Mirror September 2017 by The Mirror Magazine

s o u t h

f l o r i d a

g ay

n e w s Vol. 6 Issue 5 â&#x20AC;˘ 2017

Arts & Guide Entertainment

Fall Edition

themirrormag.com

2017 | Vol 6 | Issue 5 2520 N. Dixie Highway | Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954.530.4970 Fax: 954.530.7943

Table of  contents Columns South Florida Theater After Irma  12 Doing Vancouver  14, 15

international human rights Deondre Moore is Greater Than AIDS  16, 17

Arts & Entertainment guide 2017 First Look: Cirque du Soleil's VOLTRA  44 - 45 Marketplace: Game of Thrones  46 Downloads: Books, Music and More  48

Shaan Knan and the Rainbow Pilgrims  18

Behind The Scenes: Daimien J. Matherson  50

Nadine Smith on Activism and Unlearning  20

Fall Arts Preview  54

The Voice of Tamara Adrián  22, 23 A Memorial Song from Shane Ortega  24 LGBT Rights in Catholic Ireland  26

News Features

Concerts Comedy  56 TV & Film  58 Broadway  62 Classical & Jazz  65 Top 10 Hot Tickets  66, 67

The Daniel Nicoletta Photographs  28 - 33

Art Basel  68, 69

Food: Isn't That Special  36, 37

Regional Theater 70, 71

Becoming Mommy  38 - 40

Datebook 74 - 78

Publisher NORM KENT norm.kent@sfgn.com Chief Executive Officer PIER ANGELO GUIDUGLI Associate Publisher/ JASON PARSLEY Executive Editor jason.parsley@sfgn.com Associate Editor Jillian Melero JillianMelero@gmail.com

EDITORIAL Art Director BRENDON LIES artwork@sfgn.com Senior Features Reporter CHRISTIANA LILLY A&E Editor / Design J.W. ARNOLD Digital Content Director BRITTANY FERRENDI

SALES & MARKETING Director of Sales MIKE TROTTIER & Marketing mike.trottier@sfgn.com Sales Manager JUSTIN WYSE justin.wyse@sfgn.comm Advertising Sales Assoc. EDWIN NEIMANN edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Assoc. TIM HIGGINS tim.higgins@sfgn.com Distribution Services Rocky Bowell Printing THE PRINTER’S PRINTER National Advertising RIVENDELL MEDIA 212-242-6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com Accounting Services CG BOOKKEEPING

The Mirror is published quarterly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor are those of the writers. They do not represent the opinions of The Mirror or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations in The Mirror. Furthermore the word “gay” in The Mirror should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material that appears in The Mirror, both online at www.themirrormag. com, and in our print edition, including articles used in conjunction with the Associated Press and our columnists, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher of The Mirror, Norm Kent, at Norm@ NormKent.com. The Mirror is published by the South Florida Gay News. It’s a private corporation, and reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. MIRROR Copyright © 2017, South Florida Gay News.com, Inc. MEMBER

Associated Press Florida Press Association National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association

10 THE

MEMBER

Publisher’s Word

South florida

theater after Making the Stage Relevant

t's a pleasure to invite you onto the pages of the Mirror's Fall Arts and Entertainment edition. Writing this column from an iPhone, during a catastrophic storm that has reigned ruin and destruction upon the southern peninsula of the United States, I confess it is hard to think about, let alone write about, the newest opening of a show. But I can, and so I do. In fact, Broadway gives us the inspirational line for how to deal with the disaster we called Hurricane Irma. The show, my friends, must go on. Actors know this; theatrical ensembles live it. From town to town, and village to village, we need to bring music and song back into our lives. The play's the thing. The storm blew a swathe of pain throughout our homes. We blow back harder, with promise and perseverance. You see, we all need to become the unsinkable Molly Brown. We start with a renaissance and revival, along with a pledge and a promise to help so many who are still hurting. We who brought to the stage nightly donations for 'Broadway against AIDS' need to initiate our own campaign to aid victims of Irma. We can all find a part somewhere, from theaters discounting tickets to casts performing numbers in senior centers. I can't tell you what to do or which ideas

12 THE

Norm Kent best suit you. I do know that like Ben Vereen once sung on stage, we can each find our corner of the sky. We can give a damn and make a difference. We can donate food to Poverello or volunteer at the Pride Center. Find your path. Theater illuminates our lives, showcases our resolve, and portrays the indomitable power of the human spirit, whether in a musical like “Hamilton” or “Hair.” It's oxygen for the soul. We need it to breathe. This year, South Florida faces material but

manageable challenges. On stage, we can let the world see the magic of song, the passion of love, the blessings of inclusiveness and diversity. We can offer art and aesthetics, dance or drama. Out of the hurricane that was Irma, a great script will emerge. I saw “Come from Away” this summer on Broadway. Amazing. Astounding. We can never let adversity defeat us. It must instead inspire you. More than anything else, the live stage, from opera to comedy, can bring a smile to your face or tears to your eyes. We can let the sun shine in either way. The LGBT community brings laughter and love, life and heart to the world around us. Be proud. Be strong. Be promising. We can scale any wall, overcome any obstacle, and build our communities again. From “Hairspray” to “La Cage,” we can send a message if who we are. From the Red Barn Theater on Duval Street in Key West, to community theaters battered by winds in Bradenton, we can light up stages again. Our community has faced challenges at every turn, from our earliest days growing up gay, or transgendered, or just different. We are still here, queer, and everywhere. Ain't no mountain big enough to overcome us. We rose above them all. So will we now. Let's lead the way for everyone else.

Travel

Photos by Tony Adams.

Doing

Vancouver Tony Adams

ou don’t just visit Vancouver; you do Vancouver. This coastal British Columbia seaport, with the highest population density of any Canadian city and a waterfront ringed with glass towers, orders you to get outdoors and explore its natural beauty. Vancouver wants you in walking shoes, on a bicycle, hiking its parks or exploring its beaches. I was glad to oblige. Having heard that Vancouver was one of the most livable cities on earth, I was eager to test its reputation. It lived up to the hype. The “Sky Train” from the airport is an affordable and easy way to get downtown upon arrival. Part of that trip is above ground, giving you an alluring first glimpse of the city and how it relates to the water. I took its “Canada Line” to the downtown “city center” stop, and walked to the centrally located Blue Horizon Hotel. I am glad to report that I was pleased with my room on the 23rd floor with its sweeping view from my private balcony. Having arrived very late in the day from New York City, all I wanted from my first night was something to eat, and then sleep. Be forewarned: touristy downtown largely goes to bed by 11PM, so your choices for food will be very limited at that hour. My first day in Vancouver had me awake, energetic and ready for a run through Stanley Park. My eight-mile run included countless wow-moments. The waterfront pedestrian and cyclist lanes, the forested mountainous paths, the views of the bay, and when I was almost out of the park, an irresistible rose garden. My entire day in Stanley Park was breathtaking and I saw only a small portion of its entirety. I was reminded of other great parks like New York’s Central Park that is also a many-faceted experience demanding more than one day’s exploration. I took streetcar #14 out to Wreck Beach.

14 THE

This is a fine half hour ride through lowerrise Vancouver. I was startled the first time I heard a passenger shout out “Thank you!” to the driver while exiting the car. This is customary here, and certainly not what I am used to in Manhattan! The streetcar drops you off at UBC – University of British Columbia – where you’ll traverse the campus and descend a very long, winding and steep wooden stairway through the forested slope leading to the beach. You’ll be taking these steps again at the end of your day when they will constitute a challenging workout for legs and butt. Wreck Beach is a very popular clothing optional beach that mixes gay, straight, men, women, couples, singles, families and folks of all description and ages. To avoid the crowded central area, walk to the right (as you face the water) along the water’s edge. The sand becomes mixed with smooth

I walked Davie Street in the heart of gay Vancouver, and visited the “Little Sister’s” bookstore, which has become more of a jockstrap and fetish gear shop with the book racks in a shady corner.

boulders with twists and turns that allow for seclusion and more of a back-to-nature experience. Walk far enough and you’ll come to a mostly gay area. Tickets for trains, buses and streetcars can be purchased at drug stores (and at kiosks in major stations.) There are various zonepriced and/or time limited ticket choices. Think out your itinerary before you buy. If you are 65 years old or more, you are entitled to a reduced fair “concession” ticket. Yes, we all eventually “concede” to old age! I spent a day zipping around town on Mobi, the public bike-share system. You set up an account, get the app on your phone, and when you are ready to ride, decide what type of purchase to make. When you find a rack of bikes – and they are everywhere - you enter your code and PIN. You are allowed a maximum of 30 minutes on your bike (before overage) so you’ll be getting on and off many times. I got the unlimited one-day pass for under $10 and rode a dozen different bikes. This is a great way to get around. Be sure to follow the rules of the road. I walked Davie Street in the heart of gay Vancouver, and visited the “Little Sister’s” bookstore, which has become more of a jockstrap and fetish gear shop with the book racks in a shady corner. Don’t miss the Davie Street Community Garden where you’ll see some amazing and unusual flowers. Vancouver’s climate makes flowering plants seem more fabulous, with deeply saturated colors that dazzle an east coast gardener like me. I sat down with John Ferrie, a successful Vancouver gay artist with a gallery in the lobby of the building in which he lives/ paints. He was recently selected by Apple as one of ten artists from around the world whose work is displayed at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California.

Ferrie paints Vancouver scenes in a rollicking and playful way, celebrating all that is lively and colorful about the city. Ferrie’s April show sold out. He says he has built a brand for himself in Vancouver, meaning that art buyers want to collect him. He also says that keeping his prices low helped him sell out all twenty paintings at that last show. I visited another successful Vancouver gay artist, Wes Hawrysh who lives next to Stanley Park where he had just won a league tennis match. Hawrysh, like Ferrie, studied art at Vancouver’s Emily Carr University of Art and Design. He paints mostly during the winter in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. His canvases are complex and multilayered compositions demanding close scrutiny. Ferrie is an accomplished athlete in a number of sports. He brought me to his favorite Vancouver restaurant, Tavola, on Robson Street, for some savory Italian fare that will satisfy without sacking a fit body. Tavola is convivial, well-staffed and offers burrata, salads, crostini and house-made pastas with a fine selection of Italian wines. A short walk from the Blue Horizon Hotel! On my fifth and last day in Vancouver, I toured the lively bayside waterfront and the older but gentrifying Gastown section of the city, realizing that I had barely scratched the surface of this energetic and enjoyable place, home to some of the friendliest folks you’ll ever hope to meet. As is the case everywhere, gay nightlife in Vancouver is evolving, thanks to ubiquitous apps like SCRUFF and GRINDR, but there are cordial bars and baths and “gay/theme” nights for those who like to socialize old school. Vancouver has everything any other American city has – I even walked by a Costco! – but I came away impressed with its welcoming and helpful infrastructure and features. I hope to return soon.

Your smile should leave a great impression.

$69 New Patients Comprehensive Exam, Digital X-Rays & Cleaning* *In the absense of gum disease.

General & Cosmetic Dentistry Located Conveniently on Wilton Drive Always Plenty of Free Parking New, All-Digital Equipment Most PPO Insurance Plans Accepted

954-565-7666 Dr. David K. Warner, DDS, FAGD Fellow, Academy of General Dentistry

1946 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors • FL 33305 www.IslandCitySmiles.com John Ferrie. Photo by Tony Adams.

THE

This story originally ran in South Florida Gay News as part of a human rights lecture series from the World OutGames Miami in May 2017. It has been edited for the MIRROR.

