Central Florida Community Arts takes performing arts online

Central Florida Community Arts is kicking off the summer by celebrating the CFCArts Theatre’s fifth season; launching virtual play readings from its previous Time to Write challenge; producing a Virtual Staff & Board Cabaret; and offering virtual summer camps for all students in pre-K to grade 12. 

In the CFCArts Theatre Season 5 Celebration, audiences can enjoy a video celebration of extraordinary moments from Season 5: "Bye Bye Birdie," "Twelve Angry Jurors," "Next to Normal," "Sweeney Todd," "A Christmas Story," "The Lion in Winter" and CFCArts Director of Theatre Donald Rupe’s original musical, "From Here." Rupe and cast members from each show share stories from their experience as part of the CFCArts theater family as they try to raise $5,000 for the theater program. This video celebration is free to watch at CFCArts.com/Season5.

CFCArts' Time to Write challenge garnered 60 plays from 44 playwrights. The theater program soon will host a virtual play reading series featuring some of these works. This program was created as part of a New Works initiative sponsored by the Florida Theatrical Association.

"As we looked for ways to pivot into a virtual reality, it was really important for us to create programs that celebrated the problem rather than just trying to work around it," Rupe said. "With these virtual play readings of new works, we afford playwrights the opportunity to hear their plays read aloud for the first time and give audiences the same opportunity to hear new works right from home."

Later this summer, the CFCArts will host its third annual Cabaret fundraiser July 21. Tickets are $1, with the opportunity to increase impact by making a donation to CFCArts education programs, helping to make the arts accessible and affordable for people of all ages and abilities in the Central Florida community.

“Over the past few years, this fundraiser has become a tradition that our audience and team look forward to,” founder and Executive Director Joshua Vickery said. “It allows our staff and board to tap into their creative side and use those talents to help further our mission in our community.”

Tickets can be purchased starting July 7 at CFCArts.com/Cabaret2020.

Each summer, CFCArts offers a variety of exciting summer camps to children and teens. A fun, encouraging environment allows youth to explore the performing arts, work with talented, professional directors and choreographers, make new friends and grow as a performer. Parents can register their students at CFCArts.com/Summer-Camps.