THE RIGHTEOUS a New Play by Jeff Cohen at Miami New Drama April 22nd Only

14 Monday Apr 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Uncategorized, YI Love Jewish, Yiddishkayt Initiative

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Avi Hoffman, Chiz Chisholm, Craig Bierko, Dave Corey, Irene Adjan, Jeff Cohen, Laura Turnbull, Miami New Drama, Patti Gardner, Peter W. Galman, Stephen Schnetzer, The Righteous, University of Miami Miller Center for Contemporary Jewish Studies, YI Love Jewish/Yiddishkayt Initiative

Yiddishkayt Initiative and The University of Miami Center for Jewish Studies
in Association with Miami New Drama and Second Serve Productions
to present a staged reading of
The Righteous
A new play by Jeff Cohen

In a World filled with turmoil and amorality, what does it mean to be Righteous?

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

April 14, 2025

MIAMI BEACH, FL: In honor of Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day – Yiddishkayt Initiative (YI Love Jewish) and The University of Miami Miller Center for Judaic Studies in association with Miami New Drama and Second Serve Productions will present a staged reading of Drama Desk Award-winner Jeff Cohen’s (The Soap Myth) new play The Righteous. The event will take place at Miami New Drama (at The Colony Theatre) on April 22^nd at 7:30 pm.

What would you do if you learned that your country planned to exterminate an entire race of people? That is the horrible question faced by Eduard Schulte, a captain of German industry and member of Hitler’s inner circle. The Righteous is the true story of the man who sounded the alarm of Hitler’s plan to murder all the Jews in Europe. Schulte’s warning reached the desk of President Roosevelt in December 1942. Roosevelt refused to act.

Schulte’s identity was a closely guarded secret for over forty years and his heroic act to stop the Holocaust was kept hidden from his family and from the world. The Righteous tells his story through the lens of Priscilla Schulte, the American granddaughter who never knew him. She uncovers a compelling and poignant portrait of a man who risked his life and the lives of his family to stand up against evil. In 1988, Eduard Schulte was posthumously honored by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations – a Righteous Gentile.

The Righteous will be directed by the playwright Jeff Cohen, and feature Tony Award nominee Craig Bierko (The Music Man) and two-time Drama Desk Award nominee Avi Hoffman (Death of a Salesman), along with an award-winning cast of some of South Florida’s most talented actors, including Laura Turnbull, Patti Gardner, Irene Adjan, Peter Galman, Chiz Chisholm, Stephen Schnetzer, and Dave Corey.

The Righteous will be staged for one night only at Miami New Drama (The Colony Theatre, 1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL 33139). Admission to the reading is FREE, however reservations are required, and can be made online at https://yilovejewish.org/events.

For more information about The Righteous, to arrange for interviews, for photos, and/or to arrange to see the performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.
~
The Righteous
By Jeff Cohen
Tuesday, April 22 at 7:30 pm
Admission: FREE (Reservations required)
For reservations: https://yilovejewish.org/events
Or call 954-678-1496
The performance will take place at
Miami New Drama/Colony Theatre
1040 Lincoln Road,
Miami Beach, FL 33139
~

Jeff Cohen (Playwright). Jeff Cohen’s drama The Soap Myth is considered one of the most important plays about antisemitism and Holocaust denial. Ed Asner toured the country in The Soap Myth as a “concert reading” and the play was filmed and broadcast by PBS starring Mr. Asner and Tovah Feldshuh. Other notable actors who have performed The Soap Myth include Richard Dreyfuss, Bob Gunton, John Rubinstein, Harris Yulin, and Jayne Atkinson. His play The Man Who Ate Michael Rockefeller was a NY Times and Time Out New York Critic’s Pick. He received international acclaim and a special 2002 Drama Desk Award for his response to the attacks of 9/11. The Tribeca Playhouse Stage Door Canteen, his 10-week USO-style variety show to “entertain the troops” (the rescue and recovery workers at Ground Zero) featured such stars as Kristen Chenoweth, Phylicia Rashad, Sandy Duncan, Colin Quinn and many more. He produced and directed a number of award-winning new plays including Christopher Shinn’s Four (NY Times Critic’s Pick)and Tristine Skyler’s The Moonlight Room (NY Times annual Ten Best productions). The NY Times Arts & Leisure profiled him alongside internationally acclaimed avant-garde artists Ivo Van Hove and The Wooster Group for his groundbreaking work adapting classic plays to an American milieu. In his five-decades in the theater, Mr. Cohen has helped launch the careers of Laura Linney, Kathryn Hahn, Christopher Shinn, Michael Ealy and DB Sweeney – to name just a few.

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The Pompano Players’ THE WORLD GOES ‘ROUND Opens April 25th

10 Thursday Apr 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Pompano Players

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Amanda Lopez, Amber Arevalo, And the World Goes 'Round, Claudia Smith, Elijah Gee, Eve Dillingham, Fred Ebb, Jeremy Quinn, John Kander, Keren Lydia, Kevin Hincapie, Musical Theatre, Penny Williams, Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Pompano Players, Ron DeStefano, The World Goes 'Round, Theatre in Pompano Beach

The Pompano Players’
The World Goes ‘Round
(The Songs of Kander & Ebb)
Opens April 25^th
at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center

” …an unexpected delight: a handsome, tasteful, snazzily staged outpouring of song and dance that celebrates all the virtues of the Kander-Ebb catalogue”
~ Frank Rich, The New York Times

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

April 10, 2025

POMPANO BEACH, FL: The Pompano Players fifth production of their inaugural season, The World Goes ‘Round – a musical retrospective of the work of the award-winning composer and lyricist duo John Kander and Fred Ebb will open on April 25^th at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, and run through May 4^th.

