Schools out for most of Central Florida and Monday is Memorial Day, a time to honor those who died while serving our country.
I’m News 6 producer Brooke Savage, the writer behind this Setting The Stage newsletter.
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If your plans take you elsewhere this weekend, the above picture is at the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement in St. Petersburg. My mom and I loved it!
If you’re staying in Central Florida, Orlando Fringe Fest is in its second week and I have been busy with interviews.
Two weeks ago, I left you with a guide to navigate Fringe Fest. This week, I’m taking a deeper dive into some of the shows going on that are wrapping up this weekend.
One of my favorite things about this newsletter is getting the chance to meet new people and listening to different perspectives.
Let’s take a look at those shows and what you can expect.
🎹 “Life as My Favorite Obstacle Course” starring Jennifer Gray and her service dog, Tonka
In this show, Jennifer Gray shares her journey of becoming a professional musician and living an independent life, despite the world not always being accessible for a wheelchair user. She used to be a software engineer, but she said when she started developing adult-onset muscular dystrophy, she saw an opportunity to perform full-time. She has an incredible story to tell. See her full interview and how you can catch her next two shows with Tonka this weekend here.
✨ The Magic Castle Still Stands
Often when I do these interviews, I talk to actors. This time, I had the chance to speak to a fellow writer about her new show! Vanessa Frances shared with me how a trip to see her friend and an emergency stop on a train inspired her to write it. She hopes many people will be able to relate to this coming-of-age play and reflect on their own lives. So where exactly is this “magic castle?” It’s based on a real place in Kissimmee! Let me know if you’ve heard of it. I posted her explanation of the magic castle here, and ticket information for her show. She has one more tonight and another on Sunday.
🤩 An improvised late-night talk show... and a News 6 anchor will be a guest!
Mark Cashwell puts on the show “Tonight, Tonight.” It gives you the experience of a late-night talk show, where the host and the audience bring everything together on the spot. The guest for Sunday’s show? Our very own, Julie Broughton. I don’t know about you, but I would love to see her response to his improvised questions. I asked Mark if he’s ever had a journalist on his show and he said he has! See how that turned out and check out ticket information for his last two shows this weekend.
🌟 Speaking of Julie, she has a great story about a program bringing Disney musicals to schools!
I absolutely love this story! This week, Julie and our photojournalist, Paul Giorgio, told us all about Disney Musicals in Schools. It’s a 17-week musical theatre program provided at no cost to schools. The Dr. Phillips Center works with Title 1 schools in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. Kids get a chance to perform a Disney musical in their school, and then they all come together to perform on the big stage at Dr. Phillips. Anchor Lisa Bell first told me about this program. Her son was part of it. She told me how her son and his classmates were unsure about doing a musical, but then ended up loving it and wanting to be more involved in theatre. I love hearing that. Check out this awesome story about something good happening in our community.
📗 Did you know, “Peter Pan The Musical” is not part of Disney?
That’s what I learned from Cody Garcia who plays Captain Hook in the show. It’s no longer at the Dr. Phillips Center, but I learned a lot about what goes on behind the scenes during my interview with Cody and 17-year-old Nolan Almeida, who plays Peter Pan. Check that out! If you missed the show in Orlando, it’s returning to Florida next year with stops in Jacksonville and Ft. Lauderdale.
🎶 What’s happening in show biz
➡ Now - Sunday: Check out the other shows and events happening at Orlando Fringe Fest
🎙 Now - Sunday: “The Bodyguard The Musical” at The Henegar in downtown Melbourne
🎤 Sunday: An evening with award-winning Blues singer Shemekia Copeland at the King Center in Melbourne
🌱 May 29 - June 29: “Little Shop of Horrors” at The Sharon in The Villages
🤠 May 30: Kane Brown at the Kia Center in downtown Orlando
📚 May 30: Roald Dahl’s “Matilda the Musical” at Osceola Arts in Kissimmee
That’s a wrap for this week’s “Setting The Stage” newsletter.
If you have any story ideas on the theatre and arts scene, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at bsavage@wkmg.com.
Before I leave you, Lisa Bell wanted me to drop this *clue* of what you can expect to see in my next email.
I’ll be back in your inbox in two weeks!
- 🎭 Brooke