Theaters highlight social justice with performances
Central Florida news and notes for the week:
‘The Niceties’
The Ensemble Company will reunite its cast of “The Niceties” for a one-night, live performance this Saturday, June 13. Actors Roberta Emerson and Missy Barnes will perform the two-person drama remotely, with a livestream performance at 8 p.m. at facebook.com/theensemblecompany.
“The Niceties” is a thrilling examination of race, bias, preconceived ideas and structural inequality — all topics very much at the fore of society’s consciousness right now. Both performers were critically acclaimed as among the strongest of the year, and The Ensemble Company’s production made the Orlando Sentinel’s list of best productions of 2019.
Playwright Eleanor Burgess gave permission for her work to be performed this way, according to director Matthew MacDermid. There is no charge to watch, but donations will be encouraged to #blacklivesmatter fundraisers.
‘Dreams vs. Boundaries’
Speaking of theater … Pamela Helfrich’s Write to Be Scene, a theater for social change initiative, is presenting “Dreams vs. Boundaries,” an online workshop series for middle- and high-schoolers. Participants will use writing, voice, movement and scene-building exercises to explore social issues and learn to express themselves through creativity, Helfrich says.
There is a suggested donation of $20, but Helfrich says no one will be turned away for financial reasons. For more information, contact her at pamelabelitch@gmail.com.
Orlando Phil season
Speaking of change … The Orlando
Philharmonic Orchestra season opener was adjusted after word broke that Steinmetz Hall would not be ready for the first concert of the 2020-2021 season. It was set to be a doozy, with Orlando composer
Stella Sung’s “Peace Corps” on the bill, as well as Stravinsky’s magnificent “Rite of Spring.”
But as a spokeswoman pointed out, those selections had been chosen to represent what the new hall, the final theater at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, would mean to the community.
Instead, the concert will take place at the Bob Carr Theater. But the new program still intrigues.
The headliner will be “La Mer,” French composer Claude Debussy’s trio of waterscape “symphonic sketches.”
Steinmetz Hall is now scheduled to be ready in time for the Philharmonic’s annual “Home for the Holidays” concert at the end of November.
For more information on the Philharmonic season, go to orlandophil.org.
‘What the World Needs … ’
Speaking of music … Finally, here’s a bright spot for the week. Residents and employees of Westminster Communities of Florida joined together to record the classic song “What the World Needs Now (Is Love)” and have released a smile-inducing
video.
And that’s one thing the arts can do: Connect people emotionally.
Find the video at facebook.com/WestminsterCommunitiesFL.
Find me on Twitter @matt_on_arts or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Want more news about theater and other arts? Go to orlandosentinel.com/arts.