International Human Rights

Deondre Moore is

Greater Than AIDS

with Mom, Kathy by his Side HIV educator and youth activist Deondre Moore on Family, Faith and Support

Jillian Melero

eondre Moore became an official Greater Than AIDS at the time Deondre wanted to lead by example, and encourage ambassador after joining the SpeakOut Campaign in his friends to get tested, so he was the first of them to take 2015. Since then, he has worked in community outreach in his the mouth swab test. When the same-night results came back home state of Texas and across the U.S. In July of 2015 and 2016 positive, volunteers told him that the oral test was susceptible he was selected to become a part of the National Minority AIDS to false positives that could result from drinking. Council's Youth initiative as a Youth Leader. He told himself that’s what it was. “Since coming out as HIV Positive and a professional Then he started getting sick. When he went in to the hospital, speaker, I have traveled more in the last two years than I have doctors told him it was a nasty flu, but he was lucky because in my twenty-two years of life,” Moore told SFGN. “One of the they’d caught it early. He took some antivirals, and for a while, he greatest places my work has landed me was Washington D.C. felt better. When he fell ill again, Moore sought out a blood-test for an entire summer, where I had the privilege to intern for the from his campus health center at Sam Houston State University. Human Rights Campaign and work with a few Congressmen and Three weeks later, on a Monday full of exams, Deondre was Women.” called into the center to receive his test But he describes himself as a momma’s results. boy. “‘Mr. Moore, I regret to inform you, but I was He and his mother are active members you have HIV,’ and he walked out. I was of their community, regular attendees at stuck. I felt numb and as if my life flashed stuck. I felt church services, and hosts of tremendous before my eyes,” Deondre wrote in April, family dinners. When, at 19 he was reflecting on the three years since his numb and diagnosed as having HIV, his biggest fear diagnosis. was losing the support of his mother, of “In my head, what I had processed was as if my being cast out of his family. him saying, ‘Mr. Moore, you’re going to die It was through a Houston community soon.’ I had no idea what to do or who to go life flashed outreach program that Moore first to. So, I left, drove two and a half hours to discovered he was HIV-positive. While tell my momma.” before my Deondre was at club with friends, he saw Deondre had to tell his mother, Kathy. He eyes.” the group, BeeBusy, offering onsite testing. was terrified of what her response might be. Although he didn’t have health concerns, “I was scared because I didn’t know what

- Deondre Moore

16 THE

she’d say. But her reaction and her words after I told her are what helped shaped my future. She looked at me and said, ‘I refuse to bury you. We are going to beat this and we are going to hit the ground running. Watch, you’re going to have a testimony to tell one day.’” Together, they did their research, and sought out the doctors and medical care that Deondre needed. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “an estimated 1.1 million people in the United States were living with HIV at the end of 2014, the most recent year for which this information is available. Of those people, about 15%, or 1 in 7, did not know they were infected.” But with knowledge, comes power. Now Deondre is on daily PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), antivirals to keep his viral loads near undetectable levels in his system. That means better health for Deondre, and it prevents passing the disease on to a sex partner. The CDC estimates “daily PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90%. Among people who inject drugs, it reduces the risk by more than 70%. The risk of getting HIV from sex can be even lower if you combine PrEP with condoms and other prevention methods.” Three years later, Moore is thriving with the support of his extended family, his friends, his church, and his mother by his side. Deondre gave that testimony in front of his congregation in December of 2014, eight months after his diagnosis, during the New Year’s Eve service at his Southern Baptist church, “with over 2,000 people in attendance and over 30,000 watching online.” The response from the congregation was one of warmth, of acceptance, and of support. “By the time I finished, the spirit in the room was so full and so many people were hugging and thanking me for my bravery and courage. So many mothers and fathers were coming up to my mother, thanking and admiring her for looking past any stigma or shame and choosing to love me unconditionally. After knowing the amount of lives that I had touched that night, I knew that my voice was a part of my purpose. I knew there was more that I had to do, I just didn’t know where to start next.” The next day, Deondre received a call from La Shawnda GuillorySneed who had been sitting in the church that night. She pointed him toward the Texas SpeakOut campaign. In the mini documentary series “We Are Family,” from Greater than AIDS and the Elton John Foundation, Kathy and Deondre share their story of support, and living beyond HIV with others. Kathy may have said it best, “He’s not going to stop until he’s reached as many people as he can. And nothing but God will stop him.”

To hear more from Deondre visit: www.HivEqual.org/The-Team/Deondre-B-Moore To learn more about the Speak Out campaign visit:

www.GreaterThan.org/Campaigns/Speak-Out/ For more CDC information and resources about HIV and HIV testing visit:

www.CDC.gov/HIV/Testing/Index.html THE

This story originally ran in South Florida Gay News as part of a human rights lecture series from the World OutGames Miami in May 2017. It has been edited for the MIRROR.

International Human Rights

#ShareYourRPStory with

Photo

rina

Ca redit:

Mask

Shaan Knan and the Rainbow Pilgrims Interfaith activist and historian Shaan Knan is the caretaker of LGBTQI migrant stories

Jillian Melero

haan Knan is an interfaith, transgender activist, and a collector of stories. Ask him to tell you about the night he ended up front row for an impromptu Shakira performance in Miami Beach – he’ll show you the cell phone footage. But Knan’s real collection is the ongoing oral history he’s managed to compile under various projects like the Rainbow Jews, the Twilight People, and now the Rainbow Pilgrims. Knan is founder and manager of all three of these projects, which were funded by the UK’s National Lottery Heritage Fund and hosted by Liberal Judaism. “The fact that a program like this can be funded by the government, it’s unheard of for most people,” Knan said. Knan is a board member of the World Congress of GLBT Jews, keshet l'dor vador. He is an Operation’s Committee member with the Cutting Edge Consortium (CEC), a group of organizations working to eliminate faith-based homophobia/transphobia and institutionalized prejudice toward LGBT people. Shaan has helped organize national events including the annual CEC Faith Homophobia & Transphobia and Human Rights Conference in London. Now with Rainbow Pilgrims to add to his work, Knan, has also become the caretaker of a unique collection of stories, and a diverse history. Knan’s latest project, The Rainbow Pilgrims, explores the history of LGBTQI migrants in the U.K. from past to present, focusing on the period from the first Jewish Kinder transports to Britain (1938-1940) to today. It examines the relationships between faith, sexuality, gender, and ethnicity and the identities created from them. The project is interactive, utilizing touring exhibitions, pop up symposiums, and educational, archival tools and techniques. The Rainbow Jews project launched at the London Met Archives in 2014 and was celebrated as Britain’s first ever project documenting Jewish LGBT oral history. It collected more than 40 personal accounts To learn more about the Rainbow Jews project, visit www.RainbowJews.com

18 THE

from British LGBT Jews sharing their stories of struggle and of change from the 1950s to today. “Rainbow Jews doesn’t just reflect LGBT history, it reflects over 50 years of British Jewry,” Knan told the Jewish News in 2014. “We’ve heard stories going back even further than the Holocaust, from diaspora across the continents… Identities are multifaceted, and this project shows the interconnection between your faith identity and other identities. It’s about being cohesive, working together and respecting each other. Today we can see that this has happened!” The Twilight People project examines the themes of “body and ritual” including physical transformation through hair, tattoos, and accessories, as well as religious objects and religious fetish objects, focusing on the 1980s to today. The title was inspired by a prayer called “Twilight People” written by U.S. Rabbi Reuben Zellman: “As the sun sinks and the colors of the day turn, we offer a blessing for the twilight, for twilight is neither day nor night, but in-between. We are all twilight people. We can never be fully labeled or defined. We are many identities and loves, many genders and none. We are in between roles, at the intersection of histories, or between place and place. We are crisscrossed paths of memory and destination, streaks of light swirled together. We are neither day nor night. We are both, neither, and all. May the sacred in-between of this evening suspend our certainties, soften our judgments, and widen our vision. May this in-between light illuminate our way to the God who transcends all categories and definitions. May the in-between people who have come to pray be lifted up into this twilight. We cannot always define; we can always say a blessing. Blessed are You, God of all, who brings on the twilight.”

To learn more about the Twilight People project, visit www.TwilightPeople.com

To learn more about the Rainbow Pilgrims project, visit www.RainbowPilgrims.com

TAKE THE LEAD

Take an active role in your health. Ask your doctor if an HIV medicine made by Gilead is right for you.

“I thought, ‘My God, how did I learn to be so accepting and docile…’”

International Human Rights

- Nadine Smith

Nadine Smith on

Photo

illian

it: J Cred

Mele

Activism and Unlearning Executive Director of Equality Florida on how she learned to stop hiding

adine Smith knew she was gay from a very young age. Possibly because her third-grade girlfriend “Amber” told her so — not that she was gay, just that she was in fact, her girlfriend. It wasn’t until they told their teacher about their plans to get married, that they were told that “boys had to marry girls, and girls had to marry boys.” That’s the way things were. “I took that to mean that if I did not choose a husband for myself, one would be assigned to me,” Smith said. Sleepy-eyed conference goers laughed, listening as she told her story Saturday morning between sips of coffee. “I didn’t realize I had gaydar back then, but I must have because I went up to the gayest little boy in class, and I told him he was going to be my husband, but that ‘Amber’ was going to move with us after her husband died in the war. This was at peace time — but I was an early activist is what I’m trying to say.” Nadine was one of four national co-chairs of the 1993 March on Washington. She met with then-President Bill Clinton in the first meeting of its kind between a sitting president and gay community leaders. But it was in the third grade that Nadine learned the first lesson society would teach her about being gay. “It was the first time that I learned the lesson, that got reinforced time and time again throughout my life. ‘You shouldn’t exist,’” Smith said. After graduating from high school in Panama City, Florida, Nadine joined the Air Force Academy, but left in 1993 after the passage of DADT. “There were certain questions I answered accurately, and got into the Academy, but I could not answer those questions the same way after I’d been there for a little bit,” Smith said. That was the second part of the lesson. “You shouldn’t exist, and if you do exist, you should hide…” Smith said that lesson was often reinforced by the people who were supposed to protect her the most: teachers, faith leaders, and family members. So, in a pre-internet era, her activism didn’t begin until she took the opportunity to travel to Europe while she was attending the University of South Florida.

20 THE

This story originally ran in South Florida Gay News as part of a human rights lecture series from the World OutGames Miami in May 2017. It has been edited for the MIRROR.

Jillian Melero “It could have said, ‘Blah blah blah blah, free trip to Europe.’ I was in,” Smith said. “I was really unprepared for this environment. I was just wondering what lesbians in London might be like.” She served on the founding board of the International Gay and Lesbian Youth Organization after seeing an announcement looking for American delegates on a college bulletin board. The experience, she said, changed her world view. “I’d never experienced anything like this before, where there were young people from all over the world, but where the Western European government was funding this work, there were confident, and out, and I had never experienced that.” Smith described a meeting in Berlin, where members of the IGLYO were “roughed up” by some U.S. soldiers. “I remember thinking, when they came back, some of banged up some bleeding and scraped, ‘Yeah, that happens. You have to be careful.’ The reaction of everyone else was, ‘This is outrageous, we’re going to call the U.S. Embassy, we’re going to have a demonstration, we’re going to protest,’” Smith said. That had been the final part to the lesson. “… if you don’t hide well enough – you deserve what happens to you.” “And I thought, ‘My God, how did I learn to be so accepting and docile…’” She had to unlearn it. And that was where her activism began. Now Smith is a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Florida Advisory Committee, a Florida Chamber Foundation Trustee, and she has served on former President Obama's National Finance Committee. She was named one of the state's "Most Powerful and Influential Women" by the Florida Diversity Council in 2013, and she was given the League of Women Voter's Woman of Distinction Award in 2015. She lives in St. Petersburg with her wife Andrea and son Logan, but works as a lobbyist in Tallahassee during the legislative session. “Activism for me is about unlearning all those things I’ve learned, unlearning to be docile and getting that poison out. It’s one of those things that you don’t know exists until you see the possibility of a different world.”

