Local Arts and Culture Blog, CultureOwl, www.cultureowl.com

Fantasy Theatre Factory to reopen to the public

Performing Arts

Published 7/2/20

“We are very excited to re-open to the public after three months of producing only virtual programming,” said FTF CEO/Executive Artistic Director Larry Fields. “We are among the first of South Florida’s theaters to re-open, and we cannot wait to welcome back our loyal patrons as well as welcome new ones.” He added that the health and safety of FTF’s guests, artists and patrons remain his number one concern. “We submitted a reopening plan to Miami-Dade County, and we’re thrilled that it was approved with compliments from staff on its completeness.”On July 10, FTF will present “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” as part of its summer Film@SRT series. The series will continue every Friday evening during the month of July, except for July 31 (the evening of the theater’s Summer Camp showcase). Although firm dates for “ONE@SRT” have yet to be determined, the series is expected to launch in August. It will showcase select solo performances in theater, dance …

TOGETHER APART: ONE@SRT

Performing Arts

Published 6/8/20

“For the past three months, we have been working hard at Sandrell Rivers Theater, where FTF is the managing company, to create a safe environment so our audiences can once again enjoy live, theater performances,” said FTF CEO/Executive Artistic Director Larry Fields. “Once the county, state and federal governments give the green light for performing arts facilities to open, we will be ready to safely and legally present shows.”“By starting with solo performances, our objective is to protect the health and safety of the performers, since they will be the only one on the stage,” continued Fields. FTF will also reduce the number of seats in the audience to adhere to social-distancing guidelines; it has installed hand sanitizers around the facility, and it will be implementing other measures so guests, too, will feel more safe and comfortable during a performance. “Like many other businesses and industries around the country, the performing arts have suffered greatly …

THE 2020 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS IN THE ARTS

Performing Arts

Published 5/26/20

The U.S. Presidential Scholars award—one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students who exemplify academic excellence, leadership qualities and community service—is presented on behalf of the President of the United States and honors up to 161 graduating high school seniors of high potential each year.Sarah Arison, Chair of National YoungArts Foundation, said, “Now, more than ever, it is important that we as a country celebrate the hope and promise of the next generation of great architects and designers, writers and poets, and visual and performing artists. YoungArts is honored to continue to support and nominate the nation’s most talented artists for the Presidential Scholars program. We congratulate all of the winners and look forward to continuing to offer our support throughout their artistic journeys.”“It is my privilege to congratulate the Presidential Scholars Class of 2020 on their outstanding academic achievement, community service, and …

MIAMI’S JUGGERKNOT AND NY’S POPUP THEATRICS CRAFT DRAMA FOR A VIRTUAL WORLD

Performing Arts

Published 5/20/20

The new joint production from Miami’s Juggerknot Theatre Co. and New York’s PopUP Theatrics – available at longdistanceaffair.info from May 23-30 – just happens to be a trailblazing example of a form that theater may utilize more frequently in the future.“The world is going in that direction,” says Juggerknot founder and artistic director Tanya Bravo. “Right now, we can’t [easily] fly or go anywhere, but we can connect in this way.”“Making theater this way won’t be instead of [traditional theater],” adds director Tamilla Woodard, who founded PopUP Theatrics with fellow director Ana Margineanu. “It’s a new vocabulary. It’s in addition to other forms. It lets people who are homebound enjoy live performance.”This is the seventh iteration of “Long Distance Affair” since the project debuted in New York in 2011. But it’s the first in partnership with Juggerknot, and the first one audiences will access from their homes.“Long Distance Affair” is made …

SOUTH FLORIDA THEATER-LOVERS HAVE LOTS TO ENJOY ONLINE

Performing Arts

Published 5/20/20

Here’s a look at what’s on the horizon:Florida Shakespeare Theater is keeping fans of the Bard happy with its “Go Big or Go Home” series of free livestreamed readings directed by artistic director Colleen Stovall. “Macbeth,” featuring Seth Trucks in the title role and Sara Grant as the calculating Lady Macbeth, is set for 8 p.m. May 23. “The Merchant of Venice” will be read at 8 p.m. June 6; “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at 2 p.m. June 20; “The Tempest” at 8 p.m. July 11; and “Hamlet” at 2 p.m. July 25. Watch on the company’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/floridashakes.Miami’s Zoetic Stage is heading toward the championship game of its popular online quiz show, “The Spectacular Fabulous BYOB South Florida Theater Game Night,” hosted by artistic director Stuart Meltzer, with assists from scorekeeper Amy Rauchwerger, managing director Michael McKeever and musical clue-giver Jeni Hacker. Champs from the preliminary rounds – Clay Cartland, Mary Damiano, …

South Florida Theatre League Relief Fund has raised over $12,000!

Performing Arts

Published 5/20/20

In under two months, the League has raised over $12,000 and is currently in the process of distributing the first $10,000 to artists and contractors laid off from productions scheduled to happen in March and April of 2020. In the first round of funding, the South Florida Theatre League collaborated with ten theatre companies to distribute $10,000 into small stipends to the workers they had to lay off. While no stipend can replace a steady income, the funds help artists buy groceries, pay bills, and make it to the next month.“One recipient told me that it was the first income she’s had had since March,” said Andie Arthur, executive director of the South Florida Theatre League.The Relief Fund helps theatre companies pay independent contractors. Most small business assistance programs focus exclusively on employees, but in the performing arts, many of our workers are independent contractors who have fallen through the cracks.Most of the funds raised are from small donations, ranging …

VIRTUAL SHORTS

Performing Arts

Published 5/20/20

City Theatre postponed the 25th Anniversary Season of its popular annual SUMMER SHORTS FESTIVAL scheduled to perform June 4-July 3, 2020 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. It’s now scheduled for June 3-July 3 2021.However, always nimble and eager for innovative opportunities, City Theatre has welcomed its inclusion as an arts partner of the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Arsht@Home programming where it’s begun experimenting with the creation of digital content. Plays from City Theatre’s SHORT CUTS school tour and more original offerings are currently on rotation on that site.Expanding on this, City Theatre Artistic Director Margaret M. Ledford said, In 24 seasons of producing hundreds of short plays and now musicals on stages throughout South Florida, City Theatre is excited to explore creative alternatives for ways to present aspects of our work, alongside some of the artists and theatre makers we have collaborated with who help make SUMMER SHORTS so much fun”. …

Miami City Ballet Dance Lover Kit

Performing Arts

Published 4/24/20

MOVE WITH MCBMiami City Ballet invites you to join their livestream dance classes via @miamicityballet Instagram. These classes are a fun way to get your body moving, and cater for beginners to experienced dancers. Everybody is welcome!Ballet Basics with Jennifer Lauren, MCB PrincipalSaturdays at 10am, perfect for the whole familyBallet Stretch and Strengthen with Lauren Fadeley, MCB Principal SoloistMondays at 8:30am, a gentle mindful way to start the weekBallet Basics (In Spanish) with Katia Carranza, MCB PrincipalTuesdays at 11am, perfect for the whole familyIntermediate Ballet with Rainer Krenstetter, MCB PrincipalThursdays at 6pm, a challenge for more advanced dancersCOLORING ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AND ADULTSIf Hippolyta, the Firebird and Don Quixote were in self isolation, what would they do? They’d probably want to do some coloring. Miami City Ballet is offering coloring activity sheets, featuring some of your favorite characters from MCB ballets, are a fun activity for kids at …

Koubek Center presents new series ¡EN CASA!

Performing Arts

Published 4/24/20

Storytime, circus acts, private concerts, Afro-Cuban dance lessons, and lecture readings come to life online! Miami Dade College's Koubek Center is commited to the community it serves so the Center is continuously exploring new opportunities to provide fun, quality programming, straight into homes across Miami-Dade County. People of all ages can stay connected more than ever before thanks to these social media events taking place through June 2020.Whether you are working from home or on the frontlines, it’s important to make time for uplifting memories with the community and loved ones. With these events, families and individuals can learn and explore the history behind Afro-Cuban dancing, have a Storybook Picnic at home, attend a dramatic reading, or enjoy a mini-concert, all from the safety of your home. Let’s share the challenge, and let’s make the best of it together-- with the arts, and a neighbor from afar. Take a look at the incredibly fun, engaging events coming up …

Broward Center: From Our House to Yours.

Performing Arts

Published 4/20/20

CLASSES TO GO: Sing, Dance, Act, LearnBroward center invites you to join us for our new CLASSES TO GO featuring some of the amazing teaching artists who work with us all year-round. Broward Center's virtual classes range from drama to dance to improv and more and are great for families to enjoy together. See more here.MOVE WITH MIAMI CITY BALLETThe Miami City Ballet has earned a reputation not only for outstanding performances but engaging the community through dance. Now you can join enjoy their livestream dance classes at @miamicityballet Instagram, a great way to stretch your body and relax your mind with classes that cater to all levels. There are Ballet Basics, Intermediate Classes, and a Mindful Stretch class, all taught by the company’s principal dancers. Check out the full schedule and get ready to move. They’ve also curated a podcast series and created coloring activities for kids and adults, all perfect for dance lovers.COME SIT WITH US or TAKE A FRONT ROW SEATBroward …

Online Monologue Festival Part 2

Performing Arts

Published 4/20/20

Theatre Lab presents its second Online Original Monologue Festival from Monday, April 13 through Thursday, April 16. Theatre Lab is inviting the general public to again participate in online creative writing workshops and submit original pieces based on the theme for this next edition: “Heroes.” While looking for original stories and monologues to be performed, Theatre Lab is also adding a new component for this edition: two-person, three-page plays. Theatre Lab’s “Parts of A Story” and “Elements of A Monologue” workshop from the inaugural monologue festival remain on their Facebook page and can be watched at any time. Theatre Lab will also provide a brief “Scene Writing” workshop live on Facebook on Thursday, April 16 at 12:30 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. Anyone interested in the process can tune in live and learn some tips for how to create compelling scenes and dialogue, which they can use to try their hand at a two-person, three-page …

Coalition of Arts Funders Launches Emergency Artist Relief Fund

Performing Arts

Published 4/10/20

Young Arts is working on two different programs to provide emergency support for working artists – Artist Relief and YoungArts Alumni Emergency Microgrants. Artist Relief, is an emergency, non-restricted $5,000 grant for individual professional artists to alleviate the financial hardships created by the current COVID-19 pandemic. With seed funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation of $5 million, which matched $5 million provided by foundations nationwide, the fund launches today with $10 million in initial funding. Academy of American Poets, Artadia, Creative Capital, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, MAP Fund, United States Artists, and National YoungArts Foundation helped launch Artist Relief.In addition to Artist Relief, YoungArts is launching an YoungArts Emergency Microgrant program to support YoungArts alumni who are experiencing loss of income due to the cancellation of scheduled professional engagements or unexpected expenses related to COVID-19 precautionary measures. …

MIAMI FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS

Performing Arts

Published 4/10/20

After working with the different jury members remotely, MFF were able to announce the Winners for all of the Competitions! Despite the craziness, they were able still honor filmmakers for their creativity, hard work, and dedication to the arts.When Liberty Burns, an incisive look at Miami’s infamous 1980 race riots in Liberty City stemming from the fatal police beating of Arthur McDuffie, directed by Dudley Alexis, has won the $30,000 Knight Made in MIA Feature Film Award, the most anticipated prize of the 37th edition of Miami Dade College’s acclaimed Miami Film Festival. The Festival opened March 6 and closed prematurely on March 12, and after the Festival’s gala awards ceremony originally scheduled for March 14 was cancelled due to public health concerns, Festival awards are presented virtually today.Supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Knight Made in MIA Award is for feature-length films of any genre that are shot and set in south Florida, made by …

Arts Garage announces new virtual arts series, From Our HeARTS to Your Homes

Performing Arts

Published 4/10/20

"From Our HeARTS to Your Homes" will include live musical performances, arts education classes, poetry and comedy, featuring some amazing young performers, such as Matt Brown, Brandii Edwards, Indigo Dreams, and Valerie White. Viewers will also have access to exclusive interviews, blogs, and more.“This new series is our response to safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused many businesses and arts institutions to temporarily close their doors, including Arts Garage,” says Waldo. “But we refuse to let this virus stop the music and art, which can be truly transformative, giving us joy and hope and helping to heal all that is broken. If ever there has been a time for healing, it’s right now.“Best of all—this series is FREE. No ticket purchase is necessary to enjoy it,” she adds. “Every artist has donated their time and talent working with Arts Garage to keep our patrons close and energized by the magic of the ARTs. This is our way to serve the …

O, Miami!

