West Boca Theatre Company will open its 2023-2024 season of five professional and topical musical, comedic and dramatic productions at the Levis JCC in West Boca Raton with a performance of Alfred Uhry’s The Last Night of Ballyhoo starting Nov. 29.
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.’
I must admit when South Florida Theater Magazine (who I’m proud to say is a sponsor of this prestigious event) first invited me to cover THE46th ANNUAL CARBONELL AWARDS on November 13, I was somewhat intimidated. The journalist in me immediately googled former Carbonell Award nights (these can be defined as a regional version of Broadway’s Tonys – but far more inclusive of smaller theaters and experimental work). I landed on a short video of my editor, Jessie Dez, as gorgeous and glammed up as any Access Hollywood reporter, conducting pre-show interviews with similarly gowned and evening-wear attired nominees.
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.
Originally Published by Artburst Miami | Written By Christine Dolen
The luckiest among us love going to work. We embrace the challenges, appreciate the camaraderie, find opportunities to grow. Is that picture idealized? Sure, but it does happen.
