Review by John Delia

The movie High Strung Free Dance is jam packed with music, dance and song from show to club to street with a story thread that may feel familiar, but who cares. I love how the film comes together, and each of the characters are heartwarming with roles that are genuine. From high energy to sublime and hip hop to free style the dancers are brilliant, stunning, fluid and magnificent. Whether you are a lover of the dance, a fan of romance or just want to unwind and imagine for few hours, this film is like medicine for the dreamer. It may be something for the ladies, but if you have a man around the house, watch out there’s some very nice eye candy as well. It’s stunning and passionate and now on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD. Read more…

Review by John Delia

A documentary on dance, it’s also an instructional piece that follows Merce Cunningham one of the leaders in the field. His techniques brought about a personal style of discipline in the art that exhibits a free form of expression. The film targets students of the art, historians, and the inquisitive. Cunningham is shown in 3D that should give audiences some excellent close-ups and exciting views of each form of dance presented. Read more…

ANNOUNCES

DISNEY DANCE UPON A DREAM

Starring singer, actress and dancer Mackenzie

Ziegler

Original production features reimagined songs of

Disney Classics including

Beauty and the Beast, Moana and Cinderella

March 6, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $25, $45, $65 & $95*

VIP Packages: $135 & $195*

John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall

MIAMI, FL  – The Arsht Center (@arshtcenter) is proud to present the all-new DISNEY DANCE UPON A DREAM starring singer, actress and dancer Mackenzie Ziegler on March 6 in the Center’s John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall. The show takes the cast on an electrifying journey to find their own beat in a fast-moving world that features a soundtrack of Disney’s greatest hits remixed and reimagined. The original story unfolds around a present-day heroine and steps into the magical world of Disney that includes video and music from the most beloved films, including Beauty and the Beast, Moana and Cinderella.

Read more…

Review by John Delia, Sr.

One of the better art films to come out of Russia and France, Polina shows the determination by a young girl to buck the system and find a different direction in the world of dance. Taught at times, strong willed and conflict-ridden, the film has all the emotions, drama and flare that show an unconditional dedication to the arts. Read more…

The producers of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage announced casting for the third year of the North American Tour, which coincides with the film’s 30^th anniversary. Christopher Tierney, having originally performed the role of Johnny Castle during the 2015 Toronto engagement, returned to the show during its most recent North American tour and will once again thrill audiences alongside the fast-rising young star Bronwyn Reed as Frances “Baby” Houseman. Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is coming to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County beginning November 29 through December 4, 2016.

DIRTY DANCING Christopher Tierney Jerome Harmann Hardeman_ Bronwyn Reed and Company Photo Matthew Murphy

The Arsht Center, along with Broadway Across America and presenting sponsor Bank of America, are proud to continue the 2016-2017 Broadway in Miami season with the Miami premiere of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage. Tickets for Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage are on sale now. To purchase tickets, visit www.arshtcenter.org, call 305.949.6722 or visit Arsht Center Box Office 1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132. Ticket prices start at *$29.

DIRTY DANCING Christopher Tierney_ Jennifer Mealani Jones and Company Photo Matthew Murphy

The 2016-2017 Broadway in Miami subscription season is made possible with the generous support of Bank of America and is presented by Florida Theatrical Association and the Adrienne Arsht Center.

Tierney and Reed lead a company of 26 that includes Matthew Amira as Robbie (The Hunchback of Notre Dame  – Ogunquit Playhouse), Jordan Edwin André as Billy Kostecki/Singer (West Side Story – Regional), Alyssa Brizzi as Lisa Houseman (Beauty and the Beast – National Tour), Jerome Harmann-Hardeman as Tito Suarez (The Full Monty), Jennifer Mealani Jones as Penny Johnson (“So You Think You Can Dance” season 10), Gary Lynch as Max Kellerman (Les Misérables), Hannah Jane McMurray as Marjorie Houseman (Peter Pan 360 – National Tour), Jon Powell as Dr. Jake Houseman (The Rose Bowl Queens – LA), Alan Scharf as Mr. Schumacher (Take Her – National Tour) and Matt Surges as Neil Kellerman (A Funny Thing Happened… – Regional). The ensemble comprises Matthew Borchers, Kristian Brooks, Henry Byalikov, Kellie Drobnick, Jenifer Dillow, Lindsey Hailes, Kevin Mylrea, John Swapshire, Anjelica Fellini, Michal Kolaczkowski, Sophie Lee Morris, Julz Tocker and D. Scott Withers.

