The Scene for May 29, 2015

May is coming to an end, and with it the official theater season in South Florida.  The shows opening this weekend are the last of it.
   

But that just means it’s time for the Summer Theater Season, which kicks of on Monday at the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theatre with the South Florida Theatre League’s Summerfest Play Reading Series.  Every Monday now through August 31, there will be a free reading of an original play written by a local playwright at one of the member theaters.  And starting on June 10th, they’re offering a Free Night of Theatre.

   

Here’s what’s playing this week on The Scene:

Broward Stage Door Theatre: Bell, Book, and Candle (reviews)

Broward Stage Door Theater opened its production of Bell Book and Candle on May 15, 2015.

Gillian Holroyd is one of the few modern people who can actually cast spells and perform feats of supernaturalism. She casts a spell over an unattached publisher, Shepherd Henderson, partly to keep him away from a rival and partly because she is attracted to him. He falls head over heels in love with her at once and wants to marry her. Witches, however, unfortunately cannot fall in love, and this minute imperfection leads into a number of difficulties.

Michael Leeds directed a cast that included Nicholas Wilder, Melissa MacLeod Herrion, Janet Weakley, Thomas Karner, Ken Clement, and Wee Thomas.

The Scene for May 22, 2015

For many, Memorial Day marks the beginning of Summer, and who are we to argue?

 

But even though south Florida theatre traditionally slows down during the summer, and despite the fact that this a long holiday weekend for most, there’s still a lot of things to see across south Florida.  From light musicals to sultry jazz, from drama to comedy, you’ll find something you like. 

   

Here’s what’s playing this week on The Scene:

Palm Beach Dramaworks: Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (5 reviews)

Palm Beach Dramaworks opened its production of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill on May 15, 2015.

Just four months before her death, the great Billie Holiday takes the stage at a watering hole in Philadelphia, where she relates the story of her hard-knock life and triumphantly shares more than a dozen songs.

J. Barry Lewis directed a cast that featured Tracy Conyer Lee and Brian Whitted.

Zoetic Stage: Betrayal (4 reviews)

Zoetic Stage opened its production of Harold Pinter’s Betrayal at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts on May 14, 2015.

Sexy, smart and provocative, Betrayal explores the tangled lives of Emma and Jerry, as they engage in a passionate love affair, deceiving their spouses, each other and even themselves. Telling the story in reverse chronological order, Pulitzer Prize-winning Harold Pinter innovatively explores the complexities of love, guilt and duplicity in this award winning masterpiece.

Stuart Meltzer directed a cast that featured Chaz Mena, Amy McKenna, and Nicholas Richberg.

The Scene for May 15, 2015

It’s starting to feel like summer out there, but the theatre season is still going strong across South Florida.

 

A couple of critically acclaimed shows close this weekend: it’s your last chance to catch  Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, A Chorus Line and The Little Dog Laughed. But if you want to see something that’s never produced, check out The Skin of Our Teeth at New World School of the Arts.  It was a game-changer when it was introduced, and it remains a personal favorite.
 

Here’s what’s playing this week on The Scene:

The Wick Theatre: Dames at Sea (reviews)

The Wick Theater opened its production of Dames at Sea on May 7, 2015.

A long-running hit off-Broadway that brought stardom to Bernadette Peters, this campy song and dance show is based on the nostalgia of Hollywood musicals of the 30’s. Dames at Sea was selected as “Best Musical of the Year” by Time, Newsweek, and Outer Critics Circle.

Michael Ursua directed a cast that featured Blake Spellacy, Gabriel Zenone, Alex Jorth, Laura Hodos, Alison McCartan and Lindsay Bethea.

The Scene for May 8, 2015

It’s fleet week in south Florida, and you have a choice of nautically-themed musicals to choose from: the national tour of Anything Goes, set on an ocean liner, plays at the Broward Center.  And The Wick Theater Company just opened their production of Dames At Sea.

 

The first is a 1930’s musical featuring a score by Cole Porter.  The second is a 1960’s spoof of a 1930’s musical, written  George Haimsohn and Robin Miller, with music  by Jim Wise.

 

Of course, the perfect musical for Fleet Week is On The Town, but it’s not playing locally.   And while you could grab a DVD of the movie or stream it, you can do that anytime.  So go see something live. And if you see a sailor – or any member of our military – be sure to thank them for their service.
 

