When I was preparing to move to South Florida from Chicago a decade ago, I was worried that I’d miss the rich theatre scene.
I apologize for being such a northern snob. Of course, after living here just a few months, I discovered just how rich and varied our theatre scene is down here, and I don’t have to trudge through the snow to see it, so it’s even better! Between the touring Broadway shows coming to Miami at the Arsht Center, The Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale, and the Kravis in Palm Beach, plus all the regional independent companies, from those producing mainstream fare such as Slow Burn, Maltz Jupiter, and Lauderhill Performing Arts, to our resident LGBTQ company Island City Stage and Lesbian Thespians to those producing more esoteric pieces such as Plays of Wilton at The Foundry, Art Buzz Theatrics at Empire Stage, and Brevo Theatre, there is truly something for everyone. And the offerings coming our way in the next few months are no different.
Aventura Center has one of the best houses in the area, intimate, and with easy parking. Some of the great acts booked there this season include “Top of the World: A Carpenters Tribute” Nov. 23, Linda Eder Jan. 17, Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp Jan. 19, “Spamilton: An American Parody” Jan. 24-26, “Disenchanted!” Feb. 13-14, “L'Chaim: A Toast to the Jewish Legacy of Broadway” Feb. 19-20, “Mama I'm a Big Girl Now” with Marissa Jaret Winokur, Kerry Butler and Laura Bell Bundy March 6, “The Ultimate Motown Experience” March 7, and “Broadway with Heart: Song, Dance, & Pizzazz” March 15. For ticket info go to Browardcenter.org.
Brevo Theatre rings in the holiday season with “Black Nativity” on Dec. 4-8 at Sandrell Rivers Theatre. That’s followed up by “Fat Ham,” an adaptation of “Hamlet” set at a family BBQ, running April 3 - June 15 at Island City Stage as a co-production of Island City, Brevo, and Gable Stage. After that, there’s “Young, Gifted & Brave” on July 26 at Broward College, then “Me & My Miami,” Sept. 29 - Oct. 12, 2025, at the Westchester Cultural Arts Center. For tickets go to brevotheatre.org.
Broward Center’s Broadway in Fort Lauderdale turns back time with “The Cher Show,” Nov. 19-24, followed by “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical,” Dec. 18-23. It kicks off the New Year with “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical,” Jan. 21 - Feb. 2, and spring roars in like “Disney’s The Lion King,” March 6-30. We’re not fooling when we say that “MJ” plays April 8-20, followed by that other boy who won’t grow up, “Peter Pan” from May 6-18. The season concludes with “Shucked,” June 10-22. For ticket info go to Browardcenter.org.
Empire Stage is a rental space and it’s working with Artbuzz Theatrics on a presentation of “I Am My Own Wife,” Oct. 4-27, followed by a collaboration with Murder Mystery Manhattan, on an interactive parody, “Sex In The City, The Girls Are Back In Town!,” Dec. 5-22. For ticket information go to empirestage.com.
Harmony Waves will present a “Wilton Manors Holiday Spectacular” on Dec. 9. For information on tickets and other events, go to harmonywaves.org.
Island City Stage is Wilton Manors’ professional award-winning LGBTQ theater company. It’s got some new tricks up its sleeve for its lucky 13th season. Artistic Director Andy Rogow is very excited to be directing the Florida premiere of a new adaptation of the classic musical “The Fantasticks,” this time with a same-sex young couple and instead of their fathers, we have their mothers. The play's original librettist and lyricist Tom Jones adapted the adaptation. Island City is only the third theatre in the country to perform this all-new version featuring memorable songs such as "Try to Remember" and "Soon It's Gonna Rain," Oct. 17 - Nov. 17. The remaining season includes Edward Albee’s “A Delicate Balance" Jan. 16 - Feb. 9 and the co-production with Brevo Theatre and Gable Stage mentioned earlier in this article, “Fat Ham,” April 3 - May 4, as well as Craig Lucas’ “The Dying Gaul,” May 22 - June 15, about a writer’s struggles in Hollywood. The season ends on a light note with the comedy, “At The Wedding,” Aug. 21 - Sept. 14, as a lesbian navigates the highs and lows of attending her ex’s wedding to a man while dealing with her heartbreak. Go to islandcitystage.org for tickets or season passes.
