FORT LAUDERDALE – This May, The Parker’s Lillian S. Wells Hall brings an electrifying lineup of music, comedy and family entertainment. From the soulful reggae of Tarrus Riley to the iconic harmonies of Our House: The Music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and the laughter-inducing wit of Paula Poundstone and Margaret Cho, there’s something for every taste. Families can embark on an adventure with Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live! while rock fans relive the legendary sound of Queen. With show-stopping performances spanning every genre, The Parker is the place to be this May.
Prominent, second-generation Jamaican roots reggae singer Tarrus Riley with Dean Fraser and the Blak Soil Band come to The Parker on Friday, May 2 at 8:30 p.m. Riley made a bold entrance onto the music scene in the mid-2000s with albums like “Challenges” and “Parables,” the latter of which included the Sly & Robbie-aided hit “She’s Royal.” The son of veteran singer and former Uniques and Techniques member Jimmy Riley, Tarrus’ music embraces contemporary sounds while remaining tied to the country’s roots traditions as well as Rastafarianism. While continuing to rack up hits and awards, he maintained a focus on incorporating Black history into his music on tracks like 2011’s “Shaka Zulu Pickney” and launching the youth education initiative, the Tarrus Riley Freedom Writers Competition.
The Cleveland Clinic Rock Series brings an all-star lineup to Lillian S. Wells Hall with Our House: The Music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, presented by the Broward Center and Live Nation on Wednesday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. Audiences are in for an unparalleled musical experience as Our House, The Music of CSNY assembles a stellar, historic lineup featuring an extraordinary ensemble of musical friends to perform the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young repertoire, including: Steve Postell (guitarist, musical director, David Crosby & The Immediate Family); Chris Pierce (handpicked by Neil Young to support his 2023 tour); Jeff Pevar (lead guitar, David Crosby, Graham Nash, CSN, Phil Lesh); Teresa James (vocals & piano, The Rhythm Tramps); Ted Russell Kamp (bass, Shooter Jennings); Craig Macintyre (drums, Goo Goo Dolls, Josh Groban) and featuring images and words from legendary CSNY photographer Henry Diltz. The show is an immersive journey through classic hits such as “Déjà vu,” “Wooden Ships,” “Helpless,” and “Carry On,” delivered with the finesse that only Our House, The Music of CSNY can provide.
Paula Poundstone brings her smart, observational humor and spontaneous wit to The Parker as part of the Truist Comedy Series in a rescheduled performance on Thursday, May 8 at 8 p.m. A popular panelist on NPR’s “Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!,” Poundstone is an accomplished author, lecturer, host and actress. Her new podcast, “Nobody Listens To Paula Poundstone,” is a comedy field guide to life. An American Comedy Award winner for Best Female Standup Comic, she was the first woman to perform standup comedy at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Her guest appearances include “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “Late Night with Carson Daly” and “Nerdist” with Chris Hardwick. This event is not appropriate for children under 12.
Audiences will dance their cares away when the Broward Center presents Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live! on Friday, May 9 at 6 p.m. as part of the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Imagination Series. When Gobo, Red, Mokey, Wembley and Boober Fraggle discover a legend about a long lost Fraggle treasure called the Celebration Stone, they embark on an adventure to find it and end up celebrating the greatest treasure of all. Featuring gorgeous new walk-around versions of the Fraggles, puppet-sized and mechanized Doozers, giant Gorgs and exclusive new puppet creatures from the acclaimed Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, along with fan-favorite songs and exciting visual effects, this all-new musical stage adventure welcomes audiences into the incredible world of Fraggle Rock in a whole new way! Written and directed by John Tartaglia (“Avenue Q,” “Shrek the Musical”), the first-ever live show will include fantastic immersive special effects, audience interactivity, magical moments and endearing new characters to make this unforgettable theater experience perfect for families and for Fraggle Rock fans who remain young at heart. Lap tickets for children 12 months and under are $10 and only available at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office. Everyone in the theater must have a ticket.
One Night of Queen Performed by Gary Mullen and The Works recreates the look, sound, pomp and showmanship of Queen and its flamboyant front man Freddie Mercury on Sunday, May 11 at 7 p.m. as part of the Cleveland Clinic Rock Series. This amazing tribute band showcases rock royalty’s greatest hits with amazing authenticity. Audiences will relive beloved classics with songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Killer Queen,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “We Are the Champions” and many more. Known for their staggeringly convincing shows, Gary Mullen and the Works perform a complete two-hour Queen concert that is guaranteed to rock!
