Frank Sinatra lovers will revel in this production of “Come Fly Away” which was 80 minutes (no intermission) of his vocals combined with Twyla Tharp’s concept and choreography. In town for eight performances at Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, the part-tribute, part-dancing-with-the-stars-esque show will engage audiences of all ages.

You don’t have to be fan of “Ol’ Blue Eyes” to enjoy this show which plays through March 25 but numbers like “Fly Me to the Moon’, “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby”, “That’s Life”, “My Way” and “New York, New York” will have you wishing you were.

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It was pure bliss watching the talented cast, including Mallauri Esquibel as Betsy, Ron Todorowski as Marty, Stephen Hanna as Sid, Ashely Blair Fitzgerald as Kate, Amy Ruggiero as Slim, Anthony Burell as Hank, Matthey Stockwell Dibble as Chanos and Meredith Miles as Babe. The Ensemble cast included Nathan Madden, Marceea Moreno, Candy Olsen, Julius Anthony Rubio, Tanairi Sade Vazquez, and Michael Williams.
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It doesn’t seem likely that a story inspired by a miners strike would explode with emotion and humor, but that’s exactly the case with Billy Elliot, now on stage at the Broward Center.

The story of Billy Elliot was borne from the 1984 Miners Strike in England during the time when Margaret Thatcher was prime minister.

The musical brims with emotion, working class humor, and incredible dance, tap and ballet numbers.

The musical, which was first a movie, features music by Elton John. Because of the rigor of the title role of Billy Elliot, there are several young men alternating performances, including Ty Forman, Kylend Hetherington, Zach Manske and J.P. Viernes.

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With strong characters like Mrs. Wilkinson, played by Leah Hocking, Grandma (Cynthia Darlow), Tony
(Cullen R. Titmas) and Dad (Rich Hebert), Billy (played on this night by Ty Forhan) turns from boxing enthusiast to ballet dancer extraordinaire.
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Mitch Poulos got started in drama in a kids' theater in Coral Gables. (Courtesy MitchPoulos.com)

Miami native Mitch Poulos will hit the stage at Broward Center for The Performing Arts in Billy Elliot starting Feb. 29.

Poulos stars as Big Davey, and is also the understudy for Dad and George. He’s coming home to South Florida where it all started for him.

He brings not only “versatility” in wearing different hats throughout show, but also a true understanding of the full circle his life has now made as he returns to the place that gave him the desire to want to pursue drama.

Before he was a teenager, Poulos attended his first production at the Merry Go Round Playhouse which used to be in Coral Gables. It was during a production of The Wizard of Oz that he became captivated with the theatre world and decided that he wanted to take acting classes.

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He continued to learn his craft in junior and senior high school, learning drama from teachers that to this day he is still tremendously grateful to and in touch with.
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Lukas Poost stars in the title role of Shrek in the musical version of the popular film.

Shrek The Musical ushers in the holidays with fairy tale characters, ogres and princesses coming alive on stage.

With book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanne Tesori, this show is both humorous and entertaining. Based on the 2001 Dreamworks film and William Steig’s book Shrek!, it is part twisted fairy tale and part romantic comedy.

The opening scene gives us the backdrop to both Shrek (Lukas Poost) and Princess Fiona’s (Liz Shivener) early life (Alexa Kerner & Rachel Khutorsky play Young Fiona/Young Shrek).

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The story continues with the fairy-tale characters, including Papa Bear (Willie Dee), Ugly Duckling (Annie Fitch), Witch (Susan Leilani Gearou), Big Bad Wolf (Adam Steiner), and Pinocchio (Luke Yellin) showing up in the swamp.

They are met by the titular ogre who will do whatever it takes to keep his swamp quiet and void of trespassers.

But as the fairy tale characters plead for help, Shrek unwillingly accepts his journey to help them return home.
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The familiar tale of Beauty and The Beast opened Tuesday night at the Broward Center with a huge production, amazing sets and spectacular costumes.

With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and book by Linda Woolverton,this is one Disney musical that captivated the audience. Theatergoers receive tiaras and roses and have the opportunity to have their pictures taken with a prince-and-princess castle set, but the real treat here is the well-cast stars of the show.

Emily Behny as Belle is fabulous with an angelic voice and face that rivals the original Belle. Dane Agostinis plays a scary, funny and simply charming Beast. Florida native Logan Denninghoff plays Gaston with confidence galore. The adorable characters of Mrs. Potts (Julia Louise Hosack), Lumiere (Michael Haller), Cogsworth (Nov. 15-17, played by Benjamin Lovell and Nov 18-27, James May) and Chip (Noah Jones, Jordan Moore) at certain times are incredible.
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Logan Denninghoff, who grew up in Florida, plays Gaston in the national tour of 'Beauty and the Beast'.

