Comedian Bill Engvall Brings His “Just Sell Him for Parts Tour” to SFSC

AVON PARK, Fla. – Jan. 31, 2020 – Comedian and Grammy Award nominee Bill Engvall comes to the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts at South Florida State College (SFSC) in Avon Park on Friday, Feb. 21 for one performance at 8 p.m. 

Known for his ability to connect with his audience with stories about being a husband and father, and growing up in Texas, Engvall shies away from political and religious topics. He’s best known for appearing on television shows like “The Jeff Foxworthy Show,” his own “The Bill Engvall Show,” and “Dancing with the Stars.”

“Bill is known as the ‘everyman of comedy’ because his humor is relatable,” said Cindy Garren, director of cultural programs at SFSC. “He’s a real guy and he talks about things we all can relate to in our own lives.”

Engvall first appeared in a Showtime special, “A Pair of Jokers,” with Rosie O’Donnell, followed by hosting A&E’s “Evening at the Improv” and appearances on “The Tonight Show” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.” In 1992, he won the American Comedy Award for Best Male Stand-Up Comedian.

After appearing in several episodes of the television hit “Designing Women,” Engvall went on to portray Buck Overton on the ABC sitcom “Delta” starring Delta Burke.

A star of the big screen as well, Engvall has also appeared in several films including “Strawberry Wine” with Christina Ricci, and “Bed and Breakfast” with Dean Cain, as well as “Delta Farce.” His latest film, “The Neighbor,” takes him out of his typical comedy scene and into the horror genre.

Alongside Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, and Ron White, Bill Engvall was part of the enormously successful Blue Collar Comedy Tour concert films, which have sold more than 9 million units and are some of the most watched movies and specials in Comedy Central history. The soundtrack for Blue Collar Comedy Tour, “One For The Road,” (Warner Bros./Jack Records) was also nominated for a Grammy Award.  

Following the Blue Collar Comedy Tour movies, Engvall was reunited with Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy on the Them Idiots Whirled Tour, which was filmed as a special for CMT and aired 2012. Engvall also has several solo specials on Comedy Central including Aged and Confused (2009) and Live (2004), which was certified multiplatinum, 15° Off Cool (2007) and Here’s Your Sign (1996).

Engvall’s first album, “Here’s Your Sign” (1996), has been certified platinum and held the No. 1 position on the Billboard Comedy chart for 15 straight weeks, went on to peak at No. 5 on Billboard’s Current Country Album chart and reached the Top 50 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album chart. The single of the same name was ranked No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Singles Sales chart for 10 weeks, reached the Top 30 on the Billboard’s Singles Sales chart, and achieved gold status, which is not a common occurrence in the comedy market. In 1997, Engvall won the Best Selling Comedy Album award at the annual National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) convention, outselling albums by Chris Rock and Adam Sandler.

Engvall’s second album, “Dorkfish” (1998), was certified gold (500,000 copies), and had the honor of being ranked No. 1 on Billboard’s Comedy chart, even surpassing Jerry Seinfeld’s album. All of his following comedy album releases debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Comedy Chart, including “15° Off Cool” and “Aged and Confused.”

Tickets, which start at $75, are available online at sfscARTS.org, by phone at 863-784-7178, or in person at the SFSC Box Office located at 600 West College Drive on the Highlands Campus of SFSC. The performance is sponsored by Midflorida Credit Union, Sebring International Raceway, and V & W Dairy Farms/Suzanne and Joe Wright.

Upcoming performances at the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts include: A Tribute to Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald with The Lisa Kelly Sextet on Feb. 22; Central Park Revisited: James Taylor on Feb. 25; international a cappella sensation Blue Jupiter on Feb. 29; Tamburitzans on March 3; South Carolina Ballet’s “Cinderella” on March 7; and “An American in Paris” on March 12. For a complete lineup and to view videos, visit sfscARTS.org.

SFSC student John Lackey (left) with Cindy Garren, director of cultural programs

AVON PARK, Fla. – Jan. 31, 2020 – John Lackey IV from Sebring received the first $300 Performing Arts and Culture for Students (PACS) Award from South Florida State College’s (SFSC) Office of Cultural Programs. Funded by the SFSC Foundation, PACS is a volunteer program that encourages SFSC students to experience three arts or cultural events, sites, or festivals.

