Aventura Arts Center hosts “Sincerely, Sondheim: A Musical Love Letter to Stephen Sondheim” on Feb. 4 at 7 p.m., featuring Nicholas Rodriguez, direct from his performance in the Tony Award-winning revival of Sondheim’s “Company.”
The evening celebrates the lyrical and musical genius of the late composer of “Sunday in the Park with George,” “Into the Woods,” and who also wrote lyrics to such classics as “Gypsy” and “West Side Story.” In addition to singing selections from Sondheim’s shows, Rodriguez pulls from the thousands of handwritten letters to fans and colleagues to use Sondheim’s own words to explore the composer’s fascinating relationships with legends such as Oscar Hammerstein. Buy tickets at aventuracenter.org.
STEP INTO MY TIME MACHINE
An immersive “Stonewall IN Stonewall” experience will be kicking off Pride Month in a time machine of sorts. The first-of-its-kind immersive, interactive experience will see the Stonewall National Museum, Archives, and Library transformed into the gritty, historic Stonewall Inn in New York City with “The Stonewall New York Experience” this summer. Every day, visitors to the interactive experience will be transported to June 28, 1969, in the hours before the historic Stonewall Riots, the galvanizing force sparking the LGBTQ human rights movement across the globe.
As visitors enter, they will walk across the “smoky” Stonewall Inn to the iconic bar as number one hits of 1969, such as “Aquarius” play from the jukebox. As they pull up a seat at the bar, a virtual bartender in 1969 drag will chat about the goings-on of Christopher Street that day. Visitors can then stroll over to shoot some pool and listen to a virtual, video-recorded bar patron vent about the challenges and frustrations of the gay community during 1969, and the sanctuary provided by bars such as the Stonewall Inn. Visitors will have photo ops, such as alongside a Stonewall New York neon sign. More details will be announced closer to the launch. The waitlist sign-up will open on March 15. After the launch in Fort Lauderdale, the plan is to have the Stonewall Experience travel to all 50 states. Find out more at stonewall-museum.org.
TRIPLE A
Alvin Ailey at Arsht Center kicks off Black History Month on Feb. 2 celebrating the African American cultural experience through a pre-show activation on the plaza in partnership with BOMA (Black Owned Media Alliance). Beginning at 6 p.m., Step Into Dance – A Tribute to Black History Month will feature a Revelations Celebration workshop where the community can learn choreography from the masterpiece followed by performances from the Florida Memorial University marching band, dance, and step teams. Admission to the pre-show activation is free with a ticket to that evening's performance.
POP ART
"David LaChapelle: Happy Together,” will be on display at VISU Contemporary Art Gallery through March 2. In this new exhibition, his first-ever solo exhibition in Miami Beach, LaChapelle, known for his Day-Glo-hued, semi-surrealist, visual bacchanals, reflects on his wild journey from New York City street kid to pop-art icon. LaChapelle has photographed some of the most recognizable figures in film, music, art, politics, and sports, including Aaliyah, Amy Winehouse, Andy Warhol, Britney Spears, Cher, Christina Aguilera, David Beckham, David Bowie, Doja Cat, Dolly Parton, Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, Muhammad Ali, Naomi Campbell, Nicki Minaj, Tupac Shakur, Whitney Houston, and many others.
OLD CHESTNUTS & NEW WORKS
Maltz Jupiter Theatre announced its new season, and it’s an interesting mixture of old favorites with some interesting new pieces. They kick off with “Deceived,” an adaptation of the psychological thriller, “Gaslight.” Then comes “Once,” “Frozen,” and “The Lehman Trilogy,” Maltz closes the season with an old favorite, “Guys & Dolls.” Buy tickets at jupitertheatre.org.