Photo Credit: Carina Mask

International Human Rights

The Voice of

Tamara Adrián

Jillian Melero

Venezuelan politician and lawmaker on the struggle of the National Assembly to pass LGBT legislation under Nicolás Maduro

This story originally ran in South Florida Gay News as part of a human rights lecture series from the World OutGames Miami in May 2017. It has been edited for the MIRROR.

amara Adrián said her voice was hoarse from the tear gas needed, and inflation rose to an estimated 1,700 percent just this thrown to control crowds of protesters on the streets of year. Caracas. But it did not stop her from laughing. From smiling. Adrián has worked as a human rights lawyer, law professor, From speaking out. and LGBT activist, serving on the board of the International She began her talk with a brief history of the political turmoil Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association and in Venezuela, where she serves on the National Assembly. the organizing committee of the International Day Against Although Adrián was elected to the assembly last year, she and Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. And she was elated to her colleagues have yet to successfully pass any new LGBT rights be elected to office, but Adrián wrote that joy was short-lived: legislation under the current president Nicolás Maduro. Among this chaos, the opposition won a supermajority of seats “President is a big word,” Adrián said. “Let’s call it what it is, in the National Assembly during the 2015 elections, yet the victory it’s a dictatorship.” was immediately blocked by the government. New members of the Adrián is a member of Voluntad Popular (VP), a party in Supreme Tribunal of Justice were appointed unlawfully, and they opposition of Maduro’s party. Maduro, a suspended four of the elected members of member of the Partido Socialista Unido parliament to destroy the supermajority. de Venezuela (PSUV) socialist party Since then, the Constitutional Chamber President has effectively declared all sessions of of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice has the National Assembly null and void. A rendered more than 40 decisions aimed process Adrián described in a column in at annulling the powers of the National is a big April: Assembly. Budgeted funds were cut. MPs When the Chavist party acquired power no longer received salaries, and we are word. Let’s in 1998, it began to change all the relevant now “volunteers for the country’s sake.” rules concerning separation of powers, She has spent her life and living, call it what elections, accountability, and democratic convincing and educating people. Now, rights and guarantees. It took over private unable to make change in a position it is, it’s a businesses, severely harming production, where she’s been elected to do so, she which led to exports concentrated almost has another big F word to sum it up. dictatorship.” entirely on oil. When oil prices dropped, Frustrated. the entire system began to fall apart. We Adrián, who is transgender, ran for could no longer import the products we office under her assigned male name - Tamara Adrián

22 THE

because Venezuelan law does not allow for name changes on legal documents. Since taking office, she has sought to amend the country’s Civil Registry Law. If passed, these amendments would effectively legalize same-sex marriage and adoption by gay people, recognize the appropriate name and gender of transgender and intersex people, and recognize marriages or gender changes done abroad. And she has introduced an act that would institute a hate-crimes law covering LGBT people. But legislation has yet to move beyond the Assembly. When the history and politics lesson had ended, she opened things up for questions. And she reminded the audience of the importance of keeping an international perspective in the fight for equal rights. Adrián’s voice showed no signs of cracking as she addressed those gathered in the ballroom. “The governments are homophobic, the revolutions are homophobic, homophobia is everywhere, homophobia is learned, the same way as racism, the same way as misogyny — but acceptance, acceptance spreads.”

Tamara Adrián, politician and lawmaker at the National Assembly of Venezuela, talks about her experience as a member of the of the Popular Will party, in opposition to the PSUV-led government of Nicolás Maduro at the World OutGames Miami Human Rights Conference. May 25, 2017. Credit: Carina Mask

THE

This story originally ran in South Florida Gay News as part of a human rights lecture series from the World OutGames Miami in May 2017. It has been edited for the MIRROR.

International Human Rights

A Memorial Song from

redit: Photo C

Carina

Mask

Shane Ortega

Jillian Melero

Combat veteran, two-spirit activist and health educator Shane Ortega honors their spiritual and military traditions

hane Ortega walked into the Americana Ballroom at the Loews “As an awakened, conscious being I have learned to embrace every Hotel with an enlightened mind, but a burdened heart. The two- molecule of what makes me unique and what makes me ‘other.’ I’ve spirit activist and retired Army Staff Sergeant carried the thoughts and learned that those who choose to blend in, often do so withholding memories of 14 fallen brothers and sisters that they had known through themselves, and withholding valuable knowledge from our community. two combat tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. That withholding contributes to our division. It’s what prevents real“For every silence, for a fallen LGBTQ friend I’ve buried, to this time action for our progress as minorities. It allows those in power to day I still feel this old heaviness of having to stand teary-eyed at their continue to rule and divide us, because we are divisible to each other.” memorial knowing that their flame, or their book was extinguished, or In 2008 Shane Ortega began “strategic efforts” to repeal “don’t ask was never fully read, never fully experienced…the beautiful knowledge don’t tell” the ban which kept his LGBT brothers and sisters from openly that they possessed will never be fully shared or possibly offered again serving in the U.S. armed forces. within our community,” Ortega said. He transitioned from assigned female to male, openly, while serving They offered both a memorial for the fallen, playing a Cherokee in the armed forces in 2009. They served in the U.S. Marines, special memorial song and delivered a message of strength in diversity to the operations from 2005-2009 and later as a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant travelers from around the world who had come to listen to his talk, from 2009 to 2016. A process which took careful maneuvering through “Embracing Strength in Intersectionality as LGBTQI People.” military policy, psychological evaluations, and medical clearance. “We all exist in a world of boxes,” Ortega said. “And Those efforts resulted in changing I proudly share each one of my boxes. – I am gay. I am legislation with the repeal of DADT in 2011, the transgender. I am indigenous. I am Nigerian. I am gains in equal opportunity protections in 2015, We all French. But my boxes also read, I am a bodybuilder. and with help from the ACLU, a lifting of the I grew up poor. I grew up two spirit. I grew up on a ban against transgender people serving in the exist in a reservation. I am a disabled combat veteran. But for military in 2016. world of most of us, our box reads worried. So today, I want to Ortega attributes those results to his tell you how I focused my worry.” competitive spirit, a result of his intersectional boxes. And Shane grew up in a household with a rich spiritual nature, and the drive to prove themselves by and military tradition. giving their all. At everything. “When I got into I proudly Being Cherokee, and raised on a reservation, they bodybuilding it wasn’t enough for me to do one share each grew up in a home accepting of nonbinary ideas push up,” Shane laughed. “I had to do the most in gender, of being two spirit. And Shane uses the push-ups, the best push-ups.” one of my pronouns they/them or he/them. Shane said he looks at it like gambling, like Their father served in the Navy and their mother the way you would come to play Vegas. “You boxes.” both in the Navy and Army. Shane knew where they have to learn the rules of the house first, then came from and he knew where they were going. you kick the legs out from under it.” - Shane Ortega

24 THE

International

Rights or LGBT Rights in Catholic Ireland

oninne Griffith is at the forefront of progressive change in Ireland, a country ideologically dominated by the Catholic Church. Though the country recently elected their first openly gay Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, there is still much that needs to be done in the country in terms of progressive LGBT rights, especially when it comes to LGBT youth in Ireland schools. Griffith works with BeLonGTo, an LGBT youth organization established in 2003 that aims to secure equal rights for LGBT youth through youth work projects, research and changing attitudes in order to ensure that they will be able “to thrive as healthy and equal citizens.” In Ireland, the majority of schools and hospitals used to be funded by the Catholic Church, a reality which Griffith said leaves a legacy that must now be dealt with. “Anti-LGBT bullying in schools is a huge issue,” Griffith said. “And there are little to no resources for sexual health for LGBT students.” Ireland has the fourth highest rate of youth suicide in Europe according to Griffith, and has the highest suicide rate for teenage girls. Teenage men who have sex with men (MSM) also have the highest national rate for new cases of HIV infection. “I have no doubt that homophobia and transphobia come into play with those figures,” Griffith said. “If the government wants to resolve those issues, they need to put resources into those programs. Those are the issues we want to focus on, find solutions and secure funding for.” To find solutions for these issues, Griffith and BeLonGTo have campaigned to revise the

26 THE

Religion Tucker Berardi

existing youth strategy in Ireland to include LGBT youth, a campaign which has recently been approved. “We have taken our existing youth strategy that looks at health and wellbeing, safety from human harm, etc. and are asking the question of how those outcomes can be achieved by LGBT youth,” Griffith said. This revised strategy will look at mental health, patterns of social exclusion and rejection, and anti-LGBT bullying strategies, as well as other topics, in schools and homes around Ireland and provide data that organizations like BeLonGTo, as well as the school system, can use as a base to work toward solutions. Currently there is a one in 20 dropout rate of LGBT students from post-primary schooling, the majority of which are transgender students. Ireland has a legislature in place for transgender individuals, but it does not cover underage transgender individuals — making transitioning in school much more difficult. “There is progressive legislature in place for transgender individuals over the age of 18 in achieving gender certification, but it becomes much more complicated when a transitioning individual is underage,” Griffith said. “There is this though of, ‘How does someone under 18 know they are trans?’” According to Griffith in Ireland many schools still uphold a very homophobic and transphobic atmosphere due to Catholic backgrounds and legislation against the LGBT community. “Up until three years ago, teachers could be fired for being gay,” Griffith said. “They back away from these issues; they don’t

want to talk about it.” “We have a program that lets schools work through issues of bullying and inclusion that helps school officials strategize how to change not only the negative perception of LGBT youth, but any diverse youth, in schools,” Griffith continued. “So far, we are implementing this program in 35 percent of Ireland’s schools.” Griffith said that many schools are reluctant to discuss these issues, but BeLonGTo is working hard to help more and more students. On a larger scale, BeLonGTo mobilized 15 other LGBT organizations to vote for the marriage equality referendum in Ireland in 2015, which passed successfully on May 22. “A new generation has spoken. This is a generation with open, kind hearts, a generosity of spirit and a great capacity to love. They have gone to the polls in their thousands and are responsible for this historic victory for their gay brothers and sisters” Michael Barron, founding director of BeLonGTo said in response to the victory. According to BeLonGTo’s site, there are an estimated 75,000 LGBT individuals in Ireland under the age of 18. Griffith said that being out in Ireland is still tough and there is a lot of work to be done in securing more progressive laws and thought in the country, but they are making progress. “We’ve changed forever what it means to grow up LGBT in Ireland,” Barron said. “The Irish people, via the ballot box, have today given each and every gay child and young person in Ireland – and across the world – a strong and powerful message that they are loved, they are cared for, and don’t need to change who they are.

Photo: Dublin Pride in 2013. Credit: Giuseppe Milo.

Photos

LGBT

San Francisco The Daniel Nicoletta photographs David-Elijah Nahmod

Carmel Strelein at her Pink Tarantula Hair Salon, October 22, 1989.

28 THE

n 1974, barely out of his teens, Daniel Nicoletta moved to San Francisco, where he got a job in Castro Camera, Harvey Milk's camera shop. Almost immediately the young man began photographing his community – and he's still taking photos over forty years later. During his youth, Nicoletta interned as a photographer at The Advocate and co-founded the LGBT Film Festival — now known as Frameline. He worked on Harvey Milk's political campaigns — photos he took during this period were used by filmmaker Gus Van Sant as inspiration for the making of the Oscar winning film "Milk." Nicoletta ultimately documented the history of the LGBT equality movement as it happened in San Francisco. For Nicoletta, his subjects were his people. San Francisco was the place he called home. And so his photos are not only a political history lesson, they're a living record of neighborhood people going about their daily lives. Now, hundreds of Nicoletta's photos are available in “LGBT San Francisco: The Daniel Nicoletta Photographs,” a newly published coffee table book. The book's cover photo might raise a few eyebrows: a younger man has his arms around an older man. The older man is wearing a tank top which proclaims "Faggots are Fantastic." Nicoletta explains his feelings about LGBT people using a word which has long been considered an anti-gay slur. ''For every Matthew Sheppard we must continue to fight to make the world a safer place for LGBT people and our allies," Nicoletta said. "Reclaiming words like faggot is all part of those power struggles. We set the terms for our historical trajectory, not the haters." Nicoletta also shared some of his personal memories of Harvey Milk. "Harvey was fiery," he recalls. "Especially about politics. But he also loved laughter and tempered his passion with humor. He loved a good joke, he devoured the daily comics in the newspapers and shared them readily with friends, and he was genuinely interested in you, especially if you were cute!" Nicoletta also told the story of how he came to work in Milk's camera shop. "I moved to San Francisco in 1974," he said. "I was a film student at California College of the Arts in Oakland the year before —- a boyfriend and I and another acquaintance moved to Castro above

Continued on page 32 

Harmodius and Hoti, Castro Street Fair, August, 1975.

THE

Photos

Lucas Grabeel (as Dan Nicoletta), February 11, 2008.

THE

Continued from page 28  19th Street because we heard there were gay bars and gay restaurants in that neighborhood and we wanted to check that out. It was a stroke of luck for me because I was barely out and the new 'gayborhood' was in full swing! I was overjoyed to be in this extraordinary supportive environment. Harvey and Scott's [Scott Smith, Milk's partner] camera store became a regular hang out for budding artists like me and a year later they asked me to come work for them at the shop as a clerk and I did and stayed three years." One of the photos in LGBT San Francisco is a shot of a cute young Nicoletta behind the counter at Castro Camera. Other photos include Pride Parades from years past, colorfully outrageous drag queens walking around the neighborhood, and Milk's run for San Francisco's Board of Supervisors. Most movingly, the book features a shot of longtime activist Cleve Jones standing next to the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which Jones co-founded. That photo is a sobering reminder that many of the smiling faces in Nicoletta's book are no longer with us. People who lived in San Francisco three decades ago might recall the late drag queen Doris Fish, who was a wildly popular performer of the period — Fish died of AIDS in 1991. We can only imagine how many others in the book were lost to the plague. More recent photographs include housing activists fighting for their homes and for affordable rents as San Francisco's tech boom of the past decade caused rents to quadruple. Nicoletta said that he hopes looking at the photos will "distill the hope nested in its pages and turn it into constructive action." Nicoletta believes that in spite of gentrification and other changes to the gayborhood, which he now calls an LGBT Disneyland, there is still much inspiration to be found in the Castro.

