MARCH COMES IN LIKE AN ENTERTAINMENT LION AT THE PARKER
Published: Feb 22, 2023
Icons from Broadway, music and comedy join a high-energy dance troupe, interactive family theater and celebrations of rock and roll greats this March in Lillian S. Wells Hall at The Parker.
Grammy®-nominated, gold and platinum best selling recording artist and Juno award winner Gino Vannelli kicks off the month on March 1 at 7:30 p.m. This singer, songwriter, producer, composer, poet, arranger and band leader has sold over 20 million records worldwide. Since his debut release of Crazy Life in 1973, Vannelli has remained one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music and his evolving style has kept his fan base growing for over 40 years. From rock to jazz to soul, even classical, this singer/songwriter/producer has left no musical stone unturned, with more than two dozen releases, most hitting the Billboard charts. Tickets are $37-$87 with a VIP Soundcheck M & G Experience available for an additional $60.
Two comedy legends perform in one night as Rita Rudner and Robert Klein come to Lillian S. Wells Hall as part of the 2022/2023 Truist Comedy Series on Thursday, March 2 at 8 p.m. Known for her epigrammatic one-liners, Rudner was named Las Vegas’s Comedian of The Year nine years in a row. She started her standup career in the late 70s and made her debut on Late Night with David Letterman in 1982. She has recorded several award-winning comedy specials, most notably Rita Rudner: Born to Be Mild; Rita Rudner: Married Without Children; Rita Rudner: Live From Las Vegas; and A Tale of Two Dresses. For more than 40 years, Klein has entertained audiences, and he continues to have an acclaimed career in comedy, on Broadway, on television and in film. Klein regularly appears on talk shows, making more than 100 appearances on The Tonight Show and The Late Show. He was nominated twice for GRAMMY® Awards for “Best Comedy Album of the Year” for his albums Child of the Fifties and Mind Over Matter. Klein was also nominated twice for Emmy Awards for his HBO comedy specials and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for They're Playing Our Song. Tickets are $45-$65.
With a cast from Broadway's greatest rock musicals joined by incredible rock and roll singers, Neil Berg's 50 Years of Rock N Roll 2 returns on Friday, March 3 at 8 p.m. From the progenitors of rock and roll in the 1940s, through the glory years of the '50s, '60s, and '70s, up until MTV in the early '80s, Berg shares the often unknown stories and groundbreaking music with tributes to such important and iconic rock stars/groups/genres from Chuck Berry to the Beatles to Bruce Springsteen. This show is not only a highly entertaining look at the history of iconic music, but also tells the story of all the incredible influences and cultures that make up the nation’s "melting pot," that were poured into the fabric of the music that influenced generations around the world. Tickets are $45-$65.
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and AEG Presents bring Tower of Power to Lillian S. Wells Hall on Saturday, March 4 at 8 p.m. The brass-fueled group with their dynamic blend of R&B, soul, funk, and pop have had landed on the Billboard Hot 100 with such hits as "You're Still a Young Man," "So Very Hard to Go," "What is Hip?" and "Don't Change Horses (in the Middle of the Stream). Tower's horn section appeared on a number of recordings with other artists including Otis Redding, Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Huey Lewis, Santana and Stevie Nicks. At least 60 musicians have toured with the band over their 52-year history, but the sound remains the same. Tickets are $35.50-$90.50 with a $249 VIP pack that includes a premium seat and exclusive merchandise.
Band leader, arranger and composer of salsa and Latin jazz, Eddie Palmieri performs as part of the 2022/2023 TD Bank Jazz Series on Sunday, March 5, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. Known as one of the finest pianists for the past six decades, Palmieri’s playing skillfully fuses the rhythm of his Puerto Rican heritage with the complexity of his jazz influences: Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, and McCoy Tyner, as well as his older brother, Charlie Palmieri. Throughout a 60-year career, Palmieri innovated and popularized the Latin Jazz Funk Fusion style and achieved several recording milestones. In addition to winning eight GRAMMY® Awards, Palmieri has received numerous honors including being named an NEA Jazz Master, which is the highest honor an American jazz artist can receive. Tickets are $50-$70.
