Thursday, December 3
Sometimes, a play is so hilarious, heartbreaking, or headline-torn that it demands more than one production a year. Michael McKeever's Daniel's Husband is all three of these things and more. The latest and most personal work from this indefatigable South Florida playwright received its world premiere this past spring from Fort Lauderdale's Island City Stage in an extended, sold-out run that garnered the kind of universal acclaim only a handful of shows per year enjoy. Luckily, local audiences have a second chance to experience it during a four-weekend encore in West Boca. Most of the crew and cast from the original production remain, along with the perfectly airtight story: a comedy turned tragedy about a longtime gay couple, contrarian novelist Mitchell and romantic architect Daniel, whose opposing views of marriage are tested in the wake of a medical emergency. John Manzelli, who played upward of 40 characters in the Herculean one-man show Fully Committed earlier this year, will pour all of himself into just one complicated protagonist this time around, taking the lead in a stellar cast that includes Alex Alvarez, Laura Turnbull, Larry Buzzeo, and Christopher Anthony Ferrer. Too much plot description would spoil the show's shattering developments; just buy a ticket and prepare a hanky.
Daniel's Husband runs at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through December 20 at the Levis JCC Sandler Center, located at 21050 95th Ave. S. in Boca Raton. Tickets cost $30 to $40. Call 561-852-3241, or visit levisjcc.org/theater.
The Ghost Light Society's Broward Center Benefit is taking a night to celebrate some stylish men with the Men of Style event taking place from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Galleria Mall. With special guest host Diana Diaz, WSVN morning anchor, the evening will honor sneaker and clothing retailer Brad Minto and other leading men in Broward County. There will also be food, drinks, shopping, and a runway show featuring the 12 Men of Style honorees showing off their
Tickets cost $50 for general admission, $100 for Truluck's VIP package, which includes a pre-event wine reception with the Men of Style and seating at the runway show, and $150 for the BankUnited/Blue Martini VIP package, which includes a private bar during the event, preferred seating at the runway show, and an afterparty at Blue Martini. Visit browardcenter.org, or call 954-462-0222.
Friday, December 4
Despite our jaded 2015 ways, you'll still find 1946's It's a Wonderful Life a difficult movie to resist. Notwithstanding its sentimentality, it's become one of those magnetic linchpins of American mythology, like The Godfather or Star Wars, that pulls you into its world and doesn't let you escape until the credits roll. Like any cultural phenomenon, this story of an all-American father and businessman, the Great Depression, a potential suicide, and an angelic intervention has spawned a cottage industry of remakes, homages, and adaptations for other media. One of them, a 1947 radio play by Lux Radio Theater, will be re-created locally by Arts Radio Network, a company run by South Florida radio personalities John and Caroline
See how the special-effects artists master such onstage drama as drownings and car crashes using ordinary objects at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Broward Center's Amaturo Theater, located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost $25. Call 954-462-0222, or visit browardcenter.org.
Want to get a few more parties in before the new year, but before the hullabaloo surrounding Christmas and other holidays? If so, the inaugural South Florida Chillounge Night may just be your chance. Taking place Friday, the
General admission is $25 for presale and costs $35 the day of. The VIP tickets cost $120 and include food and drinks. Proceeds benefit Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale. Reserved seating options are also available. Visit chilloungenight.com.
Saturday, December 5
Since the mid-15th Century in Germany, the Christkindlmarket has been a seasonal tradition to fight off the bitter winter cold and darkness by getting the town's people huddled together for ornament making, handicrafts, hearty foods, drink, music, and holiday merriment. So, yes, at first read it may seem a smidgen out of place in sunny South Florida, where the idea of layering up means little more than throwing on a longish T-shirt over your bathing suit. But Florida has a long tradition of German heritage. And you can find out more about that by paying a visit to the American-German Club of the Palm Beaches' annual Christkindlmarket this weekend. Sip Bavarian beers while you're in the Christkindlmarket's ornament-making workshop. There will also be gingerbread-house assembly, a lantern parade with tree lighting, hot spiced wines, imported German beers, German eats, seasonal arts, artisanal goods, and even a visit by Santa.
The festival runs from 11 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 5111 Lantana Road, Lake Worth, with an admission of $8 or the donation of a new unwrapped toy. Admission is free for children under 12 years of age. Call 561-967-6464, or visit americangermanclub.com.
Unless you're a socialite, you're not going to galas often. The last time you wore a tux or a ball gown was probably prom. Make it up to yourself by attending an actual adult fancy affair with tickets to the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Black Tie Ball presented by Moët & Chandon. Pull that formalwear out of hiding or check out Rent the Runway, as this chichi event offers plenty of opportunities for sexy selfies. Taking place on Saturday, the ball, the largest holiday gala in Fort Lauderdale, is inspired by the Broadway production Kinky Boots and includes a special performance direct from the show. (Hint: It's currently playing at the Arsht Center December 8 to 13.) Deco Drive's
Individual tickets start at $250 apiece. Tables range from $2,500 to $5,000. The Patriot National Insurance Inc. welcome reception kicks it offer from 6 to 8 p.m. and includes a silent auction. Dinner and dancing
Although it's been almost a century since the phrase "Lips that touch liquor will not touch ours" has been said in earnest, it was these words by the Women's Christian Temperance Union that set in motion one of the biggest fails in U.S. history: Prohibition. For more than 13 years, from 1919 until 1933, Americans toiled day after day without the aid of alcohol to soothe their woes. Ironically, the criminalization of alcohol only led to the rise of organized crime, bootlegging, and unsafe methods of booze production. Finally, with the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, Prohibition was repealed, and Americans got back to doing what we do best: drinking. Saturday marks the 82nd anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition, and Stache 1920's Drinking Den believes it should be celebrated as a national holiday. The bar's patron saint, Charles William Stache (who may or may not have been a real-life bootlegger), will be there in spirit as you slake your thirst with craft cocktails, enjoy the burlesque/aerialist show, and maybe even do the Charleston to '20s tunes and electro swing.
To help ensure Prohibition stays dead and buried, snap on your spats and hightail it to the Repeal Day Party at Stache (109 SW Second Ave., Fort Lauderdale) from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday. Call 954-449-1044, or visit stacheftl.com.
Sunday, December 6
In a world of mass-produced everything, the locally made, handcrafted gift is king. Shop truly local at the upcoming Indie Craft Bazaar at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale. At this market, come mingle with more than 65 independent artists, crafters, and designers selling their original works or art and handmade items. There will be a $3 mimosa cash bar and eats, including food trucks and gourmet sweets (vegan and gluten-free options included). Expect Panther Coffee to be there too. All of the trappings of a traditional bazaar will be there, even tarot-card readers for those who wish to know their fortunes. And what else? Free DIY! Other than Revolution Live, there are two more venues: Stache and America's Backyard. Sundays are
Come browse the Indie Craft Bazaar from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Revolution Live, located at 100 SW Third Ave. in Fort Lauderdale.
It's beginning to look like finding a "pretty" sweater is the biggest challenge during the holidays with the ever-popular "ugly sweater" theme being all the rage in recent years. Well, that's OK, ugly needs some loving too, right? Once again at Tate's Comics, the ugly sweater contest is in full effect with plenty of holiday shopping incentives at the Lauderhill and Boynton Beach stores. Both locations, starting at 11 a.m., will offer 10 percent off entire purchases for those wearing truly ugly sweaters (think in the vein of Nana's sweater at your '70s-themed bar mitzvah), an ugly-sweater contest with cool prizes for the "amazingly" ugly — which means you have to hit style points and churn some stomachs at the same time — and Drew Wise-designed official Tate's Ugly Sweater Tees will be available for purchase at a special price. The Lauderhill location will also feature the first of its popular "Substitute Santa" photo ops with R2-D2 from 2 to 3 p.m. and Boba Fett from 3 to 4 p.m. as well as free live screen printing by the Fine Print Shoppe from 2 to 5 p.m., so bring a blank T or sweatshirt. Get that jump on holiday shopping that you're always talking about, and do so by shopping
Ugly Sweater Sunday at Tate's Comics happens Sunday at 4566 N. University Drive in Lauderhill and at 801 N. Congress Ave. in Boynton Beach from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Call 954-748-0181 or
Monday, December 7
This year, celebrate Chanukah with the biggest,
The event is free to the public, but reserved and VIP seating is available for $100 per person. Seating allows guests a front-row seat to all the festival action, as well as dinner. America's Biggest Chanukah Festival will take place at 7 p.m. Monday at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino, located at 901 S. Federal Highway in Hallandale Beach. Call 954-458-1877, email [email protected], or visit chanukahfestival.com.