Performing Arts

Published 4/10/20

If you haven't heard about O, Miami, it's a nonprofit annual poetry festival. Their mission is for everyone to encounter poetry during the month of April.This is 2020's line-up:DIY Mobile Workshop with Dale ZineSaturday, April 11, 202011:00 AM 12:00 PMO, Miami invites you to make their own mobiles to brighten up their homes.Now That We're Friends Live!Saturday, April 11, 20203:05 PM 4:35 PMJoin Caroline, Anne, and Gale for an online episode of Now That We’re Friends.Hanif Abdurraqib + Adrian MatejkaSunday, April 12, 20203:05 PM 4:05 PMAn online reading with two Midwestern poetry legends.Franny Choi + William EvansMonday, April 13, 20208:00 PM 9:00 PMAn online reading with Franny Choi and William Evans.Children's Poetry Workshop with Gabrielle AlexisTuesday, April 14, 202011:00 AM 12:00 PMA workshop for kids.Surrealism Workshop for High School StudentsWednesday, April 15, 202011:00 AM 12:00 PMCome write poetry with Curtis Perdue.Juan Cárdenas + Lizzie DavisWednesday, April 15, …

The South Florida Theatre League Relief Fund

Performing Arts

Published 4/7/20

The purpose of the fund is to help theatre companies provide compensation to artists and other employees that have been laid off because shows and events were cancelled. “Many local artists as well as those who work behind the scenes in box offices, technician booths, and scene and costume shops have lost their main source of income as this pandemic has closed all theatres across our region,” said Andie Arthur, executive director of the South Florida Theatre League.The League is seeding the fund with money that was originally budgeted for their annual Soiree - a major networking event that normally happens right at the end of the annual Carbonell Awards. The application process will be for theatre companies only with the intent for them to pay laid off artists and other employees during this epidemic. The board of the League and executive director Andie Arthur are currently putting it together and will release it once there is a sizeable fund to allocate for this purpose.When …

Engage virtually with New City Players

Performing Arts

Published 4/7/20

Every night | 9pm On Instagram LiveUntil we all get through this pandemic and theaters have safely opened their doors, NCP is talking to a different theatre artist, singing songs, playing games, and getting wacky. This past week they sang duets, had a puppet show, played Pictionary, argued about Star Wars, and learned a new home workout. Join them every night!Friday, April 10th | 7pmJoin NCP during Autism Awareness month as we “shine a light on autism” and hear true stories from those impacted by autism spectrum disorder. Mark your calendar and plan to watch on Facebook Live or Zoom.Monday, April 13th | 7pmThis gathering of artists was a huge success last Monday, so NCP taking it to every other week. If you want to write a 1 to 10 minute play the prompt is, "Well that was embarrassing...". They will gather on Zoom, read the plays, and connect as artists. You are also free to just watch if you'd like! For more info and to register, click here.Donate to Artists in NeedThe South …

MIAMI NEW DRAMA'S MASTERMIND MASTER CLASS SERIES

Performing Arts

Published 4/6/20

MasterMiND Class - WRITING (RSVP here)MONDAY, APRIL 6 3:00-5:00pmThe Political is Personal / The Specific is Universal: writing big events from a personal and specific place. Join Winter Miller for an in depth discussion about writing about seemingly big events--politics, war, disaster, and making them sing with your personal stamp. Why are YOU the one writing and telling this story--getting clear on that will allow you to proceed. Winter Miller is a founding member of the Obie-winning collective 13Playwrights. She is a proud affiliate of New Georges and The Lark, and is the NYC Dramatists Guild Rep. A graduate of Smith College with Latin honors, Winter holds a Masters in Playwriting from Columbia University. Winter has written more than 70 articles for The New York Times, plus New York Magazine, The Boston Globe, The International Herald Tribune, Variety, Huffington Post, The Village Voice, and Ms. Magazine.MasterMiND Class - WRITING (RSVP here)WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8 …

Online Original Monologue Festival

Performing Arts

Published 4/6/20

In an effort to help local theatre artists affected by the COVID-19 crisis, the Theatre Lab launched the Online Original Monologue Festival March 29th.The festival featured original monologues and stories, written by community members and performed by South Florida actors and artists, all to support local artists.“The idea is to engage the community through acts of art in an effort to support South Florida’s performing artists who need help right now,” said Matt Stabile, Theatre Lab producing artistic director.Experience hope with South Florida’s actors and artists here. To support the South Florida Theatre League's Benefit Fund, visit: www.southfloridatheatre.org.

FLIFF Members Can See Free Movies

Performing Arts

Published 3/24/20

If you wish to renew or upgrade your membership or join up as a new member, you will get your password for the free movies and your membership will not expire until one year following our grand reopening which will be after the danger has passed. FLIFF will be celebrating their 35th Anniversary this year!Check www.fliff.com regularly for up to date information and membership benefits. To speed up your viewing pleasure if you are renewing, upgrading, or joining or any questions, call 954-292-2914.

Stay Culturally Engaged at Home

Performing Arts

Published 3/18/20

Now you can tour a museum from the comfort of your couch. Take a look at these virtual museum tours:British Museum, LondonGuggenheim Museum, New YorkNational Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.Musée d’Orsay, ParisNational Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, SeoulPergamon Museum, BerlinRijksmuseum, AmsterdamVan Gogh Museum, AmsterdamThe J. Paul Getty Museum, Los AngelesUffizi Gallery, FlorenceMASP, São PauloNational Museum of Anthropology, Mexico CityThe Lourve, ParisVizcaya Museum, MiamiIs Opera your thing? The Metropolitan Opera is streaming operas for free at 7:30 p.m. EST and will be available to stream for 20 hours. Check it out:Thursday, March 19 — Verdi’s La TraviataConducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, starring Diana Damrau, Juan Diego Flórez, and Quinn Kelsey. Transmitted live on December 15, 2018.Friday, March 20 — Donizetti’s La Fille du RégimentConducted by Marco Armiliato, starring Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Flórez. Transmitted live on April 26, …

REVIEW: ARSHT CENTER’S ‘HAMILTON’ LIVES UP TO ITS REPUTATION, IN EVERY WAY

Performing Arts

Published 2/22/20

This season, the “Hamilton” love continues unabated, albeit with a different touring company of the same show. Fresh from three weeks at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, the “Angelica” cast has begun a four-week run at Miami’s Arsht Center. The actors are different from the ones in the “Philip” cast who played Fort Lauderdale last season, and of course each brings his or her interpretive skill set to these now-famous roles.But as the silent attentiveness to specific moments and the appreciative roars at the end of multiple numbers so clearly demonstrate, the play (or musical, in this case) is resoundingly the thing. Everyone from diehard “Hamilfans” to first-timers in the audience is there to experience the groundbreaking vision of Miranda and his creative collaborators.From its sold-out debut at New York’s Public Theater in 2015, “Hamilton” has been a piece of wildly inventive yet carefully crafted theater and a cultural phenomenon.MacArthur “genius” …

The Arsht Center announces 2020/2021 season!

Performing Arts

Published 2/22/20

Reach for your calendars, people! The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade Count announced its 15th season of showcasing Broadway’s greatest hits in the Ziff Ballet Opera House with a six-show subscription package that is power-packed with musical blockbusters.The 2020/2021 Broadway in Miami season opens with the anticipated South Florida premiere of the Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy Award® ® for Best Musical Theater Album, HADESTOWN.Three additional 2020 / 2021 Broadway in Miami premieres include Tony and Grammy Award-winning DEAR EVAN HANSEN (March 30 – April 4, 2021), ANASTASIA (May 18 – 23, 2021) and THE CHER SHOW (June 22 – 27, 2021). Plus, HAIRSPRAY kicks off 2021 (January 5 – 10, 2021), and back by popular demand, WICKED (February 17 – March 7, 2021), returns for a three-week run.“We have a must-see combination of blockbusters lined up for the Arsht Center’s 2020/2021 Broadway in Miami …

RISING STARS - An Evening of Dance, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts

Performing Arts

Published 2/21/20

The Rising Stars Exhibition, The Condition of Being Oneself, kicks off the showcase featuring a wide range of artwork created by the college and high school students of the prestigious New World School of the Arts in downtown Miami. The themes of this show are the self, the uniqueness of every person, and the viewpoint of the artist. In approaching their work for this exhibition, visual arts students will focus on something that they bring to their work that is particular to themselves, or the way in which they see the world. Whether it is a painting, a sculpture, a photograph, a film or a design, it is the artist’s singular vision and being that serves as inspiration to make the work unique.Just blocks away, at the historic Olympia Theater, NWSA continues an evening of artistic showings with excerpts of renowned works in dance, music and theater that will capture the artistic heart and soul of the audience. Presenting an excerpt from Paul Taylor’s dynamic masterpiece work, Cloven …

Life as a Professional Performer

Performing Arts

Published 2/21/20

Besides talent, what other attributes are necessary to become a successful professional performer? Persistence, desire, and resilience are all essential. Dancer/performers need to be able to work effectively with others under stressful circumstances. They need to be reliable, responsive, and to be able to communicate effectively. There is an intangible and intuitive quality, which is the ability to interact and to collaborate with choreographers in a way that serves the choreographers’ vision and aesthetic. Passion.This varies somewhat from dancer to dancer, and from dance company to dance company. In concert dance, most companies hold company classes daily or several times per week, followed by daily rehearsals, in what amounts to approximately a 7- to 8-hour day and a 35-40-hour work week. Many dancers work with a variety of choreographers, so have a more varied schedule but one, which probably amounts to the same amount of time. Professional dancers …

