ARTS AND CULTURAL Events ~ CCIRC

Performances & Events

Riverside Theatre presents The Comedy Zone on May 20 & 21, 7 & 9 pm shows.

Headliner Mike Armstrong is a former police officer who wants audiences as happy as he is. A Kentucky native, Mike’s TV credits range from “Oprah” to “CBS Morning News” to “Good Morning America.” Feature act Ozrick Cooley a 15-year military veteran’s routines are based on his dysfunctional family, dating after divorce, and his life experiences. Jim Harping will be your emcee!

Live in the Loop at Riverside Theatre On May 20 at 5:30 pm, Sandy Back Porch is a hard-driving, lightning bluegrass band. Bringer of the lightning lead guitar licks, harmony and lead vocals, hotter than fire banjo leads, and flying fiddle tunes. Tonight’s show will also feature music from John Denver and other country stars.

May 21 at 5:30 pm the Melinda Elena Band ‘s versatility shines through in all genres, performing cover hits from Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, Carrie Underwood, Alicia Keys, Adele, No Doubt, Fleetwood Mac, The Cranberries, Pat Benetar, Carole King, Tina Turner and more!

McKee Botanical Garden will offer free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families from Armed Forces Day, May 21 through Labor Day, September 5. McKee Botanical Garden is a Blue Star Museum participant and one of more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families this summer in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and participating museums across America.

The Space Coast Symphony Orchestra will close out its 13th season with Fan Favorites: The Great Ballets in a program that showcases both incredible music– and the incredible talent of its own youth orchestra on May 22, 3 pm, 1901 23rd St, Vero Beach.

The result of hundreds of audience requests over the years, Fan Favorites is a whirlwind tour of some of history’s greatest ballets, by great composers such as Tchaikovsky, Khachaturian, Ginastera, Stravinsky, Copland and more. The concert’s virtuosic first half includes the showpiece, “Blue Bells of Scotland,” performed by SCSO Principal Trombonist, Alexis Regazzi. Pablo Sarasate’s demanding showstopper, “Playera” will prove no challenge for SCSO violinist, Jose Guedez. And continuing the orchestra’s commitment to new music, the concert will also feature the World Premiere of Central Florida composer and musician Mark Piszczek’s thrilling Pangean Dances. The advanced level students of the Space Coast Symphony Youth Orchestra join the adult musicians on stage for the balletic second half of the program. A special audience treat includes the first movement of Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F by Dylan Rhodes, the grand champion winner of the orchestra’s youth concerto competition. 

Raw Space Gallery,1795 Old Dixie Hwy, Vero Beach presents Vero Beach Art Village Exhibit May 22 – 28, 5 – 9 pm with more than 30 local artists contribute art work to support the development of the new Art Village in the downtown Edgewood neighborhood.

Gallery 14 offers Retrospective: Work by Viola Pace Knudsen

On View through May 27, Gallery Reception May 6, 5 – 8 pm

A very special retrospective of the work of Viola Pace Knudsen, who has been a popular represented artist at Gallery 14 since its inception. This greatly expanded showing of her work, will celebrate her pine needle sculptures and will feature a selection of her acrylic paintings as well. 

Located at 1911 14^th Avenue in the Downtown Historic Arts District of Vero Beach

Riverside Theatre presents Almost Heaven ~ John Denver’s America “Songs of John Denver” Conceived by Harold Thau.  Performances through May 29.

Described as “among the most beloved entertainers of his era,” John Denver was an American musical icon who achieved great success with his down-to-earth acoustic sound. 

Almost Heaven celebrates the life and times of this music man with over 25 Denver’s chart topping hits including: “Rocky Mountain High,” “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” “Thank God, I’m a Country Boy,” “Annie’s Song,” “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” and many more.

Xaque Gruber’s new art exhibit “Lyrical” are whimsical watercolor paintings,

drawings and mixed media pieces inspired by song lyrics, nursery rhymes and poetry. San Telmo Décor, 900 Village Square Drive, Sebastian.  On view through the month of May.