Photos

Juanita More, (Hair by Brent Haas, Styling by Todd Hartnett), October 8, 1996.

Mark Martinez (as Sylvester), February 22, 2008.

Reclaiming words like faggot is all part of those power struggles. We set the terms for our historical trajectory, not the haters.” - Daniel Nicoletta

32 THE

Harvey Milk In front of his Castro Street Camera Store, circa 1977

"If people who come to LGBT Disneyland take some of the fire back home to their own front lines then the gay ghettos — and not just SF — will continue to inspire action instead of anesthetization," he said. "At least that is the hope. I believe we are seeing some of that cause and effect. Hopefully a result will be broader rent protections elsewhere and the other obvious take-aways. Protections for seniors and the environment etc. For those who remain in the ghettos there are some things to figure out."

Scorchy's Holster, SF LGBT Pride Celebration, June 28.

“LGBT San Francisco: The Daniel Nicoletta Photographs”

is now available at Amazon. The book includes a forward by filmmaker Gus Van Sant and an introduction by Chuck Mobley, former editor of SF Camerawork Publications.

Dan Nicoletta by Amron Yuwono, November 19, 2006.

THE

Intoxicated AND Incarcerated?

Criminal

DefensE

Norm Kent & russelL cormican Attorneys at Law

954.763.1900

34 THE

Isn't That

Food

Photo courtesy of J. Mark's.

Special Where to celebrate on that special day

Rick Karlin

et’s face it, our community will turn anything into a celebration and a reason to go out to wine and dine. You got a new job? Let’s go out for dinner! You quit your job? Let’s go out for dinner! While cocktails may be in the forecast later in the evening, celebrating any special occasion seems to call for getting together for dinner at a fancy (read expensive) restaurant. Here are a few places that, while they will run you a few bucks (more than $25 a person, for dinner and a drink) are perfect for celebrating that special event. Photo courtesy of Kaluz.

Celebrating a Promotion Canyon Southwest Café 1818 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale 954-765-1950 CanyonFL.com Expensive, but not so much that you need to get a second mortgage, Canyon has been one of our area’s favorite restaurants for more than 20 years. Canyon serves artisanal cuisine with Asian, South and Central American undertones. Although the dining room is intimate, the selections from the menu and bar are vast and varied. Try the specialty of the house, the prickly pear Margarita!

Mom and Dad’s Anniversary Kaluz 3300 E. Commercial Blvd., Fort Lauderdale 954-772-2209 KaluzRestaurant.com The menu features some inventive takes on American classics, as well as more straight-forward fare such as steaks, roast chicken and fish. There’s an excellent, fully stocked bar should you need fortification to last an entire evening with the parental units, or arrive early and take advantage of the happy hour deals on the expansive deck lounge. The waterfront location is gorgeous, and even the inside seats have great water views.

36 THE

Boy’s Night Out J Mark’s 1245 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale 954-390-0770 JMarksRestaurant.com J Mark’s isn’t as pricey as some of the other places on this list. That is why it’s perfect for a night out with your friends. There’s something for all budgets and tastes, from burgers and salads to steaks and seafood, which is one reason it’s been a long-time favorite gathering place for our community, or maybe it’s because happy hour runs from 2-6 p.m. and then starts again at 9 p.m.! Appetizers are big enough for the whole table or to serve as an entrée.

Food Your Vegan Sister’s Birthday Sublime 1431 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale 954-615-1431 SublimeRestaurant.com The upscale décor and top-notch service have made Sublime a world-wide destination for vegetarians and vegans. While you won’t be able to get a hamburger or steak, the food is so good here you won’t care that you’re not getting your protein from the usual sources. The Sun-Sentinel summed it up pretty well, “Best reason to go: for the sheer experience of taste, ambiance and elegance… Sublime is a culinary wonderland.” If that’s not enough of an incentive, keep in mind that 100% of Sublime's profits support animal welfare organizations.

Romantic Date Night in Miami The Forge 432 W. 41st St., Miami Beach 305-538-8533 TheForge.com If you want to experience what it would be like if Downton Abbey came to modern day Miami Beach, make a reservation at The Forge. The ingredient-driven menu varies somewhat, but there are certain must-order dishes; lobster pot-pie, pastrami-style duck breast or any of the dry-aged steaks. The very definition of special event dining (entrees range from $30 to $90, a la carte). However, there are some deals to be had; through the end of September they’re offering a free personal-size banana soufflé and glass of dessert wine for each Florida resident (must present a valid photo ID). It will still be a pricey evening, but you didn’t think those folks at Downton Abbey shopped at Costco, did you?

Romantic Date Night in Town Cafe Seville 2768 E. Oakland Park Blvd 954-565-1148 CafeSeville.com Don’t let the strip-mall exterior dissuade you; Café Seville boasts a romantic atmosphere, complete with candlelight and live guitar music. The excellently curated wine list perfectly augments the authentic, excellently-prepared, Spanishinfluenced cuisine. While the service may not be the most polished, it is friendly and accommodating. You’ll feel like an honored guest, because you are.

Photo courtesy of The Forge.

‘Cause It’s Friday Night Blue Martini The Galleria, 2432 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale 954-653-2583 and 6000 Glades Rd., Boca Raton 561-910-2583 BlueMartiniLounge.com If you want a bit of a giggle, head over to Blue Martini’s patio either at the Galleria or in Boca Raton, for Friday cocktail hour. It’s a great deal because it’s half-off the entire menu (drinks and food) from 2 – 8 p.m. That same deal is in effect every day of the week but Fridays are special because it’s (unofficially) “Cougar Night.” On Friday nights the elderly gals show up pulled tight, stuffed into Spanx and push-up bras and go prowling for love – and there are plenty of young men there to accommodate them. Sit back with a martini and enjoy the show!

THE

Becoming Mommy Christiana Lilly

Family

Jessica and Mandy Gerow during a maternity photo shoot. Photo by Stephanie Sonju.

t was two years ago that Kara Matus stepped into the NICU to visit her tiny twin daughters, little miracles named Reese and Cameron. The nurses asked her, “Where’s dad?” She replied, “I’m dad.” Matus’s wife, Jaclyn, gave birth to their daughters thanks to the growing field of reproductive medicine, and many other lesbian couples like them are able to have children together — and in a variety of ways (check out our infographic). “There continues to be so many advancements that I noticed definitely there’s been an increase year after year in the LGBT patients that we’re getting,” said Dr. Lesley de la Torre, who practices at Associates in Advanced Maternal Fetal Medicine in Miami. Coming from a long line of obstetricians,

“I never thought that this would be possible, that I could marry Jaclyn or I could be on the birth certificate.” - Kara Matus 38 THE

de la Torre found she excelled when working with at-risk patients. Today, she consults with doctors to make sure families are using the best procedures and plans to have a child. She highly encourages couples to have in-depth meetings with their doctor to discuss a plan of action and to educate themselves. Dr. Carolina Sueldo, who specializes in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at IVF Florida in Margate, agrees. At her practice, she sees the gamut when it comes to her patient population. In the initial meetings, doctors discuss reproductive plans — who’s going to be pregnant? Whose eggs will be used? How involved does each person want to be? In her experience, most lesbian couples who come in have already done a lot of research and have a good idea of what they want. If it’s determined that both partners are on equal grounds physically, it’s a very personal decision to decide who will carry or donate their eggs. However, other factors come into play, de la Torre said — each partner’s age is vital, as well as their place in life with work, income, health insurance, maternity leave, and more. Before attempting to get pregnant, doctors run tests to make sure there are no issues

before they begin the process. This includes STD testing, blood testing, and a vaccine workup, among other things. “l hate to find out three or six [months] or longer that there was an issue that could have been prevented or that was possibly preventing pregnancy this whole time,” Sueldo said about the testing. When the Matuses were starting their family, they had no friends who had gone through the process and could only rely on their own research. They also interviewed doctors to find the right one who felt comfortable with a same-sex couple. Like many couples, they tried intrauterine insemination (IUI) first. When that was not working, they moved onto in vitro fertilization (IVF), using both of their eggs so they could both be a part of the mix, a process called reciprocal IVF. When it comes to fertility issues, Florida can improve. Resolve, also known as the National Infertility Association, gave the Sunshine State a C grade on its nationwide fertility scorecard. The score is based on a number of criteria, including the state’s insurance mandate and the number of doctors specializing in infertility issues. Florida does not require insurance companies to cover procedures that aid

with infertility, so many companies opt not to. This leaves patients with a hefty bill when they’re looking to expand their family. On the other hand, Connecticut mandates insurance companies cover three rounds of IUI and two rounds of IVF. Also, lesbian couples go to a fertility clinic not because they have fertility issues, but rather, a lack of a sperm source. Because they are not considered to be patients with fertility issues — although there can be complications to receive that diagnosis — insurance will not cover pre-pregnancy testing. This would be the same as a single, straight woman who wants to have a child without a partner. “I’m hard-pressed to find an insurance company that is fully enveloped IVF,” de la Torre said. “I have yet to meet a great insurance company that is just going to take it all.” For healthy same-sex couples with no fertility issues, “they’re going to have a lot of trouble finding coverage,” she added. The doctor estimates that with medication, having a child through IVF can cost easily up to $25,000. Another cost is a visit to a psychologist. Patients who use donor sperm or eggs, straight or gay, are required by most practices to see a psychologist to ensure the couple is on the same page regarding starting a family. Finally, there are legal issues at hand when using donor sperm. When sperm comes from a cryobank, donors sign away their legal rights to any children. Couples have to decide whether to use an anonymous or known donor through the cryobank — more couples lean toward the latter option. This means that once the child turns 18, they can reach out to the cryobank for their biological father’s contact information. Mandy and Jessica Gerow opted to use a known donor for an at-home insemination. Before their daughter, Ellianna, was born, the donor went through a battery of tests and signed away his legal rights to the child. Although both women are listed on the birth certificate, for an extra layer of protection, Mandy’s wife will be legally adopting Ellianna as well. “We want to make sure there aren’t any issues later on,” Mandy said. “She’s our daughter.” The Matuses also came across the legal side of having children. When they had their eldest daughter, Eillek, five years ago, same-sex marriage was still not legal in Florida. By the time the twins came around, they were able to get Eillek’s birth certificate reissued with both women listed as parents. Both women are also legally recognized as the girls’ parents through step-parent adoption. “I never thought that this would be possible, that I could marry Jaclyn or I could be on the birth certificate,” Matus said.

The Gerow Family When Mandy and Jessica Gerow were ready to have a family, after nine years together, they were shocked by the cost of IVF. Instead, they opted to try at-home insemination using frozen sperm from a cryobank close to their home in Orlando. The timing had to be perfect — frozen sperm can only live up to 24 hours, and a woman’s ovulation usually lasts only up to 48 hours. After 11 unsuccessful attempts, varying the time period they would inseminate, the couple was emotionally drained. They decided to take a break. “I felt like a failure,” Mandy said. “[I thought,] ‘Is something is wrong with me? Why is it not taking? Did we do something wrong?’” One of Mandy’s colleagues was determined to find a sperm donor — when the sperm is not frozen, it can survive for up to five days — and her persistence paid off. A man who transferred to their office was interested, so he took blood tests, was tested for STDs, and even provided his baby pictures to the Gerows. Three weeks later, when Mandy was ovulating, he brought over his sperm in sterile cups in a brown bag. Mandy wore her menstrual cup, which her wife inserted, with the semen for 12 hours, twice in one cycle. “It almost felt like Jess got me pregnant,” Mandy said of her wife of two years. “We weren’t in a sterile, white room, there wasn’t a doctor with gloves on, it was me and her in our own moment. It was really special.” As soon as possible, she took a home pregnancy test and saw a faint second line — she was pregnant on the first try. She placed the test stick on a hamburger bun and put it in the oven to surprise Jessica that there was literally a bun in the oven. Nine months later, Jessica helped deliver their daughter, Ellianna. “Her eyes were wide open and she was staring around and it was so magical to see this life we were waiting for,” Mandy remembers. “We couldn’t believe she was actually here. She was perfect.”

“We weren’t in a sterile, white room, there wasn’t a doctor with gloves on, it was me and her in our own moment. It was really special.” - Mandy Gerow



Ellianna Gerow shows her pride. Photo courtesy of the Gerow family.

