Broward Stage Door: Five Guys Named Moe (reviews)

Broward Stage Door opened its production of Five Guys Named Moe on December 10, 2014.

His woman left him, he's broke, and it's almost five o'clock in the morning. But don't worry…out of his 1930's radio pop "Five Guys Named Moe" who cajole, wheedle, comfort, and jazz him with the songs of Louis Jordan, one of the most beloved songwriters of the 20th Century. In their multi colored zoot suits, the Five Guys harmonize, croon, wail, tap, and joke their way into the hearts of the audience. Irresistible!

Christopher George Patterson directed a cast that featured himself, Brandon Hanks, Philip Bolton, Micah Jeremiah Mims,  Daryl L. Stewart, and Don Seward.

 

Broward Center: Stars of David (reviews)

Stars of David: Story to Song opened for its world premiere at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on December 23, 2014.

A funny and captivating new musical revue, based on the best-selling book by Abigail Pogrebin, celebrates the lives of your favorite Jewish stars and public figures. Humorous and human songs shed light on Gloria Steinem, Aaron Sorkin, Gwyneth Paltrow, Norman Lear, Joan Rivers and many others, with original music by Broadway's finest composers and lyricists. Enjoyable and engaging entertainment, whether you are Jewish or not!

Gordon Greenberg directed a cast that featured Avi Hoffman, Patti Gardner, Michael Westrich, and and Cassie Levine.

 

Season's Greetings

Happy ChrismaHannaKwanzaa, and a joyous Festivus to all!

The Scene for December 19, 2014

The Holiday Season is underway; Chanukah (or Hanukkah) started this week, Christmas is next week,  Bodhi Day was last week, Kwanzaa is around here somewhere, as is our personal favorite, Festivus.

As we come upon the solstice, almost every religion has an observance of some sort.  And for our part, all of them are a good excuse to go see a show.

 

Here's what's playing on South Florida stages this weekend:  

 

The Wick Theatre: Mame (reviews)

The Wick Theatre opened their production of Mame on December 4th, 2014.

Broadway and film star Leslie Uggams stars in the classic musical based on the novel “Auntie Mame” by Patrick Dennis. It tells the ageless story of Mame Dennis’ eccentric, bohemian lifestyle suddenly interrupted when her late brother’s son is entrusted to her care. But rather than adopt to any societal standards about child rearing, money-making and romance – Mame does everything with her own dramatic flair. Many of Jerry Herman’s most memorable melodies grace this production including Mame, It’s Today, If He Walked Into My Life and We Need A Little Christmas.

Norb Joerder directed a cast that featured Leslie Uggams, Lourelene Snedeker, Jim Ballard, and Irene Adjan.

The Scene for December 12, 2014

It finally feels vaguely like Christmas to those who grew up in the northern climates.  For South Floridians, winter weather has come a bit early, but that’s fine with us.

 

There’s plenty of shows to choose from on South Florida stages this weekend, from a new take on the classic Fiddler on the Roof in Jupiter, to the wildly inventive US Drag in Miami, and a whole lot of excellent plays in between.

    

Here's what's playing on South Florida stages this weekend:  

 

Actors’ Playhouse: Miracle on South Division Street (3 reviews)

Actors’ Playhouse opened Miracle on South Division Street at The Miracle Theater on December 3, 2014.

Fresh from its Off-Broadway run, MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET is the story of the Nowak family living amidst the urban rubble of Buffalo, NY’s East Side. Clara the family matriarch happily runs her soup kitchen and tends to the family heirloom, a twenty-foot shrine of the Blessed Mother, which adjoins the house. This beacon commemorated the day in 1942 that the Virgin Mary appeared to her father at his home-based barbershop. During the course of this very funny and original play, the entire family’s faith is shaken to the core as the family legend seems to be unraveling. The evening’s results are heartfelt and hilarious.

David Arisco directed a cast that included Jeni Hacker, Deborah L. Sherman, Elizabeth Dimon, and Clay Cartland.
  

Palm Beach DramaWorks: My Old Lady (reviews)

Palm Beach Dramaworks opened their production of Israel Horovitz’s My Old Lady on December 5, 2014.

A down-on-his-luck New Yorker inherits an apartment in Paris and must live with his tenants, an old lady and her rigid daughter. Their lives soon intertwine in unexpected and profound ways.

William Hayes directed a cast that featured Estelle Parsons, Angelica Page, and Tim Altmeyer.

Primal Forces Productions: Sunset Baby (reviews)

Primal Forces Productions opened their production of Sunset Baby at Andrews Living Arts Studio on November 29, 2014.

A tough, suspenseful urban drama about a former 1960s revolutionary whose deceased wife has taken too many secrets to her grave. In his last-minute search for the truth, he hooks up with his estranged daughter only to learn that her story is darker and more complex than even he could have imagined.

Keith Garrson directed a cast that featured  John Archie, Makeba Pace and Ethan Henry.

 

Outré Theatre Company: Othello (reviews)

Outré Theatre Company opened its production of Othello at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2014.

Hate. Desire. Jealousy…Love.
William Shakespeare’s powerful tragedy tells us of a love that defies the boundaries of race, and of a hate that defies the boundaries of reason. Othello, a Moorish general in the employ of a European power, defies the conventions of his culture to marry a European woman and to rise through the ranks to become a respected and powerful soldier. But his misplaced trust in his ensign, Iago, leads him to discard it all as Iago manipulates and twists the soul of a noble man. Dealing with such varied themes as race, class, jealousy, and trust, Othello is a study in the self-doubt and fear that resides in the hearts of us all.

Christina Groom directed a cast that included Troy Davidson, Faiza Cherie, Skye Whitcomb, Sabrina Lynn Gore, and Rayner G. Garranchan.

  

The Scene for December 5, 2014

WE hope you’ve gotten through the last of your Thanksgiving leftovers.  And now that we’re past THAT holiday weekend, everyone is trying to open their shows before the next holiday sets in.  Nine local productions and one national tour all open this week in South Florida.

And just because it’s fun, you have two different versions of Fiddler on the Roof and A Christmas Carol.  OK. so one Fiddler is a professional production while the other is college show, but the dueling Christmas Carols are on a more or less equal footing.  One’s in Palm Beach County, the other in Miami-Dade, if you’re in Broward, flip a coin.

    

Here's what's playing on South Florida stages this weekend:  

New Theatre: The Gospel According to Jerry (reviews)

New Theatre opened its production of The Gospel According to Jerry at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center on November 21, 2014.

A life changing relationship sparks between a Rabbi and a Gospel singer when neither of them are able to move forward without the other's support in this Florida premiere of a new play by Richard Krevolin and Irwin Kula.

Stephen Neal directed John Manzelli and Christina Alexander.