The appearance, part of SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival concert series, is set for 7 p.m., March 22, at the park’s Bayside Stadium.

Stamos has played durms with the group sporadically since the early 1980s after he was cast on “General Hospital.” He appeared in the group’s video for the 1988 hit song “Kokomo.”  As an actor, he gained fame as Uncle Jesse on “Full House” and Dr. Tony Gates on “ER.”  Other notable TV appearances include “Glee,” “Muppets Haunted Mansion” and two episodes of “Palm Royale.”

Stamos has a reputation of being a Disney buff, reportedly buying the large Disneyland entrance sign on eBay in 2000 and installing the big D in his backyard. In a worlds-collide moment, the video for “Kokomo” was filmed at the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World.

Last week, longtime Beach Boys member Bruce Johnston, 81, said he planned to stop touring with the group, but he will make special appearances, including a Hollywood Bowl gig marking the 250th birthday of the USA.  The group’s tour schedule recently expanded as it marks the 40th anniversary of its famed album “Pet Sounds.”

The SeaWorld concert is included with regular park admission. A limited amount of reserved seating is available, including front-row spots. Prices vary with concert dates, but the range for reserved seating for the Beach Boys appearance is $99.99 to $199.99.

For tickets and more information, go to seaworld.com/orlando.

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Concerts are held on select nights throughout the festival, which ends May 17.  Other upcoming acts include Connor Price on March 14, the triple bill of Tiffany, Bow Wow Wow and Animotion on March 15 and All-4-One on March 21.  This year’s lineup also includes Boyz II Men, Trace Adkins, Uncle Kracker, Jesse McCartney, Elvis Crespo and more.

Other theme park concert series under way in Orlando include Garden Rocks, part of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (ending June 1) and Universal’s Mardi Gras concert, which concludes March 28. (The festival runs through April 4.)

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Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.

According to Pep Boys’ “Worst Roads in America” study, drivers in the Orlando area shell out for more road-related repairs than their counterparts in the 35 metro regions analyzed.

The study looked at service data from hundreds of Pep Boys tire and auto service centers across the U.S. and found Orlando shops had higher-than-average numbers of wheel alignments, suspension work and single-tire replacements.

Those components “are basically the first line of defense between the vehicle and the pavement,” said regional company spokesman Jean-Pierre Issa. “They absorb the impact when roads are uneven and deteriorating, which is why we see them most commonly.”

Local transportation officials were wary of the study, although they acknowledge that many local roads need work. It analyzes service data exclusively from Pep Boys, which has around 800 locations nationwide but only operates in 35 states. Florida is one of the company’s largest markets, with Central Florida alone having about 80 locations.

Mary Ann Horne, spokesperson for Metro Plan Orlando, the region’s transportation planning agency, said in an email that more data from various auto repair companies would be necessary before bestowing the region with the title of ‘worst in America.’

“It’s hard to see the direct connection between road condition and car repairs at one commercial outlet,” Horne said in an email. “Many factors can be at play for these ‘road-related repairs’ that the company cites.”

Orlando spokeswoman Andrea Otero said the city wasn’t part of the study and “cannot verify its findings.” But she added the city is making historic investments to improve streets with this year’s budget, allocating $7.5 million for roadway pavement rehabilitation, more funding than ever before.

On Summerlin Avenue, for example, the city and the Orlando Utilities Commission are “replacing aging infrastructure and fully rebuilding the roadway from the base up, including new asphalt or brick paving to provide a smoother, more consistent driving experience,” Otero said.

Pep Boys would not share specific numbers such as the total amount of repairs or how much was spent on them, due to what Issa said was the sensitive nature of the “exclusive first-party information collected through our service centers.” But he said service records from September 2024 to September 2025 show Orlando drivers visited Pep Boys more frequently for those specific repairs than drivers in its other 34 metros.

The unique combination of frequent rainfall, large construction zones like those on Interstate 4, heat, and heavy commuter and tourist traffic all contribute to Orlando’s poor road conditions, Issa said.

“Florida roads face a unique environmental pressure,” Issa said. “In particular, heat really softens the asphalt, and the heavy rains that we get seasonally accelerate the cracking in roads.”