For once, Gaston might be getting some of the loudest cheers in Beauty and the Beast, when it comes to the Broward Center.

The vain antagonist will be played by Logan Denninghoff, a Florida native who went to school at Merritt Island High School and Florida State University.

Denninghoff is no newcomer to the stage, with credits in Sweeney Todd (Anthony), Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Prince), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Trevor Grayson), On the Town (Pitkin J. Bridgework) and Signing in the Rain (Cosmo Brown).

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But it is in his role as Gaston where he has started to broaden his horizons and is learning even more as he transitions as a villain.
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The touring cast of 'The Addams Family'.

The Addams Family opened in Miami at The Arsht Center just in time to welcome in the spirit of all that is creepy, crazy and fun. The show, a snapping good time, included all the wonderful and odd family members we have come to love.

I was so excited that I dressed up to celebrate. I wore something that someone going to the show would appreciate; spiders, white makeup and the legendary long hair (mine was a black wig). I was met by surprise when most of the ushers were also dressed up in Addams-like attire.

This musical comedy was a delight especially with all the weird and spooky props and characters. From the moment the curtain opens, the familiar music and hand draw you in, and you are snapping along for a great time that begins where else but in a cemetery. The eccentric family — inspired by Charles Addams, a cartoonist that came to be known for these characters through television shows and movies – turns into a musical family with a book by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa.

‘The Addams Family’ at the Arsht | Coming soon to the Kravis

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The cast of 'Rain' in their Sgt. Pepper costumes.

If you regret never making one of the few live concerts that the Beatles performed in the United States, Rain is your chance. And even if you were one of the lucky few to of been part of a Beatles experience you will still want to revisit the incredible music.

The show, which highlights music that is all about staying young at heart forever, brought together three generations of Beatle fans in Tuesday night’s opening performance at the Broward Center.

There is a historical perspective with live multimedia images depicting an era and a feel for the times that led into the phenomenon that became a tribute to the Beatles. Never has such a small cast had such an impact. This is indeed all about four (actually five at the end) skilled musicians.

Starring Steve Landes, Joey Curatolo, Joe Bithorn, Ralph Castelli and Mark Beyer, Rain‘s stage turns into a living museum transcending John, Paul, George and Ringo in an uncanny way. Close your eyes and the vocals sound identically like The Beatles. Watch them and an incredible metamorphosis of character takes place. Truth being, these are true musicians that share a passion for everything Beatles.
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Mac Ruffing and Jimmy Pou perform in 'Rain' at the Kravis Center in 2010. (Brandon Kruse / Palm Beach Post staff)

One week from today the show Rain will shower its Beatle music — from A to Z — all over South Florida and Mark Lewis will again be thrilled to be living the dream he started back in the 1970’s.

Mark Lewis, founder, manager, and original keyboardist for the band Reign — which later became Rain (because people always misspelled it and everyone thought they took their name from the single “Rain”, which was on the flip side of the great single “Paperback Writer”) — shared about how lucky and blessed he feels that he is able to be a part of a show that plays some of the greatest music ever.

He said the audience always feels a tremendous sense of joy and that the cast members all have great respect and passion for the Beatles’ music.

Mark Lewis

Rain originally started as a band, Lewis said, before the show Beatlemania got its start, although many of the people associated with that show have now joined in this production. The story begins over 30 years ago with a brainstorm to play at a club in the San Fernando Valley in California. Lewis said he had an idea to approach the club owner about doing a Beatles night of music during the Disco Era. That one opportunity opened the door for what is now a Broadway production that has been touring since 2004.

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Mamma Mia may be as uplifting and joyous as you heard, but it’s not just the songs that make this musical.

The musical, which is celebrating 10 years of performances and will be at the Broward Center for Performing Arts through July 24, has the famous songs of Abba that’ll get a crowd moving, such as “Dancing Queen”, “Take a Chance on Me” and “S.O.S.” But there is rich dialogue and deep personal revelations throughout that keep you invested in the story.

The setting may be a Greek island and a wedding but the real treat here are the characters and how the story weaves its way through some of life’s most important questions. Questions like “What happened to me? I used to be the life of the party!” as Donna (played sensationally by Kaye Tuckerman) reflects on her responsibilities and stressful life. Mamma Mia brings us women that stand out as strong, confident, and supportive of each other. There are many empowering moments throughout the show, but there are also light and funny and just great, entertaining scenes especially the grand finale.

Tuckerman is sensational; her most powerful performance takes place in Act 2, where she belts out an inspiring solo on “The Winner Takes It All”, which like every other song in Mamma Mia was penned by Abba’s Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus.
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