Mary Damiano Photo by David Vance

 Mary Damiano’s Arts Scene

Bobby McFerrin, who will perform an improvised concert at Carnival Center

Carnival Music
There are some great upcoming events at Miami’s new Carnival Center. Jazz musician Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra will perform Friday, February 9 at the Knight Concert Hall.  Mayfield, a trumpet player, formed the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra in 2002 and is one of the latest stars to carry on the city’s musical traditions, performing classics from Count Basie and Duke Ellington, as well as their own compositions.  The concert is part of the Carnival Center Chivas Regal Jazz Series.  And here’s one not to be missed: Mr. Don’t Worry, Be Happy Bobby McFerrin and the 12-member improvisational chant group Voicestra will perform a completely improvised jazz concert on Saturday, February 10 at 8 p.m. in the Knight Concert Hall.  Don’t miss this one of a kind concert.  For purchase tickets and for more info on Carnival center events, visit carnivalcenter.org.

Architect Maya Lin, who will give a free lecture at the Frost Museum

Maya Lin at the Frost
Architect Maya Lin, who first gained fame for her design of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington D.C., will speak give an overview of her work, focusing on her most recent projects, on Friday, February 16, 8 p.m., at the Green Library, 11200 SW 8^th Street, Miami.  Lin’s lecture will be preceded by the opening reception of the Annual Student Show, juried by Fred Snitzer at 6:30 p.m.  Both events are free and open to the public.  For more info, visit frostmuseum.org.

Jazz guitarist Bill Frisell

Bill and Buster
What a treat it was last Sunday night, January 28, to sit in the balcony at the Byron Carlyle Theatre and not only hear some terrific music, but also watch some fab films. Jazz guitarist Bill Frisell and his 858 Quartet were on stage, accompanying the short films being projected on the screen behind them.  All were black and white, some animated, all funny, even the first, which can only be described as a giant, morphing inkblot test.  The culmination of the program was two Buster Keaton silent films, while Frisell and his group played original compositions.  It was a fascinating experience—this is after all, how movies were originally done, with a musician accompanying the film with live music.  And those Buster Keaton silent movies, boy do they still hold up today.  That’s something that people 80 years from now probably won’t be saying about Snakes on a Plane.  The evening, presented by Tigertail Productions, was a huge success.  Not only was there a full house, but they had to turn away about 80 people.  For more info on what Tigertail has coming up, visit tigertail.com.

Miami artist Purvis Young, the subject of a documentary which is part of the Black History Month celebration from the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

FLIFF Celebrates Black History Month
The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival is celebrating Black History Month with a special schedule of films, including a tribute to Hollywood star Bill “Bojangles” Robinson.  The first set of documentary films should be of special interest to South Floridians.  The Highwaymen tells the styory of a group of black artists who painted Florida scenes and sold them by the roadside during the 1960s.  The second film, Purvis of Overtown, focuses on the life and work of Miami’s Purvis Young, who recently exhibited his Wall of Peace as the artist of distinction at Art Miami.  Young, by the way, recently underwent a kidney transplant at Jackson Memorial Hospital and is doing great. All evenings are free for FLIFF members, and just $5 for everyone else.  Films will be screened at Cinema Paradiso, FLIFF’s year-round art house in downtown Fort Lauderdale. For a complete schedule of Black History Month films at Cinema Paradiso, visit fliff.com. 

Ballet Gamonet, which will perform Program II of their second season at several venues around South Florida  Photo by: MagicalPhoto.com/Mitchell Zachs

FLIFF also has another intriguing film coming up this month.  Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock, is a documentary about Teri Horton a 73 year-old former truck driver with an eighth grade education who bought a $5 painting at a thrift store which had a fingerprint belonging to Jackson Pollock, and contained paint found on Pollock’s floor.  The documentary tells of Horton’s 15-year war with the art world, which closed ranks against Horton and proclaimed her painting worthless.  Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock will be screened at Cinema Paradiso February 9-11 and at the Lake Worth Playhouse February 9-13.  For more info, visit fliff.com.