Bold, innovative, woman-founded theatre company that has championed creative experimentation, diversity, equity, and inclusion turns 10 in 2020

Performing Arts

Published 2/6/20

In keeping with TCT’s mission, in conjunction with the League of Professional Theatre Women’s “50/50 in 2020 Initiative,” TCT has championed gender parity in programming since its inception. TCT’s programming history—30 full-length productions—includes 16 plays by women, 12 plays by men, and 2 plays by transgender playwrights. TCT’s 10th Anniversary Season features 2 male playwrights (Beckett, Wilde) and 3 female playwrights (Fornes, Mueller, Morgan). “Gender parity in season play selection has not just been on the list of TCT’s priorities since its founding in 2010,” says Founding Artistic Director Nicole Stodard, “it has been at the very top of TCT’s priority list.” Study after study has shown that gender parity and diversity in American theatre programming remain glaring issues. Anyone interested in learning more should consult the Dramatist Guild’s most recent statistical findings, “The Count 2.0”; according to this, …

Immersive Theatre Puts Everyone in the Front Row

Performing Arts

Published 2/6/20

Immersive productions leaves a much larger personal imprint because there are no stages and audiences can become totally immersed in the performance itself. Audience participants can choose to be masked or unmasked, and stand within a few feet of the actors. Oftentimes, in immersive shows, a single performer will pair off with a single theatregoer for an encounter. It can be a performance for an audience of one, or the theatregoer can volunteer as a character in a plot.Many times immersive theatre productions are held at site-specific locations to enable audiences to talk to the actors and interact with the surroundings. These types of productions are really far from new. In fact, in the Middle Ages most theatre presentations were site specific, immersive, and participatory.South Florida has seen the Juggerknot Theatre Company expand Miami Motel Stories into Wynwood, the multi-media Medea at MDCLiveArts and the unique and wildly popular Amparo Experience. The long popularity of …

Community vs Professional Theatre

Performing Arts

Published 2/6/20

By Larry SchwingelThe subject of community theatre versus professional theatre can stir a debate about understanding the differences, but the bottom line is that professionals get paid and amateurs do not. Earnings, skill levels and formal training are all factors in the success of professional theater. Community theatre is at a disadvantage in these areas, but it feeds into the community spirit and brings awareness to the artistic sensibilities of everyone that participates.Community TheatreCommunity theatre is comprised of a cast of volunteer actors, set designers, and crewmembers that “work” for their love of theater and stage. Collectively, they bring a unique, fresh approach. Often times, the productions are of high quality—a compliment to their passion and unbridled enthusiasm. This is the heart and foundation of community theatre. South Florida is unusual because of the intermingling in professional and granting organizations. Almost all theatres in the …

REVIEW: ‘ORDINARY AMERICANS’ IS AN IMPACTFUL CAUTIONARY TALE AS RELEVANT TODAY AS IN THE ’50S

Performing Arts

Published 1/24/20

Commissioned by Palm Beach Dramaworks, Joseph McDonough’s play about pioneering television titan Gertrude Berg had a highly successful five-week run at the West Palm Beach theater before making the move to GableStage, where it runs through Feb. 16. The companies collaborated on the world premiere, but with the exception of one cast change, the production that Coral Gables audiences will see in GableStage’s more intimate space at the Biltmore Hotel is essentially the same one that became an in-demand Dramaworks show from the time it was announced.The idea for a play about the creator, writer and star of the 1949-57 TV series “The Goldbergs” came from Carbonell Award-winning actor Elizabeth Dimon, who portrays Gertrude “Tillie” Berg in “Ordinary Americans.”Dimon and castmates David Kwiat, Rob Donohoe and Tom Wahl have finely honed their moving performances through the play’s earlier run. At GableStage, they’re joined by Patti Gardner, who brings her own take to a role …

MIAMI NEW DRAMA’S ‘THE CUBANS’ IS ALL ABOUT FAMILY

Performing Arts

Published 1/24/20

Leon also has been an admirer of complex family plays, but he’s felt that diverse voices are too often missing.“I got tired of going to the theater and not seeing myself and my family represented. We deserve more. I felt compelled to start creating something, not for me but for my community,” he says.This week, after four years of writing and readings and rewrites, Leon’s creative response to what he felt was missing will get its world premiere when Miami New Drama opens “The Cubans” at the Colony Theatre on Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road.Company co-founder and artistic director Michel Hausmann credits Erik J. Rodriguez, Miami New Drama’s director of new work, with championing Leon’s play.“Erik insisted I should consider it further and organized a reading,” Hausmann says. “I love that Michael is exploring his generation, his community. It’s his Miami play. There is a lot to explore in the Cuban-American experience … lo bonito, lo feo (the pretty, the ugly) … …

ZOETIC STAGE’S ‘AMERICAN SON’ REPRESENTS S. FLORIDA THEATER AT ITS FINEST

Performing Arts

Published 1/15/20

Demos-Brown’s finest play to date was created in Miami and is set here, though its world premiere was in 2016 in Massachusetts, followed by a high-profile Broadway run in 2018 and a Netflix debut in 2019.But those who take in the new Zoetic Stage production of “American Son” at Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts – and anyone who loves intensely engaging theater should seek it out – will understand that the wait for the play’s homecoming was worth it.The work on the stage at the Arsht’s Carnival Studio Theater represents South Florida theater at its finest.Demos-Brown, a lawyer/playwright whose excellent work has made him a key part of the region’s growing playwriting scene, and Zoetic Artistic Director Stuart Meltzer, who has staged four Demos-Brown world premieres, are superb creative collaborators.Actors Karen Stephens, Clive Cholerton, Ryan Didato (all of whom worked on developmental readings of the play) and Zoetic newcomer James Samuel Randolph …

2020 YOUNGARTS AWARDS

Performing Arts

Published 1/8/20

Each evening, audiences can experience the work of the next generation of artists through performances in Voice, Jazz, Theater, Dance and Classical Music, as well as film screenings at New World Center, writers’ readings in the YoungArts Jewel Box, and a Design, Photography and Visual Arts exhibition in the YoungArts Gallery. With 21 Presidential Scholars in the Arts since 1989, and 89 YoungArts Finalists / 346 YoungArts Winners since 2002, New World School of the Arts students continue to leave their artistic mark in our community. Among the 171 YoungArts Finalists selected this year are seven NWSA students joining the ranks in their respective artistic fields and selected by an esteemed discipline-specific panel of artists through a rigorous blind adjudication process. In addition, NWSA students received three YoungArts Honorable Mentions and nine Merit Awards for a grand total 19 awards.New World School of the Arts 2020YoungArts FINALISTS:Dance: Rush Carson, …

‘MACBETH’ TAKES A MURDEROUS QUEST FOR POWER TO 4 MIAMI-DADE LOCATIONS

Performing Arts

Published 1/8/20

In August, Trucks played the ruthlessly pragmatic Scottish king in an intimate New City Players production at The Vanguard in Fort Lauderdale. Now, throughout January, the accomplished actor is going bigger, of necessity: He’ll play Macbeth, the once-valiant general who murders his way onto the throne, at four outdoor locations in Miami-Dade County, the smallest of which seats 550 people.“Playing him twice has given me an increased familiarity with the role, allowing for intimate finetuning and detail work,” Trucks acknowledges via email, adding, “but the change in space requires a larger, more performative approach, which has been an interesting tightrope to walk.”Trucks is working on his second “Macbeth” in six months with Florida Shakespeare Theater’s founding producing artistic director, Colleen Stovall. The company will take the play, which Stovall has placed in the early 12th century, to the North Beach Bandshell in Miami Beach on Jan. 3-5, the Downtown Doral Park …

MIAMI CITY BALLET BRINGING ‘I’M OLD-FASHIONED’ TO SOUTH FLORIDA

Performing Arts

Published 1/8/20

The show starts Jan. 10 at Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, before moving first to the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach then to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.Four ballets include the return of Alexei Ratmansky’s large-scale “Symphonic Dances” and, prominently, the troupe’s first staging of “I’m Old-Fashioned,” for which choreographer Jerome Robbins mined a quintessential film duet featuring master of the dance floor Fred Astaire and his equal in enchantment, Rita Hayworth. Thus, under three minutes of dancing in a scene from the 1942 musical, “You Were Never Lovelier,” gave rise to more than a half-hour of choreographic exploration by Robbins, earning multiple curtain calls at its New York City Ballet premiere in 1983.“This is truly special in that it involves another medium for visual impact,” says Aaron Hilton, who will dance one of the leads in “I’m Old-Fashioned.” He …

NOVELIST JAMES GRIPPANDO’S ‘WATSON’ TO PREMIERE AT GABLESTAGE

Performing Arts

Published 11/21/19

When Thomas J. Watson Sr., the chairman and CEO of International Business Machines (IBM), traveled to Berlin in 1937 as president of the International Chamber of Commerce for the group’s biennial gathering, he gave a keynote speech advocating world peace through world trade.At the meeting, he was presented with Nazi Germany’s Order of the German Eagle, making Watson one of only a few Americans to receive the regime’s medal.And what was behind the dubious “honor”? IBM’s German subsidiary Deutsche Hollerith-Maschinen Gesellschaft (known as Dehomag) used the company’s punch card machines to tabulate census data that revealed the location and ethnicity of respondents – thus contributing to the deadly efficiency of the Holocaust.Watson, who opposed Germany’s brutal treatment of its Jewish citizens, returned the medal in mid-1940, before the country’s declaration of war against the United States. But that asterisk in his biography would always remain.The story of the …

ACTORS’ PLAYHOUSE STARTS SEASON WITH THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH

Performing Arts

Published 11/15/19

The late music legend – a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and Memphis Music Hall of Fame – is the subject of “Ring of Fire,” the biographical show that’s kicking off the 2019-2020 Actors’ Playhouse season.Conceived by William Meade and created by Richard Maltby Jr., the show had a relatively short Broadway run in 2006 as a large-cast jukebox musical focused on the many songs written by and linked to Cash rather than on the man himself. But Maltby kept revising his show, and the piece that’s running through Dec. 8 in the Miracle Theatre’s upstairs Balcony Theatre is an engaging, joyous gem.Directed by Ben Hope, who played the starring male role in the Actors’ Playhouse production of “Once” in 2018, “Ring of Fire” is a showcase not just for Cash’s life story and many hits but for the prodigious talents of the five actor-singer-musicians who make up the …

MEET ANDIE ARTHUR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA THEATRE LEAGUE

Performing Arts

Published 11/15/19

Arthur is also the co-founding Artistic Director of Lost Girls Theatre, a contributing editor of the nationally recognized theatre blog 2amtheatre and adjunct faculty at New World School of the Arts. She has previously served as the Florida regional representative of the Dramatists’ Guild and as a board member of the Southeast Cluster of the Unitarian Universalist Association.In her 12 years working as Executive Director of the South Florida Theatre League, Andie has reinstated the League’s Unified Auditions, implemented audience development programs (such as Free Night of Theatre and Summer Theatre Fest), and created professional development workshops for both artists and administrators.Arthur has a BFA in Playwriting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. Her plays have been produced by Eclectic Full Contact Theatre, Lost Girls Theatre, The Alliance Theatre Lab, Marquette University, and the Theatre School at DePaul University. She is currently working on a brand-new play …

