Just about every ballet company performs a rendition of “The Nutcracker” ballet, and it is for good reason. Not only is it one of the most recognizable Christmas stories, drawing in crowds of the holiday and the craft at once, but it also heavily features dancers of all ages. Miami City Ballet’s version, the George Balanchine version that caught like wildfire after its New York City Ballet premiere, but with minor South Florida additions, is everything a viewer could want: happy kids, beautiful dancing, spectacular visual effects, and Christmas, of course.
As we approach the holidays in a world where families and nations are often disrupted, if not destroyed, we can all use a reminder that “God works in mysterious ways.” To get to that second chance at happiness – like the four life-scarred (aren’t we all?) characters in Jason Odell Williams’ HANDLE WITH CARE – it can’t hurt to laugh, to weep, and even to connect with a person “who doesn’t speak your language.”
Singer Diane Lynn sings 20 plus songs from the career of Barbra Streisand including Streisand Christmas songs in her return to the Boca Black Box in Boca Raton for two 90 minute shows titled “Hello Gorgeous: The Ultimate Barbra Streisand Holiday Show” on Sunday, December 22. Lynn last performed as Streisand at Boca Black Box on June 27.
My heart is warmed (and my hot-chocolate-filled belly too), while my head is in a jolly swirl after seeing THE LAST CHRISTMAS, New City Players’ ninth season opener, last Sunday. There are so many ways to describe NCP ensemble member (and playwright and sound & Foley designer extraordinaire) Tyler Johnson Grimes’ uniquely original, world premiere play. Warm and fuzzy, hilarious, inspiring, emotional, nostalgic, surprising, magical, relatable, well-acted, exquisitely designed and… always absolutely delightful! And that’s just from my initial rush – you really need to come and discover what you love most (and I promise there will be lots!) in this pre-Y2K time capsule of a live radio play brimming with crazy characters, touching stories, and nonstop action (both silly and exciting).
Celebrated Italian American tenor Anthony Nunziata is bringing his annual “My Italian Christmas!” presentation back to Delray Beach for an exclusive holiday performance at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Arts Garage downtown.
The second I walked into the Sol Theatre to take my seat for Macbeth: A Conjuration, it became immediately clear that this would be a production like no other. A greeter waited to usher me into this mystical, magical world, where a smoky fog clouded the stage and the iconic Three Witches circled ahead, huddling over their cauldron and sketching out spells on a chalkboard. A chill drifted down my spine, but it was largely one of anticipation—after all, I’d now be experiencing Macbeth like I had never experienced it before.
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson will make her Broadway debut with a one-night-only walk-on role in the hit jukebox musical & Juliet December 14 at 8 PM at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.
For audiences who have seen the famed 1959 comedy “Some Like it Hot” starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe, be prepared for a more contemporary look and a jazzier story in the new musical which is now running at the Arsht Center in downtown Miami through Sunday, December 8.