Island City Stage presents the Florida Premiere of Light Switch
Thursday, 05/21/2026-, 07:00 pm-09:00 pm
Island City Stage
2304 N. Dixie Highway,
Wilton Manors, Florida, 33305
Website
Cost: 50

Meet Henry Sullivan – 27, gay, Autistic, and completely enchanted by the sweeping romance of 19th-century British novels. He’s read Wuthering Heights 67 times; dreamed every scene… but nothing in those pages prepared him for the complexities of modern dating. Join Henry on his journey through love, heartbreak, identity, and acceptance – navigating a world that doesn’t always understand him and learning to write his own kind of love story – in Island City Stage’s Florida premiere of Light Switch by Dave Osmundsen. Tickets are on sale now for the play running May 21 – June 14.

This poignant coming-of-age story thoughtfully portrays one remarkable young man’s journey to find anything — or anyone — that lights up his heart the way 19th century romantic literature does. When Henry ultimately meets a potential match in Joseph, he wonders if Joseph will be the one to “flip the switch.” Funny, moving, and profoundly relatable, Light Switch captures the power of imagination, the longing for connection, and the courage it takes to be truly seen.

Autistic playwright Dave Osmundsen’s work explores the intersections of queerness and neurodiversity. Light Switch received its world premiere with Spectrum Theatre Ensemble in April 2022. Light Switch was also the 2021 Distinguished Achievement recipient of the Jean Kennedy Smith Playwriting Award, an Honorable Mention finalist for BAPF 2021, longlisted for the Theatre503 International Playwriting Award, a finalist for the 2020 Carlo Annoni Playwriting Prize, and a semi-finalist for the 2020 National Playwrights Conference. Osmundsen’s work has been seen and developed at KCACTF Region 8, the Kennedy Center/NNPN MFA Playwrights Workshop, B Street Theatre, the William Inge Theatre Festival, the Midwest Dramatists Conference, Phoenix Theatre Company, Clamour Theatre Company, Premiere Stages, and more. He was one of two recipients of the Blank Theatre and Ucross Foundation’s inaugural Future of Playwriting Prize. His one-act, A Firework Unexploded, was a semi-finalist for the NYC Audio Theatre Writing Contest and was produced by Pint-Sized in London. His plays have been published by or are forthcoming in The Dionysian, Canyon Voices, Exposition Review and Broadway Play Publishing. MFA: Arizona State University.

Island City Stage’s production of Light Switch is directed by theater veteran Michael Leeds and stars Gage Callenius as Ezra, Eric Gospodinoff as Joseph, Larry Toyter as Roggie, Irene Adjan as Marian, and Luis Roberto Herrera as Aaron/Ken/Another Guy.

Light Switch co-producers are Funding Arts Broward & Mark Loeser and the Opening Doors Charitable Trust; Lights and Sound Sponsor is Scott Bennett; Talent Sponsors are Jim Morgan & Joe Rodonis; Costume Sponsors is Richard Meyerson; and Set Sponsor is Glenn Goldberg. Additional funding is provided by the following: The Our Fund Foundation, The Schubert Foundation Inc., the SHS Foundation, the Warten Foundation, and OutClique.

Individual show tickets start at $50. A Mimosa Sunday performance sponsored by Misty Daniels will take place on May 31. The show runs for one hour and 50 minutes with an intermission.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.islandcitystage.org, call (954) 928-9800 or email boxoffice@islandcitystage.org. Follow Island City Stage on Facebook at facebook.com/IslandCityStage and on Instagram at @islandcitystage.

The Office! A Musical Parody
Thursday, 04/16/2026-05/03/2026, 07:30 am-
Broward Center
201 SW 5th Avenue,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33312
Website
Cost:

The beloved mockumentary reaches a new level of laughs with The Office! A Musical Parody. Fans of the television series will be happy to know that all their favorite characters are on board, as are some key plot elements. When the original British version of The Office premiered in 2001, it brought something completely new to television comedy. Sure, sitcoms had lampooned office culture before, but never with the cringe-inducing level of awkwardness that creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant allowed their characters to display. Then the American Office became an enormous hit series — and a comedy landmark. In the hands of writers Bob and Tobly McSmith, the stage version adds an unexpected tuneful touch that takes things to another place entirely, and the outrageousness lives on. General Admission show.

Island City Stage presents the East Coast Premiere of Everything Beautiful Happens at Night
Thursday, 04/02/2026-04/26/2026, 07:00 pm-09:30 pm
Island City Stage
2304 N. Dixie Highway,
Wilton Manors, Florida, 33305
Website
Cost: $30 – $62

From writer Ted Malawer (Red, White, & Royal Blue), Carbonell and Silver Palm Award-winning director Bruce Linser, and featuring stunning illustrations by multi-award-winning artist Bong Redila, Everything Beautiful Happens at Night is a tender, funny, and moving story about the life you have, the life you want, and who stays when the world gets quiet. Tickets are on sale now for Island City Stage’s East Coast premiere of the play which runs April 2- 26.

Ezra is a closeted children’s book author. Nancy is his fiercely loyal editor. Their creative partnership has shaped stories that delight generations. But when writer’s block pushes Ezra far past deadlines to deliver his latest book, a new voice enters the conversation and begins to change Ezra’s life, inspiring a controversial ending to Chipmunk and Squirrel, and testing the limits of his friendship with Nancy.

As a former literary agent for children’s book authors, then as an editor of children’s books, and ultimately as a children’s book author and novelist, himself, Ted Malawer has spun a tale close to home. Everything Beautiful Happens at Night was partially inspired by his childhood LGBTQ author heroes Maurice Sendak (“Where the Wild Things Are”) and Arnold Lobel (“Frog and Toad” books). The play held its world premiere at Capital Stage in Sacramento, California, in early 2025 and its second U.S. staging brings it to the award-winning Island City Stage in Wilton Manors, Florida.