Vero Beach Theater Guild presents THE CHICAGO GYPSIES By V Glasgow Koste

A heart-warming tale about the migratory life of a show business kid during the Great Depression. Winner of the AATE Distinguished Play Award and the Charlotte B. Chorpenning Playwright Award! Carolina Lee, nick-named Charley, is the youngest actress in the company that suddenly finds itself stranded, where she becomes a drop-in at the local school and recess is more like a Roman coliseum. Connecting rich, fully realized characters from three generations, audiences warm to Charley’s temperamental actress-mother; her loving, song-and-dance-man of a father; and Charley’s illegitimate adopted grandmothers. While set in the Depression, these Chicago gypsies stubbornly see their way through the worst of times to the best of times in a regenerative reunion that makes these odd yet ordinary people shine with the miracle of loving, quiet survival.

Performances Sundays May 22, June 5, 12, 19 & 26

Vero Beach Theater Guild presents NATIVE GARDENS

Performances through May 22nd,

Pablo, a high-powered lawyer, and doctoral candidate Tania, his very pregnant wife, are realizing the American dream when they purchase a house next door to community stalwarts Virginia and Frank. But a disagreement over a long-standing fence line soon spirals into an all-out war of taste, class, privilege, and entitlement. The hilarious results guarantee no one comes out smelling like a rose.

ELC offers Nature-Inspired Artists Series Solo exhibition of Susan Miller: Sand and Shadows.  On view through the end of May in the Tidal Gallery Showcase.

Art Club Gallery & Marketplace Exhibit “Members’ Show”

On View through May 30. Gallery hours: Tuesday – Friday 11 – 3 pm

Vero Beach Art Club Gallery & Marketplace,1903 14th Avenue, Vero Beach

SPRING ART SHOW  ~ The Galleries at First Pres

Featuring the works of local artists Richard Gillmor, Salvador Lorenzo González, and Theresa Prokop. On View through June 1. The galleries are located throughout the campus of First Presbyterian Church at 520 Royal Palm Boulevard in Vero Beach.

Artists Guild Gallery is a fine-art gallery featuring original art by local artist-owners. Diverse styles and mediums are represented, and the art is changed, and rotated on a monthly basis. Classes are offered in oil, watercolor, acrylics, pastels, and drawing.  Located: 1974 14th Avenue, Vero Beach

Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 11am – 3pm, Saturdays 11 – 3

Art in Public Places Program sponsored by the Cultural Council of Indian River County at the Indian River County Courthouse presents a Solo Exhibit by Mark San Souci  – An Artist’s Wanderings

On View through June 29.

Gallery Veritas presents Neshama~ New paintings by Barry Shapiro

On view though June. Neshama is Hebrew for “The Spirit” and the title for an exhibit of new paintings by Vero Beach artist Barry Shapiro. This exhibit is part of a two-year exploration by Shapiro into the ability of art to create an introspective and meditative state for the viewer. These paintings are lively with color and motion, several have 3 dimensional elements and gold leaf. Created during the isolation of the pandemic, they are a reflection of the artists state of mind during the past few years and his hope for a spiritual awakening.  Gallery Veritas is located at 1422 20th Street, just west of the corner of 14th Avenue. It is the latest edition to downtown Vero’s Art District.

Art in Public Places Program sponsored by the Cultural Council of Indian River County at the Indian River County Administrative Buildings A & B

I Love Indian River County ~ Hometown Love Letter

On View through July 6

Art at the Emerson offers The Nature’s Palette: Animals in the Wild Exhibit On view through July 28 Artists capture the exciting colors of animals in the world. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 am – 3 pm with no entry fee.

Art in Public Places Program sponsored by the Cultural Council of Indian River County On Exhibit Indian River County Intergenerational Recreation Center Fun Under the Sun ~ Member Exhibit

On view through August 3