The Cost of Becoming a Family* Vial of sperm: $415 to $965, depending on anonymous versus open donors. Extra information can be provided about donors for additional fees. ** Transport: Starting at $195, price depends upon how quickly the sperm needs to arrive and the location.

Sperm storage:

$475 a year, with prices decreasing the longer the storage time. Couples who want to use the same donor for all their children opt for storage.

IUI: $300 to $600 per cycle

IVF: $12,000 to

$17,000 per cycle Medications: Up to

$5,000

* Costs will vary on the age and health of the mother, as well as her insurance company and the state she lives in. ** Costs from California Cryobank and Fairfax Cryobank, two well-known and popular banks

THE

From left, Mandy and Jessica Gerow with their daughter Ellianna during a family trip to Disney World. Photo courtesy of the Gerow family.

The Matus Family After seven years together — two as wives — Jaclyn and Kara Matus are the proud parents of 3 little girls: Eillek, 5, and twins Reese and Cameron, three. Both women always saw themselves as mothers one day, but Jaclyn was more interested in the pregnancy experience, Kara said. So, the couple did what is growing more popular with lesbian couples — reciprocal IVF. “On one hand, I just wanted to be a mom and I don’t care where I get a child from,” Kara said about the couple’s choice. “And on the other hand, you’re like, ‘I don’t want to wake up one day and not have a biological child.’” “I don’t care who she ‘belongs’ to. But you don’t know that when you’re doing the process. You’re fearful of the unknown.” The couple first tried IUI, but when that was not successful, they decided to do IVF. In the first pregnancy, two embryos were implanted and one took, resulting in the birth of Eillek. The second time, both embryos took and the couple had twins. Kara called the process “scary, especially when you get a box delivered with $5,000 worth of needles and patches and pills, it’s like, ‘This is how I’m going to start a family?’” “It’s a hard process but it’s what felt comfortable and right for our family,” Kara said. “Everyone has their own journey.” Below: Dr. Lesley de la Torre (right) with Victor Hugo GonzálezQuintero, M.D., the medical partner who helped her deliver her own partner’s baby. Photo courtesy Advanced Maternal Fetal Medicine, LLC.

The de la Torre Family Dr. Lesley de la Torre works with families that need extra help having children every day, but nothing could have prepared her for going through the same experience with her wife, Massiel. Together since 2006, the couple decided to try IUI to have their child. When multiple rounds didn’t work, they moved on to IVF. On the first round, Massiel was pregnant. “You can’t prepare yourself. You try, you try, and you try, but it is different,” Lesley said. “You are not a doctor in moments like those … you’re a partner or wife first and foremost in moments like that.” In fact, when Lesley first got word that her wife was pregnant, she cried tears of happiness — then the doctor in her demanded to see the proof and she laughed. During the delivery, Lesley’s medical partner and she worked to deliver the baby, and she joked she “took the glory” with being the first to hold their daughter, Miranda, now 6 months old. “She’s intuitive. She’s really attentive. She was born like that. Her eyes wide open. I’ve never seen anything like it,” she remembers. “I’ve obviously brought many kids into this world — and not just because she’s mine, but I’m telling you, the moment she was born she didn’t blink forever. She just kept her eyes open and that’s not typical. She’s been recording every step from minute one.” As both a doctor and a mother in a same-sex family, Lesley’s advice to others is to take the decision to start a family seriously. With the process to have a family thankfully being easier for LGBT couples more than ever, she encourages couples to have long, hard discussions about where they see their future. “I don’t want them to take it for granted,” she said.

Becoming a Mother At-home insemination: In the least expensive procedure, purchased or donated sperm is placed inside the woman using a menstruation cup or medicine syringe during her ovulation cycle. Intrauterine

insemination: Sperm is injected into the uterus — if successful, an embryo is formed. This is typically the first procedure couples try before in vitro fertilization (IVF), as it is less invasive and expensive.

40 THE

In vitro fertilization:

A woman’s egg is fertilized by sperm in a laboratory to create an embryo. The embryo is then placed inside her uterus with the hopes of a successful implantation. Many couples opt to try more than one embryo at a time, since not all will implant, which can also result in multiples (twins, triplets).

Reciprocal in vitro fertilization: Here, both partners can be part of the experience. One woman’s ovaries are stimulated to encourage multiple eggs during her cycle. The eggs are extracted, fertilized by sperm in a laboratory, and then implanted in the second partner, who will carry the pregnancy. Some couples also opt to have both women’s eggs fertilized.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON

South Florida Gay News

It’s about time. It’s about us. A paper that speaks with you, to you, and about you. A paper that pulls no punches, protects our friends, defends our allies, and deﬁnes our adversaries. Our goal is to have you make our paper your home page.

Welcome to the South Florida Gay News.

SFGN.com @SoFlaGayNews

SouthFloridaGayNews

Classic style... high tech platform. No room for a newspaper in your back pocket? Keep SFGN’s weekly paper on your phone. “South Florida Gay News”

42 THE

Fall Edition

Arts & Entertainment

Guide

Your annual walk through South Florida's vibrant art scene

J.W. Arnold

THE

FIRST LOOK

Cirque du Soleil’s VOLTA Freedom is the ultimate rush. VOLTA is a story of transformation, about being true to oneself, fulfilling one’s true potential and the power of the group to make that possible. VOLTA celebrates freedom as a movement. Cirque du Soleil is setting up its signature blue and yellow chapteau next to Hard Rock Stadium in December and promises South Florida audiences a show like none other—this time blending artistry with the thrill of extreme sports.

Arts & Entertainment • 2017

Tickets will be available at CirqueDuSoleil.com. Photography by Patrice Lamoureux. Costumes by Zaldy.

44 THE

THE

MARKETPLACE Game of Thrones

Winter is coming, but the final season of HBO’s hit fantasy series Game of Thrones is still months away. Here are a few clever products for serious fans to kill some time until the final battle for Westeros...

Arts & Entertainment • 2017

1. Raise a Glass – Etched wine glasses in four designs, $19.99 each. IntegrityGlasses.com 2. Game of Moans – Long Shaft Dildo Sword, $100. GeekySexToys.com 3. Hold the Door! Hodor neon T-shirt, $24.99. Store.HBO.com 4. Who Did It? – Game of Thrones Clue game, $49.99. Store.HBO.com 5. This Spirit Speaks to You – Crystal Head Vodka by Dan Ackroyd, 750 ml, $49.99 MSRP. CrystalHeadVodka.com 6. A Toast to Westeros – Game of Thrones Wines, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, red blend, $19.99 - $49.99. GameOfThronesWines.com

46 THE

DOWNLOADS

Arts & Entertainment • 2017

Books, Music and More

A Body of Work: Dancing to the Edge and Back by David Hallberg Touchstone, 292 pages, 2017 $28 at major booksellers

The Business of Broadway by Mitch Weiss and Perri Gaffney 292 pages, 2017 $9.99 Amazon.com (Kindle edition)

The Cocktail Guide to the Galaxy by Andy Heidel St. Martin’s Griffin, 240 pages, 2017 $10.99 Amazon.com (Kindle edition)

David Hallberg was one of the most promising ballet dancers of his generation until an untimely accident nearly ended his career. He shares his story in this inspiring biography.

Taking lessons from the very best, this innovative guide delves into the business side of Broadway to explain just how its system functions. A must read for any serious theater fan.

For the first time, here’s a book that unites two of the best things in the world: nerd culture and booze. Throw back an adult beverage or two while you rewatch Firefly for the tenth time.

Insta Grammar: Cats by Irene Schampaert Lannoo, 128 pages, 2016 $14.88 Amazon.com

Yes (2009), Elysium (2012) (Catalogue: 1985-2012) Pet Shop Boys Available Oct. 20 PetShopBoys.com and iTunes.com

Your Creative Work Space by Desha Pecock Skyhorse, 290 pages, 2017 $22.99 Amazon.com

Can’t get enough of those cute cat pictures on the internet? This nifty volume— along with editions for dog lovers—will bring those adorable animals from the desktop to your tabletop.

Pet Shop Boys will release the second set of remastered albums in their definitive Catalogue: 1985-2012 series of reissues, along with previously unheard tracks and special commentary.

Known for her own eclectic style, Desha Peacock offers practical tips on designing a creative work space that will also inspire you to do the work you are meant to do.

48 THE

THE

BEHIND THE SCENES Daimien J. Matherson

Trans Director Launches New Theater Company in Wilton Manors

Arts & Entertainment • 2017

aimien J. Matherson, a local trans man, has big plans for Measure for Measure Theatre, a new company making its debut this fall. “I’ve always been really ambitious,” he said. “If I was going to do theater, I was going to start my own company.” Matherson, who started his transition three years ago, is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University, where he worked in the theater department with nine-time Carbonell Award-nominated director Margaret Ledford. He is currently the expressive arts director for the Drug Abuse Foundation, using his performing skills to help people in recovery. For their first show, Matherson and his partner, choreographer Kelly Johnson, staged Ryan Scott Oliver’s rock song cycle, 35mm: A Musical Exhibition at the Abyss Theatre in Wilton Manors. While the work does not explicity address LGBTQ themes, Matherson feels the connection to the local community is key to both the company’s success and his own: “This has been an amazing community to be a part of during transition. Not many people have that opportunity. I’m definitely a lucky guy”. Taking advantage of the wide variety of musical styles in Oliver’s songs, Johnson created expressive ballets to convey the emotions of each song and Matherson shaped the production, creating storylines for each of the singers on stage. The show now features a gay male couple, a co-dependent couple who lose themselves in their relationship and a woman who is so desperate to be loved, she looks in all the wrong places. The concert song cycle will also be illustrated with projected images by photographer Matthew Murphy. Matherson underwent a four-month search for his initial cast of nine actors, singers and dancers. More than 40 performers submitted videos or auditioned in person. He has since cast the company’s entire first season. “I knew if I was going to do this, I was going to plan way in advance,” he explained. “We had a great group of people to pick from and I couldn’t be happier.” Matherson has an ambitious full season planned at the Wilton Manors theater, including “Repo! The Genetic Opera,” Oct. 6 - 21; “Nine (A Play by Jane Shepard),” Nov. 10 – 18; “The Collector,” March 1 – 24; and the Broadway hit, “Next to Normal,” May 10 – June 3. “Fear is definitely there,” he said, “but, if it’s not making your heart pump, why do it? As every producer knows, it’s about making sure people get there to see it, but my biggest concern is that everybody who comes in gets a new experience, something unique. I want to make people think.”

For more information, go to MeasureForMeasureTheatre.com.

50 THE

“Fear is definitely there, but, if it’s not making your heart pump, why do it? As every producer knows, it’s about making sure people get there to see it, but my biggest concern is that everybody who comes in gets a new experience, something unique. I want to make people think.”

52 THE

FALL ARTS

PREVIEW

Fall is an exciting time in South Florida as dozens of local dance and theater companies, orchestras and galleries kick off their new seasons. Here is your guide to the many choices available to stretch your imagination and stimulate your senses.

Arts & Entertainment • 2017

Latin Bravura Arts Ballet Theatre of South Florida Oct. 7 - 8, Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Oct. 14 - 15, Broward Center Artistic director Vladimir Isaaev’s Art Ballet Theatre opens its 20th anniversary season in South Florida with a dazzling program of fiery dances set to the music of Latin composers. ArtsBalletTheatre.org

Program I: Jewels Miami City Ballet Oct. 20 - 22, Arsht Center Oct. 28 - 29, Broward Center Nov. 17 - 19, Kravis Center Miami City Ballet celebrates the 50th anniversary of George Ballanchine’s revered masterpiece, set to the music of Faure, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky. MiamiCityBallet.org

Pointe of Passion Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami Nov. 18, South Miami This innovative company, founded by former Miami City Ballet principal dancers Jennifer Kronenberg and Carlos Guerra, opens its second season with a fiery program at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center. DimensionsDanceMIA.com

So You Think You Can Dance Season 14 Tour Nov. 2, Broward Center Here’s your chance to see America’s top dancers from the Fox television show. Enjoy all your favorite routines again, performed by the 10 finalists. BrowardCenter.org

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker Dec. 15 - 24, Arsht Center Dec. 28 - 30, Kravis Center The choreography and music are timeless, but this season, Miami City Ballet unveils beautiful new costumes and sets created by Cuban-American designers and husband and wife, Isabel and Ruben Toledo. MiamiCityBallet.org

Miami City Ballet

Swan Lake State Ballet of Russia Dec. 30, Parker Playhouse Founded by the former prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Ballet, the State Ballet of Russia features 50 of the country’s most talented dancers in this classic full-length ballet set to the romantic music of Piotr Tchaikovsky. ParkerPlayhouse.com

DANCE 54 THE

CONCERTS Whether you prefer pop, rock or hip hop, South Florida venues continue to attract the biggest names on tour. Looking for laughs? You’ll find them, too.

