MUSIC-LOVERS GO BONKERS FOR BACH
Winter Park’s premier cultural event brings a 92-year legacy of sound and spirit.
Most locals can’t remember a time when anyone other than John V. Sinclair wielded the baton at the annual Bach Festival, an internationally acclaimed monthlong series of performances that feature musical extravaganzas with the full choir and orchestra as well as more intimate ensemble and choral concerts.
Presented each February by the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, the festival will mark its 92nd season this year—Sinclair has been artistic director for 36 of those years—with a full slate of performances on the campus of Rollins College, where Sinclair is also a professor of music.
The festival will open with an organ recital by Colin MacKnight, (Friday, February 6, Knowles Memorial Chapel, 7:30 p.m.), who has been hailed as “a stunning player of exceptional ability.” MacKnight will be followed by acclaimed British vocal ensemble VOCES8 (Sunday, February 15, Knowles Memorial Chapel, 7 p.m.).
VOCES8 performed at the festival in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, but you may not have seen them. Their concert was held at Trinity Prep because the school had an auditorium large enough to accommodate socially-
distanced seating. “They’re one of the most prominent groups in the word,” says Sinclair. “So it’s great to finally be able to showcase them in Knowles Chapel.”
Between February 9 and 13, the festival will host its second annual National Oratorio Competition. Eight finalists will be invited to participate in coaching sessions, masterclasses and rehearsals that will be open to the public.
The competition’s final concert (Friday, February 13, Knowles Memorial Chapel, 7:30 p.m.) will feature the singers and the full orchestra. In addition to first-, second- and third-place winners, an audience favorite will be selected. Notes Sinclair: “These are the stars of tomorrow in classical music.”
Concertos by Candlelight: Guilmant, Paganini, Rachmaninoff (Friday and Saturday, February 20 and 21, Knowles Memorial Chapel, 7:30 p.m. both nights) will feature organist Paul Jacobs, chair of the organ department at the Juilliard School, pianist Byeol Kim, an assistant professor of music at Rollins, and violinist Routa Kroumovitch-Gomez, a professor of music at Stetson University.
They’ll perform, respectively, Alexandre Guilmant’s Symphony No. 1, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Niccolò Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 2, also known as “La Campanella.” The Paganini piece, which is notorious for the other-worldly energy and dexterity required to play it, earned the violinist and composer a nickname: “The Devil’s Fiddler.”
Says Sinclair: “It’s three virtuoso composers and three virtuoso players.” Naturally, then, you can expect Kroumovitch-Gomez’s performance to elucidate why it was said by some that demons were behind the prowess of Paganini.
Next, immerse yourself in an evening of iconic classical-era works with Age of Enlightenment: Hayden, Mozart, Beethoven (Sunday, February 22, Knowles Memorial Chapel, 3 p.m.). The full choir and orchestra will present Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Joseph Hayden’s Cello Concerto in C and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1.
Then, returning to the festival after enchanting audiences two seasons ago will be Fuoco Obbligato (Saturday, February 28, Tiedtke Concert Hall, 3 p.m.,), an eclectic Paris-based ensemble that features rising stars from Opera Fuoco’s Young Artists Program. The group’s repertoire spans Baroque cantatas to 20th-century art and folk songs.
The annual event will conclude with another combined choir and orchestra production, Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. John Passion (Sunday, March 1, Knowles Memorial Chapel, 3 p.m.), The work by the festival’s namesake is celebrated for its dramatic intensity and powerful storytelling.
For more information about the Bach Festival itself and other year-round programming from the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, call 407-646-2182 or visit bachfestivalflorida.org.
—Randy Noles
VISUAL ARTS
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. This lakeside museum, open since 1961, is dedicated to preserving works by the famed Czech sculptor for whom it was both home and studio for more than a decade. The museum offers tours of Polasek’s home from Tuesdays to Saturdays and of the adjacent Capen-Showalter House three times weekly: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:30 a.m.; and Saturdays at 10:15 a.m. Continuing through April 12 at the museum is Renaissance Alchemy: Egg & Gold, (see page 104), which features paintings by Sandy Thibeault—an egg tempera specialist who combines modern realism with medieval aesthetics. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $3 for students and free for children. 633 Osceola Avenue, Winter Park. 407-647-6294. polasek.org.
The Art & History Museums of Maitland. The Maitland Art Center, one of five museums that anchor the city’s Cultural Corridor, was founded as an art colony in 1937 by visionary artist and architect J. André Smith. The art center, located at 231 West Packwood Avenue, Maitland, is Central Florida’s only National Historic Landmark and one of the few surviving examples of Mayan Revival architecture in the Southeast. The Situated Body: Reconfiguring the Symbolic, which opens January 24, is an exhibition of works by Mexican sculptor Jacobo Alonso that redefine classical depictions of the human form through contemporary materials. Admission to the art center’s galleries is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students (ages 5 to 17) and free for children ages 4 and under. Maitland residents receive a $1 discount. The Cultural Corridor also includes the Maitland Historical Museum, home to the ongoing exhibit, Maitland’s Attic: A Journey Through a Small City’s Past, and the Telephone Museum at 221 West Packwood Avenue. Plus, you won’t want to miss the Waterhouse Residence Museum and Carpentry Shop Museum, both built in the 1880s and located at 820 Lake Lily Drive. 407-539-2181. artandhistory.org.
Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. With more than 19,000 square feet of gallery and public space, the Morse houses the world’s most important collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany creations, including jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass and an entire chapel interior originally designed and built for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Opening on March 3 are two new exhibitions: Beyond Glass: The Paintings of Louis Comfort Tiffany, which features Tiffany’s early efforts and continuous exploration of color and light through painting; and Salon-Style Paintings, which features a variety of works from the Morse collection. Continuing exhibitions include Breaking Tradition: Distinguishing American Stained Glass, which examines the way opalescent glass introduced a (surprisingly controversial) naturalistic aesthetic to the medium; and Tiffany Art Glass, which highlights Tiffany’s mastery of textured effects. Other current exhibitions are: Arts & Letters, which explores the all-but-lost art of letter-writing; Vignette: Fair Views, which displays glass, art pottery and furniture as well as ephemera salvaged from the Columbian Exposition; View of Oyster Bay, a notable example of Tiffany’s artistry in leaded glass that’s on extended loan from the Morse to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City; The American Arts & Crafts Movement, which features distinctive furniture, metalwork and design created during the turn of last century; and Fascinating Clutter: American Taste During the Reign of Victoria, which explores the rich aesthetic landscape of the 19th century and how industry, expansion and war influenced personal and artistic expression. Also ongoing are Lamps & Lighting: Tiffany and His Contemporaries, a showcase of Tiffany’s most innovative and iconic designs; and Art Jewelry, Favrile Metalwork & Precious Glass, a display of Tiffany’s innovative use of semiprecious stones and enamel in wearable art. Regular admission to the museum is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $1 for students and free for children younger than age 12. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. 445 North Park Avenue, Winter Park. 407-645-5311. morsemuseum.org.
