South Florida-favorite Slow Burn Theatre Company premiered its penultimate performance this past week with The Prom. All at once, a tale of acceptance, teenage love, and popularity, told through LGBTQ characters in homophobic settings, The Prom scratches a pestering itch inside us who have an unruly heart. Slow Burn’s production here is guaranteed to make you laugh and feel a little better about loving your neighbor after you leave.
Annually producing about five productions, Miami City Ballet is nearing the end of a noteworthy season with its current production of “Spring Mix,” on view at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach and the Arsht Center in Miami. Featuring three shorter ballets of about thirty minutes, the production showcased another Balanchine work, a modern work by Alonzo King, and a world premiere from Brazilian-born choreographer Ricardo Amarante. South Florida Theater Magazine was fortunate enough to attend one of the performances at the Arsht, and I was thoroughly impressed and elated from such great movement and precision demonstrated by Miami City Ballet.
Aside from annual in-the–park offerings, there really isn’t a lot of opportunity for South Floridians to engage with the work of William Shakespeare. Thus, it’s actually rather exciting to see Thinking Cap Theatre taking on the timeless work of the celebrated playwright. And while Taming of the Shrew probably wouldn’t have been my first pick from the Bard’s expansive repertoire- in large part due to the fairly blatant misogynistic implications of the somewhat sophomoric plot- director Nicole Stodard makes an admirable effort to mitigate these implications with a distinct reimagining.
If timing is everything, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG’s time is NOW. The latest iteration of Stephen Sondheim’s “most autobiographical musical” is currently experiencing enthusiastic crowds and rave reviews on Broadway. Labeled “a revelatory and intoxicating revival” by “The Washington Post” and considered “one of the best musicals of the theatre season!” by “The New York Post.”
Around once again is the classic-become-cult musical about a rapping Founding Father, Hamilton. First having its current run at the Arsht Center in Miami, the production will head slightly up the coast to the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach for a run in April. Just in case you don’t get a chance to see it this month, the hit show will still be in South Florida next month. It was my first time seeing the raved-about show, and it’s evident why it’s already held so dearly to those who love theater: the songs are great, the diversity is integral, and the production value is remarkably high.
Norm Foster may not be a household name in the Lower 48, but up north he’s often referred to as “the Canadian Neil Simon.” Canada’s most-produced contemporary playwright (his plays currently number over 55), is treasured for his humor, accessibility, and insight into the trials faced by ordinary people in today’s world.
Zoetic Stage’s production of the classic John Kander/Fred Ebb 1966 Broadway musical “Cabaret”, running now through April 7 at the 250 seat Carnival Studio Theater at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Miami, captures the attention of the audiences even before the musical begins.
I always loved carousels as a child (one of my earliest photos, and memories, took place on a carousel in Coney Island). So of course I hopped right onto the horse for a short, fun spin on the colorful carousel (complete with barker) stationed at the entrance of TheWick Theatre to promote their latest show.
Every day that goes by confirms we are now living in a dystopian future projected by sci-fi writers of the past. George Orwell’s iconic 1984 appears to resonate in our year of 2024 the most. The job of the book’s protagonist is to erase and rewrite history – daily. He works for the “Ministry of Truth” where facts are basically made up and no one can escape “Big Brother” surveillance. Everyone’s interior living and outdoor space is surrounded by screens that both see them and constantly broadcast fake news while regularly scheduled rallies rev up emotions for revenge upon the day’s perceived enemy. Sound familiar?
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel – a complex, intriguing combination of music, life experience (both good and bad) and fantasy – is playing at the Wick Theatre in Boca Raton. A morality tale about the power of redemption set against a carnivalesque background, it was the second musical created by Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (book and lyrics) – the duo that debuted as a team with Oklahoma a year or so earlier.
