Party with the Mad Hatter

If you're looking for something interesting to do with your children this weekend, don't miss this Playground Theatre event this Saturday, Feb 2 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at the Ritz-Carlton.

"The afternoon will feature a scrumptious meal of traditional tea sandwiches and sweets; scenes from The PlayGround’s upcoming production of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, adapted and directed by PlayGround Artistic Director Stephanie Ansin; a costume parade of children who wish to attend dressed in English tea attire or as characters from Alice; and a Children’s Fashion Show.

All proceeds from the Tea Party will benefit The PlayGround Theatre’s Education and Community Outreach Program, which provided free tickets to 18,000 underserved children and their families last year."

The Scene for the weekend of January 25

Opening/Now Playing:

Inside Out Theatre Company presents TALL GRASS, by Brian Harris. A trio of dark comedies with twist endings that take the audience on a roller coaster of love, misery and danger. The play includes stories of an ambitious lover's climb to the top, a man caught in the act of burglary, and a con artist who tries to swindle an elderly couple, all tied together by surreal and unpredictable endings. January 29 through February 17.




The NakedStage opens The Lonesome West at the Pelican Stage, in Miami Shores on January 24th . The playwright, Martin McDonagh, is the creator of The Pillow Man, and The Lieutenant of Inismore, two plays which garnered awards and critical praise for GableStage. It runs through February 17th.

The Waterfront Playhouse presents TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, the stage adaptation of Mitch Albom's best-selling novel. Directed by Carole MacCartee, it stars Carbonell award-winning actor, Peter Haig as Morrie and Key West actor, Michael McCabe as Mitch. The show opened January 23rd, and runs through February 9.

Florida Stage presents another in a long list of world premieres; Roger Hedden's The Count.

A world-renowned photographer returns home for the first time in years to celebrate her parents’ 55th Anniversary. Her father’s friendship with a mysterious count ignites family fireworks with the brother she left behind. This smart new comedy is an uncompromising look at the functions and dysfunctions of family

The Count runs Jan. 25, 2008 - Mar. 2, 2008

Actors Playhouse is running AltarBoyz through February 10. Altar Boyz is a high-energy musical that follows Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham on the last leg of their Raise the Praise tour. The Boyz come ready to steal hearts and sing songs to an audience of screaming, adoring fans.

Music sample available on their MySpace page.

The Caldwell Theatre presents the world premier of Suite Surrender, a new play by South Florida playwright Michael McKeever.

It’s 1942, where the luxurious Palm Beach Royale Hotel is under siege as two of Hollywood’s biggest divas vie for the same suite. Mistaken identities, overblown egos, double entendres, and one pampered little lap dog round out this fall-down-laughing riot of a new farce.

New Theatre presents the world premiere of Lauren Feldman's new play, Fill our Mouths. It runs through February 10, 2008.

Using spoken English and American Sign Language, FILL OUR MOUTHS... is a story of love and choice, deafness and hearing, the trials of communication, and the search for self when caught between two worlds.

Palm Beach Dramaworks offers The Fourth Wall through February 3rd. This A.R. Gurney play is directed by perennial South Florida favorite, J. Barry Lewis. Dramaworks is located in downtown West Palm Beach.

GableStage is running The Little Dog Laughed through February 3rd at its intimate space in the Biltmore Hotel.

This fast-paced and hilarious look at the world of celebrity-- where coming out of the closet for an actor can still be taboo-- has audiences in stitches.

New Vista Theatre is running Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris at the Miniaci Performing Arts Center in Fort Lauderdale through January 6th. It then moves to Boca Raton from January 17 through February 3rd.

Opening in the near future:

On February 8, The Jesus Quintero Studio will be opening "The Sorrows of Young Werther" by J.W. Von Goethe. A modern re-telling of a classic love story. The show will run every Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 5 pm until March 1. March 1 will have an add-on special performance at midnight with food, music, and dancing afterwards.

The Promethean Theater will be offering Nilo Cruz's Two Sisters and A Piano from February 29 through March 16.

Maria Celia and her sister Sofia, under house arrest in their family home, take refuge in their writing and music. For these two passionate, artistic siblings, their punishment is an excruciating test of the soul. When political censorship denies Maria Celia her husband's love letters, Lieutenant Portuondo, who oversees their sentence offers to read them to her, but at a price. In this piercing and passionate play, this Pulitzer Prize-winning, Cuban-born playwright deftly shows audiences the intimate joys and sorrows of one family in a fascinating, politically charged country.

As always, COMPLETE listings (or MORE complete listings) can be found at the South Florida Theatre League's site, SouthFloridaTheatre.com

SIGHTINGS: The Altar Boyz

Lissette Gonzalez of WFOR news spent an afternoon at the Actors' Playhouse to hang with the Boyz. Meet the cast, see some clips of the show, and get your first look at the Soul Sensor DX12.

