The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa FastHorse is the first play written by a Native American playwright to make it to Broadway – and there’s no surprise as to why it did. It is a satirical comedy that shines light not only on the ignorance of the majority in the country, but it also shines a light on the unfortunate truth within the education system when it comes to the Thanksgiving mythos. The GableStage production, directed by artistic director Bari Newport, brings this much needed piece to the South Florida community in a way that easily could’ve fallen flat, but instead stands proudly on two feet running in the right direction.
There’s the saying, “Everything old is new again.” To which I’d add, “only if it speaks to a new generation.” Radio programs spoke to generations of listeners in the twentieth century, to be surpassed by film and TV, only to be resurrected in exploding popularity under the guise of “podcasts.” As humans, we’ve always felt the need to see stories, read stories, hear stories … often all together. And our best stories, those that speak most deeply to our shared humanity, challenges and aspirations, tend to survive through the ages. Like the timeless works of William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens.
‘Tis the season for family, traditions, and celebrations that bring one back to more innocent times. The sweet scent of nostalgia can nourish the most troubled soul. And I can’t think of a better place to rekindle that holiday spirit than joining the perfume and cosmetics shoppers at Maraczek’s Parfumerie in 1934 Budapest, Hungary.
The story of Thanksgiving has often been told without references to the contributions of Native Americans in American history. Playwright Larisssa FastHorse has created a satirical exploration of Thanksgiving in her one act 90 minute comedy “The Thanksgiving Play”, running now through December 10 at GabeStage in Coral Gables.
If you’re up for taking a risk on a new script, you’re likely to find yourself pleasantly surprised by Sweet Goats And Blueberry Señoritas, the product of a collaboration between South Florida playwright extraordinaire Vanessa Garcia and nationally renowned poet Richard Blanco. Initially commissioned by Maine’s Portland Stage Company, where it premiered earlier this year, the work can now be seen in its only second major production at Miami’s Actor’s Playhouse until only this Dec 3rd.
Miami native Katarina McCrimmon dazzled the opening night audience attending “Funny Girl” at the Broward Center of the Performing Arts in Ft. Lauderdale with her singing, dancing and comic skills in her portrayal of early 20th century vaudeville star Fanny Brice.
Whatever other differences may divide us, one thing remains almost universally true; we’ve pretty much all had our fair share of teachers, many of whom would prove to be formative as we approached the rest of our lives. Thus, though it may strike a particular cord for those teachers who happen to be in the audience, pretty much everyone is likely to find something to connect to in ‘Detentions, Demerits, and Dismissals.’
My first reaction to revisiting 9 to 5: The Musical – the 2009 Broadway hit based on Dolly Parton’s 1980 film – was “Oh the memories!” The musical had earned four Tony nominations (including best score and choreography) and I could see why. Brimming with salt-of-the-earth Parton music and lyrics, and book writer Patricia Resnick’s no-holds-barred feminist vitriol, it’s the ultimate female office worker’s revenge fantasy. A night out packed with passion, girl-power grit (shh… I shouldn’t use the term “girl”), forward-thinking ideas, and lots of humor – much like The Queen of Country herself.
At the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Chicago: The Musical is currently on, one of the many Broadway shows that the Kravis has slated for its 2023-2024 season. As iconic as this show seems to be, this production did not leave me with any indication that it should be considered as such.
It’s rare to see this kind of work within the South Florida Theatre community. Work that not only challenges the traditional, but also yells from the void to be seen and heard – and it is new and young companies like True Mirage that are a part of lifting up local voices that usually remain unseen.