Here’s what’s playing this week on The Scene:

Island City Stage: The Little Dog Laughed (reviews)

Island City Stage opened its production of The Little Dog Laughed at Empire Stage on April 16, 2015.

Spring lightens the mood with the Broadway comedy, The Little Dog Laughed by Douglas Carter Beane. This rollicking comedy follows the adventures of Mitchell Green, a movie star whose resourceful agent, Diane, keeps pushing him back in the closet, even while he’s falling for a cute rent boy with a girlfriend. (Wait, the rent boy has a girlfriend?).

Michael Leeds directed a cast that included Michael Uribe, Chris Crawford, Ashley Chang, and Mia Matthews.

Broward Center: Anything Goes (reviews)

The national tour of Anything Goes opened at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on May 5, 2015.

All aboard for this saucy and splendid production of Anything Goes, winner of three 2011 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and Choreography! One of the greatest musicals in theater history, Cole Porter's first-class musical comedy is sailing in to Fort Lauderdale. Based on Roundabout Theatre Company's production, The New York Times hails it a "musical-comedy joy" and USA Today calls it "glorious and exuberant!"    Peppering this timeless classic are some of musical theatre's most memorable standards, including "I Get A Kick Out Of You," "You're the Top," and of course, "Anything Goes."

Sean McKnight and Jennifer Savelli directed a cast that included Emma Stratton, Brian Krinsky, Rachel Rose Clark, Richard Lindenfelzer, Michael R. Douglass, Dennis Setteducati, Tracy Bidelman,  and Mychal Phillips.

Stage Door Theatre: A Chorus Line (reviews)

Broward Stage Door opened its production of A Chorus Line on April 8, 2015.

Auditions are underway for a new Broadway musical. For everyone present, it’s the chance of a lifetime. It’s the one opportunity to do what they’ve always dreamed of – to have the chance to dance.

Told through captivating song, riveting drama and stunning choreography, the auditionees describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers.

Kevin Black directed a cast that included Nikki Allred Boyd, William Thompson, Shenis Nunez, Elizabeth Flanagan, Ronan Bay, Idalmy Carache, Darius Delk, John Dempsey, Alexandra Dow, Danny Durr, James Giordano, Kara Krichman, Brooke Martino, Cara McMorrow, Ashely Rubin, Austin Sora, Keagan Tanner, Emily Tarallo, Michael Wallace, and Andrew Fiacco.

  

Mondays are Dark

It’s been awhile, but we finally found time to compile your Monday reading list.

 

We hope you didn’t lose too much money in the Kentucky Derby or on the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight;  or if you won, now you have plenty of money to see a show. (of course, Mayweather was going to win either way).

 

Anyway, while the theatre scene is finally slowing down enough that we can start parsing it out for you, there is still a lot going on.  Here’s your Monday reading list:

Outré Theatre: Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (5 reviews)

Outré Theatre Company opened their production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson at the Broward Center for the Performing Art’s intimate Abdo New River Room on May 1, 2015.

The explosive off-Broadway hit Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson reimagines America's first populist president, casting him as a rock star. If you're sexy and charismatic, is it okay to be violent and bigoted? Is the guy you'd want to have a beer with really the guy you want running the country? A look at both the positives and pitfalls of populism, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is a sexy, updated look at one of the most influential characters in American history. Alex Timbers’ clever book for the show was nominated for a Tony.

Skye Whitcomb and assistant director Sabrina Lynn Gore directed a cast that included Robert Johnston, Kaitlyn O’Neill, Michael Mena, Conor Walton, Christina Groom, Elvin Negron, Erica Mendez, Rick Pena, Geoff Short, Noah Levine, Jordana Forrest, Jennipher Murphy and Leo Valentine Kaplan.  Musical direction by Kristen Long.

The Scene for May 1, 2015

Tra-la, it’s May – yeah, we say that EVERY year.  But still, it IS the lusty month of May!
  
A lot of stuff closing this week, but there are a lot of shows in rehearsal, so we’ll see a number of openings over the next couple of weeks.   Slow Burn’s production of RENT is sold out for its final weekend – a nice way to end the run.  And you won’t want to miss The House Theatre of Chicago production of The Magnificents at the Arsht.
   

Here’s what’s playing this week on The Scene: