The much-anticipated 18th Annual Festival of the Arts BOCA is nearly here. The 10-day, 11-event series of lectures, concerts, a classic film with live soundtrack and other forms of entertainment kicks off March 1 at the Mizner Park Amphitheater, Boca Raton, where all major activities are scheduled.
Established in 2007, Festival of the Arts BOCA aims to promote the cultural arts and enrich the quality of life for residents of Boca Raton, North Broward and Palm Beach County through a wide-ranging series of performance arts events and lectures held each March.
Many luminaries from the classical arts have been featured at the Festival of the Arts BOCA, including Itzhak Perlman, Renée Fleming (who returns this year), Joshua Bell and Pat Metheny. Award-winning authors such as Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Thomas Friedman have also dropped by.
The schedule is:
March 1
The festival begins with a tune-laced celebration of legendary maestro, Henry Mancini’s 100th birthday. The air will be filled with timeless tunes (think “Moon River” and “Pink Panther”), brought to life by the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, accompanied by his daughter, Monica, who adds vocals. The show is a family affair, produced by multi-Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Gregg Field, Monica’s husband. It starts at 7:30 p.m.
March 2
The Florida premiere of Steven Spielberg’s iconic scary fish film, “Jaws” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in a manner unlike anything the audience has ever seen. The cinematic masterpiece will come alive as the Festival Orchestra Boca performs the Academy Award-winning score by John Williams. The music is notable for the famous two-note rumble heralding the arrival of the fearsome shark.
March 3
Opening the Festival’s series of lectures is Daisy Dowling, author of “Workparent,” founder of the movement with the same name and an executive coach. At 4 p.m., she will lead the audience through the sinuous paths of how working parents can create successful, fulfilling lives while raising happy kids.
March 3 and 4
Ms. Fleming shows up twice at this year’s fest. In an exclusive recital at 7 p.m. March 3, the reigning queen of sopranos will charm the audience with her mesmerizing voice. The five-time Grammy winner performed at the inaugural Festival in 2007, and again in 2015, to sold-out, standing-room-only audiences.
At 4 p.m. on March 4, she returns to the amphitheater stage to offer a lecture exploring the profound connections between music and mental well-being. Her “Sound Health” initiative studies and brings attention to research and practice at the intersection of music, health and neuroscience.
March 5
The festival joins forces with the Rotary Club of Boca Raton to spotlight emerging talents from throughout South Florida at the Rotary Club Future Stars Competition, beginning at 7 p.m. This performance, a popular annual attraction, will showcase some of the top young singers and dancers in our own backyard.
March 6
The Authors & Ideas Program continues with Nicholas Thompson, CEO of “The Atlantic” and former editor-in-chief of “Wired” magazine, who will unravel the mysteries of the “Wired Future” and show how technology touches our lives. The aim is to show us how to use it more effectively.
March 7
American poet and public speaker, Richard Blanco, will take the stage at 7 p.m., offering profound insights through poetry and prose. Selected by President Obama as the fifth Presidential Inaugural Poet in U.S. history, Blanco was the youngest person to serve in that role. In 2023, Blanco was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Biden from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
March 8
Surrender to the passion and fervor of the Barcelona Flamenco Ballet with Luxuria at 7:30 p.m. The dance ensemble introduces a new flamenco concept, one that preserves the root of the traditional dance with a captivating infusion of jazz and contemporary ballet. The show is a South Florida exclusive.
