Mary Damiano Photo by David Vance

Mary Damiano’s Arts Scene

Miami Beach Arts Trust Fundraiser
The party plans just keep getting better for the Miami Beach Arts Trust fundraiser and MiamiARTzine.com one-year anniversary.  The event, which will take place at a private home in South Beach, will have some great entertainment.  Dynamic singer Maryel Epps, as well as the Hanabi Classical Quartet have already confirmed.  The evening will also feature a water ballet by Ray Sullivan’s Miami Contemporary Dance Company.  The fundraiser will be held Thursday, November 16, 6-9 p.m.  Tickets are $50 and benefit the Miami Beach Arts Trust and in turn helps support the MiamiARTzine.com. 

Greg Schroeder, Bruce Linser, Kevin Reilley and Bechir Sylvain, part of the cast of Fahrenheit 451 at GableStage Theatre. Photo: George Schiavone

Theatre Season Takes Off
The theatre season kicks into high gear this weekend with all three of the theatres in Coral Gables opening new shows. The GableStage Theatre begins its season with Fahrenheit 451, a new play adapted by Ray Bradbury from his classic novel. Fahrenheit 451 takes place in a futuristic society in which books are banned and fireman burn any books they find. Fahrenheit 451 runs October 14 through November 19 at the GableStage Theatre at the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables. For more info, visit gablestage.org.  Nearby at New Theatre, there’s Elliot: A Soldier’s Fugue, the Florida premiere of a play by Quiara Alegria Hudes, about a teenage veteran of Iraq who discovers how war unites different generations of men in his family. Elliot: A Soldier’s Fugue runs from October 12 to November 5 at New Theatre, 4120 Laguna St., Coral Gables. For more info, visit new-theatre.org.  The tone is lighter at Actor’s Playhouse, which opens the South Florida premiere of Moonlight and Magnolias, a comedy by Ron Hutchinson. Moonlight and Magnolias is about three giants of the golden age of movies, producer David O. Selznick, director Victor Fleming and screenwriter Ben Hecht, and what happens when they sequester themselves in Selznick’s office to hammer out the screenplay for Gone With the Wind. Moonlight and Magnolias runs October 13 and runs through November 12.  Actor’s Playhouse is located at 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables. For more info, visit actorsplayhouse.org.

In other upcoming theatre openings, the Promethean Theatre presents Two Rooms by Lee Blessing, which runs October 20 to November 5 at the Hollywood Mailman Theatre on the Nova University campus in Davie. Two Rooms is about a man who’s taken hostage by political terrorists and those who are left behind. For more info, visit theprometheantheatre.org.  The Florida Stage Theatre in Manalapan kicks off it 20^th anniversary season on October 20 with Opus by Michael Hollinger, a new play about what happens in a rehearsal room as a world-renowned string quartet prepares for its highest profile performance ever. Opus runs through November 26. For more info, visit floridastage.org.

Sesame Street Star Coming to Actor’s Playhouse
And speaking of Actor’s Playhouse, “Sesame Street” star Sonia Manzano will make an appearance at the theatre Saturday, October 14, in honor of the reprise of the children’s musical, No Dogs Allowed. Manzano wrote the book No Dogs Allowed and then wrote the book for the musical adaptation, commissioned by Actor’s Playhouse. The musical, with music by “Sesame Street” composer Stephen Lawrence and lyrics by Billy Aronson, had its world premiere in July and the theatre has now brought it back for a run through October 28. For more info, visit actorsplayhouse.org.

LegalArt Makes a Splash
LegalArt is throwing a fundraising pool party at the Raleigh Hotel Sunday, October 15, 7 p.m. to midnight.. Admission is $10 and all proceeds got toward creating LegalArts second annual Artist Grant.  The pool party will feature music by DJ Tavin Reiter, a performance by artist Susan Lee Chun, a silent auction and complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres from 7-9 p.m. LegalArt is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing artists access to affordable legal services, event and unique educational opportunities. For more information, visit legalartmiami.org.

Theatre Memorabilia for Sale
Mark your calendars now for a once in a lifetime chance to buy some theatrical memorabilia. In anticipation of moving into its new location next spring, the Caldwell Theatre will hold a sale of theatre treasures in its lobby on Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29.  Items for sale will include fine porcelain, furniture, artwork, French and Victorian period furniture, rugs and clothing.  Sale proceeds will be donated to the theatre. The Caldwell Theatre is located at 7573 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton.  For more info, visit caldwelltheatre.com.

Takin’ a Chance on Merce
Miami’s upcoming tribute to choreographer and dancer Merce Cunningham gets an early start this weekend with E-Merce in Chance, a breakdancing event Saturday, October 14, 7-10 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art Goldman Warehouse in the Miami Design District. Inspired by Cunningham’s improvisational techniques, a roll of the dice will determine what style of music each performer will dance to. The event is free and open to anyone willing to take a chance. The MOCA Goldman Warehouse is located at 404 NW 26 St., Wynwood.  For more info, visit mocanomi.org.

Dindy Directs

The Stars Come Out for Carnival Center
Wow, what a weekend it was for Miami.  It felt like the whole world came out to celebrate the official opening of the new Carnival Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Miami, and judging from the photos our intrepid photographer snapped, maybe they did. (Check out all our Carnival Center photo galleries in this issue.) Beginning with Thursday’s Concert for Miami, the entire city’s focus was on those two gleaming white behemoths gracing either side of Biscayne Boulevard. The celebrities were out in full force—Gloria and Emilio Estefan, John and Teresa Kerry, Bernadette Peters, Andy Garcia, Harvey Fierstein, Rita Moreno—the list goes on and on.  South Florida’s leading arts organization got to strut their stuff across that brand new stage— the Florida Grand Opera sang, Miami City Ballet danced, and New World Symphony and the Concert Association of Florida made beautiful music. Miami’s best and brightest, hottest and hippest came out for the events, marveling at the center and mingling at the festivities. One of the nicest yet low-key events was a Saturday brunch held on Watson Island right across the bay from Carnival Center. As guests munched on omelets, barbecue chicken pizzas and fab finger food, developers from the Flagstone company explained how Watson Island would become a new enclave of million dollar homes and condos.  The goodie bag was great, and included a hard cover book chronicling the evolution of Carnival Center, written by local journalist Octavio Roca.

Theatre League Meeting
The Theatre League of South Florida is inviting those interested in joining the organization to attend their meeting Monday, October 16, 7-9 p.m., at the Caldwell Theatre in Boca Raton.  This meeting will be a chance to mingle with members and find out all the benefits to joining the Theatre League of South Florida.  The Caldwell Theatre is located at 7873 N. Federal Highway. The meeting is free, but those attending must RSVP to southfloridatheatre@hotmail.com.