Florida dominated the Pep Boys list, with Panama City, the Tampa Bay area, West Palm Beach and Tallahassee all in the top ten and Miami–Ft. Lauderdale and Pensacola in the top 21.

Central Florida drivers are absorbing the cost of road related car repairs that vary based on the size, age and model of the vehicle. The average price of a tire today is between $150 and upwards of $300. But if needed repairs are more extensive, such as a suspension replacement, it can cost anywhere between $400 to more than $1500, Issa said.

Orange County invested $100 million on transportation improvements in 2023, with about 19 county road projects currently in the design phase, according to the county’s online transportation dashboard.

“We are committed to working tirelessly with our limited budgeting to make roads as safe and functional as we can for our users,” said Darrell Moody, spokesperson for Orange County.

Roadway safety and maintenance are also top priorities for Seminole County, spokeswoman Andy Wontor said, citing 24 completed roadway and bridge projects and 56 miles of resurfaced roadways.

But, of course, adolescence is a wild ride. And that’s clear in “Our Dear Dead Drug Lord,” Alexis Scheer’s high-octane look at coming of age that won critical acclaim following its 2019 off-Broadway debut.

There’s a trick to watching this show play out, with one dramatic revelation after another: Don’t get bogged down in the details — how many tragically dead relatives, after-school-special topics and teen soap dilemmas arise. “Our Dear Dead Drug Lord” works best when thought of in broad brushstrokes. Scheer’s brilliance is how her four teenage female characters serve as a collective representation of the experience of young womanhood while still feeling like real people.

Of course, the fact that young women face all this pressure as they navigate their way to adulthood might be the scariest thing of all.

“Our Dear Dead Drug Lord” is set in a very specific time in American history: The runup to the election of President Barack Obama. Three high school students are welcoming a new member to their Dead Leaders Club — a group once sanctioned by their private school for in-depth study of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and the like, but then defunded when the girls began focusing on people such as Saddam Hussein.

The current object of the club’s attention is Pablo Escobar, who, as a politician, aided the poor of his native Colombia — and is still revered by some there — but also led a violent drug cartel responsible for much of the cocaine that flooded into the U.S. in the 1980s and ’90s.

The story opens with the young women trying to summon his spirit with a Ouija board, a ritual that involves animal slaughter, drug use and licking a bloody knife — setting the play’s no-holds-barred tone early. From there, it’s surprise after surprise, leading to a highly disturbing scene and an unexpected climax.

But while the twists and turns keep the audience wondering what comes next, to me, the beauty of the piece is in the young women themselves. The play is set in Miami — Bonnie Sprung’s treehouse set is imposing, eye-catching, practical and fun — and the characters reflect the diversity of South Florida: The girls are Black, Latina and Jewish.

And they all are seeking some kind of stability or comfort in a world that repeatedly frightens them.

Director Matthew MacDermid beautifully balances the ghostly and horrific elements, with an assist from Gabriel Garcia’s lighting, with the more mundane banter of reality. And his cast, three of them new to the Ensemble Company stage, hum with vitality.

“Potential is exhausting,” one says, but these young women are bursting with the potential for growth, for change, for power — if only the world would get out of their way.

MacDermid has a uniformly excellent cast who fully inhabit the potential of these juicy roles.

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Maddy Poston has the showiest part as Zoom, the youngest of the quartet, who still has a childlike belief in magic even as she engages in adult activity. Poston is a force in motion as she tries to shed childish ways and live up to her older classmates.

Sarah Bathelemy has a charismatic intensity, as the most political of the group, and a bracing way of speaking her mind. Loudise Ortiz-Hernandez is suitably enigmatic and emanates a cool sort of power as the mysterious newcomer who upends the group.

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Finally, Ana Gomez-Lugo gives Pipe, the president of the club, a steely determination fueled by pain. It’s all right there — in her face, her body language — that something traumatic and unhealed burns inside her.

These almost-women tease, they talk over each other in excitement, they giggle, they argue — they seem like a real cohort. And that makes the issues they face seem more real — and more frightening than the ghost of a dead drug lord.

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.