Crealdé School of Art. Established in 1975, this nonprofit organization on Winter Park’s east side offers year-round visual-arts classes for all ages taught by more than 40 working artists. Visitors may take a self-guided tour through the campus’s lakeside sculpture garden, which includes more than 60 pieces of contemporary outdoor art and related educational panels. Continuing through January 24 is Peter Schreyer: Small Stories from a Big Country, a four-decade retrospective of photographs from the artist’s travels around the world. Opening February 6 is American Mosaic: Stories in Color, Clay & Canvas (see page 100), which explores our nation’s evolving identity through a variety of media by weaving together themes of place, memory, culture and belonging. Admission to the school’s galleries is free, although there are fees for art classes. 600 Saint Andrews Boulevard, Winter Park. 407-671-1886. crealde.org.
Rollins Museum of Art. The Rollins College campus is home to one of the most eclectic collections of fine art in Florida, including ancient artifacts, contemporary collections and Central Florida’s only paintings by European Old Masters. Continuing through April 6 is Art Encounters: Technology, Innovation & Obsolescence, which draws upon the knowledge and perspectives of faculty members to highlight the value of a liberal arts education in navigating the complexities of an increasingly technologized world. Also continuing through May 10 are two exhibitions: Portrait of a Movement, which offers a more nuanced interpretation of the Bloomsbury Group (a cadre of British writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists in the early 20th century) and celebrates the museum’s recent acquisition of Roger Fry’s 1911 work, Summer in the Garden, now on display for the first time in the U.S.; and Souvenir (see page 106), which grapples with our tendency to associate memories with objects—especially objects related to travel—and has resulted in such practices as pilgrims collecting fragments from holy sites and the mass production of mementos. Guided tours are at 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays at the nearby Alfond Inn, where a selection of more than 400 works is on view from the museum’s Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art. Happy Hour tours of the Alfond Collection are held on the first Wednesday of most months at 5:30 p.m. If you prefer historic works, Throwback Thursday tours are offered at the museum from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of most months. Admission is free, courtesy of PNC Financial Services Group. 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park. 407-646-2526. rollins.edu/rma.
Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Art. Eatonville is strongly associated with Harlem Renaissance writer and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston, who lived there as a girl and recorded her childhood memories in her classic autobiography, Dust Tracks on a Road. The museum that bears her name provides information about the historic city and sponsors exhibitions that feature the works of African American artists. 344 East Kennedy Boulevard, Eatonville. Admission is usually free, although group tours require a reservation and a charge. 407-647-3307. zoranealehurstonmuseum.com.
PERFORMING ARTS
Annie Russell Theatre. “The Annie,” on the campus of Rollins College and in operation since 1932, continues its 93rd mainstage season with POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive (February 12 to 22), an R-rated political farce. That’s followed by Anastasia: The Musical (April 16 to 19), a loose adaptation of the animated film about a young woman with a mysterious past who struggles to survive after the Russian Revolution. Curtain times are 7:30 p.m., 4 p.m. or 2 p.m., depending upon the day of the week. Individual tickets are $25. 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park. 407-646-2145. rollins.edu/annie-russell-theatre.
Winter Park Playhouse. Winter Park’s only professional, nonprofit theater continues its 2025-26 season with From My Hometown (January 23 to February 21, see page 105), a rags-to-riches story about a vocal trio with a soundtrack that includes R&B classics from such legends as James Brown, Otis Redding and Jackie Wilson; and The Pin-Up Girls (March 20 to April 25), which weaves together a collection of pop songs inspired by letters from troops overseas, showcasing a diverse range of musical styles and honoring the bravery of those who served in the military. Performances are slated Thursdays to Sundays, with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. and matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets range in price from $20 for students to $46 for evening shows. While the Playhouse’s Orange Avenue venue is being renovated, it will present this season’s shows at the Mandell Theater at Orlando Shakes, located at 812 East Rollins Street, Orlando, in Loch Haven Park. For more information, call 407-645-0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org.
FILM
Enzian. This cozy, nonprofit alternative cinema offers a plethora of film series. Tickets are usually $12 for regular admission; $10 for matinees, students, seniors and service members (with ID); and $9.50 for Enzian Film Society members. Children under age 12 are admitted free to Peanut Butter Matinee Family Films, which are shown on the fourth Sunday of each month at noon. Other series include Saturday Matinee Classics (the second Saturday of each month at noon), Cult Classics (the second and last Tuesday of each month at 9:30 p.m.) and Midnight Movies (every Saturday night). FilmSlam, which spotlights Florida-made short films, takes place most months on the second or third Sunday at 1 p.m. 300 South Orlando Avenue, Maitland. 407-629-0054 (information line), 407-629-1088 (theater offices). enzian.org.
Friday Films. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art presents three film series each year on topics related to the museum’s collection as well as art in general. The winter series, Royal Aesthetics, illustrates the history of the United Kingdom’s royal art collection from Henry VIII to Elizabeth II, and discusses how the artistic preferences of various rulers influenced the outside world. Admission is free to these lunchtime screenings, which span the noon hour on Fridays, February 6, 13, 20 and 27, in the Jeannette G. and Hugh F. McKean Pavilion on Canton Avenue, just behind the Morse. Attendees are invited to bring their own lunches; the museum provides soft drinks and themed refreshments. 161 West Canton Avenue. 407-645-5311. morsemuseum.org.
Popcorn Flicks in the Park. The City of Winter Park and Enzian collaborate to offer classic, family-friendly films free in Central Park on Park Avenue. These outdoor screenings are typically held on the second Thursday of each month and start at 7 or 8 p.m. Don’t forget to pack a picnic and bring blankets or chairs. 407-629-1088. enzian.org.
