Winter arts roundup: Yuja Wang, Jasmine Forsberg, Disney concerts and more

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Where does the time go? These first months of the year have been so extraordinarily busy that my writing hasn’t been able to keep up with all I’ve been doing. So here’s a look at multiple special events during the past weeks that I was lucky enough to attend — I hope you were able to enjoy many of these experiences, too.

Festival of the Arts

Walt Disney World’s Festival of the Arts at Epcot upped the game at its concert series this year. The musical arrangements seemed more dynamic, even though the use of recorded background vocals cheapens the Broadway feel.

But the lineup couldn’t be beat: New performers this year included James Monroe Iglehart, who won a Tony Award for his exuberant turn as Genie in “Aladdin,” and not one but two original Broadway princesses: Sierra Boggess, the original Ariel in “The Little Mermaid,” and Susan Egan, the first Belle in the long-running “Beauty and the Beast.”

They joined returning favorites such as Josh Strickland, the premier title character in “Tarzan,” Ashley Brown, who debuted the title character in “Mary Poppins,” and Central Floridians Kissy Simmons and Michael James Scott.

Speaking of “B&B,” Disney did a special concert devoted entirely to that title — a marketing move, no doubt, as a new national tour of the show is underway (it will arrive in Orlando next spring). Still, it was enchanting to be surprised with a special appearance by Kyra Belle Johnson, who will be starring in that tour.

Bravo, Disney, bravo.

Central Floridian Jasmine Forsberg, who now has multiple Broadway shows under her belt, performs in Winter Park's Central Park on Feb. 6. (Courtesy City of Winter Park)

Winter Park Arts Weekend

In another concert, Central Floridian turned Broadway star Jasmine Forsberg headlined the Winter Park Arts Weekend in February. Ooh, it was a chilly night — but Forsberg got a deservedly warm reception.

Central Florida Vocal Arts staged the concert, which featured a snappy combo fronted by piano man Julian Bond, dancers from Emotions Dance and singer AJ Morales, who joined Forsberg onstage.

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“This place is where my love of performing began,” Forsberg told the crowd, pointing out she celebrated her high-school graduation just down Park Avenue at Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine restaurant.

Forsberg performed showtune standards (“On My Own” from “Les Misérables” and, appropriately, “Home” from “The Wiz”), a Disney medley and a delightfully country-tinged song she wrote, titled “Go Down This Road.” She learned, as many a performer in Central Park has, that the nearby Amtrak train is going to blast its horn at the worst possible time — in this case, during “Heart of Stone,” her signature song from Broadway’s “Six.”

Speaking of that hit show, you can catch Forsberg in the cast of “Six” on Broadway.

Pianist Yuja Wang performs Feb. 17 in Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts with the Orlando Philharmonic as part of the orchestra's annual Rhapsody gala. (Courtesy Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra)

Rhapsody

In a concert of a different sort, acclaimed pianist Yuja Wang headlined the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual Rhapsody gala.

Wang, known for her theatrical style, technical prowess and signature sparkly dresses, returned to Orlando, where she first memorably performed outdoors in frigid temperatures on the Exploria Stadium field during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Philharmonic, conducted by music director Eric Jacobsen, handled some beloved tunes on its own: Brahms’ whirling Hungarian Dance No. 5; Barber’s “Adagio for Strings,” which even in its loudest moments remained pleasingly tender; Barber’s cinematic overture to “The School for Scandal” and Copland’s bold and brassy “Fanfare for the Common Man.”

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Wang starred in Barber’s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, creating a feeling of surprise with her interludes in the first movement and then projecting a haunted air over the more sedate second movement.

The third movement crackled with energy, but perhaps Wang and Jacobsen weren’t completely satisfied? Among the five — yes, five — encores, Wang and the orchestra repeated the concerto’s entire third movement, to the delight of the crowd.

By the way, congratulations to the Philharmonic for raising $650,000 at the event.

Julia Mary Kaufman (from left), Tabitha Matthews and Conner Chaumley perform in the Bridge Theatre's "Anne & Emmett." (Courtesy Diana Kelly)

‘Anne & Emmett’

Turning to theater, I was able to take in a special performance of the Bridge Theater’s “Anne & Emmett” for students from local high schools. It was thrilling to see how engaged the young theatergoers were; you could have heard a pin drop at times. And they asked insightful questions at a post-show talkback led by director Karen J. Rugerio.

Written by Janet  Langhart Cohen, “Anne & Emmett” imagines a meeting of Anne Frank and Emmett Till in the afterlife. The two learn they have much in common: Both were murdered as youths, both the victims of senseless bigotry and hate.

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It’s a powerful play, and here’s some good news: The Bridge Theater, which was established in 2024 to instill empathy and mutual respect among young people, is reviving the production.

With Wayne Brady as executive producer, “Anne & Emmett” will feature an additional student performance, as well as a public show, at East Ridge High, 13322 Excalibur Road in Clermont. Showtime for the general public is at 7 p.m. April 16. Get more information at thebridgetheatre.org.

Members of the Pargh family cut the ribbon to officially open the Pargh Event Center at the Rosen Jewish Community Center in southwest Orlando on Feb. 12. (Matthew J. Palm/Orlando Sentinel)

Pargh Event Center

I saw “Anne & Emmett” at the new Pargh Event Center at the Rosen Jewish Community Center in southwest Orlando. That is the home of the new Arts at the J program, and the spiffy space was formally dedicated Feb. 12 with a ribbon-cutting and the unveiling of new signage across its facade.

Rosen JCC executive director Ofira Bondorowsky called the opening of the center, named after a $1 million donation from Andy Pargh in honor of his parents, “an incredible milestone.”

The Arts at the J program, which hosted a Central Florida Community Arts jazz concert last week,  will continue this spring with the “Comedy for Peace” tour on April 23. Go to rosenjcc.org/arts-at-the-j for more information.

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“This is a remarkable new chapter for southwest Orlando and Central Florida as a whole,” said Frank Santos, CEO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, at the official opening. He pledged the center would be a place where “the arts are given room to breathe, grow and inspire.”

Pargh, who cut the ribbon with members of his family, said he learned about philanthropy from his parents — and he gave the idea of “giving until it hurts” a fresh twist.

“Give till it feels good,” he said. “And tonight it feels really good.”

Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find more entertainment news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/entertainment or sign up to receive our weekly emailed Entertainment newsletter.

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