Arts & Entertainment • 2017

Lynda Carter

Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull Sept. 30, American Airlines Arena Suave Enrique Iglesias teams up with Mr. 305 for an unforgettable night at the American Airlines Arena. Whoever dreamed this combo up is a genius. Ticketmaster.com Carlos Mencia Oct. 20, Seminole Coconut Creek Casino Watch out because Honduranborn comic Carlos Mencia is bound to talk about all the subjects that are avoided in polite conversation. SeminoleCoconutCreekCasino.com Bruno Mars Oct. 15, BB&T Center Oct. 18 American Airlines Arena Bruno Mars is bringing a little “Uptown Funk” to downtown Miami on his 24K Magic World tour Ticketmaster.com Santana Oct. 28, Hard Rock Live Multiple Grammy Award-winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Carlos Santana brings his Transmogrify tour to Hollywood. MyHRL.com John Cleese Nov. 1, Kravis Center British comedian John Cleese answers all your questions before hosting a special screening of his classic film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Kravis.org

Tracy Morgan Nov. 4, Hard Rock Live The longtime SNL funnyman returns to South Florida for a night of laughs at the Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. MyHRL.com Niall Horan Nov. 6, The Fillmore Miami Beach Niall Horan’s solo career has skyrocketed since he left One Direction. His Flicker Sessions tour comes to the Fillmore in Miami Beach one night only. TheFillmoreMB.com Lady Gaga Nov. 30, American Airlines Arena The one, the only Lady Gaga is coming to South Florida on her Joanne tour and the call is out to all her monsters to get their tickets. Ticketmaster.com Janet Jackson Dec. 11, BB&T Center She’s back! Yes, Janet Jackson is on a State of the World tour and she’s bringing her new show to the BB&T Center in Sunrise. Ticketmaster.com Katy Perry Dec. 20, American Airlines Arena Katy Perry will be singing all the latest singles from her new album, W..itness, including Chained to the Rhythm and Bon Appetit. Ticketmaster.com

COMEDY 56 THE

CONCERTS

Arts & Entertainment • 2017

Kingsman: The Golden Circle Sept. 22 Taron Egerson returns as a young British superspy and in this sequel he’s joined by an American counterpart, played by the always appealing Channing Tatum.

Thor: Ragnarok Nov. 3 Chris Hemsworth is back as the Nordic god. Honestly, we don’t care what the plot is as long as the hunky Aussie actor takes his shirt off during the movie.

Pixar’s Coco Nov. 22 Pixar, Disney’s digital animation studio, releases its first full-length musical, Coco, about a young boy who gets lost during Mexican Day of the Dead festivities.

Flatliners Sept. 29 Joel Schumacher’s 1990 cult classic gets an update from Danish filmmaker Niels Arden Oplev (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and starring Diego Luna and Ellen Page.

Murder on the Orient Express Nov. 10 Director Kenneth Branagh has assembled an all-star cast for the Agatha Christie remake: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Josh Gad, Willem Dafoe, Judi Densch and more.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Dec. 15 The latest installment in the Star Wars saga s sure to offer poignant moments because Carrie Fisher (Leia) filmed her scenes before her sudden death late lsst year.

Blade Runner 2049 Nov. 3 Ridley Scott’s seminal 1982 film gets a sequel by Denis Villeneuve set 30 years into the future and starring Ryan Gosling as a cop who must find Harrison Ford’s missing original character, Deckard.

Justice League Nov. 17 While Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice left us scratching our heads, Wonder Woman was a bona fide summer hit. The team is reuinited in the biggest superhero flick of the holiday movie season.

Pitch Perfect 3 Dec. 22 The Bellas (Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson) are back and this time the college a cappella group is heading out on a USO tour, comforting the troops with their dulcet sounds and spirited “choralography.”

TV & FILM

Anything is possible in the world of television. Remember that entire season of Dallas that turned out to be just one of Pamela Ewing’s bad dreams? Well, you can also forget the last episode of NBC’s Will & Grace, because the network is giving the popular series a reboot this fall on Thursdays. How will these reboots and spin-offs fare this season? Star Trek: Discovery Sunday, Sept. 24, CBS and CBS All Access This prequel goes where no Star Trek spin-off has gone before, bridging the years between Enterprise and the Original Series. After a network premiere, the series moves to on-demand. Little Sheldon Monday, Sept. 25 (Moves to Thursdays on Nov. 2), CBS If you like Jim Parsons as Dr. Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, you’re going to love this sitcom about the good doctor’s early years in Texas. Dynasty Wednesday, Oct. 11, The CW TNT’s Dallas hit the skids in its second after Larry Hagman (J.R.) died suddenly. The CW reimagines this rival ‘80s drama about the oil-producing Carrington and Colby families in Denver. Handsome Grant Show (Melrose Place) stars as Blake.

58 THE

The cast of NBC’s Will & Grace

THE

Around 1990 I had the idea of continuing the story of The Phantom and Christine and setting it in New York at the turn of the last century. I had a thrilling discussion over dinner with the late Maria Bjornson, who created the brilliant design of the original Phantom. She was very excited about a New World location. We felt the key to the piece could be setting the story in New York and that this time The Phantom lived high above his realm, perhaps in Manhattan’s first penthouse. But where in America could The Phantom have first gone to? Where could he have

been unnoticed and yet been a part of the community? By chance I saw a documentary about Coney Island and the freaks and the oddities who were such a part of this extraordinary world. I wondered if Coney could be The Phantom’s new home. I also wondered if the by now world famous Christine Daaé could come to America with her son and somehow her path could collide with The Phantom. Before Maria died so tragically young I discussed my ideas with the novelist Frederick Forsyth who developed them and published his own version as a novella “The

Phantom of Manhattan.” By then I had moved on to other projects. Truthfully, although I could see the seeds of a story for a show, I couldn’t make the plot work for me. In 2006 I decided to look at the idea again and discussed the novella with several writers and directors including my old friend and colleague Ben Elton. He pointed out that the novella introduced a raft of new characters and suggested that any continuation of the story must be about the people in the original show. Ben provided a treatment and that forms the basis of the present show.

- Andrew Lloyd Webber

60 THE

THE

BROADWAY Arts & Entertainment • 2017

With three world-class performing arts centers within a 70-mile drive, South Florida attracts the best Broadway touring productions. The season kicks off in a big way with the debut of Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s On Your Feet at the Arsht Center.

On Your Feet Oct. 5 - 15, Arsht Center The national tour of the hit Broadway musical, On Your Feet, debuts right here in Miami, the city that inspired the lives and music of Gloria and Emilio Estefan. ArshtCenter.org

The King and I Nov. 7 - 12, Kravis Center Lincoln Center’s Tony-winning revival of this Rodgers and Hammerstein classic kicks off the Kravis on Broadway series at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. Kravis.org

School of Rock Dec. 12 - 24, Broward Center Remember the film, School of Rock, starring Jack Black? Andrew Lloyd Webber has adapted the comedy into a hit Broadway musical set on New York’s Coney Island. BrowardCenter.org

The Sound of Music Oct. 10 - 22, Broward Center The hills are alive with the sounds of music, the timeless songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Relive the magic of this classic story of Von Trapp Family Singers. BrowardCenter.org

Love Never Dies Nov. 7 - 19, Broward Center Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to The Phantom of the Opera answers the question whether that tortured soul would ever find love with his muse, Christine. BrowardCenter.org

Finding Neverland Dec. 26 - 31, Arsht Center The story of Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie is told with tuneful ballads, towering sets and lots of special effects in this touring production of the popular Broadway show. ArshtCenter.org

The Book of Mormon Nov. 28 - Dec. 3, Arsht Center The irreverent, but ever relevent hit musical from the creators of South Park returns to South Florida for another inspiring—and expletive-laden—run in Miami. ArshtCenter.org

62 THE

On Your Feet Original Broadway Cast

BROADWAY

Hispanic Heritage Month Tribute: Legendary Lecuona Symphony of the Americas Oct. 10, Broward Center The Symphony of the Americas, celebrating its 30th anniversary season, honors Hispanic Heritage Month with a concert featuring the music of Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona. SymphonyOfTheAmericas.org Durufle’s Requiem Master Chorale of South Florida Nov. 4 - 5, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton The Master Chorale of South Florida, under the direction of Brett Karlin, performs French organist Maurice Durufle’s melodious requiem mass, one of the great works of the choral repertoire. MasterChoraleOfSouthFlorida.org Heavy Classics South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble Nov. 11, Broward Center South Florida’s LGBT and allies wind ensemble opens its 32nd season in the Amaturo Theater with a program of classics under the direction of Dan Bassett. PrideWindEnsemble.org

CLASSICAL & JAZZ

Anniversaries abound this season. The South Florida Symphony is celebrating its 20 years with new offices in Wilton Manors and an exciting program of premieres. The Symphony of the Americas marks its 30th anniversary with special guest artists and crowd-pleasing programs.

The Great American Songbook South Florida Symphony Nov. 14 - 18, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Key West The South Florida Symphony opens their 20th anniversary season with beloved songs by Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter and more. SouthFloridaSymphony.org Holiday Voices Symphony of the Americas Dec. 3 - 5, Broward Center The Florida Singing Sons and Girl Choir of South Florida join Maestro James Brooks-Bruzzese for this festive holiday concert featuring a program of familiar and favorite songs and carols. SymphonyOfTheAmericas.org

Ann Hampton Callaway Gold Coast Jazz Society Dec. 6, Broward Center Ann Hampton Callaway may be best known for singing the theme to The Nanny on TV, but she is a champion of the Great American Songbook and will offer a tribute to the singers who have helped create the soundtrack of a generation. SymphonyOfTheAmericas.org Honoring Gerard Schwarz Boca Raton Philharmonia Dec. 10, Boca Raton The Symphonia honors Emmy Award-winning conductor Gerard Schwarz, who conducts a program of Torelli, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven. Schwarz’s son, cellist Julian will perform a world premiere composed by his father. TheSymphonia.org Mozart Meets Hemingway and Flamenco South Florida Symphony Dec. 16 - 19, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Key West Maestra Sebrina Maria Alfonso conducts works by Mozart and Falla, along with the Florida premiere of Michael Daugherty’s Tales of Hemingway, featuring Grammy Award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey. SouthFloridaSymphony.org Maestra Sebrina Maria Alfonso South Florida Symphony

THE

Arts & Entertainment • 2017

TOP10

HOTTICKETS 2 1 On Your Feet Oct. 5 - 15, Arsht Center The national tour of the hit Broadway musical, On Your Feet, debuts right here in Miami, the city that inspired the lives and music of Gloria and Emilio Estefan. ArshtCenter.org

Bling: The Brilliant History of Glitz Opening Sept. 18, The Wick Theatre and Costume Museum The Costume Museum at the Wick showcases a sparkling tribute to the ultimate in onstage glamour, including an extraordinary collection of flamboyant pianist Liberace’s own bedazzled outfits. TheWick.org

Lady Gaga Nov. 30, American Airlines Arena The one, the only, Lady Gaga is coming to South Florida on her Joanne tour and the call is out to all her monsters to get their tickets today. She’ll be performing all her biggest hits, along with some surprises, in the way only she can. Ticketmaster.com

Disney’s Tarzan the Stage Musical Slow Burn Theatre Co., Fort Lauderdale Oct. 19 - Nov. 5 The team at Slow Burn give Disney’s stage adaptation a makeover at the Broward Center’s Amaturo Theater. We’re looking forward to a hot man swinging around the stage, wearing only a loincloth! SlowBurnTheatre.org

66 THE

Cirque du Soleil’s Volta Opening Dec. 15, Hard Rock Stadium The famed Canadian circus is setting up the signature blue and yellow grand chapiteau next to Hard Rock Stadium and debuting an exciting new production featuring athletes performing in extreme sports. You’ve never seen anything like this before in the circus! CirqueDuSoleil.com

Lynda Carter Sept. 23, Seminole Coconut Creek Casino Here’s your chance to meet your secret childhood crush: TV’s Wonder Woman will share stories about her career and perform her original songs accompanied by live band. SeminoleCoconutCreekCasino.com

Mozart Meets Hemingway and Flamenco South Florida Symphony Dec. 16 - 19, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Key West Maestra Sebrina Maria Alfonso conducts works by Mozart and Falla, along with the Florida premiere of Michael Daugherty’s Tales of Hemingway, featuring Grammy Award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey. SouthFloridaSymphony.org

Arts & Entertainment • 2017

Battle of the Sexes Opening Sept. 22 This feature film documents the heated 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs that became the most watched televised sports event of all time. Check local listings for theaters and show times.