HAMILTON TICKETS ON SALE

Performing Arts

Published 11/7/19

Tickets will be available at arshtcenter.org and in person at the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Ziff Ballet Opera House Box Office. Tickets will be available for performances February 18 - March 15, 2020. Ticket buyers are highly encouraged to create or update their Arsht Center accounts in advance of November 23 using this link: arshtcenter.org/account/login.There is a maximum purchase limit of eight tickets per household for the engagement. When tickets go on sale, prices will range from $79 to $199* with a select number of $399* premium seats available for all performances. There will be a lottery for forty $10 seats for all performances. Lottery details will be announced closer to the engagement. Jeffrey Seller notes, “It’s tempting to get tickets any way you can. There are many sites and people who are selling overpriced, and in some cases, fraudulent tickets. For the best seats, the best prices and to eliminate the risk of counterfeit tickets, all purchases for the Miami …

GABLESTAGE’S RIVETING “WIESENTHAL” REMINDS US WHY WE MUST NEVER FORGET

Performing Arts

Published 10/3/19

He is also a captivating storyteller. But those stories? They will shatter your heart.“Wiesenthal,” Tom Dugan’s engrossing solo show about famed Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal, has just opened at GableStage, ushering in Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with a timely artistic representation of a man who dedicated his life to remembrance and justice.With intricately nuanced direction by Gail Garrisan, the GableStage production stars Carbonell Award-winning actor David Kwiat, who expertly navigates the blend of humor, empathy and horror woven throughout Dugan’s 90-minute play.The conceit of the play is that Wiesenthal, then 94, has gone into his office at the Vienna Jewish Documentation Center one final time. It’s 2003, and he is about to retire – much to the relief of his wife, Cyla Müller Wiesenthal, and their daughter Paulinka Kreisberg, who is visiting from Israel. Wiesenthal has promised Cyla that he’s done hosting groups at the center. But here we are, willing listeners, so …

MIAMI CITY BALLET LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!

Performing Arts

Published 9/9/19

Dance has the ability to transport us to a different world - it is often thought that dancers are untouchable beings. We’re just regular human beings, who are passionate about ballet and dance and have dedicated our lives to perfecting our art form. This season is so exciting, given the variety of programs which will show how we’re able to transform ourselves throughout each piece. I welcome the challenge of our versatile programs and I am super excited to share each opportunity with you and transport you to another world.”~ Emily Bromberg, Principal Soloist“This company is truly a rare national gem–and it’s Miami’s own. As one of the top ballet companies, it gives us the distinct opportunity to work one-on-one with world renowned choreographers like Alexei Ratmansky, Twyla Tharp and Justin Peck. MCB is so diverse artistically, and this season is a beautiful showcase of that range.” ~ Samantha Galler, SoloistBalanchine meets Broadway in …

Miami's Flamenco Scene

Performing Arts

Published 9/5/19

The origins of flamenco dancing are both old an mysterious. Some would argue that the sizzlingly energetic, exuberantly theatrical dance originates from 15th century Andalusia. Others would vouch that tracing its origins is a trivial quest: the contemporaneous iterations are much more worthwhile. This is the school of thought Ilisa Rosal, the founder of leading Miami-based dance studio Flamenco La Rosa subscribes to. Mixing the traditional exquisitely delicate movements, fierce golpe (or footsteps), carefully-timed palmas (hand-clapping) and stirring pitos (finger-snapping) with more upbeat, modern influences ranging from hip hop, ballet, and Afro-Haitian elements, is Rosal's forte. She has established her studio as the pioneer of a radically new approach to the curiousity-inducing dance. Rosal insists on immersive experiences, staging casual, lively shows where every member of the audience plays an integral part. Swearing by a communal ethos, her dancers take pride in spreading …

Come Dance With Us!

Performing Arts

Published 9/5/19

Have you ever left a show wondering whether you could recreate the experience, if there was a way to master the sophisticated movements of a ballerina, or the sensuous, gestures of a salsa dancer? If the answer is yes, you’ve come to the right place. This article will introduce you to dance classes where your dreams can come true, and where you are encouraged to fulfill your inner potential. Fortunately, Miami has no shortage of first-class expertise when it comes to dance. With a vast variety of cultural centers running some of the most intriguing classes, the only problem you’ll have is combatting the sheer frustration of having to make a choice. From Haitian Folklore Dance Classes to Soca Sweat Dance, there’s practically no dance form you couldn’t try. For those who have been eager to perfect the arabesque, the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami might be the most-favorable starting point. Held weekly at the Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Centre, the classes cater to …

Fall in love with timeless Alegría

Performing Arts

Published 8/27/19

From December 20, 2019 - January 26, 2020, audiences are invited under the Big Top next to Hard Rock Stadium to fall in love with timeless Alegría - a true Cirque du Soleil classic story of resilience and hope reinterpreted through today’s creative lens.A production destined to change the history of the company, Cirque du Soleil first presented Alegría in April 1994, launching an emblematic show that was to win over more than 14 million spectators in 255 cities in 19 years of touring through the end of 2013. The show’s theme song, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1995 and continues to be a fan favorite, is the most listened-to Cirque du Soleil song on YouTube.In light of its 25th anniversary, Cirque du Soleil is revisiting its legendary Alegría through today’s lens -including new costumes and set design, a renewed acrobatic vocabulary, and new musical arrangements - to ensure it is as inspiring now as it was at the time of its creation in 1994. With its signature …

THEATER SEASON PREVIEW: ‘AMERICAN SON,’ ‘THE CUBANS’ AND MORE ‘MIAMI MOTEL STORIES’

Performing Arts

Published 8/27/19

As these and other writers blossomed, South Florida theaters brought greater focus to premiering new works. Those companies and Miami-Dade County’s Department of Cultural Affairs launched developmental programs, giving playwrights the opportunity to hone their scripts and theater lovers the chance to be among the first to experience a play that might wind up on Broadway (as Cruz’s “Anna in the Tropics,” Demos-Brown’s “American Son” and McCraney’s “Choir Boy” did) or off-Broadway (as McKeever’s “Daniel’s Husband” and “After” did last season).Both the Arsht Center-based Zoetic Stage in Miami and Miami New Drama at Miami Beach’s Colony Theatre have the nurturing of new work as a key part of their theatrical DNA. But the two companies won’t be alone in bringing fresh theater to Miami-Dade stages during the 2019-2020 season. Here’s a brief look at some of the key productions on the horizon, in order of their openings.Christopher Demos-Brown’s …

UPCOMING DANCE SEASON IN MIAMI WILL OFFER ADVENTURE AND RISK

Performing Arts

Published 8/23/19

1. Los Angeles-based Diavolo presents “Architecture in Motion,” the company’s eye-popping slant on dance athleticism as urban landscapes crash around them. Think Cirque du Soleil meets the movie “Inception” with lots of split-second escapes — bring the teens. Oct. 12 at the Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Art2. Long heralded as the best-kept dance secret in Miami, Brigid Baker’s choreographies have shifted their fair share of audience life paths. Her company Wholeproject will perform “Remain in Light,” from the 1980 David Byrne-Brian Eno album of the same name. Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at Miami-Dade County Auditorium’s On.Stage Black.Box theater. 3. Miami and Madrid currently vie for the title of best in international flamenco. Discover why with “Flamencas en la Luz” when master flamenco artist Clarita Filgueras and company Flamenco Puro tap out machine-gun rhythms only an arm’s length away. Nov. 9-10 in South Miami-Dade …

Broadway in Broward

Performing Arts

Published 7/29/19

“I have been producing theatre year-round in Florida for over 26 years and am most notably known for Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre on the west coast in Fort Myers,” Will Prather, Prather Productions owner and Executive Producer said recently. “While I have also produced national and international tours, it has been a goal of mine to have a consistent presence on the east coast of Florida. The opportunity to partner with LPAC couldn’t have come at a better time, and all of us at Prather Productions are extremely excited to bring together our creative team and the incredible local talent that the east coast of Florida has to offer.”LPAC's General Manager, Amanda Segur agrees: “I am thrilled to be a part of the team working to bring Broadway musicals back to the LPAC stage,” she says. “Working with Prather Productions is going to be an exciting, creative, artistic adventure, and the City of Lauderhill is extremely pleased to have forged this new relationship. We are …

2ND ANNUAL FORWARD MOTION PHYSICALLY INTEGRATED DANCE FESTIVAL & CONFERENCE COMING TO MIAMI

Performing Arts

Published 7/29/19

They are part of an exciting and growing approach to performance that is inclusive of those with and without disabilities and seeks to redefine dance vocabulary and the way in which choreographers use the human body. Produced by Florida’s own groundbreaking integrated dance pioneers, Karen Peterson and Dancers, the second festival (September 25-28, 2019) promises to be even more exciting than last year’s first edition, featuring some of the best dance companies of any kind, in performance, in discussion and holding workshops.“We are so excited to continue this unique event for a second year, one that truly breaks open our ideas of what contemporary dance can be,” says Karen Peterson, Founder and Artistic Director of both her own Karen Peterson and Dancers company, and the Forward Motion event. “Working with these artists, who are pushing the boundaries of their own physical and audience expectations, gives us a glimpse of a world built on diversity and inclusion that is rich …

INTERNATIONAL BALLET FESTIVAL OF MIAMI TAKES A LEAP FORWARD

Performing Arts

Published 7/29/19

“Among several programs this year,” artistic director Eriberto Jimenez says, “we’re taking the festival to the streets.”For this 24th edition, the second after the passing of founder Pedro Pablo Peña, the festival will explore novel ways to heighten its community profile without abandoning a well-established format of presentations. The closing galas with their standard assortment of venerable pas de deux — a candy box of classicism ballet fans crave — remain central to the lineup. But a wider inclusion of contemporary works, some presented at unusual venues, may freshen up the offerings and foster new fans. “It surprises me how even after all this time, there are still people — even art lovers out there — who don’t know exactly what we’re about,” Jimenez remarks. Of course, he wants to stand by his devoted audience, inveterate lovers of the regal bearing and technical fireworks found in duet after duet taken from the vault of ballet’s golden …

‘MURDER FOR TWO’ AT ACTORS’ PLAYHOUSE ISN’T KILLER, BUT IT GETS THE JOB DONE

Performing Arts

Published 7/29/19

The Joe Kinosian-Kellen Blair musical has a history. Created in 2011 in Chicago, where it won the Joseph Jefferson Award as best new musical, the show had an off-Broadway run in 2013, a national tour and multiple regional productions. Martin Landry, who plays the musical’s multiple suspects and serves as the production’s musical director, made his “Murder for Two” debut in the national tour and performed the show at eight theaters in seven states before hitting the stage in Coral Gables. Mark Schenfisch, who plays an aspiring detective, has also done multiple productions of the show.That the actors, who must also be excellent pianists, have done the show before is a blessing for a couple of reasons. Schenfisch replaced a previously announced performer just a week before the show opened, and it’s doubtful that someone new to the intricacies of themusical could have mastered it and achieved a chemistry with Landry in such a short time. Moreover, the frenetic, 100-minute …

