By Logan Culwell-Block
Originally published on playbill.com.
It’s Opening Night at ‘Smash’ on Broadway April 10
‘THE IMPOSSIBLE TASK OF TODAY’ Tackles Our Brave New World with Friendship, Empathy, and High Drama
If New York Times deputy editor of culture and lifestyle Melissa Kirsch finds herself suffering from “the blues” attributed to too many hours spent scrolling and watching digital screens (aware of the dangers of FOMO, she no longer checks out Facebook friends), where does that leave the rest of us? What Kirsch was watching – even those cute Instagram dog reels – didn’t matter as much as the quantity: her brain was simply overtaxed from constantly “consuming content” at the expense of live human interaction.
Travel Through Time with ‘Respect: A Musical Journey of Women’
Every song tells a story. . .and Respect: A Musical Journey of Women, the latest installment in the Pompano Players’ inaugural season, has dozens to share. This toe-tapping yet thought-provoking revue boasts excerpts of 60 songs by popular women in the music industry. Together, these numbers create a narrative about the journey of women and the ups and downs they have faced throughout history—following their dreams, falling in love, dealing with heartbreak, pursuing their careers, enjoying their independence, and everything in between. The show was created by Dorothy Marcic, a professor at Columbia University, and was originally produced in New York. Since its original run, it has played thousands of performances in over 70 cities (and counting). Now, the production is here in South Florida, directed by Jeremy Quinn (who has also helmed other shows in the Pompano Players’ current season, including hit plays Love, Loss & What I Wore and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change).
THE PARKER BRINGS A MAY-HEM OF ENTERTAINMENT WITH MUSIC, LAUGHTER AND MORE
FORT LAUDERDALE – This May, The Parker’s Lillian S. Wells Hall brings an electrifying lineup of music, comedy and family entertainment. From the soulful reggae of Tarrus Riley to the iconic harmonies of Our House: The Music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and the laughter-inducing wit of Paula Poundstone and Margaret Cho, there’s something for every taste. Families can embark on an adventure with Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live! while rock fans relive the legendary sound of Queen. With show-stopping performances spanning every genre, The Parker is the place to be this May.
Javier Torres, Retired-Premier Dancer & Cultural Manager: “It is Crucial to See More Works by Hispanic Choreographers in the US”
Written by Michel Suarez
Before hanging up his pointe shoes and dedicating himself fully to cultural management in London, Javier Torres built a career as a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Cuba, working alongside legendary figures such as Alicia Alonso, Loipa Araujo, Josefina Méndez, and Aurora Bosch. In 2010, he took a major leap to England’s Northern Ballet, where he also performed as a leading artist until his recent retirement from the stage.
There’s ‘Something Rotten’ in Broward… and It’s Delightfully Hilarious!
In classic fashion, Slow Burn Theatre Company’s current production of Something Rotten! at the Amaturo Theater of the Broward Center is a fast-paced and utterly hilarious celebration of the theater, musicals, and everything Shakespeare. With another outstanding cast, memorable choreography, and razor-sharp comedy, the company’s latest is one of their greatest to-date. The infectious atmosphere and energy of Broadway can be found in every scene and every song, all while bringing forth laughter from every mouth in the audience. If you enjoy anything theatrical, I guarantee you’ll enjoy this one, too.
Catherine Lan’s Upcoming Performance of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with South Florida Symphony Orchestra
Pianist Catherine Lan will perform “Piano Concerto No. 3” by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev to highlight the final concert of the 27th season of the South Florida Symphony Orchestra season taking place on Wednesday, April 9 at The Parker in Ft. Lauderdale and Thursday, April 10 at New World Center in Miami Beach. The SFSO will also perform 19th century Austrian composer Anton Bruckner’s “Symphony No. 4” in the April concerts that begin at 7:30 p.m. at both venues.
‘SOMETHING ROTTEN!’ Revels in a Fresh, Hysterical Take on Shakespeare and the Birth of Musical Theater
Slow Burn Theatre Company continues its fabulous 15th Anniversary Season with a somewhat lesser-known but absolutely hilarious musical that, once experienced, makes any lover of the genre a fan for life. Get ye quick and join the “in” crowd at Broward Center’s Amaturo Theater to gasp with laughter and amazement at all the theatrical references and musical history madness that is SOMETHING ROTTEN! playing only through April 13.
Miami City Ballet Presents Four Masterpieces in ‘Spring Mix’
Miami City Ballet’s penultimate concert, branded “Spring Mix,” begins to tie the bow on the company’s season, and this particular year’s Mix is perhaps the best night of ballet that I have ever witnessed in all my years covering the art form. On opening night of Friday, March 28, at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami, the company showcased their incredible prowess by performing four masterpieces from four master choreographers: Ratmansky, Limón, Balanchine, and Robbins. In an opening speech, Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez made a speech that each masterpiece spoke to a festering wound of this country in its current political turmoil. These choreographers are minorities, with communities and passions and resiliences, and with their art, they prove that this world is a better place because they exist(ed). I have never seen a company make such a statement, and her words provided a foundation for inclusivity. Brava.
Unique Intimate Zoetic Stage ‘Fiddler On The Roof’ Both an Artistic and Box Office Success
