Most large and medium cities have maybe one or two queer theaters. We are extremely lucky that Wilton Manors/Fort Lauderdale has four LGBTQ-centric companies producing regularly. Of course, there’s Island City Stage, Wilton Manors’ premier LGBT-focused theater company, now in its 12th season. Then there’s Ronnie Larsen’s Plays of Wilton at The Foundry, and Lesbian Thespians an itinerant performing arts group founded and led by women and dedicated to diversity and innovative art. While not LGBT-identified, Empire Stage is home to several companies producing LGBT-themed shows, including Larry Buzzeo’s ArtBuzz Theatrics.
These theatrical centers are providing us with a rich season of queer shows.
Island City Stage brings us “Which Way to the Stage,” a comedy about friendship, ambition, and what happens when dreams fall just out of reach (Jan. 18 – Feb. 11). That’s followed by “Pulp” (April 11 – May 5), “Skintight” (May 30 – June 23), and “Die, Mommie, Die!” (Aug. 29 – Sept. 22).
Next up at Plays of Wilton at The Foundry, the Women of Wilton and the G-Girls present “Lesbian Game Show,” bringing back all those classic TV game shows you love but with a lesbian twist (Let’s Make a Deal on a U-Haul?) with two shows on Jan. 28. That will be followed by “A Shonda,” “Prep’d,” and “Lesbian Love Octagon.” Ronnie Larsen will also throw in a few short runs with lots of nudity!
Lesbian Thespians' next production is "From Hollywood to You With Love" on Feb. 17. A cabaret will be set up in the Art Serve Auditorium. On March 2 it teams up with Women With Pride to honor National Women’s History Month with “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” featuring stories about historic events, movements, and individuals over the past 50+ years that have shaped the women's fight for a level playing field.
Empire Stage’s current production, “Second Chance,” closes this weekend and will be followed by “Schartt$ Creek,” a parody of the hit television show. It played to sold-out houses in Provincetown all summer. It opens Jan. 18 running through March 23, then ArtBuzz Theatrics opens the musical “Falsettos” at Empire in May.
ISLE OF KLEZBOS SEXTET RETURNS TO FLORIDA
The award-winning sextet Isle of Klezbos has toured from Vienna to Vancouver, with music heard everywhere from The L Word to CBS Sunday Morning. From rollicking traditional dance traditional tunes to original genre-bending compositions, the band's stratospheric soloing reflects their virtuosic talents as alums of Juilliard, Eastman, Harvard, and more. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary year, the fun-loving powerhouse all-woman ensemble is from NYC. Their appearance schedule includes Friday, Jan. 19, at Arts Garage in Delray Beach, Saturday, Jan. 20, at Moss Center in Miami, and Sunday, Jan. 21, at the Jewish Museum of Florida in Miami.
The band has also just launched a new album, "Yiddish Silver Screen,” which explores the multi-faceted musical world of gorgeous yet often overlooked vintage soundtrack gems. These pieces, adapted from cinematic works from 1932 to 1980, are among an even broader repertoire on the long-awaited, 20-track new release available via Bandcamp as well as at klezbos.bandcamp.com.
SOUTH FLORIDA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SUPPORTS ISRAEL
The Jewish Federation of Broward County will sponsor the South Florida Symphony Orchestra in a concert hosted by Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El for an evening of music in support of Israel on Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. All proceeds from the concert benefit the Jewish Federation of Broward County’s Israel Emergency Fund. The IEF provides vital aid to the Israeli people, including housing, food, financial assistance, emergency medical services trauma relief, and psychosocial support.