The Delray Beach Playhouse Announces its 2024-2025 Season

08 Monday Apr 2024

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The Playhouse 2024-2025 Season will feature top-tier performers, classic musicals, comedy, and nostalgia.

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

April 8, 2024

DELRAY BEACH, FL: The Delray Beach Playhouse announced its lineup for the 2024-2025 season today, and once again the beloved venue will offer a wide variety of programming designed to please its long-time patrons, as well as to attract new and diverse audiences to what is often referred to as ‘the gem of a theatre on the shores of Lake Ida.’

“Our historic theater enters its 78th season with a jam-packed lineup of big-name musicals, mysteries and cabaret acts sure to please everyone,” says Playhouse Executive Director Kevin Barrett. “We will host over 250 performances next season in Delray Beach, making us the premier theater destination in this popular city to enjoy the best intimate live performances in music, theater, drama and comedy.”

This year’s Mainstage Play Series will begin in November with Mel Brooks’ multiple Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Producers.  It will be followed, in January, by Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville. Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is on track for March, and the season will conclude in May with the lushly romantic musical, The Bridges of Madison County.

The Best of Broadway Cabaret proved to be a popular addition to the Playhouse lineup last season; the series second season will begin in December with Bachelors of Broadway/Gentlemen of the Theatre. In January, Broadway/television/film star Tovah Feldshuh will return to the Playhouse with her one-person tour-de-force Tovah is Leona! This Could Be the Start, starring singer/actress Linda Purl is scheduled for February, John Lloyd Young, Broadway’s Jersey Boy will perform classic hits of the 50’s and 60’s in March, and in May South Florida’s own Michael Ursua will present an all-new musical revue, Sing Me a Showtune.

The nostalgic concert series Feelin’ Groovy will also return to the Playhouse next season. Starring Joan Friedenberg and Bill Bowen, who perform as The PinkSlip Duo, the series will pay tribute to folk icons Peter Paul & Mary, perform pop hits by Jewish artists, and celebrate women singer songwriters of the 60s and 70s.

After a highly successful debut season at the Playhouse Boca Stage will return with four diverse theatrical presentations in the Off Broadway Series; the popular Playhouse Presents lineup of 35 plus concerts, comedy shows, and special engagements will be announced later this summer.

Subscriptions for all series are on sale now. The individual ticket sales date is still to be announced. Ticket prices will vary, and group rates will be available.  More information about all these productions, including show descriptions and logos, is available on the theatre’s website: delraybeachplayhouse.com. 

The Delray Beach Playhouse is located at 950 NW 9th Street, in Delray Beach, 33444. (561-272-1281).

For more information about The Delray Beach Playhouse visit delraybeachplayhouse.com, or contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

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Delray Beach Playhouse Mainstage Productions:

The Producers – A Mel Brooks Musical
November 22 – December 15, 2024
Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks

Escape to Margaritaville
January 31 – February 23, 2025
Book by Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley
Music and Lyrics by Jimmy Buffett

Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express
March 21 – April 13, 2025
Adapted from the book by Agatha Christie by Ken Ludwig

The Bridges of Madison County
May 9 – May 25, 2025
Book by Marsha Norman
Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
Adapted from the book by Robert James Waller

Best of Broadway Cabaret Series: 

Bachelors of Broadway/Gentlemen of the Theatre
December 16 – 18, 2024

Tovah is Leona! Starring Tovah Feldshuh
January 6 – 10, 2025

This Could Be the Start – Starring Linda Purl
February 10 – 13, 2025

Broadway’s Jersey Boy – Starring John Lloyd Young
March 24 – 27, 2025

Sing Me a Showtune – Created by Michael Ursua
May 12 – 15, 2025

Nostalgic Concert Series: Feelin’ Groovy:

The Story and Songs of Peter, Paul & Mary
December 3 & 4, 2024

Pop Hits by Jewish Artists
February 4 & 5, 2025Celebrating Women Singer-Songwriters of the 60s & 70s
April 1 & 2, 2025

AMERICA’S SEXIEST COUPLE at Boca Stage – April 18 – 27

28 Thursday Mar 2024

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America’s Sexiest Couple
at Boca Stage
April 18-27

“Levine’s plays are riotously funny, and with a depth of human awareness.” 
– Theatre in Chicago

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

March 28, 2024

DELRAY BEACH, FL: Boca Stage’s final production of their first season in their new home at the Delray Beach Playhouse is the South Florida premiere of Ken Levine’s America’s Sexiest Couple.  The comedy will run from April 18th – 27th. 

