Watch an all-new, super fabulous episode of Hotspots Live! with hosts Shawn Palacious and C.A. Lopez. This week’s episode of Hotspots Live features ‘Forbidden Broadway,’ Melissa Manchester Live at The Wick, The Ten Tenors, DL Hughley Live, Kevin Hart Live, ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,’ and the Top Three of the Week!
Make sure to subscribe to our brand new Hotspots Live YouTube Channel!
You don’t have to tell Martha Stewart that gay men love her like their own mother.
The influential entrepreneur and domestic diva’s deep-rooted connection to the LGBTQ community goes beyond special appearances on Ugly Betty and Ellen, when she appeared as herself in a 1995 episode of the groundbreaking sitcom. Stewart, throughout her half-century-long career, has long embodied a quality near and dear to the queer community: perfection. After all, before “live your best life” was a meme, it was Stewart’s honed methodology.
Could that affinity for precision and flawlessness – for the perfect Christmas ham, the perfect vegetable garden, the perfect dating persona – be why Stewart is very clued into the fact that many gay men perceive her as a mother figure?
It’s a relationship worth exploring, and during my tight 15 minutes with Stewart I dove into the lifestyle maven’s personal affiliations with many LGBTQ people: her nephew, Christopher Herbert, as well as her dearest gay friends, whom she hosts at her various homes. While “in a car, so any confusion, blame the cell service,” Stewart, 76, was reflective and laid-back as she served up a savory platter of gay talk: Her age-appropriate philosophy on equality, gays who host Stewart at their get-togethers (she jokes, though she can’t possibly be kidding, that it “ups their game”), and her memories of transforming, unforgettably and stunningly, into ’40s film icon Veronica Lake for late, gay makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin.
I’ve really appreciated the inclusivity on VH1’s Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, with guests ranging from LGBTQ icons like Patti LaBelle and Kathy Griffin to gay TV personality Ross Mathews and also Laverne Cox. How aware are you of being LGBTQ inclusive when it comes to this show and also your career as a whole?
Oh, thank you. Well, we’re kind of in the showbiz world and being inclusive, that just sort of goes with the terrain. I don’t care who the person is; I care about what the person does, and how they do it.
WATCH:
Martha Stewart Weddings magazine famously introduced same-sex couples into its pages in 2009, with Jeremy Hooper and Andrew Shulman sharing their vows with family and friends in Litchfield, Connecticut. Why was it important to be at the forefront of marriage equality in that way, and what did that moment mean to you?
I believe in “all men are created equal.” I think I go back to the 1860s, and before! (Laughs) And I don’t think any compromise is necessary. I think it’s absolutely a fact that all men are created equal, and so I just treated people like equals my entire life. Equals in every single way, no matter what their proclivity is or what their sexuality is, or their color or their race. It doesn’t matter to me.
That wedding issue was a big deal as it was one of the first mainstream wedding magazines to have featured a gay couple’s wedding, and then there was another in 2011.
I know! And that was my nephew. That was Christopher Herbert marrying a Native American man (Timothy Long).
Seeing as though gay marriage wasn’t even recognized legally coast to coast then, were Martha-worshipping housewives open to displays of same-sex affection?
It was legal in Massachusetts, where they actually got married. I went to their wedding. They had a pre-wedding in Massachusetts, which was the legal wedding, and then they had the family celebration at my farm, which was another tying of the knot. The ceremony and that Celtic tying of the knot was so beautiful.
Was that the best same-sex wedding you’ve been to?
I’d say it’s one of them – I’ve been to a lot! I mean, I have a lot of gay editors, both male and female. One of our style directors at Weddings got married and he had a fantastic wedding at a nightclub in Brooklyn. That was so fun, and that was also featured in the magazine. And I’ve been to several female weddings. You know, every wedding is special to me.
Is it intimidating for people to host Martha Stewart at their wedding?
I don’t know if it’s intimidating, but I think it ups their game a little bit! (Laughs)
What do you look for at a same-sex wedding?
I like to see what the couple is wearing. I like to see how they handle relatives. But I don’t differentiate a gay wedding from a straight wedding. I just don’t differentiate. I just went to Steven Gambrel’s wedding. That was so beautiful! He’s a very famous, very wealthy interior designer, and he married his longtime partner at their beautiful home in Sag Harbor, Long Island. It was an extraordinary evening. The father of Steven’s partner got up and said, “This is our family’s first gay wedding,” and he said, “It’s a momentous occasion for our family and we embrace it.” It was one of the nicest father speeches I’ve heard at a wedding. Everybody sort of wanted to cry because he was visibly uncomfortable and yet accepting at the same time. It was very moving.
You also attended out Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld’s A-list tribute party in October.
Oh my god, that was a fantastic party! Mariah Carey singing! She sang a couple of songs for Karl dressed in a Chanel sequined dress that was, you know, perfectly clinging. It was beautiful, and Karl was so thrilled.
Growing up in New Jersey in the ’40s and ’50s, what was your introduction to the LGBTQ community?
In my class, I knew that several of the boys were gay. It wasn’t talked about, and nobody made fun of them. Nutley High School was a pretty liberal but also quiet school, so there were some gay boys that we knew, and I think one or two girls. But they hadn’t come out, and the boys really were not out, if you want to use that word. But they were definitely gay.
And then in our own family, I had one cousin who was gay who lives in Buffalo and then my nephew is gay, and I think even though he didn’t come out until college, we all sort of knew he was gay. My daughter who has radar like crazy, Alexis, who I’m sure you know, she knows. And my mother didn’t have a clue. It wasn’t part of her lifestyle. She just didn’t have those friends.
Snoop Dogg has said that you love to get him drunk. Do you have a gay friend who’s especially good at getting you drunk?
I don’t like getting drunk, so not necessarily, no.
Tipsy?
If I get tipsy, it’s probably because I haven’t eaten anything. I don’t get up saying, “Oh, I’m gonna get drunk today.” I just don’t do that.
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Is entertaining a group of sophisticated gay men the ultimate challenge?
No. Again, I don’t differentiate if I have a group of gay men (over). I just don’t ever think that way. I don’t differentiate. (Artbag business owner) Christopher Moore came to my house recently with four gay friends just to look at the gardens and I gave them cappuccinos and they were happy. I actually didn’t have any food in the house, so I couldn’t give them anything to eat, but they were perfectly happy. I just don’t ever think that way. I don’t differentiate.
Wait, let’s back up, Martha. You didn’t have any food in your house?
Well, nothing except eggs. I could’ve made them scrambled eggs. I thought after, “I probably should have fed them something”… but I didn’t. (Laughs)
Is it true that Cher was the one who convinced you to work with famous late, gay makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin when he photographed you as Veronica Lake for his 2000 book Face Forward?
No, I knew who Kevyn Aucoin was, and he was such an amazing makeup artist. And I like doing things like that. I have a face that can become other people. And I just thought, “Oh, god, what an opportunity.” He did such an amazing job.
In the gay community and beauty world, those photos are quite legendary.
Oh, I know who it was! It was the guy who worked for me (Alex Peruzzi). He’s Linda Evangelista in the book – he was head of merchandising in my craft department. A very handsome boy.
How do you reflect on that shoot?
I didn’t know that Kevyn was suffering from a pretty hideous disease, but I did remark on the size of his hands. He had that disease that enlarged appendages. His hands, his feet, everything was oversized. And I couldn’t believe that someone with such monster hands – these big hands – could do such delicate makeup work, but he did. He did amazing, amazing work. It was an art form of his to see a structure of a face and turn it into another face.
Looking back, have any gay people influenced your fondness for decadence or even your path to becoming a lifestyle icon?
No, not really. Although when I was catering (Stewart launched a catering business in the ’70s) many of the young men who were my waiters were gay, and they still are. The gay community works a lot in the catering business in New York; they are either actors or artists and they need to make money, so they make money in catering. But they were all chosen on skill and aptitude for the kind of job they were doing, and they were all great. But my daughter and I both have lots of gay friends. My closest friend is Kevin Sharkey and he’s also like the surrogate uncle to Alexis (and her family) and he lives in their same building, and he’s Tio Kevin to them. I even introduce him playfully to friends as my gay son.
I want to be Martha Stewart’s gay son.
Lots of his friends would like to be Martha’s gay son!
How does one achieve Martha Stewart “gay son” status?
He’s worked for (me for) 18 years, that’s how! He worked his way up!
DJ Tracy Young’s annual New Year’s Eve Genesis party will take place at Sway Nightclub in Fort Lauderdale on January 1. This is the second year the event will be held outside of Miami. “When Mansion Nightclub closed, I was forced to reinvent Genesis,” explains Young from her Miami home. “I actually considered ending the event once and for all, but when I discussed the idea with fans, I learned pretty quickly the incredible love many have for the party and that it had to continue.”
Genesis debuted in Miami in 2002 where it quickly became one of the leading New Year’s Eve celebrations in the USA. This year marks the 15th year for the popular event.
“That first year, Genesis was an experiment, a little thing I wanted to do for like 300 of my closest friends,” remembers Young. “It was at Crobar back then, and when I pulled up to the club, the line was down the street and around the block!”