‘SKELETON CREW’ WORKS ON MANY LEVELS AT GABLESTAGE

Performing Arts

Published 7/29/19

The Detroit Project, three linked plays by MacArthur “genius” grant winner Morisseau, consists of “Detroit ’67” (a 2013 drama set during the 1967 Detroit riots), “Paradise Blue” (a 2015 play set in the city’s Black Bottom neighborhood in 1949) and 2016’s “Skeleton Crew,” a four-character drama set in the break room of an auto stamping plant as the 2008 economic downturn is starting to hit the city hard.GableStage is now bringing Morisseau’s words and insights to life in a new production of “Skeleton Crew,” a play that is both powerfully specific and more broadly resonant. The black, working-class folks toiling in this relatively small plant where metal is turned into car parts worry about so many things: putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their heads, pressured personal lives, building a better future, losing their jobs. Who can’t relate?This time, artistic director Joseph Adler has entrusted the production to Haitian-American actor, writer …

BROADWAY FANS CAN EXPERIENCE SIX HIT MUSICALS, INCLUDING HAMILTON, FOR LESS THAN $43* PER SHOW WITH NEW “VIEW FROM TOP” SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE

Performing Arts

Published 7/29/19

The 14th season of showcasing Broadway’s greatest hits in the Ziff Ballet Opera House is power-packed with musical blockbusters. The 2019/2020 Broadway in Miami season is anchored by the Broadway musical “Hamilton,” which will play its premiere Miami engagement for a limited 4- week run (February 18 - March 15, 2020). Three additional premieres include “Fiddler on the Roof” (October 29 - November 3, 2019), Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (January 1 -5, 2020), and “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical” (May 12 - 17, 2020). Plus an exciting new production of the classic “Miss Saigon” (April 7 - 12, 2020) and the iconic musical phenomenon, “Jesus Christ Superstar” (June 23 - 28, 2020).The View From The Top subscription package starts at $253 and offers a convenient payment plan with no fees which includes the option to break up the cost of the package into three easy payments. To become a View From The Top season ticket holder, visit …

John Leguizamo brings hilarity with much needed history lesson

Performing Arts

Published 7/7/19

Hear that school bell? It’s the start of class and professor John Leguizamo is about to educate South Florida on 3,000 years of American Latino history (from the Aztec empire to Pitbull!) And, the comedian/actor/producer/playwright is as outrageously funny, uncensored and on point as ever before.Written by and starring Leguizamo, “Latin History for Morons” enlightens, empowers and entertains beyond measure. This one-man solo play, directed by Tony Taccone, comes to the Adrienne Arsht Center stage on November 29 and 30. Other leading comedic talent who have graced the performance destination include Billy Crystal, Joan Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg, Kathy Griffin, Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Schumer, Jay Leno, John Mulaney, Eddie Izzard, Louis CK, Gad Elmaleh, and Dame Edna Everage.Latinos are the second oldest ethnic group in America after Native Americans, yet remain invisible in many ways. “I grew up without seeing people who looked like me on screen, on stage, or in …

ASTRID HADAD UPENDS CULTURAL CONVENTIONS AT THE COLONY THEATRE

Performing Arts

Published 5/29/19

Backed by her band Los Tarzanes, and using “songs and filthy humor,” as she coyly described it before breaking into a laugh during a recent interview, Hadad often makes her points with broad strokes. Still, have your fun, but keep a wary eye. Not every message arrives in a campy postcard image or a clever punch line. She also knows how to use humor like a stiletto, and before you know it, the stage is full of punctured certainties and deflated icons. She’s a champion for women, and the struggles for their place and image in a patriarchal society is a running theme in her work. Hadad will bring “I Am Made in Mexico,” a sampler of several of her shows, Saturday, June 1, to the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach. The performance is presented by Fundarte as part of its Out in the Tropics 2019 program.Born in Chetumal, on the Atlantic coast of Mexico, in a family with Lebanese roots, Hadad studied Political Science for two years at the National Autonomous University of Mexico …

SUMMER SHORTS SQUEEZES BIG IDEAS INTO LITTLE PLAYS AT THE ARSHT CENTER

Performing Arts

Published 5/29/19

A police trainee has to make a split-second decision about shooting a black man with a briefcase that may or may not hold a gun. A housewife has an existential crisis in her supermarket’s frozen food aisle. A woman from HR has her most challenging assignment to date: giving sexual harassment training to a trio of Vikings. As climate change is doing its worst, a regular guy is building an ark, per the Big Man Upstairs.“This year, we have a lot of things on our minds,” says Margaret M. Ledford, the company’s artistic director. “If nothing else, we should have the difficult conversations.”The festival, which previews Thursday-Friday, May 30-31, before its official opening at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1, in the Carnival Studio Theater at Miami’s Arsht Center, was the brainchild of Susan Westfall, Stephanie Norman and Elena Wohl. Then, they were three theater professionals with young children. Now, both their real kids and their artistic baby are all grown-up, and Westfall …

CORTEO IS COMING TO SUNRISE WITH ITS NORTH AMERICAN ARENA TOUR

Performing Arts

Published 5/15/19

This unique production, directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, first premiered in Montreal under the Big Top in April 2005. Since then, the show has been a great success and has amazed 8 million people in 19 countries on four continents. The cast of Corteo includes 52 acrobats, musicians, singers and actors from all around the world.Corteo, which means cortege in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth. The clown pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to …

The Hollywood ArtsPark Experience is quite the musical experience!

Performing Arts

Published 5/9/19

By Daisy CabreraOn May 5, Chicano Batman - one of the absolute coolest bands coming out of Los Angeles – performed hits from their latest album, Freedom Is Free. They’ve toured with Alabama Shakes and Jack White, played Latin Alternative Music Conference, Bonnaroo, Coachella and Ruido Fest, and even appeared on Conan. The group (Bardo Martinez, Eduardo Arenas, Carlos Arévalo, Gabriel Villa) jammed a generous heaping of funk, romantic pop, old school indie, psychedelic indie, vintage soul, groovy oldies, edgy alt-rock and Brazilian Tropicália. And, the crowd went wild – showering the ensemble with roses as frontman Bardo Martinez jumped offstage to greet fans. The fantastic opening set was by none other than the high energy, soul and funk local outfit - Jason Joshua & The Beholders. We spoke with The Rhythm Foundation’s Executive Director, James Quinlan about the re-launch of the Hollywood ArtsPark Experience series that has brought thousands of people to the venue …

Latest News on Coconut Grove Playhouse Revival Project

Performing Arts

Published 3/13/19

Miami’s historic preservation board recently voted against the demolition and reconstruction of the long-closed Coconut Grove Playhouse. An appeal, signed by cultural affairs director Michael Spring, was filed by the county and is scheduled to be considered by the City of Miami Commission on April 25, at City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive.This is is a deciding moment for the future of the Playhouse and the revitalization of downtown Coconut Grove. If the City Commission approves the County’s appeal, the County is ready to submit the Playhouse project’s architectural plans for a building permit. After years of work and exhaustive research, renovation and construction are ready to begin. The plans include thoughtful historic preservation to return this historic theater to its former glory. The theater abruptly closed in 2006 amid growing debt.For updates, visit: http://miamidadearts.org/coconut-grove-playhouse-updates.

BACH BIRTHDAY BASH - FREE CONCERT

Performing Arts

Published 3/7/19

Sunday evening, March 24, 2019, 7:30 pm, at Coral Gables Congregational Church, 3010 DeSoto Blvd., Coral Gables,33134 AND Sunday afternoon, March 31, 2019, 4 pm, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 14260 Old Cutler Road, Miami 33157. FREE - NO TICKETS OR RESERVATIONS NEEDED No excuses! Go and enjoy some Bach!Additional info (305) 668-9260, www.alhambramusic.org

Frida

Performing Arts

Published 2/26/19

By Peter Petrov"Frida sings as she lived - against the tide from the very first note," Rodríguez explains, and indeed, what better way to describe both, this larger-than-life woman and his opera tribute to her.Frida was the kind of woman that could reject a description of her art as flattering and poetic as “ribbon around a bomb,” even if it came from principal initiator of the surrealist movement André Breton, if she thought that description was false. “I never paint dreams or nightmares, I paint my own reality,” Frida famously said in response.And certainly, over time, Frida has come to epitomize the truest kind of artist, the kind who lives the way she paints and paints the way she lives, making no compromises with either of those two interconnected facets.Frida never really had many friends growing up in Mexico City and was often taunted by other girls. After a near-death bus accident that kept her bedridden and caused her lifelong health problems, her isolation deepened, …

Six decades of Ailey

Performing Arts

Published 1/30/19

by Annie SparksWhen Alvin Ailey and a small group of African American modern dancers first took the stage at the 92nd Street Y in 1958, the engagement was for one night only - but it turned out to be the start of a new era in the performing arts. Mr. Ailey became one of the groundbreaking greats in African American history, while the work of his Company grew beyond the limits of the stage to encompass education at all levels, community outreach and cultural diplomacy. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater now embodies six decades of achievement, celebrating the human spirit with performances that unite and inspire all.“Alvin Ailey was a pioneer in celebrating the human spirit through the African-American culture and modern dance, elevating the world of the performing arts and the hearts and minds of people of all backgrounds,” said Robert Battle. “It is a privilege for me to return home to Miami as we honor his storied legacy by heightening the artistry of our performances and …

VISUAL AND MUSICAL IMPRESSIONS SHARING THE STAGE

Performing Arts

Published 1/30/19

Claude Debussy initiated the Impressionistic style of music in the end of the 19th Century and is seen as the founder of musical impressionism – that of evoking a mood using harmony and tone color. “Music is the space between the notes.” (Debussy) Like in music, the artist, Duaiv sees visual art as the space between the brush strokes. He will paint a new work on stage with the orchestra performing music of Debussy, while a simultaneous projection of him at work on a large screen above the orchestra allows the audience dabble and observe first-hand, his creation in the making. Accomplished in both classical music and fine art, Duaiv embeds the essence of creative inspiration in his world-renowned paintings, commissioned murals, and live performances. With the world as his canvas, Duaiv’s work is a contemporary representation of Impressionism at its height.Born near the city of Bordeaux, Duaiv was raised in an artistic environment—his mother a classical pianist and his …

