Two Film Fests, Alvin Ailey, and Art After Dark

The Complete List: January 29th-February 4th

Author

Susan Bannon
January 28, 2024

Indie cinema shines this week, with the arrival of the Key Biscayne Film Festival, a screening of the top selections of the Miami Short Film Festival, and a critically acclaimed new documentary about Liberty City all on view.

Two exciting dance events are also coming our way: the return of Alvin Ailey, celebrating their 65th season, and a performance of new works by Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami.

Finally, we get to see some art after dark at ICA Miami's First Fridays event.

Let's get planning...

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Continuing This Week:

Two Sisters and a Piano

Miami New Drama presents Two Sisters and a Piano, a gripping play set amidst the Pan American Games and the Russians’ departure from Cuba. The story follows the cat-and-mouse game between novelist Maria Celia and a charismatic military officer, whose infatuation blurs the lines between passion and politics. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz weaves an authentic tale of oppression, human spirit, and the intertwining fates of two sisters awaiting freedom in a world of shifting global politics.

Performances January 25 - February 18, Colony Theater, $47-$77

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Mister 01, MILA, Joliet | Drinks: MILA, Barceloneta, Medium Cool

Old Wicked Songs - Final Week!

GableStage presents the Miami premiere of Old Wicked Songs. As this play unfolds through the poetry of Heinrich Heine and the music of Robert Schumann, secrets are revealed, and two men from different generations find they have much more in common than they think. Directed by playwright Jon Marans, this 1996 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize is a play with music that stars two actors who are classically trained pianists.

Performances January 12 - February 4, GableStage, $30-$70

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Tuesday, January 30th

Florida Grand Opera: I Pagliacci

Final performance! Florida Grand Opera presents I Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo, a suitably operatic tale of betrayal and violence. Leoncavallo’s gritty and gorgeous score, based on a true incident witnessed by his policeman father, culminates in one of the most famous and tragic tenor arias of all time: “Vesti la giubba,” the original “Tears of a Clown.”

8pm, Adrienne Arsht Center, $26-$234

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Wednesday, January 31st

In-Person: An Evening with Kate Alice Marshall & Alejandro Nodarse

Books & Books presents an in-person evening with Kate Alice Marshall as she discusses her novel: No One Can Know (Flatiron Books, $28.99). The author, who previously wrote the critically-acclaimed What Lies in the Woods, returns with a novel about three sisters, two murders, and too many secrets to count. She will be in conversation with author Alejandro Nodarse.

6:30pm, Books & Books Coral Gables, Free

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

New Music Miami ISCM Festival 2024

Expand your listening horizons by catching leading contemporary classical musicians at The Wolfsonian in the next installment of the New Music Miami ISCM Festival, featuring percussionist Al Cerulo. Championing and presenting cutting-edge performers and compositions over its 27 years of existence, the festival includes pieces for soloists, chamber ensembles, and music with video and electronics.

7pm Pre-Concert Talk, 7:30-9pm Concert, The Wolfsonian-FIU, Free

Neighborhood: Miami Beach

Thursday, February 1st

Seth Cameron: The Tourist

Nina Johnson Gallery presents The Tourist, a solo exhibition of new paintings by South Carolina-born, New York-based artist Seth Cameron. Using sumi ink, associated with Chinese and Japanese writing and painting, these works depict a sense of dissociation and detachment as Cameron explores ways of viewing and modes of identity as experienced through artwork, photography, language, and memory. On view through March 30th.

Opening Reception 6-8pm, Nina Johnson Gallery

Neighborhood: Little Haiti

Nearby Eats: Blue Collar, Phuc Yea, Rosie's | Drinks: ZeyZey, Low Key

Salón de la Noche

New World Symphony Fellows provide intimate performances of chamber works by J.S. Bach, Gaspar Fernandes, Francesca Duarte and more played on historically set-up instruments. Experience how eclectic Baroque compositions would have sounded at the time of their creation, informed by historical texts, scores and iconography.

