One of the advantages of living in South Florida is that with a population of six and a half million people, there is always something going on. We have no less than three Broadway in America series, plus numerous local theaters, symphonies, choruses, art galleries and museums, and of course, commercial films and film festivals. So, grab your phone and open the calendar app, or your calendar, if you’re old school, and let’s start filling in dates.

Arts Preview

Theater

If all the world’s a stage, SoFlo is teeming with them. We are incredibly lucky to have such a thriving theater scene here in South Florida, so be sure to take advantage of it, whether your tastes run to the classics, classical Broadway or avant-garde, there’s something you’re certain to find thought-provoking.

Thinking Cap Theatre is now the resident theater company of the Hollywood Art and Culture Center.  Its season includes two main stage productions: the provocative rock musical “Lizzie the Musical,” running through Nov. 1, and Shakespeare’s “Cymbeline” from Dec. 5-14. thinkingcaptheatre.org.

Brevo Theatre’s next production will be Langston Hughes’ “Black Nativity,” running Dec. 6-21. brevotheatre.org.

Island City Stage’s 2025-26 season kicks off with the musical parody of “The Bad Seed,” “Ruthless, the Musical” Nov. 6-Dec. 7, followed by Lillian Hellman’s “The Little Foxes,” Jan. 8-Feb. 8, and “Everything Beautiful Happens at Night,” April 2-26, about a famed children’s author facing writer’s block and personal upheaval. “Light Switch,” May 21-June 14, is about a gay autistic man navigating love and identity. The season concludes with the straight from Broadway satirical comedy, “Eureka Day,” about an elite private school, Aug. 20-Sept. 20. Islandcitystage.org.

Lesbian Thespians may be just a few years old, but the company is gaining a strong reputation for ensuring that the voices and talents of women and the queer community are on full display. Its upcoming season includes “Shower Songs,” Nov. 8-23, “Stop Kiss,” Feb. 28-March 13,” and “Bull in the China Shop,” Aug. 1-16. lesbianthespians.com.

Broward Center Broadway in Fort Lauderdale opens with “Life of Pi,” Oct. 21-26, then follows with “Water for Elephants,” Nov. 11-23, “Les Miserables,” Dec. 16-28, “& Juliet,” Jan. 13-25, “Back to the Future” Feb. 3-15, “Hell’s Kitchen,” March 10-22, “Kimberly Akimbo,” April 7-12, and an optional add-on, Jan. 30-Feb 1. browardcenter.org.

Slow Burn Theater at Broward Center specializes in new takes on recent musical hits, and this year’s eclectic season has started with “Catch Me if you Can,” running through Oct. 26. That will be followed by “Disney’s Frozen” Dec. 13-Jan. 4, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Feb. 14-March 1, “Hairspray,” April 11-26, and closing with “Alanis Morisette’s Jagged Little Pill,” June 13-28. slowburntheatre.org.

Broadway in Miami at The Arsht Center continues with “Clue,” Dec. 2-7, “& Juliet,” Dec. 30-Jan. 4, “Moulin Rouge”, March 17-22, “The Notebook,” May 5-10, and “The Book of Mormon,” June 9-14. City Theatre will present the world premiere of “How to Break in a Glove,” Feb. 5-22, about an 11-year-old boy clinging to the fractured pieces of his Cuban American family: an iron-willed grandfather, a devoted but weary grandmother, a father fighting for relevance, and a mother torn between rebellion and responsibility. This is the first full-length world premiere to emerge from City Theatre’s Homegrown playwright development program. citytheatre.org.

Also, at the Arsht Center, Zoetic Stage presents “The Mother,” Nov. 6-23, about one night in one woman’s life, and the fragile threads holding her world together. That will be followed by the Florida premiere of “The Inheritance, Part 1” Jan. 8-26. The play reimagines E. M. Forster's Howards End as a wry portrait of New York’s gay community, with gay men from different generations standing in for Forster’s straight people from different classes. Next up is Sondheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along,” March 12-April 5, followed by “Moses,” April 30-May 17. zoeticstage.org.

Palm Beach Dramaworks presents a season of thought-provoking dramas, starting with “The Mountaintop,” Oct. 24-Nov. 9. On April 3, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., having just delivered one of his most memorable speeches, returns to the Lorraine Motel and encounters Camae, a beautiful, mysterious maid. She shares some upsetting news that compels him to confront his life and legacy. That is followed by “The Seafarer,” Dec. 12-28. It’s the devil of a homecoming when Sharky Harkin returns to Dublin on Christmas Eve to look after his belligerent, alcoholic brother Richard, who’s recently gone blind. Next up is “Driving Miss Daisy,” Feb. 6- March 1, starring Debra Jo Rupp from “That ‘70s Show,” and the season closes with “The Crucible,” April 3-19. palmbeachdramaworks.org.

