MAY IS FULL OF MERRIMENT AND MUSIC AT THE BROWARD CENTER
Published: May 2, 2023
A Broadway blockbuster, an Irish singer-songwriter, two women hilariously taking on Hollywood, a special sensory-inclusive concert, musicals featuring the student stars of tomorrow, a salute to high school theater and performances by the area’s leading regional companies come to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in May.
The acclaimed Broadway musical Mean Girls returns to the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Tuesday May 2-Sunday, May 7. Direct from Broadway, Mean Girls is the hilarious hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey (30 Rock), composer Jeff Richmond (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and director Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. New York Magazine cheers, “Mean Girls delivers with immense energy, a wicked sense of humor and joyful inside-jokery.” USA Today says, “We’ll let you in on a little secret because we’re such good friends: GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!” The Bank of America Broadway in Fort Lauderdale 2022/2023 season is made possible with the generous support of title sponsor Bank of America and presenting sponsor Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Bank of America Broadway in Fort Lauderdale is presented by Florida Theatrical Association in partnership with Broadway Across America and Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Performance times are Tuesday-Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 pm. Tickets begin at $35.
Two actors transform into more than 30 characters from beloved films through the decades in Six Chick Flicks in the Abdo New River Room on Thursday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. Kerry Ipema (One Woman Sex and the City) and KK Apple (Upright Citizens Brigade) condense six female-centric films into hilarious 10-minute highlight reels of scenes, songs and sardonic humor. The hilarious evening, which could also be called “A Legally Blonde Pretty Woman Dirty Danced on the Beaches while writing a Notebook,” brings together favorite characters, iconic moments and movie montages in one incredible comedy featuring songs, dance breaks and biting wit at lightning speed. This performance is not appropriate for children under 12. Tickets are $45-$55.
Brazilian Voices performs two interactive, sensory-inclusive concerts in the Abdo New River Room on Saturday, May 6 at 2 and 5 p.m. Both young and adult audiences will enjoy the gentle, relaxing music of this award-winning vocal group. Participants wil be invited to join in creating the music with sensory egg shakers which will be distributed to everyone. And audiences will also have the opportunity to meet the ensemble after the concert. To create a welcoming and supportive environment, sensory-inclusive performances have made slight adjustments to the productions including reduced sound levels, no flashing or strobe lights and minimal special effects. In addition, an area adjacent to the theater has been designated as a Quiet Room with specially trained volunteers to provide audience support. Helpful resources such as a video about what to expect when attending a live performance are available on the event page at the BrowardCenter.org. The Broward Center's Sensory-Inclusive Season and a range of initiatives for the neurodiverse community are made possible through the generous support of The Batchelor Foundation, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, and The Taft Foundation with special thanks to UM-NSU CARD for their in-kind support. Early Bird Tickets start at $10 with $5 lap tickets for children 12 months of age and younger.
The talented teen students of the Performance Project and the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center at the Broward Center present this year’s teen spring musical, West Side Story-School Edition in the Amaturo Theater on Saturday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 7 at 7 p.m. One of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time, it features a score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is transported to 1950s New York City as Tony and Maria find themselves caught between warring street gangs, the "American" Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice is one of the most heart-wrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time. Tickets are $25 with $5 lap tickets for children 12 months of age and younger.
The Critics’ Awards Program, or Cappies for short, celebrates outstanding achievement in high school theater on Tuesday, May 23 at 7 p.m. in the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, where the program was launched more than two decades ago. Nominees from 21 schools in Broward and Palm Beach will compete for the awards in 47 categories recognizing performers, designers, technicians, publicists and critics. Modeled after Broadway's Tony Awards, the Cappies will feature songs and scenes from the top-nominated shows. General admission tickets are $25.
The Broward Center and Live Nation present Dermot Kennedy: The Sonder Tour in the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center on Tuesday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. With platinum record sales in over a dozen countries, Kennedy’s had the bestselling debut album in Ireland of this millennium with his release, Without Fear. His latest release, Sonder, saw the lead single "Something to Someone" top over 20 million streams and chart at both Triple A and Hot AC Radio followed by the single and music video, "Kiss Me." His poetic, compelling music has resonated with music lovers across the globe generating fans that include Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Shawn Mendes. Tickets are $39.50-$59.50 with $124.50 Spirit Club Level seats and $174.50 and $269.50 VIP packages offering premium seating and other exclusives.
Also in May: Symphony of the Americas presents Finale! Schumann & Brahms (May 9); Gold Coast Jazz presents Frank Derrick Big Band (May 10); Dance NOW! Miami presents The Relativity of Icarus (May 12); South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble presents A Night at the Pops! (May 13); Florida Grand Opera presents The Barber of Seville (May 18 and 20); and Israeli Dance Festival presents the 27th Annual Festival Yachad (May 28).
Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center and Parker Playhouse. Buy tickets online at BrowardCenter.org, or Ticketmaster.com; by phone at 954.462.0222 or in person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office.
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information visit BrowardCenter.org, like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BrowardCenter and Facebook.com/BrowardCenterEducation, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BrowardCenter, subscribe to our channel at Youtube.com/user/BrowardCenter and join the conversation with #BrowardCenter.
The Broward Center 2022/2023 season is supported by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation. AutoNation, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Spirit and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center are proud sponsors of the Broward Center. Programs are also sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Broward Center Complete May Schedule
May 2 – 7 Broadway in Fort Lauderdale: Mean Girls
May 4 Six Chick Flicks
May 6 Brazilian Voices: A Sensory-Inclusive Performance
May 6-7 West Side Story- School Edition, Teen Spring Musical 2023:
May 9 Symphony of the Americas: Finale! Schumann & Brahms
May 10 Gold Coast Jazz presents Frank Derrick Big Band
May 12 Dance NOW! Miami presents The Relativity of Icarus
May 13 South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble: A Night at the Pops!
May 18 & 20 Florida Grand Opera presents The Barber of Seville
May 20 Quick2Love Foundation, INC presents Future FLO'ristic
May 25 South Florida Cappies Gala 2023
May 28 Israeli Dance Festival presents the 27th Annual Festival Yachad
May 30 Dermot Kennedy: The Sonder Tour
About The Broward Center for the Performing Arts
One of America’s premier performing arts venues, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts presents more than 700 performances each year to more than 700,000 patrons, showcasing a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events. Guest experiences at the Broward Center include the all-inclusive Spirit Club Level, the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Intermezzo Lounge, special events in the Huizenga Pavilion, waterfront dining at Marti’s New River Bistro and innovative classes and workshops for all ages at the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center. With one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, the Broward Center serves more than 130,000 students annually. The Broward Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. receives and maintains funds to sustain, develop and secure the future of the Broward Center. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit BrowardCenter.org.