HISTORY
Casa Feliz Historic Home & Venue. This stunningly restored Spanish farmhouse-style home, designed in 1932 by acclaimed local architect James Gamble Rogers II, is now a community center and museum. Docent-led tours are hosted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free but a $5 per visitor donation is suggested. 656 North Park Avenue (adjacent to the Winter Park Golf Course), Winter Park. 407-628-8200. casafeliz.us.
Hannibal Square Heritage Center. Established in 2007 by the Crealdé School of Art in partnership with residents of Hannibal Square and the City of Winter Park, the center celebrates the city’s historically African American west side with hundreds of archival photographs, original artwork and oral histories that are collectively known as the Heritage Collection. 642 West New England Avenue, Winter Park. 407-539-2680. hannibalsquareheritagecenter.org.
Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida. The center is dedicated to combating antisemitism, racism and prejudice, with the goal of developing a moral and just community through educational and cultural programs, permanent and temporary exhibitions, archives and a research library. The center’s ongoing exhibition, Tribute to the Holocaust, is a collection of artifacts, videos, text, photographs and other works of art related to this horrific genocide. Admission is free. 851 North Maitland Avenue, Maitland. 407-628-0555. holocaustedu.org.
Winter Park History Museum. The museum’s new exhibition, Echoes of Expression: The History of Art & Culture in Winter Park, salutes the creativity that established and continues to define the city. Echoes of Expression features a visual timeline of the city’s arts and cultural movement, a stage for monthly performances, an art gallery, a library of books by local and visiting authors and an interactive children’s area on stage. The exhibition takes place under a sound dome, where the voices of past visiting writers, poets, journalists, scholars and actors can be heard. Admission is free. 200 West New England Avenue, Winter Park. 407-644-2330, wphistory.org.
LECTURES
Central Florida Anthropological Society. Do you want to preserve Florida’s historic heritage? Are you curious about prehistoric Florida? Join the CFAS on the third Monday of most months at the Winter Park Library for this new lecture series, which highlights current anthropological and archaeological investigations with a special focus on Central Florida. Upcoming dates are slated for January 19, February 16 and March 16. Enjoy light refreshments and socializing when the doors open at 6:30 p.m., followed by presentations at 7 p.m. Admission is free. 1050 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park. cfasorlando.com.
Life Explorers Speakers Series. Hosted by Mead Botanical Garden, this speaker series features programs for adults interested in expanding their knowledge on a variety of environmental and cultural topics. Meetings are usually held on the second Thursday of the month, with upcoming dates slated for January 13, February 10 and March 10. Admission is free. 1300 South Denning Drive, Winter Park. 407-622-6323. meadgarden.org.
Morse Museum Wednesday Lecture Series. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art regularly invites recognized scholars in the field of late 19th- and early 20th-century art to speak on topics related to the museum’s collection and exhibitions. Upcoming subjects include Centuries of Tomfoolery: Trick Glass, Pipes & Whimsical Delights with Mary Mills of the Wheaton Arts & Cultural Center (January 28); and The Gilded Age Jewel Box: 1876–1900 with jewelry historian Annamarie V. Sandecki (February 25). Programs take place at 2:30 p.m. Admission is free. 161 West Canton Avenue, Winter Park. 407-645-5311. morsemuseum.org.
University Club of Winter Park. Nestled among the oaks and palms at the north end of Park Avenue’s downtown shopping district—a block beyond Casa Feliz—is another historic James Gamble Rogers II building, this one home to the University Club of Winter Park. The club’s various activities, including lectures, are open to the public, although nonmembers are asked to make a $5 donation each time they attend. (Some meetings include a buffet lunch for an added fee.) For a full schedule of meetings and speakers, check the website. 841 North Park Avenue, Winter Park. 407-644-6149. uclubwp.org.
MUSIC
Bach Festival Society of Winter Park. Presented each February by the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, the annual Bach Festival (see page 92) marks its 92nd season this year—John V. Sinclair has been artistic director for 36 of those years—with a full slate of performances on the campus of Rollins College, where Sinclair is also a professor of music. Immediately preceding the Bach Festival itself, which runs February 6 to March 1, is Americana: Barber, Bernstein, Copland (January 30, 7:30 p.m., Knowles Memorial Chapel), which features the Bach Vocal Artists performing Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, a radiant fusion of Hebrew text, choral brilliance and orchestral color, paired with Aaron Copland’s In the Beginning, a bold choral setting of the Genesis creation story. The Bach Festival’s eclectic lineup, which consumes the month of February, is followed by the Lysander Trio (March 15, 3 p.m., Tiedtke Concert Hall), which features violinist Itamar Zorman, pianist Liza Stepanova and cellist James Kim who offer musical storytelling praised as “passionate, articulate, and imaginative” (Washington Post). The trio, which was formed at the Julliard School, is devoted to inventive programming, exploring connections between works from all over the world, and uncovering lesser-known gems of the repertoire from the past to the present. Up next is Passion Music for Early America (March 26, 7:30 p.m., Knowles Memorial Chapel), which features the Bach Vocal Artists and the Bach Chamber Orchestra with an evocative journey into the sacred sounds of Moravian music—a celebration of reverence, renewal and timeless beauty that continues to inspire and uplift hearts today. That’s followed by Duke Ellington’s Sacred Service, which features the Bach Festival Choir, the Jazz Big Band and Samuel McKelton, an acclaimed tenor, with a work that blends jazz, classical, gospel and spiritual music into a powerful expression of faith that Ellington called “the most important thing I have ever done.” The season wraps up on a decidedly lighter note with Silver Screen Classics (April 25, 7:30 p.m., and April 26, 3 p.m., Knowles Memorial Chapel), which features the Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra with a captivating journey through the music of film—often hailed as classical music of today. Experience an entertaining and engaging program that brings your favorite flicks to life through spectacular choral and orchestral performances. 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park, 407-646-2183. bachfestivalflorida.org.
Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts. This vibrant, intimate venue is known for its eclectic and high-caliber musical programming. Concerts span a wide range of genres, with a strong emphasis on jazz, roots, swing and blues. Upcoming concerts include the Andrew Yuska Quintet (January 4, 3 p.m.), Ricky Sylvia & The Buzzcatz (January 9, 8 p.m.); Vin Scialla & Brooklyn Raga Massive (January 10, 8 p.m.); Sarah Whittemore (January 11, 3 p.m.); Marco Bojorquez & CuBop (January 16, 8 p.m.); Pablo Duques Quintet (January 17, 8 p.m.); and The Licorice Sticks with Rick Kissinger (February 8, 3 p.m.); Allyson Briggs and the Dave MacKenzie Band (February 22, 3 p.m.). Ticket prices range from $35 to $45, but Thursday nights are always reserved for free concerts followed by a jam session that audience members are invited to join. 460 West New England Avenue (the former Winter Park Library), Winter Park. 407-636-9951,
bluebambooartcenter.com.
