Thursday
The musical Avenue Q tells the story of a recent college graduate named Princeton who finds friends in low places. After moving into a shabby apartment on Avenue Q in New York City, he meets Kate (the girl next door), Rod the Republican, Trekkie the internet "sexpert," Lucy the slut, and others who help Princeton discover his purpose in life. The New York Times described the Broadway show as a "Sesame Street-style musical for adults who can't quite believe they've grown up." Complete with Jim Henson-style puppets, this production might seem familiar to those who grew up with the long-running children's TV series — only with themes relevant to the urban, under-30 crowd suffering from postcollege existential crises. With a book by Jeff Whitty, direction by Patrick Fitzwater, and music and lyrics by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez (who also did animation design), Avenue Q is the winner of the Tony Award "Triple Crown" for Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book. Avenue Q will run this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. through November 20 at the Abdo New River Room at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts (201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale). Tickets cost $45 for general admission and $25 for students under 25 years old and teachers. Visit browardcenter.org/events/detail/avenue-q or call 954-462-0222.
Friday
Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl is one of those rare books that is not only historically revelatory but also a certified best seller. More than 30 million copies of Frank's teenage opus have been sold, a number that places it between Gone With the Wind and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo on the all-time charts — not bad for a checked autograph book gifted to Anne on her 13th birthday and begun two days later without the ambitions of literary posterity. It has since become an indelible document of girlhood blossoming during the existential horror of Nazism, a work so cemented in our culture that you know the story even if you haven't cracked its spine. A poignant theatrical version of the book earned a Pulitzer Prize in 1955, a play that received a more harrowing adaptation in 1997 by Wendy Kesselman. It's this fresh take on the familiar saga of the Frank family that the students of Florida Atlantic University will bravely tackle for the next two weekends in a production that promises to scale new heights of authenticity — perhaps subliminally touching on the USA's current flirtation with fascism. As the promotional materials declare, "Anne Frank demands that we remember that the vilification of others is not only dangerous but that it destroys our humanity." A denunciation of Trumpism couldn't be clearer. The Diary of Anne Frank runs this Friday through November 20 at FAU's Studio One Theatre (777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton). Showtimes are 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $20. Call 561-297-6124 or visit fauevents.com.
On Friday at the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Maestra Sebrina Maria Alfonso and the South Florida Symphony will perform music from their Pops Series: The Great American Songbook, the first show in a five-show series that the group will perform this season. The Great American Songbook is a collection of music that is credited as having bridged the gap between opera and modern-day music as a whole. It is also considered one of the most important contributions made to American music in the 20th Century. Music by artists such as George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, and Johnny Hammerstein will be performed. Tickets for the Friday event, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., can be purchased on Ticketmaster for $35 to $85. For additional information about the South Florida Symphony season, visit southfloridasymphony.org.
Saturday
Art books, poetry chapbooks, mimeographed editions, Xeroxed handouts, folded one-pagers, creative leaflets... It seems the craft of DIY book- and magazine-making continues to swell in popularity in the full throes of the digital age. The fanzine of yesteryear is no longer gathering dust next to flyers at the local record shop. "Zines are a total DIY medium," Dan Gorostiaga explains. "Makers are in charge of budget, content, materials... From the type of paper to the binding, it's total control." Gorostiaga, one of South Florida's most prolific artists and zine-makers with his Somewhere Btwn... editions continuing to expand his profile, is among the 50-plus exhibitors who will appear at SPF '16. The Small Press Fair (nice move with the sunblock reference) is the brainchild of Ingrid Schindall and Sarah Michelle Rupert, of IS Projects and Girls' Club, respectively. This showcase of the growing art form is a first for Fort Lauderdale and will bring together many of the "artists, printers, booksellers, publishers, authors, poets, bookmakers, designers, zinesters, and cultural workers" through workshops and demonstrations. Live printing, coffee, beer, and food trucks will draw them in, but the relative ease and complete fun of creating will surely inspire attendees. As Gorostiaga points out: "It's OK to look at something on a screen, but to hold an object, made of paper and unique, is a much better experience." SPF '16 runs from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at Artsup! Concepts at FATVillage (529 NW First Ave., Fort Lauderdale). Visit spf-ftl.com.
Many causes are easy to get behind based on their visibility alone. Want to throw support behind the fight against school bullying, the need to house sheltered pets, or even to help keep beaches clean? There's a quick Google search to find an event where you can dedicate your time and resources. But some causes aren’t as clearly visible and can often be deeply personal — like the need for mental health services for you and your loved ones. This Saturday, there is a chance to show up in support of one such nonprofit with the Fourth Annual NAMIWalks “Walking for Mental Health” event at Tradewinds Park South (3600 West Sample Rd., Coconut Creek). The National Alliance of Mental Illness is a grassroots advocacy group for those affected by mental disorders and illnesses. This weekend’s walk offers a chance to raise funds and awareness for the group's local affiliate with music, food, a kid zone, a pet parade, and featured speakers like Broward Sheriff Scott Israel and Chief Public Defender Howard Finkelstein. Funds raised will support county-wide educational programs and services. While there is no fee to walk, those who raise over $100 will receive an event shirt. Signup starts at 8 a.m. Visit namiwalks.org for more info.