Island City Stage’s production of Everything Beautiful Happens at Night, directed by Linser, stars Christopher Dreeson as Ezra, Laura Turnbull as Nancy, and Aidan Paul as Jake.

Everything Beautiful Happens at Night co-producers are Russell Vance, Michael Mullins and Terry Gaw; Lights and Sound Sponsor is Scott Bennett; Talent Sponsors are Paul Rolli & Bennett Quade and Robert Lee; Costume Sponsors are Rita Cassady and John Colemen; Set Sponsors are Margie & Trevor Fried; and Illustrations Sponsor is DC Allen & Ken Flick No Gay Hate Fund at Our Fund. Additional funding is provided by the following: The Our Fund Foundation, The Schubert Foundation Inc., the SHS Foundation, the Warten Foundation, and OutClique.

Individual show tickets start at $45. A Mimosa Sunday performance sponsored by John Fomook and Charles Lee will take place on April 12. A special Women’s Night at the Theatre sponsored by Barbara Signer and Fran Epstein will take place on April 24. The show runs for one hour and 40 minutes with no intermission.

Island City Stage believes that theatre should belong to the next generation of storytellers, artists, and audiences. Its new “30 Under 30” initiative invites patrons ages 18–29 to experience award-winning, professional theatre for just $30 per ticket (plus taxes & fees; subject to availability on Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturday matinees). Limit one ticket per patron per production. A government-issued photo ID will be required at will call. When ordering online, use discount code “30U30.”

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.islandcitystage.org, call (954) 928-9800 or email boxoffice@islandcitystage.org. Follow Island City Stage on Facebook at facebook.com/IslandCityStage and on Instagram at @islandcitystage1.

YMCA of South Florida’s Teen Broadway: “The Street We Shared”
Saturday, 02/21/2026-02/22/2026, 01:00 pm-03:00 pm
L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center Victory Black Box Theatre
1409 NW 6th Street,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33311
Website
Cost:

The YMCA of South Florida’s 8th annual “Teen Broadway” is proud to present its newest original production – “The Streets We Shared” on Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Victory Black Box Theatre (located inside the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center in Fort Lauderdale).
“The Streets We Shared” offers audiences a powerful and authentic glimpse into how today’s youth – the future world leaders – experience and interpret a rapidly changing society. As technological advancements, such as the growing presence of artificial intelligence, continue to reshape daily life, young people often navigate uncertainty, shifting communities and complex social realities in ways that are rarely centered or heard. This year’s production intentionally places youth voices at the forefront, exploring themes of change, identity, community and resilience through their lived experiences. Written, developed and performed by local students, the production reflects how they see the world today and how they envision shaping its future.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at Tinyurl.com/TeenBroadway26. Day-of-performance tickets will also be available for purchase on site at the Victory Black Box Theatre. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

Island City Stage, Brévo Theatre and GableStage present Fat Ham
Thursday, 04/03/2025-05/04/2025, 07:00 pm-10:00 pm
Island City Stage
2304 N. Dixie Highway,
Wilton Manors, Florida, 33305
Website
Cost: $43 – $60

Island City Stage in Wilton Manors, Brévo Theatre in Pompano Beach and GableStage in Coral Gables will present their collaborative production of Fat Ham, the 2022 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by James Ijames, this spring. This first-time historic partnership among three of South Florida’s leading theatre companies, made possible by a generous $250,000 grant from The Warten Foundation, will bring this imaginative and witty reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet that tackles identity, belonging and generational issues, to both Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Fat Ham will premiere at Island City Stage from April 3 – May 4 and then moves to GableStage from May 16 – June 15, 2025.
Fat Ham transforms Shakespeare’s Hamlet into an over-the-top tale set in a North Carolina BBQ pit. With a twist, the Danish castle becomes a Southern backyard barbecue, and Juicy, a Black, gay southern kid, navigates familial legacies and a ghostly demand for vengeance. The clash of generations unfolds in this award-winning adaptation, exploring the complexities of identity and violence. Jesse Green, theater critic for The New York Times wrote, “That Fat Ham achieves its happy, even joyful, ending honestly, without denying the weight of forces that make Hamlet feel just as honest, is a sign of how capacious and original the writing is, growing the skin of its own necessity instead of merely burrowing into Shakespeare’s.”
Fat Ham is directed by T.M. Pride and stars Toddra Brunson (Rabby), Henry Cadet (Juicy), Melvin Huffnagle (Rev/Papa), Cassidy Joseph (Opal), Denzel McCausland (Larry), Mikhael Mendoza (Tio) and April Nixon (Tedra).
Fat Ham is presented by an arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. The play runs for one hour and 35 minutes with no intermission.
Individual show tickets at Island City Stage start at $43. A Mimosa Sunday Brunch sponsored by Misty Daniels will take place on April 13 with tickets at $55. As part of this unique presentation, the theatre companies will also offer a series of fun cookouts and community conversations to engage audiences.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.islandcitystage.org, call (954) 928-9800 or email boxoffice@islandcitystage.org.