Kander and Ebb created some of Broadway’s most iconic musicals including Cabaret, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Fosse. The World Goes ‘Round is a cleverly curated collection of love songs, torch songs, and wonderfully acerbic comedic numbers from those classics, as well as from many of their other lesser-known shows. The World Goes ‘Round’s title is based on a song Kander and Ebb wrote for Liza Minelli to sing in the film “New York, New York” (that song is entitled “But the World Goes ‘Round”).

“The World Goes ‘Round is, in many ways, a meditation on perseverance,” says the production’s director, Jeremy Quinn. “Through the lens of Kander and Ebb’s rich and emotionally complex songbook, this revue becomes a theatrical tapestry – one that captures the breadth of the human condition with wit, poignancy, and unflinching honesty. These songs, culled from a remarkable canon of musicals, transcend their original contexts to speak to something more universal: the ability to endure, to dream, to lose, and to begin again.

“What fascinates me most about this piece is its non-linear, mosaic structure,” Quinn says. “There is no conventional plot—no singular protagonist or conflict – but instead a series of emotional snapshots that, when placed side by side, illuminate the resilience and absurdity of simply being alive. That structure invites the audience to find themselves in the material, to make their own connections, and to interpret each moment through a personal lens.

“In approaching this production, our team embraced that openness. We explored how each song exists in conversation with the others – how humor is often a mask for heartache, how bravado can give way to vulnerability, and how joy and sorrow are never far apart. By rooting our staging in the present, we sought to underscore the timelessness of these themes: ambition, regret, longing, reinvention. These are not relics of the past – they are ever-present, ever-relevant.

“I am deeply grateful to the extraordinary artists who brought their insight and generosity to this process,” Quinn continues. “Their interpretations breathe new life into these songs, revealing fresh layers of meaning while honoring the legacy of Kander and Ebb’s iconic work. My hope is that audiences leave the theatre not only entertained, but also reminded of the quiet, miraculous act of moving forward – of continuing on, even when the path is unclear. Because, as the title insists, no matter what happens, ‘the world goes ’round.’”

Quinn’s talented cast consists of Amanda Lopez (who served as the choreographer for the Pompano Players recent productions of Respect: A Musical Journey of Women and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change), Amber Arevalo, Eve Dillingham, Ron DeStefano, and Kevin Hincapie.

The World Goes ‘Round’s creative team includes Music Director Elijah Gee; Keren Lydia is the show’s Choreographer, Claudia Smith is the Scenic Designer, and Penny Williams is the Costume Designer. Director Jeremey Quinn will also serve as the production’s Stage Manager.

The World Goes ‘Round will run April 25 – May 4 at Pompano Beach Cultural Center. The theatre is located at 50 West Atlantic Boulevard, in Pompano Beach (33060)

Tickets for The World Goes ‘Round range in price from $45 to $65. Tickets may be purchased online at https://pompanobeachculturalcenter.com or by calling 954-501-1910.

For more information about The World Goes ‘Round, to speak with anyone involved in the production, or to arrange to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

~

The World Goes ‘Round
April 25 – May 4
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Conceived by Susan Stroman, David Thompson, and Scott Ellis
Tickets: $45 – $65
For tickets: https://pompanobeachculturalcenter.csstix.com/event-details.php?e=624 or
Call: 954-501-1910
Performances:
Fridays & Saturdays at 7 pm
Saturdays & Sundays at 2 pm
All performances will take place at
The Pompano Beach Cultural Center
50 West Atlantic Blvd.,
Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Production photos by Amy Pasquantonio
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Rodgers & Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC Opens at LPAC April 10th

03 Thursday Apr 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Broadway at LPAC, Clients, Lauderhill Performing Arts Center

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Alex Jorth, Allyson Rosenblum, Bill Brewer, Brittni Taylore Rhodes, Broadway at LPAC, Casey Sacco, Christopher Wynters, Cilfford Spullock, Collin Salvatoré, Corey Vega, Dan Carter, Dru Loman, Dytan Deray, Eli Flynn, Emily Morgan, Emily Rose Cardenas, Eric O'Keefe, Izaiah Scott, Jennifer Fraser, Jorge Amador, Joseph Long, Justin Lore, Kevin Barrett, Larry Toyter, Lauren Wickerson, Lovell Rose, Marisol Morales-Dow, Michael Ursua, Musical Theatre, Penny Williams, Rachel Whittington, Rachel Wresh, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Santiago Garza, South Pacific, Tanner Fults, Thaylin Maria, Theatre in Lauderhill

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s
South Pacific
Opens at LPAC
April 10th

“…Essentially this is a tenderly beautiful idyll of genuine people tossed together in a strange corner of the world; and the music, the lyrics, the singing and the acting contribute to this mood.”
Brooks Atkinson – The New York Times, April 8, 1949

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

April 3, 2025

LAUDERHILL, FL: “Some Enchanted Evening”, “Cock-Eyed Optimist”, “Bali Ha’i”, “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” – Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific added some of the most beloved standards not only to Broadway history, but to the American Songbook. South Pacific will be the Broadway at LPAC series final production of the 2025 season, and will run at the Lauderhill Lauderhill Performing Arts Centerfrom April 10^th through April 27^th.

