Local Theatre Buzz

Unmerciful Good Fortune at Sol Theatre

May 12^th thru June 4^th 

Murder brings two women from the Bronx together—will fate tear them apart?  The right to love and the right to die are inextricably bound in this riveting drama of the heart.  The Sol Theatre Project, which was the spot of Spring’s The Mystery of Irma Vep  is proud to announce a production not only for the ladies, but for everyone.  This is an Edwin Sanchez play and proudly sponsored by New Moon and for every ticket purchased gets you a free drink.  The Sol Theatre Project is located at 1140 N Flagler Drive, Ft. Lauderdale.  You and call them at 954*525-6555 or go to www.soltheatre.com.  

Coming to Town

Simmer Down Now! 

How would Donna Summer be listed in the phone book?  Ok, bad SNL reference, but as a fan I just couldn’t help myself!  Yes, one of our Queens, Donna Summer is back, back at The Atlantic Center.  Single tickets are still on sale for all shows but beware, limited seats remain!  For further information you can call the Box Office at 954*835-CLUB. 

SunFest Performers  

Some of the performers gracing the stages at SunFest this weekend in West palm Beach will be:  Duncan Sheik, Bruce Hornsby, Fefe Dobson, and Carrie Underwood.  For more information, go to www.sunfest.com. 

Kathy Griffin

You know who she is…allegedly, and love her for it…actually!  She will at the Lyric Theatre May 15^th.  The Lyric Theatre is at 59 SW Flagler Ave, Stuart.  Tickets are:  $42.50 and call 772*286-7827 for tickets and further information.

Jersey Boys are Back!

Yes, we all survived the BIG HAIR of the 80’s.  If you know that “You Give Love a Bad Name” and feel like you are “Living on a Prayer”—yes Virginia, there is a Bon Jovi!  All four members (John Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Tico Torres, and David Bryan) will be onstage at Hard Rock Live July 10^th  at 8pm.  Tickets are now on sale.   

For further information, call 954*523-3309, www.ticketmaster.com, or stop by the Hard Rock Live Box Office—they are open from noon to 7pm daily.

Who’s Your First Idol?

Kelly Clarkson will be live, onstage Friday, June 30^th at the Sound Advice Amphitheatre.  As part of her Addicted Tour, her Special Guest will be Rooney.  The Amphitheatre is located at 601-7 Sansbury’s Way, West Palm Beach.  Tickets are $25-$75 and can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.com www.livenation.com, or by phone at:  561*966-3309, 954*523-3309, or 305*358-5885.  To get more Kelly info, go to www.kellyclarkson.com. 

Melissa Etheridge Live Saturday, August 19^th  8pm 

New Greatest Hits CD “The Road Less Traveled” in stores now!

Tickets available at Ticketmaster locations or you can charge by phone:  305-358-5885 / 954-523-3309 / 561-966-3309 or www.ticketmaster.com. 

Mizner Park Amphitheater is in Boca Raton and this is a Fantasma Productions Concert Event.  For further information go to www.fantasma.com or www.melissaetheridge.com

Things on Display

Keith Clark at Stonewall

All Month Long 

Artist Keith Clark will be showcasing at The Stonewall Library and Archives all this month.  ArtsUnited is proud to sponsor Keith Clark as the Artist of the Month.  The Stonewall Library and Archives is located at 1717 North Andrews Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale.  For further information you can call them at 954*530-2723.

China Change

Until June 18, 2006 

On exhibit at the Boca Raton Museum of Art is now showing Documenting China:  Contemporary Photography and Social Change.  The exhibition is a collection of 57 dramatic works by seven contemporary Chinese photographers that reveal the essence of that nation from an insider’s point of view.  This show is organized by the Bates College Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.   While you are there, check out Edward Burtynsky:  The China Series that contain 20 new large-scale color photographs from recent trips to China and Pop Prints that are works from the permanent collection of Andy Warhol, Roy Lichetenstein, Jim Dine, and others.   

The Boca Raton Museum of Art is located at 501 Plaza Real, Mizner Park and you can contact them at 561-392-2500 or www.bocamuseum.org.  

Dali, Dali Everywhere

Until May 20, 2006 

The Coral Springs Museum of Art is proud to host an art exhibit featuring original works by Salvador Dali.  The Museum is located at 2855 Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs and you can contact them at 954-340-5000.

Titanic:  The Artifact Exhibit

Until October 

This exhibit chronicles the journey of RMS Titanic from its design and construction through its fateful maiden voyage and sinking, to the scientific recovery efforts.   