To accommodate the growing crowds, Young moved the party to Mansion the next year, where it played for thirteen consecutive years, until the club closed its doors. Last year’s Genesis was held at Revolution Live Nightclub in Fort Lauderdale.
RELATED: GENESIS 2017 at Revolution Photos
Tracy says she chose Sway Nightclub, previously known as Voodoo Lounge, for the 15th annual event because it offered a chance for her to bring Genesis back to its roots.
“Genesis has always been about the music and the journey and for so long I’ve wanted to make it a more intimate occasion like it was that first year at Crobar,” added Young.
She is also happy to keep the party in Fort Lauderdale.
“Fort Lauderdale is a happening, gay friendly destination,” said Young. “So many guys and girls have driven to Miami from Fort Lauderdale for Genesis over the years, it’s about time we start driving over to them.”
Tracy added: “We’re in a hot sexy new space!! The sound system is phenomenal! Miami is excited about it! Fort Lauderdale is excited! It’s my first time playing with legendary Grammy award winning Hex Hector and can’t wait to hear his set! Alan will be at the door which is always a show and Sway is an awesome space! Musically, I’m preparing to let you all have it and bring in the New Year the GENESIS way!”
Hex Hector is a prominent New York City-based DJ and producer who has remixed for major label artists including Madonna, Ricky Martin, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson and Diana Ross. He won a Grammy for his production of Jennifer Lopez’s “Waiting For Tonight.”
Alan T. will host Genesis, as he has done every year since the party’s inception. Alan T is a recording artist, best known for his vocals on Tracy Young’s club smash, “Ferosh,” and the Danny Tenaglia classic dance track, “The Door.”
In addition to celebrating 15 years of Genesis, Tracy Young is celebrating 25 years behind the turntables this year.
iHeart media, 93.9 MIA and Hotspots Media Group are the promotional partners for this year’s Genesis.
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She credits a large part of her success to Miami’s Ingrid Casares who introduced her to Madonna in the mid-nineties. Young would go on to spin numerous events for the Material Girl, from movie premieres to album release parties; even Madonna’s wedding to Guy Ritchie. Her work with Madonna soon led to remixing and producing other big names in music including Cher and Lady Gaga. To date, Young has released seven albums and racked up 48 #1 Billboard Club hits.
She currently hosts a weekly iHeart radio show that airs Saturday nights at 9 p.m.
When not on air, Tracy Young is in the recording studio. She recently produced Dianne Warren’s Lady Gaga remix of “Til it Happens to You” for the CNN documentary, The Hunting Ground. She also released an EP, “Living Cinema,” and collaborated on two Billboard Dance Top 20 songs: Maya Simantov’s “I Can Forgive” and Karina Iglesias’ “Same Love”.
Tracy Young is excited to ring in 2018 with a bang in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets for Genesis 2018 are available at http://tracyyoung.com.
From concerts to fairs to festivals, South Florida has numerous events that will keep you entertained and enjoying the gorgeous weather all season long! Here are just some of the things that you don’t want to miss.
December/January:
Finding Neverland
Based on the Academy Award-winning film of the same name and directed by visionary Tony winner Diane Paulus, this innovative new musical is packed with mesmerizing visuals, enchanting adventures and plenty of laughs.
For tickets and more information, visit arshtcenter.org/tickets or Kravis.org.
When & Where: December 26-31, Adrienne Arsht Center (Miami); January 2-7, Kravis Center (WPB)
Jim Gaffigan: Noble Ape Tour
He is the Grammy-nominated comedian, New York Times best-selling author, top touring performer and multi-platinum-selling father of five that just wrapped the first season of his show The Jim Gaffigan Show. His stories about fatherhood, being lazy and his passion for food will keep you laughing long after you get home.
For tickets and more information, visit thebbtcenter.com.
When & Where: December 29, BB&T Center
Riverdance
A celebration of Irish music, song and dance, the show focuses on the evolution of Irish dance and its similarities with, and influences on, other cultures.
For tickets and more information, visit fortlauderdale.broadway.com.
When & Where: January 5-7, Broward Center for The Performing Arts
A Gentlemen’s Guide To Love & Murder
Getting away with murder can be so much fun… and there’s no better proof than the knock-‘em-dead hit show that’s earned unanimous raves and won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Musical. This is the uproarious story of Monty Navarro, a distant heir to a family fortune who sets out to jump the line of succession, by any means necessary. All the while, he’s got to juggle his mistress (she’s after more than just love), his fiancée (she’s his cousin but who’s keeping track?), and the constant threat of landing behind bars! Of course, it will all be worth it if he can slay his way to his inheritance…and be done in time for tea.
For tickets and more information, visit fortlauderdale.broadway.com.
When & Where: January 9-21, Broward Center for The Performing Arts
Chinese Lantern Festival
Enjoy Handcrafted lanterns, live kung fu coaching and performances, Chinese folk artists, shadow puppetry, Asian cuisine, dinosaur rides and more.
For tickets and more information, visit chineselanternfestival.com.
When & Where: Runs until January 15, Central Broward Regional Park
Shakira: El Dorado World Tour
Get ready to shake those hips when this twelve-time Grammy Award-winner takes the stage.
For tickets and more information, visit thebbtcenter.com.
When & Where: January 11, BB&T Center
“Night Of Stars” Broadway Celebration
The Kravis Center continues its long tradition of bringing legendary, award-winning artists to the stage with this dazzling, star-studded event. Enjoy an evening of exhilarating entertainment and surprises featuring Angela Lansbury, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Chita Riveria and many more!
For tickets and more information, visit Kravis.org.
When & Where: January 12, Kravis Center (WPB)
South Florida Fair Presents Magical Parades
The Fair will feature 17 days of themed parades, including the Fair’s two signature Bike Nite parades. Each day, the Fair will highlight a famous parade from around the world, with authentic music, colorful costumes and beautifully decorated Mardi Gras floats, which will also be on display in the “Magical Parades” exhibition. Float riders will delight Fair guests as they toss beads into the crowds!
For tickets and more information, visit southfloridafair.com.
When & Where: January 12-28, South Florida Fairgrounds (West Palm Beach)
February/March:
Cabaret
Welcome to the infamous Kit Kat Klub, where the Emcee, Sally Bowles and a raucous ensemble take the stage nightly to tantalize the crowd – and to leave their troubles outside. But as life in pre-WWII Germany grows more and more uncertain, will the decadent allure of Berlin nightlife be enough to get them through their dangerous times? Come hear some of the most memorable songs in theatre history, including “Cabaret,” “Willkommen” and “Maybe This Time.” Leave your troubles outside – life is beautiful at CABARET!
For tickets and more information, visit Kravis.org.
When & Where: February 6-11, Kravis Center (WPB)
Wicked
The untold musical story of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.
For tickets and more information, visit fortlauderdale.broadway.com.
When & Where: February 14- March 4, Broward Center for The Performing Arts
Dancing With the Stars: Live! – Light Up The Night Tour
America’s favorite dance show is going back on tour across America, giving fans of the show the opportunity to see the best ballroom dancers in the business perform live.
For tickets and more information, visit seminolehardrockhollywood.com.
When & Where: February 15, Seminole Hard Rock Casino
The Food Network & Cooking Channel’s South Beach Food & Wine Festival
Hosted by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits and Florida International University (FIU), the Festival benefits FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center. The Festival now attracts more than 65,000 guests annually to its 85+ events throughout the five-day weekend.
For tickets and more information, visit their website at: sobewff.org.
When & Where: February 21-25, Various Locations
The Color Purple
“The Color Purple” is the 2016 Tony Award winner for Best Musical Revival about a young woman’s journey to love and triumph in the American South featuring a soul-raising score of jazz, gospel, ragtime and blues.
For tickets and more information, visit arshtcenter.org/tickets.
When & Where: February 27-March 4, Adrienne Arsht Center (Miami)
Winter Party Festival 2018
The Winter Party Festival in Miami Beach is an iconic six-day festival celebrating the LGBTQ community as they party on the sands of South Beach. Guests are invited to premier live music and DJ events, the scandalous Under One Sun pool party and art and cultural events including “ArtScape,” showcasing acclaimed LGBTQ artists with proceeds benefitting the National LGBTQ Task Force.
For tickets and more information, visit winterparty.com.
When & Where: February 28 – March 6, Various locations throughout Miami Beach
Let us know on Facebook what you plan on seeing and doing.
The “Outlandish” live performance series returns with: Randy Rainbow, John Waters, Jackie Hoffman, Miss Richfield 1981, Coco Peru, and Dixie Longate.
Outlandish, a live performance series that debuted in Fort Lauderdale this past winter, is returning to Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale with an expanded lineup. Produced by Logo TV Founder Matt Farber, the series will feature shows from six acts iconic in the LGBT community, each of whose appeal has crossed over to a mainstream audience.
Outlandish kicks off on Saturday, January 20, 2018 with Jackie Hoffman “What Ever Happened to Jackie’s Emmy?” Broadway veteran Jackie Hoffman, most recently nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Emmy for Ryan Murphy’s Feud! shares delish Feud! and Emmy dish and much more in offensive side splitting monologues and song.