Kravis on Broadway opens with “The Wiz,” Oct. 21-25, and continues with “Kimberly Akimbo,” Nov. 11-16, “’Twas the Night Before…” by Cirque du Soliel, Nov. 20-30, The Choir of Man, Dec. 22-28, “Some Like It Hot,” Jan. 6-11, “MJ the Musical,” Feb. 10-15, “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical.” April 7-17,” and “The Notebook,” April 28-May 3. kravis.org.

The Wick offers familiar favorites, and this season is no different. “The Fantasticks” runs through Nov. 9, followed by “A Christmas Carol,” Nov. 28-Dec. 24, “My Fair Lady.” Jan. 22-Feb. 22, “Camelot,” March 19-April 12, and “The Cher Show,” April 30 - May 31. thewick.org.

New City is an itinerant company but has found two spaces to mount productions. Its season is equally split between the two, its next show is “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play,” Dec. 18-21 at General Provision, in Fort Lauderdale. That will be followed by “A Case for the Existence of God,” an intimate exploration of parenthood, financial insecurity, and male loneliness, the play unfolds in a cubicle where two men unexpectedly choose to bring one another into their fragile worlds, Feb. 21-March 8 at Island City Stage, Wilton Manors. After that is “Lauderdale Made,” April 30-May 3 at General Provision, an eclectic 75 minutes of theater will feature five new plays by South Florida playwrights, and then “Burst,” a funny and piercing play takes place over one 90-minute period as the CEO of the tech company dukes it out with a particularly tough reporter and her waffling CTO, July 11-26, at Island City.

Maltz Theatre way out on the planet Jupiter, I mean the city of Jupiter, has a diverse line-up of plays and musicals this season, kicking off with “Misery,” Oct. 26-Nov. 9, and continuing with “Million Dollar Quartet,” Dec. 2-14, “Come From Away,” Jan. 6-25, “Good Night Oscar,” Feb. 15-March 1, and “Man of La Mancha,” March 17-April 5. jupitertheatre.org.

The Pompano Beach Players, working out of the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, open with “Steel Magnolias,” Nov. 7-16, followed by ‘60s girl group tribute, “Beehive,” Jan. 9 -18, “First Date,” Feb. 6-15, a fast-paced musical comedy,  “Boca,” March 12-22, set in the Boca Oasis retirement community and finally, “Side-by-Side by Sondheim,” May 8-17. pompanobeacharts.org/events/pompano-players.

Gable Stage opens its season with Delia Ephron’s Broadway hit, “Left on Tenth,” Nov. 21-Dec. 21, followed by “Sotto Voce,” a young Jewish-Cuban researcher’s obsession with the S.S. St. Louis leads him to an 80-year-old novelist who is still haunted by the love she lost aboard the doomed voyage, Jan. 23-Feb. 15. “Prayer for the French Republic,” Joshua Harmon’s darkly funny exploration of history, identity, and survival, March 20-April 19, is followed by “Eureka Day,” May 15-June 14. gablestage.org.

Lake Worth Playhouse offers up a bunch of tried-and-true hits this season, starting with “Our Town,” Nov. 13-30, “Kiss Me Kate, Jan. 16-Feb. 1, “Biloxi Blues,” Feb. 27-March 15, and “Matilda,” April 10-26. lakeworthplayhouse.org.

Sunshine Cathedral for the Performing Arts offers up Golden Girls/Golden Ghouls on Oct. 26, followed by Coco Peru, FUCQ This Shit, on Nov. 7, Joe Posa as Joan Rivers on Jan. 17 and Miss Richfield, 1981 on Jan. 30.

Arts Garage in Delray Beach will stage “The Café on Main, opening Oct. 11, “The Boomer Legacy,” Nov. 9, “Delray Stories: Fighting for Freedom,”  Dec. 7, “WHY: An Actor Preparing.” Jan, 11, and Wreckio Ensemble Theatre Company, March 12-29.

Music

Harmony Waves and CAN Community Health present Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal in “No Day But Today: A World AIDS Day Concert” on Nov. 30, at Las Olas Oceanside Park.