YMCA of South Florida’s Teen Broadway: “Where Is Happily Ever After?”
Saturday, 02/15/2025-02/16/2025, 01:00 pm-03:00 pm
L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center Victory Black Box Theatre
1409 NW 6th Street,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33311
Website
Cost: $10-$15

The production, Where is Happily Ever After?: The Reality Within, presented by Flagstar Foundation, marks the seventh year of the YMCA of South Florida’s Teen Broadway performances, where students from ages five to 15 have the chance to experience what it takes to be part of a full-scale performance. Continuing with the tradition of focusing on a different theme each year, this play explores the universal desire of a “happily ever after” feeling through the stories of a group of friends navigating their personal battles with everyday social stressors. The narrative delves into how social pressures, such as fear, joy, sadness, anger, embarrassment, envy and depression, affect their daily lives. Through powerful performances, the play highlights the hidden struggles that today’s youth face, including family obligations, financial hardships, disabilities, self-image issues and the impact of increased school violence.
Early bird discount tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at https://ymcasouthflorida.org/event/teen-broadway-where-is-happily-ever-after/2025-02-15/. Day-of-performance tickets are $15 and will be available for purchase on site at the Victory Black Box Theatre.

Island City Stage presents Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance
Thursday, 01/16/2025-, 07:00 pm-09:00 pm
Island City Stage
2304 N. Dixie Highway,
Wilton Manors, Florida, 33305
Website
Cost: $43 – $60

Family secrets, friendship and loyalties drive the heart of Island City Stage’s milestone production of Edward Albee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play A Delicate Balance, running January 16 – February 9. This ambitious creative endeavor featuring highly acclaimed regional actors will be the first time Island City Stage has produced a show penned by America’s greatest playwright of the last half of the 20th century.

In Albee’s three-act play, audiences are introduced to Agnes and Tobias, a wealthy, middle-aged couple whose complacency is shattered when unexpected friends Harry and Edna disrupt their household with unfounded anxiety. Add-in Agnes’ witty, yet alcoholic, sister Claire with her quick quips and their troubled daughter Julia’s return home and a pressure cooker of drama and dysfunction ensues.

A Delicate Balance premiered in 1966 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1967, the first of three Albee received for his work (the others being Seascape (1975), and Three Tall Women (1994)). The Master American Dramatist also received a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement (2005), the gold medal in Drama from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters (1980); as well as the Kennedy Center Honors and the National Medal of Arts (both in 1996), among many other prestigious theatre and literary awards.

The original Broadway production of Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance starred Hume Cronyn as Tobias, Jessica Tandy as Agnes, Rosemary Murphy as Claire, Henderson Forsythe as Harry, Carmen Mathews as Edna, and Marian Seldes as Julia. It has been staged several times since, in the U.S. and abroad, with notable stars of stage and screen including Dame Maggie Smith, Glenn Close, Imelda Staunton, Clare Higgins, Bob Balaban, Martha Plimpton and John Lithgow. In 1996, a revival production starring Rosemary Harris, George Grizzard, John Carter, Elizabeth Wilson, Elaine Stritch and Mary Beth Hurt won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, as well as Tony Awards for acting and directing, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Play.

Island City Stage’s riveting revival of A Delicate Balance is directed by Leeds and stars highly acclaimed Carbonell and regional award-winning actors Patti Gardner (Agnes), Tom Wahl (Tobias), Betty Ann Hunt Strain (Claire), Margery Lowe (Edna), Christopher Dreeson (Harry) and Sabrina Lynn Gore (Julia).

A Delicate Balance is co-produced by FAB (Funding Arts Broward) and Jeffrey Danielson. Lights and Sound Sponsor is Scott Bennett, Set Sponsor is Glenn Goldberg and Costumes Sponsor are Arthur and Fran Greenberg. Additional funding is provided by the following: The Our Fund Foundation, The Schubert Foundation Inc., the SHS Foundation, The Maval Foundation, the Warten Foundation, OutClique and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council.

Island City Stage kicked off its 2024-25 season of powerful storytelling focusing on the nature of families with sold out performances of The Fantasticks. Upcoming shows include Fat Ham by James Ijames from April 3 – May 4, 2025; The Dying Gaul by Craig Lucas from May 22 – June 15, 2025 and At The Wedding by Bryna Turner from August 21 – September 21, 2025.

Individual show tickets start at $43. A Mimosa Sunday Brunch sponsored by Judith Paskoski will take place on January 26 with tickets at $60. A special Women’s Night sponsored by Leslie Fine will take place on January 31. The show runs for two hours and 40 minutes with two intermissions.

Island City Stage will also be offering two Flexpass options this season. The Flexpass5 ($215) offers five tickets that can be used all for one show or one for every show (no processing fees) and $5 off additional tickets purchased ($52 upfront savings). The Flexpass3 ($130) offers three tickets that can be used all for one show or one for every show (no processing fees) and $5 off additional tickets purchased ($33 upfront savings). Discounts are available for groups.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.islandcitystage.org, call (954) 928-9800 or email boxoffice@islandcitystage.org. Follow Island City Stage on Facebook at facebook.com/IslandCityStageFL and on Instagram at @islandcitystage1.

The Afro-Latino Short Film Competition REMIX
Sunday, 12/08/2024-, 10:30 am-06:00 pm
African American Research Library and Cultural Center
2650 Sistrunk Boulevard,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33311
Website
Cost: Free

The African American Film Critics Association and the Latino Entertainment Journalists Association are proud to announce The Afro-Latino Short Film Competition REMIX. The Afro-Latino Short Film Competition, which is free and open to the public, provides a vital platform for emerging filmmakers to showcase short-form cinematic narratives that highlight Afro-Latino identities both in the United States and around the world. During the event filmmakers will have the opportunity to meet with key Hollywood agents and movie executives.

In celebration of excellence in the industry the Competition will honor the following leaders in the filmmaking and acting fields:

The SIGNATURE AWARD goes to Dominican American singer and actor Amara La Negra for her contributions to challenging the mainstream pop world’s limited notion of Afro-Latinas.

The LEGACY AWARD goes to Miami based Cuban American filmmaker Marco Mall Founder of Florida Film House the Urban Film Festival and the creative force behind multiple groundbreaking initiatives in the Miami film industry.