You can see the video at CBS4 website.

Altar Boyz opens tonight at the Actors' Playhouse, and runs through February 10th. Groups rates are available, as are Student Rush tickets.

The Altar Boyz: Mark, Juan, Luke, Abraham and Matthew
Photo by Christopher Jahn

The Scene for the weekend of January 18

Opening/Now Playing:

Actors Playhouse previews its anticipated production of AltarBoyz on January 16, and opens on that Friday, January 18. This spoof of a highly spirited (spiritual?) boy band runs through February 10. Altar Boyz is a high-energy musical that follows Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham on the last leg of their Raise the Praise tour. The Boyz come ready to steal hearts and sing songs to an audience of screaming, adoring fans.

Music sample available on their MySpace page.

Local theater lovers can get a first look at some of the literary giants and promising new voices under production consideration for City Theatre’s upcoming 2008 Summer Shorts Festival. Incoming Artistic Director Stuart Meltzer takes the helm in City Theatre’s search for new “short” plays at the free Festival Series reading on Wednesday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Books & Books, 265 Aragon Avenue in Coral Gables.

The weather is just perfect to see a play under the stars, and Shakespeare Miami is offering just that; they're presenting Much Ado About Nothing in Coconut Grove's Peacock Park.

It's only playing this weekend: January 17, 18 & 19 at 8:00 pm January 20 at 4:00 pm

Don't forget to bring a blanket or a low beach chair. Bleacher seats are available, but the grass seats offer the best view.

The Caldwell Theatre presents the world premier of Suite Surrender, a new play by South Florida playwright Michael McKeever.

It’s 1942, where the luxurious Palm Beach Royale Hotel is under siege as two of Hollywood’s biggest divas vie for the same suite. Mistaken identities, overblown egos, double entendres, and one pampered little lap dog round out this fall-down-laughing riot of a new farce.

New Theatre presents the world premiere of Lauren Feldman's new play, Fill our Mouths. It runs through February 10, 2008.

Using spoken English and American Sign Language, FILL OUR MOUTHS... is a story of love and choice, deafness and hearing, the trials of communication, and the search for self when caught between two worlds.

Palm Beach Dramaworks offers The Fourth Wall through February 3rd. This A.R. Gurney play is directed by perennial South Florida favorite, J. Barry Lewis. Dramaworks is located in downtown West Palm Beach.

GableStage is running The Little Dog Laughed through February 3rd at its intimate space in the Biltmore Hotel.

This fast-paced and hilarious look at the world of celebrity-- where coming out of the closet for an actor can still be taboo-- has audiences in stitches.

New Vista Theatre is running Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris at the Miniaci Performing Arts Center in Fort Lauderdale through January 6th. It then moves to Boca Raton from January 17 through February 3rd.

Opening in the near future:

Next, The NakedStage will be mounting The Lonesome West at the Pelican Stage, in Miami Shores. The playwright, Martin McDonagh, is the creator of The Pillow Man, and The Lieutenant of Inismore, two plays which garnered awards and critical praise for GableStage. It opens January 24th and runs through February 17th.

Florida Stage presents another in a long list of world premieres; Roger Hedden's The Count.

A world-renowned photographer returns home for the first time in years to celebrate her parents’ 55th Anniversary. Her father’s friendship with a mysterious count ignites family fireworks with the brother she left behind. This smart new comedy is an uncompromising look at the functions and dysfunctions of family

The Count runs Jan. 25, 2008 - Mar. 2, 2008

The Promethean Theater will be offering Nilo Cruz's Two Sisters and A Piano from February 29 through March 16.

Maria Celia and her sister Sofia, under house arrest in their family home, take refuge in their writing and music. For these two passionate, artistic siblings, their punishment is an excruciating test of the soul. When political censorship denies Maria Celia her husband's love letters, Lieutenant Portuondo, who oversees their sentence offers to read them to her, but at a price. In this piercing and passionate play, this Pulitzer Prize-winning, Cuban-born playwright deftly shows audiences the intimate joys and sorrows of one family in a fascinating, politically charged country.

As always, COMPLETE listings (or MORE complete listings) can be found at the South Florida Theatre League's site, SouthFloridaTheatre.com

Coconut Grove Playhouse has a plan - FINALLY

After letting their charge spiral into the largest debt in South Florida theater history, after watching as it disenfranchised itself from the local theatre scene, the board of the Coconut Grove Playhouse finally decided it's time to have a plan.

They're only about 20 years late.

According to a story in today's Herald, the Coconut Grove Playhouse has discovered what every other regional theater knows: you need partners.

