure in front of potentially 5,000-10,000 attendees. All performers will receive admission to the event’s Welcome Party and the Prestigious Latin Dance GALA, as well as inclusion in the event’s Program and Website, as one of the performers.
Latin Dance Live, is the most sensational Latin Dance Event ever to come to the City of Fort Myers. Opening with Latin Music Walk on Friday, April 20, at 7 p.m., in Downtown Fort Myers, attendees will dance away the evening to awesome Latin music in restaurants, clubs and in the streets. A major surprise is planned for all attendees to Latin Music Walk. The event will continue on Saturday, April 21, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Latin Dance Live Festival at Harborside Event Center. The festival will offer activities inside and outside of the Harborside Event Center. Attendees will be able to enjoy workshops, dance performances, cultural presentations, a special movie presentation of the Cuban Pete documentary, food and merchandise vendors, live Latin music performances and more. Finally, Latin Dance Live culminates on Sunday, April 22, on Fort Myers Beach at the Latin Dance Live Beach Party.
For more information visit www.latindancelive.com . For vendor or sponsorship information call Bob Encarnacion, executive producer.
Open call for auditions
An open call for auditions has been set for Thursday, April 5, frm 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at 3105 S. Broadway, Fort Myers.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will produce For Another Place, Another Time, an historical account of the arrival of the Ancient Jews to the American Continent.
Actors, singers, dancers (unpaid positions only). Artists and set construction also needed.
All ages, all looks.
Performance dates are June 7, 8, 9.
Call 239 677-8833 for additional info.
‘Cupcake Concerts’
continues
The Southwest Florida Symphony is continuing its new family series. The “Cupcake Concerts,” is intended to be educational and engaging, sparking the imagination of the whole family.Additional programs in the series are Sunday, April 15, and Saturday, May 19. The programs are free with a suggested $5 family donation.
The Alliance for the Arts is at 10091 McGregor Boulevard just south of Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.
New musical comedy organization forming
A group of area opera singers is looking to the local community to help them lighten up the stage in more ways than one. During a series of conversations held backstage between acts in local operas, these singers discovered they had a mutual interest in the works of Victorian composers Gilbert and Sullivan, who were the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice of their day. Most Broadway composers of the twentieth century will freely admit that the works of Gilbert and Sullivan paved the way and set the model for the modern Broadway show.
Musical comedies such as The Mikado and Pirates of Penzance seem to be timeless and are still madly popular around the world today more than a century later. We would like to involve the community in reconstructing these classic works for everyone to enjoy and we want to hear from anyone who has an interest in this endeavor. It is not necessary to be a singer or musician to get involved.
If you simply have an interest, then that is all you need. We want to hear from people who would like to see musical comedy of this genre become a part of the southwest Florida music scene. The first step will be a general meeting to discuss the possibilities and feasibility and submit ideas.
So please send an email including your contact information to Patrick Shepherd, with G&S in the subject line at ptck.shepherd@gmail.com or call for more details 267-218-0174.
Monday, April 16 — Show: 7:00p Tickets: $7 (CCM)$8 (NM) Great music is sure to be heard at the Charlotte County Big Band show slated for Monday, April 16th at 7:00 p. m. in the Cultural Center of Charlotte County Theater. The program features music made famous by Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Woody Herman, Les Brow! n, Tommy Dorsey and many more. The two hour concert is the conclusion of the 2011-2012 Swingin’ on Mondays series featuring one of America’s most cherished contributions to music: Big Band Jazz.
Alliance Calls
for 2D/3D artwork
The Alliance for the Arts is calling for entries for its 26th Annual All Florida Juried Exhibition, to be displayed June 1 through Aug. 4. Deadline for artist submissions is April 15. More information about the exhibition and the Artist Prospectus are available at the Alliance or at artinlee.org.
Artists must reside in Florida to be eligible. Only original artwork will be accepted. Categories include sculpture, painting (including oil, acrylic, collage, watercolor & mixed media), photography, prints and drawings. Prizes will be awarded, including $1000 for Best in Show. Winners will be announced during the opening reception on June 1. This year’s juror, David Fithian, has been the Exhibition Coordinator at the Museum of Florida Art since 2001 and has judged many shows, won numerous awards, taught countless classes and workshops and exhibited his own work around the country for more than 40 years.
Entries must be submitted digitally to exhibitions@artinlee.org or delivered to the Alliance on CD by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 15. Pick up a copy of the 2012 Prospectus at the Alliance, download it online at artinlee.org or request one by mail by calling 239- 939-2787.
The Photographic Journal
of Clyde Butcher
Native son and world-renowned black-and-white fine arts photographer Clyde Butcher returns to the Southwest Florida Museum of History to celebrate the museum’s 30th anniversary with a specially designed exhibition through May 26.
Along with his original black and white photographs taken with a large format view camera, The Photographic Journal of Clyde Butcher will detail the story of the photograph: the negative, technical details, darkroom information, images of him photographing the scene and the story of the pursuit of the photograph.
Call 239-321-7430 or visit: www.swflmuseumofhistory.com
Free entertainment
“The Mangrove Gathering,” the eco cafe, will feature the live music on the third Friday of every month from 7:30 p.m.. and 10 p.m.
The cafe is at 6490 South Pointe Blvd., Fort Myers, at the Eco Living Center at Rutenberg Park.
Admission is free. Bring a reusable mug for free refreshments and a dessert/snack to share with the community “potlatch.”
The entertainment is sponsored by Audubon of Southwest Florida. Call 432-2163.