Based upon James A. Michener’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Tales of the South Pacific, the musical centers on Ensign Nellie Forbush, an American nurse stationed on a south Pacific Island during World War II, who falls in love with Emile de Becque a middle-aged expatriate French plantation owner, but struggles to accept his mixed-race children. A secondary romance between US Marine lieutenant Joseph Cable and Liat, a young Tonkinese woman, explores his fears of the social consequences should he marry his Asian love. “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught”, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s moving musical exploration of racial prejudice is as applicable today as when it was introduced in 1949.

“Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific – the story itself is beautiful,” says the production’s director Michael Ursua. “Then there is this panorama of the south Pacific pitted against the narrow-mindedness of bigotry and the horror of the war that was taking place at that time. We see an awakening for some of the characters when they do their own introspection and the whole idea that people are searching for something or running away from something, or better yet, running to something, is fascinating. And the show’s message on racial tolerance is as relevant as anything written before or since.”

Director Ursua will also serve as the show’s Musical Director. He has cast Christopher Sanders as Emile de Becque, Casey Sacco as Ensign Nellie Forbush, Marisol Morales-Dow as Bloody Mary, Lovell Rose as Luther Billis, Collin Salvatore as Lt. Joseph Cable, Thaylin Maria as Liat, Bill Brewer as Lt. George Brackett, Dan Carter as Cmdr. William Harbison, Eytan Deray as Stewpot, and Eli Flynn as Professor.

South Pacific will also feature Jorge Amador, Emily Rose Cardenas, Jennifer Fraser, Tanner Fults, Santiago Garza, Dru Loman, Emily Morgan, Eric O’Keefe, Brittni Taylore Rhodes, Allyson Rosenblum, Izaiah Scott, Larry Toyter, Corey Vega, Rachel Whittington, Lauren Wickerson, and Rachel Wresh.

South Pacific will be choreographed by Alex Jorth. The production’s Lighting Designer is Clifford Spullock, Sound Design is by Christopher Wynters, the Costume Supervisor is Penny Williams, Justin Lore will provide the production’s wigs, and Joseph Long will serve as the Production Stage Manager. South Pacific is produced by Kevin Barrett and ACM Theatricals.

Tickets for South Pacific are on sale now and can be purchased online at https://www.lpacfl.com or by calling 954-777-2055. Ticket prices range from $45 to $65.

The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center is located at 3800 NW 11^th Place (33311), in the Central Broward Regional Park on the Northeast corner of Sunrise Boulevard and State Road 7. For more information about LPAC visit https://www.lpacfl.com.

For more information about South Pacific, to speak with anyone involved in the production, or to arrange to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

South Pacific
April 10 – 27, 2025
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan
Adapted from James A. Michener’s novel Tales of the South Pacific.
Tickets: $45-$65
For tickets: https://w ww.lpacfl.com or
Call 954-777-2055
Performances:
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2 pm
Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm
All performances will take place at
The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC)
3800 NW 11^th Place
Lauderhill, FL 33311

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Boca Stage’s DRY POWDER Opens April 25

31 Monday Mar 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Boca Stage, Clients

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Autumn Kioti Horne, Christopher Dreeson, Delray Beach Playhouse, Dry Powder, Genie Croft, Michael Scott Ross, Sarah Burgess, Theatre in Delray Beach, Wayne LeGette

Boca Stage’s
Dry Powder
Opens April 25th
at The Delray Beach Playhouse

Take your forks and knives — and heck, your pitchforks, too — and dig in!”
~ Charles Isherwood – The New York Times.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

March 31, 2025

DELRAY BEACH, FL: Boca Stage’s final production of the 2024/2025 season will be Dry Powder, a high finance comedy-drama by Sarah Burgess. The production will run from April 25^th through May 4th at the Delray Beach Playhouse.

Dry Powder is principally concerned with the world of private equity, and a firm’s founding partners as they compete to confront the fallout from a public relations crisis: The same week his private equity firm forced massive layoffs at a national grocery chain, Rick Hannel threw himself an extravagant engagement party, setting off a publicity nightmare. Fortunately, Seth, one of Rick’s partners, has a dream of a deal to invest in an American-made luggage company for a song that will rescue his boss from the PR disaster. But Jenny, Rick’s other partner, has an entirely different plan: to maximize returns, no matter the consequences.

Playwright Burgess was drawn to the play’s topic after working as a tutor for students preparing to take graduate school admissions tests, many of whom worked at investment firms like Goldman Sachs. “I was fascinated by the culture of the place,” she said in an interview with The Washington Post, explaining that the juxtaposition of moral responsibility with bankers’ complex, abstract business transactions seemed fertile ground for a satirical production.

“I am delighted to be directing Sarah Burgess’s clever, smart, witty play examining the intersection of modern finance and politics,” says the production’s director Genie Croft. “The script has biting insights into what truly constitutes the background of private equity. Dry Powder can refer to not only funds that are expendable, but people too. All four of the characters portrayed by this very talented cast, are tripped up by flaws they are unaware of and are unwilling to change, so as successful profiteers they very well know, it’s not about right and wrong or even business ventures – it’s all about the satisfaction – and the real price – of getting the deal done.”

Croft’s cast includes Autumn Kioti Horne as Jenny, Wayne LeGette as Rick, Michael Scott Ross as Seth, and Christopher Dreeson as Jeff.

The Stage Manager Dry Powder is Joseph Zettelmaier. The production’s Technical Director is Christian Taylor, Set Design is by Claudia Smith, Lighting Design is by Stevie Bleich, Sound Design is by David Hart, and Costume Design is by Timothy Charles Bowman.