Internet sensation Randy Rainbow makes his South Florida debut with two shows on Friday, January 26 and Saturday, January 27. The Fort Lauderdale native is known for his popular political spoofs and musical parodies that have garnered international acclaim and hundreds of millions of views.
Beloved storyteller/monologist Coco Peru returns to South Florida with a brand new show on
Saturday, February 17. In “The Taming Of The Tension,” Coco invites you to her “place” for some of her favorite stories, songs, and a good dose of bullshitting with the hope that together the tension will melt away!
On Saturday, February 24 John Waters performs his one-man show “This Filthy World—2018!” a “vaudeville” act that celebrates the film career and obsessive tastes of “The Pope of Trash.” This joyously devious and continuously updated monologue is a rally cry against the tyranny of good taste and serves as a call to arms for filth followers everywhere.
After a several year absence since her successful run at the Broward Center. America’s favorite
Tupperware lady, Dixie Longate, returns to the Fort Lauderdale stage on Saturday, March 3. In “No Instructions”, Dixie puts away the Tupperware to make sense of a world that offers no guidebook for how to get through.
The series concludes on Saturday, March 17 with audience favorite, Miss Richfield 1981, and her brand new show “Born Again” finding new religion to bring our divided world together. Known for unique audience interaction and comedic songs and videos, Miss R has sold out shows at Sunshine Cathedral each of the past several years.
Tickets are now on sale for each performance at OutlandishFL.com.
General Admission, Premium Seating, and VIP tickets (including a meet and greet) available. $30-$100. “Series Passes” to see all six shows available at a discounted price.
With craft beers still being a popular hit with generations young and old, residents of Ybor City and the surrounding area should know that they have access to some of the best craft breweries and their most popular brews on the market. The best part is that both locations are only a short walk or Uber ride away (always drink and drive responsively). On a recent outing, I was lucky enough to check out two of the brew houses and sample some of their signature craft specials.
The first stop was Cigar City Cider and Mead, located at 1812 North 15th Street. Whether you’re a mead or cider enthusiast already or looking to expand your palette beyond beer, Cigar City Cider and Mead offers their customers a diverse selection of ciders and meads brewed with Florida grown ingredients and always 100% natural in the heart of historic Ybor City. You are sure to find a new favorite brew here as they offer 11 ciders and 4 meads on draft at all times. Bring your friends, pull up a barstool and play a board game as you sip on their award winning homemade apple pie cider.
Cigar City Cider & Mead opened its doors in late 2014. Since then, they have produced countless ciders and meads, with most of their offerings exclusive to their tasting room. For more information on Cigar City Cider and Mead, including tasting and tour schedules, please check out their website at cigarcitycider.com.
The second stop was the world famous Tampa Bay Brewing Company, located at 1600 East 8th Avenue. Tampa Bay Brewing Company was established in 1995 by brothers John and David Doble and has not slowed down since they started. After John’s death in 2003, David took charge of the company and with the help of his other brother Mike, has turned it into the world famous brew house that it is known for today. Today, not only do they operate the Ybor City brewery and pub, but they also operate a second production brewery and restaurant located in the Northwest area of Tampa Bay.
When checking out the Ybor location, the staff was absolutely amazing and is very knowledgeable on the various selections of draft and bottled beers that they serve. Be sure to check out one of the eight core beers that Tampa Bay Brewing Company produces year round. The Old Elephant Foot IPA seemed to be the favorite among the customers at the bar – an award winning Hoppy American IPA complimented by soft malt undertones. The Tampa Bay Brewing Company also offers seasonal selections and limited edition releases throughout the year that have been inspired by the Florida living lifestyle.
For more information on the Tampa Bay Brewing Company – including their restaurant menu, updated tap list and any other general inquires, visit their website at tbbc.beer.
Replace the traditional New Year’s resolutions that you probably won’t keep (we all know how hard it is to stick to an everyday gym routine) with something more meaningful – like committing to ways to be a better queer. Here’s a shortlist to get you started.
Most communities have an LGBTQ support center, but you might not know it if you’re not seeking LGBTQ support. Still, it’s there, and it may need your support. In 2018, make it a point to pop in to offer your assistance. Maybe you can volunteer your time for an upcoming event; attend an activity (I had a fun evening at drag bingo hosted by my local center recently), mentor LGBTQ youth who desperately need responsible, caring adults in the lives; or offer financial support to keep the center’s valuable programs on track. For many of these organizations, just opening the doors on a daily basis is a struggle, and they will appreciate every hour and dollar donated by community members like you.
I’ve attended several LGBTQ film festivals over the years – in my hometown of Baltimore; my current home of Asbury Park, N.J.; and most recently the OUTshine Film Festival (which is really top-notch, by the way), both in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida – and these programs are the only place you’ll find a conscientious slate of curated films that represent the entire queer community in one mega-celebration of diversity filmmaking.
If your home city doesn’t offer a film festival, maybe it’s time you and your group of go-getters put the wheels in motion to establish one. Otherwise, travel to the LGBTQ film festival near you – or plan a vacay around this affair – so we can all continue to push LGBTQ movies into mainstream consciousness. Hollywood will take notice of our full breadth of films eventually, like it has in the past 18 months with Moonlight; Call Me By Your Name; and 20th Century Fox’s groundbreaking gay-teen romance Love, Simon, in theaters nationwide on March 15 (which is a big frickin’ deal, if you don’t already know).
It may seem like the world is a more accepting place than ever for LGBTQ youth (and on the whole it is), but there are still kids out there who struggle not only with their sexual orientation and identity but also with friends, family, teachers and authority figures that refuse to accept them as they are – and that’s where you come in. If you’re a successful queer person, contact your local school district to find out how you can speak at Gay-Straight Alliance meetings to let these youth who may be having a hard time know that it does, in fact, get better. Moreover, programs like Live Out Loud’s Homecoming Project helps connect high school alumni to their alma maters, making it easier for you to reach out and inspire. You’ll make a bigger difference than you realize, I promise.
I’m not recommending you stop spending your money at hetero-owned business – though I’m sure there’s a faction of us out there who would recommend that – but rather take some time to research your local retailers and restaurants to see who’s family. Many times you can glean this information by word of mouth or just a little digging on social media. When we support each other personally and professionally, our communities are stronger. Just look at what we did to San Francisco. And New York. And L.A. and Miami…
Don’t let people put you down, and don’t let anyone make you hide in the closet – period. Actress Marsha Warfield recently relayed an anecdote about how she’s been out privately forever, but her mother didn’t want her to come out publicly because she’d be embarrassed by it. Whitney Houston dealt with the same issue, as do countless other ordinary people. F*ck that, OK. This is your life, you get one shot at it, and if anyone is embarrassed by who you are, you should feel confident enough in yourself to tell that sad, angry person that you will only be better without them. You don’t need that shit. Because it’s 2018, honey. F*cking LIVE!
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and Mark Cortale announce the return of the Broadway Concert Series hosted by Seth Rudetsky to Parker Playhouse. The afternoon host on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio’s On Broadway channel will deliver three intimate evenings of incredible music and hilarious conversation with Jeremy Jordan, Tony Award® nominated star of Newsies and NBC’s Smash and CW’s Supergirl (Saturday, January 6), Rachel Bay Jones, 2017 Tony winner for Dear Evan Hansen (Friday, February 16) and Christine Ebersole, two-time Tony Award-winning star of War Paint, Grey Gardens and 42nd Street (March 24).
Jordan landed his first Broadway show in 2009, Rock of Ages, which he left the same year to play the lead role of Tony in West Side Story. He next starred on Broadway as Clyde Barrow in the short-lived Bonnie & Clyde before his star-making performance as Jack Kelly in Disney’s Newsies, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical. Film credits include Joyful Noise opposite Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah and The Last 5 Years. He is familiar to TV audiences having been a regular on NBC’s hit series Smash, the voice of Varian for Tangled on the Disney Channel and for his current role on Supergirl. A performer who has sold out shows in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and London, Jordan has performed his solo cabaret show in clubs around the country.
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Jones won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her most recent Broadway performance in Dear Evan Hansen. She has also starred on Broadway in Pippin, Hair, and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Jones has won acclaim for her Off-Broadway performances including the original production of Dear Evan Hansen (Lucille Lortel Award), Hello Again (Drama League nomination), and First Daughter Suite. Her work on television includes ABC’s The Family and FX’s Louie. Jones most recent recording is ShowFolk.
Ebersole most recently portrayed Elizabeth Arden on Broadway in War Paint opposite Patti LuPone, in a production that garnered Tony nominations for both actresses. Ebersole took home the Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Muscial for Grey Gardens and the hit revival of 42nd Street. Her extensive Broadway career also includes leading roles in On the Twentieth Century, Oklahoma, Camelot, Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, Steel Magnolias, the recent revival of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit and Dinner at Eight, for which she received both Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations. Concert appearances include the recent concert version of the opera The Grapes of Wrath at Carnegie Hall, the Boston Pops’ concert version of A Little Night Music and, for PBS, Gershwin at 100: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall and The Rodgers & Hart Story: Thou Swell, Thou Witty. In addition to her acclaimed stage career, Ebersole has also appeared in numerous hit films and TV shows.