‘Our Dear Dead Drug Lord’

• Length: 75 minutes, no intermission

• Where: Imagine Performing Arts Center at Oviedo Mall, 1700 Oviedo Mall Blvd.

• When: Through March 15

• Cost: $18-$22

• Info: imagineperformingartscenter.org

Inside, coach Scott Frost can be found in his office talking with a variety of coaches and staff members.

Spring football camp is just around the corner and the Knights are finishing up their winter workouts.

It’s been 15 months since Frost returned to UCF and the vibe around the football program is a much different one than when he first arrived on Dec. 7, 2024. At the time, Frost was getting a crash course in the economics of modern college athletics.

It had been three years since he had last stepped on the sidelines as a head coach and even in that short period of time, so much had changed. Unlimited transfers, name, image and likeness (NIL) and revenue sharing were front and center.

From the moment he stepped on campus, Frost found himself trying to adjust on the fly.

Not only did he have to hire a new coaching staff, but he also had to rebuild a roster ravaged by the transfer portal. UCF would end up bringing in 71 newcomers, many of whom were forced to step into starting roles immediately.

“I didn’t know what to expect from the transfer portal,” Frost recently told the Orlando Sentinel. “The transfer portal was already open. I did my press conference to take the job and I had two players from the previous year’s team in my office asking me for money before I even knew who they were. We didn’t have a list of names. We hadn’t watched film yet. We were starting fresh.

“I was up in the office at 6 a.m. and falling asleep at 1 a.m. with my phone on my chest.”

There was also more than a fair share of challenges for Frost when he first arrived.

“There were a lot of habits around here that didn’t fit how we want to approach things,” Frost said. “Some of the guys, we were able to change and improve; others we weren’t. If they didn’t seem like somebody that was going to buy into what we wanted to do, then they’re probably not here anymore.”

UCF finished with a 5-7 record, missing out on bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season.

“We probably got what we deserved,” Frost said, looking back on last season. “We easily could have won another two or three games, but we easily could have lost a couple, too. Our team culture was very average and the standards just weren’t high enough for what we expect.

“That was just nobody’s fault. It’s just that when you have 71 new players, you’re taking over from somebody else and your kids are used to doing it a different way, it just takes a while. It was a good take-off point.”

The Knights also dealt with heartache after offensive line coach Shawn Clark passed away on Sept. 21, following a medical episode. Clark’s death shook the team, which had little time to mourn with a road contest against Kansas State on Sept. 27.

“That was a tough thing for us to deal with during the season,” Frost recalled. “More than anything, it just drained everybody’s energy. There was so much emotion that would wear you out that I just didn’t feel the same pep from everybody. The success of our football team pales in comparison and importance of his family and his life.

“I don’t think I really processed what happened until after the season was over, because you just don’t have time. We had to get back to work.”

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Following the conclusion of their season, UCF wasted no time in preparing for the 2025-26 season.

With the help of Trent Mossbrucker, the team’s general manager of player personnel, and the recruiting staff, the Knights jumped into action when the transfer portal window opened in December, signing starting quarterback Alonza Barrett III, who led James Madison to the College Football Playoff.

Eventually, the team would welcome 47 newcomers: 31 transfers and 16 high school recruits.

“We were way more prepared. Hopefully, that’s going to make us way more accurate in our evaluation of the players that we brought in,” said Frost.

“College football has changed so much and there’s a learning curve to it. It’s changing constantly. You’ve got to be smart and light on your feet in order to react to changes and figure out the strategy that’s most effective for us here. And I think a year of experience and seeing things and learning is going to help us a lot.”

Frost acknowledges he made it a point to sign more mature players with an emphasis on toughness.

“We made a conscious effort to get older and more experienced, and that helps us in a lot of areas,” he said.

UCF also added several new coaches to the staff, with AJ Blazak taking over as offensive line coach and Cooper Bassett assuming the tight ends coach role from offensive coordinator Steve Cooper. The Knights are still looking for a defensive backs coach after Will Johnson left to join the Minnesota Vikings’ coaching staff.

As UCF wraps up offseason conditioning, the team will get some time off before the start of spring camp. The players will have a week off for spring break (March 16-21), while the coaches are also looking for some R&R.

Frost plans to spend the time with his wife and kids.

