We may live in an increasingly digital age, one now further complicated by the rise of AI. But the printed word in books still exerts a powerful draw, as these festivals show: Miami Book Fair International The 41st Miami Book Fair — Nov. 17-24 — will feature a wide variety of authors in both fiction and nonfiction genres and celebrate the love of reading and love of … [Read more...]
Designer-entertainer Mizrahi to bring cabaret show to Boca fest
Bringing his Café Carlyle cabaret show to Boca Raton will be even more fun and fabulous on the big stage at Mizner Park, says the multi-talented fashion designer, actor, singer and Project Runway All-Stars judge, Isaac Mizrahi. Mizrahi will present his cabaret show, “An Evening with Isaac Mizrahi,” on Saturday, March 9, at the Festival of the Arts Boca at the Mizner Park … [Read more...]
Festival of the Arts Boca: Author Fishman wants to warn us about our water crisis
Not one to shy away from large topics, award-winning journalist and author Charles Fishman will bring a whopper to the Festival of the Arts Boca this month. Fishman's talk, which will take place March 9 at the festival as part of the Authors and Ideas programs, focuses on one of his favorite subjects: Water. “Water has achieved an invisibility in our lives that is only … [Read more...]
Festival of the Arts Boca set for live return
By Dale King The big tent that covers the Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton is back in place. The newly painted stage doors are prepared to open shortly to ignite nearly a dozen evenings of dancing, music and speeches by famed lecturers and authors. Food booths vending hot dogs, beer, soda and other audience snacks are ready to go. The 16th Annual Festival of the … [Read more...]
Trumpeter Blanchard, set for Boca festival, goes from strength to strength
As anyone who’s followed jazz trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard’s career knows, his upcoming appearance at Festival of the Arts Boca will hardly be his first figurative South Florida rodeo. Following a long run as artistic director for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz at the University of California Los Angeles, Blanchard took a similar position in the … [Read more...]
Season Preview 2021-22: The season in dance
By Dale King South Florida dancers of every ilk — sidelined for more than a year by a show-stopping coronavirus pandemic — have been polishing their skills, dance shoes and ballet slippers, anticipating a mass return of live performances to stages from Miami to Jupiter in the very near future. Miami City Ballet (MCB) has confidently announced its 2021-22 “Sunshine in … [Read more...]
Festival of the Arts BOCA opens 15th edition, virtually
By Dale King Festival of the Arts BOCA launched its 15th edition this past weekend with a musical start following by a series of lectures. It’s basically the same format used since the first show took place in Mizner Park a decade-and-a-half ago. This year, things are very different. First, the COVID-19 pandemic has become a global impediment to outdoor events around … [Read more...]
Season Preview 2020-21: Book, literary fests go virtual
Despite the dearth of live events during the winter of COVID-19, there are enough virtual literary events to keep one’s mind engaged. From poetry to fiction to children’s literature and books with local themes and authors, this year’s offerings, while reduced, offer enough stimulation and diversion to almost make you forget our altered state of collective reality. Palm … [Read more...]
Arts briefs: Smith wins Frank Prize, ANSG appoints director, and more
WEST PALM BEACH — The 2020 Randolph A. Frank Prize for the Performing Arts was awarded June 25 to Ballet Palm Beach founder and artistic director Colleen Smith during a ceremony streamed live. “In addition to being a brilliant choreographer, Colleen has taught more than 5,000 Palm Beach County students and awarded in excess of $200,000 in scholarships to deserving dancers … [Read more...]
Postmodern Jukebox warms up chilly Boca Fest finale
By Dale King The final evening of this year’s Festival of the Arts Boca at the Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton on March 8 was damn cold, with a biting wind that made ambient temperatures in the 60s feel even frostier. Still, the not-too-comfortable folding chairs on the amphitheater lawn were nearly filled, thanks, in large part, to the appearance of Postmodern … [Read more...]