The Bay Street
Players in Eustis have planned a public memorial service for Deborah Carpenter, a founder who died in March.
Here’s the latest from my blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/artistictype.
The Bay Street Players in Eustis have announced details for a public memorial service for Deborah Carpenter, a founder of the theater who died in March.
“Private in some areas and very public in others, Deborah made arrangements way ahead of time to ensure her wishes were carried out to the letter,” reads a message from the theater. “She did not want a somber funeral service; she wanted a celebration with all the glitz, glamour and glitter her friends, co-workers and former students could put together.”
To that end, the Players will present “Puttin’ on the Glitz,” a celebration of Carpenter’s life, at 7 p.m. June 10 at the State Theatre, 109 N. Bay St., Eustis. Longtime friend David Clevinger, a former artistic director of the Bay Street Players, will host.
Anyone who was touched by Carpenter’s commitment to the arts is invited, the theater says, “so they can join us in honoring the memory of our own Lake County legend.”
‘Showman’ dancer
Alex Wong, a featured dancer in the recent film “The Greatest Showman,” will host a master class and perform at this year’s I Dance Orlando Festival, presented by Marshall Ellis Dance School.
Wong is a former dancer with American Ballet Theater and was a principal soloist with Miami City Ballet. His credits include the original Broadway cast of “Newsies,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” “American Idol,” “Glee,” “Smash,” “The Voice” and the Oscars.
I Dance Orlando Festival is in its third year; Wong’s class will be at 2 p.m. April 28. Currently, no more participants can be accepted, although there is a wait list. The public can watch for $20. Wong is also scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. in the Marshall Ellis Theater. For more information on the festival or Wong’s appearances, go to marshallellisdanceschool.com.
Night on Broadway
Winter Park High’s 19th Night on Broadway salutes “The American Songbook” with a concert highlighting standards of the early 20th century as well as several decades of “jukebox musicals” — shows that use pop music as their score.
The annual Night on Broadway honors Tyler Rush, a chorus student who died in a car accident in December 1998. The concert series has raised more than $141,000 through the years for a scholarship fund in Rush’s memory.
“Night on Broadway is a creative and collaborative effort about the human spirit,” says choral director Michael Swope. “Each year, the chorus family honors Tyler Rush’s memory as we embark on our own educational, musical and personal journeys of self-discovery.”
Performances are 7:30 p.m. today-Saturday at Winter Park High School, 2100 Summerfield Road, Winter Park. Tickets are $17 per person. For more information, go to facebook.com/ wphsnightonbroadway or call 407-628-3028.