“The play is terrifically clever and sharp,” says Genie Croft, who will direct the production. “Ken Levine’s writing is, as always, brilliant and funny and satirical.  He really pokes fun at the TV celebrity culture. But,” she adds “The play has surprising poignancy and depth as well.”

Kim Ostrenko and Wayne LeGette will star as Craig and Susan who were the stars of a successful 90s sitcom, ‘Residents’, when Susan left the show without explanation. 25 years later, they are reunited at the funeral of one of their cast mates. As they prepare for the funeral, they are offered a reboot of ‘Residents’. Issues from the past resurface as they contemplate their present situations and the possibility of a future. Was the spark between them all those years ago merely the characters, or was it really them?  Forrest Stringfellow will also be featured in the production as ‘The Bellboy’. 

America’s Sexiest Couple playwright Ken Levine is an Emmy award-winning writer/director/producer/major league baseball announcer.  During a career that has spanned over 30 years, Levine has worked as a writer on M.A.S.H., Cheers, Frasier, The Simpsons, Wings, Everybody Loves Raymond, Becker, and Dharma & Greg, and has co-created 3 other television series.  He has also been the radio/TV play-by-play voice of the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and San Diego Padres, and hosted Dodger Talk.  He is a contributing cartoonist to the New Yorker Magazine, and he hosts his own podcast, Hollywood & Levine.  His blog was named one of the 25 best blogs by Time Magazine.

The Stage Manager for America’s Sexiest Couple is Francesca Barioli, and Randall Swinton will serve as the Assistant Stage Manager.  Cindi Blank Taylor is the show’s Scenic Designer, David Hart will create the Sound, Stevie Bleich is the Lighting Designer, Alberto Arroyo is the Costume Designer, and Andre Lancaster will serve as the show’s Technical Director.

Tickets for America’s Sexiest Couple range in price from $39 to $69 and are available online at delraybeachplayhouse.com or by calling 561-272-1281. Performances are on Friday and Saturday at 2 pm and 8 pm, and on Sunday at 2 pm. There will also be performances on Thursday, April 18th at 8 pm and on Wednesday and Thursday April 24th and 25th at 12:30 pm. All performances will take place at the Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW 9th Street, Delray Beach (33444)

For more information about Boca Stage, to arrange for interviews, or for photos, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

Please note:  Ticket availability is limited – please contact me as soon as possible in order to arrange to see a performance.
~

America’s Sexiest Couple
April 18 – 27, 2024
By Ken Levine
Performances:
Thursday, April 18 at 8 pm
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm
Saturdays & Sundays at 2 pm
Wednesday & Thursday, April 24 & 25 at 12:30 pm
Tickets: $39-$69
For tickets: delraybeachplayhouse.com /561-272-1281
All performances will take place at
The Delray Beach Playhouse
950 NW 9th Street
Delray Beach, FL  33444

America’s Sexiest Couple Photos by Amy Pasquantonio

Kim Ostrenko
Wayne LeGette
Forrest Stringfellow



Angie Radosh Stars in HELLO, DOLLY! at LPAC

18 Monday Mar 2024

Posted by in Arts Center Management, Clients, Lauderhill Performing Arts Center

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Award-Winning Actress
Angie Radosh to Star
in
Hello Dolly!
at LPAC
April 4 – 21

…a musical shot through with enchantment.”
Howard Taubman ~ The New York Times, January 17, 1964

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

March 18, 2024
LAUDERHILL, FL:  Hello Dolly! one of the most beloved musicals in Broadway history, will close out the 2024 Broadway at LPAC season.  The production, which will star three-time Carbonell Award-winning actress Angie Radosh as the irrepressible Dolly Gallagher Levi, will run from April 4th through April 21st at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center.

“I am absolutely thrilled and humbled at the idea of doing this role…it has been on my bucket list for a long time,” Radosh says.  “Every actor has their bucket list and as the years go by, the list gets shorter and roles pass us by….when I first read The Matchmaker so many years ago, I fell in love with the character of Dolly Levi and then, seeing Carol Channing in Hello Dolly! …well, that really made me appreciate the character even more….and here I am getting ready to finally bring this wonderful woman to life!!”

Hello, Dolly! is based on Thornton Wilder’s 1938 farce The Merchant of Yonkers, which Wilder revised and retitled The Matchmaker in 1954.   The musical, with lyrics and music by Jerry Herman, and book by Michael Stewart, follows the romantic and comic exploits of Dolly Gallagher Levi, turn-of-the century matchmaker and ‘woman who arranges things’, as she travels to Yonkers, New York to find a match for the ‘well-known unmarried half-a-millionaire’ Horace Vandergelder.