 

DIRTY DANCING Jennifer Mealani Jones_ Bronwyn Reed and Christopher Tierney Photo Matthew Murphy

Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage features an eight-piece band that performs the timeless hits on stage, led by Conductor Alan J. Plado (Keyboard) and Associate Conductor Julie Homi (Keyboard). The band also includes Matt Brown (Guitar), Brian Krock (Saxophone), Rich Donato (Drums), Miles Lassi (Percussion), Brad Lovelace (Bass) and Michael Robb (Trumpet).

 

DIRTY DANCING Bronwyn Reed and Christopher Tierney Photo Matthew Murphy

The production’s book is written by Eleanor Bergstein, author of the original script of the film, and the North American tour is directed by James Powell with choreography by Michele Lynch based on the original choreography by Kate Champion. The creative team also includes Stephen Brimson Lewis (Set Design), Tim Mitchell (Lighting Design), Jennifer Irwin (Costume Design), Bobby Aitken (Sound Design), Jon Driscoll (Video and Projection Design), Bernie Ardia (Hair Design), Conrad Helfrich (Music Supervisor and Orchestrations) and Alan Plado (Music Director).

“As I learned how many people watched the movie over and over and over,” said Eleanor Bergstein, screenwriter of the film Dirty Dancing and book writer for the production, “I began to think that what they really wanted was to share more physically in the event, to step through the screen and be there while the story was happening. And if that was true, then its natural form was theatre – live audiences watching live bodies dancing and singing here and now in the present – on the log, on the bridge, on the dance floor and in the staff quarters at Kellerman’s. Writing it for the stage, I was also able to add more scenes with Baby and Johnny, more about the family, more songs I couldn’t afford last time, and, best of all – more dancing. We have added 20 new original scenes and 36 numbers of live music played by an eight piece band onstage, which invite the audience to come into Kellerman’s and experience the story in a whole new way as a live event as it happens.”

Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County beginning November 29 through December 4, 2016. To purchase tickets, visitwww.arshtcenter.org, call 305.949.6722 or visit Arsht Center Box Office 1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132. Ticket prices start at *$29. 

Review by John Delia

Brawny, Bold and bawdy the movie Magic Mike XXL (I guess they didn’t use a third X instead of an L because it doesn’t go that far) struts and dances its way across the screen at the delight of a female audience. The story gets sluggish, silly and wacky, but I’m positive not a woman in the theater will notice. Not much on plot, the road trip to Myrtle Beach does have its moments at stops along the way. There the film bangs out tunes while muscle bound men raise hell tearing their T-shirts and dropping their drawers in places like Tampa, Jacksonville, Savanna and Charleston. Read more…

After three years in which TV movies and miniseries were lumped together in one ungainly category, the television academy believes there’s enough programming to again warrant a separation. (The acting awards remain combo affairs, however.) Were they right? Let’s take a look at these newly…

Read more here:
A look at the Emmy races for movies, miniseries, talk shows and more

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NAKED

CHESTED

WITH A BARE

STORYLINE

MAGIC MIKE

By John Delia

Bare bods and fast music can’t save Magic Mike.  Even if the ladies think they are being entertained, it’s all a facade to cash in on a voyeuristic business that has risen from the sexually charged 90’s.  It may be a take on Tatum’s early teen romp to fill his pockets, but the actor did better with his “Step-up” acting than he does here. Read more…