For the Orlando Sentinel’s annual Season Preview — in print inside this Friday’s Calendar section — the arts writers came up with three events in various categories that sound intriguing to us. We can’t exactly recommend them — as they haven’t happened yet — but their title or concept has us curious. For those who don’t read the newspaper in print, you can read online all the arts staff’s picks and the all-important listings for theater, dance, visual art, pop and classical musical, movies, concerts, CDs, television shows, science and history museums and more at OrlandoSentinel.com/seasonpreview
"Les Miserables" returns to Orlando -- with new 25th-anniversary staging.
Meanwhile, here are my three picks for theater:
‘Avenue Q’: Theatre Downtown has had a string of strong musicals, including “Chicago” and “The Rocky Horror Show.” Now, it ups the stakes — by adding puppets — in this Broadway crowd pleaser. Opens Sept. 9.
‘Les Miserables’: The legendary “Les Miserables” without a revolving stage? Sacre bleu! But that’s the case in this restaging of the emotional musical, which has also been rescored for its 25th anniversary. We’ll see if it lives up to the iconic original production when the Broadway Across America tour comes to Orlando. Opens Jan. 17.
‘Cymbeline’: Yes, Orlando Shakespeare Theater is staging “Romeo and Juliet,” a beloved piece. But here’s a chance to see something much rarer: It’s the first time the Shakes will have produced “Cymbeline,” a Shakespeare tale of secret identities, murderous plots and epic romance. Opens Feb. 8.