Tickets for Dry Powder are on sale now. Theyrange in price from $59 to $69 and are available online at delraybeachplayhouse.com or by calling 561-272-1281. Performances take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm. There will be a Lunchbox matinee performance on Wednesday, April 30 at 12 pm. All performances will take place at the Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW 9^th Street, Delray Beach (33444)

The Delray Beach Playhouse is located at 950 NW 9^th Street, in Delray Beach, 33444. (561-272-1281). For more information about the Playhouse, visit delraybeachplayhouse.com.

For more information about Boca Stage, the Delray Beach Playhouse, and Genie Croft, or to arrange to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

Dry Powder
April 25 – May 4
By Sarah Burgess
Tickets: $59/$69
For tickets & information:
https://delraybeachplayhouse.csstix.com/event-details.php?e=1251
Or call 561-272-1281
Performances:
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 pm
Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm
Wednesday, April 30 at 12 pm (Lunchbox Matinee)
Wednesday, January 22^nd at 12 pm
All performances will take place at
The Delray Beach Playhouse
950 NW 9^th Street
Delray Beach, FL 33444

Producion Photos by Amy Pasquantonio

(Click on each image to enlarge it, then right click on the enlarged image and ‘save image as’ or ‘copy image’ .)

Wayne LeGette, Autumn Kioti Horne, Christopher Dreeson, Michael Scott Ross

Pigs Do Fly Productions to Present PAINTING CHURCHES – April 11 – May 4

04 Tuesday Mar 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Pigs Do Fly Productions

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Ana Marie Calise, comedy, David Hart, Dean Landhuis, Deborah Kondelik, Donna Pacheco de Castro, Ellen Wacher, Empire Stage, Jessica Kaschube, Joseph Long, Laura Turnbull, Painting Churches, Pigs Do Fly Productions, Preston Bircher, Theater in Fort Lauderdale, Tina Howe, William Mahone

Pigs Do Fly Productions
to present
Tina Howe’s
Painting Churches
April 11 – May 4, 2025

“Beautifully written… A theatrical family portrait that has the shimmer and depth of Renoir portraits.”
~ The New York Times

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

March 4, 2025

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Pigs Do Fly Productions will present Painting Churches,Tina Howe’s moving and hilarious portrait of a family of artists falling apart and coming together at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale from April 11^th through May 4^th. Painting Churches was a finalist for the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Gardner Church (a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet), and his wife, Fanny (a flamboyant aesthete) are aging Bostonian bluebloods in the process of moving out of their Beacon Hill home into their summer cottage on Cape Cod due to the shambles their lives have become. They have invited their daughter, Mags, who is on the verge of artistic celebrity as a portrait painter, to come and help them with the move.

“When Tina Howe’s Painting Churches first premiered, it invited audiences into the intimate, poignant, and often humorously complex world of family dynamics,” says the play’s director, Deborah Kondelik. “Set against the backdrop of a New England home, the play explores the shifting tides of relationships between parents and their adult children, all while subtly examining the process of memory, change, and the inevitable passage of time.

“In Painting Churches Howe captures the bittersweetness of life – how we struggle with the past while simultaneously grappling with the responsibility of the present,” she continues. “The play gives us moments of levity amidst its emotional depths – finding laughter in the confusion, in the mismatched recollections, and in the sometimes outrageous behaviors of its characters. Howe reminds us that even in the face of loss or impending change, there is room for wit and tenderness.”

Kondelik has cast Carbonell Award-winner Laura Turnbull as Fanny, William Mahone as Gardner, and Ana Marie Calise as Mags.

“We are now entering our ninth year of operations,” says Pigs Do Fly Productions’ Founder and Executive Producer Ellen Wacher. “I am so proud of what we have accomplished during these past nine years; we are continuing to grow and to explore the many facets of life over 50. I love the fact that unlike in the past, the actor – and the character over ‘a certain age’ is no longer considered ‘old’. We are totally involved in life – we love, we lose, we work, we play, and we enjoy life.”

The Stage Manager for Painting Churches is Joseph Long. Dean Landhuis is the show’s Scenic Designer, David Hart will do the Sound Design, and Preston Bircher will create the Lighting Design and serve as Technical Director. Director Kondelik will serve as both production’s the Costume Coordinator and Property Designer, and MNM Theatre Company will build the sets. Jessica Kaschube is the Company Manager, and Donna Pacheco de Castro will handle the Box Office.

Tickets for Painting Churches are $45 and are available online at www.pigsdoflyproductions.com or by calling 954-678-1496. Performances are on Fridays at 8 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 5 pm. All performances will take place at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive,Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304.

For more information about Pigs Do Fly Productions, please visit www.pigsdoflyproductions.com. To arrange for interviews, or for photos, or for requests to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244. For more information about Ellen Wacher, please visit www.ellenwacher.com.

~

Painting Churches
April 11 – May 4, 2025
By Tina Howe
Tickets: www.pigsdoflyproductions.com
Or call 954-678-1496
Performances:
Friday at 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday at 5 pm
All performances will take place at
Empire Stage1140 N Flagler Drive,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

(Click on each photo to expand, identify and/or download;
To download, right click on the expanded image and click on the ‘Save Image As’ option)
Photo credit: Carol Kassie

The Pompano Players’ RESPECT: A MUSICAL JOURNEY OF WOMEN Opens March 28th

20 Thursday Feb 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Pompano Beach Cultural Center

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Amanda Lopez, Anneliese Wolfanger, Dalia Aleman, Dorothy Marcic, Elijah Gee, Heather Simsay, Jeremy Quinn, Music, musical, Noelle Nicholas, Penny Williams, Phil Hinton, Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Respect A Musical Journey of Women, Theatre in Pompano Beach

The Pompano Players’
Respect: A Musical Journey of Women
Opens March 28^th
at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center

“I loved the show. It was the soundtrack of my life. Everyone should go see it!”
~ Patti LaBelle

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

February 20, 2025

POMPANO BEACH, FL: From Lily Langtree to Cyndi Lauper and Betty Boop to Tina Turner, or from Rosie the Riveter to Britney Spears, female singers and pop stars and their music provide a vivid reflection of how much has changed for women since the beginning of the 20^th century. RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women, the fourth production of the Pompano Players’ inaugural season, will open on March 28^th at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center and run through April 6^th.

RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women which has evolved from a one-woman dissertation by Dr. Dorothy Marcic to an international hit musical revue since its 2004 debut in South Florida,is an entertaining, exuberant, and exhilarating look at the lives of women as reflected in the popular music of the times.

Featuring an ensemble cast of four (Dalia Aleman, Noelle Nicholas, Heather Simsay, and Anneliese Wolfanger) and a live band, and combining excerpts from 60 songs including “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “I Will Follow Him,” “These Boots are Made for Walking,“”What’s Love Got to Do with It,” and “Bravewith women’s own stories about finding dreams, lost love, relationship issues, entering the workforce, gaining independence, and more, RESPECT has resonated with audiences around the world. Men as well as women have no trouble at all identifying with the messages of encouragement and empowerment that RESPECT portrays.

“RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women is more than just a jukebox musical – it is a celebration of resilience, empowerment, and the evolving role of women through the decades,” says the show’s director, Jeremy Quinn. “Through the powerful lens of music, this production tells the story of struggle, triumph, love, and identity, all woven together by the unforgettable songs that defined generations.

“As a director, my vision for this production is to honor the spirit of the women who lived these stories while making them deeply personal and relevant for today’s audiences,” he continues. “Each song – from “I Will Survive” to “You Don’t Own Me” – is more than just a melody; it is a testament to the voices that refused to be silenced, to the dreams that refused to fade, and to the ongoing fight for equality and respect.

“This show is a journey – one that takes us from the innocent love songs of the early 20th century to the powerful anthems of independence that fuel modern movements. My goal is to craft a production that is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking, one that sparks conversations and reflections about how far we’ve come and the work that remains,” he says.

“Above all, RESPECT is a celebration of the collective strength of women. It is a reminder that music has the power to inspire, to heal, and to unite. I am honored to bring this journey to life on stage and to share in this tribute to the voices, past and present, that continue to demand—and deserve – respect.”

The RESPECT team includes Music Director Phil Hinton (Hinton was the original production’s Music Director in 2004), and assistant Music Director Elijah Gee. Amanda Lopez is the show’s Choreographer, Claudia Smith is the Scenic Designer, and Penny Williams is the Costume Designer. Director Jeremey Quinn will also serve as the production’s Stage Manager.

RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women will run March 28 – April 6 at Pompano Beach Cultural Center. The theatre is located at 50 West Atlantic Boulevard, in Pompano Beach (33060)

Tickets for RESPECT range in price from $45 to $65. Tickets may be purchased online at https://pompanobeachculturalcenter.com or by calling 954-501-1910.

For more information about RESPECT, to speak with anyone involved in the production, or to arrange to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women
By Dorothy Marcic
March 28 – April 6, 2025
Tickets: $45 – $65
For tickets: https://pompanobeachculturalcenter.csstix.com/event-details.php?e=623 or
Call: 954-501-1910
Performances:
Fridays & Saturdays at 7 pm
Saturdays & Sundays at 2 pm
All performances will take place at
The Pompano Beach Cultural Center
50 West Atlantic Blvd.,
Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Production photos by Amy Pasquantonio.

Click on each image to enlarge and download.

BITTERSUITE: SONGS OF MORE EXPERIENCE at the Levis JCC – March 22nd & 23rd

12 Wednesday Feb 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Uncategorized

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Bittersuite, Bittersuite Songs of More Experience, Elliot Weiss, Francine Birns, Holly Budney, Levis JCC Sandler Center, Lisa Fishman, Michael Champagne, Music, musical, Robert Greenberg Performing Arts Series, Shane Tanner, song cycle, theatre

Bittersuite: Songs of More Experience
at the Levis JCC Sandler Center
March 22^nd & 23^rd Only

Sheer brilliance… An inspired cabaret presentation with the kind of provocative Broadway songs that draw people back to relish them again and again.”
John S. Wilson – The New York Times

“Riveting, thought-provoking, superb”
Curt Davis – The New York Post

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244 February 11, 2025

February 12, 2025

BOCA RATON, FL: Elliot Weiss and Michael Champagne’s award-winning song cycle, Bittersuite: Songs of More Experience, will run for two performances only at the Levis JCC Sandler Center March 22^nd and 23^rd. The production is part of the JCC’s Robert Greenberg Performing Arts Series.

Bittersuite: Songs of More Experience is a extension of the acclaimed revue Bittersuite: Songs of Experience which ran in New York, San Francisco, and for two years in Los Angeles where it was singled out as a “critic’s choice” by the LA Times, LA Weekly, and Daily News. In this edition the cycle continues to explore the American Experience in song, but from a more mature perspective. Bittersuite explores growing old in America, what it feels like, and what it means – how do the issues of love, loneliness, success and failure, change, and accommodation, impact our lives as we age?