Dubbed “The Mayor of Broadway,” Rudetsky is also the host “Seth Speaks” on Sirius/XM Stars and has written three volumes of Seth’s Broadway Diary featuring inside scoop and hilarious stories from all of the stars with whom he has worked. He co-wrote and co-starred in Disaster! on Broadway and, in June 2016, he and his husband, James Wesley, co-produced a recording of “What The World Needs Now” with stars including Idina Menzel, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Carole King, Audra McDonald, which went to number one on iTunes and raised $100,000 for the Orlando shooting victims. The couple also produces Concert For America, a monthly series of benefit concerts held around the country.
Three-concert subscriptions are $96-$303 and offer a 20 percent savings when compared to the single ticket price. Individual tickets go on sale to the Jeremy Jordan evening on December 8 and to the nights with Jones and Ebersole on January 5. Tickets to individual events in the series are $37-$67 with $123 VIP tickets which include a post-show meet and greet with the artists.
Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of Parker Playhouse. Buy tickets online at ParkerPlayhouse.com and Ticketmaster.com; by phone at 954.462.0222; in person at the Parker Playhouse box office Tuesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office.
Thursday, December 28
Starting today and going through Monday, My Tropx presents 40% off everything for Ruby Members. Membership has its privileges.
Friday, December 29
Matty’s at Wilton Park features, direct from NYC, and performing live Porsche at 9p.m. If you can’t make it to see Porsche tonight, she will also be performing on Saturday at 9p.m. and Monday at 7p.m.
Saturday, December 30
Spain’s hottest party returns to Miami to close out 2017 at Score. That’s right, We party: Retro Future will star DJs Alex Acosta and Deanne from 11pm to 5a.m. For advance tickets go to: Mimainye18.com
Starting today and going through Monday, The Club Fort Lauderdale presents a complimentary poolside luncheon at 1p.m.
Sunday, December 31 (in alphabetical order)
Boardwalk presents, an Alyson Thomas Production event, “Under the Big Top NYE 2018.” The night will feature complimentary drinks from 8-11p.m., a free gourmet buffet from 9-11p.m., a champagne toast at midnight, sext strippers and circus acts, drag queens and much more. Tickets are $20 in advance by calling 954-463-6969 or $40 at the door.
Georgie’s Alibi/Monkey Bar presents a huge indoor/outdoor party starring DJ AJ Reddy and Mike James and hosted by Kitty Meow with productions from Erika Norell, Starlet Skye, Carmen Adore, Angie Ovahness Pryce, and Mhiya Iman Lepaige. The night will also feature party favors, a balloon drop, and a champagne toast at midnight.
Hunters celebrates New Year’s Eve from 6p.m. to 2a.m. with International recording artist Thea Austin (Rhythm Is A Dancer) performing on the Hunters Outside stage. In addition, they will feature DJ Richie Rich from 6p.m. to 11p.m. and DJ Will Calder form 11p.m. to 2a.m., a champagne toast at midnight as well as confetti and a balloon drop, and as always no cover!
Johnson’s New Year’s Eve party is $50 in advance and $60 at the door and includes: Open bar all night long, free t-shirt review, free first class rooms, and a champagne toast at midnight. To purchase tickets in advance go to Johnsonsfl.com
Lips presents Glitz & Glam Ball hosted by Amanda Austin and featuring dinner (3 course prix fixe dinner), live drag shows and dancing. The cost is $35 for the early seating and $75 for the late seating. To make a reservation call 954-567-0987.
Mojo’s Restaurant Lounge offers their regular menu until 7p.m. and then features New Year’s Menu for $115 per person and includes (choose one from each): a Starter (Classic Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Beef Carpaccio, Tuna Tartare); A Second course (Mojo House Salas, Caesar Salad, Crab Bisque); An Entrée (Veal Chop Milanese, 8oz Filet Mignon, 8oz lobster, Lemon Caper Bronzino); Dessert (Flourless Chocolate Torte, Tiramisu, Old Fashioned Coconut Cake); a champagne toast, party favors, music and dancing. To make a reservation call 954-568-4443.
Mona’s NYE Celebration features their famous Hot Diggity Dog Cookout at 5p.m., a champagne toast at midnight, hats, noise makers, and memories.
Palace presents NYE Ball, starring Tiara Love Dupree, Elishaly D’Witshes, Kalah Mendoza, Shanaya Bright, Melissa Plastic Hilton along with hostesses Harmonica Sunbeam and Joanna James. They have 2 Prix Fixe packages to choose from, and they suggest you make your reservations early at info@palaceSouuthBeach.com.
Logo Founder Matt Farber presents Pam Ann in NYE Flight 2018 at the Sunshine Cathedral at 8p.m. For tickets visit: Pamann.ticketleap.com.
Ramrod celebrates its 23rd New Year’s Eve with $1,000 in cash and prizes, during their midnight balloon drop, with the grand prize being a free sky diving jump. The night will also feature DJ Daddy O, and a Free Champagne Toast.
Scandals celebrates NYE with $500 in cash to be given away. The night will star DJ Billy on the patio starting at 4pm and DJ Ron on the inside starting at 9 pm, a balloon drop at midnight. They will also be giving away prizes, t-shirts, hats and much more!
Score presents “URGE: Day One” featuring an all-night back to back set by Abel Aguilera, Alain Jackinsky, and Ralphi Rosario from 10pm until you can’t dance anymore. For advance tickets go to Miaminye18.com.
Southern Nights presents “New Year’s Eve To Infiniti and Beyond” staring DJ Alex Infiniti and shows by cast members Calypso Monroe, Jasmine Pryce Lords, and T-Lo Ivy and special guests. Doors open at 9p.m. and there is no cover!
Twist celebrates New Year’s Eve with DJ Mika, and a Champagne Toast at midnight and a full liquor bar at 7a.m.
Village Pub celebrates New Years with a one of a kind Belvedere Martini Toast, prizes, party favors, and a special countdown of the top hits of 2017 by VJ/DJ Bill Hallquist.
Monday, January 1
Tracy Young presents her 15th annual Genesis New Year’s Day party, this year taking place at Sway Nightclub in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The party which starts at 8a.m. and goes to p.m. will be hosted by Alan T and stars Tracy and DJ Hex Hector. For advance tickets please visit TracyYoung.com.
Georgie’s Alibi/Monkey Bar presents a Recovery Brunch from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. and then at 8p.m. celebrity impersonator Michael L. Walters stars in Dame Edna’s Broadway Cabaret until 10:30p.m., followed by Jennifer McClain’s Cast Party at 10:30p.m. on the main stage.
Whether you’re just getting started in the gym or a bona-fide professional, why not resolve to make 2018 a banner year for fitness. Become more active, join a gym, find a sport or recreational activity that is challenging and fun. You’ll end up looking and feeling better, your self-esteem will soar, and you’ll save a boat load of money on health-care expenses! Here are my suggestions for the best fitness resolutions for the New Year.
1) Pay closer attention to your nutrition. Never skip breakfast, it fuels every activity you do. Eat several smaller meals more frequently throughout the day, say every 2 to 3 hours. Maintain with each meal a 3-2-1 ratio of carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats. Don’t be afraid of carbohydrates. They are your friends because they fuel every workout and they are needed in order for protein to be utilized by the body.
2) If you need to lose weight, check with your doctor first. Avoid trendy weight loss supplements and radical crash diets. These are a particularly risky prospect if you are already taking meds, and especially if you have high blood pressure. Combine healthy eating habits with cardiovascular activity (aerobic) and weight training (anaerobic). When dieting it is not wise to lose more than 2 pounds per week, otherwise you may risk losing healthy muscle as well as fat. Never starve yourself, this will only lead to the body storing more fat, losing muscle, and ultimately your weight loss program will fail.
3) “Periodize” your training. This approach, first implemented by Joe Weider years ago for body-builders, is a simple way to break up your training into cycles. See the year ahead as a great big macro-cycle. Set goals and objectives. Write them down. Then break down the macro-cycle into meso-cycles, of say, three four month periods of time. Set goals for each of these and decide how you want to achieve each of them through your training and nutrition. For example, you may want to lose fat and trim down during the first 4 months of the year. Then you may want to build 5 pounds of muscle, put an inch on your chest and pump up arms for the summer months. Finally, you may want to focus upon building cardiovascular strength and endurance during the cooler months.
4) Be consistent with your training. Schedule your workouts, runs, tennis, swimming, or whatever, into your daily activities and stick to your regime. Bored with the gym where you train? Join another one, just make sure it’s close to where you live and/or work. Need a new workout program? Hire a personal trainer for a session or two and hit him/her up for advice.
There are literally limitless possibilities ahead for you in 2018. Here’s to a happy, healthy and wonderfully energetic New Year!
It all began last July with a series of short tweets from President Donald Trump: “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow…… Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming…..victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you.”
Trump’s tweets were a dramatic about-face from the 2016 policy issued by the President’s predecessor Barack Obama, who had not only allowed transgender soldiers to be recruited, he actually encouraged them to serve.
While the Joint Chiefs of Staff were blindsided by the tweets, and announced that none had been either consulted or agreed with the message it contained, the President took his threat to the court of appeals urging it to suspend a previous order by a federal judge in Baltimore that allowed transgender recruits to be accepted by the military beginning on January 1.
