Mary Damiano Photo by David Vance

Mary Damiano’s Arts Scene

Anyone who missed James Devine in Tapiere last week at the Carnival Center’s Studio Theatre missed a terrific show.  As much as I love tap dancing, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Devine, who is listed in the Guinness Book of World’s Records as the fastest tap dancer in the world.  I was a little disappointed when I was told that one of my favorite musicians, fiddler Ashley MacIsaac had to cancel, but my disappointment was replaced by delight and awe as I watched Devine dance.  He and his musicians took the audience on a journey through traditional Irish dancing, and how Devine shattered the conventions to create a style uniquely his own.  We all learned a few things too through the panache with which Devine utilized the multimedia aspect of the show.  If Devine and company ever comes back to town, don’t miss the show.

John Felix in Guest Artist at the Mosaic Theatre

Don’t Be a Stranger to Guest Artist
The new play at the Mosaic Theatre in Plantation is a winner.  Guest Artist, written by actor/playwright Jeff Daniels, (yes, the Dumb and Dumber guy) takes place in a Greyhound bus station in Steubenville, Ohio.  A young theatre intern and wannabe playwright (Antonio Amadeo) waits in the middle of the night to collect his idol, a Pulitzer winning playwright (John Felix) who has been commissioned to write a new play for a local theatre company.  What follows is a funny and touching discourse about the true meaning of art, the need to create art, and the necessity of truth in art. While Amadeo and Erik Fabrigat (as a ticket agent) shine in their roles, the play belongs to Felix, who is having the time of his life as the alcoholic, brilliant playwright.  Felix also delivered an excellent performance earlier this year in Melt, the Miami-centric play that premiered at New Theatre.  Another Guest Artist standout is Sean McClelland’s awesome bus station set, which cleverly mimics a stage—fitting for two artists to debate the state of American theatre.  Guest Artist runs through December 23.  For tickets and info, visit www.mosaictheatre.com

MiamiARTzine.com at the Lurie Gallery and Mamuskalandia
While you’re out doing the Art Basel thing, be sure to join MiamiARTzine.com Friday, December 7, 6-8 p.m., for a special event at the Lurie Gallery in the Miami Design District.  Exhibiting artists include John LaHuis, Javier de Aubeyson, Luciana Abait, Jorge Santos, Oriano Galloni, and James Tyler, whose sculpture Brickhead will replace the current piece in front of the gallery. The unveiling of Brickhead is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Lurie Gallery is located at 3900 NE 1 Ave., Miami.  www.luriegalleries.com.  MiamiARTzine.com is also one of the sponsors of Mamushkalandia “House of Negotiations,” an Art Basel lounge hosted by Brigitte Andrade and Martha Salazar.  Mamushkalandia is a creative café offering drinks, music and a discreet atmosphere.  There’s a spacious garden, an outdoor cinema space, indoor bar, theatre and dance floor, it’s the perfect place to gather as you do Art Basel, Art Miami, Photo Miami and all the other red-hot events going on this weekend.  Open December 5-10, 9 p.m. until late, at 31 NW 36 Street, in the Miami Design/Wynwood Arts District. 

New World School of the Arts senior Saarah Zebede will perform her one-woman show Alien Nation along with other students and their shows December 7-8 at the Tower Theatre

New World Presents One-Person Shows
Nine graduating seniors from New World School of the Arts’ college theater program present one-person shows as their B.F.A. Senior Project. The students write, perform and produce their own 20-30 minute piece in two programs, A and B, at the Tower Theater in Little Havana on Friday December 7 and Saturday, December 8  (Program A: 5 p.m. on Friday and 8 p.m. on Saturday; Program B: 8 p.m. on Friday and 5 p.m. on Saturday). The performance is free.  Among the showcases is Nicole Pettus’ Here Comes the Choo Choo Train and Other Tips for Spoon-Feeding, a monologue about a young woman dealing with her attention deficit disorder. Other topics range from a border patrol agent in Alien Nation (Saarah Zebede) to a TSA employee The Jacket (Jeffrey Tousey), Judy Garland Elegies for Frances G. (Jamie Mattocks), a mortician embalming a cadaver in Pine Pajamas (David Sirois), a ‘desperate housewife’ Dirty Laundry (Monika Kunev), an abused teen cheerleader in Bottom of the Pyramid (Christina Ortega), a man’s desire to have a child in My Friend, Mordechai (Dusty St. Amand) and a Rockette wannabe in  Last Chance (Lindsey Forgey).  The Tower Theatre is located at 1508 SW 8th Street, Miami. For more information, call 305-237-3541 or visit nwsa.mdc.edu.

