Arts Connection for July 13-14, 2007
Friday, July 13, 2007
By: Rebecca Morgan

The Florida International Festival begins tonight - one of the headliners is Fado superstar, Mariza. Also, the inaugural Target Family Theatre Festival brings together 6 Loch Haven arts groups for 10 days of family-friendly entertainment; and Mark Pinsky talks about the new edition of his book, The Gospel According to the Simpsons.

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Note that The Arts Connection will not be heard July 20 or 27 - listen for special programs from the Third Coast Audio Festival.

The new version of The Arts Connection will debut on a new day and time!  Tune in Thursday, August 2nd at 6:30pm.

Also, tune into WMFE-TV for the pilot of a new arts program on TV - tentatively scheduled for Thursday, July 26 at 8:30pm.  If you are an arts group - please add the new TV program's email to your press releases - artstv@wmfe.org

 Click here to listen to Part 1

 ART NEWS -

The World Ballet Competition concluded with a Gala featuring the winners of the inaugural event, including Orlando's Joseph Gatti, the Gold Medal Winner in the Senior Mens Division.

Jester Theatre and The Garden Theatre have formed a partnership, with the professional, comedy-only, theatre company producing all their shows at the new venue in Winter Garden, beginning in February, 2008.

The Florida International Festival's effort to form a new public-private partnership with the City of Daytona Beach came before city commissioners Thursday night.  The proposal sought $750,000 a year for 10 years, with funds coming from Main Street and Downtown CRA's.  

Read more news in the arts at ArtsJournal, the daily digest of arts, culture and ideas.

The Florida International Festival offers much more than just classical music - The Jazz and Beyond Series and the Festival Stage brings in world class jazz, blues and World music artists, including Fado singer Mariza.  She's performed to sell-out audiences around the world and has released several platinum records.  She performs Thursday, July 19 at 8pm at the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona.  386-257-7790 or 866-849-0731.

 Click here to listen to Part 2

 Orlando Repertory Theatre has organized a new summer event for kids of all ages - the Target Family Theatre Festival features 10 days of entertainment from 6 Loch Haven arts groups, as well as special guest artists, including MicheLee Puppets.  Normally only seen by school children, now parents and families can enjoy MicheLee's Extreme Health Challenge free of charge this Saturday, 7/14 at 11am and 1pm; Sunday, 7/15 at 3pm (followed by a talk back with Sherri Flynt, author of Supersized Kids), and Monday, 7/16 at 7pm.  There are also productions of OZ at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Spirit in My Soul at Orlando Theatre Project, Wiley and the Hairy Man at Orlando Repertory Theatre and the Rep's Summer Youth Academy production of All Shook Up. 

There will be activities and free performances at an Outdoor Festival on Saturday, 7/14 from 10am-Noon, and a showing of The Muppet Movie Saturday night at 8:20pm.  Finally, a number of workshops are being offered for children, parents and teachers.  407-896-7365

 Click here to listen to Part 3

The popular Simpson's TV show comes to the big screen later this month.  That event, along with the airing of the 400th episode, prompted Orlando Sentinel religion writer, Mark Pinsky, to update his 2001 book, The Gospel According to the Simpsons.  He talks with another big Simpson's fan - 90.7's David Pitman.