“There’s probably only been a dozen days since I took the job and I haven’t been in the office, and it’s always good to recharge your batteries by doing something else,” he said.

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.

Rumored sales or leases to Immigration and Customs Enforcement have been abandoned in places such as Mississippi, Tennessee and New Hampshire in part due to local elected Republicans urging the Trump Administration to look elsewhere.

But so far in Orlando, there’s no similar movement against ICE’s plans to create a detention center in a warehouse park off of State Road 528. The site here is further from population centers than some of the proposals that have failed, and the opposition has been more muted.

The Orlando facility is among several dozen the Department of Homeland Security would like to purchase around the country to greatly increase federal detention space for President Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

The investment is part of about $45 billion allocated to the agency under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and could help achieve top ICE official Todd Lyons’ goal to make the agency into the “Amazon Prime for human beings.”

The warehouse would be a so-called “processing center” capable of holding about 1,500 detainees at a time, held for an average of one week.

While the reaction has been quieter compared to other states, U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost believes local opposition has been enough to keep the federal agency from moving forward for now.

“I think it’s still in a bit of limbo. We’ve made great efforts both on the official side and the advocacy side,” said Frost, D-Orlando. “As a result of that advocacy, it hasn’t gone anywhere as of yet.”

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and the Board of County Commissioners are expected to formalize their opposition this coming week in the form of a resolution. The statement argues a facility would burden the county’s “infrastructure, public resources and municipal services.” It also notes that such a facility could be harmful to the region’s reputation as an international tourism destination.

“The Orange County Board of County Commissioners hereby unequivocally and categorically opposes the conversion of any existing industrial warehouse(s) within Orange County for the establishment of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility or detention facility…” it reads.

ICE didn’t respond to questions about whether the Orlando location is still under consideration. Nor did the Georgia-based TPA Group, which owns the property, nor did HLI Partners, the Winter Park real estate company that was marketing the site.

Local officials have struggled to get intel about the plan from the property owner or from the feds. Several have unsuccessfully tried to contact TPA or HLI, which for a period last month played a Rick Astley song if its listed number was dialed.

City Commissioner Roger Chapin last month sent an email to Republican U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, as well as U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, urging them to ensure the federal government respects local regulations and processes.

“A facility of this nature, if it were to bypass local zoning laws, located within Orlando could raise important procedural questions under local zoning codes, land-use regulations, infrastructure capacity and public safety planning,” he wrote.

About two weeks later, Moody’s office sent only a brief reply, acknowledging the note.

In all, 10 warehouses across the U.S. have been purchased by the federal government for a collective $894 million, according to Project Salt Box.

But 12 sales have been canceled, with at least seven more, including in Orlando, still under consideration.

In many of the canceled sales, advocacy from coalitions of officials, including members of congress, governors and local leaders – both Republicans and Democrats – has been critical.

For instance, in Merrimack, N.H., town manager Paul Micali said ICE’s proposal to open a detention center there sparked an uproar in the residential community of about 30,000. He said when the town got word that ICE was considering it, they immediately contacted their state and federal representatives, as well as Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte, to oppose it.

“The first thing that worked is we got on it right away,” he said. “We got our state delegation, our federal delegation and our governor involved right away. This was a bipartisan effort by everybody.”

Ultimately, Ayotte met with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and on Feb. 24 announced that the facility wouldn’t move forward.

In Mississippi, Republican Sen. Roger Wicker wrote a letter to Noem opposing a potential warehouse conversion in Byhalia, Miss. because it would harm economic development and potentially overwhelm infrastructure. DHS ultimately decided not to pursue that site any further.

In Oklahoma City, Republican Mayor David Holt announced a property owner there wouldn’t sell to the feds after local opposition, and in Texas, a billionaire Trump donor also decided against selling his property to the Department of Homeland Security.

Amid the blowback, the Trump administration has worked behind the scenes throughout the country to bolster support for the facilities, the Washington Post reported. DHS has distributed talking points to some local Republicans in places like New Hampshire and Maryland, and also held closed-door meetings with members of congress from Pennsylvania and Mississippi. It’s unclear if such an effort has been made in Florida.

