Good news for Central Florida fans of strings-attached puppetry! Last month we reported the closure of Pinocchio’s Marionette Theater. Rather than disappearing entirely, Pinocchio’s has formed a new partnership with Winter Garden’s Garden Theatre. An original Floridian take on The Little Mermaid will open there Aug. 23-24, hopefully marking the start of a long-term relationship as Pinocchio’s transitions into a traveling troupe.
The Parliament House, Orange Blossom Trail’s legendary gay-friendly resort, has declared bankruptcy and is undergoing Chapter 11 reorganization, but that doesn’t mean they’re dousing the lamps of the Footlight Theatre. On the contrary, PH just announced a 2014-15 season featuring several Fringe favorites, including Logan Donahoo’s Field Guide to the Gays in September; The Screw-You Revue in October; Doug Ba’aser’s Tired Old Whore in November; Wanzie’s Christmas Spectacular in December; and Something’s Weird in Weeki Wachee in January.
Speaking of Fringe, the Festival’s Fringe Year Round series returns in September at Shakes with a revival of the musical drama Seasons, and continues through February with encores of There’s No Place Like Home, Reincarnation Soup and more.
In June I shared that Orlando Shakespeare Theater had cast Orlando native and Broadway star Davis Gaines as Javert in its September mounting of Les Misérables. The show’s remaining principal cast has been announced, and includes Michael Hunsaker (Valjean), James Beaman (Thénardier), Heather Botts (Cosette) and Caitlyn Caughell (Eponine), directed by DJ Salisbury. Local theater fans may note that, aside from Gaines and Anne Hering as Madame Thénardier, nearly all involved are national artists.
Now playing:
Spamalot, through Aug. 17 at Sanford’s Princess Theater … Company, through Aug. 18 at Breakthrough Theatre … Backwards in High Heels, through Aug. 23 at Winter Park Playhouse … The History Boys, through Sept. 7 at Mad Cow Theatre.
Upcoming:
Tappin’ and Yappin’, Aug. 15 at the Abbey … Big Fish, Aug. 15-24 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church … The Letters, Aug. 22-Sept. 21 at Mad Cow … Monster, Sept. 5-15 at the Venue … Sylvia, Sept. 5-Oct. 3 at Theatre Downtown.