Created by Director of Cultural Programs Cindy Garren, the program’s goal is to incentivize students to visit a museum, attend a performance, or enjoy a cultural heritage festival. Students are required to attend three arts or culture events, then submit a selfie and a two-page reflection paper.

Lackey, who is a first-year student studying computer science at SFSC, said that he heard about the PACS program from his English professor, Dr. Keith Cavedo. Lackey visited the Museum of Florida Art and Culture (MOFAC), the Highlands Museum of the Arts, and the Lake Placid murals. “Seeing all the art and people’s creativity and their masterpieces makes me want to see more art and visit more museums,” Lackey said.

When asked if it was a difficult project, Lackey said that it was an easy way for a student to earn a $300 stipend.

For more information about the PACS program, visit southflorida.edu/PACSaward or contact Garren at pacs@southflorida.edu. One $300 stipend is awarded each academic semester. Materials must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the end of the semester.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Jan. 27, 2020 – The nationally known and critically acclaimed crowd favorite, Artrageous II, is making a rare stop at the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts at South Florida State College (SFSC) in Avon Park on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 3 p.m. This show is part of the Advent Health Trending Now Series which features contemporary performances ideal for families.

With over 3,000 shows performed around the world, Artrageous is the one-of-a-kind, interactive art and music experience that has CBS raving “Go see this show!” Audiences interact and delight as a team of accomplished, multi-talented artists paint at electric speed, creating giant works of art, right before their eyes—all while accompanied by live musical performances, powerful vocals, and high-energy creative choreography.

“This show is an experience,” said Cindy Garren, director of cultural programs at SFSC. “It’s art, it’s a rock concert, and it’s a family fun happening. Lots of audience interaction, too. Each show is unique because of all the audience participation and the interaction with the performers.”

Formed in the 1980s, Artrageous is a theater arts community based outside of Albuquerque, N.M. From their roots of children’s theater and street performance, this group of like-minded and gifted, “misfit” performers has grown into an international phenomenon, revolutionizing live performance art and interactive entertainment. Their shows—comprised of a fresh mix of fine art, live music, singing, dancing, humor, and audience participation—are driven by their underlying message that arts are an integral and valuable part of human existence. The performance is sponsored by Advent Health, The Sebring Rundown, South Florida State College Foundation, and Norma Evans.

Notable past performances of Artrageous are the mainstage at Mardi Gras, World Cup Soccer Finals in Paris, Academy Awards after party in Hollywood, and a private performance for Sir Richard Branson. The production has toured in Mexico, Austria, France, Japan, Abu Dhabi, Tanzania, Canada, and the United States.

Tracy McCoy from Get Fish Slapped and The Sebring Rundown said, “Taking your family to one of these live performances is a fun day out. You don’t have to get dressed up, parking is free, and the shows are awesome. Why watch another movie when you get to experience something out of the ordinary?”

Child/student tickets are $10 and children under 3 sitting on a parent’s lap are free. Adult tickets are $26, $28, and $32. Tickets are available online at sfscARTS.org, by phone at 863-784-7178, and in person at the SFSC Box Office located at 600 West College Drive in Avon Park. Groups of 13 or more save 50% on admission. “Bring your church youth group, Girl Scout troop, or soccer team to see a show,” Garren said. “I guarantee everyone will have a marvelous experience.”

Upcoming Advent Health Trending Now performances include the awesome a cappella vocal group Blue Jupiter on Feb. 29 and the South Carolina Ballet’s production of Cinderella on March 7.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Jan. 24, 2020 – “Bandstand: The Musical” is scheduled for one performance at the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts at South Florida State College in Avon Park on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.

Set in 1945, “Bandstand: The Musical” tells the story of WWII veteran and musician Donny Novitski who is about to take on the mission of his life: leading his band of fellow veterans into competition for America’s next swing band sensation. When Donny meets a beautiful, young singer named Julia, he finds the perfect harmony in words and music that could take this band of brothers all the way to the live radio broadcast finale in New York City. But to succeed, it will require every ounce of talent, stamina and raw nerve that these musicians possess.