The SPOTLIGHT AWARD goes to Puerto Rican born Omar Acosta 4X Emmy-nominated director and designer for his unwavering dedication to elevating the production quality of pop culture.

The film shorts presented in this competition will allow filmmakers to explore how Afro-Latinos define themselves and address trends and issues important to their community.

Judges:

Allen Maldonado – Actor (Black-ish House Party)
James Lopez – President Macro Films
Sarunas Jackson – Actor (Presumed Innocence Insecure)
Natalia Cabral – Dominican Film Director
Jean Jean – Haitian-Dominican Actor
Ruben Peralta Rigaud – Film Critic

The Afro-Latino Film Short Film Competition presented by Lexus and sponsored by OneUnited Bank is a chance for filmmakers to showcase their work and potentially jumpstart their career. The winning films will premiere on the AAFCA Facebook page and the AAFCA YouTube channel. Information at www.aafca.com.

The Happening A Theatrical Mixtape Volume VI Power to the People
Saturday, 11/23/2024-, 07:30 pm-
Broward Center for the Performing Arts Abdo New River Room
201 SW 5th Ave,
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 33312
Website
Cost: $30

The Broward Center and Art Prevails Project present The Happening – A Theatrical Mixtape, Volume VI: Power to the People on Saturday, November 16 through Saturday, November 23 with six performances in the Abdo New River Room. The series is part of Broward Center’s Arts for Action: Black Voices, which features a variety of multi-disciplinary discussions, performances and art-making events designed to use the arts as a catalyst to heighten awareness, deepen knowledge and mobilize action on social justice issues.

Art Prevails Project returns with the sixth volume in the series where drama, poetry and music come to life to explore the beauty and tragedy of the human experience. The audience will embark on a journey through the past, present and future while this incredible ensemble cast tugs on every imaginable emotion.

Under the direction of creator Darius V. Daughtry, one of South Florida’s best-known poets, authors and educators, this new series weaves together drama, poetry and music to explore the beauty and tragedy of the human experience. Featuring some of South Florida’s most-talented artists, The Happening: A Theatrical Mixtape, Volume VI: Power to the People is an immersive adventure through the past, present and future filled with moments of laughter and deep contemplation that promises to inspire audiences.

To learn more about Arts for Action: Black Voices events or to get involved, visit BrowardCenter.org or email artsforaction@browardcenter.org.

Island City Stage Presents The Fantasticks, A Love Story Reimagined
Sunday, 10/17/2024-, 07:00 pm-09:00 pm
Island City Stage
2304 N Dixie Highway,
Wilton Manors, Florida, 33305
Website
Cost: $50 – $65

Off-Broadway’s longest-running and most beloved musical, The Fantasticks, will kick off Island City Stage’s 13th South Florida Season beginning October 17. Audiences are in for a treat with twist with during Island City Stage’s South Florida premiere of this reimagined version by original librettist and lyricist Tom Jones featuring two young compelling gay leads. The show will run through November 17, 2024.

The Fantasticks is an allegorical story loosely based on Edmund Rostand’s 1894 play The Romancers (Les Romanesques), concerning two neighboring parents who trick their children into falling in love by pretending to feud. The LGBTQIA+ focused rewrite features two young gay men, Matt and Lewis, at the center of the story, instead of a young man and woman (the original characters were Matt and Luisa).

According to Playbill, during its original run at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village, The Fantasticks logged a record-breaking 17,162 performances. When the original production closed in 2002, news of the closing made the front page of The New York Times. In 2006, the revival opened at The Theater Center, directed by Jones. That production closed June 4, 2017, after playing 4,390 performances in the Jerry Orbach Theatre, for a combined total of 21,552 performances in New York—still the longest-running musical production worldwide. Over the years, notable names who have appeared in the Off-Broadway and touring productions have included Liza Minnelli, Elliott Gould, F. Murray Abraham, Glenn Close, Keith Charles, Carole Demas, Kristin Chenoweth and Bert Convy. This newly revised version of the classic show premiered in 2022 in Michigan.

Island City Stage’s production of The Fantasticks is directed by Andy Rogow and stars Jonny Lee Jr. (Lewis), Kevin Hincapie (Matt) Jesse Luttrell (El Gallo), Margot Moreland (Mildred), Michael Gioia (Henry); Rayner Gabriel (Mortimer); Louie San Luis (Mute) and Jeni Hacker (Bessie).
The Fantasticks is co-produced by Michael Mullins & Terry Gaw and Mark Loeser & The Opening Doors Charitable Trust. Lights and Sound Sponsor is Scott Bennett and Set Sponsor is Glenn Goldberg. Additional funding is provided by the following: The Our Fund Foundation, The Schubert Foundation Inc., The SHS Foundation, The Maval Foundation, The Warten Foundation and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council.

Island City Stage’s 2024-25 season of powerful storytelling focusing on the nature of families also includes the upcoming shows Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance from January 16 – February 9, 2025, Fat Ham by James Ijames from April 3 – May 4, 2025; The Dying Gaul by Craig Lucas from May 22 – June 15, 2025 and At The Wedding by Bryna Turner from August 21 – September 21, 2025.

Individual show tickets start at $50. A Mimosa Sunday Brunch sponsored by Dr. Deborah Floyd will take place on October 27 with tickets at $65. The show runs for two hours and 30 minutes with an intermission.

Island City Stage will also be offering two Flexpass options this season. The Flexpass5 ($215) offers five tickets that can be used all for one show or one for every show (no processing fees) and $5 off additional tickets purchased ($52 upfront savings). The Flexpass3 ($130) offers three tickets that can be used all for one show or one for every show (no processing fees) and $5 off additional tickets purchased ($33 upfront savings). Discounts are available for groups.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.islandcitystage.org, call (954) 928-9800 or email boxoffice@islandcitystage.org. Follow Island City Stage on Facebook at facebook.com/IslandCityStageFL and on Instagram at @islandcitystage1.