Orange County faces a different political reality than many of the places with bipartisan opposition. The local power structure at the city and county level is mostly Democratic, and unlikely to influence the Trump administration. Meanwhile, local and state Republicans have been either quiet or gung-ho on the warehouse idea.

Gov. Ron DeSantis hasn’t weighed in on the Orlando site, but he has fervently spearheaded the state’s own detention facility at Alligator Alcatraz in South Florida.

And Byron Donalds, the Republican frontrunner in the contest to succeed DeSantis, has enthusiastically supported the Orlando warehouse plan, while blasting governor’s race rivals Demings and Democrat David Jolly for their opposition.

“Jerry Demings & David Jolly are fighting to block this facility – we’re not going to let that happen,” Donalds, R-Naples, posted on X in January after appearing with about a dozen GOP activists at the warehouse.

The location itself is also much further away from residential areas than some of the other sites, located about 8 miles east of the Orlando International Airport in an isolated warehouse park. The large Sunbridge development is planned nearby, but there are no current residents anywhere near it to complain.

Opponents still have one major card to play. Frost and other Central Florida officials such as orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson have cited the potential impacts to the region’s all-important tourism economy such a facility could have.

Frost said local hotels heard from travelers earlier this year as rumors swirled that ICE had booked hundreds of hotel rooms for a potential enforcement operation here.

“It’s going to be a thing that all tourists hear about when they come to Central Florida,” he said. “People have to throw everything they can at this to try to oppose this.”

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.

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.

Orlando’s Jasmine Forsberg rules the stage in hit musical ‘Six’

“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.

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.

‘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.

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.

Refreshed venue, new JCC program aim for more arts in southwest Orlando

“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.

New York City (2-1-0) moved into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference with the win. Orlando (0-0-3) played most of the game with 10 men after goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was sent off in the 16th minute with a red card.

NYCFC opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Agustin Ojeda finished from the center of the box on a pass from Maxi Moralez. Nicolas Fernández doubled the lead in the 42nd minute, scoring a header on Moralez’s cross. Moralez added a penalty in first-half stoppage time to give New York City a 3-0 advantage at the break.

Parks extended the lead early in the second half, finishing from close range in the 49th minute off a feed from Tayvon Gray. He added his second goal five minutes later with a left-footed shot from the center of the box to make it 5-0.

New York City dominated the pitch, holding 68% possession and outshooting Orlando 13-4.

The victory continued NYCFC’s strong run in the series. New York City is unbeaten in its last seven meetings with Orlando dating to 2022.

Orlando next faces Montreal on Saturday.

City voters will also decide Tuesday whether they want to strip the position of mayor of much of its power, potentially diminishing the winner in the race.

Nelson, who is seeking a third term as mayor, is running against Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore and Apopka Commissioner Nick Nesta. Nelson filed a lawsuit against Moore in January claiming she hadn’t lived in Apopka long enough to qualify for the race, an allegation Moore denies.

Beyond the controversy, the candidates in the officially nonpartisan race — all registered Republicans — cited their respective backgrounds as reasons they should lead the city of about 63,000 in northwestern Orange County.

Moore, 64, was elected to the county School Board three times, starting in 2008. She was then elected to the District 2 seat on the county commission in 2018 and 2022 and is term-limited this year.

She says her ability to work with others is what makes her the best candidate.

“I have a successful record of getting a lot of things done and working well with the citizens,” she said. “If you have watched any of these city council meetings, they they border on dysfunction, and I believe that dysfunction comes from the mayor and Commissioner Nesta.”

Moore said her accomplishments include supporting the conversion of septic tanks to sewers in unincorporated Orange County; putting $6 million into resurfacing park trails; and roadway improvements such as adding street lighting, including on Apopka Avenue.

If elected, she will focus on infrastructure, quality of life issues and slowing city growth. She also said she wants to connect the city’s parks with its natural lands and find ways to cut costs during what she called “tight” budget years, especially with the possibility that the Florida Legislature may reduce property taxes.

Nelson, 67, represented the Apopka area in the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 until 2014. He was elected that year to the the county commission, preceding Moore in District 2, before being elected mayor in 2018 and 2022.

He cited his experience as an executive running a large city staff, which his opponents lack. His biggest accomplishment has been improving the city’s finances, he said, which will allow Apopka to bear the brunt of the financial impact if the Legislature reduces property taxes.

“We were bleeding reserves. … By the end of 2018 we would have been down to below $4 million in in reserves, and we’re now at $40 [million],” he said. “We’ll be in a good position to be able to weather a couple of years of reduced income from property tax without affecting any of our services.”

If reelected, his priority is to complete several ongoing or planned projects, including improvements to Ocoee-Apopka Road; building six new soccer fields, five new tennis courts and 10 new pickleball courts; and solving flooding at lakes in the city’s southeast and using the water for home lawn irrigation.

Nick Nesta, 35, a realtor and owner of Nesta Real Estate Consultants, was elected to the city commission in a special election in 2022 and was reelected last year. Because of Florida’s resign-to-run law, he will leave the commission effective April 28, the date the next mayor will be sworn in.

He argues what sets him apart from his opponents is that he is not a career politician and will be the change he believes the city needs.

“I’m all about the residents, and I’ve proven that time and time again that I want their voices to be echoed,” he said. “We need fresh ideas. The tired way of doing things is just not working anymore and you can see that tangibly in the quality of life that we have, [in] our utility bills, our infrastructure.”

Nesta said his accomplishments include creating a new investment policy that saved the city millions of dollars over the last few years and introducing a real estate policy that would ensure city-owned land would be sold at the highest offer.

His priority issues include lowering utility costs, making improvements to infrastructure, reducing traffic on roads and improving the city’s water quality.

The issues in the race, however, have largely been overshadowed by the battle between Nelson and Moore.

City rules say candidates must live in Apopka for at least a year before election day. Nelson alleged Moore hadn’t really lived in a rented room inside the city limits for that time as she claims.

As proof, he offered photos he took himself showing Moore’s car parked between 6 and 7 a.m. at the house outside the city limits where she lived for decades over a span of 70 days after the legal deadline.

Moore has moved to dismiss the suit. A court hearing is scheduled Monday to discuss the motion, though even if Circuit Judge Brian Sandor denies it the case still likely won’t be resolved prior to the election.

“If she qualifies, she qualifies. I don’t mind running against her,” Nelson said March 2. “If you’ve got rules, you got to live by the rules and she hasn’t…we’re still running the campaign like she’s in the race.”

Moore previously said that on March 9 of last year — one day before the legal deadline — she began renting a room at a new home in Apopka, although she would not provide a copy of the lease, citing the lawsuit. She said the home is owned by a friend, Sammy Lee Ruth, who is running for city council.

She said she then bought a house in July about a half mile from city hall.

She said Tuesday she is confident the lawsuit will be dismissed.

“Of course I lived in the room … That was my legal residence as I was waiting to close on the house,” she said. Her car was in the driveway, she said, because “I had to go back and pack, I still had all my stuff over there. You can’t even tell if those pictures were electronically manipulated.”

As of the end of 2025, Moore had raised $63,266 and spent $27,383; Nelson had raised $50,924 and spent $15,426; and Nesta had raised $9,379 and spent $8,804, according to campaign finance reports.

Another important issue on Tuesday’s ballot is Question 1, an amendment which will allow voters to decide the power of the mayor’s office going forward. The mayor’s post, now a full-time job paying $133,350 annually, would become largely ceremonial and pay $17,400, the same as other city council members.

Under the current structure, the mayor has significant control over the city’s daily operations. But the amendment would hand that authority to a city manager who would take direction from council and mayor but directly oversee employees and day-to-day operations. The mayor would still run council meetings.

The amendment allows 120 days after passage for transitioning.

Nelson and Moore said they support retaining the “strong mayor” form of government, while Nesta wouldn’t reveal his stance but said he’ll back whatever voters decide. The candidates all said they’ll serve if elected no matter the outcome of Question 1.

A: Most of what are called cardboard palms look pretty sad at this time. Actually, these are not palms at all, but cycads best-called cardboard plants. The name comes from the feeling of the fronds that are like cardboard. Take a look at the base of the plants or within the canopy of brown fronds. Most likely there are green ones, too, indicating there is plenty of life in these plants. Now would be a good time to prune out the dead fronds so spring growth can renew your plants. Keep them moist and apply a spring feeding to encourage bud growth from the base to produce new fronds.