Central Florida Folk. This Winter Park-based nonprofit is dedicated to promoting and preserving live folk music, primarily through concerts usually held on the last Sunday of each month (unless a holiday intervenes) at 2 p.m. Upcoming acts include the Janzen Boys and Barry Brogan (January 25), Richard Gilewitz (February 22) and Brian Smalley (March 11). The group’s primary venue is the Winter Park Library, 1052 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park. A donation of $15 for nonmembers is suggested. 407-679-6426. cffolk.org.
Licorice Stick Clarinet Orchestra: Clarinet Candy What did jazz greats Benny Goodman, Woody Herman and Artie Shaw (among many others) have in common? A love of licorice sticks. That is, they played the clarinet, which garnered the “licorice stick” nickname in the 1930s for its physical resemblance to the iconic candy. That’s where the grandly named LCO: Orlando’s Premier Chamber Pops Orchestra and Big Band, got its name. LCO is an acronym for Licorice Stick Clarinet Orchestra—a 28-piece ensemble that will present Clarinet Candy at Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts Center on February 8, at 3 p.m. LCO uses 10 different instruments of assorted sizes and pitches in the clarinet family—from the 14-inch piccolo to the 6-foot-tall contrabass—in addition to percussion. Expect to hear an eclectic program of jazz, pop and other tunes composed specifically for the clarinet and other instruments within the woodwind family. Rick Kissinger is the artistic director, conductor and multi-instrumentalist for the group and other ensembles that operate under the umbrella of Licorice Stick Entertainment, whose purpose is “to preserve vintage vaudeville, chamber and cabaret-style music through public and educational performances.” Tickets start at $30. 460 East New England Avenue (the former Winter Park Library). For more information, call 407-636-9951 or visit bluebambooartcenter.com.
Music at the Casa. This three-concert series features exceptional local and regional artists who perform in the intimate courtyard of Winter Park’s beloved Andalusian-style landmark. First up is Swing Boutique (January 11, noon), who plays jazz with a French flair; followed by the Ilana Zaks Duo (February 8, 5 p.m.), who plays symphonic and operatic classics; and finally the Don Soledad Trio (March 18, 6:30 p.m.), who will be joined by dancer Laura Pirela for “A Night of Flamenco.” Tickets are $15 and advance purchase is recommended since courtyard space is limited. Offerings from food and beverage vendors further enhance the experience. 656 North Park Avenue (adjacent to the Winter Park Golf Course), Winter Park. 407-628-8200, casafeliz.us.
Performing Arts Matter. This nonprofit organization collaborates with various organizations to promote performances for and by local musicians. It supports various groups, including the Maitland Symphony Orchestra, Maitland Market Music, the Maitland Stage Band, the Bravo Chamber Orchestra and the Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra. For a full schedule of events, call 321-303-1711 or visit pamatter.org.
MARKETS
Maitland Farmers’ Market. This year-round, open-air market—held each Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.—features fresh produce, seafood, breads and cheeses as well as plants, all-natural skin-care products and live music by Performing Arts of Maitland. The setting on Lake Lily boasts a boardwalk, jogging trails, a playground and picnic areas. 701 Lake Lily Drive, Maitland. itsmymaitland.com.
Winter Park Farmers’ Market. The region’s busiest and arguably most popular farmers’ market is held every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Central Park West Meadow—located at the corner of New York Avenue and Morse Boulevard—and offers baked goods, produce, plants, honey, cheese, meat, flowers, crafts and other specialty items. 200 West New England Avenue, Winter Park. cityofwinterpark.org.
WRITING
Orlando/Maitland Writers Group. Join fellow scribes for lectures by guest speakers and discussions led by local authors. The local chapter of the Florida Writers Association meets on the second Thursday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Upcoming meetings are slated for January 8, February 12 and March 12 at the Maitland Public Library, 501 South Maitland Avenue, Maitland. floridawriters.org.
Storytellers of Central Florida. Experienced and fledgling storytellers gather to share stories and practice their craft on the first Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Winter Park Library. Upcoming meetings are slated for January 6, February 3 and March 3. 1052 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park. 321-439-6020. storytellersofcentralflorida.com.
Writers of Central Florida or Thereabouts. This group offers various free programs that attract writers of all stripes. Short Attention Span Storytelling Hour, a literary open-mic night, meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of most months at Stardust Coffee (1842 Winter Park Road, Winter Park). Upcoming meetings are slated for January 14, February 11 and March 11. Orlando WordLab, a workshop that challenges writers to experiment with new techniques or methods, meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Winter Park Library (1052 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park). Upcoming meetings are slated for January 28, February 25 and March 25. meetup.com/writers-of-central-florida-or-thereabouts.
BUSINESS
Connections. Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce at local eateries, Connections provides local businesspeople and entrepreneurs an opportunity to network, socialize and share ideas. Upcoming meetings, held on the fourth Wednesday of most months, are slated for January 21, February 25 and March 25 (locations TBA). Admission is $35 for members and $50 for nonmembers. 407-599-3580. winterpark.org/connections.
Good Morning, Winter Park. Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, these gatherings feature coffee and conversation about community issues. Upcoming meetings, held on the first Friday of most months, are slated for January 9, February 6 and March 6. Networking begins at 8:45 a.m. followed at 9:15 a.m. by a 45-minute program. Admission, which includes coffee, is free, but registration is required. Winter Park Welcome Center, 151 West Lyman Avenue, Winter Park. 407-599-3580. winterpark.org/good-morning-winter-park.
Winter Park Professional Women. Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, these meetings—held the first Monday of most months from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.—feature guest speakers and provide networking opportunities for women business owners. Topics are related to leadership development, business growth and local initiatives of special interest to women. Upcoming meetings are slated for January 12, February 2 and March 9. Tickets, which include lunch, are $35 for chamber members and $50 for nonmembers. Reservations are required. Winter Park Welcome Center, 151 West Lyman Avenue, Winter Park. 407-599-3580. winterpark.org/winter-park-professional-women.