Actors’ Playhouse: 30 years of excellence and splendor

Performing Arts

Published 11/1/18

By Petar PetrovActors’ Playhouse is one of 14 major cultural organizations in Miami-Dade County and the largest self-producer of critically acclaimed dramatic and musical theatre for adults and children in South Florida. But even after 156 Mainstage productions, 140 Children’s Theatre productions, 85 Carbonell Awards (the South Florida equivalent of the Tony Award) for artistic excellence, and a South Florida’s Theatre Company of the Year Award, the theatre hasn’t deviated from its 30-year old agenda – “to enrich South Florida's cultural vitality with the highest caliber classic and contemporary live theatre productions and to provide comprehensive educational outreach programs to multi-cultural audiences and a supportive and creative work environment for Florida-based theatre professionals,” all while preserving “the identity of its home venue, the historic Miracle Theatre,” as Barbara S. Stein, Executive Producing Director puts it. The Miracle Theatre …

Microtheater Miami: A Highlight Reel of Intimate and Punchy Theater Shows

Performing Arts

Published 11/1/18

By Petar PetrovOn so many different levels, Microtheater Miami offers professionals creative freedom while providing the public with what a traditional theater experience never could – a diversity of shows within a single, inimitably cozy night. Every Thursday to Sunday from 8 pm to 12 am, all year round, just like the pumpkin in Cinderella, 7 shipping containers are transformed into little theatrical gems; their walls witnessing a gushing stream of 15-minute plays in both English and Spanish, inspired by a specific theme. Plays are performed 8 times per night, cost only $6 each, and together constitute a continuous, annual cycle, charged with the same rapid-fire dynamics of a single evening – unlike traditional theater seasons, Microtheater Miami starts a new season every 5 weeks, for a total of 10 theater seasons annually. A specific theme is selected every season, and open calls for original plays inspired by it result in 7 to 8 original plays per season. On …

Culture Shock Miami Fosters the Next Generation of Arts Patrons with the Launch of its 14th Season of Affordable Programming Directed to Younger Audiences

Performing Arts

Published 11/1/18

By Petar Petrov$5 tickets to live theater performances, events and museums for ages 13 to 22. Culture Shock Miami, the young audience development program of Miami-Dade County’s Department of Cultural Affairs, has been working with all kinds of cultural institutions since its launch in 2004 to bring eclectic compositions of cultural destinations and shows to teens and young adults between the age of 13 and 22 for an affordable price. Not only do all events cost only $5, but the program also allows participants to purchase a second ticket for $5 for a person of any age. Culture Shock Miami keeps going strong, entering its 2018-2019 season. As a result, certain art forms and events no longer seem out of young people’s financial reach. Culture Shock Miami strives to level the playing field, so the youth can develop a taste for culture according to their inner voice rather than their pocket. But Culture Shock Miami owes its continuous success to the constant search for …

Theater Etiquette

Performing Arts

Published 11/1/18

By Annie Sparks1. Dress for the occasion. Wear something a little more elegant than usual. Be comfortable, but polished. It’s part of the experience. 2. Avoid wearing too much perfume or aftershave. Imagine sitting next to someone wearing a scent that you simply cannot stand. Avoid doing that to others and go easy on the shpritz!If you’re on time, you’re late3. “If you’re on time, you’re late” is a crucial rule of thumb. Arriving 15-30 minutes before the show allows time for everyone to get comfortably seated. In many instances, when you’re late, a venue will not allow you to enter until the end of the first number. Some may have a monitor so you could watch while in exile, but if you want to see the live performance for which you’ve paid, come early. Don’t be the person who makes everyone get up so you could reach your seat after the show has started! 4. If you’re one to enjoy a candy or need a cough drop to refrain from coughing during the …

Sensory-Friendly Children Shows

Performing Arts

Published 11/1/18

By Petar PetrovThe theatre is an all-around entertainment for the senses, but for those with sensory issues, not only do theatre performances often turn into torture, but when they respond to their distress, a sense of judgment quickly takes over the halls.However, that’s slowly starting to change. The true spirit of inclusiveness and tolerance has reached South Florida.The need for such “sensory-friendly” performances, as they’re often referred to, had long been overlooked. Children with these disorders and their parents love going to the theatre as much as the next person, but they usually face two options – going to a performance directed at a general audience and hoping to be spared of a sensory overload, or not going at all. But that changed in South Florida last year when the Broward Center for the Performing Arts introduced performances specifically designed for individuals with sensory processing and autism spectrum disorders. You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown …

OUR PICKS FOR 2018-2019 SEASON

Performing Arts

Published 9/28/18

South Florida’s symphonic music scene is as eclectic as they come, with groups performing classical, extravagant and innovative musical productions that transcend genres, tastes, cultures, and even entire art forms. Yes, you can catch classics like Beethoven, Mozart and Brahms; we are blessed with world-class symphonies and orchestras. But you can also experience modern, live performances to epic movie soundtracks like “Game Of Thrones” or popular video games like “The Legend of Zelda”. These performances cultivate the symphony lovers of tomorrow quite innovatively. Nu Deco Ensemble is arguably the most imaginative approach to symphony, and worthy of a specific mention. The diverse group of musicians embarks on “genre-bending musical explorations” with creative additions such as DJs, dancers, and visual media artists.The South Florida opera scene might not be as eclectic as the symphony one, but it surely isn’t any less impressive. In fact, it’s like a compact …

MDC Live Arts Presents Radical 2018-19 Season - A Focus on Women, Immigrants & Innovators

Performing Arts

Published 9/28/18

The lineup includes performances that re-tell mythical/historical womensí narratives with new perspective. This month, La Medea (cover) reimagines Euripedes’ Greek tragedy as an interactive Latin-disco variety show. The genre-bending musical/simulcast/feature film is performed, shot and edited in real time— promising a provocative and unpredictable ride for cast, crew and audiences alike. Hailed as “a spectacle that upends any attempt to pin it down” by Broadway World, La Medea portrays not a dangerous foreigner, but an infinite woman rejecting the gaze imposed upon her. This spring, in The Fourth Light, Persian electroacoustic duo Niyaz team up with interactive design artist Jerome Delapierre for an immersive tribute to the under-recognized first female Sufi mystic and poet. Live music, sacred dance and advance technologies help merge the real and the virtual for a multi-sensory spiritual experience. Last month, the season opened—gothically—with The Black …

NEW WORLD SCHOOL OF THE ARTS - A BEACON OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE

Performing Arts

Published 9/28/18

The high school students, who also receive their training at MDC Wolfson Campus, earn dual enrollment credits from Miami Dade College as NWSA students. Fully accredited by The National Associations of Dance, Music, Theater and Art & Design, New World School of the Arts provides a comprehensive educational program of artistic training and academic and creative development, while preparing students for professional careers in Dance, Music, Theater and Visual Arts.Providing access is one of New World School of the Arts most important missions. Blind to academic standing at the onset, New World School of the Arts’ acceptance policy is based solely on artistic talent. This allows students from all backgrounds, ethnicities and socioeconomic status to compete for their spot in the school’s coveted arts programs based on their individual talent. Once accepted, students are expected to achieve both academically and artistically. Earning respected national merit and leadership-based …

"Dance Talks" at SMDCAC

Performing Arts

Published 9/27/18

The South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center opens up the art of dance with a new program of “Dance Talks” hosted by arts writer and longtime former Miami Herald Dance Critic Jordan Levin. This series of pre- and post-performance discussions surrounding the Center’s 2018-2019 Dance Series is meant to demystify, enlighten, and expand your appreciation of this beautiful art form.Before each performance, you are invited to a 45 min discussion with Dance Critic Jordan Levin, as well as guest artists and experts that will focus on the background, story, qualities and significance of that evening's dance company. After the show, you are invited again to participate in a short, informal, guided conversation to talk about what you saw, ask questions, and share your thoughts with other audience members.These talks are created to develop a sense of community, promote a better understanding of dance, and help everyone to better enjoy this magnificent art form.On Saturday, October 27 at 8pm, …

Miami City Ballet Has Called South Florida Home for 33 Years

Performing Arts

Published 8/29/18

- By Petar Petrov -And how could it be any other way – Lourdes Lopez, who was recently named one of “The Most Influential People in Dance Today” by Dance Magazine, danced with New York City Ballet for 24 years under the guidance of none other than George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. She joined them when she was only 16, was promoted to soloist at the age of 23, and to principal 3 years later. Balanchine’s artistic influence on Lopez didn’t fade away with the end of her stage career; on the contrary, she continued to pay him tribute by becoming the executive director of The George Balanchine Foundation. But Miami City Ballet’s story dates far back before Lopez joined the show. It all started in 1985 when Miami philanthropist Toby Lerner Ansin spread her passion for ballet like a relentless force of nature, managing to persuade founding artistic director Edward Villella to get behind the wheel of her vision, as well as multiple parties to fund it. …

The 2nd Annual Miami International Ballet Competition is slated for January 23-27

Performing Arts

Published 8/29/18

This international contest aims to unite young dancers from around the world within a positive, competitive atmosphere, enable them to gain confidence, develop friendships and connections, and become the chief protagonists in the development of their own futures. The 2018 competition attracted more than 100 aspiring young dancers from different cities in the US and countries such as China, Peru, and Japan, who came together to show the best of their abilities aiming for cash awards, medals, scholarships and opportunities to join ballet companies or major ballet schools to continue their professional training.The Founding Directors, Issaev and Pikieris, have both enjoyed very successful international careers as dancers, choreographers, and artistic directors, and share enormous experience in the development of young ballet artists. As long-time important figures of Miami’s dance community, they have agreed that our city’s multicultural and international flavor make it an ideal …

GENERAL DIRECTOR AND CEO, SUSAN T. DANIS LEAVES FLORIDA GRAND OPERA

Performing Arts

Published 7/25/18

Susan T. Danis, General Director and CEO will be leaving the Florida Grand Opera in October to take a position as the President and CEO of the La Jolla Music Society and The Conrad Presbys Performing Arts Center. During this transition period, FGO’s 25 year veteran Justin Moss, will serve as interim General Director and CEO. “We will miss Susan’s inspiring leadership and we thank her for 6 years of dedicated service. We wish her the best of luck in her new endeavor. We are confident that Justin’s leadership, strength and vast opera experience will continue the positive growth that FGO has experienced under Susan’s leadership.”Susan has played a critical role in the revitalization and involvement of Broward County patrons; significant growth in the quality of opera produced by the company, with productions such as Norma, The Passenger, Before Night Fall, Mourning Becomes Electra, and many others; the development of the Made for Miami series ; and the presentation of …

XXIII International Ballet Festival of Miami

Performing Arts

Published 7/16/18

The 23rd International Ballet Festival of Miami 2018, considered the most important in the US, will present performances and an array of other activities in various venues throughout Miami-Dade County, featuring the best ballet, modern and contemporary companies represented by their stars from Europe, South America, Mexico and the USA, receiving local & international rave reviews.The IBFM launches with a VIP Cocktail Reception (invited guests) featuring the Unveiling of the Official IBFM Poster created by Cuban Artist Javier Dubrocq, Saturday, July 28 / 8 p.m. with his dance-inspired fine arts exhibition open to the public the month of August at the beautiful, historic Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center, 111 SW 5th. Ave. Miami, Fl 33130.Five magnificent performances will thrill audiences this year; “IBFM Youth Gala”, featuring young Florida ballet competition medalists at the Lehman Theater, Saturday, Aug. 4 @ 7pm;. Two “Contemporary Performances” featuring 4 …

