I don’t think that’s actually how it works, but some great shows are kicking off the New Year!
Hey, I’m News 6 producer Brooke Savage, and this is my first Setting the Stage newsletter for 2024! Woohoo! 🎉
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Let’s jump right in to what’s happening in the theatre and art scene, because I have so much to tell you about. ⤵
🧞 You ain’t never had a friend like this Genie
Disney’s national tour of “Aladdin” is back at the Dr. Phillips Center and the shows wrap up this weekend.
Marcus M. Martin plays the Genie, and he told me, he basically granted his own wish! The Genie is the role he has wanted to play since he was 16 years old, ever since he saw the original actor, James Monroe Iglehart, win a Tony award for his Broadway performance. Once he saw a man who looked like him owning the stage, he made it his mission to play the Genie.
I had the chance to see the show on Wednesday night, and the audience absolutely loved Martin’s performance! He was definitely a fan favorite.
Watch my full interview with Martin, get ticket information and see why this weekend’s performances will also inspire local students here.
🎭 Not sure what exactly you want to see? Next week you will have more than 20 options!
From a show about a young man becoming a grandma in a witness protection program, to a one-woman Titanic parody and another show honoring the works of Stephen Sodheim, Orlando Fringe is bringing back its winter festival with performances for all kinds of theatre lovers.
This year, though, the show takes on a new name called, “FESTN4.” The four-day festival will be at Fringe ArtSpace on Church Street in downtown Orlando Jan. 11-14. I posted all the information you need here.
✨If I could turn back time ...
Actually, this is in the future. More than a week from now, Cher fans will have a chance to check out a musical celebrating the life of the pop icon. This glamorous Tony Award-winning show will have 35 songs spanning six decades, and it’s packed with so much Cher, it takes three women to play her: the young girl starting out, the glamorous pop star, and the icon. The show is coming to Melbourne Jan. 16-17 and then it will come to The Villages in late February.
🎨International Festival of the Arts is getting ready to return to EPCOT
The event runs Jan. 12 through Feb. 19, and Disney released the menu. Landon McReynolds writes our “In the Loop” newsletter, and he posted about all the delicious food and drinks you can expect to try “around the world” at the theme park. Not going to lie, scrolling through the story made me hungry!
📢 A call for artists ahead of Black History Month
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the City of Orlando is looking for artists to display their artwork to celebrate Black History Month in City Hall. Submissions are due by this Sunday.
The city posted what they’re looking for here. The picture above is an artist I did a story on last year. Not only was her artwork featured in City Hall, but you can also find many of her murals around Central Florida. She is an impressive young woman! Here on News 6, we want you to tell us about people making a difference in the Black community, and/or share memories of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with the day celebrating him coming up on Jan 15. Share your thoughts here.
🎪 You can win tickets to the Greatest Show on Earth
Right now until Sunday, you can enter to win a family 4-pack of tickets to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey The Greatest Show On Earth. It’s coming to the Kia Center (formerly known as the Amway) Jan. 12-15. The show is being reimagined with new acts including high-wire, trapeze and bicycle stunts. You have to be a News 6 Insider to enter to win. Not an Insider? It’s free to join.
🎶 What’s happening in show biz
🎙 Comedian Tommy Davidson at Pointe Orlando - He’s from the sketch comedy TV show “In Living Color,” and tonight and tomorrow, he’s bringing his improv comedy to Orlando. News 6 producer Tiffany Browne spoke to him about what you can expect from the show and why he loves performing in Central Florida.
🚀 The Rocket Man show at Athens Theatre in DeLand - Tonight and tomorrow, Rus Anderson is Elton John’s body double for his Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour launch promo video. According to the theatre’s website, he was picked by the man himself to perform as a young Elton John in The Rocket Man Show where he dives into Elton’s greatest hits.
😂 Colin and Brad from “Whose Line is it Anyway?” coming to The Villages - On Jan. 16 and 17, prepare to laugh. Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood will bring their improve comedy to the Savannah Center, where they will have to make up original scenes, songs and more.
Wow, that was a lot! Thank you to those who made it this far in the email.
If you have a show, exhibit or artist you want to tell me about or feature, please, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at bsavage@wkmg.com.
I’ll see you in two weeks.
- Brooke 🎭