NATURE
79th Annual Camellia Show. This floral feast for the senses is slated for Mead Botanical Garden on January 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when you can wander through hundreds of dazzling blossoms. Hosted by the Camellia Society of Central Florida, the event features a plant sale and a contest for best bloom (anyone may enter). 1300 South Denning Drive, Winter Park. 407-622-6323, meadgarden.org.
Keep Winter Park Beautiful. Volunteer to help the city keep local watersheds beautiful all season long with cleanups held throughout the year. Call or check the website for dates and locations. Litter grabbers, safety vests, gloves and garbage bags are provided at City Hall, 151 West Lyman Avenue, Winter Park. Volunteers should contact kwpb@
cityofwinterpark.org for more details and to complete a waiver. 407-599-3364. cityofwinterpark.org.
Winter Park Garden Club. The club’s general membership meetings, which always offer something intriguing for lovers of gardening and the great outdoors, are typically held on the second Wednesday of each month from September through May at 10 a.m. Field trips and other community events are also held throughout the year. All meetings are at the club’s headquarters at 1300 South Denning Drive. For more information about the club, which was founded in 1922, and its upcoming programs, call 407-644-5770, check winterparkgardenclub.com or email winterparkgc100@gmail.com.
CAUSES
CoffeeTalk. These free gatherings, sponsored by the City of Winter Park, are held on the first Thursday of most months and offer residents an opportunity to discuss issues of concern with local officials. Barnie’s Coffee Kitchen supplies the coffee. Upcoming dates are January 8 with Mayor Sheila DeCiccio, with subsequent events slated for February 5 and March 5. The hourlong sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall, 401 South Park Avenue, Winter Park. 407-644-8281. cityofwinterpark.org.
Boots & Books: Love, Your Library Gala. Treat your friends and family to an extraordinary night at the Winter Park Library and Events Center on February 7 at 7 p.m. This VIP event, which sports a Western theme, will feature top-shelf libations, silent auction packages, a delicious feast by Arthur’s Catering and live music by Sean Holcomb and Henry Hood. There’ll also be a bourbon bar and a mechanical bull challenge for the city’s plethora of Urban Cowboys and Cowgirls. Individual tickets are $200. 1052 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park. 407-623-3277,
winterparklibrary.org/loveyourlibrary.
CELEBRATIONS & EVENTS
St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Ready to celebrate the wearing o’ the green? Central Florida’s only St. Patrick’s Day parade is slated for March 7 at 9 a.m. This year’s annual parade features more than 75 marching units who’ll march south along Park Avenue through the city’s signature shopping district to Lyman Avenue. 407-599-3334. cityofwinterpark.org.
Cheers to You! The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce hosts an evening of cocktails, dinner and awards as it recognizes important contributions to the community and names the Lydia Gardner Citizen of the Year. The annual event, sponsored by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, is slated for January 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Winter Park Events Center. Tickets prices had not been announced at press time. 407-599-3580. winterpark.org/cheers-to-you.
Unity Heritage Festival. This year’s 24th annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day promotes family history while raising funds for programs that assist economically disadvantaged youth. The event, slated for January 18 and 19 in Hannibal Square’s Shady Park, features live music, concessions, speakers and various activities. Admission is free. 721 West New England Avenue, Winter Park. 407-599-3334. cityofwinterpark.org.
Arts Weekend. Sure, you know that Winter Park’s slogan is the City of Culture and Heritage. But even if you’re a lifelong resident, you might not know about all the arts-oriented amenities that are available within our boundaries. That’s something the Winter Park Arts & Culture Alliance is seeking to correct with its 2026 Arts Weekend, a four-day (February 5 to 8) arts extravaganza that promotes the offerings of 24 member organizations and features special events and performances (see page 102).
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. Among the oldest, largest and most prestigious juried outdoor art festivals in the U.S., the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival celebrates its 67th year from March 20 to 22. The event, which showcases more than 200 artists selected from more than 1,000 applicants, usually draws more than 250,000 visitors to Central Park along Park Avenue. In addition to works in a variety of media—painting, sculpture, photography, graphics, fiber, leather, wood, glass and jewelry—there’ll be kid-friendly activities in the Children’s Workshop Village and an exhibition of student art from Orange County public and private schools. There are also dozens of food and drink concessions and continual live entertainment on the Central Park Stage. Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free. wpsaf.org.
Zora! Festival of the Arts. The 37th year of the ZORA! Festival of the Arts (see page 98), honoring home-grown folklorist and author Zora Neale Hurston, is slated for January 30 and 31 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and February 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The festival—with its food, music, vendors and art displays—draws up to 70,000 people and sprawls throughout downtown Eatonville along Kennedy Boulevard. The event is sponsored by the Association to Preserve Eatonville Community. zorafestival.org.
RACES
Park Avenue 5K. The fourth race in the Track Shack Running Series, slated for January 17, starts and finishes on Park Avenue. In between, it wends its way for 3.1 miles through beautiful neighborhoods surrounding downtown Winter Park. The 5K race starts at 7:30 a.m. Registration is $50 through January 16 and $55 on race day. Central Park, 251 South Park Avenue, Winter Park. 407-896-1160. trackshack.com.
Run 4 Love 4 Mile. This Valentine’s Day run (that means February 14, in case you’ve forgotten) is for those in love with running or walking— or perhaps with one another. The 4-mile run or walk starts at 7:30 a.m., followed by a Kids’ Run at 9 a.m., a costume contest and awards presentations. The registration fee for this, the fifth race in the Track Shack Running Series, ranges from $42 to $47 through February 13 and $52 on race day. Showalter East Field, 250 Perth Lane, Winter Park. trackshack.com.
49th Winter Park Road Race. This March 28 event, the final race of the annual Track Shack Running Series, features a route through tree-canopied roads and historic neighborhoods. Activities include a 10K (6.2-mile) race at 7:30 a.m., as well as a 2-mile race at 7 a.m. and a Kids’ Run at 9 a.m. Registration for the 10K ranges from $55 to $60 through March 27 and $65 on race day. Central Park, 251 South Park Avenue, Winter Park. trackshack.com.
HELLO, ZORA! AUTHOR FETED IN EATONVILLE
How will Eatonville, one of the oldest incorporated Black townships in America and home to famed Harlem Renaissance author Zora Neale Hurston, commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday? The answer lies in the joyous, richly diverse programming of the 2026 ZORA! Festival of the Arts and Humanities—a monthlong series of special events in January collectively dubbed Hurston, History and Heritage.
