ARTS AND CULTURAL Events ~ CCIRC Performances & Events

Riverside Theatre presents Live in the Loop with The Beachland Band is a variety tribute band featuring music from The Beach Boys, The Drifters, Jimmy Buffett, and Yacht Rock from the 70s! You’re guaranteed to have a great time and hear the hit song Cheeseburgers in Paradise! on April 19.

On April 20, Sleepin’ Dogz is a musical meal that is equal parts sweet, spicy and satisfying. You’ll hear songs from Aerosmith, Bonnie Rait, Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin, Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, U2, and many more artists, plus some original DOGZ tunes!

Sebastian River Art Club’s 7th Annual Indian River Lagoon Fine Arts Show on April 20, 9am – 4pm. All original artworks is for sale featuring the Indian river Lagoon. Riverview Park in Sebastian.

Ballet Vero Beach’s 2023-2024 Season comes to a close with The Sleeping Princess Choreography by Adam Schnell

ACCESSIBLE/FAMILY FRIENDLY SERIES on April 21, 2pm, VBHS Performing Arts Center

A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery presents Art of the Fantastic: Imaginative Illustration from the Korshak Collection. On view through April 28. 

Don’t Miss this Special Guided Tour of the Exhibition Art of the Fantastic: Imaginative Illustration from the Korshak Collection on April 20, 1:30 – 3:30pm.

Free admission to this special gallery program on April 20 will be provided to those who attend in cosplay as their favorite sci-fi or fantasy character. Cosplay is a portmanteau of “costume play”. It is part activity and part performance art in which participants wear costumes that represent specific characters.

The Korshak Collection features works by pioneering artists from over a century of published science fiction, horror, and fantasy. These original adventure and fantasy illustrations appeared on the covers and pages of timeless novels, and in classic pulp magazines from the 1930s through 1960s such as Amazing Stories, Weird Tales, Fantastic Adventures, and Wonder Stories. The exhibition features 40 works from this notable private collection by such masters as Aubrey Beardsley, Arthur Rackham, Gustave Doré, Howard Pyle, Virgil Finlay, Kelly Freas, J. Allen St. John, Frank Frazetta, and Michael Whelan. With outstanding images of Martian princesses, Arthurian legends, ethereal fairies, alien invaders, imaginative pasts and fanciful, uncertain futures, Art of the Fantastic is far and away a superb survey of the extraordinary. Located at 500 North Indian River Drive in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce, Florida.

Space Coast Symphony Orchestra performs Disney Royals on April 21, 3pm

1590 27th Ave., in  Vero Beach.  The music of Walt Disney animated films is positively magical. The Space Coast Symphony Orchestra will conjure up a stage full of enchantment, when they welcome Central Florida vocal standouts Kit Cleto and Samantha Barnes Daniel for Disney Royals. The concert at the Emerson Center, 1590 27th Avenue in Vero Beach, will feature a treasure trove of Disney classics. The audience will hear songs from Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, Tangled, Frozen, Cinderella, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas and others. Soloists Cleto and Barnes Daniel are vocal performance veterans, with dozens of musical credits on their respective resumes. For the Disney Royals concert, kids (of every age) are invited to dress in their favorite royal attire.

Spring Art Reception and Show

Galleries at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach

On view April 21 – June 30. Opening Reception April 21, 1 – 3pm, 520 Royal Palm Boulevard in Vero Beach, for the Spring Art Show at First Presbyterian Church. The work of three standout artists will be displayed in galleries throughout the church campus for the duration of the show. Visitors can enjoy free refreshments as they peruse the work of Leslie Jordan, Barbara Desrosiers and Suzanne Roff.

Riverside Theatre Distinguished Lecturer Series: Shannon Bream

April 22, 4 & 6pm lectures Topic: Supreme Court

Shannon Bream currently serves as anchor of FOX News Sunday with Shannon Bream on the FOX Broadcast Network. In addition to her role as anchor, Bream is Chief Legal Correspondent for FNC and host of ‘Livin’ the Bream’, a podcast on FOX News Radio where she shares inspirational stories, personal anecdotes and an insider’s perspective on actions and rulings from the high court. 

Historic House Tours Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation

April 23, 1 – 5pm. Mueller Campus of IRSC, 6155 College Lane in Vero Beach.

