THE PARKER RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR IN JANUARY
Published: Dec 7, 2023
Lillian S. Wells Hall at The Parker sets a high bar for entertainment in 2024 as it welcomes in the New Year this January with some of the biggest names in comedy and music.
The TRUIST Comedy Series brings Vicki Lawrence and Mama a “two-woman show” to the Parker on Wednesday, January 10 at 8 p.m. in a family friendly show featuring comedy skits that were perfected on The Carol Burnett Show and during years of Lawrence performing her one-woman show all over the world. The comedian and actress is best known for work as a regular onThe Carol Burnett Show which aired from 1967 to 1978. Her portrayal of the character Mama in a series of sketches known as The Family was so popular it led to Lawrence hosting her own show called Mama's Family. A talented singer, Lawrence also scored a no. 1 hit in 1973 with her version of "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.”
One of the most infamous bands of the new wave era, A Flock of Seagulls joins Strangelove-The Depeche Mode Experience for an unforgettable blast-from-the-past as part of the Cleveland Clinic Rock Series on Saturday, January 13 at 8 p.m. Founder, vocalist and keyboardist Mike Score leads the band including Kevin Rankin on drums, Gord Deppe on guitar and Pando on bass. This Grammy®-winning synthpop group grew to infamy with their offbeat haircuts and unconventional and eclectic music style, an unforgettable combination that has fans still reeling for more. Los Angeles-based Strangelove-The Depeche Mode Experience delivers a career spanning, pitch perfect "best of" concert that transports the listener through time and touches on several key points in Depeche Mode's 40+ year career.
The Life and Music of George Michael celebrates one of the world's most beloved artists on Friday, January 19 at 8 p.m. This concert will have audiences on their feet dancing and singing along to the hits of Wham! and Michael’s illustrious solo career with blockbuster hits like “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go,” “Faith,” “Careless Whisper” and “Father Figure.” From the producers of the highly acclaimed The Simon & Garfunkel Story, this concert captures the performance and sound of one of the biggest international stars of our time.
Colin Mochrie's Hyprov: Improv under hypnosis with Asad Mecci is comes to The Parker straight from Off-Broadway as part of the TRUIST Comedy Series on Saturday, January 20 at 8 p.m. The 100-minute live show combines hypnosis and improv – two art forms that have mystified and entertained fans, skeptics and everyone in between – for a totally unique comedy experience that The Times of London declared "a celebration of the human imagination." The evening begins with hypnotist extraordinaire Asad Mecci welcoming 20 volunteers on stage to be hypnotized. The most receptive to hypnosis will then join Colin Mochrie (Whose Line Is It, Anyway?) to improvise the rest of the show while hypnotized. In the hands of two experts, and crafted from the volunteers' uninhibited, unconscious minds and audience suggestions, each show is an entirely original and unforgettable theatrical experience.
The Broadway Concert Series brings celebrated singer and actress Jessica Vosk to The Parker on Sunday, January 21 at 7 p.m. On Broadway, she performed the role of Elphaba in Wicked for two years and recreated the role of Fruma Sarah in the recent revival of Fiddler on the Roof as well as appearing in Finding Neverland and The Bridges of Madison County. Vosk made her Carnegie Hall debut in November 2021 in a sold-out solo show entitled My Golden Age. She also starred as the Narrator in the 50th anniversary of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Lincoln Center. Vosk starred in New York City Ballet's Jerome Robbins tribute Something to Dance About, directed by Warren Carlyle. She will be accompanied by Grammy- and Emmy Award-winner John McDaniel, who was seen leading the band on the Rosie O'Donnell show for its entire six year run. Vosk will also be presenting a vocal master class in The JM Family Studio at the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center on the Broward Center campus Saturday, January 20 from 4 – 6 p.m. She will share her expertise in one-on-one coaching sessions with local performers and students. A limited number of observer tickets are available for $25. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Truist Comedy Series brings Paula Poundstone, winner of the American Comedy Award for Best Female Standup Comic, to The Parker on Friday, January 26 at 8 p.m. Known for her smart, observational humor and spontaneous wit, Poundstone is one of our country's preeminent comedians. Her podcast, Nobody Listens To Paula Poundstone, is a comedy field guide to life, and she's also popular panelist on NPR's Wait, Wait…Don't Tell Me! An accomplished author, lecturer, host and actress, she was the first woman to perform standup comedy at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and her fame is such that she was a clue in a New York Times crossword puzzle.
The Broward Center and AEG Presents bring Al Di Meola to The Parker as part of the TD Jazz Series on Sunday, January 28 at 7 p.m. In addition to receiving 12 awards from Guitar Player Magazine polls, the guitar legend was also inducted into the magazine’s Gallery of Greats. His ongoing fascination with complex rhythmic syncopation combined with provocative lyrical melodies and sophisticated harmony has been at the heart of his music throughout a celebrated career that has spanned four decades. His many accomplishments and honors include four gold albums, two platinum albums, more than six million in record sales worldwide and various awards including an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Berklee College of Music, the Honorary Miles Davis Award presented by the Montreal Jazz Festival, a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Sir George Martin in 2008, Hungarian Foundation for Performing Arts Lyra Award and numerous Grammy nominations and awards.
Also in January, MusicWorks presents R& B Legends (Jan. 12), South Florida Symphony: Masterworks II (Jan. 17) and Disco Stars Entertainment presents Gotta Love the 80’s (Jan. 27).
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; and in person at 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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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, Bernie Peck’s Bar, 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
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Complete January Schedule at The Parker
Jan. 10 Vicki Lawrence and Mama
Jan. 12 MusicWorks presents R& B Legends
Jan. 13 Flock of Seagulls with Strangelove -The Depeche Mode Experience
Jan. 17 South Florida Symphony: Masterworks II
Jan. 19 The Life and Music of George Michael
Jan. 20 Colin Mochrie's Hyprov: Improv under hypnosis with Asad Mecci
Jan. 21 Jessica Vosk with John McDaniel
Jan. 26 Paula Poundstone
Jan 27 Disco Stars Entertainment presents Gotta Love the 80’s
Jan. 28 Al Di Meola