“We see this as an opportunity to view the American saga through the lens of people of African ancestry in this country,” says N.Y. Nathiri, festival chair and executive director of the nonprofit Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community (P.E.C.), which has presented the nationally recognized annual event since 1990.
Adds Nathiri: “The historic Black town is a specific framework that is particularly special because there are so few of these towns left.”
Indeed, scholars estimate that only about 30 of the more than 100 all-Black towns founded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries still exist. The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently declared Eatonville one of the 11 Most Endangered Places in America.
For P.E.C., the key to Eatonville’s economic revival will be cultural heritage tourism, which the group hopes will attract visitors with year-round, high-quality programming that highlights the brilliance Hurston and the unique history of her beloved “native village.”
Orange County recently awarded P.E.C. a three-year, $1.3 million Blockbuster & Special Events grant funded by the Tourist Development Tax that will support Eatonville Rising, a six‑event cultural heritage tourism series planned for 2027. That will be the 140th anniversary of the incorporation of the Town of Eatonville and the 90th anniversary of Hurston’s classic novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God.
In the meantime, this year’s festival will build on partnerships with arts, humanities and cultural institutions throughout the region. The program will kick off with Happy Birthday, Zora! A Virtual Celebration (Wednesday, January 7, 7:30 p.m.) at the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts. That event will be followed by what Nathiri describes as a “powerhouse” schedule for the remainder of the month.
Highlights will include the opening of Value Test: Brown Bag (Saturday, January 24, 1 to 4 p.m.), an exhibition at the museum by interdisciplinary artist Mary Graham, who’ll give an artist talk at 2 p.m.
The so-called “brown bag test” refers to a practice, particularly within African American communities, where those with skin darker than a brown paper bag were denied entry to social events, fraternities, sororities or other elite groups.
A must-see event, this one at the Annie Russell Theatre at Rollins College, will be vignettes from the original play Let the People Sing (Thursday, January 29, 7:30 p.m.). The student-written production was inspired by Hurston’s efforts to stage From Sun to Sun, her self-written folklore musical, at the prestigious venue in 1932.
(Hurston was ultimately given permission to produce From Sun to Sun on campus but not at “The Annie.” Instead, to avoid controversy, the show was relegated to the Recreation Hall, where—to Hurston’s dismay—it was performed before a segregated audience.)
Concurrently, back in Eatonville, there’ll be a thought-provoking academic conference, Entering the Zoraverse: People, Places, Spaces (Thursday and Friday, January 29 and 30, times TBA). The two-day multidisciplinary gathering will feature panels, performances and lectures by leading scholars on Hurston.
The conference’s keynote address will be delivered by Deborah G. Plant, who was editor of Hurston’s previously unpublished novel The Life of Herod the Great (2025), and the New York Times bestseller Barracoon: The Story of the Last Black Cargo (2018).
Plant was also author of Zora Neale Hurston: A Biography of the Spirit (2007) and Every Tub Must Sit On Its Own Bottom: The Philosophy and Politics of Zora Neale Hurston (1995). The keynote address and the conference will be held at the historic St. Lawrence African Methodist Episcopal Church.
“This is going to be an outstanding program,” says Nathiri. “Individual genius has its own power. You have it or you don’t—and Zora Neale Hurston had it.”
And there’s more. Attendees can experience Hurston’s world firsthand during Connection to the Arts (Thursday, January 29, 8:30 to 11:45 a.m.), a Maitland-Eatonville mobile tour led by local historians and curators who will explore spaces that shaped the writer as an adult. The tour will convene at the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.
Among the tour stops will be the Maitland Art Center, where exhibitions manager Katie Benson and Seminole State College humanities professor Trent Tomengo will discuss Hurston’s norm-defying friendship with artist J. André Smith, founder of the complex then known as the Research Studio.
Also along the route will be St. Lawrence African Methodist Episcopal Church, where the walls are adorned with Smith’s eight-panel mural inspired by the 23rd Psalm, and the Moseley House Museum, now maintained by the Zeta Educational Thespian Association and the Florida State Leadership Conference of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.
The Moseley House, the second-oldest structure in Eatonville, is the former residence of Hurston’s best friend, Matilda “Tillie” Moseley, with whom the author stayed during visits to her hometown. The white-frame, tin-roofed building contains displays of memorabilia related to the town’s history.
Finally, tour attendees will pass Hurston’s childhood homesite en route to RISE: The Mural Project at Elizabeth Park. It’s a giant mural of Hurston accompanied by art, poems and calligraphy that will provide a stunning backdrop for heritage tourist selfies. The work, completed in 2020, was created by a group of young local artists and creatives called Collab Studios.
Other festival activities slated will include a curated luncheon and book talk (Thursday, January 29, noon to 1:45 p.m.) with Dr. Fred Opie, a food historian who will discuss his book, Zora Neale Hurston on Florida Food: Recipes, Remedies & Simple Pleasures. Fare served will be inspired by culinary research conducted by Hurston. This scrumptious event will be held at the Macedonia Baptist Church.
Now, with their hunger sated, attendees can walk off some calories by hoofing it down to the Eatonville Branch of the Orange County Library System for Preserving Eatonville’s Legacy Through Story and Stitch (Thursday, January 29, 3:45 to 5 p.m.). Ceremonies there will celebrate the unveiling of the Eatonville History Preservation Project Quilt.
The quilt was created by fabric artist Lisa G. Moore, who used materials donated by local residents to visually share the stories of generations of Eatonvillians. In addition to the artist, those who will discuss the project include lifelong resident Ruthi Critton, a descendant of Joe Clark, co-founder and mayor of the town from 1900 to 1912.
Of course, the festival’s most high-profile event will again be the popular Outdoor Festival of the Arts (Friday, January 30, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, January 31, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, February 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at the historic Robert Hungerford High School property along Kennedy Boulevard.
The extravaganza for which the festival is best known will transform the town’s usually quiet downtown strip into a vibrant open-air museum of creativity, history and community. Through student showcases and family programs to live concerts and heritage exhibits, attendees of all ages will connect through art, food, music and storytelling.
Finally, dress to impress at Cotton Club, Reimagined (Saturday, January 31, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.), a 1930s Harlem Renaissance-themed night of clubbing with live era-music performed by the Jones High Alumni and Community Band. The venue will be Eola View in downtown Orlando.
As usual, activities surrounding the ZORA! Festival of the Arts and Humanities are in a variety of locations. Some activities are free, some require advance registration and some are ticketed. For more details and the most up-to-date information, visit zorafestival.org.