VBMA Museum Stories: 0-23 Month Olds

April 24, 9:30 – 10:30am

VBMA Museum Stories for 2-4 Year Olds

April 24, 10:30 – 11:30am

Cultural Council of Indian River County is pleased to announce a new venue for Art in Public Places Program – Vero Beach City Hall, 1053 20th Place, Gallery Exhibits in Hallway & Council Chambers. “All Around The Town” on view through April 24 with works by Gwen McNenney on exhibit in the Hallway. Works by Barbara Krupp on view in the Council Chamber.

Vero Heritage Speaker Series on April 25, 5:30-7pm with Heather Stapleton, Community Engagement Coordinator, IRL Lagoon.

A.E. Backus Museum & the BlueBird Educational Foundation presents

The Art of Jazz on April 26, 6 – 8pm

Backus Museum, 500 North Indian River Drive, in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce

galleries open early at 5pm.  The program will include the lecture, performance, and hors d’oeuvres, wine and soft drinks. The Art of Jazz will feature a special lecture by Jon Ward along with a musical performance by The Billy Cofrances Jazz Quartet. Jon Ward has served as the development director for several Florida cities and as the Director of the St. Lucie County Cultural Affairs Council. He has also served as a board member for the Florida Humanities Council and for the Florida Council for Arts and Culture. The Billy Cofrances Jazz Quartet was well-known in the New Haven, Connecticut jazz community before Cofrances moved to Stuart, Florida several years ago. Cofrances started his career as a member of the popular east coast favorite Jump Street. He has worked with legendary jazz pianist Sarah Cion, jazz vocalists Billy Weston, Giacomo Gates and Walt Andrus, lead singer of the Tommy Dorsey Big Band. Currently the group performs throughout Florida.

Vero Beach International Music Festival with Hanneke Cassel Trio

April 26, 7:30pm at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, 520 Royal Palm BLVD in Vero Beach.  Spanning over two decades, Hanneke Cassel has helped redefine what it means to be a modern fiddler. A driving force in the ever-changing landscape of acoustic music, Hanneke blends originality and innovation with the spirit of Scottish traditional fiddle. Fusing musical roots from the Isle of Skye and Cape Breton Island with Americana styling.

Sunrise Theatre presents Grease performances April 26 – 28 and

Comedy Corner with Headline : JAMES YON! On April 27, 8pm.  Visit: http://www.sunrisetheatre.com

Gallery 14 offers Celebrating Nature: Paintings by Reed Dixon

On Exhibit through April 26. Gallery 14 is happy to welcome back mixed media artist Reed Dixon. Entitled Celebrating Nature: Paintings by Reed Dixon, Reed will once again showcase his bright, imaginative and captivating images of flowers and birds. Reed currently lives and works in Boynton Beach, FL. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, he studied graphic design and fine arts at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He was originally a Hallmark Card designer and illustrator. Later on, after spending years in the ad business (while always painting) Reed opened Dixon Graphics, a graphic design and fine arts studio. His work has been exhibited in the Society of Illustrators Show in New York City and for the past fifty years he has been widely shown and can be found in several corporate and private collections.

Center for Spiritual Care offers Tied, Dyed, Woven And Stitched

On view through April 26, 1550 24th St, in downtown Vero Beach. Artists members of the Vero Beach Art Club; Yvonne Steere, Phyllis Petrillo, Sheila McAvoy, Haeley Kyong, Grace Cormier, Paulette and Michelle Nevaeh. For hours the show is open contact the Center office at 772-567-1233.

Riverside’s The Comedy Zone on April 26 & 27, 6 & 8 pm. Casey Peruski & Rob Smiles Headliner Casey Peruski  known as the Nice Guy of comedy (unless you interrupt him on stage) is very inviting while being very funny.

Feature Act Robbie Toussaint is a comedian and actor. His stage name is Rob Smiles because he “just wants to see you smile.” He performs at comedy clubs all over the US.

J.M. Stringer Gallery of Fine Art “History in the Making”, on view through April 27.  An exhibition featuring the recent works of John Phillip Osborne and John C. Traynor, as well as important painters from the past. 3465 Ocean Drive in Vero Beach.

