We now know who's part of the brand new Dr. Phillips Center's grand premiere celebration. And good news for us - a bunch of the events are free.
Wednesday, we found out that 9-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow will rock out in the outdoor Seneff Arts Plaza (formerly called the CNL Arts Plaza) on Nov. 8, two days after the official grand opening.
The Center is offering several free open houses that you can attend. But if you want to splurge, tickets are on sale for a star-studded, 1.5 hr. mega-show inside the Walt Disney Theater - the grand-poobah of theaters.
At a glance, here is a rundown of the just-announced events (free and ticketed):
(Note: Your kid - ages 9-14 - could be performing live on stage during the big show Nov. 15. Audition info follows the schedule.)
Grand Premiere Schedule:
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014, 2 - 5 p..m.
Hard Hat Team Appreciation, Invitation Only
For members of the construction team and their families
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014, 10 a.m. - noon
Ribbon Cutting and Media Preview, Free and Open to the Public
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2014, Noon - 6 p.m.
Community Open House, Free and Open to the Public
Dr. Phillips Center Members preview from 11:00 a.m. to Noon
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2014, 8 p.m.
Celebration of the Seneff Arts Plaza Concert featuring Sheryl Crow, Free and Open to the Public
Tickets available for Hospitality Suite, including dinner and three drink tickets.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2014, Noon - 4 p.m.
Community Open House, Free and Open to the Public
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2014, 6 p.m..
Film on the Seneff Arts Plaza, Free and Open to the Public
Tickets available for Hospitality Suite, including dinner and three drink tickets.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014, 4:30 - 7 p.m.
Project Team Appreciation, Invitation Only
For Project Team members and their guests
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 8 p.m.
Celebration of the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, featuring Emmylou Harris,
Ticketed Event – limited seats available
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2014 *** Local Singer/Actor Needed
Broadway & Beyond at the Walt Disney Theater Presented by Dr. Phillips Charities and The Bryce L. West Foundation, Ticketed Event
Dinner 5:00 p.m.
Performance 8:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2014, 7:30 p.m.
Carmina Burana, produced by Orlando Ballet with Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, Ticketed Event
Now to that "Broadway & Beyond" show, featuring everyone from Norm Lewis (Phantom of the Opera), Chris Mann (NBC's The Voice), Deborah Voigt (leading soprano), and others. Your little girl could have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sing on stage with the cast.
Audition Dates/Times:
October 9, 2014 2 p.m. - Registration begins, in person only
3 – 9 p.m. - Auditions (see requirements below)
October 10, 2014 3 - 9 p.m. - Callbacks, by invitation only
Requirements:
Singers must be Central Florida females between the ages of 9 and 14 (no exceptions). Bring sheet music for your audition song. Music must be in your key and clearly marked with beginning and end points. Also, be prepared to sing Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg’s Over The Rainbow (from “The Wizard of Oz.”) Performers must be accompanied by the supplied accompanist – there will be no backing tracks, no a cappella and no Karaoke. A parent or guardian must accompany each child, but will not be admitted in the audition room. Please bring a current photo (professional headshot is not required) and be prepared to fill out an informational form upon arrival.
Location:
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Rehearsal Room – 1st Floor
155 East Anderson St., Orlando, FL 32801
Enter through the Stage Door entrance located on East Anderson, between Rosalind Avenue and Magnolia Avenue.
For details on the shows, activities, and performers, here's a press release we got from the Dr. Phillips Center:
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts announces the Grand Premiere schedule of free and ticketed events in celebration of the highly anticipated grand opening of the performing arts center in downtown Orlando. With a wide range of performances in theater, dance, popular music and family entertainment, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Grand Premiere, Presented by Dr. Phillips Charities and Balfour Beatty Construction, launches the opening of the new Central Florida destination, currently comprising the Walt Disney Theater, the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater and the Seneff Arts Plaza.
“The events that we have put together for the Grand Premiere of the Dr. Phillips Center reflect the vision of “Arts for Every Life”,” says Kathy Ramsberger, president of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. “So many people have worked so hard for so long, and because of their passion and their persistence -- it happened. The dream of a performing arts center has become the reality of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and we want everyone to come and celebrate together.”
Free events include a Community Open House on November 8 and November 9 starting at noon, with a preview at 11:00 a.m. for Dr. Phillips Center members. Guests will take self-guided tours and explore the Della Phillips Grand Lobby, the Walt Disney Theater, the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater and the Seneff Arts Plaza. The tour will include stops for photo opportunities and participants will have a chance to purchase tickets for upcoming shows and events. Both days culminate in special events to be held on the Seneff Arts Plaza -- November 8 features The Celebration of the Seneff Arts Plaza with a free concert by nine-time GRAMMY winner Sheryl Crow. November 9 features a family film screening on the Seneff Arts Plaza. The film title will be announced at a later date. While both events are free and open to the public, a limited number of tickets for the climate-controlled hospitality pavilion with private restroom facilities, dinner from Bubbalou’s Bodacious BBQ and three drink (beer/wine and soda) tickets are available for $60.00 at the door or in advance online for $50.00 at drphillipscenter.org/grandpremiere.
The Celebration of the Seneff Arts Plaza takes place November 8 at 8:00 p.m. featuring Sheryl Crow. Crow has sold more than 35 million albums around the world and has performed duets with musical luminaries such as Sting and Mick Jagger. She has been nominated for an additional 27 GRAMMYs and has released eight studio albums (seven charting Top 10, four of them platinum-plus), a quadruple-platinum greatest hits collection and a Christmas album. Her most recent album, Feels Like Home, captures the sound of a great and established artist enjoying a kind of fresh start. It features songs on which Crow collaborated with her longtime guitar player and frequent co-writer Jeff Trott (with whom she co-wrote such past Crow classics as "If It Makes You Happy," "My Favorite Mistake" and "Every Day Is A Winding Road"), as well as such Nashville songwriters as Chris DuBois, Luke Laird, Natalie Hamby and Chris Stapleton, among others. Crow has a combined 40 Top 10s on the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Top 40, Adult Contemporary, Mainstream Top 40, Triple A (with the most No.1 singles among women in the chart's 17-year history) and Hot Country Songs charts, Crow can also count a Top 20 solo country single to her long list of accolades. Her current single, “Callin’ Me When I’m Lonely,” is Top 40 and climbing.
The Grand Premiere schedule continues on November 14 with the Celebration of the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater -- a ticketed event, with limited seats available, featuring Emmylou Harris. A 13-time Grammy winner and Billboard Century Award recipient, Emmylou Harris’ contribution as a singer and songwriter spans 40 years. She has recorded more than 25 albums and has lent her talents to countless fellow artists’ recordings. In recognition of her remarkable career, Harris was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008. Harris is known as much for her eloquently straightforward songwriting as for her incomparably expressive singing. Admired through her career for her talent as an artist and song connoisseur, Harris shook up country radio in the 1970s, and established herself as the premiere songwriter of a generation selling more than 15 million records and garnering 13 Grammy Awards (this year she and Rodney Crowell won the Grammy for "Best Americana album"), three CMA Awards, and two Americana Awards.
On November 15 at 8:30 p.m. is the one-time performance of Broadway & Beyond at the Walt Disney Theater, Presented by Dr. Phillips Charities and The Bryce L. West Foundation, which opens the Walt Disney Theater. Directed by acclaimed director and producer Richard Jay-Alexander with musical direction by Broadway’s Mary-Mitchel Campbell, Broadway & Beyond is an incomparable variety show featuring luminaries from Broadway, and beyond, including international music and dance performers. Tickets for this one night only, star-studded celebration are $250.00, $175.00 and $125.00. The ticket includes the Broadway & Beyond at the Walt Disney Theater performance and after-party on the Seneff Arts Plaza; that includes a champagne toast
and dessert reception, dancing under the stars to Michael Andrews’ live big band and other spectacular surprises.
Tickets are also available for the pre-show party and dinner, a black tie event with 1,300 guests. The evening begins with a cocktail reception on the Seneff Arts Plaza followed by a three-course seated dinner in a tented pavilion. The black tie dinner event includes the performance of Broadway & Beyond at the Walt Disney Theater and the after-party. A limited number of corporate and individual tables are available for $12,500 and $8,000. To purchase tables please call 407.839.0119. Single dinner tickets are available for $750. Single Tickets may be purchased by calling the Dr. Phillips Center Box Office at 844.513.2014, online at drphillipscenter.org or by visiting the Box Office at 155 East Anderson Street, Orlando, FL 32801. Box office hours are Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Online and phone ticket purchases include handling fees.
Tickets are on sale now for the previously announced “Carmina Burana” a joint production of Orlando Ballet and The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park completes the week of celebration with ticketed performances at 7:30 p.m. on November 22.