Seeking: A New Play by Darius V. Daughtry
Friday, 07/26/2024-07/27/2024, 07:00 pm-09:00 pm
Amaturo Theater – Broward Center for the Performing Arts
201 SW 5th Avenue,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33312
Website
Cost: $30 (general admission); $20 (students)

In 2022, Darius V. Daughtry, one of South Florida’s best-known poets, authors, directors and educators, presented a stage reading of Seeking, where he explored a journey of self-discovery in the midst of an everchanging world. Now he brings his well-received work to the stage in this new full production with performances on Friday, July 26 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 27 at 2 and 7 p.m. in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets start at $30 with student prices at $20.

Written and directed by Daughtry, Seeking is an unforgettable experience that brings music and magic to the stage as the audience follows the story of a young musician’s quest for independence. This leads to his discovery of how instrumental his family’s past is to him in finding his future. Evening performances are followed by Art Prevails Project’s signature artist talk and a special reception with complimentary drinks and light bites.

Seeking is part of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts’ Arts for Action: Black Voices initiative, presented by Baptist Health and JM Family Enterprises, Inc., which focuses on how the arts and artists can be a force for change in addressing critical issues of social justice and racial equity.

To learn more about Arts for Action: Black Voices events or to get involved, visit BrowardCenter.org or email artsforaction@browardcenter.org.

Open Registration for Broward Center for the Performing Arts’ Adult Summer Classes
Tuesday, 05/14/2024-06/09/2024, 07:00 pm-08:30 pm
Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center
581 W Las Olas Blvd,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33312
Website
Cost: $190-$200

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts kicks off the summer with three new summer classes for adults in the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center at the Broward Center. Registration is now open at https://www.browardcenter.org/classes/adults.

All class fees include complimentary parking.
The three new, fun and enriching theater classes for adults are:

Improv Characters is offered on Mondays, June 10 through July 29 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Participants will expand their range and go beyond stock characters. They’ll explore all types of characters giving them depth and a point of view – whether human, animal or inanimate objects – using acting, improv games, exercises, scenes and storytelling skills. Cost is $200.

Acting Foundations is offered on Tuesdays, June 11 through July 30 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Acting abilities will be explored through improvisation, movement and voice. Participants will develop techniques to build a full-bodied, compelling character from the inside out using monologues and scene work and increases skills and self-awareness as participants build on the foundations of the acting process in a collaborative and creative environment. Cost is $200.

Musical Theater Singing is offered on Tuesdays, June 11 through July 30 from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. The class is designed for adults seeking to expand their vocal abilities using some favorite Broadway show tunes and standards. The focus is on growing and improving range, developing tone and applying technique practically. No previous singing experience is necessary. Cost is $190.

Teen Broadway Presents: “Snowy and the Seven Affirmations”
Sunday, 02/10/2024-02/11/2024, 01:00 pm-03:00 pm
L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center
1409 NW 6th Street,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33311
Website
Cost: $10

Join us for an enchanting in-person experience as Teen Broadway presents “Snowy and the Seven Affirmations” – a contemporary reimagining of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The production focuses on the challenges today’s youth face in being themselves and overcoming the pressures to be something they are not.

For the sixth straight year, kids ages 5-15 will have the opportunity to experience what it takes to put on a full-scale performance through the YMCA of South Florida’s “Teen Broadway” program. Presented by AmTrust Bank, a division of Flagstar Bank NA, this enriching literacy program focuses on the arts in assisting and educating students to develop life skills, including problem-solving, team building, collaboration, creativity, public speaking and media pre/post-production.

Performances are set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 10 and Sunday, February 11 at the Victory Black Box Theatre, located inside the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center.

Tickets are $10 for advance purchases and $15 the day of the performances and are available for purchase at ymcasouthflorida.org/teenbroadway.

Island City Stage Presents Love! Valour! Compassion! by Terrence McNally
Thursday, 10/12/2023-11/05/2023, 07:00 pm-10:00 am
Island City Stage
2304 N. Dixie Highway,
Wilton Manors, Florida, 33305
Buy Tickets
Cost: $40 – $55

Love! Valour! Compassion! – Terrence McNally’s most honored and celebrated play about eight gay friends who spend the holidays over one summer at one’s beautiful hundred-year-old house in upstate New York, kicks off Island City Stage’s 12th thrilling season. The show runs from October 12 – November 5.

At a lakeside summer vacation house in Dutchess County, two hours north of New York City, eight gay friends spend the three major holiday weekends of one summer together for Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. The house belongs to Gregory, a successful Broadway choreographer now approaching middle age, who fears he is losing his creativity; and his twenty-something lover, Bobby, a legal assistant who is blind. Each of the guests at their house is connected to Gregory’s work in one way or another – Arthur and longtime partner Perry are business consultants; John Jeckyll, a sour Englishman, is a dance accompanist; die-hard musical theater fanatic Buzz Hauser is a costume designer and the most stereotypically gay man in the group. Only John’s summer lover, Ramon, and John’s twin brother James are outside the circle of friends. But Ramon is outgoing and eventually makes a place for himself in the group, and James is such a gentle soul that he is quickly welcomed.