“This is an all-American musical filled with fabulous dance numbers, great music, and a celebration of the American spirit,” said Cindy Garren, director of cultural programs at SFSC. Sponsors of the performance are Kris and Mike Rider, Dr. Catherine P. Cornelius, and Marcia L. Ward.

Broadway World said, “It is a wonderful tribute to veterans, all the while bringing an entertaining piece of theatre. ‘Bandstand’ is a wonderfully moving show that is not soon forgotten.” The Daily Beast said, “It is perfect piece of theater for the Age of Trump, a hymn to small town, Midwestern values, patriotism, and faith.”

“Bandstand: The Musical” is on its first national tour after closing on Broadway in September 2017. The musical won a Tony for Best Choreography for Andy Blankenbuehler who also choreographed the hit musical “Hamilton.” “Bandstand” was also nominated for Best Orchestrations.

The tour began in Oklahoma and will travel to 75 cities across the country including Toledo, Ohio; Worcester, Mass.; Washington, D.C.; College Station, Texas; and Avon Park, Fla. 

Tickets start at $55 and groups of 13 can save 20%. Single tickets can be purchased online at sfscARTS.org, by phone at 863-784-7178, or at the SFSC Box Office located on the Highlands Campus of SFSC at 600 West College Avenue in Avon Park. 

Upcoming February performances at the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts are: Artrageous II on Feb.9; Splish Splash: Bobby Darin Tribute on Feb. 11; Jazz with Michigan artists Terry Lower and Edye Evans Hyde on Feb. 12; Florida Orchestra on Feb. 18; and comedian Bill Engvall on Feb. 21.

A complete schedule, more information and videos are online at sfscARTS.org.

O’Neil was one of six students statewide who received the scholarship, an award that covers non-tuition expenses such as housing, books, and transportation. His tuition will be covered by a separate TSIC scholarship. O’Neil was eligible for the scholarship because of his participation in the local TSIC program. The program matches students at-risk of not completing high school with mentors who guide them toward earning their high school diplomas and onto college with scholarships in hand.

The Leaders 4 Life Scholarship is an initiative of the Asofsky Family Foundation, which supports programs aimed at helping the state’s youth. The foundation awards the scholarship in partnership with TSIC. The SFSC Foundation is the lead agency for TSIC within the College’s service district of DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties.

“As Jacob read aloud to a room full of people that he was a 2020 Leaders 4 Life winner, his voice cracked, his eyes teared, and so did mine,” said Danielle Ochoa, student services coordinator for the local TSIC program. “Always gracious, he recognized his mentor’s weekly visits for the last five years and thanked the room for their support of the Take Stock in Children program. I could not be more proud of Jacob, his incredible work ethic, and awesome determination to chase his goals.”

Stellar Drift

AVON PARK, Fla. – Jan. 21, 2020 – The South Florida State College (SFSC) Museum of Florida Art and Culture (MOFAC) features the work of Margaret Schnebly Hodge, “Breaking Free: Dark Matter, Dark Energy,” in the museum on the SFSC Highlands Campus in Avon Park from Wednesday, Feb. 5 through Thursday, March 26. Patrons of the museum may meet the artist during the exhibition’s opening reception on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 1 p.m. in MOFAC.

The exhibition features Hodge’s large-scale paintings that depict the beauty and mutable energy of our universe, inspired by images from the Hubble and other advanced space telescopes.

According to Gary R. Libby, director emeritus of the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach, “Hodge seems to look up and deeply into the night sky as a source of inspiration, especially since the phenomenal discoveries and deep-space images from the Hubble and other more advanced space telescopes, which are looking into the worlds of dark matter and dark energy. The explorations redefine and help to explain our expanding and simultaneously collapsing universe. But Hodge is not merely illustrating these phenomena in a scientific way. Rather, she is re-mystifying our universe in a series of large, complex, and colorful paintings that suggest large ideas about our concepts of human visual perception and the workings of the outer universe.”

