Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
Orlando is usually associated with theme parks, so it may come as a surprise to realize the area has a wide variety of cultural activities and attractions, ranging from world-class orchestras to well-known art museums.
The Orlando Museum of Art is only one of several museums. Far away from the tourist corridor in downtown Orlando, the museum has well-known collections of American, African and ancient American art, as well as outstanding traveling exhibitions, all offered in a picturesque park setting.
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art houses the worlds most comprehensive collection of the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany, who lived from 1848-1933. The collection here includes jewelry, pottery, paintings and leaded glass windows, among others. The chapel interior Tiffany designed for the 1893 worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago is on display. Theres also a major collection of American Art Pottery.
The Maitland Art Center located in an Orlando suburb is a state and national historic site with decorated buildings part of the permanent collection. Exhibitions regularly feature regional and national artists and craftsmen.
The Mennello Museum of American Art is known as Floridas premier American folk art museum with colorful works by Earl Cunningham and traveling exhibits. The grounds are worth a stroll.
The Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens was founded by the sculptor and his wife. Lakeside gardens here are home to dozens of sculptures scattered throughout the three-acre property. The gardens are quiet and subdued, utilizing gardening art in classic ways. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
For history buffs, theres the Orange County Regional History Center and Heritage Square set in a circa-1927 courthouse. The state-of-the-art facility features a unique park.
For those who appreciate taking quiet walks in natural surroundings, Central Florida has a variety of locations, but perhaps none better known than the Harry P. Leu Gardens. It offers miles of paved scenic walkways that take visitors through Americas largest Camelia collection outside California. Also on view is a house museum dating from the 1880s and a new tropical stream garden with herbs, vegetables and a butterfly garden.
The plays the thing in Orlando as well.
The Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre in downtown Orlando has Broadway style plays. The schedule here also calls for a regular dose of ballet, philharmonic concerts, popular concerts and special performances by big-name entertainers.
The professional Civic Theatre of Central Florida also produces Broadway-style and off-Broadway-style shows, as well as a childrens program. If you are calling for tickets, ask for the shows location since the plays are offered at three different theatres.
Another local venue for play-goers, Theatre Downtown often is voted locally the best in Orlando. The theater is an alternative venue and innovative plays are often part of its programs.
Showing this is not a one-mouse town, the areas equivalent of New Yorks Off-Off Broadway can be found at Mad Cow. Its best suited for open-minded theater lovers looking for smaller venues.
In nearby Sanford, 20 miles away, the Orlando Theatre Project presents plays in a 188-seat Fine Arts Theatre at Seminole Community College.
Music and dance are also here.
The Orlando City Ballet is a non-profit, pre-professional performing company dedicated to dance. It often features such classics as The Nutcracker, depending on the time of year.
The Orlando Philharmonic is located near downtown but they often have concerts in Leu Gardens and other places around Orlando. The orchestra does more than 100 performances each season. A suggestion here is to get tickets early because popular series often sell out.
The Rollins College Department of Music also has regular concerts.
Disney may be known for its theme parks, but its also home to the French-Canadian acrobatic troupe of Cirque Du Soleil. La Nouba, meaning to live it up in French, is a spellbinding hour and 40 minutes of non-stop action without interruption. Its popular with all age groups. All seats are reserved and you need to arrive 30 minutes early to be seated.
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