A “corny” Broadway musical opens in Broward, Delray celebrates its fifth Pride Fest, and the Norton unveils the art world’s “hidden mothers.” Plus, Vampire Weekend and more in your week ahead.
TUESDAY
What: Opening night of “Shucked”
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 S.W. Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale
Cost: $45 and up
Contact: 954/462-0222, browardcenter.org
A musical that’s up to its ears in corn puns, “Shucked” has at least a kernel of truth. Written by Robert Horn, of “Tootsie” fame, and country musicians Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, “Shucked” became one of the sleeper hits of the 2022-2023 Broadway season, earning nine Tony nominations, including Best Musical. Its narrative will sit well with fans of “The Music Man:” Set in the fictional Cob County—a place that lives and dies by its corn harvest—spunky protagonist Maizy is set to marry Beau. But as the vows commence, the corn begins to die. Maizy, true to her name, won’t go through with the nuptials until she finds a solution to reverse the blight. To wit, she flies to Tampa to meet a professed corn doctor who turns out to be a con artist in debt to the mob. “Shucked” is a unicorn on Broadway these days, a show completely conceived for the stage, as neither adaptation nor revival. See its regional Broadway tour premiere before it becomes a husk of its former self. It runs through June 22.
FRIDAY
What: Vampire Weekend
When: 7 p.m.
Where: FPL Solar Amphitheatre at Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
Cost: $40.50-$100.45
Contact: ticketmaster.com
Is Vampire Weekend its generation’s Paul Simon? Talking Heads? The Grateful Dead? The short answer is “yes.” World music, jam music, jazz, dub and pogo-ready indie pop commingle freely and unexpectedly in the rich five-album oeuvre of this New York City trio, which emerged fully formed on its 2008 self-titled LP and has expanded its musical palette on each release since. Constructing music that is both catchy and cerebral, fun and adventurous, the group is touring behind its latest release, the extraordinary Only God Was Above Us, which I would compare to such iconic genre-expanding alums as the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, Simon’s Graceland and Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. High praise, but earned. Arrive early for opening act Turnstiles, the Billy Joel tribute.
SATURDAY
What: Opening day of “Veiled Presence: The Hidden Mothers and Sara VanDerBeek”
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach
Cost: $18 general, $15 seniors
Contact: 561/832-5196, norton.org
Most of the artists whose tintypes are on display at this Norton Museum showcase are unknown—they were studio photographers in the 19th century, creating portraits of children that weren’t necessarily built to stand the test of time. But in rediscovering these works, the Norton has unearthed an unsettling commonality within them: the mothers of their subjects are viewed only in, as the exhibition’s title suggests, a “veiled presence,” hidden underneath hats or behind chairs, or their faces ominously blurred, their labors at birthing and raising the children essentially erased. “Veiled Presence” features many of these works alongside contemporary Brooklyn-based artist Sara VanDerBeek’s modern pieces. VanDerBeek’s art often addresses issues of motherhood and women’s autonomy, which makes her an ideal responder to the exhibit’s themes.
What: Delray Beach Pride Fest and Concert
When: Starts at 4 p.m.
Where: Northeast Second Avenue in Downtown Delray Beach
Cost: Free
Contact: 561/243-7250, downtowndelraybeach.com
The headline news about this year’s fifth-annual Pride Fest in downtown Delray is simply that it’s happening. As reported by CBS News a few days ago, pride events throughout the country have faced budget shortfalls as corporations that once supported LGBTQ+ programming have abandoned it. Organizers at the Kennedy Center canceled a week’s worth of pride events, Memphis Pride Fest was postponed until 2026, and events such as Naples Pride Fest have had to scale back or modify plans. But Delray’s vocal pride community won’t go gentle into that good night, and neither will the city. Celebrate Delray’s diversity and inclusivity at a three-hour street festival with live entertainment, vendors and plenty of food and beverage options, and stick around for the 7:30 concert from Rock of ABBA, which plays the music of the Swedish dance-pop icons.
What: “Loud and Proud” laser concert
When: 6, 7 and 8 p.m.
Where: Cox Science Center, 4801 Dreher Trail N., West Palm Beach
Cost: $15 per show
Contact: 561/832-1988, coxsciencecenter.org
Speaking of LGBTQ+ events, Cox Science Center is recognizing Pride Month at its second-Friday-of-the-month laser concerts, which feature the music of artists friendly to the community. The evening opens with Laser Pride, featuring queer anthems, continues at 7 p.m. with Laser Bowie, and concludes at 8 p.m. with Laser Elton John, each program featuring booming music from the artists’ discographies, complemented by dazzling visuals projected onto the full-dome planetarium. Come for one or stay for all—for $45, a full night of entertainment and musical memories await.
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