Blue Event Horizon

Hodge attended Daytona State College on a scholarship through the Daytona Beach Art League and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, School of Fine Arts. Later, Hodge studied at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., before winning a 2005 Florida Arts Council Enhancement Grant as well as several awards and commendations from organizations throughout Florida.

MOFAC is located in the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts at SFSC, 600 W. College Dr., Avon Park. The museum is open to the public on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 12:30 – 4:30 p.m., or by appointment for group tours. Patrons of the Wildstein Center may visit the museum one hour prior to each Artist, Trending Now, and Matinee series performance. For more information about MOFAC and its programs or to request a museum tour, contact Leighton Skipper by phone at 863-784-7240 or visit mofac.org.

Dr. Gary R. Mormino

AVON PARK, Fla. – Jan. 15, 2020 – Through a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant, Dr. Gary R. Mormino will present “Florida Dreams Amid the Storms: An Environmental History of Modern Florida” on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 4 p.m., in Building B, Room 204, on the South Florida State College (SFSC) Highlands Campus in Avon Park. The presentation is free and open to SFSC faculty, high school and college/university educators, and museum and archive professionals. Others who are interested in attending should email Dr. Charlotte Pressler, SFSC professor of English and humanities, at presslerc@southflorida.edu.

Dr. Mormino will present an environmental overview of Florida and plans to discuss the eco-system of the Lake Wales Ridge. The Lake Wales Ridge runs approximately 150 miles, from Highlands County in the south through Lake County in the north, and provides habitat for 21 federally listed plant species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

Dr. Mormino is the Frank E. Duckwall professor emeritus of Florida history at the University of South Florida (USF) St. Petersburg and the scholar in residence at the Florida Humanities Council. He is the recipient of the 2015 Florida Lifetime Achievement Award for Writing. Two decades ago, he began to research a social history of modern Florida. Published in 2005, his book, “Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams: A Social History of Modern Florida,” follows the rapid development and growth of Florida in the 20th century. Dr. Mormino has written several op-eds for the Tampa Bay Times that urge Floridians to help restore and preserve the state’s natural environment.

He received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina and began teaching at USF in 1977. In 2003, the Florida Humanities Council named him its first Humanist of the Year.

Dr. Maday Leon (right) with BSEE students

AVON PARK, Fla. — Jan. 14, 2020 — South Florida State College’s (SFSC) Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEE) was recently granted reaccreditation from the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). Continuing accreditation has been granted through 2024—for five years, the maximum number of years allowed.

The BSEE program was initially granted accreditation in 2014. In 2013, the need for teachers in elementary schools in Highlands, Hardee, and DeSoto counties became clear, as positions opened up through teacher retirements and the growth of school enrollments. After getting the final stamp of approval from the FLDOE to add the degree program, SFSC admitted its first class of 12 students in fall term 2014. In May 2020, SFSC will have graduated 52 teachers since the beginning of the program. To date, 98% of SFSC’s BSEE graduates have been employed as teachers within the College’s tri-county district.

“The accreditation, and in this case, our reaccreditation means that the program is complying with all the standards that the Florida Department of Education requires,” said Dr. Maday Leon, lead instructor for SFSC’s BSEE program.

Some of the standards addressed during the site visit that took place in April 2019 are that curriculum is research-based and that the program maintains a close relationship with the districts in which students complete their internships and, eventually, become employed.

“It’s important for prospective students to know that when they select a bachelor’s program in elementary education in Florida, they should make sure that the college is accredited with the FLDOE

For SFSC’s students, graduating from our program means that their degrees would be validated by the FLDOE,” Dr. Leon said. “At some institutions, when a student graduates and they apply for teacher licensing, they’re denied. They’re then required to take additional courses because the college or institution doesn’t offer necessary courses.

“In our case, SFSC’s students graduate with the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Reading endorsements. When they graduate, they don’t have to go back and take those courses. They can renew their teaching certificates every five years.

“Accreditation provides a framework that allows our teacher preparation program to continue self-assessment and improvement by applying rigorous standards in research practices,” Dr. Leon said. “This reaccreditation tells us that the program is going in the right direction to prepare the students to be high quality teachers which, ultimately, helps our community.”

