New developments from Orlando Ballet and more
Technology keeps bringing the arts to us during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is some of the latest programming from Orlando arts organizations — everything from conversations with Tony winners to amplifying Black voices, international singers and a new local music-publishing endeavor.
‘Barre Talk’
The latest edition of Orlando Ballet’s new podcast series, “Barre Talk With Robert Hill,” features a conversation between Hill and Tonywinning choreographer Jerry Mitchell. Hill, the ballet’s artistic director, speaks with Mitchell about the “Kinky Boots” director-choreographer’s career and other topics. Mitchell won the 2013 best choreography Tony for “Kinky Boots” and was nominated in the director of a musical category. He also directed “On Your Feet,” the musical about Gloria and Emilio Estefan.
Other interviews in the series include: Choreographer Val Caniparoli; dancer-turned-stager Maiqui Manosa; Phillip Broomhead, who leads Orlando Ballet School; and Charmaine Hunter, a former principal ballerina with Dance Theatre of Harlem who is now Orlando Ballet’s director of community enrichment.
“Barre Talk With Robert Hill” is available on Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Radio Public and Spotify.
New concerts, new anthology
Orlando’s Timucua Arts Foundation has entered the world of music publishing with an anthology of 11 piano pieces by members of the Central Florida Composers Forum. Artistic director Benoit Glazer curated and edited the collection with help from forum members. Timucua board member Enrique Wiedemann of DiBenedetto/ Wiedemann designed the music book, which has cover art by Orlando painter Roberto Gonzalez.
The anthology is on sale for $25 at Timucua.com.
Meanwhile, Timucua has announced some big live broadcasts in upcoming months. Korean soprano Kelly Kim, who has sold out the local concert hall three times, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 14 for a suggested donation of $10-$20.
Ulysses Owens and the Generation Y Ensemble, a group of young jazz musicians, will play at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 (suggested donation $20-$25). And Yuval Amhai, an Israeli-born jazz musician and composer now based in New York, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 (suggested donation $10-$20).
Timucua also streams rebroadcasts of previous events weekly. Find details on upcoming shows at Timucua.com/events.
Black voices
Orlando Fringe is compiling a collection titled “Black Voices” at its online show page, thelawn.orlandofringe.org.
“We have a responsibility to make sure that voices in the Black community have a forum to express themselves, and want to lift up those voices, share those stories, and hear — truly hear — what is being expressed,” said executive director Alauna Friskics in announcing the initiative. “This is a call to artists to submit work, and also a call to audiences to listen.”
The Fringe is hoping to gather recorded performances, visual art, poems and stories created by Black artists. Those submitting their work can include links to collect tips or charge to view. Visual pieces may be offered for sale.
Among the works already in the collection is Marlon Andrew Burnley’s “Black in the Box.” Burnley won the Critics’ Choice Award for best male performance at the 2017 Orlando Fringe for the show, which uses masks and physical movement to convey the Black experience.
Local performer Stelson Telfort’s short film “Black Lives Matter,” a look at a difficult conversation between Black and white friends, is also part of the Fringe’s collection.
Theater review
In lieu of its annual fundraising gala, the theater program at Central Florida Community Arts put together an online celebration of its fifth season, which included “Next to Normal,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Sweeney Todd,” “The Lion in Winter” and more. The video features performance clips, photos and reminiscences from those who created the productions.
Watch the retrospective at cfcarts.com/season5, where there is also a link to contribute to CFCArts’ next season of theater.
The Show Must Go Online
I’ve written before about “The Show Must Go Online,” an international project presenting all of Shakespeare’s works, in their presumed order of writing, in online Zoom-style. In the project’s recent performance of “Henry IV, part 1,” Orlando actor Jason Blackwater was among the cast — which features actors from five of the world’s seven continents.
Local theatergoers might have seen Blackwater in Orlando Repertory Theatre’s “Elf the Musical” or at a PlayFest reading of “Ada and the Engine” at Orlando Shakes. He also has toured the U.K. in “The Buddy Holly Story.”
In “Henry IV, part 1, Blackwater plays Peto, one of Falstaff ’s dissolute pals. Each show is cast, produced and rehearsed in under a week. Since Rob Myles launched the series, more than 200 actors and creatives have participated. The worldwide audience participates through the live chat function.
To watch or for more information on the project, go to robmyles.co.uk/ theshowmustgoonline.