If you’ve ever attempted playwriting, then you’ve probably discovered that plays seldom jump out of the mind of their author fully formed. Instead, most new plays that make it to production have first undergone a development period, in which the playwrights work with other theatre artists to bring an idea to its more realized form. And this is where initiatives like Palm Beach Dramaworks’ New Year New Play Festival come in. 

Arts Ballet of Florida celebrates the company’s 25th anniversary with a Gala performance of “The Nutcracker” on Thursday December 8 at Aventura Arts and Cultural Center in Aventura. Following the gala, ABT will continue to perform “The Nutcracker” with four more shows, two on December 9 and one each on December 10 and 11.

ABT will continue to perform “The Nutcracker” with three more shows from December 16-18 at Parker Playhouse in Ft. Lauderdale.

The Actors Community Theatre (ACT) of Davie opened their production of Sylvia, a Broadway comedy, on Nov. 11. The play is written by A.R. Gurney and features the story of a marriage, a man and his dog. It runs for two weekends, Nov. 11-20. There will be eight performances, with each lasting two hours with a 15-minute intermission. Tickets are $10 online at ACTofDavie.org, or $12 at the door. Performances on Fridays and Saturdays are at 8 p.m. There are matinee performances on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. 

Pembroke Pines – As the eerie spirit of October descends over South Florida, it seems the perfect time for the Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts to bring gothic 19th century London and Stephen Sondheim’s dark musical classic Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street to life starting Friday, October 21. Tickets are on sale now at our.show/pptopasweeney. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm through November 6th.  Tickets are $35 for adults and $25 for students and seniors.