Written By Christine Dolen

Originally published on artburstmiami.com 

The stunning play that altered the course of Nilo Cruz’s life began with a commission from the 104-seat New Theatre in Coral Gables.  Supported by a national grant, the company led by Rafael de Acha asked the Cuban-American playwright, whose work was being produced by significant regional theaters throughout the country, for a new play.

Cruz delivered “Anna in the Tropics.”

Boca Stage kicks open the 2023 segment of its current season with one of its best performances – if not the best – an intense, mind-probing examination of two people trapped in solitary confinement – one by choice, the other by circumstance – and whose lives become increasingly difficult to bear. As they spiral toward a loss of self-existence, a totally unexpected event brings a measure of solace and newfound relief to their painful realities.

The last time I wrote something about Hadestown, in reference to the original Broadway production, it was when I found myself harnessing the show’s themes to attempt to make sense of the pandemic’s earliest, most terrifying days. Thus, I am pleased to report that it is under rather less dire circumstances than I find myself now contemplating the show once more after seeing the touring production of the musical this past Tuesday at the Kravis Center, where it is now playing until this January 8th.

Slow Burn Theatre Company’s latest foray into high quality musical theatre is with a production of Footloose. This 1998 musical was based on the well-known 1984 film, which achieved popular success despite being dismissed by many of the time’s major critics as, for instance, “trashy teenage cheese.”

Based on the 1992 Disney film of the same name, the musical Aladdin follows the titular orphan, who finally gets the chance to transcend his life as a starving “street rat” after ending up in possession of a magical genie and strives to win the heart of the beautiful princess Jasmine, who is being pressured to find a husband by her father but forbidden to marry below her station. 

Referred to as a play for the “young and the young at heart,” Thinking Cap Theatre’s original production O Christmas Tree has plenty to offer both constituencies this holiday season. The script, written by Thinking Cap producing artistic director Nicole Stodard and managing director Bree-anna Obst, centers on a Miami family made up of eight year old named Frankie, his mother Claudia, and his paternal grandmother Anne. 

“Minnie’s Merry Murder Christmas” delivered laughs aplenty with a Christmas-themed murder mystery that had a local feel with references to Wilton Manors. 

The play took place on Dec. 14 at the Center for Spiritual Living in Oakland Park. It touches on mature themes.

Before you move on to celebrating the 12 days of Christmas with some more festive theatre going, you may want to take the time to behold the sober debate of the twelve angry men who appear in the play of the same name at Palm Beach Dramaworks. In this intricately crafted script by Reginald Rose, the men in question have come together to serve on a jury, and to discuss the fate of a young man who stands accused of murdering his father. At first, it seems, the facts as presented leave little room for debate; but after one juror dissents, tensions quickly begin to mount as some on the jury begin to see his side of things and others hold fast to their original convictions.