The Miami Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium is located on 3280 South Miami Avenue, Miami.  You can contact them at 305*646-4200 or www.miamisci.org. 

Paris in Photographs

Until May 21, 2006

This is a collection of photographs from the unique perspectives of French, American, and German photographers between 1898 and 1988.  It features works by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Walde Huth-Schmolz, and more.   

Cost:  $8 Adults / $3 ages 13-21 / Members and children under 3 Free.  

Norton Museum of Art. 1451 South Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach. 561-832-5196. www.norton.org

Chihuly at the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden Until May 31, 2006

Experience a garden straight out of a dream with glass masterpieces by world renown artist Dale Chihuly.  These pieces are woven throughout a stunning backdrop of the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden—art and nature as one.  Experience this one of a kind event now until May 31, 2006.  For further information go to:  www.fairchildgarden.org. 

Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden. 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, 305-667-1651. Hours of Operation:  9:30am – 4:30pm  Cost:  $15

Andrew Wyeth in Phily 

If you have not heard of Andrew Wyeth, maybe you’ve heard of his infamous series called Helga.  Apparently, Helga was his neighbor and part-time model.  The collection, called Andrew Wyeth:  Memory and Magic is now on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art through July 16^th.  Wyeth, who is now 88 (whom my parents told me was dead when we saw the collection as a child) and media-shy, is uncomfortable viewing his own work in a museum.  Wyeth said that he never had an affair with Helga Testorf, and still paints her occasionally.  The collection includes more than 100 works and well worth the trip if you are in the Philadelphia area. 

Bank of America Loves Museums 

Your Bank of America ATM card can now be used for more than getting out cash at 2am. Throughout May, your card can get you and a friend free museum admission in NINE Northeastern states.  Cardholders of Bank of America Debit, Credit, ATM, or MBNA cards are eligible.  Among 56 participating museums are:  The Guggenheim in NY, Winterthur in DE, and Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  Contact www.bankofamerica.com/museums for further information.

Bog People in LA!

Now through September 10^th 

“Mysterious Bog People” is an exhibit of ancient Europeans that is at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.  This includes more than 400 prehistoric objects and six well-preserved human bodies and is the first international tour of these objects.  The mummies were found in peat bogs in Northwestern Europe.  This display uses archeology and forensic science to shed light upon the lives, rituals, and deaths of people from the Mesolithic period—almost 12,000 years ago to the end of the 16^th century.  For further information contact them at 213*763-3466 or www.nhm.org. 

Miami Beach Mid-Century Modern Architecture Tour

May 13, 2006

For more information about MiMo, Click Here.

E. Robert Dunn Signs his Echelon’s End

May 5^th  

Local author and actor E. Robert Dunn has just finished and released his latest book, Echelon’s End which is great if you are gay and love Science Fiction.  He will be on hand signing and talking about his book at The Stonewall Library and Archives May 5^th.   The Stonewall Library and Archives is located at 1717 North Andrews Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale.  For further information you can call them at 954*530-2723.

To purchase the book through TLA, Click Here or the cover.

India at the Library

Saturday, May 6, 2006 7pm-10pm 

The Association of Performing Arts of India hosts a concert featuring Indian classical music featuring three Generations of Violin virtuoso featuring Dr. N. Rajam and Dr. Sangeeta Shankar.  Admission is $20 and will be held at the Main Library Auditorium at 100 South Andrews Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale.  For further information, call 954*885-1466.  Tickets are available at www.ticketweb.com. 

Il Divo

I remember the first time that I was blown away by the music of these four Opera singers.  George’s Alibi had a promotion and giveaway of their CD and my roommate won one.  We LOVED it and you will too!  Their latest CD Ancora and latest DVD Encore is now available in stores and online at www.ildivo.com.   

They will be in concert June 13^th & 14^th at 8pm at the Mizner Park Amphitheatre and is a Fantasma Productions Concert Event— www.fantasma.com.  You can also charge by phone at:  561*966-3309, 954-523-3309, or 305-358-5885.

Enlightenment or Light in the Loafers?

Before you get that nifty trendy Japanese symbol tattoo on the back of your neck, you might want to go to www.japanesetranslator.co.uk and they will help you out.  I wonder what the word for Schmuck would look like…

Calling Artists & Theatre People 

Florida Professional Theatres Association Wants YOU! 

On May 20^th through the 22^nd there will be statewide auditions and workshops provided by the Florida Professional Theatres Association in Daytona Beach.  Dozens of theatres participate yearly, with participants from Tampa to Miami and Gainesville.  They cast shows for their own upcoming seasons.  May 15^th is the deadline for application and registration.  Performers, Directors, Designers, Stage Managers, and various other positions are up for grabs and can register at www.fpta.net or by writing to:  FPTA, PO Box 2922, West Palm Beach, FL  33402.  You must include a self-addressed/stamped envelope.   