Florida-born Terrence McNally is considered one of the most prolific and highly lauded playwrights, librettists and screenwriters in the last 50 years. His decades of works explored human relationships – frequently those of gay men. In addition to Love! Valour! Compassion!, McNally’s works include Bad Habits, The Ritz, Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune, Masterclass, and Mothers and Sons, among many others. McNally’s librettos for Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime won him Tony Awards in 1993 and 1998, respectively. Additional credits as a librettist included The Full Monty, Catch Me if You Can, and The Visit. He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1996, and he also received the Dramatists Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. In 2018, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the highest recognition of artistic merit in the United States. In 2019, he won a Lifetime Achievement Tony award. His other accolades included an Emmy Award, two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Rockefeller Grant, four Drama Desk Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards, two Obie Awards, and three Hull-Warriner Awards.

The Love! Valour! Compassion!, ensemble cast features theatre veterans Chad Darnell, Robert Koutras, Bruce Linser, Saul Mendoza, Christoper Michaels, Matthew Salas, and Michael Scott Ross.

Love! Valour! Compassion! is directed by Michael Leeds and co-produced by Robert Korn and Alvaro Menendez. Set sponsor is Glenn Goldberg and Lighting Sponsor is Scott Bennett.

Island City Stage’s 12th Season will also feature Which Way to the Stage by Ana Nogueira (Jan. 18 – Feb. 11); Pulp by Patricia Kane; Music by Amy Warren & Andre Pluess with lyrics by Patricia Kane (Apr. 11 – May 5); Skintight by Joshua Harmon (May 30 – Jun. 23) and Die! Mommie Die! by Charles Busch (Aug. 29 – Sept. 22).
Tickets for Love! Valour! Compassion! start at $40. A Mimosa Sunday performance sponsored by Tedd Davis and Brad Sterl will be held on October 22 with tickets at $55. The show runs three hours with two intermissions.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.islandcitystage.org, call (954) 928-9800 or email boxoffice@islandcitystage.org. Follow Island City Stage on Facebook at facebook.com/IslandCityStageFL and on Instagram at @islandcitystage1.

Broward Center’s Summer Theater Camp 2023 Open House
Saturday, 04/22/2023-, 11:00 am-02:00 pm
The Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center
3100 Ray Ferrero Jr. Blvd.,
Davie, Florida, 33314
RSVP / Register
Cost: free

Summer Theater Camp is the perfect opportunity to make new friends, be taught by professional performing arts teachers, and have fun putting on an amazing show. The camp offers students the chance to study singing, dancing and acting while rehearsing for a theatrical production culminating in a final performance on stage at the Broward Center.

Attendees to the Broward Center’s Summer Theater Camp 2023 Open House will have the chance to win free giveaways, plus the opportunity to meet the Director, Nina Felice, take a tour, enroll on site and receive an exclusive discount.

To RSVP, visit https://www.miniacipac.com/summer-theater-camp-2023-open-house.

Island City Stage Presents “I Wanna F#%*ing Tear You Apart” by Morgan Gould
Thursday, 03/02/2023-04/02/2023, 08:00 pm-10:00 pm
Island City Stage
2304 N. Dixie Highway,
Wilton Manors, Florida, 33305
Buy Tickets
Cost: $40-55

Island City Stage, in co-production with Out Front Theatre Company in Atlanta, will present the South Florida debut of “I Wanna F#%*ing Tear You Apart” by Morgan Gould, from March 2 – April 2. Bring your bestie to see this new limited show that tackles love, friendship and jealousy with a touch of snark. It’s “Will & Grace” on steroids!

Samantha and Leo are a team – best friends, roommates, allies against the world – until a new friend enters and upends their co-dependent world of mutual self-loathing and “Grey’s Anatomy” marathons. A play about the nature of friendships in all of its f#%*ked up forms, with a special shout-out to the kind of love that sometimes looks like a lot of rage.

“I Wanna F#%*ing Tear You Apart” was developed by and with the Brooklyn College MFA Writer’s Workshop, SPACE on Ryder Farm, and through the 2016 Beatrice Terry Award/ Drama League. In February 2017, the play ran at Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C. The production was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding New Play.

Directed by Melissa Foulger and co-produced by DC Allen and Ken Flick, I Wanna F#%*ing Tear You Apart stars Matthew Busch as Leo, Sofia Palmero as Samantha. Both actors are starring in the Atlanta production and will continue their run at Island City Stage. Joining the cast is Casey Sacco as Chloe who has appeared at Island City Stage in Summer Shorts and Zanna Don’t and designed the costumes for the current production of Rotterdam.

Matthew Busch will reprise his role of Leo from Atlanta’s Out Front Theatre production “I Wanna F#%*ing Tear You Apart”. The actor and director also appeared in the company’s productions of The Flower Room, The Thrush & The Woodpecker, and Equus. He has also appeared in Atlanta productions of Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Actor’s Express), Exit Strategy (Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre), Entertaining Lesbians, Tokens of Affection, The Credeaux Canvas, Other Desert Cities, The House of Yes (Out of Box Theatre), among others.

Also hailing from Atlanta to appear in the Island City Stage production is Sofía Palmero. Palmero’s credits include The Santa Closet (Out Front), Bull in a China Shop (Out Front Theatre), Fuddy Meers (Essence to Crux), Spirits to Enforce (Vernal & Sere), and Henry IV & V (Shakespeare on Draft). You may also catch a glimpse of them in Blumhouse’s queer horror film, “They/Them” on Peacock.

Melissa Foulger is the artistic director of DramaTech, Georgia Tech’s student run theatre. Foulger has directed throughout the Atlanta area at theatres such as 7 Stages, Actor’s Express, Theatre in the Square, Aurora Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, and Dad’s Garage. Her productions of Wolves, Suddenly Last Summer and Far Away have garnered top director nods from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Creative Loafing and The Sunday Paper. Wolves, Pluto, See What I Wanna See and Clybourne Park have won multiple Suzi Bass Awards. She was nominated for a Suzi Award for Best Director for Wolves at Actor’s Express. She has guest lectured on topics such as “Improvisation and Technology,” “Theatre as a Form of Game,” and “Ritual and Play” and is a member of the Digital Performance Initiative, which researches the intersection of performance with the latest technology.

