Jazz isn’t exactly the genre best-known for producing superstars, but a chosen few will appear in South Florida this season. The most notable is likely legendary crooner Tony Bennett, who plays both the Knight Concert Hall in Miami and the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach (the latter on Valentine’s Day). The gifted pianist and silky singer Diana Krall, who had been scheduled, … [Read more...]
The A-word, and one sharp comedy
Obvious Child is the best and funniest comedy about women’s reproductive options since Citizen Ruth, but that alone isn’t saying much. The subject of abortion is still largely a third rail in mainstream films, despite the pretense that Hollywood is a bastion of leftism. Even when they’re unplanned, movie pregnancies are usually taken to term and are viewed as gifts. The A-word … [Read more...]
Keigwin show’s best energy comes at the end
By Tara Mitton Catao Six dancers, one choreographer and one very small stage — it is a lot like being under a microscope and it is all very intimate. One can’t get away with much. Every detail counts. Every transition and theatrical expression (or lack of) registers. Therefore, performing in a small theater is not a casual thing. So when a New York-based modern dance company … [Read more...]
Violinist Perlman to open Festival of the Arts Boca
BOCA RATON -- Violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman will open the 8th Annual Festival of the Arts Boca in early March, festival officials said today. The legendary Israeli-born violinist is one of the best-known classical musicians in the world, and is an annual visitor to South Florida, giving three recitals this week in West Palm Beach and Miami. He also appeared twice previously … [Read more...]
Sundays: The end of an idea
By Myles Ludwig I am wondering if America’s grand illusions have become America’s grandiose delusions. Have we passed the best-used-by date of that lovely and sacrosanct idea of American Exceptionalism: An idea so long the comforting quilt of nationalistic narcissism that warmed past generations, a vanity that expressed itself in the political rationale for genocide in the … [Read more...]
A look at Broadway’s best, and our fearless Tony predictions
On the eve of the 67th annual Tony Awards, recognizing the season’s bests, here are reviews of some of the season’s standout productions: Matilda: If there were an award for best British import with highest level of hype, this engaging, but often unintelligible musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company would win hands down. It did win London’s Olivier Award and looks poised … [Read more...]
Story of literacy campaign at its best when children speak
At age 35, John Wood left the world of business, a decision he chronicled in Leaving Microsoft to Change the World. Now he has written a sequel titled Creating Room to Read. One cannot help but admire Wood’s obvious determination to combat illiteracy in underdeveloped nations in Asia and Africa. While vacationing in Nepal in 1998, Wood visited a primary school that had a … [Read more...]
2012’s 10 best in a standout year for film
Most years at the movies there is a clear front-runner for awards and a struggle to fill the other nine slots in a 10 best list. For 2012, however, there are more than two handfuls of first-rate films and no clear number one in the ranks. Here is a highly subjective look back at what made the year just past a standout for moviegoing: 1. Lincoln: A cerebral history lesson of … [Read more...]
Veteran stars take roles in Maltz’s ‘Hello, Dolly!’ reworking
Sure, Hello, Dolly! is one of the landmark musicals of the so-called Golden Age of the 1960s, racking up a then-record high 2,844 performances on Broadway. But ever since, the Jerry Herman show has been under the hammerlock of its originating star, Carol Channing, who has clung steadfastly to Gower Champion’s Tony Award-winning staging and choreography. When Maltz Jupiter … [Read more...]
Tony broadcast one of best in years, but plays deserve more time
It was a great night for smiling proselytizers and equine puppets. Of course, I’m referring to The Book of Mormon and War Horse, which cemented their hit status by taking a victory lap at last night’s 65th annual Tony Awards telecast, grabbing nine and five statuettes respectively. The ceremony itself was one of the best in many years, though it continued to give short … [Read more...]