Hello, Dolly! premiered on Broadway on January 16, 1964, at the St. James Theatre. Opening with Carol Channing in the title role, the show ultimately ran for 2,844 performances, making it – at the time – the longest-running Broadway musical in history.  Among its many awards, Dolly garnered 10 1964 Tonys (including Best Musical, Author, and Composer/Lyricist) and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.

Michael Ursua will do double duty as the show’s Director and Music Director, and Alex Jorth will serve as the production’s choreographer.  Hello Dolly! is produced by Kevin Barrett and Arts Center Management.

“Hello Dolly! happens to be one of my all-time favorite musicals and its composer and lyricist, Jerry Herman, remains my favorite composer,” Ursua says. It is an absolute classic in musical theatre. The characters are loveable, and the audience can identify with their desire for romance and adventure. They bravely choose to step out of their comfort zones for love and yes, for money (which is really just a way to live generously of course). And Dolly helps each of them find their way and find each other. In the end it is community that is the prize. I am encouraged by these characters … encouraged to be brave, to love more, to be more generous and to dance whenever, however, with whomever I can.”

Ursua has assembled a stellar cast to populate Dolly’s 1898 New York setting – along with Radosh, Christopher Dreeson  will star as Horace Vandergelder, with Sam Joseph as Cornelius Hackl, Ally Rosenblum (Star of LPAC’s 2023 production of Always…Patsy Cline) as Irene Molloy, Kristi Rose Mills as Minnie Fay, Joel Hunt as Barnaby Tucker, Erica Kaylee as Ermengarde, Dru Loman as Ambrose Kemper, Britte Steele as Ernestina, and Lovell Rose as Rudolph.

Ensemble members are Bryce Bayer, Nia Bourne, Kalista Curbelo, Eytan Deray, Alexandra Dow, Desir Dumerjuste, Stephen Eisenwasser, Eli Flynn, Santiago Garza, Amanda Lopez, Michael Materdomini, Izaiah Scott, Caroline Slagle, Larry Toyter, Alexandra Van Hasselt, and Herbert Welch.

Tickets for Hello Dolly! are on sale now and can be purchased online at https://www.lpacfl.com, or by calling the LPAC box office at 954-777-2055.Tickets range in price from $45 to $65. 

The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center is located at 3800 NW 11th 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 Hello Dolly!, 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.
~ 
Hello Dolly!
April 4 – 21
Music & Lyrics by Jerry Herman
Book by Michael Stewart
Based on the play The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder
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 11th Place
Lauderhill, FL  33311

Hello, Dolly! photos by Morgan Sophia

Angie Radosh
Michael Ursua

Shakespeare Troupe’s HAMLET at Sol Theatre – March 15 – April 7

15 Friday Mar 2024

Posted by in Clients, Shakespeare Troupe of South Florida

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Hamlet
To Be the Inaugural Production
at Shakespeare Troupe’s New Home in Boca Raton

The 4 weekend-run begins March 15, 2024, at Sol Theatre
School Tour bookings available now

For Immediate Release
Contact: Peter Galman
anon@shakestroupe.org / 754-228-7228
Contact:  Carol Kassie
carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244

March 15, 2024 (The Ides of March):

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA: Peter Galman, founder and president of Shakespeare Troupe, Inc. (STI), announced performances of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, beginning Friday, March 15, 2024, as the Shakespeare Troupe of South Florida’s inaugural production at the intimate Sol Theatre, 3333 North Federal Highway in Boca Raton.

The production is partially funded by several state, county, and town grants to perform Shakespeare in schools and to bring theatre to the underserved, all the while meeting the Troupe’s mission to train student interns to participate alongside professional actors, designers, and directors. 

The STI production of Hamlet will tour schools and other institutions in the region. “When I heard that Shakes Troupe could bring a free performance of Hamlet to my high schoolers, I jumped at the chance,” says André Gainey, Staff Administrator at Somerset Preparatory Academy Charter School at North Lauderdale, who has booked the Troupe for April 2nd.

“Shakes Troupe will do two school shows on April 2nd, to accommodate more than 300 students and maintain an intimacy,” said Galman, “And we’ll supply the teachers with a study guide to engage their students in preparation for the play, in accordance with the standards prescribed in the State of Florida’s CPalms.org website.”

And on March 20th, the Troupe will perform its adaptation of Hamlet for the residents and day visitors at the Jewish Association of Residential Care in Boca Raton (JARC). Ed Barbanell, a professional actor with a disability will play the role of Bernardo – the soldier who first sees Hamlet’s ghost – in front of one hundred or more persons with special needs who will attend the performance at JARC. Mr. Barbanell has taken a previous workshop with Shakespeare Troupe and continues his association with the only company in South Florida performing Shakespeare all the year long. 