Ballet Gamonet
Ballet Gamonet will present Program II of their second season this weekend, February 2 and 3 at Gusman Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Miami, next weekend, February 10 and 11, at Baily Concert Hall in Davie, and next month, March 23 and 25 at the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach.  The program will include company premieres choreographed by Jimmy Gamonet, Movillissimanoble and  D Symphonies, and a world premiere by South Florida-based choreographer Jerry Opendecker.  For more info, visit balletgamonet.org.

The New World School of the Arts production of Angels in America, coming soon to the Colony Theatre

Theatre Openings
Tony Kushner’s landmark play Angels in America gets a special weekend only run at the Colony Theatre February 9-11.  The first part of the drama, “Part One: Millennium Approaches”, will be staged.  The production is part of the 20^th anniversary celebration of New World School of the Arts, and directed by faculty member Stuart Meltzer. This is a play that doesn’t get produced very often, so don’t miss this opportunity to see it.  For more info, call 305-237-3541 and to purchase tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.

South Florida is on a bit of a Mamet kick—last month the GableStage Theatre did playwright David Mamet’s play Romance, and now the Mosaic Theatre in Plantation is doing Mamet’s classic Glengarry Glen Ross, a fast-talking piece about cutthroat real estate agents.  Surprisingly, it’s not set in South Florida.  Glengarry Glen Ross opens February 15 and runs through March 5.  For more info, visit Mosaictheatre.com.

Versatile performer Avi Hoffman has been nominated for two Carbonell Awards this year, for Best Actor in a play for his role in GableStage’s Address Unknown and for Best Actor in a Musical for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the first production of his newly formed New Vista Theatre Company.  Don’t miss the second New Vista production, Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys, starring Hoffman, Bruce Adler and Michael McKeever.  The Sunshine Boys is the story of two vaudevillians who resist being reunited for a TV special.  For more info, visit newvistatheatre.com.

Cast of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

The FIU Theatre Department’s latest production is A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the musical comedy about a Roman slave who schemes to gain his freedom.  Forum runs February 8-18 at the Wertheim Performing Arts Center Mainstage, University Park, 11200 SW 8^th Street, Miami.  For more info, visit fiu.edu. 

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the island, Gilligan’s Island: The Musical sails into Coral Springs Center for the Arts in Coral Springs.  This musical version of the iconic show stars Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann on the show, and Barry Williams, who played Greg Brady on “The Brady Bunch”.   Wells and Williams play Lovey and Thurston Howell.  For more info, visit coralspringscenterforthearts.com.

North Miami’s M Ensemble is back with their latest show, Indigo Blues, about two sisters in love with the same man.  Indigo Blues runs through March 11.  For more info visit themensemble.com. 

Ticket prices alone can’t support a theatre.  Sol Theatre is in the midst of a fundraiser with their new original production of Alice Does Wonderland, a trippy ride through the already trippy story of Alice and the wild characters she meets in Wonderland.  Actually that all sounds a lot like the experience you have when you see a show at the Sol.  Written by Merry Solsters Jeff Holmes and Erynn Dalton and directed by Robert Hooker, Alice Does Wonderland runs Fridays and Saturdays through February 10.  For more info, visit soltheatre.com. 

Miami Beach Coldwell Banker Festival of the Arts
One of the best things about South Florida is that the winter weather allows is to enjoy some terrific outdoor art festivals.  The Miami Beach Coldwell Festival of the Arts will be held February 10 and 11 at Ocean Terrace (east of Collins Avenue from 73rd to 75th Streets) and will feature artwork of 150 artists from across the nation on exhibit with their paintings, sculpture, glass, ceramics, jewelry, and photographs. The artwork is juried and prestigious cash prizes are awarded. This nationally recognized event brings over 30,000 visitors to Ocean Terrace to browse the fine art while enjoying the cultural and performing arts, including music, dance, theatre, arts and crafts, storytelling, and international cuisine throughout the event.  Admission and parking are free.