I’m Dreaming of a Rainbow Christmas
Bing Crosby gets more play at Christmas than he does all year with his definitive rendition of “White Christmas,” but another Crosby will be making a yuletide splash in Miami.  Gregory Crosby, nephew of the late Bing Crosby, will croon his famous uncle’s signature song in “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” this year’s holiday show from the Miami Gay Men’s Chorus.  The concerts, which include a 20-minute musical about family reunions, will be held December 14-16 at the Colony Theatre.   “It is an honor to continue the tradition of my famous uncle,” said Crosby, 52, who attended the University of South Florida.  For tickets and info, call  305-674-1010 or 305-604-8787, or visit miamigaychorus.org.

The Toys are Back in Town
Looking for a way to entertain the kiddies? Bring them to the Playground Theatre’s production of The Steadfast Tin Soldier, which has kid-friendly morning and after school showtimes.  The Steadfast Tin Soldier by Hans Christian Andersen gives the audience a peek into the playroom after the children go to sleep, when a brave toy soldier risks everything for the love of a beautiful ballerina. The show will be at the Byron-Carlyle Theatre through December 20 and at the Colony Theatre in January.  For dates, times and tickets, visit theplaygroundtheatre.com

Mano a Mano, French clowns at Carnival Center

Clowning Around
The French have an interesting sense of humor—mimes, the exultation of Jerry Lewis.  Now Carnival Center presents Mano a Mano, an encounter with two French clowns, who use whistles, mime, a little bit of Spanish and a whole lot of expert physicality to engage the public in 80 minutes of mayhem. In Carnival Center’s Studio Theater from December 20-22, Théâtre du Chapeau’s G. Lacouture and P. Berthierm, two sublime practitioners of the “new clown” school, create an off-kilter universe to delight audiences of all ages. The performance centers around three sketches—a visit to a dentist from hell, a tango lesson full of surprises, and a crazy “aerial show” with paper airplanes—mixed with a healthy dose of audience participation, including an imaginary tug-of-war on stage.  For tickets and more info, visit carnivalcenter.org.

Terry Hardcastle in Doubt at the Caldwell Theatre

Theatre Openings
The Caldwell Theatre Company unveils its new Count de Hoernle Theatre with the southeastern premiere of John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt, about a nun who suspects a priest of acting inappropriately with the children in his charge.  Doubt runs through January 6.  caldwelltheatre.com.  The Florida Stage Theatre in Manalapan has the southeastern premiere of A Murder, A Marriage and Mayhem, which weaves the wit of Mark Twain into a musical melodrama.  It runs December 7 through January 13. floridastage.org.  Watch Henry Higgins teach Eliza Doolittle how to be a lady when the classic musical My Fair Lady comes to Carnival Center December 18-23.  carnivalcenter.org.  New Vista Theatre presents Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris: December 20 to January 6, at the Miniaci Performing Arts Center, Nova Southeastern University, and then January 17 to February 3, West Boca Performing Arts Theatre.  The musical revue reprises the cast from the Palm Beach Dramaworks production a few years ago.  newvistatheatre.com.  Palm Beach Dramaworks opens The Fourth Wall on December 21.  Playwright A.R. Gurney explores what happens when a man redecorates the apartment he shares with his wife as if it were a stage, with everything facing one bare wall.  The Fourth Wall runs through February 3.  palmbeachdramaworks.org.