By Mary Damiano

Although it was probably 10 years ago, I still remember a very special Christmas gift.  There, among the candy and novelties in my Tweety Bird stocking, were tickets to see Showboat and Big at Broward Center and Rent at the Jackie Gleason Theatre. 

The giver was my husband and it was undeniably one of the most thoughtful gifts he could have come up with.  The guy definitely knows how to stuff a stocking. This was back in the days before I covered the arts, when going to the theatre was an indulgence, not a way of life. 

The returns on those gifts were innumerable.  I still remember not only the excitement of getting them that Christmas morning, but I remember what came after.  I remember sitting in my fourth row seat and experiencing Rent for the very first time.  I remember being wowed by the entire productions of Showboat and Big, the magic of seeing movies I loved brought to life on stage, and singing the songs as I left the theatre.  Years later, those tickets are the only gift I remember from that Christmas. 

The great thing about giving arts-related gifts is you get twice the bang for your buck.  Not only do you give that special someone a thoughtful gift they’ll enjoy, but you also give an arts organization the gift of support.

Whatever the particular area of interest of the friends and family members on your list, there are terrific arts gifts they will enjoy, either for a special night or all year long. Giving the gift of the arts is also hassle-free—no need to drive to the mall and look for a parking space, no crowded stores to navigate, no picked-over merchandise to sort through and no long line at the cash register.  A few phone calls and mouse clicks and you’re good to go.

Peruse our list below for some ideas about how two give the gift of the arts this holiday season.  The list is by no means a complete listing of all the organizations in South Florida, but it’s a start, and bound to spark your imagination for those on your list. 

	Just a Kiss, the current show at New Theatre in Coral Gables

Theatre
There are several ways to go when it comes to giving the gift of theatre. You could give tickets to a show or a subscription for a whole season of shows.  Actor’s Playhouse and New Theatre offer both subscriptions and flex passes that make great gifts.  Actor’s Playhouse also offers gift certificates redeemable for tickets or theatre merchandise.  GableStage offers subscriptions as well as theatre membership, which comes with many other benefits, including lectures, play readings and first dibs for their annual gala. The Mosaic Theatre in Plantation offers VIP theatre memberships, season flex-passes and theatre dinner packages. Three-play ticket packages at Palm Beach Dramaworks in West Palm Beach begin at only $60.  And don’t forget the little ones when giving the gift of theatre.  While a season pass probably wouldn’t cut it as gift for a child, you can treat the kids or the whole family to a production designed especially for them.  Try Madeline’s Christmas at Actor’s Playhouse, which runs Saturdays at 11 a.m. through December 23, or the Playground Theatre is presenting three shows this month, Pluft the Little Ghost, The Love of Three Oranges and Brooklyn Bridge at various venues in South Florida.

Dance
South Florida’s many dance companies keep dance lovers on their toes.  Ballet lovers would surely appreciate tickets to one of the upcoming performances of Miami City Ballet, such as Giselle, which will be presented at various venues in March.  Tickets to an upcoming performance of Ballet Gamonet, which is in the midst of their second season, would also make a great gift. The season includes many new works and premieres and has performances in both Miami-Dade and Broward County.  Ballet Flamenco la Rosa offers both memberships and tickets to performances, such as the world premiere of Las Bujas de Salem in April at the Jackie Gleason Theatre.

Movies
There are many gifts available for the movie lovers on your list.  Membership in the Miami Film Society, an arm of the Miami International Film Festival starts as just $75, and includes tickets to screenings during the festival as well as free member screenings year round.  The Miami International Film Festival will be held March 2-11. The world’s longest film fest, the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival offers memberships that begin at only $60 and include at least 50 free screenings per year, along with other benefits. For film lovers who crave more niche programming, try a gift membership in the Miami Jewish Film Festival, which runs January 18-28, or the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, which runs April 27 to May 6.  Both festivals feature special screenings for members year round, as well as festival perks. Another idea is a membership to the Miami Beach Cinematheque; memberships start at $50 and includes a one-year subscription to their newsletter as well as invitations to events and parties and discounts on film tickets.

	Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the New World Symphony

Music
Gifts of music are available for every possible taste.  Single tickets for the Florida Grand Opera begin at only $10 and make a perfect gift for the opera lover on your list, eager to see Samson et Dalila, April 5 to May 6, or Anna Karenina, April 28 to May 13.  Classical music lovers will appreciate tickets to one of the upcoming performances presented by the Concert Association of Florida, including the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra in January or Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra in February.  Or how about tickets to an upcoming performance of the New World Symphony, such as the Poetry of Music concerts in January, or the Passion of Music concerts in February.  And check out the schedule of jazz, pop, Latin and other concerts coming to the Carnival Center, including Woody Allen and His New Orleans Jazz Band on December 29, Broadway star Linda Eder on January 10, country legend Willie Nelson on January 31 and flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia on February 6.

	South Florida writer Joann Biondi’s book about Miami’s colorful past is a great idea for a holiday gift

Books
There are a lot of books available from South Florida writers and on the subject of South Florida.  Try David Leddick’s coffee table book, In the Spirit of Miami Beach, or Joann Biondi’s Miami Beach Memories: A Nostalgic Chronicle of Days Gone By, a look at the colorful characters who played key roles in Miami’s past.  Local arts writer Octavio Roca has published a photo-filled book called Prologue to Greatness: The Creation of the Carnival Center of the Performing Arts, while another theatre, Actor’s Playhouse in Coral Gables, has just released a commemorative volume celebrating the theatre’s 10-year anniversary.  The book, The Miracle on the Mile, is a fundraiser for the theatre.  In addition to books about South Florida, there are also plenty of novels penned by South Florida writers.  FIU faculty member and novelist John Dufresne released a new volume of short stories this year, Johnny Too Bad.  Extremely productive humorist Dave Barry released several books this year, including, Dave Barry’s Money Secrets and his newest, a nostalgic tale called The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog.  Carl Hiassen’s latest quirky South Florida romp, Nature Girl, was released last month, just in time for holiday gift-giving.  Sixteen South Florida writers contributed to Miami Noir, a compendium of mystery stories about South Florida.  Miami Noir was edited by South Florida novelist Les Standiford. Most of these books are available at Miami’s own Books & Books, with locations in Coral Gables and on Lincoln Road.  And if you’re not sure about what book to get, Books & Books offers gift certificates.

	Hans Makart (Austrian, 1840-1884), The Valkyrie, 1877, Oil on panel, 50 ½ x 33 ¼”, part of the Austrian Art exhibition at the Bass Museum

Art
Virtually every museum in South Florida offers membership, sure to put a smile on the face of the artists and art lovers on your list.  The Bass Museum in Miami Beach offers a student membership for just $25, which includes unlimited free admission for a year, invitations to exhibition previews and discounts on merchandise in the museum shop.  Adult memberships with these benefits start at $50. Current exhibitions include “Constructing Berlin” and “Austrian Art: The Golden Age of Emperor Franz Joseph”.  Give the gift of Florida history with a membership to the Historical Museum of Southern Florida in Miami; memberships start at $35 and include unlimited admission, merchandise discounts, and a subscription to several history magazines and journals.  The Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale has another blockbuster exhibition just in time for the holidays.  "The Cradle of Christianity" features many relics and artifacts form the Holy Land, allowing visitors a glimpse inside religions and ancient cultures, and tickets to the exhibition, which runs through April 15, make a great gift.  Memberships to the Museum of Modern Art Fort Lauderdale begin at $50 and include free admission, discounted tickets to special exhibitions, museum shop discounts and invitations to special receptions. In addition to museum memberships, museum gift shops and galleries are great places to shop for gifts.