In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, a young prince acts mad to avoid assassination in a corrupted court while contemplating revenge for his father’s murder. Occurring in a time for elections, morality has acquiesced to the threat of violence, promising only a grave solution.

In less than 2 hours Shakespeare Troupe of South Florida examines the existential threat that the power of the state holds against the power of the imagination in the individual. Hamlet is stripped down to its essentials in the intimate jewel box of the Sol Theatre: a ghost appears with a dreaded message, there’s been a coup, power is being consolidated as witnesses are silenced, spies are everywhere, and traps are being set. “A mind-bending web of intrigue entices and ensnares all who marvel at this polished gem of dramatic literature,” Galman enthuses. 

Hamlet will play for four weekends at Sol Theatre, from March 15 through April 7, for a total of 12 public performances. Tickets for Hamlet are on sale now and can be purchased online at https://www.shakestroupe.org/eventlistings. Tickets range in price from $10 to $25.

For more information about Shakespeare Troupe, Inc. see below; visit the company’s website at https://www.shakestroupe.org, or contact Peter Galman at 754-228-7228 or by email at anon@ShakesTroupe.org.

About STI
Shakespeare Troupe, Inc. (STI) was founded in 2016 by veteran actor Peter Galman to bring Shakespeare’s works to theater audiences throughout South Florida in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. STI has also performed and conducted workshops for thousands of students in Central and South Florida.  Funding is provided in part by The State of Florida Cultural Affairs Department, the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County and the City of Boca Raton. STI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are 100% tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. ShakesTroupe.org

About Sol Theatre
The Sol Theatre has been in existence since 2016. It’s located on Federal Highway between Glades Road and Spanish River Boulevard. Comfortable seating is featured, with a capacity of 78 seats near to a 10′ by 20′ stage.
~

Hamlet
By William Shakespeare
March 15 – April 7, 2024
Tickets:  $10/$15/$20/$25
For tickets:  https://www.shakestroupe.org/eventlistings
Performances:
March 15, 2024, 7:30 PM
March 16, 2024, 2:30 PM
March 16, 2024, 7:30 PM
March 17, 2024, 2:30 P
March 23, 2024, 2:30 PM
March 24, 2024, 2:30 PM
March 29, 2024, 7:30 PM
March 30, 2024, 2:30 PM
March 31, 2024, 2:30 PM
April 5, 2024, 7:30 PM
April 6, 2024, 2:30 PM
April 7, 2024, 2:30 pm
All performances take place at
Sol Theatre
3333 North Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL33431

Thinking Cap Theater Presents THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

12 Tuesday Mar 2024

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Thinking Cap Theatre
presents
The Taming of the Shrew
By William Shakespeare
Adapted and directed by Nicole Stodard

For Immediate Release
Contact: Bree-Anna Obst
breeanna@thinkingcaptheatre.org | 954-610-7263

March 12, 2024

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL:  Thinking Cap Theatre will officially kick off 2024 this March with a main stage production of The Taming Of The Shrew by William Shakespeare, adapted and directed by TCT’s Founding Artistic Director Nicole Stodard. The production will run from March 22nd through April 3rd at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.

TCT’s last Shakespearean revival, a reimagining of Shakespeare’s great tragedy King Lear, was named one of the top ten plays of 2018 by Boca Magazine.  With Shrew, TCT turns to one of Shakespeare’s most controversial works, a play that has left audiences divided on whether the playwright was a misogynist or a proto-feminist.  Made famous in a mid-twentieth century revival that starred real life sparring lovers Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, this comedy dramatizes the age-old battle of the sexes in the tumultuous courtship of the characters Katherina and Petruchio. 

Despite being one of Shakespeare’s earliest plays, The Taming Of The Shrew epitomizes Shakespeare’s fascination with raising, but not ultimately answering, pressing social questions.  In Thinking Cap’s innovative new staging, performers and audiences alike will be able to experience and judge different casting and directorial choices in real time to explore our shifting perceptions of what’s playable, offensive, or funny.  “Shakespeare’s works play differently in every age.  This particular work presents a meaningful opportunity, in this moment, to ‘hold a mirror up to nature,’ in the words of Hamlet, and to demonstrate the perennial nature of some of our current debates,” says Stodard.

This main stage production is part of The People vs. Shakespeare’s Shrew, a multifaceted project that invites audiences to engage deeply with this problem play through complementary programming that includes the following: a staged reading of John Fletcher’s 1611 response play entitled The Woman’s Prize or the Tamer Tamed; Sunday Talkbacks with the cast and creative team; and Shakespeare Was Here, a 6-episode podcast series with Shakespeare practitioners and scholars from around the country.

