One of Central Florida’s best festivals is upon us as UCF Celebrates the Arts returns to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. I feel as though the festival, now in its 11th year, is still unknown to many outside the University of Central Florida community. And it shouldn’t be.
UCF Celebrates the Arts is a treasure trove of music, dance, theater and art — and an exciting look at the future of the arts, with animation and other technology in play. There’s fun for the little ones, too, with a range of children’s theater activities.
This year’s big production is the musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” with multiple “Fiddler”-related events surrounding the show.
Festival events are free or very reasonably priced; note that even for the free events you should reserve a seat. Get more information at cah.ucf.edu/events/celebrates. There’s so much to explore over the festival’s nearly two weeks, April 1-13, that I’m just going to give you a rundown of the highlights. These events speak for themselves.
Knight to Shine: Graduating musical-theater students perform showtunes and pop songs, cabaret style. 7 p.m. April 1-2, Pugh Theater
Knights Move from Within: An Evening of Dance: Experience the artistry of UCF’s dancers and choreographers, including original works. 7:30 p.m. April 1, Steinmetz Hall
The Life and Work of Marc Chagall: Art historian Keri Watson and theater professor Julia Listengarten talk about influential artist Marc Chagall, who revisited the theme of “Fiddler on the Roof” throughout his career. 7 p.m. April 2, DeVos Family Room, free
Flying Horse Big Band: The golden age of jazz is celebrated with a tribute to the legendary bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Guest vocalist Carla Cook will join the concert. 7:30 p.m. April 4, Steinmetz Hall
UCF-Orlando Orchestra Invitational: In this new event, six of Florida’s top high school orchestras present concerts and receive adjudication and instruction from industry professionals. Participating groups: Dr. Phillips High School Premiere Orchestra, University High School Chamber Orchestra, Timber Creek High School Symphonic Orchestra, Innovation High School Symphonic Orchestra, Lake Howell High School Chamber Orchestra and Eau Gallie High School Chamber Orchestra. Starting at 8 a.m. April 5, Pugh Theater, free
Creative Clash: Artists race to beat the clock to create large-format artwork in this fast-paced event. The twist? The artists don’t know the theme of their work until right before the timer starts. 5 p.m. April 5, Seneff Arts Plaza, free
‘Cendrillon’: UCF opera students sing the tale of “Cinderella” in a family-friendly performance. 7 p.m. April 5 and 1 p.m. April 6, Pugh Theater
‘Earth and Stars’: The UCF Symphony Orchestra performs music inspired by our planet and its celestial surroundings, including contemporary works and Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2. 7:30 p.m. April 5, Steinmetz Hall
PIXEL: The Future of Performing Arts Simulation with Digital Twins: This educational experience will let you discover the cutting-edge technology behind the latest entertainment. 2 p.m. April 6, DeVos Family Room. Free.
UCF Percussion Ensemble: The musicians partner with Brazilian composer Ney Rosauro, Francisco Abreu, Tutti Choir Brasilia and the UCF Singers for a high-energy evening. 7:30 p.m. April 7, Steinmetz Hall
Inclusive Knights: The UCF Concert Band’s 50-minute “Out of This World” concert for young people offers a sensory-friendly experience for all, including the deaf, hard of hearing and neurodivergent communities.11 a.m. April 8, Steinmetz Hall, free
‘Murder at the Mirage Hotel’: UCF student Joseph Fields’ original thriller is presented by Project Spotlight, a student developmental theater organization. In the play, which owes a debt of inspiration to Agatha Christie, 10 strangers are trapped together during a blizzard with a common enemy. They must work together to find the killer when that enemy bites the dust. 7 p.m. April 8, Pugh Theater
Music for All: UCF-Orlando Band Invitational: Top school bands from throughout the Southeast perform throughout the day. Beginning at 8 a.m. April 9, Steinmetz Hall, free
The Body’s Voice: Luca Vullo Shares Italy’s Silent Language: Yes, Italians talk with their hands. Luca Vullo, called “the ambassador of Italian gestures” will bring that unspoken language to life. 7 p.m. April 9, DeVos Family Room, free
‘Fiddler on the Roof’: The musical masterpiece about Russian Jew Tevye, life’s joys and the unprecedented changes Tevye’s family faces will take the stage with beloved songs “Tradition,” “If I Were a Rich Man” and more. 7 p.m. April 10-11, 1 and 7 p.m. April 12, 1 p.m. April 13, Walt Disney Theater
The Jews of Europe: A People Apart: Kenneth Hanson, professor of Judaic studies, offers a snapshot of Jewish life and lore before the Second World War as a preamble to “Fiddler on the Roof.” 6 p.m. April 10, DeVos Family Room, free
UCF Choir Invitational Concert: More than 200 high-school singers and the UCF Singing Knights come together for a mass chorus program. 7:30 p.m. April 10, Steinmetz Hall
Mozart’s Requiem: The great work explores life, death, and hope. It will be performed by UCF choirs, the Orlando Choral Society, members of the UCF Orchestra and UCF voice-department faculty. 7:30 p.m. April 11, Steinmetz Hall
‘Harper’s Bedtime Story’: The UCF New Music Ensemble tells a bedtime story in a unique way. Young Harper needs a story to sleep, but the storytellers can’t agree on how the story should go. Recommended for children ages 5-12, who are admitted free. Pajamas welcome. 10 a.m. April 12, Pugh Theater
‘Dinosaur Dance Party’: Orlando Family Stage’s 30-minute interactive show for ages 5 and younger. 11 a.m. April 12, DeVos Family Room
Character Animation and Animation VFX Premieres: Award-winning short, animated films from students in the School of Visual Arts and Design. 1 p.m. April 12, Pugh Theater
‘Let’s Go Camping’: Told through music, puppetry and creative play, this interactive experience is designed for ages 2-5. 2 p.m. April 12, DeVos Family Room
A Gershwin Celebration: Musicians pay tribute to the iconic brothers, Ira and George. 7:30 p.m. April 12, Steinmetz Hall
A.I. Cabaret: Late Night with Artificial Intelligence: Cutting-edge comedy devised with the help of artificial intelligence. 7:30 p.m. April 12, DeVos Family Room, free
National Young Composers Challenge: Hear new works, composed by students from across the nation, performed by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Christopher Wilkins. Begins at noon April 13, Steinmetz Hall, free
‘The Last Firefly’: Naomi Iizuka’s play for young audiences combines Japanese fairy tales and folklore to tell the mythical tale of Boom, the son of Thunder, who must confront the forces of nature in a blend of magic, courage and wonder. 1 p.m. April 13, Pugh Theater
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