Creating quality professional theatrical experiences focused on the LGBT+ community for a universal audience, Island City Stage’s 11th South Florida season tackles thought-provoking productions that explore poignant longing, gender questions, loneliness, the ins and outs of friendship and the magic of random human connection. Upcoming shows include Tracy Jones by Stephen Kaplan from May 18 – June 18 and a season closer (to be announced) from August 3 – September 3.

Tickets for “I Wanna F#%*ing Tear You Apart” start at $40. Enjoy a special Mimosa Sunday on March 12 for $55 that includes a light bites pre-reception and a post-show talkback, sponsored by Bill Volbrecht and Jay Molluso.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.islandcitystage.org, call (954) 928-9800 or email md@islandcitystage.org. Follow Island City Stage on Facebook at facebook.com/IslandCityStageFL and on Instagram at @islandcitystage1.

Island City Stage Presents “I Wanna F#%*ing Tear You Apart” by Jon Brittain
Thursday, 03/02/2023-04/02/2023, 08:00 pm-10:00 pm
Island City Stage
2304 N. Dixie Highway,
Wilton Manors, Florida, 33305
Buy Tickets
Cost: 40-55

Island City Stage, in co-production with Out Front Theatre Company in Atlanta, will present the South Florida debut of “I Wanna F#%*ing Tear You Apart” by Morgan Gould, from March 2 – April 2. Bring your bestie to see this new limited show that tackles love, friendship and jealousy with a touch of snark. It’s “Will & Grace” on steroids!

Samantha and Leo are a team – best friends, roommates, allies against the world – until a new friend enters and upends their co-dependent world of mutual self-loathing and “Grey’s Anatomy” marathons. A play about the nature of friendships in all of its f#%*ked up forms, with a special shout-out to the kind of love that sometimes looks like a lot of rage.

“I Wanna F#%*ing Tear You Apart” was developed by and with the Brooklyn College MFA Writer’s Workshop, SPACE on Ryder Farm, and through the 2016 Beatrice Terry Award/ Drama League. In February 2017, the play ran at Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C. The production was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding New Play.

Directed by Melissa Foulger and co-produced by DC Allen and Ken Flick, I Wanna F#%*ing Tear You Apart stars Matthew Busch as Leo, Sofia Palmero as Samantha. Both actors are starring in the Atlanta production and will continue their run at Island City Stage. Joining the cast is Casey Sacco as Chloe who has appeared at Island City Stage in Summer Shorts and Zanna Don’t and designed the costumes for the current production of Rotterdam.

Matthew Busch will reprise his role of Leo from Atlanta’s Out Front Theatre production “I Wanna F#%*ing Tear You Apart”. The actor and director also appeared in the company’s productions of The Flower Room, The Thrush & The Woodpecker, and Equus. He has also appeared in Atlanta productions of Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Actor’s Express), Exit Strategy (Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre), Entertaining Lesbians, Tokens of Affection, The Credeaux Canvas, Other Desert Cities, The House of Yes (Out of Box Theatre), among others.

Also hailing from Atlanta to appear in the Island City Stage production is Sofía Palmero. Palmero’s credits include The Santa Closet (Out Front), Bull in a China Shop (Out Front Theatre), Fuddy Meers (Essence to Crux), Spirits to Enforce (Vernal & Sere), and Henry IV & V (Shakespeare on Draft). You may also catch a glimpse of them in Blumhouse’s queer horror film, “They/Them” on Peacock.

Melissa Foulger is the artistic director of DramaTech, Georgia Tech’s student run theatre. Foulger has directed throughout the Atlanta area at theatres such as 7 Stages, Actor’s Express, Theatre in the Square, Aurora Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, and Dad’s Garage. Her productions of Wolves, Suddenly Last Summer and Far Away have garnered top director nods from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Creative Loafing and The Sunday Paper. Wolves, Pluto, See What I Wanna See and Clybourne Park have won multiple Suzi Bass Awards. She was nominated for a Suzi Award for Best Director for Wolves at Actor’s Express. She has guest lectured on topics such as “Improvisation and Technology,” “Theatre as a Form of Game,” and “Ritual and Play” and is a member of the Digital Performance Initiative, which researches the intersection of performance with the latest technology.

Creating quality professional theatrical experiences focused on the LGBT+ community for a universal audience, Island City Stage’s 11th South Florida season tackles thought-provoking productions that explore poignant longing, gender questions, loneliness, the ins and outs of friendship and the magic of random human connection. Upcoming shows include Tracy Jones by Stephen Kaplan from May 18 – June 18 and a season closer (to be announced) from August 3 – September 3.

Tickets for “I Wanna F#%*ing Tear You Apart” start at $40. Enjoy a special Mimosa Sunday on March 12 for $55 that includes a light bites pre-reception and a post-show talkback, sponsored by Bill Volbrecht and Jay Molluso.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.islandcitystage.org, call (954) 928-9800 or email md@islandcitystage.org. Follow Island City Stage on Facebook at facebook.com/IslandCityStageFL and on Instagram at @islandcitystage1.

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts Hosts Free Open House for Winter/Spring Classes
Saturday, 01/21/2023-01/21/2023, 10:00 am-02:00 pm
Broward Center for the Performing Arts
201 SW Fifth Avenue,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33312
Website
Cost: Free

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts will host a free open house for the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center on Saturday, January 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests can tour the education center facilities, observe or sample a class, grab the mic in Broadway Karaoke, meet the teaching artists, win prizes, register to win a free winter/spring class and enjoy family-friendly activities and light refreshments.

