🎆 New year, new shows

I hope everyone had a great holiday season, and welcome to my first email of the year!

Hey, I’m News 6 producer Brooke Savage, the writer behind this Setting The Stage newsletter.

Personally, I spent the holidays all over the state. I went to St. Petersburg, Ocala, Tampa and Coral Springs in South Florida.

Let’s just say I’m happy to be back home and I’m excited to get back inside the theatre.

Let’s take a look at what’s going on. ⤵

🤩 These Broadway shows are coming to Central Florida this year

A new year means a new opportunity to see Broadway shows where you live, instead of having to make the trip to New York.

Several shows are coming this year as part of the 2024/2025 season at Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando, King Center in Brevard County, The Sharon in The Villages and Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach.

From “Mamma Mia” to “The Lion King” and “Hadestown,” there’s a lot of cool shows to see over the next few weeks and months. Click here to see the shows that are coming to Central Florida.

🎭 Orlando Fringe’s winter mini-fest is back

The four-day festival is returning to Fringe ArtSpace on Church Street in downtown Orlando. It started on Wednesday and wraps up tomorrow.

The goal of the festival is to bridge the gap from Orlando Fringe’s annual May festival, with a reduced lineup of shows in a shorter period of days.

Vanessa Frances and Amelia Reed Bryant are the co-directors behind the show “Clingstone.” It tells the story of a mother with terminal cancer who reflects on the events that have defined her daughter’s life, along with the family dynamics that led to a tragic accident.

The story is told in reverse and everything is not what it seems. They have another showing tomorrow afternoon. Check out the details on the mini-fest and their show.

😂 Comedian Paul Mecurio returns to Orlando where YOU become the star of his show

Paul Mecurio from “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” is bringing back his interactive comedy show, “Permission to Speak,” to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

The show features Mecurio’s Emmy Award-winning stand-up and the audience. It’s crowd work like you’ve never experienced before, where the audience becomes the star of the show, rather than the butt of the joke.

I spoke to him about what to expect from his show on Jan. 18. It sounds like a lot of fun!

🎤 New year, big events, special memories

There’s a lot to be excited about this year. Central Florida Happenings newsletter writer, Brenda Argueta, put together a complete county-by-county guide of all the events, concerts and festivals that are scheduled for this year. Check it out!

🎶 What’s happening in show biz

➡ Tonight - Jan. 19: “Exit Laughing” at Daytona Playhouse

🎙 Tonight -Feb. 23: “Jersey Boys” at Titusville Playhouse

⛱ Tomorrow: “Menopause The Musical 2” at King Center in Brevard County

👰 Jan. 14-26: “Mamma Mia!” at Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando

📄 Jan. 17-Feb. 2: “Paper Thin” at The State Theatre of Eustis

💰 Jan. 17-Feb. 9: “Cash on Delivery!” at Sonnentag Theatre at the IceHouse in Mount Dora

👩‍🦰 Jan. 28-29: “Annie” at King Center in Brevard County

💃 Jan 31 - Feb 16: “Hello Dolly!” at Cocoa Village Playhouse

🎵 Feb. 4-9: “A Beautiful Noise” at Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando

That’s a wrap for this week’s “Setting The Stage” newsletter.

If you have any story ideas on the theatre and arts scene, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at bsavage@wkmg.com.

Also, let me know if there are any local theatres you want me to cover more often.

- 🎭 Brooke