Redeye: Beyond Art + Music + Film + Food

Performing Arts

Published 7/3/18

A Broward tradition for over a decade, the RedEye art and music festival brings together artists of every genre under one roof, for one night, to create a wild underground art happening. Guests roam from room to room as they experience live bands, indie films, interactive art, cutting edge VR games, spoken word, improv comedy, performance art, moving art, and body art – experiences that defy category. And this year, REDEYE promises to take you “Beyond.”“RedEye’s wild ride of human artistry began as a way to support our non-profit mission, but has turned into a beloved summer happening,” says ArtServe CEO Jaye Abbate. “It’s a night for the community to come together. To celebrate the creative spirit alive and flourishing in South Florida, and have four hours of solid fun for less than the cost of a movie ticket.” Attendees – even non-art lovers – are exposed to new films, cool VR experiences, new music, and new dance forms. “They can push way past their …

Cirque du Soleil’s First Ever On Ice Production

Performing Arts

Published 5/14/18

CRYSTAL will perform in Sunrise Arena for 15 performances only, Wednesday, July 18 through Sunday, July 29, 2018.In CRYSTAL, gymnasts and skaters perform acrobatics on the ice and in the air, seamlessly combining multiple disciplines for a world class audience experience. Synchronized skating, freestyles figures, and extreme skating are featured alongside traditional circus disciplines such as swinging trapeze, aerial traps and hand to hand. The result is an adrenaline-packed show for the whole family that pushes the boundaries and surpasses all expectations!Watch world-class ice skaters and acrobats explore their new frozen playground with speed and fluidity as they challenge the laws of gravity with never-before-seen acrobatics. Cirque du Soleil’s CRYSTAL fuses circus arts and the world of ice skating in a stunning new production that will take the audience on a journey into a surreal world where figure skating blends with acrobatics and aerial prowesses. Wednesday, July …

Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis return to Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in the high voltage rock ‘n’ roll musical Million Dollar Quartet

Performing Arts

Published 5/7/18

Actors’ Playhouse brings back the much-anticipated return of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet. One of the company’s most acclaimed (and longest running) productions in its 30-year history, Million Dollar Quartet will once again rock the Balcony Theatre from May 9 – June 24, 2018.This high voltage rock ‘n’ roll show, with book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, is inspired by the electrifying true story of the famed recording session that brought together music icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for one of the greatest jam sessions of all time. Featuring over 20 timeless hits such as "Blue Suede Shoes," "Great Balls of Fire," "I Walk the Line," "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," "Fever," "Folsom Prison Blues," "Hound Dog" and more, this thrilling musical brings audiences inside the recording studio with four major talents who came together to create a red-hot rock ‘n’ roll band for one unforgettable night.Directed …

Shorts On Ships - Professional Theatre at Sea

Performing Arts

Published 4/2/18

The theatre is the heart of the onboard cultural entertainment. Now, the theatres of three of Azamara Club Cruises’ ships – Journey, Quest and Pursuit, will welcome City Theatre and one of their most innovative projects to date. Shorts on Ships is basically the theatre version of cruising – a series of short and charged performances which end on a pitch-perfect high note to deliver a lot while demanding very little. City Theatre is entering its 23rd season as the only professional theatre in the U.S. that is dedicated to producing short plays and musicals. Its imaginative new venture Shorts On Ships is the latest of a long-standing legacy of challenging the status quo. With the following their past works like Summer Shorts Festivals, Winter Shorts, City Shorts, Short Cuts and Shorts Gone Wild have garnered, the artistic troupe seems to have found the perfect platform to reinvent their vision on another, more fluid scale. City Theatre has hand-picked some of its …

Showcasing Rising Stars

Performing Arts

Published 3/1/18

With an exciting program that includes a vibrant and diverse art exhibition at the New World Gallery, followed by performance excerpts of renowned works in dance, music and theater at the Olympia Theater, the showcase will capture the artistic heart and soul of its guests. With excerpts from the performing arts divisions, the evening will highlight the work of world-renowned choreographers including Echad Mi Yodea by Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin. This iconic dance is set to the music of Israeli rock group Nikmat Hatractor and will be performed by select college dance students. Overture by NWSA alumnus Robert Battle, Artistic Director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance will also grace the stage.Led by Maestro Alfred Gershfeld, the NWSA Orchestra will come alive with the famous Overture to Gioachino Rossini’s William Tell Opera (popularly known as the William Tell Overture), premiered in 1829 and the last of Rossini’s 39 operas. NWSA Wind Ensemble will present a movement from …

Sufi-meets-B boy in ‘What the Day Owes to the Night’

Performing Arts

Published 2/1/18

Stunning French Algerian Dance Company Herve Koubi Cie Hervé Koubi makes its Miami debut with a highly physical, ﬂuid work for 12 French-Algerian and West African male dancers, hailed as a “stunning fusion of acrobatics, gymnastics, b-boying, modern dance and ballet” by the The Washington Post The piece is an exploration of and reconnection to the company director‘s North African roots.The French-born choreographer Herve Koubi only learned of his Algerian heritage as an adult. The revelation prompted his first trip to Algiers at the age of 25, where he held auditions, received 250 (mostly self-taught) dancers and selected twelve, whom he calls his “found brothers.” The rest is choreographic history. “I went to Algeria to make light in my dark (because unknown) history. I had to give life to my orientalist dreams, I had to do it with dance. I had to do it with dancers from Algeria using their specific skills. The youth of Algeria is like that, full of …

Florida Grand Opera Unveils Its First Production of Richard Strauss’s Potent, Sexually Charged Shocker Salome in Fifteen Years

Performing Arts

Published 2/1/18

Operas are known for their passion, tugging at your emotions with heart-wrenching arias of tragic or unrequited love. Of course, sometimes love can be a just a tad extreme. One of our favorite Operas, Richard Strauss’s 1905 Salome, definitely takes the expression “falling head over heels” over someone to a dark place that’s guaranteed to thrill, shock, and entertain.When Salome first premiered, this steamy brew of eroticism and religion so unnerved audiences that it was banned in Vienna and London. The opera’s troubles didn’t end there. In 1907, at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, it was yanked from the company’s repertoire just days after its premiere.So why is this story so romantic, yet controversial? And why has it become one of the most successful and popular of all twentieth-century operas? Perhaps it’s the thematic mix of religious fervor, sexual fury, and necrophilia that audiences just can’t get enough of!In a nutshell, the plot of Salome boils down …

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Celebrates a Decade of Ailey at the Adrienne Arsht Center

Performing Arts

Published 2/1/18

Making his choreographic debut with the piece Members Don’t Get Weary, is Miami native Jamar Roberts, heralded as a star in the dance world. Roberts calls the piece “a response to the current social landscape in America, an abstract look into the notion of one ‘having the blues.” Roberts’ deep appreciation for jazz – an original American art form that he believes should be more widely celebrated – comes through in his use of saxophonist and legendary composer John Coltrane’s music, 50 years after the legend’s death. Roberts, along with 31 of Ailey’s renowned dancers, will captivate audiences during five richly diverse programs, featuring new works and company premieres by the world’s most celebrated dance-makers. The Adrienne Arsht Center and Ailey have also collaborated to offer a myriad of arts education and community-friendly offerings. On Friday, February 23 at 11:00am, a special one-hour performance featuring Ailey’s perennial crowd-pleasing …

CELEBRATE SOUTH FLORIDA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH MARTHA GRAHAM’S DANCE OF LIFE

Performing Arts

Published 12/28/17

January 21 - 24Celebrating its 20th Season, the South Florida Symphony Orchestra presents Masterworks Series II: Martha Graham’s Dance of Life, which provides South Florida audiences with the opportunity to experience the legendary Martha Graham Dance Company. A leader in contemporary dance since 1926, and acclaimed by audiences and critics in more than 50 countries, the company is embracing a new vision, showcasing masterpieces by Graham, along with other newly commissioned works by contemporary artists, such as this program’s world premiere of Tom Hormel’s Legend of Bird Mountain. South Florida Symphony Orchestra’s founder and conductor, Maestra Sebrina María Alfonso, is excited by this historic collaboration, which includes a performance of Appalachian Spring, composed by Aaron Copland in 1943, and awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1945. The ballet celebrates the marriage of two Pennsylvania pioneers.For the second act, the company interprets Rite of Spring, composed by Igor …

The Spotlight Shines on New World School of the Arts New Season

Performing Arts

Published 9/29/17

With a notably stimulating presence in the arts community, NWSA has become one of the most coveted arts institutions in the nation. The work of the visual arts alumni can be found in the most prestigious art museums, galleries, private collections and venues, including Art Basel. The dance, music and theater alumni perform in world-renowned dance companies, symphony orchestras, lyric operas and concert halls across the nation. They shine on Broadway, leave their mark in Hollywood and grace the international stage with their outstanding work. Some noteworthy alumni accomplishments this year include Tarell McCraney’s Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film Moonlight, Alex Lacamoire’s third Tony Award for Dear Evan Hansen, and Michael Aronov’s first Tony Award for Oslo. While some continue to pursue higher academic degrees, many of NWSA’s alumni join the ranks of prestigious arts organizations or form their own arts institutions.October 14; 6:00 PM New World School of …

Big. Bold. Brilliant. ArtBrazil!

Performing Arts

Published 8/24/17

This vibrant exhibition of Brazilian contemporary art kicks off a month-long celebration of cultural activities throughout the region. More than fifty acclaimed Brazilian artists who live, work or have connections to south Florida will participate in the month-long ArtBrazil festivities.“In just a few short years word has spread that the quality of this exhibition is one of the strongest in South Florida,” notes ArtServe CEO Jaye Abbate.“With the addition of guided student tours and interactive workshops on the benefits of art therapy programs for individuals with autism, anticipation for the show has been building and many people have actually planned their trips to South Florida from Brazil just to be part of the ArtBrazil program.”A new feature will be adding the moving “Arte que Salva (Art that Saves) benefit to the opening reception, allowing patrons to help vulnerable, poverty-plagued children around the world through art.“The number of artists requesting …

Just Dance! The Positive Effects of Dancing on the Brain

Performing Arts

Published 8/24/17

Improved brain function is a significant advantage of dancing regularly. Recent studies on the neurological effects of dance have found evidence of links between the brain’s reward centers and its sensory and motor circuits, both of which are activated when attempting to coordinate movements with the beat of a particular song. Strengthening these neural connections results in improved memory, and can also help treat people with progressive neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and dementia.Ever wonder why professional dancers don’t get dizzy, even when rapidly spinning and twirling across the stage? It’s because years of practice have blended their cerebral and cognitive thought processes, leading to increased fluidity through improved muscle memory. Dancing regularly enables the body to suppress signals in the inner ear that gauge balance and are linked to the cerebellum. So the more one dances, the less dizzy they become as the body gets conditioned.Other …

Artist Spotlight: Miami City Ballet’s Katia Carranza

Performing Arts

Published 8/24/17

After more than a decade, dancer Katia Carranza returns full-time to the company and ballet fans are in for a real treat. Hailing from Monterey, Mexico, Katia graduated from the Escuela Superior de Musica y Danza de Monterrey in Mexico in 1996 and then joined Ballet de Monterrey as a soloist.In 1998, she joined Miami City Ballet as a corps de ballet dancer, was promoted to soloist in 2001, principal soloist in 2003, and then became a principal dancer in 2004. She left after the 2006-07 season to rejoin Ballet de Monterrey as a principal, but continued to dance with MCB as a guest artist for an additional six seasons.During her career, Katia has participated in national and international ballet competitions, such as the Concurso Nacional in Guadalajara, Mexico (1994) and the Concurso Internacional in Cuba (1995), where she won silver medals in both. In 1998, she was a finalist at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, and in 2002 won the bronze medal in the same …

ArtsLaunch 2017 Takes Off!