The 2022/2023 Broward Center Dance and Classical Series presents Malevo on Thursday, March 9 at 8 p.m. This thrilling all-male group specializes in Malambo, a traditional Argentine folk dance, and merges it with urban percussion and other dance styles like flamenco. With live music and virtuosic dancing, Malevo delivers an exhilarating and engaging show that is perfect for the entire family. Malevo was named an official "Cultural Ambassador to the National Identity of Argentina." The group has performed in Las Vegas, New York, Dubai, Paris, Cairo, St. Petersburg and Montreal. Malevo also appeared with Latin pop star Ricky Martin and Cirque du Soleil, held a year-long residency at Universal Studios Japan and made it to the semifinals on the hit TV show America's Got Talent. Tickets are $37.50-$57.50.
Billy Joel Legends Live! features The Lords of 52nd Street, New York’s favorite band who established Billy Joel's formidable sound, on Saturday, March 11 at 8 p.m. These are the legendary bandmates who recorded and toured the world for many years with the "Piano Man." Their sax, drum and guitar solos helped create one of the most recognizable sounds in music and they have performed all over the world for decades. The band is led by Richie Cannata on tenor saxophone, Liberty DeVitto on drums and percussion, and Russell Javors on rhythm guitar. Tickets are $29-$49.
Take your place among legendary heroes, just don't wake the dragon as Dragons and Mythical Beasts arrives at Lillian S. Wells Hall on Sunday, March 12 at 2 p.m. Brave heroes in the audience enter into a magical world of myths and legends in this fantastical new interactive show as they unveil a myriad of dark secrets and come face to face with some of the most magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts ever to walk the earth. Discoveries include the colossal Stone Troll, the mysterious Indrik and Japanese Baku, the Tooth Fairy (not as sweet as you'd think), an adorable Unicorn and majestic Griffin. This brand new spell-binding adventure brings spectacular puppets to life and is from the creators of the West End smash hit Dinosaur World Live. This event is presented as part of The Islands of The Bahamas Imagination Series. Tickets are $19-$49 with $10 lap tickets for children 12 months of age and younger.
Eric Johnson: Treasure Tour 2023 on March 15 at 8 p.m. features some previously unreleased gems, new songs and older favorites. During the past four decades, Johnson’s creations have encompassed repertoire that cross pollinate genres which include rock, blues, jazz, fusion, soul, folk, new-age, classical and even country. Throughout his career, Johnson has approached music as a healing force, a way to enhance a listener's consciousness and conjure joy and inspiration. His band will include Tom Brechtlein on drums and Roscoe Beck on bass. Tickets are $37.50-$87.50.
The high-energy, note-perfect, and visually accurate musical experience of a Bruce Springsteen & The E St. Band show arrives with Bruce in the USA on Thursday, March 16 at 8 p.m. Matt Ryan began performing as Springsteen in Las Vegas as part of the world famous Legends In Concert cast. Joined by seasoned world-class professional musicians, he has created the world’s no. 1 tribute to the E Street Band’s musical legacy that has thrilled audiences including fans at Springsteen’s old stomping ground, Asbury Park’s Stone Pony. Tickets are $25-$45.
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and AEG Presents bring Gordon Lightfoot to Lillian S. Wells Hall on Friday, March 17 at 8 p.m. With his rich, warm voice and nimble guitar technique, this legendary folk-rock singer-songwriter weaves together his unforgettable hits from his historic career of more than 50 years. His hits include "If You Could Read My Mind," "Sundown," "Early Morning Rain," "Carefree Highway," "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" and "Rainy Day People." A Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Lightfoot amassed five no. 1, five Top 10 and 13 Top 40 hits and achieved global success with his own recordings, while his eloquent songs have been recorded by the all-time greats, including Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, Jimmy Buffett and Barbra Streisand. This concert is generously underwritten by Mary and Dean Middleton. Tickets are $39.50- $79.50.
Producer Mark Cortale’s internationally acclaimed Broadway Concert Series hosted and music directed by Sirius XM Radio star Seth Rudetsky presents Jessie Mueller on Saturday, March 18 at 8 p.m. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Mueller also received Tony nominations for her performances in Carousel, Waitress and On A Clear Day You Can See Forever. She joins Rudetsky, whom the New York Times dubbed “The Mayor of Broadway, in a spontaneous evening of show-stopping songs and hilarity. The unique format of the series that differentiates it from any other is a seamless mix of intimate behind-the-scenes stories prompted by Rudetsky’s insightful, funny and revealing questions and the music from the artists’ stellar careers. Tickets are $39-$69 with $125 VIP tickets that offer a meet and greet with the artists.