7:30pm, New World Center, Free

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Joliet, Barceloneta, MILA | Drinks: MILA, Water Lion at the Sagamore

Razing Liberty Square - Screening with Panel Discussion

Coral Gables Art Cinema presents the Miami premiere of Razing Liberty Square, with a panel discussion and reception following the screening. This new documentary by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Katja Esson begins at the very moment when Liberty Square is being razed to the ground to make way for the “New Liberty Square”: a $300 million mixed-income development. It's gotten a ton of national press from appearances at film festivals and will be aired on PBS.

7pm Screening, 8:30pm Panel Discussion, Coral Gables Art Cinema

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Friday, February 2nd

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, celebrating its 65th anniversary season, returns to the Adrienne Arsht Center for three performances. This evening, the company presents their iconic Revelations and two newly commissioned works: CENTURY, a rousing, high-spirited tribute to a beloved grandfather by Amy Hall Garner and Me, Myself and You, a dreamlike reminiscence of romance by Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish.

8pm, Adrienne Arsht Center, $25-$125

*Free community Revelations workshop at 6pm on the Arsht Center plaza, where you can learn choreography from this iconic work, followed by performances by FMU's step team and marching band.

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

ICA First Fridays: Miami Sound Edition

ICA Miami's First Fridays are one of my favorite art events in town. Drinks and music are out in the sculpture garden, and you get to see the exhibits they have on in the museum, all for free. In this case, the music showcases three of Miami’s most prominent and prolific producers: Mauricio the Invisible, Jonny from Space and a "secret guest".

6-10pm, Institute of Contemporary Art, Free

Neighborhood: Design District

The Cleveland Orchestra: Chopin and Rachmaninoff

Karina Canellakis leads the Cleveland Orchestra, with acclaimed pianist Seong-Jin Cho, in a program featuring works by Chopin and Rachmaninoff, two figures who are strongly associated with the piano, both as composers and performers. Each also drew on his native country’s rich folk music heritage, and these works are filled with lively dance steps and rich, nostalgic melodies.

8pm, Adrienne Arsht Center, $45-$189

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Legally Blonde The Musical - Opening Night

Shove your inner cynic deep into your pink handbag and come enjoy this Actors' Playhouse production of Legally Blonde The Musical. It's an infectiously fun crowd pleaser that happens to have fantastic songs and really impressive dance numbers - basically everything your musical theater heart desires. In pink! Friday is the Gala Opening Night Celebration, featuring a pre-show reception with cocktails.

8pm, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theater

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Dimensions Dance Theatre: Salon Series (New Works)

Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami was founded in 2016 by former Miami City Ballet principals, Carlos Guerra and Jennifer Kronenberg. Since then, their young troupe has received national recognition for their athleticism, as well as their innovative, modern repertoire. If you like contemporary ballet, you want to see this troupe.

7:30pm, Moss Center, $40

Neighborhood: Cutler Bay

Nearby Eats: Nothing fancy by the Moss Center, but try El Rinconcito Superlatino III and Golden Rule Seafood | Drinks: Hole in the Wall Tavern

Vivaldi's Four Seasons

Baroque experts Rachell Ellen Wong and David Belkovski of the NYC-based Twelfth Night ensemble lead New World Symphony Fellows in this intimate performance at the New World Center. Experience how Baroque compositions would have sounded at the time of their creation, informed by historical texts, scores and iconography. Musical selections from French and English Baroque opera and Vivaldi's Four Seasons, played on historically set-up instruments.

7:30pm, New World Center, $15

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: MILA, Joliet, Casa Tua | Drinks: Medium Cool, Water Lion at the Sagamore

Key Biscayne Film Festival - Opening Event

Come out and celebrate the inaugural year of the Key Biscayne Film Festival, showcasing short and feature-length films from independent filmmakers around the theme of honoring island cultures and our world ocean. The opening event includes a welcome cocktail reception at the Monaco Reflecting Pools and feature film screening in Paradise Park.

Opening event 6-9pm, Monaco Reflecting Pools and Paradise Park, $100 pass

Neighborhood: Key Biscayne

Saturday, February 3rd

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, celebrating its 65th anniversary season, returns to the Adrienne Arsht Center for three performances. Both showings Saturday present their iconic Revelations. The 2pm performance follows the Friday night program above. The 8pm performance features Ronald K. Brown’s Dancing Spirit and Jamar Roberts’ Ode, a meditation on the beauty and fragility of life in a time of growing gun violence.