To apply to the BSEE program, prospective students must have completed their associate degree or higher. The state also requires that applicants pass the General Knowledge Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination before they enroll in the program. For complete application requirements and more information about the program, visit the SFSC website at southflorida.edu or call Dr. Maday Leon at 863-784-7154.

AVON PARK, Fla.—Jan. 10, 2020—The South Florida State College (SFSC) Museum of Florida Art and Culture (MOFAC) is offering a Watercolor Workshop with artist Max Gooding. The workshop will be held Friday, Jan. 24, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., in Room A-16, on SFSC’s Highlands Campus in Avon Park. The cost of the workshop is $60.

Gooding will teach the importance of value in watercolor and how to “see” using the medium.

Gooding developed a love for watercolor over time. When asked about his relationship with the medium, Gooding has said, “I despised watercolor before understanding it and embracing it.” In fact, much of his artwork today is in watercolor.

Gooding is a landscape design professional, visual artist, and a business owner who is based in Southwest Florida. A Florida native, the time he spent in Highlands County, on his education in Gainesville, and on professional ventures in Naples, influenced more than his art—these locations uniquely shaped his life. Though he had a fond eye for the design of things early on in life, he had not truly tapped into a well of inspiration until his college years after visiting Europe. Far across the Atlantic, Gooding discovered that professional and creative lives could be reconciled with one another—that good aesthetics could make for good business. He took these lessons learned from Europe and returned to his home in Florida.

Gooding graduated from SFSC, and later attended the University of Florida to study landscape architecture. He graduated in 2013 summa cum laude with a minor in horticulture. He now owns and operates The Max Gooding Company, a landscape design and fine art business in Naples, Fla.

Participants of the Watercolor Workshop should bring their own watercolor paint, brushes, palette, and a few of their own images to paint. Watercolor papers and additional images will be provided.

Participants may bring their own lunch or purchase lunch on or off campus. Coffee and snacks will be provided.

For more information or to register for the Watercolor Workshop with Max Gooding, call Karla Respress, SFSC art professor, at 863-784-7195.

Golden Girls

AVON PARK, Fla. – Jan. 9, 2020 – The off-Broadway hit comedy, That Golden Girls Show! A Puppet Parody is scheduled for one performance on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 1:30 p.m. at the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on South Florida State College’s (SFSC) Highlands Campus in Avon Park. 

“Travel back to Miami circa 1985 and get ready to laugh with Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia,” said Cindy Garren, director of cultural programs at SFSC. “The girls scheme, fight, hunt for love, and hurl one-liners at each other.”

That Golden Girls Show!’ A Puppet Parody is a brand-new show that parodies classic Golden Girls moments – with puppets! Get set for an evening of cheesecake, laughter, jazzercise, shoulder pads, sex, and the elegant art of the quick-witted put down.

From Sophia’s get-rich-quick schemes, to Rose’s tales from St. Olaf, Blanche’s insatiable hunt for men and the Fountain of Youth, and Dorothy’s daily struggle to make sense of her life and keep her roommates in check. Devoted fans will fondly remember our four girls from Miami, and for the first-timers, this will be a joyful introduction to the brilliance of that television series. Expect adult themes and language.

Tickets are $17, $19, and $23. Groups of 13 receive a 20% discount. Tickets are available online at sfscARTS.org or by calling the SFSC Box Office at 863-784-7178. The box office is located at 600 West College Drive in Avon Park.

Sponsored by CenterState Bank, The Palms of Sebring, and Lampe & Kiefer Hearing Aid Center, the Matinee Series at the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts also includes these upcoming performances: Fabulous Equinox Orchestra on Jan. 28, Broadway Tonite on Feb. 4; Splish Splash: Bobby Darin Tribute on Feb. 11; The Florida Orchestra on Feb. 18; Central Park Revisited: James Taylor Tribute on Feb. 25; Tamburitzans on March 3; Changes in Latitude Jimmy Buffet tribute on March 10, and Phil Dirt and the Dozers rock and roll tribute on March 24.