While previous judges, including Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the Federal District Court of the District of Columbia, had questioned the constitutionality of Trump’s mandate, there was no subtlety to the decision announced last Thursday by a three-judge panel in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in Richmond, Virginia, which issued a two-page denial of Trump’s attempts to ban the transgender population, both male and female, from military service.
Ironically, the initial tweets from the President came exactly 69 years to the day that then-President Harry S Truman signed an executive order that desegregated America’s troops.
“It is essential that there be maintained in the armed services of the United States the highest standards of democracy, with equality of treatment and opportunity for all those who serve in our country’s defense,” Truman’s order began. I ensured that there would be “equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin.”
In addition to the initial tweets, President Trump redoubled his efforts to keep transgender soldiers out of the military by issuing a formal memorandum to the Department of Defense. Additionally, he made a point of emphasizing that no medical treatment regimens should be extended to transgender soldiers already in the military, and that they would be discharged from service.
Multiple court cases were filed by transgender soldiers currently serving in the military, with the American Civil Liberties Union representing the plaintiffs in the varying cases.
“We are happy that the court saw through the government’s smoke screen and rejected its request to further delay the policy allowing transgender people to enlist,” the ACLU senior staff attorney Josh Block said in a statement obtained by HotSpots. “The military has already developed comprehensive guidance to prepare for a January 1 start date, and the government failed to offer any credible reason why transgender people should be barred from enlisting if they can meet the same rigorous standards that apply to everyone else.”
The outrage over Trump’s exclusion of transgender men and women from military service was nearly unanimous among both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, and even the Department of Defense had taken an official position allowing transgender candidates to be recruited.
As late as December 8 of this year, the Department had released guidelines for military recruiters detailing how to enlist transgender men and women into the armed forces. Included within the guidelines was assurance that the Pentagon would comply with Federal court orders.
The recent policy paper was issued by the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command in Chicago, and stated that allowing transgender military service is mandatory. In addition, it repeated a previous directive from Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who has said all people will be “treated with dignity and respect.”
Sunday, December 31
The Parliament House features Peppermint and Bob The Drag Queen live from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8 and 9. Tickets are $20 in advance and they also have a $75 VIP Meet and Greet option. The Footlight players will be performing at 10p.m. and 12a.m., as well as comedian Julie Goldman in her stand up “Balls Dropped” at 7:30p.m.
Amalie Arena presents Jim Gaffigan in his stand up tour “Contagious. “Jim Gaffigan is a Grammy nominated comedian, New York Times best-selling author, top touring performer, and multi-platinum-selling father of five. He recently wrapped the first season of his semi-fictitious television show, The Jim Gaffigan Show, which TV Land picked up for a second season and premieres this summer. The series, lauded by The Los Angeles Times as “Fun and Funny,” and People Magazine as “One of Summer TV’s bright spots. The Show starts at 7:30p.m. and tickets are: $32, $46 and $66.
Southern Nights Tampa & Southern Nights Orlando invites everyone to ring in the New Year with them as they feature a $15 all you can drink Wells (includes cover) with UPGRADES available for Call and Top Shelf. They will also feature a Balloon Drop, Champagne Toast at Midnight, Drag Shows and Go-Go dancers throughout the Night!
Wena’s Show Bar presents: Chicago The Musical FULL Production with one continuous show starting at 11p.m. featuring the entire cast of Wena’s: Bobbie Lake, Conundrum, Kaotica Divine, Vyn Suazion, Juno Vibranz, Kathryn Nevets, Crystle Chambers, Jakie St. James, Slayter Steele, De Delovely & Alec St. James! They will also feature a Champagne toast at midnight with a buffet too!
CFE Arena presents Kevin Hart in his “The Irresponsible Tour” at 7p.m. with tickets starting at $69.50. The show will feature new material from the comedy superstar! 2017 has been a banner year for Hart; his memoir I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons debuted at number one on the New York Times Bestseller list. To close 2017, Kevin is appearing in the Sony reboot of the classic film Jumanji alongside Dwayne Johnson and Jack Black.
The Flamingo resort presents “Las Vegas Style Casino” with Black Jack, Roulette, Craps, Texas Hold-Em Poker, Big Wheel, and slot machines from 9p.m. to midnight. They will feature prizes for the top three players of the night. They will also feature a show at 11:30p.m. hosted by Iman and featuring the Blu Theater players, firework displays, DJs all day and male entertainers.
Bradley’s on 7th opens at 2:30p.m, and features a Parade Viewing Party at 4p.m., DJ Bruce Devery from 4-10-p.m., DJ Charles Machado from 10p.m.-3a.m. in the video bar, DJ Steve Vaughn from 10p.m. to 3a.m. in the dance bar, show times at 11:30p.m, and 1:15a.m. Starring Tiffany Arieagus, Jaeda Fuentes, Hori Stevens and Felicity Lane, a live countdown from Times Square, a Champagne Toast at midnight, party favors, Bradley’s boys all night and no cover!
Tuesday, January 2
The Straz Center for the Performing Arts presents School of Rock from Jan 2 – 7. School Of Rock is a New York Times Critics’ Pick and “An Inspiring Jolt Of Energy, Joy And mad Skillz!” (Entertainment Weekly). Based on the hit film, this hilarious new musical follows Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star posing as a substitute teacher who turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. This high-octane smash features 14 new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber, all the original songs from the movie and musical theater’s first-ever kids rock band playing their instruments live on stage. Vanity Fair raves, “Fists Of All Ages Shall Be Pumping!” Tickets start at $45.
Southern Nights Orlando presents their Twisted Tuesday Grand Finale, where all of your Twisted Tuesday Final Winners will come back to compete for the Ultimate Prize….. $500 CASH, a Twisted Tuesday Trophy and a Tuesday Cast Position for a Year. Winner is chosen by Audience Applause and a Panel of Judges. This exciting event features the music of DJ Melvin Sledge, is hosted by Axel Andrews with Kaija-adonis, MrMs Adrian and honors the 2016 Grand Finale Winner Mystree Hugga. No cover before 11pm 21+ (18+ Welcomed).
Wendesday, January 3
Southern Nights Tampa presents their “So You Think You Can Drag” Semi Finals with a Candy land theme and hosted by Jade Embers & Gia Banks! The night will also feature Season 2 winner Artty. They invite you to watch all previous winner compete for the $250 cash prize and a booking at Swank Saturdays. No cover 21+ (18+ Welcomed).
Thursday, January 4
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall presents comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White who first rose to fame as the cigar-smoking, scotch-drinking funnyman from the Blue Collar Comedy Tour phenomenon, but now as a chart-topping Grammy-nominated comedian and a feature film actor. Ron White has established himself as a star in his own right. White has always been a classic storyteller. His stories relay tales from his real life, ranging from growing up in a small town in Texas to sharing stories of his daily life to becoming one of the most successful comedians in America. All 4 of his comedy albums charted #1 on the Billboard Comedy Charts. He has sold over 14 million albums, and has been nominated for two Grammys. Tickets start at $41.
Friday, January 5
Southern Nights Tampa is celebrating the 6th anniversary of NeiBEARhood Takeover with the theme: “Revenge Of The Sixth” (A Star Wars/Si-Fi Fetish Event) staring DJ JB Burgos. The night will also feature a 1 a.m. costume contest. There is no cover before 10p.m. and this is a 21+ only event!
Saturday, January 6
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall presents A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder today at 8p.m. and Sunday January 7 at 3 p.m. Getting away with murder can be so much fun… and there is no better proof than this knock-‘em-dead hit show. A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder is the winner of the 2014 Tony Award for Best Musical, and tells the uproarious story of Monty Navarro, heir to a family fortune who sets out to jump the line of succession by eliminating the eight pesky relatives who stand in his way. All the while, Monty juggles his mistress (after more than just love), his fiancée (his cousin but who’s keeping track?), and the constant threat of landing behind bars! The Hollywood Reporter raves, “Gentleman’s Guide restores our faith in musical comedy.” Tickets start at $51.
Tuesday, January 9
Orlando’s Amway Center presents Shakira in her El Dorado World Tour at 7:30p.m. with tickets starting at $47.50. Over the course of Shakira’s career, the Colombian singer-songwriter has sold over 60 million records worldwide and has won numerous awards including two Grammys, eight Latin Grammys, and several World Music Awards, American Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards. She is also the only South American artist to have a number one song in the U.S., and has had four of the 20 top-selling hits of the last decade.
Thursday, January 11
Southern Nights Tampa presents their annual “Turnabout,” a benefit for Metro Wellness & Community Centers. Thy invite you to watch as your favorite staff members perform in DRAG!
Doors Open at 8pm $5 Suggested Donation (18+ Welcomed) with ShowTime at 9pm hosted by: Jade Embers with Gia Banks.
Friday, January 12
The Straz Center for the Performing Arts presents Forever Plaid from today until March 11 with tickets starting at $42. When four young singers are killed in a car crash, they posthumously take the stage for one final gig in this goofy, 1950’s nostalgia trip. This deliciously fun revue is chock-full of classic barbershop quartet harmonies and pitch-perfect melodies! Singing in close harmony, squabbling boyishly and executing their charmingly outlandish choreography with overzealous precision, the Plaids are a guaranteed smash, with a program of beloved songs that keep audiences rolling in the aisles when they’re not humming along to some of the great nostalgic pop hits of the 1950s.
