Mondays are Dark

Hope you're having a great Labor Day; we're kicking back, and spending much of the day in the pool. It's a plan. In the meantime, here's your Monday reading list.

Carbonell News
In case you're wondering which plays are in the running for nominations, here's the complete list, sorted by theatre.  But the real news is the creation of a panel to discuss how to judge design elements.  The panel includes some of the top designers in the eligible fields.  Before we get a slew of heated comments, it's my understanding that the panel will be teaching the judges what to look for, not actually judging the nominees. 

She Came from South Florida
The South Florida Times talks with JoMarie Payton, who grew up in Opa Locka, appeared in A Raisin in the Sun at the Coconut Grove Playhouse,  the national tour of Purlie, eventually going on to work on TV  in shows like Perfect Strangers and Family Matters.  You might also recognize her voice as Suga Mama on Disney's animated The Proud Family.

South Florida in West Side
The South Florida Theatre Review tells us about another South Florida actor stepping into the limelight, on the Great White Way.

Some BARE facts
The Fort Lauderdale Theatre Examiner tells us about BARE, a musical opening this week at the Broward Center's Abdo New River Room.  But Hotspots Magazine talks with producer/director Andy Fiacco about it.

"It's very "Glee"-esque, but darker," said Andy Fiacco. "It's about kids in high school who are dealing with relationships and are about to graduate."

Andrew's Tony's Emmies
Say that three times fast! TC Palm talks with Maltz Jupiter Theatre's artistic director, Andrew Kato, about his role in the Tony Awards.  This year's ceremony garnered two Emmy awards.  Congrats, Andrew!

Broward Center Needs Teens
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is looking for high school students to participate in its Teen Ambassador Program.

Teen Ambassadors will provide their peers with a unique link to the performing arts by attending various performances, including Broadway touring shows, at the Broward Center, and writing reviews for immediate posting, tweeting and Facebook status updating. Each participant will receive a Broward Center Teen Ambassador I.D. badge, earn community service hours and gain a better understanding of working behind the scenes at an arts organization that is consistently ranked in the top 10 venues in the world.

More Moving Stories
Actually, it's just more detail on Rising Action's move from South Florida Theatre Review.

...The Rest of the Story
South Florida Theater Review gives us some background on Stage Door Theatre's production of Mack & Mabel.

Mosaic Goes Completely Hollywood
via the Palm Beach Post.  With video!

You Gotta License for That?
The Guardian Theatreblog ponders theatre critic qualifications.

Even if a reviewer writes for a well-known publication, there's no quick way of guaranteeing they're an experienced professional rather than a volunteer enthusiast: financially squeezed regional newspapers in particular are supplementing their professional review teams with unpaid amateur critics.

Yah.  We noticed.  Boy, have we noticed!

Meanwhile...
The Shiny Sheet reports that the Royal Poinciana Playhouse is still closed.

A lot of time has been spent on these referendum efforts to preserve the Playhouse, closed since 2004, and turn it back into an active theater — and subsequently by the town in challenging their constitutionality. The PAC’s energies would be better spent on helping create a credible plan and raising all the money, to making some viable theater effort and convincing the plaza owners that it and the Theater Guild are capable of managing it — not by forcing the owners to bend to legal threats to open a theater that will fail.

Wise words, Patrick.  Heed them.