Miami's Theater Scene Shines

The Complete List: Week of March 11th-17th

Author

Susan Bannon
March 07, 2024

This is a big week for local theater, with the opening of two exciting new plays, Zoetic Stage's Cabaret and GableStage's Lehman Trilogy, plus an extended run of The Museum Plays, Miami New Drama's innovative collaboration with the Rubell Museum, and short play readings from City Theatre Miami.

Of course, there's plenty to see that isn't theater, including Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the New World Symphony, three dance performances, a Parisian burlesque show, and a live stream of Joseph Fiennes in Dear England, broadcast from the London stage.

Let's get planning!

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Continuing this week:

The Museum Plays

Miami New Drama, in collaboration with The Rubell Museum, presents an evening of new short plays inspired by artworks at The Rubell and performed in the museum. Tickets for this innovative art and theater mash-up are selling out fast, so if you want to go, get your tickets asap.

Performances through March 17th, Rubell Museum, $46-$82

Neighborhood: Allapattah

Nearby Eats: Leku, Hometown BBQ, Pastis (Wynwood) | Drinks: Dante's Hifi, Higher Ground (both Wynwood)

Tuesday, March 12th

Miami City Ballet Pop-Up Performance at The Bandshell

Miami City Ballet began its free pop-up performances around the city during the pandemic, when we all desperately needed some art in our lives and everything had been canceled. Fortunately, they have kept it up and this is the first of three pop-up's scheduled for this season. No official program is announced because it's free and, well, you get what you get and you don't get upset.

7pm, Miami Beach Bandshell, Free

Neighborhood: North Beach

Wednesday, March 13th

Jazz Series at Faena: Richard Bona and Asante Trio

As part of its spring Jazz Series, Faena Theater presents Cameroonian multi-instrumentalist and Grammy winner Richard Bona. With his unique bass sound and enchanting vocals he is continuously representing his African origins, the continent’s traditions, culture, and beauty. Speaking to his versatility, Bona has been nominated for Grammy's in three different categories, winning for Best Contemporary Jazz Album back in 2003.

8pm, Faena Theater, $65 and up

Neighborhood: Mid Beach

Nearby Eats: Los Fuegos at Faena, also 27 Restaurant and Cecconi's | Drinks: Choose from three great bars at the Faena - Tree of Life, Living Room, and The Saxony Bar, or head to WunderBar for a change of scenery.

Thursday, March 14th

Zoetic Stage: Cabaret - Opening Night

The Kit Kat Club, that notorious jazz age den of iniquity, is open for business again, as Zoetic Stage brings Cabaret to the Carnival Studio Theater at the Arsht Center. Zoetic has turned this space into a soccer pitch and the inside of a young man's mind for past performances, so the club setting is sure to be an immersive good time, especially if you opt for the VIP table seating.

7:30pm, Adrienne Arsht Center, $65-$85

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Rachel Martin: Believe the Rumors

Nina Johnson presents Believe the Rumors, a solo exhibition of new and existing works on paper by multi-disciplinary Tlingít artist Rachel Martin. Based in New York, Martin grew up between Southern California and the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana. Drawing heavily on traditional Northwest Coast iconography, she often merges this imagery with those of modern matriarchal figures. Each work in the exhibition was conceived as a short story, coming together to celebrate Indigenous resistance and the healing strength of women's connections to each other.

6-8pm, Nina Johnson Gallery, Free

Neighborhood: Little River / Little Haiti

Nearby Eats: Rosie's, Phuc Yea, Walrus Rodeo | Drinks: two great bar options at the Citadel food hall - the rooftop or Bar Kaiju on the 2nd floor

City Reads: Community

City Reads is a pop-up showcase of funny and thought-provoking short plays presented by City Theatre Miami in locations around town. In each, professional actors read four ten-minute plays connected by themes impacting and reflecting Miami today. This one, staged in partnership with Books & Books, is focused on the theme of community, with live musical accompaniment by world pop duo Hola Hi. After the readings, you can stick around for a lively conversation led by City Theatre Artistic Director Margaret M. Ledford on the plays and themes. Rsvp required.

8pm, Books & Books Coral Gables, Free

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Friday, March 15th

The Lehman Trilogy - Opening Night

GableStage presents The Lehman Trilogy, an epic piece of storytelling that tracks three members of the Lehman family through 163 years of history, right up to the devastating collapse of their family firm, Lehman Brothers. Beginning in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1844, a Bavarian immigrant dreams of a better life. In 2008, his descendants unleash an unprecedented financial disaster. The story in between is both an intimate family saga and a colossal exposé of unquenchable capitalism.

7:30pm, GableStage, $45

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Zoetic Stage: Cabaret - Special Pre-Show Cabaret Experience

The Kit Kat Club, that notorious jazz age den of iniquity, is open for business again, as Zoetic Stage brings Cabaret to the Carnival Studio Theater at the Arsht Center. Zoetic has turned this space into a soccer pitch and the inside of a young man's mind for past performances, so the club setting is sure to be an immersive good time, especially if you opt for the VIP table seating. This Friday performance also features a pre-show cabaret experience. Beginning at 6 p.m., live jazz and cabaret-style performers will evoke the eccentricity of 1920s Berlin. Champagne and light bites will be available for purchase.