Q: We have a tall mango tree with all brown leaves. Will it recover from the freeze?

A: There is a lot of hope your tree can recover, but most mangos that froze for several hours are severely damaged. It’s doubtful they are alive above the graft where the new variety was added. Scrape the bark down the limbs and trunk. If you find green, then the tree can survive and produce new shoots. If there is life, but below the graft, the tree is not going to regrow the desired variety. In this case a new tree would be needed.

Q: Our cannas have died back for the winter. Can we dig the bulbs and transplant them at this time?

A: Extremely cold weather encouraged the continued decline of cannas for winter. It’s normal for cannas to turn brown and die back to the ground during the colder months. But don’t worry, the rhizomes, or root portions, below ground are usually insulated by soil and can grow back during warm spring weather. Feel free to dig the rhizomes anytime now and separate them into individual portions. They can be stored for a few weeks or immediately planted in prepared garden sites or containers. Keep moist after planting and apply a slow-release fertilizer when new growth is noted.

Q: I purchased a small lime and lemon tree. When can I transplant them into 20-gallon containers and what should I use for soil?

A: Wait no longer to give these citrus trees a new container. The weather is warm and the risk of a damaging freeze is minimal. Use a quality potting soil mixture. Most contain peat moss, bark and perlite. It should flow easily through your fingers indicating it has good aeration and won’t compact. Add the trees to their new containers but leave about 2 inches of free space at the top to catch and direct water down through the root systems. After a few weeks, add a slow-release fertilizer to the surface of the soil following instructions for container culture. Then make repeat feedings according to labels throughout the growing seasons.

Plant Doctor: Blessing of recent winter freeze is fewer peach tree pests

Q: My red maple tree is opening its buds and starting growth. Is it too late to perform needed pruning?

A: Now might be the best time to give your maple tree a trimming. Even though it has begun shoot and leaf growth, it’s not so far along that the tree’s time and energy is wasted. Do the trimming as soon as possible. It’s always best to perform needed pruning just prior to new plant growth. Be safe by hiring a professional to do work in the upper portions of the tree.

Q: Can we grow edible ginger in Central Florida? How do we get started and what care is needed?

A: Get ready to grow the ginger you need starting this spring as the weather warms. Edible ginger grows vigorously from fresh root pieces known as rhizomes, obtained from grocery or specialty food stores. Plant in containers or garden soils enriched with compost or others forms of organic matter. Space the ginger portions about 12 inches apart or one or two pieces to a large container. Keep moist and fertilize monthly with a vegetable garden product. Ginger grows best in filtered sun to light shade. Plants grow to about 4 feet tall with narrow leaves, and infrequent but exotic flowers, almost like small, greenish-yellow orchids. The stalks of ginger plants die during winter in cooler locations. Thick tubers can be removed as needed with major harvests made during late summer or fall.

Q: My lawn is starting to recover from the cold, but I see lots of weeds among the green. When can I put a weed-and-feed on my St. Augustine?

March in the Garden for Central Florida

A: When the grass is growing, so are the weeds. There is no better time than now to make the combined herbicide and fertilizer application. Do make sure your weeds are listed on the product’s label and apply it as instructed for your lawn type. Weed-and-feed products do a good job of controlling many broadleaf weeds but leave most grassy- and sedge-type weeds unaffected. So don’t expect complete control of your lawn weed problems. If weeds persist after the treatments have them identified at your local University of Florida Extension Center and ask for the recommended controls that can eliminate them from your lawn.

Tom MacCubbin is an urban horticulturist emeritus with the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Write him: Orlando Sentinel, P.O. Box 2833, Orlando, FL. 32802. Email: TomMac1996@aol.com. 

I would disagree, though. In reality, it’s more a rebuttal to Shakespeare’s Danish tragedy. A clever, funny, thoughtful and ultimately uplifting rebuttal. One in which the main and most insightful point is made by a stoned barbecue guest who’s describing a hallucination involving a gingerbread man and, well, sexual pleasure. Oh yes, there’s raunchy material, an emphasis on sexuality and gender identity, and an interesting look at a generational divide. And a ghost.