Fun for All Ages at the VBMA Children’s Art Festival

Free event on  April 27, 10am – 3pm.  All-ages event,  the museum’s annual celebration of the arts and art making. Attendees will enjoy art-making activities, music and dance performances, food trucks, art hunts, docent-led tours of the galleries, and free admission to Ancient Egypt & the Napoleonic Era: Masterworks from the Dahesh Museum of Art—on view only through April 28. Awaken your inner artist as you engage with VBMA instructors and local art teachers in special art-making opportunities inspired by the Ancient Egypt & the Napoleonic Era exhibit, including

• Easy Easel Painting—After visiting the museum galleries, use acrylics, canvases, and easels to create your masterpiece with VBMA instructor and local artist Vicki Marsango;
• Symmetrical Scarab Studio—Discover the art and symmetry of scarabs and create colorful interpretations with markers and metallic colors with VBMA instructor and local artist Karla Nester;
• Pyramid Palooza—Step into the world of ancient architects and craft 3-D pyramids set against the backdrop of the desert, and decorate them with stickers and gems with VBMA instructor and local artist Camy de Mario;
• Golden Glyphs: Hieroglyph Hangups—Channel ancient scribes by etching your name or designs onto papyrus and create a hanging cartouche adorned with gold foil with VBMA instructor Pearl Lau; and
• Sands of Creativity—Capture the essence of ancient Egypt as you craft a torn paper landscape of the Egyptian desert, complete with silhouetted palm trees and iconic pyramids with School District of Indian River County art teacher Sophie Strazinsky.

VBMA docents will facilitate additional family-friendly activities and tours in the galleries. Multiple student art exhibitions will also be on view. An Artistic Discovery: 2024 Congressional Art Show Exhibition presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey may be viewed in Holmes Great Hall, the School District of Indian River County Student Art Exhibit will be on display in the Atrium, and the Indian River County Secondary Student Exhibition will be on view in the Patten Community Gallery. Guests will delight in live performances by local youth groups, including the Beachland Elementary Shark Singers, the Imagine South Vero Tangerines, the Fratelli Quartet, Indian River Charter High School Dance, the Rosewood Magnet Panther Performers, the Osceola Singers & Explorer Ensemble, the Liberty Magnet Eagle Orff and Chorus, and the Gifford Youth Orchestra.

Vero Beach Museum of Art offers Ancient Egypt & the Napoleonic Era:

Masterworks from the Dahesh Museum of Art

On view through April 28.  To celebrate the centennial of archaeologist Howard Carter’s discovery of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, the VBMA presents Ancient Egypt & the Napoleonic Era: Masterworks from the Dahesh Museum of Art. Western encounters with the Orient date back many centuries, but the Industrial Revolution developed dynamic new levels of engagement. New and better forms of transportation created a flood of travelers—writers, scholars and, most crucially, artists—all heading to the Orient. The result was an extraordinary range of artworks with a variety of themes and styles. The show explores artistic visions of the cultures and peoples from the time Napoleon entered Egypt, taking with him dozens of draftsmen and engineers to create renderings of this country’s rich cultural phenomena.

McKee Botanical Garden on exhibit: A Tropical Flock of Avian Avatars by The Myth Makers Donna Dodson & Andy Moerlein

On view through April 28.  Featuring ten monumental and environmentally friendly bird sculptures created from bamboo and other mixed media. Each unique Avian Avatar in the Tropical Flock is made specifically for McKee. These majestic birds will grace McKee’s tropical landscape though April 28. The sculptures are designed to attract, captivate, and inspire the imaginations of all who encounter them.

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: Thru April: Tuesday – Saturday 11am-4pm 

Art at The Emerson offers A Moment in Time Exhibition An exhibition featuring photographers capturing the perfect image. On view through May 1.

Art in Public Places Program sponsored by the Cultural Council of Indian River County venue Vero Beach Outlets Mall Guest Services on exhibit All Things Vero! Featured Artists Judy Burgarella, Andy Burman, Nancy Duclos, Victor Genel, John McAleer & Joaquin Zalaza. On view through May 4. Location: 1824 94^th Drive, Vero Beach (located beside Michael Kohrs).

Art in Public Places Program sponsored by the Cultural Council of Indian River County On Exhibit Indian River County Courthouse Marie’s Journey, Solo Exhibit –  Marie Marrow. On view through May 9.

ELC offers Reflections of Nature Presented by Orchid Island Art Club

On exhibit through May.

Vero Beach Art Club Gallery & Marketplace

Vacation Dreams On view through June 14.  Artwork is available for purchase at all exhibiting shows. 1903 14th Avenue, in Vero Beach

Art in Public Places Program sponsored by the Cultural Council of Indian River County On Exhibit Indian River County Administration Buildings A & B. On view through June 20, featured artists: Jen Berlin, Tony Caruso John McAleer and Gwen McNenney.

Art in Public Places Program sponsored by the Cultural Council of Indian River County in conjunction with Mandy and Ray Hooker invite you to viewing at Indian River Distillery, 3308 Aviation Blvd. in Vero Beach.  Exhibit Theme: “Old Florida.”