Kravis Center, in West Palm Beach, continues its “On Broadway” series in the new year with “The Cher Show,” Jan. 7-12, followed by “Funny Girl” (with Melissa Manchester as Mrs. Brice, see our exclusive interview elsewhere in this magazine,) Jan. 28 - Feb. 2. That’s followed by “Peter Pan,” Feb. 12-16, and “The Book of Mormon,” March 11-16. Spring continues with two more show-stoppers, “Moulin Rouge,” March 25-30, and “Les Misérables,” April 22-27. The season wraps up with a slice of “Mystic Pizza,” a jukebox musical of ‘80s and ‘90s hits based on the 1988 Julia Roberts rom-com, running May 13-18.
Lauderhill Performing Arts Center is working “9 to 5,” Jan. 16 - Feb. 2, to be “Legally Blonde,” Feb. 27 - March 16. They conclude their season with “South Pacific,” April 10-27.
Lesbian Thespians put on a great show, even if they don’t know where they’re going to be or when. So check with the group’s Facebook page to keep up to date. As we went to press, the information available about the season just included a list of the plays. Carolyn Gage’s “The Goddess Tour,” group of lesbians, a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Ireland, and a murder mystery! “Dolores Street,” by Theresa Carilli. How does a close-knit group of quirky friends find a new roommate? A personal ad of course! “Load-Bearing Walls” by Pamela Morgan, last year’s playwriting competition runner-up. A poignant story of an ace couple fighting for their rights. The group will also be presenting musical performances. Go to lesbianthespians.com.
Maltz Jupiter Theater is quite busy. This season in addition to its mainstage, it added a smaller theater it’s calling The Island Theater (now don’t confuse it with Island City Stage). The mainstage productions include “Deceived,” a staged adaptation of the old movie Gaslight, running Oct. 27 - Nov. 10. That’s followed by “Once,” Dec. 3-15. Even though January doesn’t bring snow in Florida, you can pretend, with “Disney’s Frozen,” Jan. 7-26. “The Lehman Trilogy” runs Feb. 16 - March 2, and they wrap up the season with an old favorite, “Guys and Dolls,” March 18 - April 6.
The smaller Island Theatre also features smaller shows and shorter runs such as “Aire: Anti-Gravity,” Nov. 14-17 and “No Regrets, Edith Piaf” (not Edith herself) on Nov. 22. Then the holiday season sets in with “Dueling Yule-ing Pianos” Dec. 19, “Classic Christmas by Candlelight” Dec. 20, and “Jazzy Christmas Concert” Dec. 21. What no Hanukkah show? Dennis Watkins’ “The Magic Parlour” runs from Jan. 2-5, “Bette Midler: Bathhouse to Broadway,” Feb. 12-13, “Amore! Starring Anthony Nunziata,” for Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, “An Evening with Mikayla Smith,” Feb. 15, “Love Finds Judy Garland” (Psst Did anyone tell her she’s dead?) on March 14. Then it’s “Show Stoppers!” starring Avery Sommers on March 15, and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” on April 22 - May 4. For tickets go to jupitertheatre.org.
The Parker is another gem of a concert venue right in our backyard. Not a bad seat in the house and free parking! And look at this line-up! “Ben Folds: Paper Airplane Request Tour” Nov. 24, “Let's Sing Taylor - A Live Band Experience Celebrating Taylor Swift” Nov. 29, “Don McLean: Starry Starry Night Tour” Nov. 30, “Lewis Black: Goodbye Yeller Brick Road, The Final Tour” Dec. 8. It wouldn’t be the holidays without “Swan Lake.” The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine “Swan Lake” Dec. 27, Paula Poundstone Jan. 10, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo April 30. For ticket information go to browardcenter.org.
Plays of Wilton has two works in the pipeline according to its website: “Stray Dog Story” and “Prep’d” a new play. It also says that “Lesbian Love Octagon” is “coming soon,” but lists “February 2024” as the date. Go to PlaysofWilton.com to see if you can figure it out.
Slow Burn Theater gets in the spirit of Halloween with “The Witches of Eastwick,” Oct. 19 - Nov. 3. Then, it revives our holiday spirits with “Anastasia The Musical,” Dec. 21 - Jan. 5, before reminding us of the true meaning of love with “Parade,” Feb. 8-23. They’ll tickle our funny bone with “Something Rotten!,” March 29 – April 13, and bring it home with “The Bodyguard: The Musical,” June 7-22. For ticket information, go to browardcenter.org.
Thinking Cap Theatre has had to postpone this season due to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ cuts to all arts budgets.
