By Peter Covino
Entertainment Editor

If you missed this month’s art show reception at the Osceola Center for the Arts, you missed meeting this month’s artist of the month, Felipe Ponzoa, as well as  meeting Adrian Pickett, Jr., the winner of the 3rd annual Juried Drawing Art Show.

The artwork will be on exhibit at the center through Aug. 26.

Six prizes were awarded Tuesday to Florida artists.
Adrian Pickett, Jacksonville, won the $50 first place; second place, $30, Mila Panfilova, Orlando; third place, $20, Clifton Greene, Jr., Oviedo. Honorable mention went to Carol Engel Draper, Kissimmee; Eva Maria Grossi de Luigi, Orlando; and Maria Molinas, Kissimmee.

“A grand total of 14 artists and 44 wonderful pieces of artwork made this show a joy to hang,” said director of visual arts Jules Davidson. “I am always pleasantly surprised by the amount of talent we have in our area and this show was no exception, the work hanging this month is beautiful, detailed and tells a wide variety of great stories.”

You can continue to view the art at the center through August as well as the art of featured artist Ponzoa.

“Felipe Ponzoa was chosen as our August Artist of the Month after several years of being a top show winner with his incredibly detailed graphite and color pencil artwork,” Davidson said. “In addition to his precision pencil work he captures beautiful stories of life using flowers and animals as metaphors for human expressions in many of his pieces.”

The art center has  monthly art shows. The show for September is Celebrating Hispanic Artists Juried Show. The reception will be Sept. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. All receptions are free.
This is the final weekend for The Pirates of Penzance.

The classic Gilbert & Sullivan musical comedy, which had its official premiere on Dec. 31, 1879 at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City, can be seen tonight and Sunday afternoon.
The center production as directed by art center veteran Meghan Fenner gets a modern twist and includes the songs “I am the very model of a modern Major-General,” “Hail, Poetry,” and “Poor Wandering Ones.”

The cast and characters of The Pirates of Penzance include:  Frederic, an apprentice to a band of tenderhearted pirates, played by Trent Hayward; the Pirate King, played by Doug Neville; Frederic’s nursemaid Ruth, played by Amy Hughes; Mabel, played by Beth Hall and the Major-General Stanley, played by Garrett Sanders.
Performances for The Pirates of Penzance are tonight at 8 p.m and tomorrow at 2 p.m.

General admission tickets are $15. For ticket and additional information, call 407-846-6257.
The show contains some adult material and is recommended for audiences age 13 and older.
The Osceola Center for the Arts is between Kissimmee and St. Cloud,  just west of the Florida’s Turnpike entrance.  
Plan ahead now for the center’s upcoming theater season. Tickets are available now for season ticket holders and patrons. Single tickets go on sale now.

The  2009-10 Broadway series begins in  October with the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!  followed by It’s a Wonderful Life – Radio Play in December. A Chorus Line, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Sound of Music and The Odd Couple complete their season line-up from January thru April of 2010.
 

Auditions for A Chorus Line, which will be directed by Donald Rupe will be Aug. 10  at 6 p.m. (dance audition) and Aug. 11 at 6 p.m. (vocal/acting audition). The show runs Jan. 15-31.
 

Auditions for Oklahoma!, directed by David Gerrard, will be Aug. 30 and 31 at 6 p.m. Those wising to audition may attend either evening.
The show runs Oct. 23-Nov. 8.
Call 407-846-6257, Ext. 7, for casting information.
Also at the center this week are auditions for  A Chorus Line, Aug. 10 (dance audition) and Aug. 11 (vocal and acting audition). Audition time is 6 p.m. Casting is for all roles, male and female adults.
Auditions will be held Aug. 30-31 for Oklahoma!. Auditions will be held at 6 p.m. both days.

Call 407-846-6257 for more information.