2pm and 8pm, Adrienne Arsht Center, $25-$125

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

The Cleveland Orchestra: Chopin and Rachmaninoff

Karina Canellakis leads the Cleveland Orchestra, with acclaimed pianist Seong-Jin Cho, in a program featuring works by Chopin and Rachmaninoff, two figures who are strongly associated with the piano, both as composers and performers. Each also drew on his native country’s rich folk music heritage, and these works are filled with lively dance steps and rich, nostalgic melodies.

8pm, Adrienne Arsht Center, $45-$189

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Key Biscayne Film Festival

The Key Biscayne Film Festival continues all day Saturday, with films and panels throughout Key Biscayne, including a Spotlight on Youth micro films screening and voting.

10am-9pm, Various Locations, $100 Festival Pass

Neighborhood: Key Biscayne

Dimensions Dance Theatre: Salon Series (New Works)

Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami was founded in 2016 by former Miami City Ballet principals, Carlos Guerra and Jennifer Kronenberg. Since then, their young troupe has received national recognition for their athleticism, as well as their innovative, modern repertoire. If you like contemporary ballet, you want to see this troupe.

7:30pm, Moss Center, $40

Neighborhood: Cutler Bay

Nearby Eats: Nothing fancy by the Moss Center, but try El Rinconcito Superlatino III and Golden Rule Seafood | Drinks: Hole in the Wall Tavern

An Evening with Bruce Weber

Books & Books presents photographer and filmmaker Bruce Weber in conversation with Music Director and Conductor of the Miami Symphony Eduardo Marturet, photographer Behna Gardner and choreographer Richard Amaro as they discuss his books: All-American XXII: That Towering Feeling and All-American XXIII: Let’s Take An Old-Fashioned Walk.

6pm, Books & Books Coral Gables, Free

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Food Event of the Week:

EEEEEATSCON: The Infatuation Food Fest

In spite of its truly terrible name, this food festival by the excellent food review site The Infatuation promises to be amazing. The lineup of local restaurants at the fest includes Tâm Tâm, Rosie's, Jaguar Sun, Chug's, Zitz Sum x QP Tapas, Off Site, and Walrus Rodeo, so that's worth the price of admission right there. Performances and talks include comedian Marcello Hernandez (a.k.a. that kid that graduated from Belen and landed on SNL) and Rob McElhenney & Glenn Howerton, known for their roles on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, here at the festival to launch Four Walls Whiskey.

Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 3-4, 12pm-6pm, Bayfront Park

Neighborhood: Downtown

Sunday, February 4th

Miami Short Film Festival: Best of the Fest 2023

The Miami Short Film Festival presents "Best of the Fest 2023" at the Deering Estate, showcasing six short works from around the world. MSFF is dedicated to bringing exposure to the world’s best independent up-and-coming filmmakers.

6:30-7pm Cocktails, 7-8:45pm Film Screening, Deering Estate Visitors Center

Neighborhood: Pinecrest

In-Person: An Afternoon with Michelle Brock

Books & Books presents an afternoon with Michelle Brock to discuss her new book Who Do You Think You Are?: An Interactive Journey Through Your Past Lives and into Your Best Future. Michelle is a New York City-based spiritual development life coach who specializes in past-life regression. Her work has been featured on Inside Amy Schumer, and her clients include celebrities, CEOs, writers, artists, and academics.

1pm, Books & Books Coral Gables

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Dimensions Dance Theatre: Salon Series (New Works)

Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami was founded in 2016 by former Miami City Ballet principals, Carlos Guerra and Jennifer Kronenberg. Since then, their young troupe has received national recognition for their athleticism, as well as their innovative, modern repertoire. If you like contemporary ballet, you want to see this troupe.

3:30pm, Moss Center, $40

Neighborhood: Cutler Bay

Nearby Eats: Nothing fancy by the Moss Center, but try El Rinconcito Superlatino III and Golden Rule Seafood | Drinks: Hole in the Wall Tavern

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