The Broward Center will host a variety of musicians and musical groups. Some of the highlights include Randy Rainbow, Nov. 8, Trisha Yearwood, Dec. 13, David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Dec. 14, Judy Collins, Jan. 17, Matthew Morrison, Feb. 6, Karla Bonoff, Feb. 12, and The Temptations and The Four Tops, March 29.

Hard Rock Live has an eclectic series of acts booked, including John Legend’s “Get Lifted-20th Anniversary Tour,” Oct. 26, Sting 3.0, Nov. 7-8, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening, Nov. 26, and Sarah Brightman “A Christmas Symphony,” Dec. 13.

Palm Beach Symphony will salute Gershwin with An American in Paris & Rhapsody in Blue on Nov. 9, perform Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Snow Maiden Suite on Dec. 16, and celebrate the holiday season with “Holly Jolly Symphony Fête” Dec. 8, at Kravis Center.

Matz Jupiter Theatre offers some concerts between its theatrical productions. Catch Linda Eder, Nov. 15, “Material Girls: A Tribute to Madonna, Cher, Lady Gaga, and Adele,” Jan. 29, “Supreme Girls of Motown,” Feb. 6, and “Piano Man: The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John,” April 19.

Symphony of the Americas, at The Broward Center, features Bach, Beethoven & Brahms at the keyboard Nov. 9-11, then asks the age-old question, “Shall We Dance,” Jan. 18-20. Performs Haydn - The Creation, March 22-24, and will offer a tribute to Barbra Streisand with “Don’t Rain on My Parade” on May 10-12.

Kravis Center Masterworks series presents Shelly Berg, piano, conducted by Gerard Schwarz, Nov. 9. In this season launch, the master of jazz and classical fusion, pianist Shelton “Shelly” Berg will perform two of Gershwin’s most iconic works — An American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue. Next up Misha Dichter, one of the foremost American pianists of our time, brings his commanding artistry to Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini on Dec. 16. On Jan. cellist Alisa Weilerstein, renowned for her enthusiastic and precise interpretations, performs Shostakovich’s gripping Cello Concerto No. 1. On March 2, Vadim Repin plays Prokofiev’s lyrical and dynamic Violin Concerto No. 2. The program will also include the world premiere of Paul Moravec’s Lullaby, commissioned for Palm Beach Symphony, alongside his Miami Variations, and Brahms’ richly romantic Symphony No. 3. Simon Trpčeski takes on Prokofiev’s technically dazzling Piano Concerto No. 3 on April 19.  

The Kravis’ Peak Series features innovative performances that focus on ethnic diversity and impactful themes: Tonality: America Will Be, Nov. 2, The Just and the Blind-Marc Bamuthi Joseph and Daniel Bernard Roumain, December 17. kravis.org.

The Sunshine Cathedral Center for the Arts hosts a musical concert with Gabe Salazar on Nov. 15. The Sunshine Cathedral Holiday Concert will be on Dec. 6, followed by Matthew Darren’s Holiday Fantasia on Dec. 7. On Dec. 12, the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida Holiday Concert continues the holiday cheer, followed by a holiday concert by Anthony Nunziata and a community choir on Dec. 20. Jan. 24 brings Varla Jean Merman back to town. Feb. 7 will highlight selections from the musical “Purlie,” and Adrian McGrady: A Flutist Journey on Feb. 28. March 7, it’s “As If!! It's the ‘90s” starring Paige Turner. The amazing brash and belting diva Amy Armstrong returns on Feb. 21.

South Florida Symphony Orchestra 28th season theme is “Juxtapositions.” The season line-up includes Brahms’ First Symphony and Saint-Saens’ Cello Concerto # 1 with Beethoven and Massenet featuring Zuill Bailey, cello, Nov. 5, at The Parker. Next up is Handel’s Messiah and Holiday Pops, Dec. 6, at The Parker, and Dec. 7 at Barry University, Miami Shores.  Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 and Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major with Vaughan Williams featuring Svetlana Smolina, piano, Jan. 21, The Parker, Jan. 22, New World Center, Miami Beach, and Jan. 24, Tennessee Williams Theatre, Key West. Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol and Mozart’s “Haffner” featuring Seth Parker Woods, cello, Feb. 17, New World Center, Miami Beach, Feb. 18, The Parker, Feb. 21, Tennessee Williams Theatre, Key West. Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 and Sibelius’ Violin Concerto with Schubert, featuring Siwoo Kim, violin, March 10, at New World Center, Miami Beach, March 11, The Parker, March 14, and Tennessee Williams Theatre, Key West. In the season finale, Mendelssohn’s “Italian” and Beethoven Featuring Tao Lin, piano, April 8, at The Parker. southfloridasymphony.org.

