Lynn University celebrates the holidays in symphonic style, a Tony-winning musical tours Miami, and a DJ’s thrilling mash-ups come to Revolution. Plus, Ben Mankiewicz, “Twelve Angry Men” and more in your week ahead.
TUESDAY
What: Opening night of “Hadestown”
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
Cost: $35-$165
Contact: 305/949-6722, arshtcenter.org
Arguably the most anticipated Broadway musical to tour since “Hamilton,” “Hadestown” is the brainchild of Vermont folksinger Anaïs Mitchell, who first released its alternately haunting, ethereal and rousing songs as a concept album before bringing the fully staged musical version off-Broadway. Her source material is as ancient as 29 BCE: the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, and the former’s harrowing journey into a hedonistic underground to rescue the latter. Hermes, Persephone and, of course, Hades figure into the plot as well, and the elaborate sets, costumes and Mitchell’s cerebral but catchy songcraft helped propel the eventual Broadway production to eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. This Broadway in Miami production runs through Sunday only.
FRIDAY
What: Opening day of “To the End”
When: Show times pending
Where: Living Room Theaters at FAU, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton
Cost: $9-$12
Contact: 561/549-2600, fau.livingroomtheaters.com
In 2019, filmmaker Rachel Lears directed “Knock Down the House,” a celebrated documentary about four young progressive women, including the influential New Yorker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in their primary efforts to unseat moderate Democrats in the House of Representatives. Her follow-up treads similar but more urgent ground. Again, Lears shadows four women fighting for progressive change, in this case both inside and outside government. “To the End” follows Ocasio-Cortez; Alexandra Rojas, executive director of the Justice Democrats political action committee; Varshini Prakash, co-founder of the Sunrise Movement; and Rhiana Gunn-Wright, climate policy director for the Roosevelt Institute. The thread linking these ambitious and hopeful young women is the peril of climate change, and in particular their efforts to pass the Green New Deal. In a news cycle dominated by political horse races and the scandal de jour, it’s refreshing to see a movie that delves so deeply into granular policy—and the people helping to shape it.
What: Opening night of “Twelve Angry Men”
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach
Cost: $99 ($84 for the remainder of the run)
Contact: 561/514-4042, palmbeachdramaworks.org
The one “classic”—i.e., a play not written in the 21st century—in Dramaworks’ 2022/2023 season may end up being its most timely and potent selection; such is the enduring insight and compassion of Reginald Rose’s 1954 TV drama turned stage play. You probably know the story: Twelve jurors—traditionally all white—are tasked with deciding the guilt or innocence of a Black youth accused of murder. Only one juror is unconvinced of the child’s guilt, and he’ll spend the play’s duration attempting to sway his colleagues, in turn exposing their inherent biases. Henry Fonda, perennial voice of calm and reason, famously starred in the award-winning original film adaptation, and the play is often revived on Broadway with sterling results. Nearly 70 years after it was written, “Twelve Angry Men” remains both a crackling piece of stagecraft and a paean to how our judicial system is supposed to work. It runs through Dec. 24.
SATURDAY
What: Ben Mankiewicz Meet and Greet
When: 1 to 2 p.m.
Where: Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton
Cost: $12 to $16 museum admission
Contact: 561/392-2500, bocamuseum.org
If you haven’t seen the Boca Raton Museum of Art’s acclaimed “Art of the Hollywood Backdrop” exhibition, which runs for another month and a half, there’s no better time than this Saturday afternoon, when special guest Ben Mankiewicz will be greeting attendees and sharing some of his insights about the sprawling exhibit. The affable and knowledgeable media personality was born of Hollywood royalty: He’s the grandson of “Citizen Kane” screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz and the grand-nephew of director Joseph L. Mankiewicz. These days, he lends his authoritative voice to Turner Classic Movies, as the successor host to the legendary Robert Osborne. Given that Mankiewicz is steeped in classic cinema during his day job and downtime alike, I can think of no better commentator to greet visitors to this must-see exhibition.
What: Girl Talk
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Revolution Live, 100 S.W. Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale
Cost: $28
Contact: 954/449-1025, jointherevolution.net
DJ Gregg Michael Gillis, who records under the name Girl Talk, is the definition of a musical omnivore, an artist whose compositions mash together old and new, underground and commercial, highbrow and lowbrow. He’s primarily associated with hip-hop, with sampled rap vocals prominent in his sonic collages, but ambient, EDM, punk, and classic and alternative rock snippets jockey for your ears’ attention, combining with the hard-edged beats in witty and disarming ways. Listening to Girl Talk is like listening to a dozen radio stations simultaneously, as Blackstreet and UGK and Busta Rhymes and the Beatles and Squarepusher and Sinead O’Connor and Neutral Milk Hotel and Vangelis and Twisted Sister engage in otherwise unbridgeable musical connections. No sample sticks around for very long, as Gillis is well aware of not overstepping fair use copyright statutes: His mash-ups are the ultimate short-attention-span jams, and they’re great to dance to.
SUNDAY
What: Gingerbread Holiday Concert
When: 3 p.m.
Where: Wold Performing Arts Center at Lynn University, 3601 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton
Cost: $35
Contact: 561/237-9000, lynn.edu/events
This annual fundraiser for Lynn University’s storied conservatory is also an opportunity for the talented musicians to let their hair down, so to speak, with the rigors of classical music giving way to the looser strictures of the pops format. For this 19th-annual tradition, expect to hear compositions reflecting multiple faiths, with Jon Robertson, dean of the conservatory, adding that the concert may take on a jazzier flavor than usual this year. “The nature of the music is up, and fun,” he told Boca magazine earlier this year. “We communicate with the audience. We have a sing-along with the fun Christmas songs that everybody enjoys singing. Santa makes his appearance, which the kids absolutely adore. He comes down, and we bring all the kids down front, and I think he hands out some candy. We try to do something that is child-oriented. It’s just far more celebratory than going to a concert.”
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