The Cleveland Clinic Rock Series continues when the Broward Center and AEG presents bring Mat Kearney’s Headlights Home Tour to Lillian S. Wells Hall on Monday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m., with special guest Augustana. Over his career, Kearney has released five studio albums, claimed the top spot on iTunes, topped multiple Billboard charts, made four entries into the Hot 100 and amassed more than 2.5 billion global streams. The multi-Platinum songwriter and producer has performed live on the “Today Show,” “Ellen,” “The Tonight Show,” “Letterman” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and has garnered rave reviews from USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, People, Billboard, Parade and Marie Claire. He also has an incredible touring history, sharing the road with everyone from John Mayer to Needtobreathe.
Unconditionally and unapologetically herself, Margaret Cho: Live and Livid! entertains audiences on Friday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Truist Comedy Series. A comedian with more than a few albums and specials under her belt, Cho is the champion of debunking taboo subjects like sex, race, world politics, sexual orientation and womanhood with her unabashed, sure-fire humor. Winner of countless awards for comedy, acting and her anti-racism, anti-bullying, homeless and gay rights efforts, Vogue magazine named Cho one of the nine best female comedians of all time alongside Joan Rivers, Gilda Radner and Wanda Sykes. This event contains adult language or content and is not appropriate for children under 12 years of age.
Also performing at The Parker this May are: Aron Afshar (May 3); South Florida Pride Concert Band: Heroes and Villains (May 10); Dance Through the Ages: Here’s to 20 Years 2025 Annual Dance Recital (May 25); Miss Arc Broward Pageant 2025 (May 18); and Astrid Audet Academy 2025 Recital (May 31).
Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of The Broward Center and The Parker. Buy tickets online at ParkerPlayhouse.com and Ticketmaster.com; by phone at 954.462.0222; and 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. Lillian S. Wells Hall at The Parker is located in Holiday Park at 707 N.E. Eighth St. in Fort Lauderdale. The Parker is an affiliated venue of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, which provides programming and management of the facility.
The Broward Center 2024/2025 season is supported by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation, AutoNation, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Spirit and Nicklaus Children’s Health System.
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 850 performances each year to more than 600,000 patrons, displaying a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events. Guest experiences at the Broward Center include the all-inclusive Spirit Club Level, the Nicklaus Children’s Health System 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 100,000 students annually. The Broward Center also manages The Parker, an iconic Fort Lauderdale venue, the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center on the campus of Nova Southeastern University and the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center in Miami-Dade County. The Broward Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. receives and maintains funds to sustain, develop and secure the future of the Broward Center. The Broward Center is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale, FL. For more information, visit BrowardCenter.org.
About The Parker
The Parker is Fort Lauderdale’s iconic, heritage theater presenting concerts, comedy, dance, family fare and more. Beautifully renovated in 2021, The Parker offers audiences enhanced entertainment and hospitality experiences. The neo-classical Lillian S. Wells Hall features outstanding acoustics, unobstructed sightlines, wide rows and continental seating. The grand S. Donald Sussman Lobby, Bernie Peck’s Bar, the intimate Haller Club, and the private members’ lounge, The Place To Be, provide ample opportunities for audiences to enjoy culture, cocktails and conversation with every visit to the theater. For more information, visit ParkerPlayhouse.com
Complete May/June Schedule at The Parker
May 2Tarrus Riley with Dean Fraser and the Blak Soil Band
May 3Aron Afshar
May 7Our House: Music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
May 8 Paula Poundstone – Truist Comedy Series
May 9 Fraggle Rock Live – Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Imagination Series
May 10South Florida Pride Concert Band: Heroes and Villains
May 11One Night of Queen Performed by Garry Mullen and The Works – Cleveland Clinic Rock Series
May 12Mat Kearney – Cleveland Clinic Rock Series
May 16Margaret Cho – Truist Comedy Series
May 18Miss Arc Broward Pageant 2025
May 25Dance Through the Ages: Here’s to 20 Years 2025 Annual Dance Recitals
May 31Astrid Audet Academy Carnival of Dance 2025 Recitals
June 15Yohay Sponder – Truist Comedy Series
June 21Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida: Dazzling Divas