“Michael Champagne and I had just completed a workshop of our first musical Casanova – A Musical Romanceand we were having trouble attracting a producer due to the size of the cast,” Bittersuite composer Elliot Weiss recalls. “We decided to scale down and write a song cycle for four singers and piano. We envisioned it to be performed with no props or sets. To let the material speak for itself. But – what should we write about? Seeing as both of us were rapidly approaching middle age, it seemed that how people feel when their youthful expectations collide with their present-day reality could be a fertile field to explore.”

“Bittersuite grew out of our interest in exploring the realities – both sweet and bitter – of American life,” Michael Champagne says. We first presented the show in a seedy little Off-Off Broadway theater in New York, where it caught fire and moved into the cabaret theatre scene in a stylish uptown location. Bittersuite: Songs of Experience has had great success, won many awards, and has been performed many times all over the world.”

“Years went by, and lo and behold Michael and I were now approaching our golden years.” Weiss continues. “It seemed with so much more knowledge, regrets, wisdom, foolhardiness, and everything else that comes with aging it was time to update Bittersuite and call it Bittersuite: Songs of More Experience. This latest version of the show, which has been tailored and updated specifically for South Florida audiences, won the New Jersey Broadway World Best Musical award when we first performed it!”

Bittersuite: Songs of More Experience is a musical ‘selfie’ taken forty years later,” Champagne concludes. “And reflects some of the deeper perspectives time brings with it.”

Bittersuite: Songs of More Experience will be staged by Holly Budney, and Weiss will serve as the show’s Musical Director. The production will feature Francine Birns, Lisa Fishman, David Hyman, and Shane Tanner. The four actor/singers will use narrative song, set pieces, humor, and pathos to express the currents flowing through the American psyche to produce an unflinching view of who we are and what we hope as we grow older.

Bittersuite: Songs of More Experience will be performed at the Levis JCC Sandler Center on Saturday, March 22^nd and Sunday, March 23; both performances will take place at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $35/$40 each and are on sale now. For tickets and information visit https://levisjcc.org/culture/performingarts/ or call 561-558-2520.

For more information about Bittersuite: Songs of More Experience, to speak with Elliot Weiss, Michael Champagne, or anyone else involved in the production, or to arrange to attend a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

Bittersuite: Songs of More Experience
Music by Elliot Weiss
Lyrics by Michael Champagne
Written and created by Elliot Weiss and Michael Champagne
Saturday, March 22 & Sunday, March 23 at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $35/$40
For tickets and/or more information:
https://levisjcc.org/culture/performingarts/ or
Call: 561-558-2520
Both performances will take place at
The Levis JCC Sandler Center
21050 95^th Avenue S.
Boca Raton, FL 33428

Rehearsal photos – credit:
Carol Kassie

David Hyman, Lisa Fishman, Shane Tanner, Francine Birns

Omgod You Guys! LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL Opens at LPAC February 27

06 Thursday Feb 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Lauderhill Performing Arts Center

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ACM Theatricals, Alex Jorth, Allyson Rosenblum, Amanda Lopez, Ariela Pizza, Cameron Scott, Cassidy Joseph, Chad Raven, Cloin Salvatore, Corey Vega, Dana Gough, Eli Flynn, Genevieve Hall, Heather Hach, Izaiah Scott, Jennifer Frasier, Jessie Dez, Joesph Long, John Luis Mazuelos, Katie Davis, Kevin Barrett, Larry Toyter, Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, Lauren Wickerson, Laurence O'Keefe, Leagally Blonde The Musical, Legally Blonde, LPAC, Madeline Finkelman, Michael Stafford, Michael Ursua, Mikhael Mendoza, musical comedy, Nell Benjamin, Nia Bourne, Penny Williams, Samara Shavrick, Santiago Garza, Sorangel Munoz, Theatre in Lauderhill, Wayne LeGette, Yasmine Harrell

“…nonstop sugar rush of a show…”
Ben Brantley, The New York Times

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

February 6, 2025

LAUDERHILL, FL: The Broadway at LPAC series second production of the 2025 season is Legally Blonde The Musical. The show will run from February 27^th through March 16^th at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center.

Legally Blonde The Musical is based on the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown and the popular 2001 film of the same name. The musical – with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin and a book by Heather Hach – received multiple award nominations following its debut in 2007.

Elle Woods appears to have it all. But her life is turned upside down when her boyfriend Warner dumps her so he can attend Harvard Law. Determined to get him back, Elle ingeniously charms her way into the prestigious law school. While there, she struggles with peers, professors and her ex. With the support of some new friends, though, Elle quickly realizes her potential and sets out to prove herself to the world.

The production will be helmed by award-winning director Michael Ursua, who will also serve as the show’s musical director. Ursua has cast Ariela Pizza as Elle Woods, Wayne LeGette as Professor Callahan, Michael Stafford as Emmett Forrest, Samara Shavrick as Paulette, Allyson Rosenblum as Brooke Wyndham, Colin Salvatore as Warner Huntington III, and Katie Davis as Vivienne Kensington.

“The powerful messages of Legally Blonde resonate today more than ever,” Ursua says. “The story follows Elle’s transformation as she tackles sexism, snobbery, and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Among lessons she learns along the way: Believe in yourself and don’t compromise; the things we get judged for as not serious are actually our greatest superpowers; although being independent can be scary, it can get you very far; and of course, never judge a book by its cover!”

Legally Blonde will also feature Nia Bourne, Jessie Dez, Madeline Finkelman, Eli Flynn, Jennifer Frasier, Santiago Garza, Dana Gough, Genevieve Hall, Yasmine Harrell, Cassidy Joseph, Amanda Lopez, John Luis Mazuelos, Mikhael Mendoza, Sorangel Munoz, Chad Raven, Cameron Scott, Izaiah Scott, Larry Toyter, Corey Vega, and Lauren Wickerson.