Michael Bolton comes to Lillian S. Wells Hall on Sunday, March 19 at 7 p.m. in a concert presented by The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and AEG Presents. Celebrating more than 50 years of contributions to the entertainment industry, he has won two Grammys for Best Pop Male Vocal
Performance (nominated four times), six American Music Awards, and grabbed three Emmy® nominations and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. As a songwriter, Bolton has earned over 24
BMI & ASCAP Awards, including Songwriter of the Year, nine million-air awards, and the Hitmakers Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. To date, he has seen nine studio albums rank in the top 10, with nine number one singles. His songs are frequently heard on such television programs as American Idol, The Voice, and X-Factor as well as in film soundtracks including the Oscar-nominated theme song “Go the Distance” from Walt Disney’s blockbuster animated film Hercules and the Russell Crowe film Fathers & Daughters. Tickets are $49.50-$79.50.
With a virtual hit parade spanning fourteen Top 40 hits, The Guess Who performs Sunday, March 26 at 7 p.m. Among rock music's most indelible treasures, the group’s hits include "American Woman," "These Eyes," "Clap For the Wolfman," "Hand Me Down World," "No Sugar Tonight, "No Time," "Star Baby," "Share the Land," "Laughing" and "Undun.” The band’s current line up incudes founding member drummer/songwriter Garry Peterson, bassist Michael Devin (formerly of Whitesnake), keyboard player/flutist Leonard “Lewsh” Shaw (formerly of The Drifters, Bo Diddley & more), lead guitarist Michael Staertow (formerly of Slaughter, Lou Graham and more) and legendary lead vocalist/rhythm-guitarist Derek “D#” Sharp. Together the quintet delivers awe-inspiring execution, meticulousness, musicianship and decades of radio-penetrating smash hits. Tickets are $59.50-$69.50 with a $99.50 VIP ticket that includes a meet and greet with the artists.
Other events at the Parker in March are: Musicworks presents Beginnings: The Ultimate Chicago Tribute Band (March 10) and Eaglemania: The World's Greatest Eagles Tribute Band (March 21); South Florida Symphony presents Masterworks IV (March 22); Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida presents Songs of the Phoenix (March 24); Lar Enterprises presents The Best of Doo Wop Volume IV (March 25) and Master Chorale of South Florida presents Verdi's Requiem (March 30).
Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of The Parker. Buy tickets online at ParkerPlayhouse.com and Ticketmaster.com; by phone at 954.462.0222; in person at The Parker box office and the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office.
Lillian S. Wells Hall at The Parker is located in Holiday Park at 707 N.E. Eighth St. in Fort Lauderdale. The Parker is an affiliated venue of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, which provides programming and management of the facility. The performance season at The Parker is supported by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation.
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Complete March Schedule at The Parker
March 1 Gino Vannelli
March 2 Rita Rudner and Robert Klein
March 3 Neil Berg's 50 Years of Rock N Roll 2
March 4 Tower of Power
March 5 Eddie Palmieri
March 9 Malevo
March 10 Musicworks presents Beginnings: The Ultimate Chicago Tribute Band
March 11 Billy Joel Legends Live!
March 12 Dragons and Mythical Beasts
March 15 Eric Johnson: Treasure Tour 2023
March 16 Bruce in the USA
March 17 Gordon Lightfoot
March 18 Jessie Mueller, Broadway Concert Series with Seth Rudetsky
March 19 Michael Bolton
March 21 Musicworks presents Eaglemania: The World's Greatest Eagles Tribute Band
March 22 South Florida Symphony: Masterworks IV
March 24 Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida presents Songs of the Phoenix
March 25 Lar Enterprises presents "The Best of Doo Wop Volume IV"
March 26 The Guess Who
March 30 Master Chorale of South Florida presents Verdi's Requiem
About The Parker
The Parker is Fort Lauderdale’s iconic, heritage theater presenting concerts, comedy, dance, family fare and more. Beautifully renovated in 2021, The Parker offers audiences enhanced entertainment and hospitality experiences. The neo-classical Lillian S. Wells Hall features outstanding acoustics, unobstructed sightlines, wide rows and continental seating. The grand S. Donald Sussman Lobby, the intimate Haller Club, and the private members’ lounge, The Place To Be, provide ample opportunities for audiences to enjoy culture, cocktails and conversation with every visit to the theater. For more information, visit ParkerPlayhouse.com.