The Arsht Center will host a series of live performances on The Plaza: Bossa Fusion on Oct. 26, Greg Diamond, Oct. 30, The United States Army Field Band & Soldier’s Chorus, Nov. 5, Idyllic Funk Band, Nov. 19, Emily Maddox, Nov. 29, Fernando Ferrone, Dec. 10, Mikailo Kasha, Jan. 30, Son Gitano, Feb. 25, Gold Dust Lounge, March 6. In the concert hall, Kind Of Blue: Celebrating the Music of Miles Davis, Nov. 7, Disney’s Moana Live-To-Film Concert, Nov. 29, Lea Salonga: Stage, Screen & Everything In Between, Dec. 11, Dan & Claudia Zanes Holiday Sing-Along, Dec 14, Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert, Dec. 28, An Evening with Samara Joy, Feb. 12, Gospel Choir Invitational, Feb. 14, Juan Diego Flórez in recital Feb. 15, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Feb. 19, Malcolm X Jazz Suite featuring Terence Blanchard, The E-Collective, and Turtle Island Quartet, Feb. 20,  Il Divo by Candlelight, Feb. 21, Pink Martini, March 5, Lisa Loeb and Joan Osborne, March 6, An Evening with Sheila E., April 17.

Film

My husband says the reason he loves movies is that they’re always the same. You screen a favorite film, you know exactly what you’re going to get. He’s right that seeing a favorite film is kind of like visiting an old friend, but finding a new film to love is like making a new friend. Check out these film festivals and screenings.

OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Fest, Oct. 16-23 in Fort Lauderdale, Oct. 24-26 in Miami with screenings at the venues: Gateway Theater, Savor Cinema, Regal Dania Pointe, Regal South Beach, O Cinema, and virtual screenings Oct. 27-Nov. 2. Among the films to be screened at theaters are Blue Moon (2025) with Ethan Hawke as Lorenz Hart, Boy George and Culture Club (Documentary, UK, 2025), and a 25th anniversary screening of Psycho Beach Party (2000 comedy horror film based on the off-Broadway play of the same name, directed by Robert Lee King. Charles Busch wrote both the original play and the screenplay.) with a Psycho Beach Bash on Oct. 22 at Savor Cinema.

The 20th Annual African American Film Festival, Feb. 19–22, at the Kravis Center. kravis.org.

OutSFL and Stonewall Museum screen “Movies Every LGBTQ Person Should See” on the second Thursday of each month. The films alternate between camp classics and serious films. Upcoming screenings include Go Fish, Nov. 13, The Ritz, Dec. 11, The Wedding Banquet, Jan. 8, Some Like It Hot, Feb. 12, Uncle Howard, March 12, Funny Lady, April 10.

Dining

Enjoying the sunshine, a cool breeze, a tasty bite to eat, and a refreshing beverage. What could be better? Food festivals are immensely popular, and thanks to our climate we get to enjoy them year-round.

First up is the 13th Annual South Beach Seafood Festival, Oct. 22-25, followed by the popular Taste of the Island, which celebrates 20 years on Nov. 17 at Richardson Historic Park & Nature Preserve. Then a bit of a breather before the 18th Annual Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival, Dec. 11-14, and Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival returns for its seventh annual celebration on Jan. 19-25.

Dance

Broward Center welcomes Men Who Dance Nov. 29-30, and Art Ballet Theatre of Florida: “Ballet Dr. Ouch,” March 14, and on May 2, the Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida Spring Gala.

As part of the Kravis Center’s Peak series focusing on ethnic diversity and impactful themes, it presents Les Ballets Africains, Jan. 29, and Alonzo King Lines Ballet, March 11

At the Arsht Center, Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater: Nuttin’ But A Word, Oct. 30-Nov. 1.

Celebrated choreographer Rennie Harris’ dancers will command the stage with a compilation of moves from B-boying to house. In this show honoring the roots of hip-hop, every step tells a story. Alive-Siudy Flamenco 25th Anniversary Celebration, Nov. 8 features Sara Baras is known for being “a woman who can dance up not just a flamenco storm, but a hurricane.” The Oneness, Dec. 19-21, Peter London Global Dance Company kicks off its season with a world premiere featuring former Alvin Ailey principal Jamar Roberts. Flamenco Festival Miami XVII on Feb. 28 and March 1, takes audiences on a choreographic journey of 15 unique pieces across four acts revolving around a different word: Wood, Sea, Death, and Fly.