The staged reading of The Woman’s Prize or the Tamer Tamed, will take place on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at Art Serve in Fort Lauderdale.  Doors open at 6:30pm; curtain at 7pm.  Tickets are $20 and include complimentary catered refreshments.  Art Serve’s address is 1350 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 
Staged reading ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-tamer-tamed-or-the-womens-prize-play-reading-tickets-816509641317?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Shakespeare Was Here: New Podcast Series:

TCT’s podcast, Thoughts on Theatre and Life, includes multiple ongoing series, the newest of which explores the living legacy of William Shakespeare.  Guests of The Taming of the Shrew can deepen their engagement with the production by tuning into Shakespeare Was Here for stimulating conversations with leading Shakespeare scholars and practitioners from coast to coast.  The podcast is available on Amazon, Apple, Google, and Spotify.  Podcast guests who will discuss The Taming Of The Shrew inlcude: Vernon Dickson, Ph.D. (Florida International University), Carla Della Gatta, Ph.D. (University of Maryland), Jemma Alix Levy (Washington & Lee University), Carmen Pelaez (playwright), Ian Smith, Ph.D. (University of Southern California, President of Shakespeare Association of America).

The Taming Of The Shrew  Performance Dates/Times:

Friday, March 22 | 7:30pm
Saturday, March 23 | 3:00pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, March 24 | 3:00pm
Thursday, March 28 | 7:30pm
Friday, March 29 | 7:30pm
Saturday, March 30 | 7:30pm
Sunday, March 31 | 3:00pm
Monday, April 1 | 7:30pm
Wednesday, April 3 | 11:00am & 7:30pm

Ticket Prices for TCT’s Main Stage Productions:
$45 General Admission
$20 Student Rush Tickets at the Door for 21 & Under w/ Valid Student ID

Theatre Company Website: http://thinkingcaptheatre.org
Thinking Cap Theatre Box Office Phone: 954-610-7263
Venue Address:
Broward Center for the Performing Arts,
201 Southwest 5th Avenue ,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Funding:
Support for this program has been provided by the following Funds at the Community Foundation of Broward: John O. and Victoria C. Kirby Fund, Frederick W. Jaqua Fund, The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation Broward Community Fund.  THE TAMING OF THE SHREW is also sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts, Broward County Cultural Division and a grant from The Our Fund Foundation, an LGBTQ community foundation, with support from the Broward Center’s Arts Access Program.

About Thinking Cap Theatre (TCT):
Founded in 2010, TCT prides itself on theatrical experimentation, equality, and excellence.  To this end, the company has amassed a loyal fan base that appreciates the opportunity to see daring theatre locally that it could not otherwise see without traveling to New York, Chicago, or L.A.  “TCT thrives on experimentation, both in terms of the plays we select and how we rehearse and stage them. We challenge conventions and embrace playfulness.  This is how we work to keep the art form dynamic and evolving” says Stodard.  True to its mission, TCT also champions equity and diversity on- and off-stage.  As one example, TCT has upheld gender and sexual parity in play programming in every single season.  The proof is in the numbers: 18 male playwrights, 20 female playwrights, and 1 non-binary playwright. “Prioritizing diversity and inclusion is in the DNA of our organization’s mission. And for far too long, TCT was a lone voice in the region addressing these issues,” says Stodard.  Since its inception in 2010, TCT has also striven for excellence with a particular emphasis on steadily improving production values and increasing artist compensation.

Spanish River Concerts’ MINDS OF THE MASTERS to Showcase two Musical Virtuosos

28 Wednesday Feb 2024

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Israeli pianist Natalie Tenenbaum and violinist Filip Pogády
to perform at the Spanish River Church March 4th & 5th.

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

February 28, 2024

BOCA RATON, FL:  Spanish River Concerts, the popular and lauded concert series that has enriched the South Florida music scene for over 20 years, will present a special event concert for two nights only on March 4th and 5th at the Spanish River Church.   Minds of the Masters will feature Israeli pianist Natalie Tenenbaum and violinist Filip Pogády.  These two master musicians will be joined by vocalists Daniel Montenegro and Maria Valdes, all accompanied by the Spanish River Orchestra under the direction of world-renowned conductor Tomer Adaddi.

“The genius of Natalie Tenenbaum defies simple description,” says Spanish River Concerts Executive Director Jeff Morgenstern. “While most artists choose a lane and stay within those lines, Natalie is like a force of nature, a musician’s musician, who can’t be pigeon-holed into any single style.  She’s a world class jazz, pop, and classical musician who blurs the lines between all of these and more.  Her technical proficiency and musicality are other-worldly.”

