Mary Damiano Photo by David Vance

Mary Damiano’s Arts Scene

It seems like we no sooner finish one festival when another begins.  As you peruse all the fabulosity of the Miami International Film Festival in the many photo galleries in this issue, you can think about all the entertainment options offered by the South Florida Theatre Festival, which runs through May 12.  In addition to the scads of productions and readings taking place during the festival, there will also be three forums that will focus on three different theatre genres.  Channel 10 news reporter and anchor Charles Perez will moderate the Ethnic Theatre Forum at New Theatre on on April 22 and director Gail Garrison will moderate the Yiddish Theatre Forum at New Vista Theatre on May 5.  But first up is the Gay and Lesbian Theatre Forum in Fort Lauderdale on March 25, which I will be moderating. It should be an interesting evening so come over to ArtServe on Sunrise Boulevard and join in what should prove to be an insightful discussion.  For more info on the South Florida Theatre Festival, read the story in this issue and visit www.southfloridatheatre.com. 

Gary Beach in Spamalot

Gary Beach and Iris Acker at the opening night of Spamalot at the Arsht Center Photo Phil Acker

Those who attended the opening night of Spamalot Tuesday, March 4, got some special treats. First their was the coconut orchestra on the Arsht Center plaza, the crownd was given free coconut shells and then were led by cast members to join them on a song with said coconuts. If you remember, Monty Python used the coconut contraption to replicate the sound of horse hooves as they rode through the countryside. Then at the show, the audience was treated to a terrific performance by the entire cast, including Gary Beach, who was stepping into the role of King Arthur for the very first time. Beach, who won a Tony Award for The Producers and then recreated his role of Roger deBris for the movie, is warm and gracious man, which I discovered firsthand at the cast party afterward. This is Beach’s first tour in more than two decades, and so far he’s having a great time. You can still catch him and the rest of the Spamalot cast through Sunday at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. By the way, the show is so funny that there are actually eyewitness accounts of people laughing so hard they literally fall out of their seats. kravis.org.

Playwrights on Parade

Marco Ramirez and Nilo Cruz at the Florida stage New Works Festival Photo: Mary Damiano

I’ve finally caught my breath after a whirlwind March at the theatre. The beginning of the month, over the course of five days, I spent more than 25 hours at the various theatres in Broward and Palm Beach. A good deal of that time was spent at the Florida Stage New Works Festival, here I watched staged readings of four new plays, including that of Miami playwright Marco Ramirez. Marco’s play blurred the lines between the comic book panel and theatre and brought to life both the violent and humorous elements of super heroes and arch villains. The play is very new—in fact, Marco had a new scene for the actors on the morning of the reading. The other playwright at the festival with Miami roots was Nilo Cruz, whose play The Interpreter of Desire was also read, which, unfortunately I did not get to see because it conflicted with the Spamalot opening night. It was a terrific festival, which presented some interesting new work, and attended by an enthusiastic and plentiful audience. The new work that was most interesting to me was A Visit to Roswell, a new musical by Christopher McGovern, who wrote Backwards in High Heels, which was a huge sell-out for Florida Stage last season. In this play, a mysterious stranger visits a farm family in Roswell, New Mexico in July of 1947. I’d never seen a staged reading of a musical before, and was captured by both the story and the lovely music.

End Days at Florida Stage

Elizabeth Dimon, Scott Borish and Michaela Cronin in a scene from Deborah Zoe Laufer’s End Days at the Florida Stage Theatre

Florida Stage’s commitment to new work was in the spotlight again this past week, as the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) announced the finalists for the Steinberg/ACTA New Play Awards. Deborah Zoe Laufer’s End Days, which premiered at Florida Stage last October, is among the six finalists. Last year’s winner, Opus by Michael Holland, also premiered at Florida Stage. These finalists were selected from 28 eligible scripts submitted by ATCA members. As the competition requires, none had productions in New York City in 2007. They were evaluated by a committee of 12 theater critics from around the U.S., headed by chairman Bill Hirschman, a freelance writer and critic whose work appears regularly in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. The other finalists are The Crowd You're in With by Rebecca Gilman, Dead Man's Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl, The English Channel, by Robert Brustein, Strike-Slip, by Naomi Iizuka, 33 Variations, by Moises Kaufman. The top honoree in the Steinberg /ATCA New Play Awards will receive $25,000, the largest prize for a national playwriting award. Two additional playwrights will receive $7,500 each. The winners will be announced at a March 29 ceremony at the Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre in Louisville, Kentucky. By the way, the next play in the Florida Stage season is the world premiere of Ward 57 by Jessica Goldberg, about a screenwriter who interviews vets at a military hospital. Ward 57 runs March 19 through April 27. www.floridastge.org.