Legally Blonde will be choreographed by Alex Jorth. The production’s Costume Supervisor is Penny Williams, and Joseph Long will serve as the show’s Stage Manager. Legally Blonde The Musical is produced by Kevin Barrett and ACM Theatricals.

Tickets for Legally Blonde The Musical are on sale now and can be purchased online at https://www.lpacfl.com or by calling 954-777-2055. Ticket prices range from $45 to $65.

For more information about Legally Blonde, to speak with anyone involved in the production, or to arrange to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

Legally Blonde
February 27 – March 16
Book by Heather Hach
Music and Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin
Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture
Tickets: $45-$65
For tickets: https://www.lpacfl.com or
Call 954-777-2055
Performances:
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2 pm
Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm
All performances will take place at
The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC)
3800 NW 11^th Place
Lauderhill, FL 33311

Production photos by Jerahmeel James

(Click on each photo to identify, expand, and/or download)

Entr’Acte Theatrix to present AVENUE Q March 6 – 16 at Actor’s Rep in West Palm Beach

06 Thursday Feb 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Entr'Acte Theatrix

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Aaliyah Moin, Actor's Rep, Ariel Hodgetts, Avenue Q, Bhetty Waldron Theatre at Actor's Rep, Carlo Sabusap, Elijah Pestana, Elizabeth Robinson, Entr'Acte Theatrix, Esqui, Greg Halmos, Jason Fisher, Jaycie Cohen, Jeff Marx, Jeff Whitty, Robert Lopez, Rose Foster, Sarah Kenny, Sarah Romeo

“… savvy, sassy and eminently likable… breakthrough musical.”
Ben Brantley, The New York Times

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

February 6, 2025

WEST PALM BEACH, FL: Entr’acte Theatrix’ first production of 2025 will be Avenue Q, the ‘triple crown’ (Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book) Tony Award-winning musical that is ‘part flesh, part felt and packed with heart’. The production will run from March 6 – 16 in the Bhetty Waldron Theatre at Actor’s Rep in West Palm Beach.

A truly unique show that ran for over 6 years on Broadway, Avenue Q (the musical that bested Wicked at the 2004 Tonys) focuses on recent college graduate, Princeton, who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that although the residents seem nice, it’s clear this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life. The show addresses adult issues with humor, empathy, monsters, and music.

Director Carlo Sabusap (who will also take on the role of Trekkie Monster in the production) has cast Esqui as Princeton and Rod, Elizabeth Robinson as Kate Monster, Elijah Pestana as Nicky, Greg Halmos as Brian, Rose Foster as Christmas Eve, Sarah Romeo as Gary Coleman, Ariel Hodgetts as Lucy and Bad Idea Bear, and Sarah Kenny as Bad Idea Bear, Mrs. Thistletwat, and others.

Avenue Q’s Musical Director is Aaliyah Moin. Elizabeth Southwell will serve as the production’s Technical Director and Lighting Designer, Jaycie Cohen is the Sound Engineer, and Jason Fisher doubles as the show’s Stage Manager and Assistant Director.

“We are yet again at one of those times in our history when we need some levity in the world,” Sabusap says. “The current economic and political climate, for some, is rough. I think we need to bring some light into our lives, and Avenue Q is definitely one of the best ways to remind ourselves that even when the times get tough, we must remember to laugh.

“I feel like Avenue Q is one of those shows that reaches deep down inside of everyone, the comedy comes from us finding the ridiculous in the mundane, an experience that all of us go through as we grow up,” he continues. “The puppets give us the comfort food of childlike wonder while the subject matter pulls us into those relatable situations that we as adults have experienced. Although the cast is primarily young adults, they know and can express the experiences presented in the show. They’re all talented, hard-working, and very funny. Avenue Q comes with the unique challenge that most other musical theater shows don’t have, in that when you’re on stage with the puppet, you’re acting twice. You’re not only expressing and emoting your own physical body, but also this seemingly inanimate object which they can magically bring to life. I’m sure that audiences will find this one to be side-hurtingly funny. Whether you’re looking for your purpose in life, a reason to get out of your house, in search of crude humor, Avenue Q is definitely the best bet!”

“This is our first production at Bob Carter’s Actor’s Workshop,” says Entr’Acte Theatrix founder and Executive Producer Vicki Halmos. “The space is perfect for us – it’s small and intimate, with just the right number of seats. (And there’s lots of parking available!) Avenue Q is one of our favorite shows,” she continues. “It allows our actors the opportunity to stretch their skill sets – working with these puppets takes discipline and strength – mental and physical. It’s funny, and clever, and yet it packs a number of important messages concerning personal relationships, discrimination against people who are different, and the truths about learning to be an adult.

Avenue Q will run from March 6 – 16 in the Bhetty Waldron Theatre at Actor’s Rep (1000 N Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33401). Performances are on Thursdays and Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 2 pm and 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.PalmBeachTheater.org or by phone at 561-833-7529.

For more information about Entr’Acte Theatrix and/or Avenue Q, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

Please note: Avenue Q contains coarse language and adult situations. Parental discretion is advised.

