NOTE: This week’s event preview column will cover two weeks of material, thanks to a vacation I’ll be taking next week to San Francisco. But I’ll be posting blogs while I’m away, so keep checking Bocamag.com for new A&E blogs during my absence.
Thursday
Celebrity Shake Up at Morton’s Steakhouse, 5050 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton; 5 to 7 p.m.; $25 before Wednesday or $40 at the door; 561/392-7724 orwww.mortons.com/bocaraton
Marie Speed, our very own group editor for Boca Raton magazine and a zillion other publications, will be ditching deadlines for one night to serve martinis and mixed drinks as one of a handful of celebrity bartenders at this charity event. She will be joined by Troy McLellan, CEO of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce; John Mulhall, Boca Chamber Chairman; and three others. Titled Celebrity Shake Up, this Boca Festival Days event will benefit the Best Foot Forward Foundation, which provides services to teens aging out of foster care.
Friday
Opening night of “So My Grandmother Died, Blah Blah Blah,” at the Light Box at Goldman Warehouse, 404 N.W. 26th St., Miami; 8 p.m.; $50 opening night and $12 to $25 during the rest of the run; 866/811-4111 or www.madcattheatre.org
For many in the South Florida theatre community, this play is a particularly special one, because it marks the (hopefully triumphant) return of Miami’s Mad Cat Theatre Company. Founded 11 years ago by top local actor/director Paul Tei, Mad Cat carved a niche for itself as a hip enclave of off-off-Broadway plays, energizing a young playgoing demographic hungry for cutting-edge theatre they couldn’t find anywhere else. After a two-year absence – thanks to the economy, location issues and Tei’s move to Los Angeles – Mad Cat is finally back for a regular run of a show, the world premiere of Tei’s “So My Grandmother Died, Blah Blah Blah.” It’s about a comedy writer in Hollywood, California who has to return to Hollywood, Florida to write her grandmother’s eulogy. With a great cast including Erin Joy Schmidt, Deborah L. Sherman and Ricky Waugh, I wouldn’t miss this one.
Opening night reception of Caldwell 2@Mizner at Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, 201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; 6:30 p.m.; $35; 561/241-7432 orwww.caldwelltheatre.com
For better or worse, 2011 continues to be a shake-up year for Palm Beach County theater. Florida Stage sadly shuttered its operations, Dramaworks is relocating into a venue twice its current size in November and now, in one of the most surprising bombshells, the Caldwell Theatre is expanding into a second performance space. Titled Caldwell2@Mizner, the veteran Boca theater company will be hosting a full season of plays in a black box theater at
Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center beginning in September. But first, check out this fundraiser and introduction to the new space, which includes a 6:30 p.m. cocktail party upstairs and a program of music, comedy and drama from renowned local performers at 7:30 in the black box.
Saturday
“Convergence of the Arts” at Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 7:30 p.m.; $28.50; 305/673-7300 or www.livenation.com
Deep-pocketed art collectors from South Florida and beyond should take notice of this unique one-night event on South Beach – Miami’s answer to a Sotheby’s-style art and collectibles auction. A multimillion-dollar collection or rare art and memorabilia will be auctioned to the highest bidder, including originals from Warhol, Murakami, Dali, Britto and Rockwell; a signed Jimi Hendrix guitar collage; and signed master prints from the seven “Harry Potter” movies. You don’t have to be present to win these treasures; anyone with an Internet connection can bid live at redcarpetae.com.
Aug. 25
Matisyahu at Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 8 p.m.; $27.50; 305/673-7300 or www.livenation.com
No one can ever reasonably question the originality of Matisyahu in the contemporary music world. He may not be the only Hasidic Jewish reggae star, but he was certainly the first to emerge with a top 40 hit (“King Without a Crown,” from 2004), opening up countless musical avenues for Orthodox Jews with an interest beyond ethnic folk singing. Matisyahu’s fusion music, which incorporates elements of alternative rock, hip-hop and beatboxing, is an
eclectic stew that has earned comparisons to everyone from Phish to Sublime.
Aug. 25 to 28
Christian Finnegan at Palm Beach Improv, 550 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach; various show times; $17 with a two-drink minimum; 561/833-1812 orwww.palmbeachimprov.com
A comedian’s comedian, Christian Finnegan is a hip, snark-filled pop-cultural and political satirist with a solid comedy resume and devout cult following. Currently starring in the TBS sitcom “Are We There Yet?,” Finnegan honed his chops on VH1’s legendary “Best Week Ever” series. He’s also one of the funniest regular contributors to “Countdown With Keith Olbermann,” both the MSNBC and Current TV versions, where he exchanges yuks with the prickly host.
Aug. 27
Respectable Street’s 24th anniversary block party at Respectable Street, 518 Clematis St., West Palm Beach; 9 p.m.; free; 561/832-9999 orwww.respectablestreet.com
Respectable Street’s annual birthday bash is always a summer highlight. Owner Rodney Mayo usually brings an A-list national act to headline the party, and this year is no exception: The recently reunited Missing Persons top the bill. Two of the original members – including crucial lead singer Dale Bozzio, a precursor to Lady Gaga’s sexualized flamboyance – will join a new lineup of backing musicians in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the new wave band’s formation. The heavily stocked lineup includes more than 20 local bands such as John Ralston, Nothing Rhymes With Orange, Guy Harvey,
Bonnie Riot and Ordinary Boys.
Jacuzzi Boys CD release party at Churchill’s Pub, 5501 N.E. Second Ave., Miami; 9 p.m.; $5; 305/757-1807 or www.churchillspub.com
The hottest property in South Florida indie rock since Surfer Blood, Miami’s Jacuzzi Boys have mastered their own surf-style grooves, marrying them to spirited guitar rock that’s graduated from its beginnings in Wavves-like garage-rock scuzz. This is positively infectious, just-commercial-enough music, played with earnest enthusiasm. The band will celebrate the release of its second LP, “Glazin’,” which hits stores Aug. 30 from the Seattle-based Hardly Art label.
“The Optic Nerve” at Museum of Contemporary Art/North Miami, 770 N.E. 125thSt., North Miami; 7 and 9 p.m.; free for museum members and $5 nonmembers; 305/893-6211 or www.mocanomi.org
A jury of local film and art professionals reviewed more than 150 film and video submissions for this annual museum film festival, ultimately settling on entries from 18 artist-filmmakers, which will screen twice on this Saturday. This year, the competition was made available to artists outside South Florida, a first for the 13th annual event.