White Boy Ronnie Larsen Presents, Fort Lauderdale Sept. 28 - Oct. 22 It’s a love story that no one saw coming: A small town boy from Missouri moves to the big city and immediately falls for a Chicano gang member. Cultures—and colors—collide in Michael Patrick Spillers’ modern, gay take on Romeo and Juliet. RonnieLarsen.com

Miami City Ballet

THE

Arts & Entertainment • 2017

For one week each December, wealthy collectors and celebrities converge on South Florida, the result of the phenomenal growth of Art Basel Miami Beach at the convention center and the many satellite fairs that make Art Week Miami special.

rt Week Miami, featuring dozens of satellite fairs and special events from Coral Gables to Miami Beach, Midtown, Wynwood and the Design District draws even more art lovers. This year, Art Week Miami is being celebrated Dec. 4 – 10. When the doors close at the convention center and exhibition tents, the action is just getting started as galleries, hotels and studio spaces across the city host receptions, parties and late night exhibits. DJs spin tunes well into the wee hours of the night at the most popular venues. Here’s your quick guide to Art Basel Miami Beach and the major Art Week Miami shows: Art Basel Miami Beach Miami Beach Convention Center $50 one day/$105 multiple days with advance online purchase Art Basel Miami Beach is among the most important art shows in the U.S., drawing exhibitors from North America, Europe, Asia and Africa and specializing in contemporary and modern art, as well as works by emerging artists. MiamiBeach.ArtBasel.com Art Week Miami Satellite Art Fairs AQUA Miami AQUA, held at one of SoBe’s toniest Art Deco hotels, is one of the most popular fairs for emerging art during Miami Art Week. AquaMiami.com

68 THE

Art Miami Known as Miami’s premier anchor fair, Art Miami kicks off the opening day of Art Week - the first week of December when thousands of collectors, dealers, curators, and artists descend upon Miami. Art-Miami.com ArtSpot Miami International Art Fair ArtSpot International is a stand-alone art fair that showcases innovative and alternative contemporary and modern art. ArtSpotMiami.com CONTEXT Art Miami CONTEXT is dedicated to the development and reinforcement of emerging and midcareer artists and serves as a platform for the presentation of cutting-edge talent by emerging and established galleries. ContextArtMiami.com Design Miami DesignMiami is dedicated to a global forum for design and, in its second decade, celebrates growing interest in the work of the ‘70s and ‘80s. DesignMiami.com Fridge Art Fair Eric Ginsburg’s famed Ney York Fridge Art Fair returns to Miami Beach this year. “Art Bagel” offers a curated show and sale, open Dec. 4 – 10 at the Blue Moon Hotel. FridgeArtFair.com

INK Miami Art Fair INK is unique among Miami’s fairs for its focus on contemporary works on paper by internationally renowned artists. The show is sponsored by the International Fine Print Dealers Association. InkArtFair.com Miami Project Miami Project will again present a selection of historically important and cuttingedge contemporary work side by side in Wynwood, with a unique emphasis on the strength of individual exhibitors’ programs, irrespective of their primary focus. Miami-Project.com Miami River Art Fair Miami River Art Fair is providing a unique experience, featuring both an indoor booth setting at the Riverfront Hall of the Miami Convention Center and the one-of-a-kind Riverwalk Sculpture Mall, featuring works from around the world. MiamiRiverArtFair.com NADA Art Fair Founded in 2002, the New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) is a not-for-profit collective of professionals working with contemporary art and is recognized as a much needed alternative assembly of the world’s youngest and strongest art galleries. NewArtDealers.org

PULSE Miami This fair is divided into two sections, a mix of established and emerging galleries vetted by a committee of prominent international dealers. Pulse-Art.com

Scope Miami Beach Over 100 exhibitors and 20 selected breeder program galleries will present groundbreaking work, alongside SCOPE’s special programming, encompassing music, design and fashion. Scope-Art.com SPECTRUM Miami SPECTRUM, a juried show, is where contemporary meets extraordinary in Miami’s Performing Arts District, featuring live music and plenty of parties throughout the fair. Spectrum-Miami.com Untitled. This fair presents a selection of international galleries and not-forprofit spaces, positioned side by side to create a less segregated fair installation. Art-Untitled.com For more information about Art Basel Miami Beach and Art Week Miami events, go to ArtBasel.com/Miami Beach and MiamiAndBeaches.com. Locations are announced and tickets for individual Art Week events generally go on sale after Oct. 1.

Brush Up on Your History

he Stonewall National Museum and Archives Wilton Manors Gallery features a number of permanent and traveling exhibits. The Fall and Winter 2017 schedule includes several exhibits chronicling the diverse experences of LGBTQ people across the country: True Colors: In Our Own Words, Video Stories in Queer America This multimedia exhibit offers a look at the rich oral and video history being created through the use of online video social platforms like YouTube and Vimeo. The stories will presented as a video marathon in the gallery. Inspired by the stories of transgender individuals documenting their lives, coming out stories, It Gets Better campaigns and LGBTQ activists influencing change through video, the exhibit features documentary shorts from from a spectrum of LGBTQ voices in social media. On exhibit through Nov. 5. A Community Responds, Our Response to HIV/AIDS This exhibit explores the human response by the communities most affected by the AIDS epidemic at a time when politicians—most notably President of the United States—would not acknowledge the disease. In cities across the U.S., gay and lesbian communities, both black and white, responded to AIDS with informational campaigns, organized community support and a galvanizing of community resources in dynamic and creative ways distinct to American LGBT culture. On exhibit through Nov. 10 – Jan. 7. Mascara, Myth & Mayhem: Independence Day on Fire Island, Photography by Susan Kravitz Mascara, Mirth & Mayhem is a collection of photographs taken over the past 30 years by photographer Susan Kravitz at the annual “Invasion of the Pines,” an LGBTQ tradition that has involved participants from Cherry Grove and Fire Island communities since 1976. The spectacle was originally staged at the site of a local restaurant by protesters dressed in drag. It has grown in one of the highlights of summer for vacationers on the island. On exhibit through Jan. 12 – March 7. The Stonewall National Museum and Archives Wilton Manors Gallery is located at 2157 N. Wilton Dr. in Wilton Manors. For more information, go to Stonewall-Museum.org. THE

Arts & Entertainment • 2017

RedDot Miami Building upon its reputation as a diverse fair, Red Dot will once again offer a unique selection of approximately 60 galleries exhibiting painting, sculpture, photography and fine-art objects. RedDotFair.com

ON EXHIBIT

White Boy Ronnie Larsen Presents, Fort Lauderdale Sept. 28 - Oct. 22 It’s a love story that no one saw coming: a small town boy from Missouri moves to the city and immediately falls for a Chicano gang member. Cultures collide. RonnieLarsen.com Repo! The Genetic Opera Measure for Measure Theatre Co., Wilton Manors Oct. 6 - 21 It’s 2056 and an epidemic of organ failures devastates the planet. Out of the tragedy, a savior emerges: a biotech company that offers transplants—for a price. MeasureForMeasureTheatre.com

The Drowsy Chaperone The Wick Theatre, Boca Raton Oct. 19 - Nov. 12 The Drowsy Chaperone is a loving tribute to the classic Jazz Age musical complete with all sorts of crazy characters and wacky antics. Hold on to your hats! TheWick.org Evita Actors’ Playhouse, Coral Gables Oct. 25 - Nov. 26 (English) Nov. 30 - Dec. 17 (Spanish Actors’ Playhouse presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical in both English and Spanish. ActorsPlayhouse.org

La Cage aux Folles MNM Productions, West Palm Beach Oct. 6 - 22 Jerry Herman’s tuneful, gender-bending, Tony Award-winning musical is reimagined by the inventive MNM Productions at the Kravis Center. Kravis.org

Born Yesterday Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Jupiter Oct. 29 - Nov. 12 A great American screwball comedy, Born Yesterday is a brazen battle of “brains over blonde” as a tycoon attempts to make a name for himself in Washington. JupiterTheatre.org

The Humans GableStage, Coral Gables Oct. 7 - Nov. 5 GableStage’s Joseph Adler was the first to nab the regional theater rights to produce the 2016 Tony Award-winning Best Play in South Florida. GableStage.org

Topdog/Underdog Zoetic Stage, Miami Nov. 2 - 19 Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for drama, Topdog/ Underdog is a darkly comic tale of brotherhood and family identity, playing at Miami’s Arsht Center. ZoeticStage.org

The Little Foxes Palm Beach Dramaworks, West Palm Beach Oct. 18 - Nov. 12 Lillian Hellman’s 1939 play is a classic of 20thcentury American drama, a dark story of Regina Giddens and her scheming brothers. PalmBeachDramaworks.org

Dreamgirls Broward Stage Door Theatre, Margate Nov. 3 - Dec. 10. The Dreamettes discover the hard, competitive world of show business after winning a talent show at the famed Apollo Theatre in New York City. StageDoorFL.org

Peter and the Starcatcher Slow Burn Theatre, Fort Lauderdale Nov. 9 - 26 This theatrical adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s best-selling novels upends the century-old story of a sad orphan who becomes Peter Pan. SlowBurnTheatre.org

70 THE

Hir Island City Stage, Wilton Manors Nov. 9 - Dec. 10 After returning from the war, Isaac enlists his newly out transgender sister to quell a household in revolt somewhere out there in the “suburbs.” IslandCityStage.org She Loves Me The Wick Theatre, Boca Raton Nov. 24 - Dec. 23 Set in a 1930s European perfumery, She Loves Me is a romantic comedy with endearing elegance and a touch of old world charm, perfect for the holidays. TheWick.org

Little Shop of Horror MNM Productions, West Palm Beach Dec. 1 - 17 If you have an appetite for dark comedy, desperate measures and a doo-wop score, you’ll want to plant yourself in the Rinker Playhouse for this fun show. Kravis.org Billy and Me Palm Beach Dramaworks, West Palm Beach Dec. 6 - 31 Terry Teachout’s world premiere play about the turbulent relationship between great American playwrights William Inge and Tennessee Williams. PalmBeachDramaworks.org The Secret Garden Slow Burn Theatre, Fort Lauderdale Dec. 14 - 31 The classic of children’s literature is reimagined in brilliant musical style by composer Lucy Simon and Pulitzerwinning playwright Marsha Norma. SlowBurnTheatre.org

BEHIND THE CURTAIN

Lynn University Play Reading Series Fosters New Works

xperience the creative process in action with the Jan McArt New Play Reading Series at Lynn University in Boca Raton. The series offers playwrights workshops of their newest works, culminating in a staged reading before a live audience. Over the past five seasons, seven new plays gone on to be produced by professional theater companies across the country. The 2017-18 season includes: HOUSE OF GABOR by Tony Finstrom October 30, 2017 It’s Vegas. It’s New Year’s Eve. It’s 1953. Come join Zsa Zsa & Company for a peek at their bygone world full of mink, champagne, and men in this glittering new work based on true events. Featuring Jan McArt, Mia Matthews, Alex Alvarez, Jeffrey Bruce and Michael McKeever. Directed by Wayne Rudisill. STARMAKER by Michael Leeds January 22, 2018 The true story of Hollywood super-agent Henry Willson and his relationship with his super-client Rock Hudson, as told by Henry himself, accompanied by a Greek chorus of his other famous clients. Featuring Dominic Servidio, Lindsey Corey, Clay Cartland, Larry Buzzeo, Jordan Armstrong and Sean Davis. Directed by Andy Rogow. WIDOW ON THE LOOSE by Jay Stuart February 12, 2018 Is it acceptable for a married woman to make love to a preacher, a car salesman and a mysterious hotel guest who keeps changing his identity? And, if a bellman has an affair with a guest, is it reasonable to still expect a tip? Featuring Jan McArt. Directed by Michael McKeever. A HOME by Dan Clancy March 12, 2018 The story of the Reddington family—father, mother, daughter, son—tracing the family’s history over a period of 60 years. Although the action takes place in the family’s Brooklyn brownstone, their story will resonate with your own. From the author of The Timekeepers. Directed by John Tolley. Tickets and more information at Lynn.edu/events. THE

Arts & Entertainment • 2017

Disney’s Newsie Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Jupiter Nov. 28 - Dec. 17 Based on the real-life 1899 New York paperboy strike, Disney’s Newsies tells the story of the youth who struggle to sell newspapers in order to survive. JupiterTheatre.org

Stuart Meltzer’s The Goldberg Variations, is one of seven plays to receive a professional production. (Island City Stage, 2017)

broward county entertainment EVENT LISTINGS David Cook with Kathryn Dean Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The winner of “American Idol” season seven, Cook made history with 13 debuts on the Billboard charts. Tickets $35 to $85. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the BB&T Center, One Panther Parkway in Sunrise. The husband-and-wife country music team celebrate the 10th anniversary of their record-breaking “Soul2Soul II” tour. Tickets $65 and up. Call 954-835-7000 or visit TheBBTCenter.com.

