Carmen Cusack plays Elphaba in the ‘Wizard of Oz’ prequel ‘Wicked,’ which runs through April 6 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. (Photo by Joan Marcus/Broadway Across America)
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By J.W. ARNOLD
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Spring is in the air, and though the outdoor world may not undergo much of a change here in South Florida, inside the theaters, movie houses, art galleries and concert halls the scene is about to change dramatically and the action is about to pick up. With three world-class performing arts centers, strong community theater programs and diverse musical organizations, gay residents and visitors in South Florida will have plenty of places to take their significant others or spring fling dates. Here is a quick look at some of the highlights of the spring arts calendar:
The Broadway hit “Wicked” blew into Fort Lauderdale this month and is currently on a three-week run through April 6 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. See what happened in the land of Oz before Dorothy arrived. Tickets are $30.50 to $153.50. For tickets, go to www.browardcenter.org or call 954-462-0222.
In Miami, “Forbidden Broadway” pokes fun at “Wicked” and a dozen other Broadway hits in a hilarious musical review that takes liberties with the themes of popular musical theater. The production, complete with a Tony Award-winning, Off-Broadway cast, runs through April 13 at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. For more information or tickets, go to www.arshtcenter.com or call 305-949-6722.
David Goldyn’s Rising Action Theatre in Oakland Park has launched its inaugural season with a series of productions that appeal to its audiences’ gay sensibilities. The newest production, “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks,” tells the story of a recent widow of a Southern Baptist minister who hires an acerbic gay dance instructor to give her private lessons – and gets more than she bargains for in the deal. For more information or tickets, go to www.risingactiontheatre.com or call 954-561-2225.
Lou Diamond Phillips stars as King Arthur in Lerner & Lowe’s classic musical “Camelot.” The production returns to South Florida April 15 to 20 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. Tickets are $24 to $71. For more information or tickets, go to www.kravis.org or call 561-832-7469.
Twelve jurors from 12 walks of life lead to one of the greatest courtroom dramas of all time when “Twelve Angry Men” cast judgment at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on April 22 to May 4. The gritty jury room drama features “Waltons” star Richard Thomas. Tickets are $15 to $58. For more information or tickets, go to www.browardcenter.org or call 954-462-0222.
Think of the Tony Award-winning best musical “Avenue Q” as “Sesame Street” for adults. This irreverent look at the lessons we all learn as adults includes songs like “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” and “Sometimes You Love Someone So Much You Want to Kill Them.” Presented at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami from May 13 to 18. For more information or tickets, go to www.arshtcenter.com or call 305-949-6722
It’s worth the drive to Coral Gables for any production at Actors Playhouse on the Miracle Mile. The theater offers up Rupert Holmes’ new murder mystery, “Thumbs,” May 7 to 25. Set in an isolated cabin in Vermont, this is the story of two equally clever women from two very different walks of life who will need all their wit and will to survive a cat-and-mouse game with a devious killer. For more information or tickets, go to www.actorsplayhouse.org or call 305-444-9293.
After a successful run in January at the Arsht Center in Miami, John Doyle’s Tony Award-winning revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” makes a stop in West Palm Beach at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts May 13 to 18. This is a serious production of some serious musical theater that is not for the faint of heart. Tickets are $24 to $71 and are available at www.kravis.org or call 561-832-7469.
Maybe this show should be playing on Florida’s west coast, but “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” is coming to West Palm Beach anyway for an extended June 3 to 22 run at the Kraivs Center for the Performing Arts. The production was well received at the Parker Playhouse last February, so it must resonate with the blue hairs. Tickets are $32. For tickets and more information, go to www.kravis.org or call 561-832-7469
Director Jonah Markowitz’s coming out drama, “Shelter,” set in the gritty port city of Long Beach, Calif., comes to the Gateway on Sunrise Boulevard on April 4. Markowitz utilizes stunning cinematography to tell the touching story of a young artist, Zach (Trever Wright), who puts his own desires on hold while he supports his sister and 5-year-old nephew. Brad Rowe (“Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss”) is the gay older brother of Zach’s best friend who awakens the teen’s hopes and dreams in the Pacific surf. For showtimes and tickets, go to www.sunrisecinemas.com or call 954-763-7994.