Avenue Q is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
~

Avenue Q
March 6 – 16
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez
Book by Jeff Whitty
Based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
Tickets: $25 Standard Seating/$35 Premium Seating
For tickets: www.PalmBeachTheater.org
Phone: 561-833-7529
Performances:
Thursday, March 6th at 8 pm
Friday, March 7th at 8 pm
Saturday, March 8 at 2 pm & 8 pm
Sunday, March 9th at 2 pm
Thursday, March 13th at 8 pm
Friday, March 14th at 8 pm
Saturday, March 15th at 2 pm & 8 pm
Sunday, March 16th at 2 pm
All performances will take place at
The Bhetty Waldron Theatre at Actor’s Rep
1000 N Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Rehearsal Photos credit: Elijah Pestana
(Click on each photo to identify, expand, and/or download)

CONFESSIONS OF A RETIRED WITCH to Debut at The Studio at Mizner Park

27 Monday Jan 2025

Posted by Carol Kassie in Clients, Uncategorized

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Barry Zieger, Confessions of a Retired Witch, D'Jamin Bartlett, James Skiba, Margot Moreland, Mark Bornfield, musical comedy, The Studio at Mizner Park, Theatre in Boca Raton

Confessions of a Retired Witch
to Debut at the Studio at Mizner Park
The production will run from Febaruy 27 through March 8

A witch in a retirement home?! A magical musical fairy tale!

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

January 27, 2025
BOCA RATON, FL: D’Jamin Bartlett, the award-winning actress who made her Broadway debut singing “The Miller’s Son” in Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, and Emmy Award-winning composer Mark Bornfield have collaborated to create Confessions of a Retired Witch, a musical comedy that will run from February 27 through March 8 at The Studio at Mizner Park.

Angelina Max, the last remaining witch from a powerful coven in Miami, has lost her castle in a misspell. She has placed herself in Sunny Smiles retirement community where she tells the other residents, the staff psychiatrist, and the home’s director that she is indeed a true witch, and not just losing her mind and a candidate for the facility’s assisted living quarters. Before she can reunite with other witches, she must pass her magic on to a deserving mortal; in today’s caustic world this is a challenging task, and her time is running out.

“We have been working on this show for a number of years,” Bornfield explained recently. “It began when I was on vacation in Denver, and I heard a lyric from the song “Miami” by Manuel Riva. (“There’s a place in Miami where they heal your soul, they fill the glass with your deepest hope”.) It generated an energy and a vibe that piqued my imagination. Dee’s favorite holiday is Halloween, and those two notions combined quite naturally through vivid imagination and a lot of hard work – making it fun and exciting to create characters that were magical, and that married fantasy with love.”

Confessions of a Retired Witch will be helmed by Barry Zieger, who previously directed D’Jamin Bartlett as Aldonza in Man of La Mancha. Musical direction will be by Mark Bornfield. The production will star Bartlett, along with four-time Carbonell Award-winner Margot Moreland, and popular South Florida actor/singer James Skiba.

D’Jamin Bartlett won Theater World, Drama Desk, and Show Business Awards for her show stopping number “The Miller’s Son” in A Little Night Music. Some of her other Broadway and national tour credits include Lend Me a Tenor, Pippin, and Godspell. She has been directed by Broadway legends Harold Prince, Jerry Zaks, Bob Fosse, and Martin Charnin, played leading lady to Elliot Gould, Burt Convey, and Gene Barry, and appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Other television credits include “Eva” in One Life to Live and many commercials.

Mark Bornfield is a Boston Television Emmy Award-winning composer, a pianist, studio recording vocalist, and trumpet player. He is a member of ASCAP and has accompanied Vikki Carr, Robert Morse, Whitney Houston, and Jamie Foxx. He was a featured cabaret artist and solo pianist at Boston’s Copley Plaza Oak Room, and aboard the Seabourn Pride.

Together, Bartlett and Bornfield have been called a ‘chic, sophisticated, and powerful duo’. They have performed throughout South Florida at major country clubs, restaurants and nightclubs including Turnberry Isle in Miami Beach, Boca West, Polo Club, Indian Creek Country Club, Surf Club and Lighthouse Point Yacht Clubs. Their private and corporate party performances include Greenbrier, New York Regency (Feinstein’s) Orlando World Center Marriott, Mar-a-Lago, and the Ritz-Carlton in Naples. In the summer, they reside on Cape Cod where they entertain at Lighthouse Inn Resort, Sagamore Inn and other popular places.

Confessions of a Retired Witch will run from February 27 through March 8 at The Studio at Mizner Park. The theatre is located at 201 Plaza Real (2^nd Floor), in Boca Raton (33432),

Tickets for Confessions of a Retired Witch range in price from $64.75 (matinee performances) to $78.25 (evening performances) including taxes and Ticketmaster fees. Group rates are also available ($49.50 for groups of 10 or more, purchased in one transaction). For tickets and information: https://www.ticketmaster.com (search for Confessions) or email tickets@thestudioatmiznerpark.com.

For more information about Confessions of a Retired Witch, to speak with anyone involved in the production, or to arrange to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

In the attached photo:
D’Jamin Bartlett
Photo credit: Unknown
~

Confessions of a Retired Witch
February 27 – March 8
Conceived & Written by D’Jamin Bartlett
Music & Lyrics by Mark Bornfield
Tickets:
Evenings: $78.25 / Matinees $64.75
Group Rate (10 or more tickets sold in a single transaction) $49.50
All prices include taxes and fees.
For tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com (search for ‘Confessions’)
Direct link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/search?q=Confessions+of+a+Retired+Witch
Or email tickets@thestudioatmiznerpark.com
Performances:
Thursday, February 27 at 7:30 pm
Friday, February 28 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 1 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 2 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Tuesday, March 4 at 7:30 pm
Wednesday, March 5 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 8 at 2 pm
All performances will take place at
The Studio at Mizner Park
201 Plaza Real, 2^nd Floor
Boca Raton, FL 33432