UB40 Legends Ali, Astro, and Mickey Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The band reunites to perform their hits, including “Red, Red Wine,” “Can’t Felling Falling in Love,” and “I’ve Got You Babe.” Tickets $32 to $120. Call 954462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

Tarzan the Stage Musical Oct. 19 to Nov. 5 at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Based on Disney’s rendition of the classic, the story of a boy raised in the jungle is told through music by Phil Collins. Tickets $47 to $60. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

Arts & Entertainment • 2017

Rose & Rosie Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The British wife and wife team are known for their YouTube fans following them for their one-of-a-kind banter comedy. Tickets $45 to $50. Call 954462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org. Seu Jorge Presents: The Life Aquatic, A Tribute to David Bowie Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Seu Jorge commemorates the life of the late David Bowie with the backdrop of “The Life Aquatic.” Tickets $45 to $215. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org. The Sound of Music Oct. 10 to 22 at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of the nun Maria when she becomes a nanny to the von Trapp children. Tickets $30 and up. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org. Bill Engvall Oct. 13 at Charles F. Dodge City Center Pembroke Pines, 601 SW City Center Blvd. in Pembroke Pines. The comedian is best known for his stint on the Blue Collar Comedy tour. Tickets $39.50 and up. Call 954-392-9480 or visit PembrokePinesCityCenter.org. Scorpions and Megadeth Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. at the BB&T Center, One Panther Parkway in Sunrise. With more than 50 years under their belt, Scorpions return to North America for their “Crazy World” tour alongside Megadeth. Tickets $35 to $125. Call 954-8357000 or visit TheBBTCenter.com. Bruno Mars Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. at the BB&T Center, One Panther Parkway in Sunrise. Bruno Mars is joined by special guest Jorja Smith. Tickets $175 and up. Call 954-835-7000 or visit TheBBTCenter.com.

74 THE

Halsey Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. at the BB&T Center, One Panther Parkway in Sunrise. After her album debut made it to number two on the charts, she was nominated for a Grammy for her collaboration with The Chainsmokers for “Closer.” Tickets $30 and up. Call 954-835-7000 or visit TheBBTCenter.com. Miami City Ballet: Program One Oct. 28 to 29 at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The Miami dance company begins its season with “Jewels,” with music by Balanchine, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, and more. Tickets $20 to $195. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org. So You Think You Can Dance Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The season 14 tour with dancing by your favorite performers. Tickets $34.50 to $499. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org. John Cleese: Monty Python and the Holy Grail Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The British comedic legend returns to South Florida to tell stories of his life and career, and of course the infamous Monty Python. Tickets $45 to $120. Call 954-4620222 or visit BrowardCenter.org. My Favorite Murder Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Karen Gilgariff and Georgia Hardstark do a live performance of their popular true crime comedy show. Tickets $29.50 to $105. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org. Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band Nov. 7 and 8 at Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale. Starr and his band celebrate 50 years of the Parker Playhouse with hits from the Beatles and his own songs. Tickets $93 to $500. Call 954-462-0222 or visit ParkerPlayhouse.com.

Love Never Dies Nov. 7 to 19 at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Set 10 years after “The Phantom of the Opera,” the phantom is living in Coney Island among the rides and freak shows. Tickets $30 and up. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org. Peter & the Starcatcher Nov. 9 to 26 at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Ever wondered what happened before Peter Pan became The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up? A musical adaptation of Peter the orphans adventures to Neverland. Tickets $45. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org. South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble: Heavy Classics 2 Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The symphony is joined by guest soloists and enhanced by video production to perform works by Beethoven, Rossini, Saint-Seans, Shostakovich, and Mussorgsky. Tickets $15 to $30. Call 954-4620222 or visit BrowardCenter.org. South Florida Symphony: Celebrating the Great American Songbook Nov. 16 at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The symphony performs favorites from Cole porter, Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Johnny Mercer, Oscar Hammerstein, and more. Tickets $35 to $85. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org. Sebastian Maniscalco Nov. 24 to 25 at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The comedian’s shtick is saying out loud what everyone is thinking! Tickets $59.75 to $250. Call 954-4620222 or visit BrowardCenter.org. Friday Night Sound Waves Music Series Fridays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Hub, Las Olas Boulevard and A1A in Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy live, outdoor music spanning genres and tributes every Friday evening through November. Free. Visit FridayNightSoundWaves.com

palm beach county entertainment

Arts & Entertainment • 2017

EVENT LISTINGS Zac Brown Band Sept. 22 to 23 at the Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way in West Palm Beach. On their Welcome Home tour, the Zac Brown Band comes to South Florida for two nights. Tickets $56 and up. Call 561-795-8883 or visit WestPalmBeachAmphitheatre.com.

Kings of Leon Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. at the Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way in West Palm Beach. Best known for their hits “Use Somebody,” “Sex on Fire,” and they new “Walls.” Tickets $30 and up. Call 561-795-8883 or visit WestPalmBeachAmphitheatre.com.

Jack Johnson Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way in West Palm Beach. The beach rocker tours in support of his brand new album, “All the Light Above it Too.” Tickets $66 and up. Call 561-795-8883 or visit WestPalmBeachAmphitheatre.com.

John Cleese: Monty Python and the Holy Grail Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. The British comedic legend returns to South Florida to tell stories of his life and career, and of course the infamous Monty Python. Tickets $40 and up. Call 561-832-7469 or visit Kravis.org.

La Cage aux Folles Oct. 6 to 22 at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. After 20 years together, Georges and Albin are shocked when Georges’ daughter (from a one-night-stand) is marrying the son of a bigoted politician. Tickets $45 and up. Call 561-832-7469 or visit Kravis.org. Bye Bye Birdie Oct. 13 to 29 at the Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. in Lake Worth. It’s the ‘60s and Conrad is about to be drafted, but not before he gets a kiss on live television. Tickets $35 and up. Call 561-586-6410 or visit LakeWorthPlayhouse.org. YES Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, and Rick Wakeman reunite to carry on the legacy of English prog rock band, YES. Tickets $35 and up. Call 561-832-7469 or visit Kravis. org. Florida Georgia Line, Nelly and Chris Lane Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way in West Palm Beach. Country and hip hop come together in a special concert throwback to “Cruise.” Tickets $53 and up. Call 561-795-8883 or visit WestPalmBeachAmphitheatre.com. The Little Foxes Oct. 18 to Nov. 12 at Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St. in West Palm Beach. It’s 1900 in Alabama and sisters Regina and Birdie are ruthless to get what they want. Tickets $30 and up. Call 561514-4042 or visit PalmBeachDramaworks. org.

The King and I Nov. 7 to 12 at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. In Rodgers & Hammerstein’s iconic musical, Anna travels to Thailand in the 1860s to serve as the schoolteacher to the King of Siam’s family. Tickets $28 and up. Call 561-832-7469 or visit Kravis.org. Miami City Ballet: Program One Nov. 17 to 19 at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. The Miami dance company begins its season with “Jewels,” with music by Balanchine, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, and more. Call 561-832-7469 or visit Kravis. org. A Christmas Story Nov. 17 to Dec. 3 at the Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. in Lake Worth. A hilarious Christmas classic, a young boy is determined to have his Christmas wish come true. Tickets $35 and up. Call 561-5866410 or visit LakeWorthPlayhouse.org. The Book of Mormon Nov. 21 to 26 at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. An odd pair of Mormon missionaries are sent to Africa to spread the word of God in this comedy that has taken Broadway by storm. Tickets $35 and up. Call 561-832-7469 or visit Kravis.org. Free Friday Concerts Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach. Enjoy live music from the comfort of your picnic blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Returns in October. Call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org.

KINGS OF LEON. COURTESY OF KINGS OF LEON.

76 THE

miami-dade county entertainment EVENT LISTINGS Building the Wall Sept. 23 to Oct. 8 at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. After America goes through a terrorist attack in 2019, martial law is declared and millions of immigrants are detained. Tickets $54 and up. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.

Arts & Entertainment • 2017

The Under Pants Sept. 29 to Oct. 22 at the Main Street Playhouse, 6766 Main St. in Miami Lakes. In this adaptation by Steve Martin, Louise goes outside to see the king in a passing parade when her underpants accidentally fall to her ankles. Suddenly two men are fawning after her, to the dismay of her husband. Tickets $35 to $30. Call 305-558-3737 or visit MainStreetPlayers.com. On Your Feet Oct. 5 to 15 at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Follow the story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, from their roots in Cuba to becoming music sensations in the United States. Tickets $29 and up. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org. The Vagina Monologues Oct. 12 to 13 at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 N 188th St. in Aventura. The award-winning performance brings together female voices for their take on womanhood. Contains adult language or content. Tickets $34 to $45. Call 305-466-8002 or visit AventuraCenter.org. The Broadway Boys Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 N 188th St. in Aventura. The sextet perform pop, funk, gospel, folk, and jazz to traditional Broadway tunes. Tickets $40.50 to $49. Call 305-466-8002 or visit AventuraCenter. org. Bruno Mars Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. at the AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The 24K Magic World Tour lands in Miami with for a show filled with music, dance, and theatrics. Tickets $125 and up. Call 786-777-1000 or visit AAArena.com.

78 THE

Yo Yo Ma Plays Strauss Oct. 28 at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The famed cellist performs works by Schubert, Mendelssohn and Strauss. Call 305-9496722 or visit ArshtCenter.org. Topdog/Underdog Nov. 2 to 19 at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Two African American brothers, jokingly named Lincoln and Booth, must leave their past behind and conquer their future. Tickets $50. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org. Ella Fitzgerald 100th Birthday Tribute Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The Frost School of Music’s Henry Mancini Jazz Orchestra plays a tribute to the First Lady of Song. Tickets $45 and up. Call 305-9496722 or visit ArshtCenter.org. Gavin DeGraw Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. DeGraw performs hits “I Don’t Want to Be,” “Follow Through,” “Chariot,” and more. Tickets $45 and up. Call 305-9496722 or visit ArshtCenter.org. Lucia di Lammermoor Nov. 11 to 18 at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. On her wedding night to a man she doesn’t want to marry, Lucia takes matters into her own hands and murders her new husband. Tickets $16 and up. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.

Becoming Dr. Ruth Nov. 25 to Dec. 23 at GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables. Dr. Ruth is more than a sex therapist — the one-woman show tells her story as a Holocaust survivor, Haganah sniper, single mother, and teacher. Tickets $45 to $60. Call 305-445-1119 or visit GableStage.org. The Book of Mormon Nov. 28 to Dec. 3 at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. An odd pair of Mormon missionaries are sent to Africa to spread the word of God in this comedy that has taken Broadway by storm. Tickets $30 and up. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org. Lady Gaga Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The Joanne world tour comes to Miami, starring the Grammy Award winning and Academy Award nominated Lady Gaga. Tickets $64 and up. Call 786-7771000 or visit AAArena.com. Peter & the Starcatcher Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 N 188th St. in Aventura. Ever wondered what happened before Peter Pan became The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up? A musical adaptation of Peter the orphans adventures to Neverland. Tickets $20 to $49. Call 305-4668002 or visit AventuraCenter.org.

Jay Z Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. at the AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The iconic rapper tours in support of his 4:44 album. Tickets $35.50 and up. Call 786-777-1000 or visit AAArena.com.

Outdoor Music Series Third Thursdays at the Perez Art Museum Miami, 101 W. Flagler St. in Miami. Come out for live music from DJs and musicians by the bay. Drink specials available. Free with museum admission. Call 305-375-3000 or visit PAMM.org.

Marc Anthony Nov. 17 to 18 at the AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. To go with the theme of “Full Circle,” Anthony will be performing on a circular stage. Tickets $61 and up. Call 786-7771000 or visit AAArena.com.

The Big Show Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. at Just the Funny Theater, 3119 Coral Way in Miami. A collection of comedy mixing the likes of improvisation and sketches. Tickets $12. Call 305-693-8669 or visit JustTheFunny.com.