New World Rising Stars

NWSA high school student Abdiel Vivancos in a scene from Pippin, the 2008 Rising Stars opening production

The New World School of the Arts (NWSA) will present their annual showcase, “Rising Stars,” an all-out celebration, Friday, March 14. Beginning with a free 5-6:30 p.m. visual arts exhibition and reception at the New World Gallery, the merriment continues with a 7 p.m. performing arts presentation at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts; and a gala reception at 9 p.m. immediately following the performance to be held at the Alfred I. DuPont Building. Curated and juried by director of the Rubell Family Collection, Mark Coetzee, the work on exhibit will be based on art produced by both college and high school students. The exhibition will consist of 18 pieces of juried work represented from their fields of study; drawing, electronic intermedia, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. Showcasing two classics, the Dance division will present Valse Fantasie by George Balanchine and Diversion of Angels by Martha Graham, a piece is rarely performed by schools, but rather reserved for the professional dancers. The current Martha Graham Dance Company features five NWSA alumni, which speaks to the talent of NWSA students. The NWSA symphony orchestra will showcase three selections from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, including the masterpiece “Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi (“Fortune: Empress of the World”). The theater division will showcase their main stage productions with excerpt presentations from Big Love by Charles Mee, Pippin by Roger O. Hirson with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and Pajama Game by George Abbott. Nothin’ to Lose a monologue written and performed by NWSA college senior Lindsey Forgey will also be staged. For more information, call 305-237-3852 or visit www.mdc.edu/nwsa. Tickets for the “Rising Stars” performance will also be available at the Gusman Center box office on the night of the performance.

Upcoming Theatre

Steven Fales, who brings his one-man show Confessions of a Morman Boy to Oakland Park

Edge Theatre’s production of The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore by Tennessee Williams runs March 21 through April 13 at their space Design District space at 3825 N. Miami Ave. It’s about a wealthy older woman facing her mortality as a challenging, sexually-charged younger man arrives at her mountaintop estate. For reservations and info, call 786-355-0976. Actors’ Playhouse in Coral Gables has announced the line-up for its 2008/2009 season. The season begins with the Peter Stone-Sherman Edwards musical, 1776, October 1 through November 2. Then there’s Gutenberg! The Musical! the two-man spoof of musical comedy writers, December 3 through January 4. Miami Bombshells, The Musical, will get its world premiere January 14 through February 8, which is based on the best-selling book Dish and Tell, written by six high-powered Miami women. After that there’s the first South Florida regional production of Les Misérables, which runs March 4 through April 5, followed by the Florida premiere of Havana Bourgeois by Carlos Lacámara, May 6 through June 7. The season closer will be the musical Married Alive! July 8 through August 16. actorsplayhouse.org. The Caldwell Theatre in Boca Raton has announced their summer season: James Hindman’s Pete ‘n’ Keely, about musical duo who reunite for a live TV reunion in 1968, runs June 20 through July 6; John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt, A Parable, which opened the Caldwell’s season, will be reprised August 1-17; and James Sherman’s romantic comedy Beau Jest, about a Jewish girl, her gentile boyfriend, her controlling parents and her pretend Jewish boyfriend, runs September 5-21. www.caldwelltheatre.com. And if you’re in the mood for some reality theatre, check out Confessions of a Mormon Boy at Rising Action Theatre in Oakland Park. This is an autobiographical one-man show in which Steven Fales chronicles his life as a gay Mormon. Fales performed the show a few years back at the Coconut Grove Playhouse. This time around, it will be at Rising Action Thetare through March 22. www.risingactiontheatre.com.

Literary Feast

Author Amy Cohen, who will appear at LitLive! 2008

Nearly two dozen nationally renowned authors will appear at Literary Feast 2008, which will be held this weekend. On Saturday, March 15, there’s LitLive!, a free daylong series of author dialogues, panel discussions and book signings at the main campus of Nova Southeastern University in Davie. Participating authors include Tasha Alexander, A Poisoned Season; Steven Alford and Suzanne Ferriss, Motorcycle; Gigi Anders, Little Pink Raincoat: Life and Love In and Out of My Wardrobe; James Brady, Why Marines Fight; Terri Cheney, Manic; Amy Cohen, The Late Bloomer’s Revolution; Lauren Groff, The Monsters of Templeton; James Hall, Hell's Bay; Brendan Halpin, How Ya Like Me Now; John Hart, Down River; Cecil Hayes, Cecil Hayes Art of Decorative Details: Creative Ways to Design the Home of Your Dreams; Stephen Hunter, The 47th Samurai; Chip Kidd, The Learners: A Novel; Ann Liguori, A Passion for Golf – Celebrity Musings about the Game; Alfred McLaren, Unknown Waters; Chris Rice, Blind Fall; James Scurlock, Maxed Out; Kevin Sessums, Mississippi Sissy; Jennifer Valoppi, Certain Cure: Where Science Meets Religion. The literary event continues with an appearance by best-selling author Jeffrey Archer, who will discuss his latest novel, A Prisoner of Birth, at Barnes & Noble in Plantation in the Fountain Shops on University Drive. Book sales from the event will benefit the Broward Public Library Foundation.

For more information and a complete schedule of events, call the Literary Feast Hotline at 954-357-5954 or visit www.bplfoundation.org.