Performing Arts

Published 8/18/17

September 9, 2017ARTSLAUNCH 2017 events and family-friendly activities will include returning favorites, such as interactive workshops, a silent disco party, kids’ activities, author and community conversations, chef and mixology demonstrations, walking tours and much more. Last year, more than 50 of Miami’s cultural organizations participated in the event’s Community Village, hosted on the Ziff Ballet Opera House stage. This year, the Center intends to double the number of participants. Starting at 10am, the Center’s box office also officially opens, offering the first opportunity for the public to purchase tickets for more than 40 shows for the Arsht Center’s 12th season. Fees on all individual show tickets will be waived for all who purchase in person at the box office exclusively during ARTSLAUNCH 2017. Tickets may also be purchased through the Arsht Center Box Office by calling (305) 949-6722, or online at www.arshtcenter.org (fees apply). For more updates …

UNTAMED - Catch the RedEye to Culture

Performing Arts

Published 6/29/17

July 15 …

NEW WORLD SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 30TH ANNIVERSARY “RISING STARS” SHOWCASE

Performing Arts

Published 3/1/17

MARCH 31, 2017 …

Koubek Center Presents Valentine’s Day Milonga

Performing Arts

Published 2/1/17

Saturday, February 18th at 8:00pm …

Art to Heart: Our top 10 Romantic Art Picks

Performing Arts

Published 2/1/17

Most will agree that a kiss is one of the pinnacles of romance, bestowed upon that special someone and stirring a wide range of emotions. This work of art, painted by Austrian Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt between 1907 and 1908, depicts a pair of lovers entwined in a passionate embrace, draped in colorful robes, obviously influenced by contemporary Art Nouveau style. And the fact that it’s currently on display at the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere museum in the Belvedere palace, Vienna, is the perfect excuse for a romantic getaway to go see it. …

The Bienes Center At St. Thomas Aquinas Fosters Love of the Arts in Youth

Performing Arts

Published 1/9/17

The St. Thomas Aquinas Fine Arts programs and classes utilize the Bienes Center facilities daily for lessons, classes, concerts, performances, master classes, exhibits and receptions. Programs include the Summer Theater Academy, open to students in grades 6--8. Many of the daily curriculum activities are based on the Florida State Thespian Competition standards. The program guides aspiring young actors through the musical theater experience: from auditions - to staging, choreography and vocals to culminate in a showcase performance at the end of each week. This program is appropriate for actors with previous musical theater experience as well as beginners. In addition to these programs, the Bienes Center offers an annual series of professional performances and events, which are open to the public as ticketed events. Students are always offered special pricing/admission options. …

Experience Miami Children’s Museum’s Season of the Arts

Performing Arts

Published 11/17/16

Every Saturday in December, from 11:00am – 3:00pm, the Miami Children’s Museum will be hosting events for children that highlight visual and performing arts. The museum has partnered with New World Symphony, Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet Dancers, and more in an effort to expose youth to the arts via this special programming during the holiday season. Check out the schedule of events below and plan a fun and educational cultural experience for your little ones! …

Get Caught in the Traffic Jam CARnival

Performing Arts

Published 11/17/16

On Saturday, December 3 at 3:00pm, Steve Parker, a renegade musician who focuses on art projects that build community, takes over a block-wide parking lot in the heart of downtown Miami. Parker will host the Traffic Jam CARnival, a populist rally of sorts to include: a Make Out Point and TailGate Trivia by Emerge Miami to strengthen social bonds; a mixed ability dance performance with live musical score created from amplified and processed components of the wheelchairs from Karen Peterson Dance; a gang of skateboarding ukulele players from Inlets Ensemble; a quartet of choreographed musical bicycles by Kunstwaffen 1916; and a large scale, interactive xylophone made from automobile hoods and parts by Manita Brug-Chmielenska and Randy Burman. …

Happy 10th Birthday to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts!

Performing Arts

Published 10/7/16

The fun begins at 11:00am. Performances on the Center’s numerous stages will feature local talent such as: Cirque Dreams, Fushu Daiko, Ketchy Shuby, Afrobeta, Guitar Over Guns, Ra Ra Lakay, Delou Africa, Bluejay, Spanglish Wrangler, Ground Zero Crew, Bahamas Junkanoo Revue, Lion Parade, DJ Sama, Mr. Pauer, and more! The 10th Birthday Concert featuring CeeLo Green will begin at 7:30 p.m., with local bands Spam All-Stars and Tiempo Libre opening. Immediately following the concert, everyone is invited to cap off the celebration with a free outdoor after party on the Center’s Thomson Plaza for the Arts. 1300 Biscayne Blvd in Miami | 305.949.6722 For more information and the latest schedule updates, please visit www.arshtcenter.org/10 and sign up to receive emails about the Center’s free events.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Marissa Alma Nick

Performing Arts

Published 9/20/16

Marissa Alma Nick is founder/artistic director and choreographer of Alma Dance Theater. Her emotive driven choreography exists on stage, site-specific settings, screen dances and conceptual installations. …

10 Reasons to Dance

Performing Arts

Published 9/20/16

Something you will never experience by merely watching a dance performance, as opposed to taking a dance class or just dancing for fun, is a good old-fashioned cardiovascular workout to get the blood flowing and the calories burning. Not only will dancing help to reduce your blood pressure, lower harmful cholesterol, and increase your flexibility and muscle tone, it will also help you lose weight, making that tutu fit too, too well! Just to give you a few examples and an approximate idea of how many calories you can expect to shed in an hour, per dance type: Salsa burns 405 to 480, Ballet burns 380 to 450, Swing 300 to 550, Ballroom dancing between 150 and 320, Tap zaps 200 to a whopping 700 an hour, depending on pace. …

“Rising Stars” Shine in New World School Of The Arts’ Spectacular Visual Arts & Performance Showcase

Performing Arts

Published 3/4/16

Rising Stars Showcase, a professionally staged, energy packed, one-of-a-kind performance, presents the extraordinary talent of high school and college students from New World School of the Arts, Florida’s premier arts institution. The showcase begins at the New World Gallery with a juried visual arts exhibition featuring impressive student artworks. The show, as diverse as the school population, includes painting, drawing, design, sculpture, digital media and installations. The evening continues just a few blocks away at the historic Gusman Center for the Performing Arts with a pre-performance VIP Reception to welcome guests to this artistic landmark. Following the reception, the performance showcases excerpts from works performed by the high school and the college students during the school year. …

The Artist Spotlight Shines on Melissa Bibliowicz

Performing Arts

Published 2/4/16

The very talented Melissa Bibliowicz is a student of New World School of the Arts, the 4 year conservatory program with 4 different divisions: Theatre, Dance, Music, and Visual Arts. When choosing a college, everyone looks for the most popular, well-known schools they can highlight on a resume in the future. In Melissa’s case, she was looking for a program that would give her the training she required to mold her into the best performer she could possibly be. New World did that for her. “I would not trade these past four years for anything,” says Melissa. “I have built friendships that will last a lifetime and a future that is unstoppable. New World School of the Arts creates professional performers ready and hungry to work.” …

New World School Of The Arts “Emerge” BFA Dance Concert Highlights Passion, Skill And Creative Choreography

Performing Arts

Published 2/4/16

February 19th and 20th …

MDC Live Arts Tackles Climate Change through Epic Performance Installation: Holoscenes

Performing Arts

Published 11/18/15

…

MIAMI CITY BALLET Celebrates its 30th ANNIVERSARY SEASON

Performing Arts

Published 8/31/15

For the 30th Anniversary Season, Miami City Ballet Artistic Director, Lourdes Lopez, has assembled one of the company’s most ambitious performance schedules yet, with masterworks from the company’s George Balanchine foundation side-by-side with such leading modern choreographic voices as Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, Justin Peck and Liam Scarlett. …

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‘MURDER FOR TWO’ AT ACTORS’ PLAYHOUSE ISN’T KILLER, BUT IT GETS THE JOB DONE

‘SKELETON CREW’ WORKS ON MANY LEVELS AT GABLESTAGE

BROADWAY FANS CAN EXPERIENCE SIX HIT MUSICALS, INCLUDING HAMILTON, FOR LESS THAN $43* PER SHOW WITH NEW “VIEW FROM TOP” SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE

John Leguizamo brings hilarity with much needed history lesson

ASTRID HADAD UPENDS CULTURAL CONVENTIONS AT THE COLONY THEATRE

SUMMER SHORTS SQUEEZES BIG IDEAS INTO LITTLE PLAYS AT THE ARSHT CENTER

CORTEO IS COMING TO SUNRISE WITH ITS NORTH AMERICAN ARENA TOUR

The Hollywood ArtsPark Experience is quite the musical experience!

Latest News on Coconut Grove Playhouse Revival Project

BACH BIRTHDAY BASH - FREE CONCERT

Frida

Six decades of Ailey

VISUAL AND MUSICAL IMPRESSIONS SHARING THE STAGE

Actors’ Playhouse: 30 years of excellence and splendor

Microtheater Miami: A Highlight Reel of Intimate and Punchy Theater Shows

Culture Shock Miami Fosters the Next Generation of Arts Patrons with the Launch of its 14th Season of Affordable Programming Directed to Younger Audiences

Theater Etiquette

Sensory-Friendly Children Shows

OUR PICKS FOR 2018-2019 SEASON

MDC Live Arts Presents Radical 2018-19 Season - A Focus on Women, Immigrants & Innovators

NEW WORLD SCHOOL OF THE ARTS - A BEACON OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE

"Dance Talks" at SMDCAC

Miami City Ballet Has Called South Florida Home for 33 Years

The 2nd Annual Miami International Ballet Competition is slated for January 23-27

GENERAL DIRECTOR AND CEO, SUSAN T. DANIS LEAVES FLORIDA GRAND OPERA

XXIII International Ballet Festival of Miami

Redeye: Beyond Art + Music + Film + Food

Cirque du Soleil’s First Ever On Ice Production

Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis return to Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in the high voltage rock ‘n’ roll musical Million Dollar Quartet

Shorts On Ships - Professional Theatre at Sea

Showcasing Rising Stars