A Force-ful actor condenses the original “Star Wars” trilogy into a busy hour, Boca Stage reopens with cutthroat political theatre, and the Cornell Museum unveils a new exhibition. Plus, Erykah Badu, FLIFF and more.
FRIDAY
What: Opening night of “Heart of the Square”
Where: Cornell Museum at Old School Square
When: 6 p.m.
Cost: $10 suggested donation
Contact: 561/243-7922, cornellartmuseum.org
As we’ve reported extensively on this website, Old School Square is under an existential threat, with its continuation into 2022 anything but certain. As a reminder of its value, the Cornell’s new community-centric exhibition “Heart of the Square” is a retrospective of sorts, celebrating Old School Square’s contribution to the arts in Delray Beach over the past 30 years through an inspiring selection of immersive art installations and displays curated by Melanie Johanson. As part of the ongoing efforts to save Old School Square, Friday’s event is no ordinary opening night: There will be live music and kids’ activities, as well as the public unveiling of a new work by Delray sculptor Jeff Whyman. It also falls, not coincidentally, on the first Friday of November, so visitors can also partake in the First Friday Art Walk happenings throughout the downtown area.
What: Opening night of “Warrior Class”
Where: Boca Stage, 3333 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton
When: 8 p.m.
Cost: $45
Contact: 866/811-4111, bocastage.net
Playwright Kenneth Lim, a veteran writer on “House of Cards,” brings that series’ cutthroat political cynicism to bear on his play “Warrior Class.” Kicking off Boca Stage’s (formerly Primal Forces’) 2021-2022 season, the drama centers on a New York State G.O.P. assembly candidate who has earned praise in the conservative media as “the Republican Obama.” But his meteoric ascent is threatened by a girlfriend from his past, who may or may not come forward with allegations of unbecoming behavior. The productions runs through Nov. 21.
What: Opening night of Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
Where: AutoNation IMAX at Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 S.W. Second St., Fort Lauderdale
When: 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $16.79
Contact: 954/525-FILM, fliff.com
The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival celebrates its 36th incarnation in blockbuster fashion this year with a special screening of “Eternals,” the latest Marvel popcorn flick starring Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek (among many others), and director Chloé Zhao’s unlikely follow-up to “Nomadland.” It’s one of more than 200 titles screenings exclusively at theaters such as the Gateway and Savor Cinema for the next three weeks—a smorgasbord of shorts and features, foreign-language films and American indies and documentaries. Likely highlights include “Murina” (Nov. 14 at Gateway), a Croatian coming-of-age import with a brooding mystery atmosphere; “Robust” (also Nov. 14 at the Gateway), with Gerard Depardieu in a heralded performance as an “aging film star in decay”; and the American psychological thriller “A Thousand Little Cuts” (Nov. 10 and 13 at Gateway). Check out the full schedule, with screenings through Nov. 21, on FLIFF’s website.
What: Erykah Badu
Where: Miramar Regional Park Amphitheater, 16801 Miramar Parkway, Miramar
When: 8 p.m.
Cost: $69-$250
Contact: ticketmaster.com
The most surreal story of 2020—and yes, that’s saying something—may be the announcement, in February of last year, that Erykah Badu was releasing an incense that smelled like her vagina, an aroma partially procured from the ashes of her burned underwear. It may sound like an Onion headline, but Badu has always courted controversy, whether it was stripping naked in Dealy Plaza for her guerrilla-style, Kennedy assassination homage music video “Window Seat” to defending characters from R. Kelly to Louis Farrakhan. She is as iconoclastic as performers come, but when you strip away the persona, you’re left with more a quarter century of influential neo-soul music, where glitch pop and rap and ‘70s soul-funk exchange a dialogue that only Badu speaks with such eclectic expertise. Atlanta hip-hop legends Goodie Mob open the show.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
What: Hot Works Boca Raton Fine Art Show
Where: Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free
Contact: 561/393-7890, hotworks.org
Voted among the top 100 art fairs in the United States, this semi-annual Boca Raton tradition brings dozens of artists to the Amphitheater, offering a wide variety of juried artworks at all price points. Expect to see work such as Josephina Espinosa’s cubist glass sculptures, Isack Kousnsky’s pop-culture shell photography, Pernia Gerhson’s evocative wildlife oils and much more. Competition drummer Ken Mazur, who provides a one-band live music and DJ experience using advanced electronics, will perform for the duration of the show.
SUNDAY
What: One Man Star Wars Trilogy
Where: Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach
When: 2 and 7 p.m.
Cost: $38
Contact: 561/832-7469, kravis.org
Perfect for both Lucasfilm die-hards and reluctant spouses willing to invest an hour’s time instead of, say, eight hours to satisfy their other half’s pop-culture obsession, Canadian actor Charles Ross’ One-Man Star Wars Trilogy condenses the original three movies into 60 minutes. A self-described “professional geek,” Ross became enraptured with the first “Star Wars” film at age 6, wearing out his original VHS tape of “A New Hope.” In college, he took his passion to the next level by developing this show, in which he portrays all the characters, sings the music, pilots the ships and wages the battles. Ross’ breathless theatrical experience has been a fringe-festival favorite for nearly 20 years, so we’re pretty sure that by this point, the Force is with him.
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