Saturday, January 13
The Parliament House presents, direct from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 9, and making her Orlando debut: AJA. Doors open at 8pm. Shows with the Foolight Players and Aja at 10p.m. & 12a.m. General Admission sold at the door only. VIP/Photo Op tickets are on sale now. 18+ welcome.
Sunday, January 14
The Parliament House presents April Fresh’s Comedy Brunch Buffet featuring a delicious brunch buffet which begins at 12pm with the show beginning at 1pm featuring: April, Sorcha Mercy, and Alexi Leigh. Brunch Buffet- $19.99 (18+); Brunch Buffet with bottomless mimosas – $29.99 (21+).
Wednesday, January 17
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall presents Chita & Tune: Just In Time, which is a unique concert event that pairs two of Broadway’s most celebrated legends. Chita Rivera and Tommy Tune collectively have won 12 Tony Awards and this iconic Broadway coupling is guaranteed to dazzle you! Chita has won two Tony Awards as Best Leading Actress in a Musical and received eight additional Tony nominations. Tommy has been honored with 10 Tony Awards recognizing him as an outstanding performer, choreographer, and director. The stars will showcase the artistry and history that has made them stars of the Great White Way and beyond. The duo will be accompanied by a trio of superb Broadway musicians. The show starts at 8p.m. with tickets starting at $26.
Thursday, January 18
Dr. Phillips Center For the Performing Arts in association with AEG presents Jake Owen in The Good Company Tour at 8p.m. Jake Owen has had six No. 1 singles to date – the 2X Platinum anthem “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” Platinum-certified hits “Beachin’,” “Anywhere with You,” “Alone with You” and “The One That Got Away” plus Gold-certified “American Country Love Song.” The RCA Nashville recording artist recently released his fifth studio album, American Love, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart. The Vero Beach, FL native is well known for his high-energy performances and laid-back style. Tickets: start at $35.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall presents…..It’s not a concert…it’s a party! Spend a nostalgic evening saluting 3 of the world’s most beloved musical groups who were instrumental in creating the Rock & Roll/Doo Wop sound: Cornell Gunter’s Coasters (Charlie Brown, Yakety Yak); The Platters featuring 4 of America’s premier singers performing their greatest hits (Only You, The Great Pretender); and The Drifters, one of Rock & Roll’s founding vocal groups with their 50 year catalog of hits (Under the Boardwalk, This Magic Moment). This show, which starts at 8p.m. has songs to please every palate, delivered just the way you remember them, when you first heard them on the radio! Tickets start at $26.
Friday, January 19
Riverdance: 20th Anniversary Tour plays both the Straz Center for the performing Arts (Jan 19-21; tickets start at $35.25) and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (Jan 26-28; tickets start at $34.25). Drawing on Irish traditions, the combined talents of the performers propel Irish dancing and music into the present day, capturing the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures in an innovative and exciting blend of dance, music and song. Of all the performances to emerge from Ireland – in rock, music, theatre and film – nothing has carried the energy, the sensuality and the spectacle of Riverdance. Riverdance – The 20th Anniversary World Tour is composed by Bill Whelan, produced by Moya Doherty and directed by John McColgan, and comes directly to North America from a sold out run across Europe and Asia.
Orlando’s Amway Center presents Miranda Lambert in her “Livin’ Like Hippies Tour” at 7p.m. with tickets starting at $39.75. The Livin’ Like Hippies Tour receives its name from the lyrics of Lambert’s aptly titled song “Highway Vagabond” which appears on The Nerve side of Lambert’s 24-song, double album, The Weight Of These Wings.The new album, The Weight Of These Wings, is the Texas native’s sixth studio album and since its release in November 2016 the record has been certified Platinum by the RIAA, spawned two Grammy Award nominations for its lead single “Vice,” been awarded the ACM Album of the Year, and most recently racked up FIVE nominations for Lambert at the upcoming CMA Awards including a coveted Album of the Year nod.
Sunday, January 21
The Flamingo resort presents the Mr. and Miss Flamingo Pageant honoring Kenya Black and Johnny Sparks (Mr. and Miss Flamingo 2017). The pageant starts at 6p.m. with the categories: Presentation, Swimwear, Talent, Formal Wear and Q&A. For contestant info contact Jon@FlamingoFLA.com.
Thursday, January 25
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall presents the iconic Paul Anka. The legendary singer/songwriter, one of the biggest teen idols of the late ‘50’s, is an ever-popular performer at the Van Wezel. With well over 500 songs to his credit, the most memorable being “Put Your Head On My Shoulder,” “My Way” and the famous theme from “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” Paul is the only artist in history to have a song in the Billboard Top 100 during seven separate decades. His concert starts at 8p.m. and tickets start at $81.
Friday, January 26
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall presents Masters of Illusion, America’s largest touring magic show. They return with their “Believe the Impossible” tour! Nothing beats the experience of seeing a magic show in person. You will see grand illusions, levitating women, appearances, vanishes, escapes, comedy, magic, sleight of hand and beautiful dancers all rolled up into one live show! Only the best, most unique, amusing, astounding and amazing performers have been chosen to perform in this huge stage phenomenon. The show starts at 7p.m. with tickets starting at only $21.
Saturday, January 27
Dr. Phillips Center For the Performing Arts added a second show at 10p.m. for Trevor Noah, who was the most successful comedian in Africa and is the host of the Emmy® and Peabody® Award-winning “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central. This year “The Daily Show” was nominated for a Writers Guild Award (Comedy/Variety Series). Noah also recently won Best Host at the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards, as well as a Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series for his hosting role on “The Daily Show – Between The Scenes.” He joined “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” in 2014 as a contributor. In February 2017 Noah debuted his 9th comedy special “Afraid of the Dark” on Netflix. Tickets start at $39.50.
Monday, January 29
Dr. Phillips Center for the Perfroming Arts in association with Bill Blumenreich presents Vice President Joe Biden: American Promise Tour. Joe Biden has always believed that when given a chance, ordinary people can do extraordinary things. As a scrappy kid from Scranton who rose to the Office of Vice President, he is no exception. During his 45 years of public service, one of Vice President Biden’s greatest strengths has been his ability to bring people together, even in crisis, even across difficult divides, all the while, respecting everybody at the table. Pre-Sale tickets start at: $68 (VIP Package: $325) and includes a copy of Vice President Joe Biden’s new memoir, Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose.
The Straz Center for the Performing Arts presents the Magic of Adam Trent. Direct from Broadway, Adam Trent, the breakout star of the world’s best-selling magic show The Illusionists, brings his signature brand of magic and illusion to this nonstop spectacle. The Magic of Adam Trent is an immersive entertainment extravaganza of magic, comedy and music perfect for the entire family. Don’t miss the next generation of magic! Tickets start at $45.
Winter is normally a season that is accompanied by long, snowy nights and freezing temperatures that make going outside unbearable; however, for us that call South Florida home, winter means that we can finally enjoy being outside without suffering from heat stroke and wear things other than shorts and flip flops. From blockbuster movies to the most talked about TV shows to festivals and fairs, there is no shortage of things to see and do around South Florida this winter. Here is your definitive guide to what to watch and do this season, so grab your cuddle buddy and get ready to enjoy winter in paradise.
MOVIES:
When the temperature drops, stay inside and watch these must-see, blockbuster movies:
December:
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle
Four teenagers discover an old video game console and are literally drawn into the game’s jungle setting becoming the adult avatars they chose.
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart, Jack Black
Release Date: Dec. 22
Pitch Perfect 3
Fat Amy, along with your favorite Bellas, are back following their win at the world championship. The now separated Bellas reunite for one last singing competition at an overseas USO tour, but face a group who uses both instruments and voices.
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Ruby Rose, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow
Release Date: Dec. 22
Father Figures
Upon learning that their mother has been lying to them for years about their allegedly deceased father, two fraternal twin brothers hit the road to find him.
Starring: Owen Wilson, Christopher Walken, J.K. Simmons, Ed Helms
Release Date: Dec. 22
The Post
A cover-up that spanned four U.S. Presidents pushed the country’s first female newspaper publisher and a hard-driving editor to join an unprecedented battle between journalist and government.
Starring: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk
Release Date: Dec. 22
Downsizing
When scientists discover how to shrink humans to five inches tall as a solution to overpopulation, Paul (Matt Damon) and his wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig) decide to abandon their stressed lives in order to get small and move to a new downsized community — a choice that triggers life-changing adventures.
Starring: Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, Kristen Wiig
Release Date: Dec. 22
Crooked House
In Agatha Christie’s most twisted tale, a spy-turned-private-detective is lured by his former lover to catch her grandfather’s murderer before Scotland Yard exposes dark family secrets.
Starring: Christina Hendricks, Gillian Anderson, Honor Kneafsey, Glenn Close
Release Date: Dec. 22
The Greatest Showman
Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, “The Greatest Showman” is an original musical that celebrates the birth of show business and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.
Starring: Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron
Release Date: Dec. 22
All The Money In The World
This crime thriller is based on the true story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother to convince his billionaire grandfather Jean Paul Getty to pay the ransom.