Critically acclaimed composer, pianist, music producer/director and singer-songwriter Natalie Tenenbaum is a graduate of the Juilliard School.  She has appeared as a soloist and with orchestras in Israel, Europe, Asia, and the United States, performing in such venues as the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Korea’s National Theater, Jerusalem Music Center, Berlin’s Konzerthaus, Madison Square Garden, and the Apollo Theatre.  She has performed her original compositions at Carnegie Hall, Harvard University, Merkin Hall, The National Arts Gallery (NY) and Juilliard’s Paul Hall.  A short video of Tenenbaum’s Michael Jackson ‘Mashup’ can be found here:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhDTLXtrRCg

Violinist Filip Pogády has been praised by the press for the “beauty of his tone”, “lightning-like virtuosity” (Russkoe Slovo) and his “commanding performances” (The New York Times). He has performed in some of the most renowned concert venues in the world including Lincoln Center (New York), Rudolphinum (Prague), Konzerthaus (Vienna), Tel Aviv Opera House, Kamakura Arts Center (Kamakura), Natori Arts Center (Tokyo), Lotte Hall (Seoul), and Seoul Arts Center.

“These are going to be two unforgettable concerts,” Morgenstern says, “with musical styles ranging from Gershwin to Michael Jackson.”

Tickets for both evenings are on sale now; ticket prices range from $48 to $94.   For more information, and/or to purchase tickets visit www.SpanishRiverConcerts.org or call the Spanish River Concerts box office at 800-716-6975.  To speak with anyone involved with Minds of the Masters, for more photos, or to arrange to see a performance, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

~

Minds of the Masters
March 4 & 5
Performances begin at 8 pm
Tickets $48-$94 (Group rates available)
For tickets:  www.spanishriverconcerts.org or
Call 800-716-6975
All performances take place at
Spanish River Church
2400 Yamato Road,
Boca Raton, FL 

YI Love Jewish Purim Mini-Fest To Present Two Exciting Events

28 Wednesday Feb 2024

Posted by in Clients, Yiddishkayt Initiative

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Esther in the Spotlight and Gimpel the Fool feature beloved characters from Jewish literature and history.

For Immediate Release
Contact:  info@yilovejewish.org
sheris@yilovejewish.org   
Contact:  Carol Kassie
Carol@CarolKassie.com / 561-445-9244

February 28, 2024

MIAMI DADE and BROWARD COUNTIES, FL: A whirlwind of entertainment and cultural celebration awaits audiences in Miami Dade and Broward counties when YI Love Jewish presents two Purim Holiday Mini-Fest events in March. The festival promises to bring laughter, insight, and inspiration to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Esther in the Spotlight, by acclaimed playwright Rich Orloff, is an irreverent and hilarious retelling of the biblical story of Esther (the genesis of the Purim holiday). Described as “Mel Brooks meets The Bible,” this free concert version of Orloff’s comedic masterpiece offers more than just laughs; it delves into themes of identity, destiny, and the pursuit of meaning. With Orloff’s track record of theatrical excellence, including Critic’s Picks and international productions, audiences can expect an unforgettable evening of entertainment.

The ground-breaking one-person play and documentary film celebrating the character of Gimpel the Fool created by Nobel Laureate Isaac Bashevis Singer will star Howard Rypp of Israel’s acclaimed Nephesh Theatre Company.  Featuring music by Ron Wiseman, and Singer’s text translated by Saul Bellow, the film, combined with Rypp’s live performance weaves klezmer music into a surrealistic theatrical presentation. Audiences will be captivated by Gimpel’s unwavering faith and his journey through betrayal and ridicule, inspiring reflection, and belief in human goodness.  A video preview can be found here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3TkVAFHMMA

YI Love Jewish is a division of The Yiddishkayt Initiative, Inc., a not-for-profit public charity dedicated to fighting antisemitism through the arts by preserving and presenting Jewish culture and its far-reaching impact on the world. Through theater, music, lectures, film, TV, and other media, the organization strives to make the world a more accepting place. For more information visit www.yilovejewish.org.

For event registration and tickets visit  YILoveJewish.org/events.  Tickets for Gimpel the Fool range in price from $18-$36-$54.  Tickets for Esther in the Spotlight are free.

For more information, to speak with anyone involved in the festival, more photos and/or graphics, or to attend a performance, please contact Sheri Smith at sheris@yilovejewish.org.