6pm Pre-Show Cabaret, 7:30pm Performance, Adrienne Arsht Center, $65-$85

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

National Theatre Live: Dear England

Coral Gables Art Cinema is proud to present National Theatre Live, a groundbreaking project to broadcast the best of British theater, live from the London stage to cinemas around the world. In this sold out performance, Joseph Fiennes takes on the role of Gareth Southgate in James Graham’s gripping exploration of nation and game. Showings Friday and Saturday.

12pm, Coral Gables Art Cinema, $15

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Saturday, March 16th

Michael Tilson Thomas Conducts Tchaikovsky's 4th

Michael Tilson Thomas rounds out his Miami reunion with New World Symphony with this blockbuster performance at the Arsht Center. Hailed as one of the greatest conductors of our time, MTT will conduct the New World fellows for Tchaikovsky’s powerful Fourth Symphony, a meditation on fate and fortune. Also on the program, Grammy Award-winning baritone Dashon Burton joins MTT for Copland’s Old American Songs, a collection of iconically American lullabies, ballads and hymns that speak to the heart and our history.

8pm, Knight Concert Hall at Adrienne Arsht Center, $35-$215

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

National Theatre Live: Dear England

Coral Gables Art Cinema is proud to present National Theatre Live, a groundbreaking project to broadcast the best of British theater, live from the London stage to cinemas around the world. In this sold out performance, Joseph Fiennes takes on the role of Gareth Southgate in James Graham’s gripping exploration of nation and game. Showings Friday and Saturday.

12pm, Coral Gables Art Cinema, $15

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Viva Paris! A Parisian Revue, Burlesque, & Variety Show

The Viva Paris! show is an adults-only Parisian revue, with classic showgirls, burlesque, can-can dancers, comedy routines, and an Edith Piaf-style lounge singer. VIP table seating will put you right up front, which is good or bad, depending on your perspective. The show is for ages 18 and up, and they'll be checking ID's.

8pm, The Moss Center, $50-$85

Neighborhood: Cutler Bay

Nearby Eats: Not much! Grab dinner at Platea on your way down there and have rooftop cocktails at Mamey on 3rd or La Terrazza on your way back.

Syncopate Collective: Carrying Bodies

Syncopate Collective presents Carrying Bodies, an evening of contemporary dance celebrating the power of motherhood, in the intimate theater at the Sanctuary of the Arts (inside the old Christian Science church next to Coral Gables City Hall). Three new contemporary works will be presented, all on the theme of motherhood: Wildflower's Luminous Prayer by Brooke Valdes, Morir Soñando by Destiny Diaz, and Lyli by Melissa Verdecia.

8pm, Sanctuary of the Arts, $30

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Zoetic Stage: Cabaret

The Kit Kat Club, that notorious jazz age den of iniquity, is open for business again, as Zoetic Stage brings Cabaret to the Carnival Studio Theater at the Arsht Center. Zoetic has turned this space into a soccer pitch and the inside of a young man's mind for past performances, so the club setting is sure to be an immersive good time, especially if you opt for the VIP table seating.

7:30pm, Adrienne Arsht Center, $65-$85

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Food Event of the Week: Saturday at the Rancho

Chef Niven Patel, who runs Erba and Ghee, gets his produce and his inspiration from Rancho Patel, a two-acre farm in Homestead. During the cooler months, Chef Patel hosts special dinners at the Rancho, providing guests an immersive dining experience prepared, cooked, and served on the farm. You can even harvest some of the crops to be served that afternoon. These sell-out events serve as the primary testing ground for new menus and concepts, and educate guests on farm-to-table practices, all while indulging in a transcendent dining experience. This will be the last dinner at the Rancho this season.

Saturday, March 16th at 3pm

Rancho Patel in Homestead, $250 per person

Sunday, March 17th

Dance NOW! Miami x Compagnia Opus Ballet

Compagnia Opus Ballet, direct from Florence, Italy, joins Dance NOW! Miami for a collaborative performance of Gli Altri/The Others, and selected works from each group. This joint performance is also a collaboration of choreographers from both groups, inspired by the cinematic imagery of Federico Fellini and confessional storytelling.
 
3-5pm, Miami Theater Center, $45

Neighborhood: Miami Shores

Nearby Eats: The Citadel Food Hall, Tigre, Blue Collar | Drinks: rooftop at the Citadel, OFF SITE Nano Brewery

Zoetic Stage: Cabaret

The Kit Kat Club, that notorious jazz age den of iniquity, is open for business again, as Zoetic Stage brings Cabaret to the Carnival Studio Theater at the Arsht Center. Zoetic has turned this space into a soccer pitch and the inside of a young man's mind for past performances, so the club setting is sure to be an immersive good time, especially if you opt for the VIP table seating.

2:30pm, Adrienne Arsht Center, $65-$85

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

The Lehman Trilogy

GableStage presents The Lehman Trilogy, an epic piece of storytelling that tracks three members of the Lehman family through 163 years of history, right up to the devastating collapse of their family firm, Lehman Brothers. Beginning in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1844, a Bavarian immigrant dreams of a better life. In 2008, his descendants unleash an unprecedented financial disaster. The story in between is both an intimate family saga and a colossal exposé of unquenchable capitalism.

2pm, GableStage, $45

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

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