April 24th, 2026 The Merry Widow…read more If you think opera is boring, elitist, outdated, or only for wealthy people over the age of seventy, Opera Orlando's production of The Merry Widow would probably shock you. After seeing The Merry Widow at Steinmetz Hall inside the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, I walked out realizing how disconnected modern culture has become from experiences that genuinely move people emotionally, intellectually, and culturally all at the same time. For a few hours, the outside world disappeared. Hundreds of strangers sat together fully immersed in music, storytelling, humor, romance, longing, heartbreak, orchestral beauty, and live human performance all at the same time, and the emotional atmosphere inside the theater was impossible not to feel. There is something incredibly powerful about watching a live performance unfold in real time knowing that every note, every movement, and every emotional moment is happening right there in front of you without a screen filtering the experience. The performances were extraordinary across the board. The humor was sharp, playful, and incredibly entertaining, the chemistry between the performers felt believable and emotionally alive, and the music swept through Steinmetz Hall with a richness and sophistication that modern entertainment rarely achieves anymore. The entire production transported the audience into another emotional pace of life entirely, which may explain why The Merry Widow has remained beloved for more than a century since premiering in Vienna in 1905 during the final years of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Honestly, The Merry Widow may now be my favorite opera I have ever seen, even above Aida and La Traviata, largely because it is far more emotionally accessible. Many operas can initially feel intimidating or emotionally dense for newcomers, but The Merry Widow is surprisingly easy to connect with. The story is simple to follow, the characters feel human and relatable, and the themes of love, pride, jealousy, money, romance, ego, status, and emotional vulnerability remain timeless regardless of what century you are living in. One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding opera is the belief that people will not "understand it," but we now live in an era where that excuse no longer really holds up. Someone can literally sit down with a********l i**********e beforehand and sift through hundreds or even thousands of years of history, culture, symbolism, music, politics, quickly ... in order to understand what they are about to experience BEFORE ever stepping inside the theater. Opera deserves far more attention from younger generations than it currently receives because this art form connects people to centuries of cultural history, music, storytelling, romance, humor, beauty, and emotional depth in a way very few modern experiences still can. Watching The Merry Widow made it obvious that opera is not some dead relic from the past. When performed at this level, it still feels emotionally alive, entertaining, funny, moving, and incredibly human. This audience @ Opera Orlando is overwhelmingly older.... which says less about opera itself and more about how culturally disconnected younger audiences have become from experiences like this. Many people assume opera is elitist, inaccessible, expensive, or simply "not for them" without ever giving it a chance. Opera Orlando is actively trying to change that through affordable tickets and student rush programs, and honestly, there are no excuses anymore. If you want to experience opera for yourself, visit https://operaorlando.org or https://drphillipscenter.org and look for student rush tickets, discounted seats, and upcoming productions. PS: I don't work for the opera .. I'm just a spectator / observer / guest

There are some amazing things about this theatre space…read more I love the way the doors can slide open so on nice Orlando nights it's like an open air entrance. I love how beautiful the stairwell is going up to two. I love how much they have expanded their food and beverage line up over the years. The sound tends to be pretty good, the communication from the theatre is always amazing. They waive fees if you come to the box office to buy your tickets. The seats are comfy and almost every seat has a solid view. The box seats are the exception so be warned. The volunteers are always amazing and they are so nice. It would be cool if they opened a second location that served coffee because that line for espresso beverages is always really long. I love the breadth of show types. There's always something for everyone.

My friends asked what I wanted to do for my birthday and of course my answer was The dueling piano…read moreshow at the restaurant the social with Randy from premier Piano shows! This show does not disappoint and is always so much fun. They play the best songs and it is such a fun time seeing everyone dance and sing along. Can't wait to go again!

I've hired Premier Piano Shows twice; they were superb each time. Clear communication prior,…read moreprofessional staff, and -most importantly- their performers were talented, professional, and truly made my events memorable. Great job Randy and team! Keep it up!

From the moment we walked into Caledonia Performing Arts, we felt welcomed, valued, and instantly…read moreat home. The atmosphere is upbeat, positive, and so inclusive. You can feel the energy the second you step inside! My daughter has absolutely blossomed since joining. Her confidence has skyrocketed, her skills have grown so much, and she enjoys her classes so much that she never wants to leave. We basically have to drag her out of the studio every day! Jenn and Alessia are truly incredible. Their kindness, passion, and genuine love for teaching shine in everything they do. They encourage, support, and inspire my daughter in ways we are endlessly grateful for. They are helping her chase her dreams with so much joy. I also love the many opportunities the studio offers, including accepting the Step-Up scholarship program, homeschool classes, an unlimited class plan, and Highland dance, which is my daughter's absolute favorite. She looks forward to it all week and talks about it nonstop. We couldn't be happier to be part of Caledonia Performing Arts. If you're looking for a studio that is uplifting, supportive, and full of heart, this is the place. Highly, highly recommend!

From the owner: Caledonia Performing Arts – Dance School and Vocal Coaching in Davenport, FL offers professional…read moredance classes and vocal training for all ages and levels. Our experienced instructors provide ballet, tap, jazz, acro, lyrical, Scottish Highland dance, and vocal coaching in a supportive, family-focused environment. As a leading dance studio near Haines City, ChampionsGate, and Polk County, we specialize in technique, performance, and confidence building through the BATD syllabus and performance-based learning. Students can explore beginner to advanced dance lessons, improve posture, flexibility, and coordination, or train for competitions and stage performances. We also offer private voice lessons and singing classes designed to strengthen tone, range, and stage presence — perfect for aspiring vocalists and musical theatre performers. Join our Davenport dance school and discover quality instruction, community spirit, and personalized coaching in a modern, fully equipped studio. Whether you’re searching for ballet classes for kids, vocal lessons for teens, or professional dance training near you, Caledonia Performing Arts provides the highest standard of education in the performing arts. Book a free trial class today and experience why families across Davenport and Polk County trust us for dance, singing, and performance excellence.

