Despite the fact that the Elian Gonzalez saga has been entrenched in American history more than 22 years ago, the 1999 story of a six year old motherless Cuban boy rescued in South Florida by a fisherman still provokes critical observations about the political battle between paternal rights of a father in communist Cuba and the rights of the young Cuban boy to grow up in a democratic country.
Miami New Drama at the Colony Theater in Miami Beach is revisiting the historical facts of the saga in Elian by Cuban-American playwright Rogelio Martinez, running now through November 20.
From lyricist Mark Eaton, one of the team behind the long-running political satirical musical comedy revue Capitol Steps, comes DC’s Reflecting Fools, a similarly themed song–and-dance focusing on the madness of our current political landscape. This touring production can be caught at the Kravis Center For The Performing Arts until this November 6th, making it a timely pick ahead of midterm elections (and by the way, this is your reminder to go vote ASAP if you haven’t turned in your ballot!)
Jersey Boys, the jukebox musical that opens the 2022-23 season at the elegantly renovated Maltz Theatre in Jupiter, dramatizes the formation, success and eventual break-up of the 1960s rock ‘n’ roll group, The Four Seasons, an ensemble that time, money woes and misfortune have not expunged.
Check YouTube. You can find a video of lead singer Frankie Valli performing earlier this year at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut.
But Jersey Boys is a lot more than a simple story. It’s a paean to some kids who concocted a musical style while singing on street corners in New Jersey, then bucked it up by adding a youngster with a four-octave vocal range to create “the sound” that would go on to change a generation.
When it first came into my head to say farewell to the 2021-2022 season with a top ten list, I also intended this essay to be something of a farewell to both South Florida Theater Magazine and South Florida as a whole. Instead, after a grand two months of living in Maryland and working at the Olney Theatre Center, I also find myself instead announcing that, as of Halloween, I have returned full time to the area to continue keeping an eye on the theatre scene and do… well, something or other!
Since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a performer. It came quite naturally, as it does to those who truly have a passion for the arts. My parents recognized that, so they put me in all the classes they could! Dance classes, acting classes, singing classes, and the list goes on and on. As I grew older, my passion for the arts did not waiver. I was committed to being an actress, so I did the next best thing. I got a Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theater! Then I was off to the races and started auditioning for EVERYTHING in my area, near and far. Then I asked myself the question that every actor faces, can I make a living out of this?
Michael Ursua, the multi-talented pianist, actor, theater director and performance craftsperson, among other titles, moved from his native Santa Ana, California, to South Florida when he was about 10 years old. Or, as he put it in a recent interview, “I went from Disneyland to Disney World.”
The Disney connection is particularly appropriate for the artisan of many talents. After learning to play piano at age 11, and sharpening his acting chops by doing community theater, he later signed on for three consecutive gigs on the Disney Magic cruise ship – as a main stage entertainer and a writer. Before disembarking the final year, “I put together a reboot of several character experiences.”
What includes a taste of Italy’s vibrant dance scene and a new, contemporary spin on the classic ballet The Nutcracker? That would be Dance NOW! Miami’s Program I, on Saturday, December 10, when this leading Florida ensemble world premieres their new piece Clara and share the stage with Compagnia Opus Ballet, direct from Florence for their U.S. debut. Taking place at the Miami Theater Center in Miami Shores, the evening will be an unusual – and racy – season performance.
Didi Romero’s enthusiasm is palpable even through the Zoom webcast. The moment she joins the call, she is all jokes, chronicling how she had mistakenly prepared for the interview the day prior, and reenacting her surprise and confusion when she saw an unopened zoom link staring back at her from her computer screen. You wouldn’t know that at the time of the interview, the 23-year-old actress had been in isolation because of an unfortunate positive covid test- her energy shone despite the sickness. Don’t let this short pause fool you- she’s had a jam-packed 2022, touring the country with the Aragon Tour of the hit pop musical SIX, a concert retelling of the lives of the six wives of King Henry VIII.
Miami, FL – October 29, 2022 – City Theatre (@citytheatremia) and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@arshtcenter) proudly present the Southeastern Premiere of Heidi Schreck’s WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME, a buoyant and provocative examination by one woman of her civil rights and wrongs. A New York Times critic’s pick, a Tony Award nominee, and Pulitzer Prize finalist when it premiered in 2019, South Florida audiences will enjoy City Theatre’s production of the award-winning Broadway hit, WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME directed by Margaret M. Ledford and presented as part of the Arsht Center’s Theater Up Close series.
October kicks off an exciting time for most people. Yes, of course, October is known for Halloween, all it’s spooky traditions and slightly colder weather (if us Floridians get lucky enough). But for me, October is officially the start of the holiday season! Those “spooky” movies and treats turn into thanksgiving decorations and overstuffing ourselves with turkey, which turns into the smell of pine and ends in traditional holiday celebrations with those you love. It’s just three consecutive months filled with love, celebrating old memories while simultaneously making new ones, and the most delicious food!As a true South Floridian, born, raised (and still never left) it takes more of an effort to really get into the holiday spirit. The calendar is the sole reason we know a season is changing and a holiday is coming, our year-round warm weather gives us zero indication of a seasonal change.