Call For Artists for ArtsUnited’s United & Proud Exhibit 

ArtsUnited is seeking submissions for its annual United & Proud Visual Art Exhibit in celebration of Gay Pride Month.  Entries are not limited to a theme, but rather the exhibition is designed to showcase local gay and lesbian artists to the general public.  Exhibiting in United & Proud is for ArtsUnited Members only.  Membership is only $20.00 per year for artists, and applications are available at ArtServe, Stonewall Library and     Archives, and online at www.artsunitedonline.org.  This year’s United & Proud Exhibit will be on display from June 5 through 29, 2006 at Gallery Six, Broward County Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Avenue, Ft Lauderdale. The opening reception will be on Wednesday June 7^th from 6 to 8:30 PM. Admission will be free.  There will be prizes for Best of Show and People’s Choice that will be announced at the Opening Reception.  Visual artists who wish to participate must complete and submit an application on or before May 31, 2006 either by mail to ArtsUnited, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd, Suite 145, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304, or by fax to 954-567-1439.  Applications are available at ArtServe, Stonewall Library and Archives or online at www.artsunitedonline.org.

Rob Thomas & Jewel 

Rob Thomas and Jewel will be performing live at the Mizner Park Amphitheatre on May 24^th at 7:30pm.  Rob’s CD is already in stores now and Jewel’s Goodbye Alice in Wonderland will be available May 2^nd.  Tickets are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.com or any ticketmaster location.  For more information about this and about them, go to www.robthomasmusic.com and/or www.jeweljk.com.  

Mama Mia

Opening May 2, 2006 

The Jackie Gleason Theatre is proud to announce that Mama Mia will start May 2^nd and run until May 7^th.  This is a heart-warming story about a mother, a daughter, three possible fathers, and a trip down the aisle…all with ABBA songs!  A mother confronts her past as three men return to the Greek island they have not visited for 21 years—just as her 20 year old daughter is about to get married.   

For further information go to www.gleasontheater.com.  

Bizet’s Carmen

Broward Center for Performing Arts

May 11, 2006 thru May 14, 2006 

The seductive gypsy Carmen captures the heart of the young soldier Don Jose who sacrifices everything to be with her. On the run with her and with his life in ruins, he sees that she is about to cast him aside for the handsome toreador Escamillo, and it is more than he can bear.

In his passionate confrontation with her outside the bullring, his pleas for her to take him back are met with cold rejection. The tragic murder that concludes the opera is as shocking today as it was to audiences in 1875. Carmen premiered in Paris, France to scathing reviews - Bizet died three months later thinking that his masterpiece had been a complete failure.

The opera will be performed in French and there will be a screen above the stage projecting English and Spanish translations.

For ticket information, go to www.fgo.org or www.browardcenter.org or 800-741-1010. 

JVC Jazz Festival with Eartha Kitt & John Pizzarelli. May 20, 2006

The 6th Annual JVC Jazz Festival - Miami Beach comes to the Jackie Gleason Theater on May 20 with the legendary cabaret vocalist Eartha Kitt and jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli.

Tickets are $65, $55, and $35 and show time is 8pm. 

www.gleasontheater.com

Anacaona - Queen of Hispaniola. May 27, 2006 - May 28, 2006 6:00 PM

La Compagnie de Danse Régine Mont-Rosier Trouillot with the collaboration of Miami City Ballet and Theatro National de Puerto-Rico presents an original full length ballet ANACAONA: Queen of Hispaniola.

This is an exotic tale recounting Anacaona's life. It is enriched through visually stunning costumes and intricate sets, recreating Anacaona's empire to captivating music.

Although a forgotten queen, the once powerful Anacaona remains one of Hispaniola's greatest historical personalities. Dominated by Spanish colonial rule, Anacaona attempted to save her people and culture from extinction. Her struggle is one of courage, pride, determination and passion. 

www.gleasontheater.com

Ballet Florida

May 5-7

Ballet Florida will be performing their 20^th Anniversary Season Closer Lively & Bold at the Eissey Campus Theatre, Palm Beach Gardens May 5-7.  This is Palm Beach County’s foremost internationally acclaimed Classic and Contemporary Resident Dance Company, with Marie Hale—Founder and Artistic Director. 

For further information contact Ballet Florida Box Office at 561*659-2000 or 800*540-0172 or www.balletflorida.com and remember, groups save up to 30%!