—Scot French
AMERICA’S STORY IS TOLD DURING CREALDÉ’S ‘MOSAIC’
The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is as much a celebration as it is a time of reflection of who we are, where we come from and where we’re going.
As a cornerstone of Crealdé School of Art’s “America 250” celebration, American Mosaic: Stories in Color, Clay and Canvas—on view from February 6 to May 23—will explore the evolving story of our national identity through a variety of media.
Presented across three galleries—the Alice & William Jenkins Gallery, the Showalter Hughes Community Gallery and the Hannibal Square Heritage Center Visiting Exhibition Gallery—the exhibition will weave together themes of place, memory, culture and belonging.
Featuring works by Crealdé faculty, emerging MFA students from UCF and storytellers from across Central Florida, American Mosaic will amplify underrepresented voices and reflect the nation’s diverse creative landscape. A collaborative ceramic mosaic will serve as a lasting symbol of unity and inclusion.
“American Mosaic grew from the idea that art is a shared language—one that helps us interpret, question and reimagine the American story,” says Emily Bourmas-Fry, the school’s executive director & CEO. “At Crealdé, we believe that art has the power to build understanding across communities—and this exhibition will embody that spirit completely.”
As part of the this multifacted effort, local mosaic artists and school faculty members will guide participants in the creation of the American Mosaic Community Mural. Those who join in (and all ages are welcome) will design and craft ceramic tiles inspired by their experiences of belonging. The individual works will then be assembled into a permanent, large-scale installation on the main campus in east Winter Park.
Bourmas-Fry says it’s this type of participatory activity that speaks to Crealdé’s mission of connecting, healing and building community through art. This was, after all, the goal of founder William S. Jenkins, an art-loving building contractor and an artist of no small talent himself.
“I’m always reminded that the most powerful work happens when we bring people together around creativity and empathy,” adds Bourmas-Fry. “Many pieces carry a quiet honesty, rooted in family traditions, cultural heritage and personal memory. Together they form a deeply human portrait—intimate yet universal.”
Crealdé School of Art is located at 600 St. Andrews Boulevard, Winter Park. For more information, call 407-671-1886 or visit crealde.org.
—Jenna Marina Lee
ARTS ABOUND IN WEEKEND CELEBRATION
The Winter Park Arts & Culture Alliance isn’t just being metaphoric by subtitling its second annual Arts Weekend “A Tapestry of Experiences.” This time, the four-day celebration will enlist the public to help create a visual tribute to the city’s rich cultural heritage.
It will be a hands-on project meant to demonstrate how individual and group histories are—quite literally—woven into the fabric of the community. Here’s how it will all be stitched together:
In the month leading up to this year’s sophomore event—which will run February 5 through 8—physical tapestries will be on display at four area locations: the Winter Park Library, the Winter Park History Museum, the Center for Health & Wellbeing and the Hannibal Square Heritage Center.
Each tapestry will be themed to the host facility’s specific mission and focus. Visitors will be able to put their own stamp on the woven works by affixing personal items they bring from home; if they arrive empty-handed, materials will be provided for them.
A fifth tapestry—this one with an American flag motif—will be created during Arts Weekend. That theme dovetails nicely with the city’s ongoing involvement in marking “America 250”—a bipartisan initiative led by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission.
Apart from the tapestry project, Arts Weekend will again be structured around performances and exhibitions staged by the alliance’s membership of nonprofit arts organizations—a roster that’s now up to 24 with the recent addition of Central Florida Community Arts (CFCArts).
The festivities will get underway Thursday, February 5, at the Center for Health & Wellbeing, with a keynote speech about the importance of the arts in fostering good mental health among the young. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m.; the speaker had not been announced at press time.
A Friday night highlight will be a concert by local singer and actress Jasmine Forsberg, who in less than a decade has grown from appearing in a spoof of Dora the Explorer at the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival to starring in the Broadway sensation Six.
Forsberg will take to the main stage in Central Park at 7 p.m. to perform a program of show tunes and pop numbers presented by Central Florida Vocal Arts. Don’t forget to bring your blanket!
Saturday afternoon’s “Art in the Park”—also in Central Park—will offer more performances by area ensembles, musical and otherwise, plus interactive activities designed to bring out the nascent creative in us all. (It’s also when the American flag tapestry will be created.) The event will run from noon to 3 p.m.
And all day on Sunday, Winter Parkers and out-of-towners alike are invited to stroll Park Avenue and its environs and visit the many museums, gardens and other venues that give the city its distinctive cultural vibe.
Many museums will offer free admission for the weekend as well as special exhibitions and performances. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, for example, will waive admission fees on all four days, while the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens is planning a one-time-only display of rare gold coins.
Once again, restaurants and retailers are expected to offer discount specials as an added enticement. And if you should happen to miss any or all of the happenings, the flag tapestry will remain on display after the weekend is over, at a location to be determined.
Because whether you’re a resident or just an American who lives outside of the 32789 zip code, you could probably use the occasional reminder that our lives have a common thread. Arts Weekend will be sponsored by the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation and AdventHealth Winter Park.
For a full schedule of events and an up-to-the-minute list of participating businesses, call 407-599-3349 or visit wpinspires.org.
—Steve Schneider
TASTE ART OVER EASY AT EGG TEMPERA EXHIBITION
Sandy Thibeault, a retired high school art teacher for more than 20 years, always encouraged her students to never lose their passion for creativity. Whether they intended to pursue art as a career or as a hobby that enriched their daily lives, she stressed that they should never set it aside.
In 1994, Thibeault decided to take her own advice. She took a class in Renaissance painting at the Massachusetts College of Art and learned more about an ancient painting technique—its origins have been traced to the 4th century B.C.—that would greatly influence the next three decades of her life.
An accomplished egg tempera artist, Thibeault employs the same techniques as those used by artists centuries ago. She mixes her paints by combining egg yolk, water and finely ground pigments. Her images also incorporate gold leaf, which in medieval religious works was used to create luminous backgrounds that emphasized the divinity of the subjects.
Thibeault’s first solo exhibition, Renaissance Alchemy: Egg & Gold, opened in December of last year and will run through April 12 at the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. Some of her work will be available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the museum.
“I delight in capturing the subtle nuances that bring an object to life,” says Thibeault. “I strive to reveal the inner essence of an individual and to achieve the luminous quality that egg tempera painters have sought for centuries. My work blends the old with the new, combining realism with 15th-century aesthetics.”