Great dance teachers , friendly and kind . They even have…read morezumba classes for Adults .

Xplosive Dance Academy was and will always be a second home for me and the community engaged with…read morethis studio. When they say dance moms that means every mom in that studio is your mom, the teamwork is like no other I've ever been apart of and not only is your team there for you when you dance they are also there in tough times! Go check out Xplosive Dance Academy I promise you won't be disappointed! If you are blame me ! Go XDA !

Cute little spot with vendors , food drinks and music. Wish there was a wider selection of food…read morebut definitely a vibe

A beautifully orchestrated Friday night event at Lake Nona. Live music keeps the crowd going while…read moreyou walk around the artisan tents showcasing arts, foods, and clothing. Many fine restaurants, in the area, with their patios open, and a beer tent hosted by the brewery so that you can avoid going into the restaurant for their tasty cocktails and brews. A fun event for all ages including children. A must go if you haven't been.

I love this park!…read more Expect more than a relaxed day outdoors. There are several food trucks with a variety of food options and a couple of bar food trucks as well. This park is well laid out with food trucks close enough to each other that you can hop around, but at the same time, not feeling crowded at all. There is a big variety of food options for everyone, which is great because we had a large group of about 12 people with us. The park is also decorated very pretty. There is an open eating area with many picnic tables so everyone has a place to sit and eat. I loved that they had a band playing. Nice touch. Restrooms are clean. You can park across the street in the parking garage for free, which is a nice. There are also plenty of stores and shops around this park. There was also a farmers market happening at the time I visited the park so we checked that out. I highly recommend this park and I'll be back soon.

This collection of container food stalls/courtyard/recreation is a novel and fun concept for the…read moremetro Orlando area. They are several food stalls and drinkeries to indulge from as well as a sand volleyball court, kids play area, lots of seating, music and lights. The layout and the area is nice and for holiday time the premises are decorated with festive adornments. The variety of offering is pretty diverse with seafood, pizza, taco, bbq, flavored lemonade, margaritas, to name a few. Service was prompt and friendly. I will be back to visit when I'm back in the area when it's open.

My son and I loved this place. It was our first time going to an indoor play area. We had so much…read morefun. The manager and teacher for that day were so kind. The area is always kept clean. It's a great place for kids to interact with each other and learn at the same time. They have options for monthly membership visits as well as drop in visits. I definitely recommend this place and I will be back again!

From the owner: Play & Learn Classes for children ages 0-5 years old! Try a Free Preview class and come what makes…read moreGymboree Play & Music unique at our BRAND NEW Nona location! Call us today at 407-900-3709.

Valencia community college has been a long stay institution for education in Orlando for as long as…read moreI can remember. The school has grown by leaps and bounds not only in size but also in quality of education due to increased funding. The Lake Nona location is somewhat of an architectural revelation of neo classical modern architecture of mixing breaks wood metal glass into a true joy for the eyes to see. The inside of the school is no less stellar than the outside. I'll be at a bar from Large location, it is an excellent school and it serves The community locally well for now. Valencia did take the initiative and forgot to purchase excess of land around the school so there is ample room for parking as well as additional expansion of the school. My only concern is that they did not initially build the school large enough to handle the huge population growth here in the lake Nona area. With that all being said the staff is stellar, I know many of the instructors there personally and there's a great deal of pride taken by the school in this new location.

I recently transferred into Valencia College to finish my A.A. I must say that this institution is…read morevery thorough and well organized. The transfer was a breeze. I am told that the mornings are the best time to visit the Answer Center, and I agree. There was a very short wait and the atmosphere and environment was superbly stress free. This campus is located in the growing Lake Nona area right next to Lake Nona High and is state of the art and very clean. I would give them 5 stars, but there are not many classes offered at this location. Bummer for me because I live in Lake Nona, but at least I was able to transfer in at this location no muss, no fuss.

Had I had the opportunity, to leave 0 stars I would! Not even sure why they are rude at the desk…read more I mean moving chairs into an empty room, so adults can't sit while they wait is wild. I'm sorry we're from out of town, didn't think to pack our own chairs for practice. Update Let me add. The owner chased me down in a parking lot a few hours after I made this review. What kinda man rolls up on a woman and some little girls because he has rude staff members.

Do not get wrapped up in this place. I took my daughter here out of convenience. It was close. The…read moreteacher she had was not doing beginner lessons for a beginner class. No places or steps, just moving. The owner is never there. Three young ladies run the front. They are so disorganized they couldn't tell you a recital time within a week and then changed times for some classes 2 days before. The recital program left off our entire class. Couldn't even get that right. My daughter said the teacher didn't even show up for the recital. Watching the recital you can tell hip hop is one of those strong suits however 8 or 9 year old girls doing gang signs and grabbing their crotch is not very appealing as a parent. Overall disorganized, nickel and dimes everything, terrible teaching. We couldn't wait to be done with this place. I just hope our dancer isn't turned off to dance again