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, Charlie Plummer, Christopher Plummer
Release Date: Dec. 29
Molly’s Game
The true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game and became an FBI target.
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera
Release Date: Dec. 29
Phantom Thread
Set in 1950’s London, Reynolds Woodcock is a renowned dressmaker whose fastidious life is disrupted by a young, strong-willed woman, Alma, who becomes his muse and lover.
Starring: Vicky Krieps, Daniel Day-Lewis, Lesley Manville, Sue Clark
Release Date: Dec. 29
January:
Insidious: The Last Key
Parapsychologist Dr. Elise Rainier faces her most fearsome and personal haunting yet – in her own family home.
Starring: Kirk Acevedo, Spencer Locke, Josh Stewart, Lin Shaye
Release Date: Jan. 5
Proud Mary
Taraji P. Henson is Mary, a hitwoman working for an organized crime family in Boston. Mary’s life is completely turned around when she meets a young boy whose path she crosses when a professional hit goes awry.
Starring: Neal McDonough, Taraji P. Henson, Danny Glover, Xander Berkeley
Release Date: Jan. 12
THE FINAL YEAR
“THE FINAL YEAR” is a unique insiders’ account of President Barack Obama’s foreign policy team during their last year in office. Featuring unprecedented access inside the White House and State Department, “THE FINAL YEAR” offers an uncompromising view of the inner workings of the Obama Administration as they prepare to leave power after eight years.
Starring: John Kerry, Barack Obama, Samantha Power, Ben Rhodes
Release Date: Jan. 19
12 Strong
12 Strong tells the story of the first Special Forces team deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11; under the leadership of a new captain, the team must work with an Afghan warlord to take down the Taliban.
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, William Fichtner, Elsa Pataky
Release Date: Jan. 19
Den Of Thieves
In this gritty crime saga, follow the lives of an elite unit of the LA County Sheriff’s Dept. and the state’s most successful bank robbery crew as the outlaws plan a seemingly impossible heist on the Federal Reserve Bank.
Starring: Gerard Butler, Jordan Bridges, Pablo Schreiber, Evan Jones
Release Date: Jan. 19
The Leisure Seeker
A runaway couple go on an unforgettable journey in the faithful old RV they call The Leisure Seeker.
Starring: Helen Mirren, Donald Sutherland, Kirsty Mitchell, Janel Moloney
Release Date: Jan. 19
White Boy Rick
The story of teenager Richard Wershe Jr., who became an undercover informant for the FBI during the 1980s and was ultimately arrested for drug-trafficking and sentenced to life in prison.
Starring: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Matthew McConaughey, Eddie Marsan, Bruce Dern
Release Date: Jan. 26
February:
Winchester
Eccentric Winchester firearm heiress believes she is haunted by the souls of people killed by the Winchester repeating rifle.
Starring: Helen Mirren, Sarah Snook, Jason Clarke, Angus Sampson
Release Date: Feb. 2
Fifty Shades Freed
In the third, and final, installment of the erotic Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, newlyweds Christian and Ana believe they have left behind shadowy figures from their past and fully embrace an inextricable connection and shared life of luxury. However, just as she steps into her role as Mrs. Grey and he relaxes into an unfamiliar stability, new threats could jeopardize their happy ending before it even begins.
Starring: Rita Ora, Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson, Arielle Kebbel
Release Date: Feb. 9
Black Panther
T’Challa, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king.
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira
Release Date: Feb. 16
Annihilation
A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition where the laws of nature don’t apply.
Starring: Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Oscar Isaac
Release Date: Feb. 23
The War With Grandpa
Upset that he has to share the room he loves with his grandfather, Peter decides to declare war in an attempt to get it back.
Starring: Robert De Niro, Jane Seymour, Uma Thurman, Christopher Walken
Release Date: Feb. 23
March:
Red Sparrow
Ballerina Dominika Egorova is recruited to ‘Sparrow School’ a Russian intelligence service where she is forced to use her body as a weapon. But her first mission, targeting a CIA agent, threatens to unravel the security of both nations.
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Mary-Louise Parker, Ciarán Hinds
Release Date: March 2
Game Night
In this comedy meets crime movie, a group of friends, who meet regularly for game nights, find themselves trying to solve a murder mystery.
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman, Jesse Plemons, Kyle Chandler
Release Date: March 2
A Wrinkle In Time
After the disappearance of her scientist father, three peculiar beings send Meg, her brother, and her friend to space to find him.
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Levi Miller
Release Date: March 9
Gringo
Gringo, a dark comedy mixed with white-knuckle action and dramatic intrigue, explores the battle of survival for businessman Harold Soyinka (David Oyelowo) when he finds himself crossing the line from law-abiding citizen to wanted criminal.
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Charlize Theron, Joel Edgerton, Thandie Newton
Release Date: March 9
Tomb Raider
Lara Croft, the fiercely independent daughter of a missing adventurer, must push herself beyond her limits when she finds herself on the island where her father disappeared.
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Hannah John-Kamen, Walton Goggins, Dominic West
Release Date: March 16
Love, Simon
Everyone deserves a great love story. But for Simon it’s complicated: no-one knows he’s gay and he doesn’t know who the anonymous classmate is that he’s fallen for online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, scary and life-changing.
Starring: Nick Robinson, Katherine Langford, Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel
Release Date: March 16
Pacific Rim Uprising
Jake Pentecost, son of Stacker Pentecost, reunites with Mako Mori to lead a new generation of Jaeger pilots, including rival Lambert and 15-year-old hacker Amara, against a new Kaiju threat.
Starring: Tian Jing, Scott Eastwood, John Boyega, Adria Arjona
Release Date: March 23
No matter if you’re looking to find your new tv addiction or are waiting for the new season of your favorite show, we’ve got you covered. Here are the most talked about premieres and returning favs for you to binge watch all winter long!
New Shows:
Ellen’s Game Of Games
Ellen DeGeneres hosts this six-episode, hourlong game show that will feature expanded versions of the various party games featured during her daytime talk show.
When to Watch: January 2, NBC
9-1-1
From the masterminds behind “Glee,” Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, comes this procedural drama, starring Peter Krause, Connie Britton and Angela Bassett, that explores the high-pressure experiences of police, paramedics and firefighters who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking and heart-stopping situations.
When to Watch: January 3, FOX
Grown-ish
Black-ish’s Yara Shahidi gets her very own spinoff, Grown-ish, which finds her freshman college student Zoey Johnson navigating the ins and outs of living away from home — crazy roommate, instant ramen, and all — for the first time. But despite a burgeoning checking account thanks to her parents, Zoey isn’t going to have an easy time when she gets to campus. Ah, the naivety of the youths these days.
When to Watch: January 3, Freeform
The Four: Battle for Stardom
FOX’s new Voice/American Idol competitor attempts to reinvent the singing competition by starting with just four strong contestants. Each week, and there are just six episodes in all, the four must defend their spots on the show against potential upstarts. The celebrity judging panel includes Sean Combs, DJ Khaled, Meghan Trainor, and label executive Charlie Walk, while Fergie serves as host.
When to Watch: Jan. 4, FOX
Will & Grace
Everyone’s favorite foursome is back, and we are loving every minute! Join the party when season 9 returns!
When to Watch: Jan. 4, NBC
75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Celebrate the very best in TV and Film.
When to Watch: Jan. 7, NBC
Making A Model With Yolanda Hadid
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, Yolanda Hadid brings her expertise to the forefront as she coaches aspiring teen models to succeed on and off the catwalk. As the mother and agent to fashion’s “IT” girls Gigi and Bella, and model son Anwar, Yolanda and her trusted team of experts will put the girls and their “momagers” through an intensive eight week training program, focused on the physical, mental and emotional wellness that it takes to build a sustainable brand.
When to Watch: Jan. 11, Lifetime
24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
Hosted by Kristen Bell, the 24th SAG awards honors the best achievements in film and television.
When to Watch: Jan. 21, TBS/TNT
Good Girls
This drama, from executive producer Jenna Bans (“Scandal”), follows what happens when three suburban moms get tired of trying to make ends meet and decide it’s time to stick up for themselves by robbing the local supermarket at gunpoint with a toy gun. The series, described as a mix of “Thelma and Louise” and “Breaking Bad,” stars Retta (“Parks and Recreation”), Mae Whitman (“Parenthood”) and Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men”), with the latter replacing Kathleen Rose Perkins, who starred in the pilot.
When to Watch: February 26, NBC
American Idol
Less than a year after ending its 15-season run on Fox, ABC has revived the singing competition series with a new roster of judges. Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan will join returning host Ryan Seacrest when the reality juggernaut makes its debut after the Oscars.
When to Watch: March 11, ABC
Returning Shows:
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest
America’s favorite TV/radio broadcaster Ryan Seacrest will return to host television’s largest again joined by actress and comedian Jenny McCarthy. The show also announced that multiplatinum music superstar Ciara will officially ring in the New Year from the west coast as the new host of the Hollywood Party.
When to Watch: December 31, ABC
Bones
The season premiere of Bones will answer exactly why Zack kidnapped Bones and reveal his full involvement with the Puppeteer murders. There will also be more developments in Hodgins’ quest to be able to use his legs again, though not all of them will be good. The final 12 episodes of the show will see fan-favorite characters continue to return as well as last season’s special guest Betty White.
