Three obvious choices for music lovers in Vero theaters these days. Riverside’s “Ring of Fire” is a jukebox musical of Johnny Cash’s hits, delivered by a cast of excellent musicians. The four lead vocalists all play guitar and trade off playing – not impersonating – the roles of Johnny Cash and June Carter. Backing them up are a half-dozen musicians on everything from fiddle to accordion, nearly all of them Southerners who seem to have Cash and Carter in their DNA. “Ring of Fire” runs through Sunday’s matinee.
Then, next Tuesday and Thursday, Broadway and opera star David Pittsinger returns to Riverside for concerts each night at 7:30 p.m. The renowned bass-baritone will also be performing for Riverside’s Friends fall fundraiser luncheon Tuesday. He played in Riverside’s 2014 production of “South Pacific” as Emile de Becque, the same role he sang in the show’s Lincoln Center revival in 2008. Since then, he debuted in the role of Robert E. Lee in Philip Glass’s “Appomattox” at Washington National Opera. In February, he performed in “Kiss Me Kate” in Paris and in “The Crucible” at the Glimmerglass Festival in August.
“An Evening with David Pittsinger” is directed by Allen Cornell with musical direction by Ken Clifton; tickets are $50.
And across the bridge on Vero’s mainland, the Vero Beach Theatre Guild’s volunteer troupers opened the challenging musical “Evita!” this week. Directed by Mark Wygonik with musical direction by Ryan Kasten and Jacob Craig, the cast of 32 includes three chops-laden leads: Kaitlin Ruby as Eva Perón; Rob Kenna as Juan Perón; and Derrick Paul as Ché Guevara. The show runs through Nov. 27.
Nashville-based country-radio personality Bobby Bones and his on-air band the Raging Idiots play the Sunrise Theatre Friday night. The return of the whacky musical comedy group to Fort Pierce includes his morning-show sidekick Producer Eddie; the Emory University-educated singer-songwriter Kristian Bush of Sugarland; and Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney’s little sister and a growing presence on the country music scene. Bones’ expanding brand within the iHeartMedia machine includes 5 million listeners a week in 100 markets.
Friday night, the Melbourne Chamber Music Society hosts a piano trio concert from Germany at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Indialantic. Recognized by the BBC as New Generation Artists, the ATOS Piano Trio was declared by the Washington Post to be “one of the elite piano trios playing before the public today.” Now in its 13th year, the trio includes Thomas Hoppe on piano, Annette von Hehn on violin and Stefan Heinemeyer on cello. The group has played in the world’s top venues and at major music festivals. Friday night’s program includes Mozart’s Trio in B-flat Major and Mendelssohn’s Trio No. 2 in C-minor. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on the society’s website at $35; $10 for students.
At the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Miami City Ballet opens the season with “Giselle,” the classic story ballet. Among the ballerinas dancing the celebrated title role is Lauren Fadeley, an Orlando native who was just hired this season as a soloist. She danced the same role in 2012 in her first role as a principal with Pennsylvania Ballet. Fadeley left home to train with the School of American Ballet, known for its Balanchine style, then got a job with the New York City Ballet. She took a huge professional gamble to drop out and get her college degree – at Indiana University. As she recently told Miami New Times, it was there that she met Violette Verdy, the famous director of the Paris Opera Ballet who wrote the book on Giselle – literally. “Giselle: A Role of a Lifetime” became Fadeley’s bible. Fadeley will be dancing the role of Giselle Saturday at 2 p.m. In addition, there are performances Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
If you missed the fan-craze over Benedict Cumberbatch playing “Hamlet” last year, now’s your chance to catch up. The National Theatre production is being re-broadcast Tuesday at Vero’s Majestic 11 through the NTLive series. Cumberbatch won an Olivier Award for his role – the English equivalent of a Tony. Directed by Lyndsey Turner, the production was captured live last year at London’s Barbican Theatre. Since then it has been viewed by half a million people. The screening starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are only $12.50.
