It’s hard to resist a cute dog. So I shouldn’t be surprised, I guess, that some tail-wagging canines have wormed their way into this column, which is supposed to be about September music events in Central Florida.
SAK Comedy Lab will present “An Evening of Improv,” a benefit for two organizations that help find homes for dogs in need. The show, which features the SAK professional improvisers, will raise money for the Elder Tails Sanctuary Project and Polk County Bully Project. The two groups will receive 80% of the box-office proceeds, SAK says.
Tickets are $20 at sakcomedylab.com for the all-ages show, which takes place at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at the comedy troupe’s downtown Orlando theater at 55 W. Church St.
OK, now that the dogs have had their day, let’s get to a quartet of music events.
Sisaundra Lewis headlines the annual Divas gala for the Steinway Society of Central Florida. (Courtesy Steinway Society of Central Florida)
The annual “divas” gala from the Steinway Society of Central Florida returns to Orlando Museum of Art at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 14. This year’s title: “Divas Gala Presents the Sisaundra Show.” The headliner, if you didn’t guess from the title, is Sisaundra Lewis.
The event, as always, features a buffet, cash bar and silent auction. Proceeds aid the Steinway Society’s mission of providing free pianos and piano lessons to students who would not otherwise be able to afford to pursue music.
Singer-songwriter-producer Lewis appeared on TV’s “The Voice” and is host of the Orlando-based ‘The Sisaundra Show’, a nationally syndicated daytime TV show reaching some 12 million viewers, and “AFROJams,” a live music performance show on the AFRO TV cable channel, available through Comcast Xfinity.
Lewis also has worked as vocal director and choreographer for Céline Dion and has worked with Peabo Bryson, Janet Jackson, George Duke, Sheila E., Gloria Estefan, Enrique Iglesias and Patti LaBelle.
Tickets are $95, or $150 for a couple, at events.eventgroove.com/event/107318.
Two upcoming concerts are right across Loch Haven Park from the museum at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center.
John Cavazos will perform “My Broadway Footlights” as part of the Winter Park Playhouse cabaret series this month in the theater’s temporary home at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center. (Courtesy Winter Park Playhouse).
Winter Park Playhouse will present Broadway veteran John Cavazos in a solo cabaret titled “My Broadway Footlights” on Sept. 17 and 18. Remember, the playhouse’s programming is at the Shakespeare Center while its own venue is being renovated.
Cavazos, who made his New York City debut dancing and singing with the famed Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, will tell the story of his career as he performs songs from musicals such as “The Fantasticks,” “Showboat,” “Brigadoon,” “Carousel,” “Dear Evan Hansen” and others.
On Broadway, Cavazos performed in “My Fair Lady” with Rex Harrison and worked with Stephen Sondheim in “Pacific Overtures.” Additionaly, he shared the stage wtih Marilyn Horne on a production of Rossini’s melodramatic opera “Tancredi” at Carnegie Hall.Cavazos also has had a lengthy career with Walt Disney World, including13 years with Voices Of Liberty and the Dapper Dans.
He is a graduate of Brooklyn College of Music and also has a bachelor’s degree in music from Rollins College.
Tickets are $23 for a reserved seat, and the doors open at 6:30 p.m. each night for 7:30 p.m. performances. For tickets, go to winterparkplayhouse.org.
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Meanwhile, Orlando Shakes will have its own concerts, Sept. 27-28, with Ricky Sylvia & The Buzzcatz.
The nine-piece band, joined by guest vocalist Carmen Harrell, conjures 1960s Las Vegas with songs by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima and more. Showtime is at 8 p.m. Sept. 27 and 3 p.m. Sept. 28. Tickets are $40 at OrlandoShakes.org.
Finally, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra opens its season with Grieg’s Piano Concerto, featuring soloist Sara Davis Buechner. Music director Eric Jacobsen will conduct the concert, which also features Rossini’s famed “William Tell Overture” (paging the Lone Ranger) and Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5.
There will be two performances in Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 and 2:30 p.m. Sept. 28. Tickets start at $23.60 at drphillipscenter.org.
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