Orlando with the Viera Theater Group; Jazz at the King Center

Support local journalism: Find offers for new subscribers here: Special Offers — FLORIDA TODAY.
Want to read our e-edition? Here are some tips for getting the best experience.
Due to potential changes and cancellations, we encourage you to check with presenting organizations for the status of their events.
Viera Theater Company Brings Alice to the Year 2000
The young performers of children’s theater from Viera Studio for the Performing Arts visit Lewis Carroll’s wonderland, but embark on a journey into the 21st century with “Y2K Alice in Wonderland.” The adaptation of the classic will be played at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Friday, July 17, at the Orlando Repertory Theater, 1001 E. Princeton St., Orlando.
The adaptation, co-written by Gabriel Ramos, also assistant director and choreographer; Corey Beattie and Jennifer Garcia, features music, sets and costumes from the early 2000s and is directed by Monica Toro Lisciandro, with musical direction by Jennifer Garcia, set design by Andrea Havel and costume coordination by Jennifer beatie.
“Our summer show this year was such a special and unique experience,” Garcia said. “The nostalgia for Y2K music, the creative process of picking the perfect songs to fit the story, and above all, the incredibly talented cast of young people I work with, are things I will never forget.”
Director, Monica Toro Lisciandro, is thrilled to present the studio’s 12th annual summer show this year, and the first at the Orlando Rep.
“We look forward to our talented children discovering this professional place and continuing to develop quality artistic experiences for our young artists,” she said.
The actors are between 7 and 16 years old. Tickets, starting at $15, are available at TheVieraStudio.Eventbrite.com. To learn more, visit TheVieraStudio.com.
Opt for the baroque with the BSO concert
It may be sweltering, but that won’t stop the musicians of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra from donning their best baroque outfits, powdered wigs and all, for “Nova Baroque”, a concert of chamber music by Baroque favorites Italian.
The concert begins at 7 p.m., Saturday, July 16, at Suntree United Methodist Church, 7400 N. Wickham Road. General admission tickets are $25. Shop at brevardsymphony.com/bsosummerevenings.
Le Qui ‘Who is next’
Classic Albums Live performs a concert recreating “Who’s Next” by The Who on Saturday, July 16 at 8 p.m. The show will take place at the King Center, 3865 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne. Call 321-242-2219 or visit kingcenter.com.
Guided tour by the Rangers
Turkey Creek Sanctuary, 1518 Port Malabar Blvd NE, Palm Bay, offers free ranger-guided tours on the first and third Sundays of most months, excluding holidays, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The next visit will be on July 17.
Participants should meet at the sanctuary’s nature center and bring sturdy tennis shoes or boots, sunscreen, insect repellent, water, snacks, binoculars, and a hat. Tours will take place on the boardwalk and various trails. Each tour will be led by a Park Ranger and will focus on the common plants and animals found in the sanctuary. Total distance for tours is approximately 1-1.5 miles and should take approximately 1-1 1/4 hours. Free entry. To register, call the Nature Center at 321-676-6690.
Drive-up movie under the stars
The movie ‘Pokemon Detective Pikachu’ will be screened at the Wickham Park Pavilion, 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne on Friday July 22 from 5-9pm. Spectators are asked to distance themselves from neighboring vehicles during the film. Audio will be available through the car stereo and external speakers. Free entry. Visit facebook.com/events/694087495090653.
Wine tasting dinners at Cocoa Village, Indian Harbor Beach
Two upcoming oenological dinners promise many gustatory pleasures.
Café Margaux, 220 Brevard Ave., Cocoa Village, will host a Napa Valley Wine Dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, July 14 and 15. The six-course gourmet event features award-winning wines from Joseph Carr.
After 10 years serving as a world-class sommelier followed by ten years as an international industry executive, in 2004 Carr realized his dream of starting his own winery.