The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and the Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival will showcase more than 60 films and shorts from April 25 to May 4. In addition to screenings, the festivals offer educational programs and gala parties. Screenings will be held in theaters in South Beach and across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. For a detailed schedule (available March 22) and tickets, go to www.mglff.com or call 305-534-9924.
The South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble presents its spring concert, “Heroes,” on Sunday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The program will salute both fictional and real-life heroes through music. For more information, go to www.flamingofreedomband.org or call 954-478-7478.
In Harmony, the non-profit chorus that promotes diversity and understanding through music, will present its spring production, “Imagine — Our World in Harmony” at the Broward Main Library auditorium on May 31 and June 1. For more information, go to www.inharmonyproductions.org or call 954-717-9494.
“A Tribute to Elton John” is the theme for the spring concert by the South Florida Lambda Chorale on Friday, June 13, and Saturday, June 14, at 8 p.m. at the Broward Main Library auditorium. The Lambda Chorale will explore the pop legend’s career with a wide range of repertoire spanning his successful career. For more information, go to www.lambdachorale.com or call 866-937-4644.
Conductor Todd Wiley leads the Ft. Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus in “Rockin’ with the Rhythm” on Saturday, June 21, and Sunday, June 22, at 8 p.m. at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. These guys will have you dancing in your seats. Tickets are $20 to 40 at www.fortlauderdalegaymenschorus.org or call 954-832-0060.
Human anatomy hasn’t been this fun since you had a crush on your eighth-grade lab partner! “Bodies: The Exhibition” continues at the Las Olas Riverfront, 300 SW 1st Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The cutting-edge exhibit reveals every facet of the human body and presents its subject matter in a fascinating and respectful manner. Tickets are $18 to $25. For tickets or more information, go to www.museumtix.com.
The works of local gay and lesbian artists will be showcased in ArtsUnited’s annual “United and Proud” exhibit, June 1 to 30 in Gallery Six at the Fort Lauderdale Main Library, 100 N. Andrews Ave. The juried show will feature works in a variety of media, ranging from paintings and photography to mixed media and three-dimensional art. Admission is free and an opening reception will be held on Wednesday, June 4, from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information, go to www.artsunitedonline.org.
The Miami City Ballet presents the world premiere of “Nightspot,” a collaboration between legendary choreographer Twyla Tharp and pop legend Elvis Costello, March 28 to 30 at the Arsht Center in Miami. The work, which explores musical genres ranging from rock ’n’ roll to jazz, classical and country, will also be presented at West Palm Beach’s Kravis Center April 4 to 6 and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Ft. Lauderdale, April 11 to 13. For more information and tickets, go to www.miamicityballet.org or call 305-929-7010.
With the success of television programs like “Dancing with the Stars” and “Your Momma Don’t Dance,” ballroom dancing is hot. The London West End spectacular “Simply Ballroom” comes to West Palm Beach’s Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, hosted by Debbie Reynolds, on Tuesday, April 1, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $65. For tickets and more information, go to www.kravis.org or call 561-832-7469.
Ballet Gamonet, led by gay choreographer Jimmy Gamonet, closes out its 2007-08 season with Program IV, including “Divertimento Espanol (Paquita),” “Grand Pas Classique” and “Carmen.” The program will be offered Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts in Miami and Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18 at Bailey Concert Hall, 3501 SW Davie Road in Davie. Tickets are $27 to $60. For more information or tickets, call 305-259-9775 or go to www.balletgamonet.org.
The Daily Show’s funny woman Lauren Weedman contrasts her experiences volunteering in a women’s prison with the superficial world of her Hollywood showbiz set in the bitingly funny solo show “Bust” in the Abdo River Room at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on April 6. Tickets are $32.50. For tickets or more information, go to www.browardcenter.org or call 954-462-0222.
Comedian Lisa Lampanelli delivers no-holds barred comedy. She makes her way to West Palm Beach’s Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, April 25 at 8 p.m. For tickets or more information, go to www.kravis.org or call 561-832-7469.
Three of today’s funniest Jewish female comics salute the trailblazing pioneers of comedy with their own zany stories in “Jewish Princesses of Comedy.” The show comes to the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts May 20 to June 1. Created by Last Comic Standing’s Cory Kahaney, the show is peppered with vintage footage of the original queens of comedy, Belle Barth, Totie Fields, Jean Carroll and others. For tickets or more information, go to www.kravis.org or call 561-832-7469.
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