Unfortunately, they are still looking at developers; they've forgotten that a large part of their problem STARTED when they got involved with a commercial developer. Remember? They were going to tear the theater down and put up a complex that included a theater? And there was an uproar? It seems that the citizens of the Grove HATE developers. Passionately. .

Getting UM involved is a no-brainer; everyone wants to partner with them. The problem is that they haven't been interested in any endeavor that requires FINANCIAL contributions. FIU is not quite as conveniently situated, but since they don't have money either, it's moot. Who does that leave? Barry University? Does Barry even HAVE a theater department anymore? It will be interesting to see who they can drag coax into a partnership.

Joseph Adler of GableStage accurately sums it up:

''The synergy that could exist but never fully existed..."

Every theater in South Florida has tried for the business plan that the Grove's board has cooked up; it's not new. It's "Theater Funding 101." The reality is that colleges and universities in South Florida are as under-funded as the arts. And developers are less interested in supporting theater than getting their hands on the land under them.

To be fair, Mr. Adler is actually more positive than my trimmed quote implies. He goes on to say:

"It could [draw] talented people back or keep them here . . . If they hire a truly visionary artistic director and put the right economic controls in place, there's no reason it couldn't become one of the really significant theater companies in the United States.''

He's absolutely right.

It's not that I don't wish the Grove success; even with its reclusive policies, it filled an important niche in the South Florida Theatre scene. While they didn't employ very many South Florida actors, directors, or designers, their staff did side work at local theaters, providing technical support they would not have otherwise been able to afford.

As much as I criticize the Grove, I also acknowledge that South Florida theater is poorer for its absence.

I really do hope that the Coconut Grove Playhouse can be reconstituted, and become the major player in South Florida that it was 20 years ago. But it needs something it does not have: galvanizing leadership.

The Coconut Grove Playhouse needs an inspiring and competent leader; someone with undeniable artistic vision and unparalleled fiscal savvy. Someone who knows how to assemble a slick production machine, and understands effective use of management. I can think of only one person in all of South Florida that could make it work.

But Louis Tyrell already HAS a theater.

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Mittelman Returns, GableStage Changes Lineup, Sneak Peak at the Summer

Summary of Christine Dolen's reports in today's Miami Herald:

HE'S BAAAAAAACK!

Arnold Mittelman, former Coconut Grove Playhouse artistic director, is mounting a show at Fort Lauderdale's Parker Playhouse. According to the Herald, the show is being produced jointly by the American Theater Festival and the National Jewish Theater.

The Soul of Gershwin: The Musical Journey of an American Klezmer will play at Fort Lauderdale's Parker Playhouse March 4-9, and will feature Michael Paul Levin and Prudence Johnson (of PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION fame).


SHOW SWAP

GableStage's Joseph Adler announced that they will be presenting Bernard Weinraub's The Accomplices in place of Peter Sagal's Denial in the theatre's April 26 - May 25 slot. For more information, visit the GableStage Website.


SEE YOUR SHORTS

City Theatre is offering a sneak peak at the 2008 edition of Summer shorts. Stuart Meltzer directs of reading of seven new works at Books & Books this Wednesday at 7:30pm. Books & Books is at 265 Aragon Avenue in Coral Gables.

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Open House: Sol Children Theatre

The Sol Children Theatre Troupe is hosting an open house. Their website seems to be under construction, but their MySpace page is up and running full force.

"Come chill with some really cool theatre folks
A fun time promised."

Sol Children Theatre
3333 N. Federal Highway
Boca Raton 33431
561-447-8829

The Scene for the weekend of January 10

Opening/Now Playing:

New Theatre is getting ready to open the world premiere of Lauren Feldman's new play, Fill our Mouths. It opens January 10, and runs through February 10, 2008.

Gay or straight? Hearing or deaf? Set in Paris, a heterosexual woman's sexually adventuresome affair with a hard of hearing lesbian weaves a sensual fabric of communication and self-realization. As the relationship grows between them, both characters see themselves and the world around them in a different light. Using spoken English and American Sign Language, FILL OUR MOUTHS... is a story of love and choice, deafness and hearing, the trials of communication, and the search for self when caught between two worlds.

Starting January 13, the Caldwell Theatre presents the world premier of Suite Surrender, a new play by South Florida playwright Michael McKeever.

It’s 1942, where the luxurious Palm Beach Royale Hotel is under siege as two of Hollywood’s biggest divas vie for the same suite. Mistaken identities, overblown egos, double entendres, and one pampered little lap dog round out this fall-down-laughing riot of a new farce.

You have one more week to see Florida Stage's adaptation of a rare Mark Twain story: A Murder, A Mystery, and A Marriage. It continues its run through January 13, 2008. They are located in Manalapan, see their web site for directions and show times.

Palm Beach Dramaworks offers The Fourth Wall through February 3rd. This A.R. Gurney play is directed by perennial South Florida favorite, J. Barry Lewis. Dramaworks is located in downtown West Palm Beach.

This is the last weekend to catch Gore Vidal's The Best Man at the Waterfront Playhouse in Key West. It runs through January 12, 2008. You don't get much more South Florida than Key West.

New Vista Theatre is running Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris at the Miniaci Performing Arts Center in Fort Lauderdale through January 6th. It then moves to Boca Raton from January 17 through February 3rd.

Rising Action Theatre Company is running John Kane's The Eleven O'Clock Number through February 17. Ethel Merman appears to grant a gay man's birthday wish.



GableStage is running The Little Dog Laughed through February3rd at its intimate space in the Biltmore Hotel.

This fast-paced and hilarious look at the world of celebrity-- where coming out of the closet for an actor can still be taboo-- has audiences in stitches.

Opening in the near future:

Actors Playhouse previews its anticipated production of AltarBoyz on January 16, and opens on that Friday, January 18. This spoof of a highly spirited (spiritual?) boy band runs through February 10.

Altar Boyz is a high-energy musical that follows Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham on the last leg of their Raise the Praise tour. The Boyz come ready to steal hearts and sing songs to an audience of screaming, adoring fans.

Next, The NakedStage will be mounting The Lonesome West at the Pelican Stage, in Miami Shores. The playwright, Martin McDonagh, is the creator of The Pillow Man, and The Lieutenant of Inismore, two plays which garnered awards and critical praise for GableStage. It opens January 24th and runs through February 17th.

As always, COMPLETE listings (or MORE complete listings) can be found at the South Florida Theatre League's site, SouthFloridaTheatre.com

What's playing for kids in January?

The Playground Theatre is presenting The Steadfast Tin Soldier at the Colony Theater in Miami Beach.


Hans Christian Andersen gives a peek into the playroom after the children go to sleep. See a brave toy soldier risk everything for the love of a beautiful ballerina.

Shows are:

Fri, Jan 11	10am
Fri, Jan 11	4pm
Sat, Jan 12	3pm
Sat, Jan 12	7pm
Sun, Jan 13	3pm

The Colony Theatre is located at 1040 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach. Call 305-751-9550 x223 for tickets, or go HERE.

Nightingale, Pierrot, Doll, Piggy Bank, and Tin Soldier
Played by Valerie Stanford, Stephanie Ansin, Melissa Almaguer, John Page, and Meshaun Labrone Arnold

The Scene for the weekend of January 4

It's your last week to catch John Patrick Shanley's DOUBT at the Caldwell Theatre. It closes this Sunday.

But on January 21, they open their third annual Broadway Baby revue:

"A revue of time-honored Broadway show tunes, Broadway Babies features multiple award-winning musical theater stars that will be narrated by Caldwell’s Artistic Director, Michael Hall. The evening starts at 6:30 PM with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, with the show at 7:30 PM, followed by desserts. The evening is catered by world-famous chef Lenore Nolan-Ryan."

See the Caldwell website for details.

New Vista Theatre is running Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris at the Miniaci Performing Arts Center in Fort Lauderdale through January 6th. It then moves to Boca Raton from January 17 through February 3rd.

You have two weeks to see Florida Stage's adaptation of a rare Mark Twain story: A Murder, A Mystery, and A Marriage. It continues its run through January 13, 2008. They are located in Manalapan, see their web site for directions and show times.

Palm Beach Dramaworks offers The Fourth Wall through February 3rd. This A.R. Gurney play is directed by perennial South Florida favorite, J. Barry Lewis. Dramaworks is located in downtown West Palm Beach.

If you're down in the Keys, you can catch Gore Vidal's The Best Man at the Waterfront Playhouse in Key West. It runs throught January 12, 2008.

GableStage is running The Little Dog Laughed through February Third at its intimate space in the Biltmore Hotel.

Here are some shows that will open very soon:

New Theatre is getting ready to open the world premiere of Lauren Feldman's new play, Fill our Mouths. It opens January 10, and runs through February 10, 2008.

Actors Playhouse previews its anticipated production of AltarBoyz on January 16, and opens on that Friday, January 18. This spoof of a highly spirited (spiritual?) boy band runs through February 10.

Next, The NakedStage will be mounting The Lonesome West at the Pelican Stage, in Miami Shores. The playwright, Martin McDonagh, is the creator of The Pillow Man, and The Lieutenant of Inismore, two plays which garnered awards and critical praise for GableStage. It opens January 24th and runs through February 17th.