FORT LAUDERDALE – Filled with epic fairy tales that will take audiences into the woods and under the sea and poignant stories of faith, love and acceptance, Slow Burn Theatre Company announces its 2023/2024 season of five Broadway musicals in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The five musicals are Into the Woods, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Sister Act, The Prom and Spongebob The Musical.
“From the kindness we learn as children from cartoon and fairy tale characters to the often difficult choices we make as adults that allow us to become accepted as who we are, our upcoming season celebrates friendship and the universal emotions and dreams that unite us,” said Slow Burn Theatre Artistic Director Patrick Fitzwater.
Slow Burn Theatre will once again offer an open captioned performance of each production in which a text display located to the side of the stage scrolls words in synchronization with the performance. Subscription renewals are available now with new subscriptions available on Monday, March 6. Groups may purchase tickets beginning Monday, May 22, and tickets to individual performances go on sale Thursday, June 8.
The season begins with Into the Woods from Saturday, October 14 through Sunday, October 29 with an open-captioned performance on Sunday, October 22 at 2 p.m. The original 1988 Broadway blockbuster brought home Tony Awards® for Stephen Sondheim for his score and James Lapine for his book, only to be followed by a 2002 run that took home the award for “Best Revival of a Musical” and a current Broadway production. Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Ridding Hood, the Baker and his wife and Jack and the beanstalk are caught up in an epic fairytale about wishes, family and the choices we make. This modern classic weaves together a fantastical fairytale of mystery and enchantment with a euphoric score creating a sophisticated musical twist on beloved childhood fables. This production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. Into the Woods was originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine with orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick.
Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid delivers a theatrical holiday treat from Saturday, December 16 through Sunday, December 31 with an open captioned performance Sunday, December 24 at 2 p.m. This splashy musical extravaganza put the “sea” in the holiday season with a love story for the ages. When Ariel, King Triton’s youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, she bargains with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs, but the bargain is not what it seems. With music by eight-time Academy Award® winner, Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and a compelling book by Doug Wright, the musical features irresistible songs including “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World.” This production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.
Brace yourself Sister for a divine feel-good musical comedy smash hit musical which is joyous and uplifting in equal measures as the Slow Burn Theatre season continues with Sister Act from Saturday, February 3 through Sunday, February 18 including an open captioned performance on Sunday, February 11at 2 p.m. Based on the hit 1992 film and featuring original music by Tony- and eight-time Oscar® winner, Alan Menken (Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors), this heavenly hit is filled with the sounds of Motown, soul and disco, and was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. When disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier, witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be a found: a convent! Sister Act has lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner and additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane. Based on the Touchstone Pictures Motion Picture, Sister Act, written by Joseph Howard, this production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.
The Prom, the musical about which Variety raved, “It’s so full of happiness that you think your heart is about to burst,” is presented from Saturday, March 23 through Sunday, April 7 with an open captioned performance on Sunday, March 31 at 2 p.m. Winner of The Drama Desk Award for Best New Musical, The Prom follows four eccentric Broadway stars who are on a mission to transform lives when they discover the plight of a student who just wants to bring her girlfriend to prom and soon her entire town has a date with destiny. Expertly capturing all the humor and heart of a classic musical comedy with a message that resonates with audiences now more than ever, The Prom features a book by Tony Award winner Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone) and Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (Aladdin), music by Tony Award nominee Matthew Sklar (Elf) and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin. This production is presented through special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide.
A legendary roster of Grammy® Award winners including Sara Bareillas, Cyndi Lauper and John Legend help bring one of the world’s most beloved characters to the stage as the 2023/2024 Slow Burn Theatre Season culminates with the bold, original musical Spongebob The Musical Saturday, June 8 through Sunday, June 23 with an open captioned performance on Sunday, June 16 at 2 p.m. Adapted from the iconic Nickelodeon series, SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, Squidward and all of Bikini Bottom face total annihilation — until a most unexpected hero rises to take center stage and the power of optimism saves the world. Based on the series by Stephen Hillenburg with musical production conceived by Tina Landau, the musical has a book by Kyle Jarrow and original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and T.I. The score also features songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny and Andy Paley. Additional lyrics are by Jonathan Coulton with additional music by Tom Kitt. Nickelodeon, SpongeBob SquarePants, and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. This show is presented in arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
Season subscriptions start at $216 and reflect a 20% discount compared to single ticket prices. Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center and Parker Playhouse. Buy tickets online at BrowardCenter.org, or Ticketmaster.com; by phone at 954.462.0222 or in person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office.
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information visit BrowardCenter.org, like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BrowardCenter and Facebook.com/BrowardCenterEducation, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BrowardCenter, subscribe to our channel at Youtube.com/user/BrowardCenter and join the conversation with #BrowardCenter.
Major support for the Slow Burn Theatre Company is provided by the Broward County Cultural Division, the Cultural Council, and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.
The Broward Center 2022/2023 season is supported by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation. AutoNation, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Spirit and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center are proud sponsors of the Broward Center. Programs are also sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment of the Arts.
About The Broward Center for the Performing Arts
One of America’s premier performing arts venues, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts presents more than 700 performances each year to more than 700,000 patrons, showcasing a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events. Guest experiences at the Broward Center include the all-inclusive Spirit Club Level, the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Intermezzo Lounge, special events in the Huizenga Pavilion, waterfront dining at Marti’s New River Bistro and innovative classes and workshops for all ages at the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center. With one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, the Broward Center serves more than 130,000 students annually. The Broward Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. receives and maintains funds to sustain, develop and secure the future of the Broward Center. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit BrowardCenter.org.
Jessie Dez is a graduate from Palm Beach Atlantic University where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree, with concentrations in Musical Theater and Broadcast Journalism. As an actress, she has performed all over South Florida with well-known companies, such as Delray Beach Playhouse, MNM Theatre Company, Warner Bros Entertainment Inc, Lake Worth Playhouse, etc. Not only have you seen her on stage, but on television as well. As a television host for Living Local FL TV, Jessie has been on FOX 29 highlighting all the best places to eat, shop and play in South Florida. Jessie is thrilled to mix her passion of theater and journalism into her writing and content creation for The South Florida Theater Magazine.