When to Watch: January 3, FOX
The Blacklist
The task force has more pressing problems to deal with in the return episode: Namely, finding out who has been leaking information to suspected terrorists. The person’s identity will be revealed by the end of the episode, and will have major repercussions going forward. In other news, Aram and Samar get one big step closer to romance.
When to Watch: January 5, NBC
Emerald City
This gritty take on L. Frank Baum’s Oz books finds a 20-year-old Dorothy (Adria Arjona) and a K9 police dog swept off to a fantastical world unlike anything she’s seen before. Vincent D’Onofrio stars as the manipulative Wizard, who has banned magic and rules with an iron fist. Joely Richardson stars as Glinda the Good Witch and Florence Kasumba stars as the Wicked Witch of the East.
When to Watch: January 6, NBC
A Series of Unfortunate Events
The whimsical novel makes its very whimsical television debut in this beautifully bleak adaptation about a trio of orphans who are placed in the care of their scheming relative Count Olaf (a heavily made-up Neil Patrick Harris), who plans to steal their inheritance. Netflix will air 26 episodes in total, with each of the 13 books in the series adapted into two episodes. The first season will consist of eight episodes and cover the first four books. Patrick Warburton, Aasif Mandvi, Joan Cusack and Catherine O’Hare also star.
When to Watch: January 13, Netflix
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
The second season of the American Crime Story anthology from Ryan Murphy explores the July 1997 assassination of Versace (Edgar Ramirez), the famed fashion designer, by Andrew Cunanan (Darren Criss), who was also behind four other slayings before he ultimately killed himself eight days later. The drama boasts an all-star cast that also includes Ricky Martin and Penelope Cruz.
When to Watch: January 17, FX
XXIII Olympic Winter Games
Watch the world’s best athletes compete in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
When to Watch: February 9-25, NBC
Broadway.com’s Audience Choice Award Winner for Best Musical, Finding Neverland (@FNLmusical) is coming to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@ArshtCenter) for a limited time on December 26 – 31, with tickets are on sale now!
Families are encouraged to attend and enjoy fun free activities at Kid’s Night On Broadway on opening night, Tuesday, December 26 from 6 pm. to 7:30 p.m. in the Arsht Center’s Ziff Ballet Opera House lobby. The Finding Neverland “Imagination Station” will feature face painting, balloon artists, and interactive fun decorating fairy wings and pirate hats.
*** Special offer ***Buy One Adult Ticket, Bring One Child Free!* Use promo code KIDSNIGHT by 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 22.
WATCH:
Based on the Academy Award-winning Miramax motion picture by David Magee, and the play The Man who was Peter Pan by Allan Knee, Finding Neverland follows the relationship between playwright J.M. Barrie and the family that inspired Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up – one of the most beloved stories of all time. Directed by Tony-winner Diane Paulus (Pippin, Hair) with book by Olivier Award-nominee James Graham, music and lyrics by Gary Barlow (Take That) and Grammy Award-winner Eliot Kennedy, and choreography by Emmy Award-winner Mia Michaels (“So You Think You Can Dance,” Cirque du Soleil’s Delirium), this new musical, packed with mesmerizing visuals, irresistible songs and plenty of laughs, is a timeless story about the power of imagination… and spectacular proof that you never really have to grow up.
Complete casting includes Billy Harrigan Tighe (Pippin, The Book of Mormon) and Lael Van Keuren (Finding Neverland, Sister Act), with John Davidson (Wicked, Oklahoma), Karen Murphy (A Little Night Music, My Vaudeville Man),Turner Birthisel, Connor Jameson Casey, Wyatt Cirbus, Bergman Freedman, Tyler Patrick Hennessy, Colin Wheeler, Caitlyn Caughell, Sarah Marie Charles, Calvin L. Cooper, Ixchel Cuellar, Dwelvan David, Matthew Davies, Nathan Duszny, Mary Kate Hartung, Victoria Huston-Elem, Thomas Miller, Noah Plomgren, Matthew Quinn, Will Ray, Kristine Reese, Dee Tomasetta, Karl Skyler Urban, Jayme Wapple and Matt Wolpe.
WATCH:
We caught up with Lael Van Keuren, who plays Sylvia, to dish on Finding Neverland.
At what age did you begin singing/acting?
I come from a very musical family! My dad plays the piano and the drums, and both my mom and my sister used to dance, so music and the arts have been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started dancing when I was about 3 years old, and I grew up singing in church and in various school plays. I started to seriously study acting upon moving to NYC when I was in the 8th grade.
What was your first professional/paid gig?
My first professional Equity job was a production of Carousel at the Reagle Music Theatre just outside of Boston. Shirley Jones (who plays Julie Jordan in the 1956 movie) was our Nettie, and listening to her sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” each night was a dream! I was 17, and I was deliriously happy to be dancing the original DeMille choreography, especially the dream ballet in Act 2.
Other than this show, what role has been your favorite to play and why?
I made my Broadway debut in Sister Act, and I went on to play the role of Sister Mary Robert in the 1st National Tour. That entire experience was wonderfully fulfilling. I loved playing Mary Robert because she goes on this incredible transformation throughout the course of the show. She starts out as a girl who is terrified to speak up (let alone sing out), and she ends up this brave, outspoken young woman who would willingly sacrifice her life for her friends and sisters. That kind of an arc was so satisfying artistically.
What’s your fantasy role?
This is always a tough question! I’d love to take a stab at Dot in Sunday In The Park With George, and Polly in Crazy For You would be super fun. In my wildest fantasy, I would love the opportunity to create a role – something with singing, dancing, and an incredible story. To be perfectly honest, having the chance to play Sylvia in Finding Neverland has been like a fantasy thus far! I love this character.
What should the South Florida audiences expect out of this touring company of Finding Neverland?
Audiences should expect some of the finest performances and most breathtaking visual effects I have ever seen. Our leading man Billy Harrigan Tighe is a force, and our entire company consists of the best singers and dancers in the field. Finding Neverland is such a magical show, because you are able to follow the real life journey of J.M. Barrie as he is inspired to write one of the most beloved stories of all time – Peter Pan. This is not a children’s show, but it is a musical that will engage audiences of all ages and will make you want to hold your loved ones a little tighter.
The production features scenic design by Tony Award-winner Scott Pask (Pippin, Book of Mormon), lighting design by Tony Award-winner Kenneth Posner (The Coast of Utopia, Pippin), costume design by Suttirat Larlarb (Of Mice and Men), sound design by Tony Award-nominee Jonathan Deans (Pippin, La Cage aux Folles), hair and make-up design by Richard Mawbey, projection design by Jon Driscoll, music supervision by Fred Lassen, musical direction by Ryan Cantwell and casting by Stewart/Whitley.
Tickets to Finding Neverland are available through the Arsht Center Box Office in person at 1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132, by calling 305.949.6722, or online at Arshtcenter.org. Ticket prices start at $29*.
For more information: FindingNeverlandTheMusical.com.
Watch an all-new, super fabulous episode of Hotspots Live! with hosts Shawn Palacious and C.A. Lopez. This week’s episode of Hotspots Live features ‘Forbidden Broadway,’ Melissa Manchester Live at The Wick, The Ten Tenors, DL Hughley Live, Kevin Hart Live, ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,’ and the Top Three of the Week!
Make sure to subscribe to our brand new Hotspots Live YouTube Channel!
Named by Time magazine as “the best American musical of the Broadway season” for its debut, The Secret Garden receives a special holiday production presented by Slow Burn Theatre Company and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in the Amaturo Theater from Thursday, December 14–Sunday, December 31.
The beloved children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett is reimagined in brilliant musical style by composer Lucy Simon and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Marsha Norman, who won the Tony Award for the musical’s book and penned the lyrics. The musical has remained a favorite since its premiere and a new production is being readied for a Broadway revival.
WATCH:
Orphaned in India, 11 year-old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald and his invalid son Colin. The estate’s many wonders include a magic garden which beckons the children with haunting melodies and the “Dreamers,” spirits from Mary’s past who guide her through her new life, dramatizing The Secret Garden‘s compelling tale of forgiveness and renewal.
Slow Burn Theatre’s production is directed and choreographed by the company’s Artistic Director Patrick Fitzwater. Alexa Lasanta, Michael Urusa , Matthew Korinko, Elizabeth Sackett and Christo Amygdalitsis head a cast which includes Aaron Bower, Michael Cartwright, Anne Chamberlain, Johnbarry Green, Leigh Green, Kimmi Johnson, Kyle Kemph, Michael Kreutz, Stephanny Noria, Ann Marie Olson, Sahid Pabon, Rick Peña, Erin Pittleman, Chris Robertson, Andrew Rodriguez Triana and Casey Sacco.
Slow Burn Theatre Company’s production of The Secret Garden is presented through special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
Performances are Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. with a matinee on Wednesday, December 27 at 1 p.m.
Tickets are $47–$60. Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center, Parker Playhouse and affiliated venues. Buy tickets online at BrowardCenter.org or Ticketmaster.com; by phone at 954.462.0222 or the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office. Know who you are buying from when you purchase tickets.