Thibeault benefited from two academic summers living and studying Renaissance art throughout Europe, She also faithfully follows Il Libro dell’Arte, one of the first “how-to” art books, which was written in the late 1400s (or perhaps much earlier) by Italian painter Cennino Cennini.
“Like all great artists, I think that Sandy is committed to excellence,” says Polasek curator Tamie Diener-Lafferty. Thibeault’s work was included in Diener-Lafferty’s first curated exhibition for the museum, All That Glitters: The Society of Gilders, in 2022. She was so impressed that she has worked toward a solo exhibition for the artist ever since.
Admission to Renaissance Alchemy will be free on Renaissance Family Day, slated for Saturday, January 11, from noon to 4 p.m. There’ll be art activities, story time, falconry and fencing demonstrations, live harp music, a butterfly release and an artist talk. And we mustn’t forget about the food trucks.
Thibeault—whose work has won several prestigious national prizes—will lead an egg tempera and gilding workshop on Thursday, March 5, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Attendees will be able to prepare their own egg tempera paint, apply genuine gold leaf and complete a small, gilded work to take home.
The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens is located at 633 Osceola Avenue, Winter Park. For more information, call 407-647-6294 or visit polasek.org.
—Jenna Marina Lee
PLAYHOUSE TAKES ON A FUNKIER GROOVE
If you’ve noticed that the musical menu at The Winter Park Playhouse seems to have taken on a slightly funkier groove as of late, it isn’t just your imagination running away with you (so to speak).
Following in the footsteps of such past offerings as 2023’s Motown: Pride of the Motor City, the theater—still in temporary digs at Orlando Shakes as its Orange Avenue location undergoes renovation—will kick off 2026 in soulful style with From My Hometown: A Celebration of the American Dream in Classic R&B.
In this Southeast regional premiere of the 1998 jukebox musical—which will run January 23 to February 21—three young men (Adourin Jamelle Owens, Quentin Avery Brown and James White III) meet while auditioning to perform at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater.
That setup provides the narrative pretext for spirited run-throughs of two dozen classic songs and a smattering of originals by Lee Summers, Ty Stephens and Will Barrow. (Summers and Stephens also wrote the book to the musical, in collaboration with Herbert Rawlings Jr.).
Meanwhile, the fact that the fellas just happen to be named “Philly,” “Detroit” and “Memphis” introduces a note of trash-talking geographic rivalry—until the three of them decide to pool their expertise and form a killer trio in the mold of the classic vocal groups of the 1960s and 1970s.
The interstate angle of the story has a certain resonance for director and choreographer Desiree Montes, a Hawaii-born military brat who says that her extended family hails “from all over.” More salient to this particular production, however, is the passion that she inherited from her elders for vintage blues, soul and R&B.
Montes says she has relished the opportunity to share that background with her young cast, although in at least one case not much of a crash course was required: Brown produces and performs his own solo shows in the genre—which he has presented on tour and at the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival.
“There’s just something about being able to direct a show with three men, and particularly three men who are Black,” says Montes. “As a Black woman, being able to help tell their story is something that really appealed to me.”
It’s a commission that she shares with a creative team that’s made up mainly of women and people of color, including musical director Jeanine McAdams Nesbit. (Pianist James Stewart will lead the live band during performances.) Overall, Montes has high marks for the strides she has seen the Playhouse make in expanding the representational palette of local theater.
Says Montes: “I firmly believe, and have seen with my own eyes, that the people there really do care and are extremely intentional about all the casting choices they make.” From My Hometown will mark the second time that Montes has directed and choreographed a mainstage presentation at the Playhouse. The first time was The Bikinis at the outset of 2025.
From My Hometown will be the penultimate show of the 2025-26 season. The grand reopening at the Orange Avenue location is expected to be in August. When the Playhouse is back on its home turf, expect harmony to remain a priority—in every sense of the term.
Orlando Shakes is located at 812 Rollins Street, Orlando, in Loch Haven Cultural Park. For more information, visit winterparkplayhouse.org or call 407-645-0145.
—Steve Schneider
‘SOUVENIR’ EXPLORES ISSUES OF OBJECTS AND MEMORIES
At the center of the Rollins College campus, a semicircular pathway under the shade of oak trees is flanked by more than 500 stones from various locales around the world. The Walk of Fame, a quirky but compelling campus attraction, was conceptualized by former Rollins President Hamilton Holt in 1929.
Each stone contains the engraved names of famous men and women in various fields that range from writers (William Shakespeare), inventors (Thomas Edison) and philosophers (Aristotle) to poets (Maya Angelou), transformational leaders (Martin Luther King Jr.) and prominent alumni (Fred Rogers).
The stones—some of which come from the birthplaces, former homes and even gravesites of the people they memorialize—were, for the most part, likely obtained through legal means. Some, though, were likely just taken. But, at the end of the day, they are still just rocks, right?
When Assistant Professor of Art Audrey Hope arrived at the college in 2020 to teach sculpture, she says she was struck by that juxtaposition. “The idea that rocks associated with a person of note might communicate greatness strikes me as absurd,” she says. “And yet the belief in objects as portals to meaning persists in my own work.”
Our tendency to associate memories with objects—especially objects that commemorate travel—has resulted in such practices as pilgrims collecting fragments from holy sites and the mass production of mementos. This combination of the sacred, the capitalistic and the aesthetic isn’t always appreciated in the art world. Such tension is the inspiration behind Souvenir, which will run from January 17 to May 10 at the Rollins Museum of Art and was co-curated by Hope and Gisela Carbonell, the museum’s permanent curator.
Indeed, the history of museums can be traced back to cabinets of curiosities that displayed artifacts from the natural world and items accumulated during so-called Grand Tours—a rite of passage for wealthy young men from the 17th to early 19th centuries that involved educational excursions through Europe.
Souvenir will feature more than two dozen pieces from both the museum’s own collection and the college’s Department of Archives. It will explore the subtleties of collecting materials from diverse cultures and reinscribing them with new meaning by considering practices of both institutions and individuals.
“We hope that visitors view the exhibition as an invitation to explore works of art that tell nuanced stories and connect to both history and the present moment,” says Carbonell. “I hope that it offers opportunities and space to reflect on travel, pilgrimage, collecting and museums from a fresh perspective.”
The Rollins Museum of Art is located at 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park, on the campus of Rollins College. For more information, call 407-646-3526 or visit rollins.edu/rma.
—Jenna Marina Lee