Influenced by Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, Carr’s winemaking philosophy is to achieve balance, sophistication and accessibility across the portfolio by pursuing an old-school, yet distinctly Californian style.
Carr’s wines will be accompanied by a menu starting with miso and ginger sweet potato soup and continuing with a salad of fennel, Italian tomatoes and Greek feta. The third course features halibut wrapped in fig leaves with a lemon vodka sauce. For the fourth course, diners will sample grilled quail with a sweet and sour plum glaze before heading to the Ameribella cheese course from Jacobs and Brichford. The dinner ends with a chocolate cake with layers of layers of chocolate and hazelnut cream, as well as hazelnut crunch and chocolate mist.
The cost is $135 per person. Visit Margaux.com for reservations or call 321-639-8343.
Wine tasting dinners continue the following week at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 22, when Green Turtle Market hosts a wine tasting dinner showcasing the wines of Argentina.
The five courses include Argentine red shrimp ceviche shooters, duck breast and foie gras empanadas with queso blanco, baked clams with chorizo in saffron broth, flat iron grilled steak with smoked olives and an Alfajores dulce de leche dessert.
The cost is $120, which includes a $10 credit for the purchase of wines featured that night. Book at 321-773-2001. The Green Turtle Market is located at 855 E. Eau Gallie Blvd., Indian Harbor Beach. For the full menu, visit greenturtlemarket.com.
Melbourne Municipal Band take matters into their own hands for upcoming gigs
The Melbourne Municipal Band’s Swingtime Ensemble is all about ‘Takin’ It Easy’ for their concerts at 6.30pm, Wednesday and Thursday, July 20 and 21, at the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd.
As part of MMB’s Not-in-the-Park Summer Picnic concert series, concerts allow audience members to bring a picnic dinner or purchase a meal on-site at the City Bistro, which offers a barbecue plate with pulled pork, baked beans and coleslaw ($12); two hot dogs and fries ($10); and an egg, tuna, or chicken salad sandwich with fries and coleslaw ($10). City Bistro meals also include a soft drink and cookies.
Pre-show entertainment by singers Len Fallen and Sally Hart begins at 5:30 p.m. Arrive early for the best seats.
“We’ll be playing a wide range of popular tunes while you enjoy your picnic in air-conditioned comfort,” said bandleader Kurt Schulenburg.
Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. Call 321-724-0555 or visit melbournemunicipalband.org.
Brevard Music Group presents a hot sax show at the King Center
Sax is hot at the King Center, thanks to Brevard Music Group‘s sizzling summer series, which will feature saxophonists Marcus Anderson and Paula Atherton.
Anderson is the first with his concert at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 16, at the Studio Theater. The jazz fusion artist brings R&B, Pop, Rock and Funk to make music number one in both Billboard’s Smooth Jazz and Sirius XM’s Watercolors categories. Anderson will be accompanied by guest trumpeter Ilya Serov.
The following day, July 17 at 6 p.m., saxophonist/flutist Paula Atherton will be accompanied by trumpeter Cindy Bradley. Both are regulars at some of the best jazz festivals in the world.
Tickets cost between $65 and $70 for each concert. Shop at kingcenter.com.
Cocoa Beach Studios Hosts Painting Classes
Cocoa Beach Studios, 165 Minuteman Causeway, will host the first class of the four-session “Painting Florida in Acrylics” workshop from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, July 13 with instructor Jaymee Weinreich guiding students through through the techniques of painting the sky, clouds and waves, with the ultimate goal of creating a finished work of art.
The fee is $150. A list of materials needed will be provided.
Weinreich holds a BFA from Florida International University and has been a professional artist for over 24 years.
For more information, call or text 321-588-3352. To register, visit studiosofcocoabeach.org.
Do you have a community event? Email tgif@floridatoday.com and toastofthecoastfloridatoday@gmail.com at least two weeks in advance to be considered for the best bets roundup.
Support local journalism: Find offers for new subscribers here: Special Offers — USATodayNetwork.