~

Purim Mini-Fest Dates, Times and Locations:

Esther in the Spotlight
Tuesday March 19, 2024 – 7:30 PM
Miami Beach JCC
4221 Pine Tree Drive,
Miami Beach, FL 33140

Wednesday March 20, 2024 – 7:30 PM
Alper JCC
11155 SW 112th Avenue
Miami, FL  33176

Thursday March 21, 2024 – 7:30 PM
Soref JCC
6501 West Sunrise Boulevard
Plantation, FL  33313

Gimpel the Fool
Friday, March 22, 2024 – 7:30 PM
The Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center
3100 Ray Ferrero Jr. Boulevard,
Davie, FL 33314

Saturday, March 23, 2024 – 7:30 PM
Coral Springs High School
7201 West Sample Road,
Coral Springs, FL 33065

Sunday, March 24, 2024 – 7:30 PM
Alper JCC
6501 West Sunrise Boulevard
Plantation, FL  33313

Howard Rypp
Rich Orloff
Tara Weidenfeller
Alexa Lasanta
Marah Lieberman
Michael Scott Ross
Zoe Kanter

Olivier Nominee DAVID SHANNON’s ‘THE MAKING OF A PHANTOM’ at the Willow Theatre March 8 – 10

20 Tuesday Feb 2024

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“I feel that if you understand what you’re singing about the rest will follow.”
~ David Shannon

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

February 20,  2024

BOCA RATON, FL:  Irish actor, singer, and accomplished raconteur David Shannon will bring his amazing story, The Making of a Phantom, to the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park from March 8th – 10th.   The production will be presented by Black Box Booking.

From factory worker to starring as The Phantom in London’s West End for Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, and an Olivier Award nominee for his performance in Lloyd Webber’s The Beautiful Game, David Shannon has played the leading roles in some of the West End and Broadway’s most iconic musicals, including Les Misérables (Jean Valjean), Matilda (Miss Trunchbull), Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd), Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus and Judas), Miss Saigon (Chris), and most recently, Kevin T in the original London company of Come From Away.  

David Shannon was born in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, but grew up and went to school in Ireland. His musical career began in amateur dramatics in Ireland – performing a wide variety of roles in regional theatres. His first professional break came at the age of 21 when he won a role in the touring production of Les Misérables in Dublin and Edinburgh. 

Shannon, accompanied by piano and back tracks will perform songs from his many starring roles, while recounting his incredible journey from furniture maker to star of stage and screen. 

The Making of a Phantom – Starring David Shannon will run from March 8 – 10 at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park.  Tickets are $40; group rates (6 or more tickets purchased in one transaction) are $35. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 561-347-3948.  The Willow Theatre is located at 300 South Military Trail, in Boca Raton’s Sugar Sand Park (33486).   

For more information about The Making of a Phantom, to speak with David Shannon, for photos, or to arrange to see the production, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.

~*~

The Making of a Phantom – Starring David Shannon
March 8 – 10              
Performances:
Friday & Saturday at 7 pm
Saturday & Sunday at 1 pm
Tickets:  $40
Group rate:  $35 (6 or more tickets purchased in one transaction)
Season ticket holders:  $35
For tickets call 561-347-3948
All performances at
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 S. Military Trail
Boca Raton, FL  33486

Pigs Do Fly Productions’ THE AFFECTIONS OF MAY Opens at Empire Stage March 8

06 Tuesday Feb 2024

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Pigs Do Fly Productions
to present
Norm Foster’s
The Affections of May
March 8 – 31, 2024

“A delightful, feel-good comedy by Canadian playwright Norm Foster, “The Affections of May” tickles your funny bone and tugs at your heartstrings.”
Michigan Live

“Norm Foster creates characters who are so believable that theatergoers see bits of themselves reflected on the stage.” 
L.A. Daily News

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

February 6, 2024

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL:  Pigs Do Fly Productions’ second show of the 2023-2024 season will be The Affections of May, Canadian playwright Norm Foster’s delightful comedy that explores love, loss, and new beginnings.   The production will run from March 8th through March 31st at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale.  

“This is the second Norm Foster play we at Pigs Do Fly have produced,” says Executive Producer Ellen Wacher. “This is the second Norm Foster play we at Pigs Do Fly have produced,” says Executive Producer Ellen Wacher.  “We loved doing his The Ladies Foursome so much we decided to see what else he had that fit our misssion – to feature people over ‘a certain age’ whose lives are just as interesting – and messy, and funny, and hopeful, and real ‘now, as they were ‘then.’!

“This is our eighth season,” Wacher continues. “I am so proud of how much we have grown and what we have accomplished these past eight years.  We have featured and served a demographic that is often ignored, and I think our patrons are extremely appreciative of that.  And… it’s also very gratifying to see not only ‘my’ contemporaries in our audiences, but younger people as well!  It proves beyond a doubt that good theatre has no age limit!”

