THE HOLIDAYS SPARKLE AT THE BROWARD CENTER AND THE PARKER
Published: Nov 8, 2023
The holidays are spectacular at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and The Parker as Broadway and TV stars Darren Criss, Levi Kreis and Sutton Foster shine, the Well-Strung ensemble brings their own special holiday bows, Slow Burn Theatre Company presents a Disney princess, students join in the seasonal fun, an illusionist literally delivers holiday magic and Charles Dickens’ favorite holiday ghosts make their annual visits.
The Broward Center will be offering 12 Days of Specials to fans who follow it on Facebook.com/BrowardCenter and X @BrowardCenter.
Celebrate the holidays with award-winning actor, singer and songwriter Darren Criss of Glee in A Very Darren Crissmas on Tuesday, November 28 at 8 p.m. This concert in the Lillian S. Wells Hall at the Parker showcases his kaleidoscopic artistry and delivers both thrillingly unpredictable moments and a timeless sense of Christmas magic. Chriss performs songs from his recent holiday album with music ranging from big band Christmas classics to novelty tunes to modern-day folk-pop ballads.
The Broward Center and The Performance Project present A Christmas Carol in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center on Thursday, November 30 and Friday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 2 at 7 p.m. Family Fun Series performances will take place on Saturday, December 2 at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Join Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and a host of colorful characters for a traditional holiday tale. Especially adapted for family audiences, this musical production of the Charles Dickens classic is a wonderful way to celebrate the season with the entire family. This show features the talents of The Performance Project students and the adult professional actors who mentor them.
Experience an unforgettable evening in the Broadway Concert Series as Tony® Award-winner Levi Kreis presents Home for The Holidays in the intimate Abdo New River Room at the Broward Center Friday, December 1 at 8 p.m. Delivering a seamless blend of jazz, gospel, country and rockabilly, Kreis gives a fresh and unique perspective to a flawless collection of Christmas classics and holiday favorites. From uproarious storytelling to soul-stirring renditions, Kreis will leave you laughing, crying, and filled with the spirit of the season. Don't miss this extraordinary evening from one of Broadway's finest.
No experience is necessary to enjoy this interactive and engaging All Abilities Holiday Sing-a-long on Sunday, December 3 at 11 a.m. in The JM Family Studio and The David & I. Lorraine Thomas Creative Learning Suites, led by Artist-in-Residence Tammy Holder and followed by refreshments. All Abilities classes are designed for children (5-12) and adults on the autism spectrum as well as individuals with other developmental disabilities and their families. All Abilities classes are made possible with support from the Taft Foundation.
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and AEG Presents bring The Outlaws Green Grass and Yuletide Jam to the Amaturo Theater as part of the Cleveland Clinic Rock Series on Thursday, December 7 at 8 p.m. Formed in Tampa in 1972, The Outlaws, with their triple-guitar rock attack and three-part country harmonies. are known as “The Florida Guitar Army” by their fans. The band's first three albums The Outlaws, Lady In Waiting and Hurry Sundown – featuring such rock radio favorites as “There Goes Another Love Song,” “Green Grass & High Tides,” “Knoxville Girl” and “Freeborn Man” – would become worldwide gold and platinum landmarks of the Southern Rock era. The Outlaws earned a formidable reputation as an incendiary live act touring with friends The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band and The Charlie Daniels Band as well as The Doobie Brothers, The Who, Eagles and The Rolling Stones. The concert features special guest Artimus Pyle from Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Celebrate the holidays in style with A Well-Strung Christmas coming to the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center as part of the Allegro Fort Lauderdale Mosaic Series on Friday, December 8 at 8 p.m. This much anticipated reunion tour of the talented all-male singing string quartet is back to take the musical world by storm once again with its signature pop-classical mashups. The New York Times called the band "a talented quartet of men that brilliantly fuses pop and classical music from Madonna to Beethoven.”
Talented students from the Broward Center's Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center kick off the holiday season with The Broward Center's Holiday Spectacular 2023 on Sunday, December 10 at 10:30 a.m. in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center. The Broward Center Spotlights, Broward Center’s top-level vocal ensemble, promise to delight with a variety of group and solo performances including holiday favorites and greatest hits from Broadway. Students from the Advanced Musical Theater Workshop class will showcase their work through song, dance and original holiday scenes. Guests can attend early to participate in free activities for the family. Activities include Christmas Carols, letters to Santa, the dreidel game, arts and crafts, giveaways and a holiday-themed photo station.
Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid delivers a theatrical holiday treat from Slow Burn Theatre Company in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center Saturday, December 16 through Sunday, December 31 with an open captioned performance, generously underwritten by the Amaturo Family Foundation, on Sunday, December 24 at 2 p.m. This splashy musical extravaganza puts the “sea” in the holiday season with a love story for the ages. When Ariel, King Triton's youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, she bargains with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs, but the bargain is not what it seems. With music by eight-time Academy Award® winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater and a compelling book by Doug Wright, the musical features irresistible songs including "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl" and "Part of Your World." The 2023/2024 Slow Burn Theatre Company Season is presented by American National Bank. This production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. Performance times vary.
Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid delivers a theatrical holiday treat in a welcoming and supportive environment for children and adults on the autism spectrum as well as individuals with other sensitivity issues or developmental disabilities at the Broward Center on Saturday, December 23 at 1:30 p.m. Slight adjustments have been made to the production including reduced sound levels, no flashing or strobe lights and minimal special effects. An area adjacent to the theater has been designated as the ABA Centers of Florida Sensory Quiet Room with a specially trained therapist to provide audience support.
Patrons may bring their own headphones, fidgets and other calming items into the theater. The Broward Center also offers sensory-bags for all performances at Broward Center and the Parker that contain noise cancelling headphones, sunglasses, fidgets and sunglasses clips to accommodate families that might be overwhelmed by the lights, sounds and crowds. Sensory-bags can be requested at the front of house desk. Admission includes complimentary pre-show arts and crafts activities provided by Young at Art Museum and a post-show meet and greet with cast members after every sensory-inclusive performance. Ticket buyers will receive an email prior to the performance with a link to a character guide and short video about attending the theater.
The Broadway Concert Series brings Tony Award®-winning actress and singer Sutton Foster back to The Parker with Christmas Time Is Here! on Tuesday, December 19 at 8 p.m. One of her generation's most celebrated Broadway actresses, Foster will sing a collection of songs that includes a mixture of holiday classics and her own personal holiday favorites. She won two Tony Awards® for her performances in Anything Goes and Thoroughly Modern Millie in addition to her Broadway starring roles in Violet, Young Frankenstein, Shrek the Musical and The Music Man. In addition to her work on stage, Foster is known for her performances on television, including the hit series Younger, Bunheads, The Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Celebrate the most magical time of the year at The Parker with Jen Kramer's Magical Holiday Show on Saturday, December 30 at 8 p.m. Presented as part of the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Imagination Series, Kramer turns the impossible into the impossible-to-ignore, wowing audiences with her contagious smile and world-class sleight-of-hand. A member of the Society of American Magicians, the International Brotherhood of Magicians, the Academy of Magical Arts and Hollywood's world-famous Magic Castle, she was named Female Magician of the Year by the International Magicians Society. Kramer has been featured on television shows including Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Masters of Illusion, and NBC's Today Show.
Other events on the schedule include; Fort Lauderdale Children’s Ballet Theater presents Cinderella (Nov. 18 & 19); Florida Grand Opera presents La traviata (Nov. 30 & Dec. 2); South Florida Symphony: Handel's Messiah (Dec. 2); Symphony of the Americas: Holiday Pops! (Dec. 4 & 5); Gold Coast Jazz: A Jazzy Holiday with Billy Mays Ensemble (Dec. 6); Miami City Ballet presents George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (Dec. 8 – 10); Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida Program 1: The Nutcracker (Dec. 15 – 17); South Florida Legends presents Celtic Angels Christmas (Dec. 20); Andrea Del Principe: An Italian Christmas Night (Dec. 21).
Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center and The Parker. Buy tickets online at BrowardCenter.org, or Ticketmaster.com; by phone at 954.462.0222; in person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office.
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information visit BrowardCenter.org, like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BrowardCenter and Facebook.com/BrowardCenterEducation, follow us on X and Instagram @BrowardCenter, subscribe to our channel at YouTube.com/user/BrowardCenter and join the conversation with #BrowardCenter.
The Broward Center 2023/2024 season is supported by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation. AutoNation, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Spirit and UHealth University of Miami Health System. Programs are also sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts.