JOSH RECOMMENDS

JoshRecommends By Josh Garrick

For those sultry summer nights, tickets are on sale at drphillipscenter.org unless otherwise indicated:

The 2022 Dr. Phillips Center “Applause Awards” June 4

The Dr. Phillips Center will celebrate top HIGH SCHOOL talent at its 8th annual “Applause Awards,” (modeled after Broadway’s TONY Awards). A panel of prestigious casting agents have selected 400 students from 30 high schools for this ultra-high-energy evening featuring live performances by the winners, AND thousands of dollars in scholarships. Tickets at drphillipscenter.org.

Jesus Christ Superstar – the 50th Anniversary Production Dr. Phillips Center June 7 to 12

In celebration of the musical’s 50th Anniversary, a magical new production of this all-time audience favorite – Jesus Christ Superstar – is being called a “Reinvention for a new Millennium.” Appealing to both theater and concert music fans, the iconic music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Superstar’s legendary score reflects the rock roots that literally “defined a generation.” Visit drphillipscenter.org/event

“3rd Thursday” – Monthly at City Arts Center June 16 from 6 pm to 9 pm

Now that ‘masks’ are coming off, the “3rd Thursday” event, hosted monthly by the Downtown Orlando Arts District, is a great way to come back to being among people. The diverse crowd is friendly, and the art on the walls is as diverse as the crowd at the uniquely green “Kiene Building.” 3rd Thursday is a FREE event, and the Art is affordable at any price range. Call 407.648.7060 or visit downtownartsdistrict.com

WORLD BALLET Competition GALA at the Chapin Theater Orange County Convention Center June 18 at 7 pm

Every summer in June, Orlando is honored to host the World Ballet Competition. Packed into one talent filled week, young dancers from around the world compete for prizes and recognition of their youthful artistry. The week ends with a GALA that brings together the winners with guest performances by some of the world’s greatest dancers. Visit worldballetcompetition.com or call 407.849.4669

Ragtime: A Benefit Concert by CFCArts June 18 & 19 at 3 pm and 8 pm

CFCArts invites us to Ragtime: A Benefit Concert. At the dawn of a new century, in turn-of-the-century New York, three very American stories are woven together united by a belief in the promise of the future. Confronting the timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom, and prejudice, hope and despair, the characters come to understand what it means to live in America.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™ in Concert with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra June 25 & 26 at 2 pm and 7 pm

Experience your favorite movies transformed with the music of the Orlando Philharmonic LIVE in the Harry Potter™ Film Concert Series. Now audiences can rediscover the magic of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™ while the OPO performs Nicholas Hooper’s unforgettable score and Harry Potter™ soars across the big screen in high definition.

The Masked Singer hosted by Natasha Bedingfield June 28 at 7:30 pm at the Dr. Phillips Center

Get ready to unmask the craziness. The Masked Singer national tour is coming to Orlando, bringing the hit television show to the next level on its first-ever North American tour. Audiences can expect ‘characters’ brought to life, celebrity guests, and a spectacular live show for audiences of all ages. So “who is that behind the mask?”

Chicago - A Dr. Phillips Summer Stock Production July 15 to 17 at 2 pm and 7 pm

Join the naughty fun as Dr. Phillips’ talented pre-professional college actors put on this full-length Broadway favorite about Roaring Twenties Chicago. On “death row,” Roxie and “Merry Murderess” Velma Kelly vie for headlines in search of fame, fortune, and acquittal. Featuring a dazzling, finger-snapping score and immortal staging by Bob Fosse, tickets are on sale at drphillipscenter.org.

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT: Heroes and Monsters Orlando Museum of Art Now to June 30

At the time of his tragic death in 1988 at the age of 27, JeanMichel Basquiat was among the most important artists of the 20th century. Created in 1982, the works in this exhibit present a special group of paintings being shown for the first time. Considered to be Basquiat’s best period, by 1982 he had established his raw, expressionist style and the ‘symbols’ that would recur in his work. Call 407.896.4231 or visit omart.org

Summer Serenades: The Philharmonic Brass Quintet The Plaza Live at 425 N. Bumby Ave in Orlando July 10 at 1:00 pm

When it comes to “fun times” with chamber music, you can always count on Brass Players to provide special music with a bit of tongue-in-cheek performance. For this concert Brass players from the Orlando Philharmonic offer music, fun, and conversation as part of a 5-concert “Summer Serenade” Series. Call 407.770.0071 or visit Orlandophil.org

Orlando Big Band presents: “Sizzling Summer Swing” Steinmetz Hall July 23 at 8 pm

Celebrate the hottest swing era music from the ‘30s and ‘40s, enjoying big band classics from Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, The Andrews Sisters and more. Orlando Big Band’s 10-year anniversary celebration promises a tune-filled evening of timeless music in the new Steinmetz Hall.

Steely Dan August 1 & 2

Steely Dan helped define the soundtrack of the ‘70s with hits such as “Reeling in the Years,” “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” and “Peg drawn from their seven platinum albums released between 1972 and 1980. Their sound (and notoriety) survived the ‘80s and ‘90s to 2000 when they released their multi-GRAMMY® winning Two Against Nature and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Each ticket purchased online comes with a CD! … and when you wonder about WHEN you should purchase your tickets, we can all take a lesson from these two much-anticipated performances:

Chris Rock: Ego Death World Tour July 27 & 28 SOLD OUT

or

Alicia Keys September 17 SOLD OUT

Call 844.513.2014 or visit DrPhillipsCenter.org

Josh Garrick has been creating, fundraising and writing about the Arts for all of the 24 years he’s lived in Orlando. In recognition of his service to the Arts, Mayor Buddy Dyer named June 27 as “Josh Garrick Day” in the City of Orlando.