Culture 2 Go

Welcome to the brand-new Culture 2 Go, our monthly roundup of performing arts news. Got a juicy tidbit about Orlando's arts and culture community? Send it to skubersky@orlandoweekly.com.

After 10 years and 40-plus productions as artistic director of Eustis' Bay Street Players, David Clevinger stepped down in February, saying, "I'm ready for a break." Stepping up as creative consultant is BSP's second-stage director Joel Warren, who recently co-starred in Red with Terrence Shank (formerly of Mount Dora's IceHouse Theatre, visiting from South Africa). Warren next directs See Rock City, by Adam Mathias (2011 Drama Desk winner and a BSP alum), before tackling Tod Kimbro's Piranha: The Musical at Fringe Fest.

Speaking of Fringe, the second annual Hard Rock Live fundraiser – an Oscar-length epic hosted by Michael Winslow and headlined by the Mudflappers – netted the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival more than $7,000 in ticket sales, silent auction bids and direct donations. Producer Michael Marinaccio also recently revealed that Visual Fringe will expand into a dedicated warehouse gallery along Alden Road; we hear music, vendors and urban mini-golf may be in the mix among the artwork.

Orlando bids a fond farewell this month to Emma Kruch, who spent six years in marketing and PR for United Arts of Central Florida, working with the much-missed Margot Knight to greatly raise the profile of that arts umbrella organization. More recently, as East End Market's creative director, Kruch was instrumental in developing Audubon Park's soon-to-open local-food destination. We wish Kruch luck as she leaves Florida for Northern California.

Modern dance fans won't want to miss Monday's free lecture at the Orlando Rep from MacArthur grant-winning choreographer-performer-writer Liz Lerman (March 18). And if you're pursuing a career in theme park design, polish your résumé and bring $40 to Slice Creative Network's Tuesday night event at Stonewood Grill, where you'll speed-interview with industry insiders like SeaWorld's Brian Morrow and Universal Studios' Kim Gromoll (March 19).

OPENING THIS MONTH:
Children of a Lesser God, Garden Theatre, March 15 ... Enchanted April, Mad Cow Theatre, March 22 … Titus Andronicus, Orlando Shakes, March 27.

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