“Norm Foster’s Affections of May is a charming account of a woman who has been dumped by her husband of 29 years and left to fend for herself in a new town at the helm of a struggling business,” the production’s director Mariah Reed explains.   “May’s tenacity and ability to overcome challenges is inspirational and her story is one I am delighted to craft as a director.  Her ardent suitors, too, have their own personal challenges and with May as a catalyst each learns to overcome their insecurities and embrace an uncertain (and potentially exciting) future. 

“Stories of redemption and triumph are a joy to share,” she continues, “And I’m extremely grateful to Executive Producer Ellen Wacher and Artistic Director Deborah Kondelik for allowing me the opportunity to do so with Pigs Do Fly Productions.”

Reed has cast William Mahone as Hank, Brian James McCormack as Brian, Ben Prayz as Quinn, and Deborah Kondelik as May.

Norm Foster is considered Canada’s most produced playwright. An extremely prolific writer, frequently referred to as the Canadian Neil Simon, Foster has had more than fifty plays produced on professional stages.  His plays are known for their humor, accessibility, and insight into ‘the everyday tribulations of life.’

The Stage Manager for The Affections of May is Patrick Vida. 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. Jessica Kaschube is the Company Manager.

Tickets for The Affections of May 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, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.  For more information about Ellen Wacher, please visit www.ellenwacher.com.

~

The Affections of May
March 8 – 31, 2024
By Norm Foster
Tickets: $45
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

Deborah Kondelik & Ben Prayz
Deborah Kondelik & Brian James McCormack
Deborah Kondelik & William Mahone
Deborah Kondelik, Ellen Wacher, Mariah Reed
  • Mariah Reed
  • Deborah Kondelik
  • William Mahone
  • Brian McCormack
  • Ben Prayz
  • Ellen Wacher
  • Norm Foster

The Southeastern Premiere of PIED À TERRE Opens February 9 at The Willow Theatre

22 Monday Jan 2024

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Mid Life Crisis Productions
Presents
The Southeastern Premiere of

February 9 – 18

 “John Anastasi’s play is a relevant, lovingly written and engrossing story with a complicated (though certainly not un-navigable) ethos. You’ll be hanging on until the last minute.”
~ Tom Wachunas – Artwatch

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

January 22, 2024

BOCA RATON, FL:   Pied À Terre, a drama by John S. Anastasi, will have its southeastern premiere at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park in February.  The production, to be directed by Peter J. Loewy, will open on February 9th and run through February 18th.             

In this thought-provoking and ultimately moving piece of theatre, Julia, a successful television journalist discovers a Manhattan apartment owned by her attorney husband, Jack, that she was unaware existed.  Her exploration of this newly discovered ‘pied à terre’ is interrupted by the sudden appearance of Katie, a beautiful young woman who seems to know Jack a little too well.  At first glance these two women appear to have no connection save Julia’s husband.  But as they circle around one another, revealing the secrets and burdens each of them has been carrying, they learn they have more in common than either could have thought possible.

“The initial idea of the story started one way, very simply,” playwright John Anastasi explained recently.  “A married man picks up a young girl… But then all sorts of plot complications started presenting themselves to me and as I wrote, I discovered in these threads and ideas the theme of grieving, loss, survivors’ guilt, and the passions of the soul that come into conflict with the obligations of the mind and the needs of the heart.”

Pied À Terre, which has had successful runs Off-Broadway as well as in multiple cities in the US, in Ireland, and China, will be directed by Peter J. Loewy and will star Seth Trucks as Jack, Christy Antonio as Julia, and Anna Joy Lehman as Katie.  

Pied À Terre will run from February 9 – 19 at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park.  Tickets are $25; group rates (6 or more tickets purchased in one transaction) are $18. Tickets can be purchased online at www.sugarsandpark.org/pied-terre   or by phone at 561-347-3948.  The Willow Theatre is located at 300 South Military Trail, in Boca Raton’s Sugar Sand Park (33486).   

For more information about Pied À Terre, to speak with John Anastasi, Peter J. Loewy and/or cast members, for photos, or to arrange to see the production, please contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244 or visit www.piedaterreplay.com.

~*~

Pied À Terre
February 9 – 18, 2024                      
By John S. Anastasi
Directed by Peter J. Loewy
Performances:
Friday & Saturday at 7 pm
Saturday & Sunday at 1 pm
Tickets:  $25
Group rate:  $18 (6 or more tickets purchased in one transaction)
Click HERE for tickets or
Call 561-347-3948
All performances at
The Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park
300 S. Military Trail
Boca Raton, FL  33486

Christy Antonio & Anna Joy Lehman
Seth Trucks & Anna Joy Lehman
Anna Joy Lehman
Christy Antonio
Seth Trucks
John Anastasi, M.D.
Peter J. Loewy