That might not seem like something that needs to be said but, even the mention of Michael Jackson could lead others to expect some grand musical odyssey through the life of the King of Pop. While it isn’t a play technically about him, the playwright Aurin Squire has put together a coming-of-age journey that uses Michael Jackson as a metaphor. This world premiere play focuses on a group of friends, the main and only members of the Opa-Locka Michael Jackson Fan Club, and their hopeful attempt at creating the perfect mural of their musical idol.
If you think you might be offended by simulated sex, extensive drug references, or toilet humor, Trainspotting is probably not the play for you. However, if you’re a fan of the film—or are up for something a little more out there in your theatregoing adventures—then you might want to make a priority of catching the upcoming final weekend of what is certainly among the craziest productions I’ve ever been in the cast of.
Aurin Squire’s “Defacing Michael Jackson” is a memory play, at least in part.
Getting its world premiere by Miami New Drama at the Colony Theatre on Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road, the piece is about five teens trying to navigate life, love and a turbulent world in Opa-locka circa 1984. It was sparked by the playwright’s memories of himself and his friends doing the same, albeit some years later.
Christian Thompson is a 30-year old actor, dancer, singer and writer from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Growing up, his mother moved them across the street from North Andrews Elementary School of the Arts in the hopes that he would be inspired. “Little did she know…” Thompson says with a smirk. He recalls seeing a touring production of Cats at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and that’s when he decided he wanted to be an actor at the young age of 8 years old. “I was sitting in the aisle and I saw an actor dressed as a cat and they get paid to do this?! I want to do that,” Thompson continues, “And that was all I needed, it was a wrap… so I set my mind to it.”
Though I was already pretty certain that Zoetic Stage’s production of Next to Normal was bound to be an incredible one based on my familiarity with the show and with the talented team involved, I didn’t quite expect it to be quite as electrifying a ride as it proved to be at the Carnival Studio theatre this weekend. Both fans of the show and newcomers to the story are sure to be taken in by thisgripping journey, which is one I first experienced over a decade ago during the Off-Broadway run that preceded the show’s Tony-winning turn on the great white way.
Some laughs, but mostly sadness and tears best describes emotions felt after seeing “Marty’s Back In Town”, a two act play by playwright Norman Shabel, running from Friday, March 24 through Sunday, April 2 at The Studio at Mizner Park in Boca Raton.
Neil Simon’s blockbuster comedy, The Odd Couple, has been packaged, repackaged, filmed, performed live, aired on TV and altered in a variety of ways. To bring its 2022-23 season to a close on a highly humorous note, Boca Stage presents a comic version of Simon’s 1980’s reworking of his original production – one that casts the two lead characters and all their working-class buddies as women.
It’s always exciting to find oneself stumbling upon a world premiere, especially one that shows as much promise as Songs from the Brink, a new song-cycle style musical by South Florida playwriting and composing team Robyn Eli Brenner and Mackenzie Anderson.
If you’ve ever found yourself “living on a latte and a prayer” or wondering how you can keep it all together, you’ll probably find a lot to relate to in Next To Normal, the 2009 Pulitzer Prize winning musical that looks to be on its way to becoming a modern classic.