Onstage in a vivid Orlando Shakes production, “Fat Ham” is set at a barbecue-slash-wedding-reception in the backyard of a Southern Black family. College-age son Juicy is conflicted because his father has just died and his mother has already remarried — to his father’s brother. Then, dad’s ghost pops up to announce that his brother had him killed.

This, of course, mirrors the setup of “Hamlet.” And it has to be said that Juicy follows the same indecisive and meandering inner struggle of the Danish prince. But the mist blowing through a Danish castle has become the smoke from a barbecue, and Ijames has his own sort of poetry in his writing: The cadence of casual family talk.

Director Roberta Emerson and her actors get that cadence just right, and Emerson thoughtfully lets the jokes land while keeping her characters grounded in reality.

Most of the actors I have seen — and acclaimed — in other productions. But here they delightfully surprise all over again with characterizations far removed from previous roles. Essex O’Brien exudes masculine toxicity as Juicy’s uncle, while Patrece Bloomfield handles the complexity of Juicy’s mother with grace: She’s loving but selfish, astute but blinded by her own needs. It’s a fascinating portrayal.

Jade L. Jones plays a seemingly prim, churchgoing family friend with enough warmth that the late revelation of a secret feels real — and becomes even funnier. She’s aided by a stunning purple dress and hat; Jos. N. Banks’ costume design perfectly telegraphs each character — from Bloomfield’s just-a-bit tacky couture to Juicy’s distinctive dress style.

Banks also performs, as family friend Larry, a Marine who is struggling with his own desires. It’s a sincere performance in the most nebulous character. As Larry’s sister, Opal, Nyeshia Naomii lands rib-tickling one-liners and devastating truth bombs with equal aplomb.

Lee Kelly, as the substance-addled guest, brilliantly delivers a scene-stealing, show-stopping comic monologue.

As for Juicy, he’s played by Je’Shaun Jackson, who I happened to catch onstage in New York City giving a warm and heartfelt performance in a supporting role in a new musical based on the “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” movie.

Jackson uses that same warmth and commitment to character here, to excellent effect — especially when directly addressing the audience in Shakespearean monologues. Did I occasionally wish Juicy showed more fire under the indecision? Yes, but I’ve thought that about many a Hamlet, as well.

In musical double bill, singer has 2 roles and 1 big problem

Technically, Stephen Jones’ lighting crisply distinguishes between reality, ghostly apparitions and out-of-time monologues, while Britt Sandusky’s sound also delineates those factors — and throws in a memorable karaoke performance of Radiohead’s “Creep.”

Yes, one thing you will learn is that backyard parties have a lot in common, no matter the race of the hosts. Plenty of food, awkward grace, embarrassing karaoke, even more embarrassing games and at least one person is going to end up far from sober.

In one intriguing scene, the characters split into teams for a game of charades — the reimagining of the play within a play in “Hamlet” — along generational lines. The older characters are all content to maintain the status quo and live for appearances, while the younger characters value truthful feelings, authenticity, and personal discovery and happiness. It’s a blazing reflection of our times.

Also delightful are the play’s other nods to “Hamlet.” Juicy’s monologues sometimes come directly from the play in seriousness, sometimes in silliness. But where Shakespeare’s characters marched inexorably toward their doom, because that’s how things played out then, Juicy is determined to flip the script.

Orlando hosts new puppy-centric musical that helps children cope with grief

Truth be told, choosing to break a cycle of violence and trauma through honesty, authenticity and the pursuit of happiness doesn’t provide an ending as stunning as in Shakespeare’s work; in fact, the level of acceptance and understanding on display by the finale moves “Fat Ham” into the realm of fantasy and makes the ending the least dramatically satisfying part of Ijames’ play. But it’s a marvelous trip to get there, with a message that hangs in the air as deliciously as the scent of backyard barbecue.

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.

‘Fat Ham’

• Length: 1:45, no intermission

• Where: Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 E. Rollins St. in Orlando

• When: Through March 29

• Cost: $38 and up

• Info: orlandoshakes.org