Arts & Entertainment
* Tickets for Moscow Ballet now on sale Monday
Tickets went on sale Monday, April 16, in Fort Myers for the Wednesday, Dec. 26, 3 p.m. matinee and 7:30 p.m. performances of Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.
The special 20th Anniversary production of the Great Russian Nutcracker overflows with a spectacular new “Dove of Peace,” where two dancers become one stunning bird, inspired by the early works of Stanislov Vlasov, original choreographer and director of Moscow Ballet’s inaugural Great Russian Nutcracker. The production also features a Christmas tree that grows to 7 stories tall; falling snow and Troika styled sleigh escorted by Russian folk characters Ded Moroz (Father Christmas) and Snegurochka (Snow Maiden); towering hand-made silk puppets; 200 all new, lavish costumes; and 9 hand-painted backdrops all set to Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s complete Nutcracker Suite score.
For 20 years Great Russian Nutcracker performances have featured the finest Russian ballerinas and danseurs. From former Bolshoi soloist Stanislov Vlasov and partner Lilia Sabitova, People’s Artist of Russia, in 1993; to the classic Marina Alexandrova and Vitaly Zabelin in 1996; danseur and upstart choreographer Anatolie Emelianov and Honored Artist of Russia Tatiana Predenia in 2002; Varna IBC Gold Medalists Cristina and Alexei Terentiev in 2006; and award winning partners Karyna Shatkovskaya and Vladimir Tkachenko in 2011. Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker celebrates 20 years of soaring holiday spirit! Tickets start at $28. Group discounts are available for 10 or more, and can be arranged through 800-320-1733, andy@nutcracker.com or tim@nutcracker.com. For tickets call 800-440-7469 or 239-481-4849 or go to www.nutcracker.com/buy-tickets.
* ‘Polish Joke’ looks at ethnic stereotypes
“Polish Joke,” a play by David Ives, uses ethnic humor as a spotlight on how we look at people who happen to be different. Presented by The Laboratory Theater of Florida, Polish Joke premieres on April 13 at the Kiwanis Hall in Fort Myers’ River District.
Starring Adam Kazmarz as Jasiu, Polish Joke by David Ives will be presented April 19-21, and 26-28 at 8 pm at 1634 Woodford Avenue (corner of 2nd Street and Woodford) in Fort Myers, FL. There will also be a 2 pm matinee on April 29. Tickets are $20, $12 for students. Call (239)218-0481 or visit www.laboratorytheaterflorida.com.
* Hot Flashz hop into April
The Hot Flashz entertainment troupe, a non-profit cast of women ages 45 and up, will be hopping through the month of April to raise money to send as many seriously ill children as they can to Florida’s Camp Boggy Creek. This camp enriches the lives of children who have chronic or life-threatening illnesses by creating camping experiences that are memorable, exciting, fun, and physically safe. And when you hire or donate to the Hot Flashz you can be assured that your money is going to the kids at Camp Boggy Creek. The Hot Flashz cast personally pay for all of their costumes. Once again the Hot Flashz aim to entertain you in April by performing at the following events:
April 19, Thurs., Car Show, Sal’s Pizza Parlor, 910 Cape Coral Pkwy., Cape Coral, 5-8 p.m.
April 22, Sun., Glenview at Pelican Bay, 100 Glenview Pl., Naples, 11:00 a.m.
April 28, Sat., Italian Festival, behind 1335 Cape Coral Pkwy., Cape Coral, 6:30 & 7:30 p.m.
To find out more about the Hot Flashz, go to their website, www.hotflashz.org. Interested in being a cast member… call Marjean at 239-482-6252 for more information.
* VAVRINA Art Gallery opens
The VAVRINA Art Gallery, displaying the lifetime works of local artist Charles Vavrina, who passed away in 2009, will open its doors to the public with special showings on Friday, April 20, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The gallery is at 12581 New Brittany Blvd. World Plaza Office Park, Building 22, in Fort Myers, where refreshments will be served during the two day opening celebration. VAVRINA’s style (see his website at : www.ArtofVavrina.com ) has been favorably compared to Van Gogh and other Impressionists, and examples of his work are hanging in homes and galleries around the world from Hong Kong, to France, to Germany and throughout the United States. His works have included oils, acrylics, block prints, charcoal, pencils, watercolors and sculpture.
Vavrina and his family moved to Southwest Florida in 1961 but he finally succumbed to diabetes in June 2009. His wife, Mary Laurel, continues his commitment to the arts through the Laurel Fine Arts Foundation, which supports art with scholarships and other activities.
His work can be seen on the website www.ArtofVavrina.com
* ‘Legally Blonde the Musical’
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre is like totally going blonde with “Legally Blonde the Musical” playing 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.
* ‘Cupcake Concerts’ continue
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 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.
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.
* 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