The Broward Center’s singing, dance, improv and acting classes are for kids, teens and adults and include a class for those with physical and intellectual disabilities. Classes are designed to encourage artistic expression and teach theater skills in a supportive and inclusive environment.
The open house schedule and complete class listing are available at BrowardCenter.org/Classes. First time registrants will receive a discount at the open house. Classes begin January 28 and most continue for 10 weeks. Classes are limited in size and tailored to the appropriate age and skill levels from beginner to the more advanced student. All class fees include parking.
First time students receive a 10% discount if they register at the open house. Online class registration is quick and easy, and those who purchase a second class will enjoy a 10% discount on any additional class.
Need-based full and partial scholarships are available through the generosity of the Ronald Plotkin Scholarship Fund and the Mary Jane Harlow Charitable Trust. In addition, class participants can audition to be in a show or represent the Broward Center at community performances.
Please RSVP to attend the open house at registrar@browardcenter.org. For more information visit https://www.browardcenter.org/open-house. The Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center is on the Broward Center for the Performing Arts campus located at 201 SW Fifth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.
Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BrowardCenterEducation, follow us on Instagram @BrowardCenterEducation, subscribe to our Youtube channel at Broward Center Education and join the conversation with #BrowardCenter.

The Broward Center 2022/2023 performance season is supported by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation. AutoNation, Bank of America, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Spirit and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center are proud sponsors of the Broward Center. Programs are also sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

Island City Stage Presents “Rotterdam” by Jon Brittain
Thursday, 01/19/2023-02/19/2023, 07:00 pm-09:00 pm
Island City Stage
2304 N. Dixie Highway,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33305
Website
Cost: $40-$55

Alice wants to come out as a lesbian. Her girlfriend Fiona wants to start living as a man. In Island City Stage’s new production of Rotterdam by Jon Brittain, audiences journey to find out what happens next in this modern comedy about gender, sexuality, and being a long way from home. Rotterdam runs from January 19 – February 19.

Rotterdam, a new play from Jon Brittain, co-creator of Margaret Thatcher, Queen of Soho, writer of What Would Spock Do? and The Sexual Awakening of Peter Mayo, is a moving and sensitive exploration of gender identity and relationships. It shares the story of lesbian couple Alice, who is struggling to come out to her parents, and Fiona, who tells Alice that she has always identified as a man.
Directed by Michael Leeds and co-produced by Sue Wilder, Rotterdam stars Suzanne Ankrum as Alice and Autumn Kioti Horne as Fiona. It also features Abbie Fricke as Lelani (in her Island City debut performance) and Robert Koutras as Josh.
Suzanne Ankrum’s recent regional credits include Palm Beach Dramaworks production of A Streetcar Named Desire, WAM Theatre’s Emilie: La Marquise du Chatelet…, Majestic Theater’s Crimes of the Heart, New Century Theatre’s The How and the Why, Clarence Brown Theatre’s Woyzeck, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Tartuffe, and A Christmas Carol, and Richmond Shakespeare Festival’s Twelfth Night and Henry IV, Part 2. She’s also appeared on Netflix’s
Orange is the New Black and has performed in several workshop productions from Palm Beach Dramaworks, Theatre Lab, Hartford Stage, Ivoryton Playhouse and HartBeat Ensemble.

South Florida artist and actor Autumn Kioti Horne has performed with Theatre Lab, Zoetic Stage, GableStage, Florida Stage, Caldwell Theatre, and others. In NYC, they originated the roles of Cassandra in The Hive, Veronica in She Calls Me Firefly, and others. Their interdisciplinary art has been presented in galleries/spaces throughout the U.S. and abroad including La Mama, Dixon Place, The Queens Museum and Last Frontier, and more. They have also appeared in award-winning films at Lincoln Center, Art Basel, Sci-Fi London, Palm Springs Film Festival, and more. When not onstage, they run an environmental art/education/justice program Wildness is Necessary.

Along with its Season 11 lineup, Island City Stage will be bringing back its introspective “Behind the Red Curtain” free public forum series, launched last year as an anniversary initiative to address the stories and issues that inspire its shows. Providing insight to Rotterdam, Island City Stage will present ‘‘Living the Truth – Seeing the Trans Community Through a Different Lens” on Monday, January 9, at 6:30 p.m. This forum will educate and inspire others regarding how to interact with transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals. The discussion will open hearts and minds by sharing personal triumphs, breaking down barriers, understanding fact vs. fiction and reflecting on personal biases.

Creating quality professional theatrical experiences focused on the LGBT+ community for a universal audience, Island City Stage’s 11th South Florida season offers thought-provoking productions that explore bittersweet longing, gender questions, loneliness, the ins and outs of friendship, the magic of random human connection and ethnic conflict within the generational divide. Upcoming shows include I Wanna F@#king Tear You Apart by Morgan Gould from March 2 – April 2; Tracy Jones by Stephen Kaplan from May 18 – June 18 and Springfield Pride Commissioned by Island City Stage from August 3 – September 3.

Rotterdam set sponsors are Doug Pew and Don Croxton, costume sponsors are Thomas Nichols and Dan Chadburn and lighting and sound sponsor is Scott Bennett.

Tickets for Rotterdam start at $40. Enjoy a special Mimosa Sunday sponsored by Murl Casey on January 29 for $55 that includes a light bites pre-reception and a post-show talk back. A special Women’s Night at the Theatre will take place on Friday, February 3 with a 7 p.m. reception with light bites and beverages followed by the show.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.islandcitystage.org, call (954) 928-9800 or email md@islandcitystage.org. Follow Island City Stage on Facebook at facebook.com/IslandCityStageFL and on Instagram at @islandcitystage1.