Dionne by David

One of the portraits of Dionne Warwick taken by Miami Photographer David Vance

Dionne Warwick fans might be interested to know that the singer’s latest CD, Why We Sing, will be available from Rhino Records in early April. But there is another reason to be interested in this CD. Miami photographer David Vance shot a series of beautiful portraits and environmental details for the CD. David is a charming, talented man and a terrific photographer. I know firsthand—he did my portrait for this column. Check out this lovely portrait of Dionne Warwick and see more of his work at www.davidvance.com.

De-Lovely Fundraiser

With an elegant Cole Porter theme, skies above Palm Beach will be filled with dancing klieg lights, when “It’s De-lightful, It’s De-licious, It’s De-lovely! ”—an evening of dinner and entertainment—takes place on Wednesday, March 26, 7 p.m. to benefit Palm Beach Dramaworks. The evening will feature a cocktail hour followed by a festive dinner by Ann Z Caterers with a sophisticated 1920's art deco décor by Sutka Productions International, Inc. at the downtown hot spot Main Street at 416 Clematis Street. Entertainment will be provided by South Florida’s Bob Hoose and his trio. Proceeds from the benefit will support Palm Beach Dramaworks. Tickets are $500 and are tax deductible as provided by law. For additional information, call 561-514-4042

An Enchanted Easter Egg Hunt

Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams in Enchanted

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and Funding Arts Broward join Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) to present an Enchanted Easter EGGtacular on March 22, 10 a.m. at Cinema Paradiso in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Children are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite storybook character. Every little prince and princess will feel as if they stepped into a fairytale as they walk the red carpet into the theatre to see the Disney classic Enchanted. After the film, there will be a host of magical activities including photo ops with children in a Cinderella-style carriage, an Easter egg hunt, face painters, balloon artists, special visits from Project Stable Equestrian and Farm Educational Outreach Program, and the Easter Bunny. The event is in conjunction with the DVD release of Enchanted, and attendees will have a chance to win the new Enchanted DVD among other prizes. Admission to the Enchanted Easter EGGtacular is free. FLIFF encourages the donation of a pair of new slippers that will make the dreams come true for those in need through the not for profit organization Shoes for the Soul. Slippers must be supportive like sneakers, and other soled shoes—no sandals or flip flops. www.fliff.com.

Rhythm Foundation Celebrates 20 Years
In celebration of its 20th anniversary as a presenter of world music in Florida, the Rhythm Foundation has opened up the extensive archives. A treasure of photos and videos will be on exhibit at the Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation (CIFO), in downtown Miami through March 30. Part of the “20 Years of Rhythm – The Rhythm Foundation 20 Years Retrospective,” there will be a series of special events, concerts, films and parties will take place during the exhibition, including a screening of the films Festival in the Desert and Moro No Brasil; performances by Jorge Villamizar, who was the lead singer for Latin band Bacilos for 12 years; Pink Martini, who will perform with the Miami Pops Orchestra; and, in conjunction with the Winter Music Conference Six Degrees Night featuring DJ Gaudi and Jef Stott. The “20 Years of Rhythm – The Rhythm Foundation 20 Years Retrospective” is part of the 2008 Heineken TransAtlantic Festival, a series of concerts and events celebrating modern world music. For more information, a complete schedule and to purchase tickets, call 305-672-5202 or visit www.rhythmfoundation.com and www.cifo.org.

Wicked Lottery

Carmen Cusack is Elphaba in Wicked, at Broward Center through April 5 Photo: Joan Marcus

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held daily for Wicked, which runs through April 6 at Broward Center. Each day, 2½ hours prior to show time, people who present themselves at the Broward Center box office will have their names placed in a lottery drum and then 30 minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person. If you don’t want to take a chance on the lottery, regular tickets for Wicked are still available, but they’re flying out the door faster than the Wicked Witch of the West on her broomstick. For more info and to purchase tickets, visit www.browardcenter.org.


Passion for Fashion

The work of Irina Ivanova can be seen at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale through April 2

I love fashion, and I’ve always felt that fashion illustration is a lost art. Kudos to artist Irina Ivanova for keeping fashion illustration alive and presenting it in a new way. Ivanova, an instructor at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, is debuting her solo exhibition “Fashion Accent,” through April 2, in the Mark K. Wheeler Gallery located in the college. “Fashion is the main source of inspiration for my figurative art,” says Ivanova, originally from the former Soviet Union. “I am blending together fashion illustration, figurative painting and digital print into an art style with a fashion accent. The spectrum of my artwork in this style ranges from illustration on paper to acrylic on canvas paintings.” The Mark K. Wheeler Gallery is located on the first floor of the college at 1799 SE 17 Street, Fort Lauderdale. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 9 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 954-308.-2109. For a preview of the exhibition, visit www.fashion-accent.com. Look for more about Irina Ivanova in the Artist Spotlight of an upcoming issue of MiamiARTzine.com.